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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12058 ***
+
+The Mahabharata of
+
+Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
+
+BOOK 4
+
+VIRATA PARVA
+
+Translated into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text
+
+by
+
+Kisari Mohan Ganguli
+
+[1883-1896]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MAHABHARATA
+
+
+VIRATA PARVA
+
+SECTION I
+
+(_Pandava-Pravesa Parva_)
+
+OM! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted of male
+beings, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word _Jaya_ be
+uttered.
+
+Janamejaya said, "How did my great-grandfathers, afflicted with the fear
+of Duryodhana, pass their days undiscovered in the city of Virata? And,
+O Brahman, how did the highly blessed Draupadi, stricken with woe,
+devoted to her lords, and ever adoring the Deity[1], spend her days
+unrecognised?"
+
+    [1] _Brahma Vadini_--Nilakantha explains this as
+    _Krishna-kirtanasila._
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Listen, O lord of men, how thy great grandfathers
+passed the period of unrecognition in the city of Virata. Having in this
+way obtained boons from the god of Justice, that best of virtuous men,
+Yudhishthira, returned to the asylum and related unto the Brahmanas all
+that had happened. And having related everything unto them, Yudhishthira
+restored to that regenerate Brahmana who had followed him the churning
+staff and the fire-sticks he had lost. And, O Bharata, the son of the
+god of Justice, the royal Yudhishthira of high soul then called together
+all his younger brothers and addressed them, saying, 'Exiled from our
+kingdom, we have passed twelve years. The thirteenth year, hard to
+spend, hath now come. Do thou therefore, O Arjuna, the son of Kunti,
+select some spot where we may pass our days undiscovered by our
+enemies.'
+
+"Arjuna replied, "Even by virtue of Dharma's boon, we shall, O lord of
+men, range about undiscovered by men. Still, for purposes of residence,
+I shall mention some spots that are both delightful and secluded. Do
+thou select some one of them. Surrounding the kingdom of the Kurus, are,
+many countries beautiful and abounding in corn, such as Panchala, Chedi,
+Matsya, Surasena, Pattachchara, Dasarna, Navarashtra, Malla, Salva,
+Yugandhara, Saurashtra, Avanti, and the spacious Kuntirashtra. Which of
+these, O king, wouldst thou choose, and where, O foremost of monarchs,
+shall we spend this year?'
+
+"Yudhishthira said 'O thou of mighty arms, it is even so. What that
+adorable Lord of all creatures hath said must become true. Surely, after
+consulting together, we must select some delightful, auspicious, and
+agreeable region for our abode, where we may live free from fear. The
+aged Virata, king of the Matsyas, is virtuous and powerful and
+charitable, and is liked by all. And he is also attached to the
+Pandavas. Even in the city of Virata, O child, we shall, O Bharata,
+spend this year, entering his service. Tell me, ye sons of the Kuru
+race, in what capacities ye will severally present yourselves before the
+king of the Matsyas!'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'O god among men, what service wilt thou take in Virata's
+kingdom? O righteous one, in what capacity wilt thou reside in the city
+of Virata? Thou art mild, and charitable, and modest, and virtuous, and
+firm in promise. What wilt thou, O king, afflicted as thou art with
+calamity, do? A king is qualified to bear trouble like an ordinary
+person. How wilt thou overcome this great calamity that has overtaken
+thee?'
+
+"Yudhishthira replied, 'Ye sons of the Kuru race, ye bulls among men,
+hear what I shall do on appearing before king Virata. Presenting myself
+as a Brahmana, Kanka by name, skilled in dice and fond of play, I shall
+become a courtier of that high-souled king. And moving upon chess-boards
+beautiful pawns made of ivory, of blue and yellow and red and white hue,
+by throws of black and red dice, I shall entertain the king with his
+courtiers and friends. And while I shall continue to thus delight the
+king, nobody will succeed in discovering me. And should the monarch ask
+me, I shall say, _Formerly I was the bosom friend of Yudhishthira_. I
+tell you that it is thus that I shall pass my days (in the city of
+Virata). What office wilt thou, O Vrikodara, fill in the city of
+Virata?'"
+
+
+SECTION II
+
+"Bhima said, 'I intend to present myself before the lord of Virata as a
+cook bearing the name of Vallava. I am skilled in culinary art, and I
+shall prepare curries for the king, and excelling all those skilful
+cooks that had hitherto dressed his food I shall gratify the monarch.
+And I shall carry mighty loads of wood. And witnessing that mighty feat,
+the monarch will be pleased. And, O Bharata, beholding such superhuman
+feats of mine, the servants of the royal household will honour me as a
+king. And I shall have entire control over all kinds of viands and
+drinks. And commanded to subdue powerful elephants and mighty bulls, I
+will do as bidden. And if any combatants will fight with me in the
+lists, then will I vanquish them, and thereby entertain the monarch. But
+I shall not take the life of any of them. I shall only bring them down
+in such way that they may not be killed. And on being asked as regards
+my antecedent I shall say that--_Formerly I was the wrestler and cook of
+Yudhishthira._ Thus shall I, O king, maintain myself.'
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'And what office will be performed by that mighty
+descendant of the Kurus, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, that foremost of
+men possessed of long arms, invincible in fight, and before whom, while
+he was staying with Krishna, the divine Agni himself desirous of
+consuming the forest of Khandava had formerly appeared in the guise of a
+Brahmana? What office will be performed by that best of warriors,
+Arjuna, who proceeded to that forest and gratified Agni, vanquishing on
+a single car and slaying huge _Nagas_ and _Rakshasas_, and who married
+the sister of Vasuki himself, the king of the _Nagas_? Even as the sun
+is the foremost of all heat-giving bodies, as the Brahmana is the best
+of all bipeds, as the cobra is the foremost of all serpents, as Fire is
+the first of all things possessed of energy, as the thunderbolt is the
+foremost of all weapons, as the humped bull is the foremost of all
+animals of the bovine breed, as the ocean is the foremost of all watery
+expanses, as clouds charged with rain are the foremost of all clouds, as
+Ananta is the first of all _Nagas_, as Airavata is the foremost of all
+elephants, as the son is the foremost of all beloved objects, and
+lastly, as the wife is the best of all friends, so, O Vrikodara, is the
+youthful Gudakesa, the foremost of all bowmen. And O Bharata, what
+office will be performed by Vibhatsu, the wielder of _Gandiva_, whose
+car is drawn by white horses, and who is not inferior to Indra or
+Vasudeva Himself? What office will be performed by Arjuna who, dwelling
+for five years in the abode of the thousand-eyed Deity (Indra) shining
+in celestial lustre, acquired by his own energy the science of
+superhuman arms with all celestial weapons, and whom I regard as the
+tenth _Rudra_, the thirteenth _Aditya_, the ninth _Vasu_, and the tenth
+_Graha_, whose arms, symmetrical and long, have the skin hardened by
+constant strokes of the bowstring and cicatrices which resemble those on
+the humps of bulls,--that foremost of warriors who is as Himavat among
+mountains, the ocean among expanses of water, Sakra among the celestial,
+Havyavaha (fire) among the Vasus, the tiger among beasts, and Garuda
+among feathery tribes!'
+
+"Arjuna replied, 'O lord of the Earth, I will declare myself as one of
+the neuter sex. O monarch, it is, indeed difficult to hide the marks of
+the bowstring on my arms. I will, however, cover both my cicatrized arms
+with bangles. Wearing brilliant rings on my ears and conch-bangles on my
+wrists and causing a braid to hang down from my head, I shall, O king,
+appear as one of the third sex, Vrihannala by name. And living as a
+female I shall (always) entertain the king and the inmates of the inner
+apartments by reciting stories. And, O king, I shall also instruct the
+women of Virata's palace in singing and delightful modes of dancing and
+in musical instruments of diverse kinds. And I shall also recite the
+various excellent acts of men and thus conceal myself, O son of Kunti,
+by feigning disguise. And, O Bharata should the king enquire, I will say
+that, _I lived as a waiting maid of Draupadi in Yudhishthira's palace_.
+And, O foremost of kings, concealing myself by this means, as fire is
+concealed by ashes, I shall pass my days agreeably in the palace of
+Virata.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, Arjuna, that best of men and
+foremost of virtuous persons, became silent. Then the king addressed
+another brother of his."[2]
+
+    [2] This speech of Vaisampayana is not included in some texts
+    within the second section. To include it, however, in the third,
+    is evidently a mistake.
+
+
+SECTION III
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'Tender, possessed of a graceful presence, and
+deserving of every luxury as thou art, what office wilt thou, O heroic
+Nakula, discharge while living in the dominions of that king? Tell me
+all about it!'
+
+"Nakula said, 'Under the name of Granthika, I shall become the keeper of
+the horses of king Virata. I have a thorough knowledge (of this work)
+and am skilful in tending horses. Besides, the task is agreeable to me,
+and I possess great skill in training and treating horses; and horses
+are ever dear to me as they are to thee, O king of the Kurus. At my
+hands even colts and mares become docile; these never become vicious in
+bearing a rider or drawing a car.[3] And those persons in the city of
+Virata that may enquire of me, I shall, O bull of the Bharata race,
+say,--_Formerly I was employed by Yudhishthira in the charge of his
+horses_. Thus disguised, O king, I shall spend my days delightfully in
+the city of Virata. No one will be able to discover me as I will gratify
+the monarch thus!'[4]
+
+    [3] The sloka commencing with _Adushta_ and ending _ratheshu
+    cha_ does not occur in texts except those in Bengal.
+
+    [4] A difference reading is observable here. The sense, however,
+    is the same.
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'How wilt thou, O Sahadeva, bear thyself before that
+king? And what, O child, is that which thou wilt do in order to live in
+disguise.'
+
+"Sahadeva replied, 'I will become a keeper of the king of Virata's kine.
+I am skilled in milking kine and taking their history as well as in
+taming their fierceness. Passing under the name of Tantripala, I shall
+perform my duties deftly. Let thy heart's fever be dispelled. Formerly I
+was frequently employed to look after thy kine, and, O Lord of earth, I
+have a particular knowledge of that work. And, O monarch, I am
+well-acquainted with the nature of kine, as also with their auspicious
+marks and other matters relating to them. I can also discriminate bulls
+with auspicious marks, the scent of whose urine may make even the barren
+being forth child. Even thus will I live, and I always take delight in
+work of this kind. Indeed, no one will then be able to recognise me, and
+I will moreover gratify the monarch.'
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'This is our beloved wife dearer to us than our
+lives. Verily, she deserveth to be cherished by us like a mother, and
+regarded like an elder sister. Unacquainted as she is with any kind of
+womanly work, what office will Krishna, the daughter of Drupada,
+perform? Delicate and young, she is a princess of great repute. Devoted
+to her lords, and eminently virtuous, also, how will she live? Since her
+birth, she hath enjoyed only garlands and perfumes and ornaments and
+costly robes.'
+
+"Draupadi replied, 'There is a class of persons called _Sairindhris_,[5]
+who enter the services of other. Other females, however (that are
+respectable) do not do so. Of this class there are some. I shall give
+myself out as a _Sairindhri_, skilled in dressing hair. And, O Bharata,
+on being questioned by the king, I shall say that I served as a waiting
+woman of Draupadi in Yudhishthira's household. I shall thus pass my days
+in disguise. And I shall serve the famous Sudeshna, the wife of the
+king. Surely, obtaining me she will cherish me (duly). Do not grieve so,
+O king.'
+
+    [5] An independent female artisan working in another person's
+    house.--Wilson.
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'O Krishna, thou speakest well. But O fair girl,
+thou wert born in a respectable family. Chaste as thou art, and always
+engaged in observing virtuous vows, thou knowest not what is sin. Do
+thou, therefore, conduct thyself in such a way that sinful men of evil
+hearts may not be gladdened by gazing at thee.'"
+
+
+SECTION IV
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'Ye have already said what offices ye will
+respectively perform. I also, according to the measure of my sense, have
+said what office I will perform. Let our priest, accompanied by
+charioteers and cooks, repair to the abode of Drupada, and there
+maintain our _Agnihotra_ fires. And let Indrasena and the others, taking
+with them the empty cars, speedily proceeded to Dwaravati. Even this is
+my wish. And let all these maid-servants of Draupadi go to the
+Panchalas, with our charioteers and cooks. And let all of them say,--_We
+do not know where the Pandavas have gone leaving us at the lake of
+Dwaitavana_.'"
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having thus taken counsel of one another and told
+one another the offices they would discharge, the Pandavas sought
+Dhaumya's advice. And Dhaumya also gave them advice in the following
+words, saying, 'Ye sons of Pandu, the arrangements ye have made
+regarding the Brahmanas, your friends, cars, weapons, and the (sacred)
+fires, are excellent. But it behoveth thee, O Yudhishthira, and Arjuna
+specially, to make provision for the protection of Draupadi. Ye king, ye
+are well-acquainted with the characters of men. Yet whatever may be your
+knowledge, friends may from affection be permitted to repeat what is
+already known. Even this is subservient to the eternal interests of
+virtue, pleasure, and profit. I shall, therefore speak to you something.
+Mark ye. To dwell with a king is, alas, difficult. I shall tell you, ye
+princes, how ye may reside in the royal household, avoiding every fault.
+Ye Kauravas, honourably or otherwise, ye will have to pass this year in
+the king's palace, undiscovered by those that know you. Then in the
+fourteenth year, ye will live happy. O son of Pandu, in this world, that
+cherisher and protector of all beings, the king, who is a deity in an
+embodied form, is as a great fire sanctified with all the _mantras_.[6]
+One should present himself before the king, after having obtained his
+permission at the gate. No one should keep contact with royal secrets.
+Nor should one desire a seat which another may covet. He who doth not,
+regarding himself to be a favourite, occupy (the king's) car, or coach,
+or seat, or vehicle, or elephant, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal
+household. He that sits not upon a seat the occupation of which is
+calculated raise alarm in the minds of malicious people, is alone worthy
+of dwelling in a royal household. No one should, unasked offer counsel
+(to a king). Paying homage in season unto the king, one should silently
+and respectfully sit beside the king, for kings take umbrage at
+babblers, and disgrace lying counsellors. A wise person should not
+contact friendship with the king's wife, nor with the inmates of the
+inner apartments, nor with those that are objects of royal displeasure.
+One about the king should do even the most unimportant acts and with the
+king's knowledge. Behaving thus with a sovereign, one doth not come by
+harm. Even if an individual attain the highest office, he should, as
+long as he is not asked or commanded, consider himself as born-blind,
+having regard to the king's dignity, for O repressers of foes, the
+rulers of men do not forgive even their sons and grandsons and brothers
+when they happen to tamper with their dignity. Kings should be served
+with regardful care, even as Agni and other gods; and he that is
+disloyal to his sovereign, is certainly destroyed by him. Renouncing
+anger, and pride, and negligence, it behoveth a man to follow the course
+directed by the monarch. After carefully deliberating on all things, a
+person should set forth before the king those topics that are both
+profitable and pleasant; but should a subject be profitable without
+being pleasant, he should still communicate it, despite its
+disagreeableness. It behoveth a man to be well-disposed towards the king
+in all his interests, and not to indulge in speech that is alike
+unpleasant and profitless. Always thinking--_I am not liked by the
+king_--one should banish negligence, and be intent on bringing about
+what is agreeable and advantageous to him. He that swerveth not from his
+place, he that is not friendly to those that are hostile to the king, he
+that striveth not to do wrong to the king, is alone worthy to dwell in a
+royal household. A learned man should sit either on the king's right or
+the left; he should not sit behind him for that is the place appointed
+for armed guards, and to sit before him is always interdicted. Let none,
+when the king is engaged in doing anything (in respect of his servants)
+come forward pressing himself zealously before others, for even if the
+aggrieved be very poor, such conduct would still be inexcusable.[7] It
+behoveth no man to reveal to others any lie the king may have told
+inasmuch as the king bears ill will to those that report his falsehoods.
+Kings also always disregard persons that regard themselves as learned.
+No man should be proud thinking--_I am brave, or, I am intelligent_, but
+a person obtains the good graces of a king and enjoys the good things of
+life, by behaving agreeably to the wishes of the king. And, O Bharata,
+obtaining things agreeable, and wealth also which is so hard to acquire,
+a person should always do what is profitable as well as pleasant to the
+king. What man that is respected by the wise can even think of doing
+mischief to one whose ire is great impediment and whose favour is
+productive of mighty fruits? No one should move his lips, arms and
+thighs, before the king. A person should speak and spit before the king
+only mildly. In the presence of even laughable objects, a man should not
+break out into loud laughter, like a maniac; nor should one show
+(unreasonable) gravity by containing himself, to the utmost. One should
+smile modestly, to show his interest (in what is before him). He that is
+ever mindful of the king's welfare, and is neither exhilarated by reward
+nor depressed by disgrace, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal
+household. That learned courtier who always pleaseth the king and his
+son with agreeable speeches, succeedeth in dwelling in a royal household
+as a favourite. The favourite courtier who, having lost the royal favour
+for just reason, does not speak evil of the king, regains prosperity.
+The man who serveth the king or liveth in his domains, if sagacious,
+should speak in praise of the king, both in his presence and absence.
+The courtier who attempts to obtain his end by employing force on the
+king, cannot keep his place long and incurs also the risk of death. None
+should, for the purpose of self-interest, open communications with the
+king's enemies.[8] Nor should one distinguish himself above the king in
+matters requiring ability and talents. He that is always cheerful and
+strong, brave and truthful and mild, and of subdued senses, and who
+followeth his master like his shadow, is alone worthy to dwell in a
+royal household. He that on being entrusted with a work, cometh forward,
+saying,--_I will do this_--is alone worthy of living in a royal
+household. He that on being entrusted with a task, either within the
+king's dominion or out of it, never feareth to undertake it, is alone
+fit to reside in a royal household. He that living away from his home,
+doth no remember his dear ones, and who undergoeth (present) misery in
+expectation of (future) happiness, is alone worthy of dwelling in a
+royal household. One should not dress like the king, nor should one
+indulge in laughter in the king's presence nor should one disclose royal
+secrets. By acting thus one may win royal favour. Commissioned to a
+task, one should not touch bribes for by such appropriation one becometh
+liable to fetters or death. The robes, ornaments, cars, and other things
+which the king may be pleased to bestow should always be used, for by
+this, one winneth the royal favour. Ye children, controlling your minds,
+do ye spend this year, ye sons of Pandu, behaving in this way. Regaining
+your own kingdom, ye may live as ye please.'
+
+    [6] Some of the Bengal text and _Sarvatramaya_ for
+    _Sarvamantramaya_. The former is evidently incorrect.
+
+    [7] This is a very difficult _sloka_. Nilakantha adopts the
+    reading _Sanjayet_. The Bengal editions read _Sanjapet_. If the
+    latter be the correct reading, the meaning then would be,--'Let
+    none talk about what transpires in the presence of the king. For
+    those even that are poor, regard it as a grave fault.' The sense
+    evidently is that the occurrences in respect of a king which one
+    witnesses should not be divulged. Even they that are powerless
+    regard such divulgence of what occurs in respect of them as an
+    insult to them, and, therefore, inexcusable.
+
+    [8] The Bengal editions read _Rajna_ in the instrumental case.
+    Following a manuscript text of a Pandit of my acquaintance I
+    read _Rajnas_ in the genitive.
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'We have been well taught by thee. Blessed be thou.
+There is none that could say so to us, save our mother Kunti and Vidura
+of great wisdom. It behoveth thee to do all that is necessary now for
+our departure, and for enabling us to come safely through this woe, as
+well as for our victory over the foe.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, Dhaumya, that
+best of Brahmanas, performed according to the ordinance the rites
+ordained in respect of departure. And lighting up their fires, he
+offered, with _mantras_, oblations on them for the prosperity and
+success of the Pandavas, as for their reconquest of the whole world. And
+walking round those fires and round the Brahmanas of ascetic wealth, the
+six set out, placing Yajnaseni in their front. And when those heroes had
+departed, Dhaumya, that best of ascetics, taking their sacred fires, set
+out for the Panchalas. And Indrasena, and others already mentioned, went
+to the Yadavas, and looking after the horses and the cars of the
+Pandavas passed their time happily and in privacy."
+
+
+SECTION V
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Girding their waists with swords, and equipped with
+finger-protectors made of iguana skins and with various weapons, those
+heroes proceeded in the direction of the river Yamuna. And those bowmen
+desirous of (speedily) recovering their kingdom, hitherto living in
+inaccessible hills and forest fastnesses, now terminated their
+forest-life and proceeded to the southern bank of that river. And those
+mighty warriors endued with great strength and hitherto leading the
+lives of hunters by killing the deer of the forest, passed through
+_Yakrilloma_ and Surasena, leaving behind, on their right, the country
+of the Panchalas, and on their left, that of the Dasarnas. And those
+bowmen, looking wan and wearing beards and equipped with swords, entered
+Matsya's dominions leaving the forest, giving themselves out as hunters.
+And on arriving at that country, Krishna addressed Yudhishthira, saying,
+'We see footpaths here, and various fields. From this it appears that
+Virata's metropolis is still at a distance. Pass we here what part of
+the night is still left, for great is my fatigue.'
+
+"Yudhishthira answered, 'O Dhananjaya of Bharata's race, do thou take up
+Panchali and carry her. Just on emerging from this forest, we arrive at
+the city.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thereupon like the leader of a herd of
+elephants, Arjuna speedily took up Draupadi, and on coming to the
+vicinity of the city, let her down. And on reaching the city, Ruru's son
+(Yudhishthira), addressed Arjuna, saying, 'Where shall we deposit our
+weapons, before entering the city? If, O child, we enter it with our
+weapons about us, we shall thereby surely excite the alarm of the
+citizens. Further, the tremendous bow, the _Gandiva_, is known to all
+men, so that people will, without doubt, recognise us soon. And if even
+one of us is discovered, we shall, according to promise, have to pass
+another twelve years in the forest.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'Hard by yon cemetery and near that inaccessible peak is a
+mighty _Sami_ tree, throwing-about its gigantic branches and difficult
+to ascend. Nor is there any human being, who, I think, O Pandu's son,
+will espy us depositing our arms at that place. That tree is in the
+midst of an out-of-the way forest abounding in beasts and snakes, and is
+in the vicinity of a dreary cemetery. Stowing away our weapons on the
+_Sami_ tree, let us, O Bharata, go to the city, and live there, free
+from anxiety!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having O bull of the Bharata race spoken thus
+to king Yudhishthira the just, Arjuna prepared to deposit the weapons
+(on the tree). And that bull among the Kurus, then loosened the string
+of the large and dreadful _Gandiva_, ever producing thundering twang and
+always destructive of hostile hosts, and with which he had conquered, on
+a single car, gods and men and _Nagas_ and swelling provinces. And the
+warlike Yudhishthira, that represser of foes, unfastened the undecaying
+string of that bow with which he had defended the field of Kurukshetra.
+And the illustrious Bhimasena unstrung that bow by means of which that
+sinless one had vanquished in fight the Panchalas and the lord of
+Sindhu, and with which, during his career of conquest, he had,
+single-handed, opposed innumerable foes, and hearing whose twang which
+was like unto the roar of the thunder or the splitting of a mountain,
+enemies always fly (in panic) from the field of battle. And that son of
+Pandu of coppery complexion and mild speech who is endued with great
+prowess in the field, and is called Nakula in consequence of his
+unexampled beauty in the family, then unfastened the string of that bow
+with which he had conquered all the regions of the west. And the heroic
+Sahadeva also, possessed of a mild disposition, then untied the string
+of that bow with which he had subjugated the countries of the south. And
+with their bows, they put together their long and flashing swords, their
+precious quivers, and their arrows sharp as razors. And Nakula ascended
+the tree, and deposited on it the bows and the other weapons. And he
+tied them fast on those parts of the tree which he thought would not
+break, and where the rain would not penetrate. And the Pandavas hung up
+a corpse (on the tree), knowing that people smelling the stench of the
+corpse would say--_here sure, is a dead body_, and avoid the tree from a
+distance. And on being asked by the shepherds and cowherds regarding the
+corpse, those repressers of foes said unto them, 'This is our mother,
+aged one hundred and eighty years. We have hung up her dead body, in
+accordance with the custom observed by our forefathers.' And then those
+resisters of foes approached the city. And for purposes of non-discovery
+Yudhishthira kept these (five) names for himself and his brothers
+respectively, viz., Jaya, Jayanta, Vijaya, Jayatsena, and Jayadvala.
+Then they entered the great city, with the view to passing the
+thirteenth year undiscovered in that kingdom, agreeably to the promise
+(to Duryodhana)."
+
+
+SECTION VI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "And while Yudhishthira was on his way to the
+delightful city of Virata, he began to praise mentally the Divine Durga,
+the Supreme Goddess of the Universe, born on the womb of Yasoda, and
+fond of the boons bestowed on her by Narayana, sprung from the race of
+cowherd Nanda, and the giver of prosperity, the enhancer (of the glory)
+of (the worshipper's) family, the terrifier of Kansa, and the destroyer
+of _Asuras_,--and saluted the Goddess--her who ascended the skies when
+dashed (by Kansa) on a stony platform, who is the sister of Vasudeva,
+one who is always decked in celestial garlands and attired in celestial
+robes,--who is armed with scimitar and shield, and always rescues the
+worshipper sunk in sin, like a cow in the mire, who in the hours of
+distress calls upon that eternal giver of blessings for relieving him of
+their burdens. And the king, desirous with his brothers of obtaining a
+sight of the Goddess, invoked her and began to praise her by reciting
+various names derived from (approved) hymns. And Yudhishthira said,
+'Salutations to thee, O giver of boons. O thou that art identical with
+Krishna, O maiden, O thou that hast observed the vow of _Brahmacharya_,
+O thou of body bright as the newly-risen Sun, O thou of face beautiful
+as the full moon. Salutations to thee, O thou of four hands and four
+faces, O thou of fair round hips and deep bosom, O thou that wearest
+bangles made of emeralds and sapphires, O thou that bearest excellent
+bracelets on thy upper arm. Thou shinest, O Goddess, as Padma, the
+consort of Narayana. O thou that rangest the etherial regions, thy true
+form and thy _Brahmacharya_ are both of the purest kind. Sable as the
+black clouds, thy face is beautiful as that of _Sankarshana_. Thou
+bearest two large arms long as a couple of poles raised in honour of
+Indra. In thy (six) other arms thou bearest a vessel, a lotus, a bell, a
+noose, a bow, a large discus, and various other weapons. Thou art the
+only female in the universe that possessest the attribute of purity.
+Thou art decked with a pair of well-made ears graced with excellent
+rings. O Goddess, thou shinest with a face that challengeth the moon in
+beauty. With an excellent diadem and beautiful braid with robes made of
+the bodies of snakes, and with also the brilliant girdle round thy hips,
+thou shinest like the Mandara mountain encircled with snakes. Thou
+shinest also with peacock-plumes standing erect on thy head, and thou
+hast sanctified the celestial regions by adopting the vow of perpetual
+maiden-hood. It is for this, O thou that hast slain the
+_Mahishasura_,[9] that thou art praised and worshipped by the gods for
+the protection of the three worlds. O thou foremost of all deities,
+extend to me thy grace, show me thy mercy, and be thou the source of
+blessings to me. Thou art _Jaya_ and _Vijaya_, and it is thou that
+givest victory in battle. Grant me victory, O Goddess, and give me boons
+also at this hour of distress. Thy eternal abode is on Vindhya--that
+foremost of mountains. O _Kali_, O _Kali_, thou art the great _Kali_,
+ever fond of wine and meat and animal sacrifice. Capable of going
+everywhere at will, and bestowing boons on thy devotees, thou art ever
+followed in thy journeys by Brahma and the other gods. By them that call
+upon thee for the relief of their burdens, and by them also that bow to
+thee at daybreak on Earth, there is nothing that cannot be attained in
+respect either of offspring or wealth. And because thou rescuest people
+from difficulties whether when they are afflicted in the wilderness or
+sinking in the great ocean, it is for this that thou art called
+_Durga_[10] by all. Thou art the sole refuge of men when attacked by
+robbers or while afflicted in crossing streams and seas or in wilderness
+and forests. Those men that remember thee are never prostrated, O great
+Goddess. Thou art Fame, thou art Prosperity, thou art Steadiness, thou
+art Success; thou art the Wife, thou art men's Offspring, thou art
+Knowledge, and thou art the Intellect. Thou art the two Twilights, the
+Night Sleep, Light--both solar and lunar, Beauty, Forgiveness, Mercy,
+and every other thing. Thou dispellest, worshipped by the devotees their
+fetters, ignorance, loss of children and loss of wealth, disease, death,
+and fear. I, who have been deprived of my kingdom, seek thy protection.
+And as I bow to thee with bended head, O Supreme Goddess, grant me
+protection, O thou of eyes like lotus leaves. And be thou as boon-giving
+Truth unto us that are acting according to Truth. And, O Durga, kind as
+thou art unto all that seek thy protection, and affectionate unto all
+thy devotees, grant me protection!'"
+
+    [9] _Mahishasura_, the son of Rambhasura. Durga had to fight for
+    many years before she could slay this formidable _Asura_.
+    The story occurs in the _Markandeya Purana_. To this day, Bengal
+    during the great Durga Puja festival in autumn, worships the
+    goddess with great veneration.
+
+    [10] Literally, one that rescues from difficulty.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus praised by the son of Pandu, the Goddess
+showed herself unto him. And approaching the king, she addressed him in
+these words, 'O mighty armed king, listen, O Lord, to these words of
+mine. Having vanquished and slain the ranks of the Kauravas through my
+grace, victory in battle will soon be thine. Thou shalt again lord it
+over the entire Earth, having made thy dominions destitute of thorns.
+And, O king, thou shalt also, with thy brothers, obtain great happiness.
+And through my grace, joy and health will be thine. And they also in the
+world who will recite my attributes and achievements will be freed from
+their sins, and gratified. I will bestow upon them kingdom, long life,
+beauty of person, and offspring. And they, O king, who will invoke me,
+after thy manner, in exile or in the city, in the midst of battle or of
+dangers from foes, in forests or in inaccessible deserts, in seas or
+mountain fastnesses, there is nothing that they will not obtain in this
+world. And ye sons of Pandu, he will achieve success in every business
+of his that will listen to, or himself recite with devotion, this
+excellent hymn. And through my grace neither the Kuru's spies, nor those
+that dwell in the country of the Matsyas, will succeed in recognising
+you all as long as ye reside in Virata's city!' And having said these
+words unto Yudhishthira, that chastiser of foes, and having arranged for
+the protection of the sons of Pandu, the Goddess disappeared there and
+then."
+
+
+SECTION VII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then tying up in his cloth dice made of gold and set
+with _lapis lazuli_, and holding them below his arm-pit, king
+Yudhishthira,--that illustrious lord of men--that high-souled
+perpetuator of the Kuru race, regarded by kings, irrepressible in might,
+and like unto a snake of virulent poison,--that bull among men, endued
+with strength and beauty and prowess, and possessed of greatness, and
+resembling in form a celestial though now like unto the sun enveloped in
+dense clouds, or fire covered with ashes, first made his appearance when
+the famous king Virata was seated in his court. And beholding with his
+followers that son of Pandu in his court, looking like the moon hid in
+clouds and possessed of a face beautiful as the full moon, king Virata
+addressed his counsellors and the twice-born ones and the charioteers
+and the Vaisyas and others, saying, 'Enquire ye who it is, so like a
+king that looketh on my court for the first time. He cannot be a
+Brahmana. Methinks he is a man of men, and a lord of earth. He hath
+neither slaves, nor cars, nor elephants with him, yet he shineth like
+the very Indra. The marks on his person indicate him to be one whose
+coronal locks have undergone the sacred investiture. Even this is my
+belief. He approacheth me without any hesitation, even as an elephant in
+rut approacheth an assemblage of lotuses!'
+
+"And as the king was indulging in these thoughts, that bull among men,
+Yudhishthira, came before Virata and addressed him, saying, 'O great
+king, know me for a Brahmana who, having lost his all hath come to thee
+for the means of subsistence. I desire, O sinless one, to live here
+beside thee acting under thy commands,[11] O lord.' The king then,
+well-pleased, replied unto him saying, 'Thou art welcome. Do thou then
+accept the appointment thou seekest!' And having appointed the lion
+among kings in the post he had prayed for, king Virata addressed him
+with a glad heart, saying, 'O child, I ask thee from affection, from the
+dominions of what king dost thou come hither? Tell me also truly what is
+thy name and family, and what thou hast a knowledge of.'
+
+    [11] _Kamachara_ is explained by Nilakantha thus, although in
+    other places it bears a quite different meaning.
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'My name is Kanka, and I am a Brahmana belonging to
+the family known by the name of _Vaiyaghra_. I am skilled in casting
+dice, and formerly I was a friend of Yudhishthira.'
+
+"Virata replied, 'I will grant thee whatever boon thou mayst desire. Do
+thou rule the Matsyas.--I shall remain in submission to thee. Even
+cunning gamblers are liked by me. Thou, on the other hand, art like a
+god, and deservest a kingdom.'
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'My first prayer, O lord of earth, is that I may not
+be involved in any dispute (on account of dice) with low people.
+Further, a person defeated by me (at dice) shall not be permitted to
+retain the wealth (won by me). Let this boon be granted to me through
+thy grace.'
+
+"Virata replied, 'I shall certainly slay him who may happen to displease
+thee, and should he be one of the twice-born ones, I shall banish him
+from my dominions. Let the assembled subjects listen! Kanka is as much
+lord of this realm as I myself. Thou (Kanka) shalt be my friend and
+shalt ride the same vehicles as I. And there shall also be at thy
+disposal apparel in plenty, and various kinds of viands and drinks. And
+thou shalt look into my affairs, both internal and external. And for
+thee all my doors shall be open. When men out of employ or of strained
+circumstances will apply to thee, do thou at all hours bring their words
+unto me, and I will surely give them whatever they desire. No fear shall
+be thine as long as thou residest with me.'"
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having thus obtained an interview with Virata's
+king, and received from him boons, that heroic bull among men, began to
+live happily, highly regarded by all. Nor could any one discover him as
+he lived there."
+
+
+SECTION VIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then another endued with the dreadful strength and
+blazing in beauty, approached king Virata, with the playful gait of the
+lion. And holding in hand a cooking ladle and a spoon, as also an
+unsheathed sword of sable hue and without a spot on the blade, he came
+in the guise of a cook illumining all around him by his splendour like
+the sun discovering the whole world. And attired in black and possessed
+of the strength of the king of mountains, he approached the king of the
+Matsyas and stood before him. And beholding that king-like person before
+him, Virata addressed his assembled subjects saying, 'Who is that youth,
+that bull among men, with shoulders broad like those of a lion, and so
+exceedingly beautiful? That person, never seen before, is like the sun.
+Revolving the matter in my mind, I cannot ascertain who he is, nor can I
+with even serious thoughts guess the intention of that bull among men
+(in coming here). Beholding him, it seems to me that he is either the
+king of the Gandharvas, or Purandara himself. Do ye ascertain who it is
+that standeth before my eyes. Let him have quickly what he seeks.' Thus
+commanded by king Virata, his swift-footed messengers went up to the son
+of Kunti and informed that younger brother of Yudhishthira of everything
+the king had said. Then the high-souled son of Pandu, approaching
+Virata, addressed him in words that were not unsuited to his object,
+saying, 'O foremost of kings, I am a cook, Vallava by name. I am skilled
+in dressing dishes. Do thou employ me in the kitchen!'
+
+"Virata said, 'I do not believe, O Vallava, that cooking is thy office.
+Thou resemblest the deity of a thousand eyes; and in grace and beauty
+and prowess, thou shinest among these all as a king!'
+
+"Bhima replied, 'O king of kings, I am thy cook and servant in the first
+place. It is not curries only of which I have knowledge, O monarch,
+although king Yudhishthira always used in days gone by to taste my
+dishes. O lord of earth, I am also a wrestler. Nor is there one that is
+equal to me in strength. And engaging in fight with lions and elephants,
+I shall, O sinless one, always contribute to thy entertainment.'
+
+"Virata said, 'I will even grant thee boons. Thou wilt do what thou
+wishest, as thou describest thyself skilled in it. I do not, however,
+think, that this office is worthy of thee, for thou deservest this
+(entire) earth girt round by the sea. But do as thou likest. Be thou the
+superintendent of my kitchen, and thou art placed at the head of those
+who have been appointed there before by me.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus appointed in the kitchen, Bhima soon
+became the favourite of king Virata. And, O king, he continued to live
+there unrecognised by the other servants of Virata as also by other
+people!"
+
+
+SECTION IX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Binding her black, soft, fine, long and faultless
+tresses with crisped ends into a knotted braid, Draupadi of black eyes
+and sweet smiles, throwing it upon her right shoulders, concealed it by
+her cloth. And she wore a single piece of a black and dirty though
+costly cloth. And dressing herself as a _Sairindhri_, she began to
+wander hither and thither in seeming affliction. And beholding her
+wandering, men and women came to her hastily and addressed her, saying,
+'Who are you? And what do you seek?' And she replied, 'I am a king's
+_Sairindhri_. I desire to serve any one that will maintain me.' But
+beholding her beauty and dress, and hearing also her speech that was so
+sweet, the people could not take her for a maid-servant in search of
+subsistence. And it came to pass that while looking this way and that
+from the terrace, Virata's beloved queen, daughter of the king of
+Kekaya, saw Draupadi. And beholding her forlorn and clad in a single
+piece of cloth, the queen addressed her saying, 'O beautiful one, who
+are you, and what do you seek?' Thereupon, Draupadi answered her,
+saying, 'O foremost of queens, I am _Sairindhri_. I will serve anybody
+that will maintain me.' Then Sudeshna said, 'What you say (regarding
+your profession) can never be compatible with so much beauty. (On the
+contrary) you might well be the mistress of servants both, male and
+female. Your heels are not prominent, and your thighs touch each other.
+And your intelligence is great, and your navel deep, and your words
+solemn. And your great toes, and bust and hips, and back and sides, and
+toe-nails, and palms are all well-developed. And your palms, soles, and
+face are ruddy. And your speech is sweet even as the voice of the swan.
+And your hair is beautiful, and your bust shapely, and you are possessed
+of the highest grace. And your hips and bust are plump. And like a
+Kashmerean mare you are furnished with every auspicious mark. And your
+eye-lashes are (beautiful) bent, and your nether-lip is like the ruddy
+ground. And your waist is slender, and your neck bears lines that
+resemble those of the conch. And your veins are scarcely visible.
+Indeed, your countenance is like the full moon, and your eyes resemble
+the leaves of the autumnal lotus, and your body is fragrant as the lotus
+itself. Verily, in beauty you resemble _Sri_ herself, whose seat is the
+autumnal lotus. Tell me, O beautiful damsel, who thou art. Thou canst
+never be a maidservant. Art thou a _Yakshi_, a Goddess, a _Gandharvi_,
+or an _Apsara_? Art thou the daughter of a celestial, or art thou a
+female _Naga_? Art thou the guardian goddess of some city, a
+_Vidyadhari_, or a _Kinnari_,--or art thou _Rohini_ herself? Or art thou
+Alamvusha, or Misrakesi, Pundarika, or Malini, or the queen of Indra, or
+of Varuna? Or, art thou the spouse of Viswakarma, or of the creative
+Lord himself? Of these goddesses who art renowned in the celestial
+regions, who art thou, O graceful one?'
+
+"Draupadi replied, 'O auspicious lady, I am neither a goddess nor a
+_Gandharvi_, nor a _Yakshi_, nor a _Rakshasi_. I am a maid-servant of
+the _Sairindhri_ class. I tell thee this truly. I know to dress the
+hair, to pound (fragrant substances) for preparing unguents, and also to
+make beautiful and variegated garlands, O beauteous lady, of jasmines
+and lotuses and blue lilies and _Champakas_. Formerly I served Krishna's
+favourite queen Satyabhama, and also Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas
+and the foremost beauty of the Kuru race. I wander about alone, earning
+good food and dress; and as long as I get these, I continue to live in
+the place where they are obtainable. Draupadi herself called me Malini
+(maker of garlands).'
+
+"Hearing this, Sudeshna said, 'I would keep thee upon my head itself, if
+the doubt did not cross my mind that the king himself would be attracted
+towards thee with his whole heart. Attracted by thy beauty, the females
+of the royal household and my maids are looking at thee. What male
+person then is there that can resist thy attraction? Surely, O thou of
+well-rounded hips, O damsel of exquisite charms, beholding thy form of
+superhuman beauty, king Virata is sure to forsake me, and will turn to
+thee with his whole heart. O thou of faultless limbs, O thou that art
+endued with large eyes casting quick glances, he upon whom thou wilt
+look with desire is sure to be stricken. O thou of sweet smiles, O thou
+that possessest a faultless form, he that will behold thee constantly,
+will surely catch the flame. Even as a person that climbs up a tree for
+compassing his own destruction, even as the crab conceives for her own
+ruin, I may, O thou of sweet smiles, bring destruction upon myself by
+harbouring thee.'
+
+"Draupadi replied, 'O fair lady, neither Virata nor any other person
+will be able to have me, for my five youthful husbands, who are
+_Gandharvas_ and sons of a _Gandharva_ king of exceeding power, always
+protect me. None can do me a wrong. It is the wish of my _Gandharva_
+husbands that I should serve only such persons as will not give me to
+touch food already partaken of by another, or tell me to wash their
+feet. Any man that attempts to have me like any common woman, meeteth
+with death that very night. No one can succeed in having me, for, O
+beautiful lady, O thou of sweet smiles, those beloved _Gandharvas_,
+possessed of great energy and mighty strength always protect me
+secretly.'
+
+"Sudeshna said, 'O thou that bringest delight to the heart, if it is as
+thou sayest, I will take thee into my household. Thou shalt not have to
+touch food that hath been partaken of by another, or to wash another's
+feet.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Virata's wife, O Janamejaya,
+Krishna (Draupadi) ever devoted to her lords, began to live in that
+city. Nor could anyone ascertain who in reality she was!"
+
+
+SECTION X
+
+"Vaisampayana said, 'Then clad in a cowherd's dress, and speaking the
+dialect of cowherds, Sahadeva came to the cowpen of Virata's city. And
+beholding that bull among men, who was shining in splendour, the king
+was struck with amazement. And he directed his men to summon Sahadeva.
+And when the latter came, the king addressed him, saying, 'To whom dost
+thou belong? And whence dost thou come? And what work dost thou seek? I
+have never seen thee before. O bull among men, tell me truly about
+thee.'
+
+"Having come before the king that afflicter of foes, Sahadeva answered
+in accents deep as the roar of the cloud, 'I am a Vaisya, Arishtanemi by
+name. I was employed as a cowherd in the service of those bulls of the
+Kuru race, the sons of Pandu. O foremost of men, I intend now to live
+beside thee, for I do not know where those lions among kings, the sons
+of Pritha, are. I cannot live without service, and, O king, I do not
+like to enter into the service of anyone else save thee.'
+
+"Hearing these words, Virata said, 'Thou must either be a Brahmana or a
+Kshatriya. Thou lookest as if thou wert the lord of the entire earth
+surrounded by the sea. Tell me truly, O thou that mowest down thy foes.
+The office of a Vaisya is not fit for thee. Tell me from the dominions
+of what king thou comest, and what thou knowest, and in what capacity
+thou wouldst remain with us, and also what pay thou wouldst accept.'
+
+"Sahadeva answered, 'Yudhishthira, the eldest of the five sons of Pandu,
+had one division of kine numbering eight hundred and ten thousand, and
+another, ten thousand, and another, again, twenty thousand, and so on. I
+was employed in keeping those cattle. People used to call me Tantripala.
+I know the present, the past, and the future of all kine living within
+ten _Yojanas_, and whose _tale_ has been taken. My merits were known to
+that illustrious one, and the Kuru king Yudhishthira was well-pleased
+with me. I am also acquainted with the means which aid kine in
+multiplying within a short time, and by which they may enjoy immunity
+from disease. Also these arts are known to me. I can also single out
+bulls having auspicious marks for which they are worshipped by men, and
+by smelling whose urine, the barren may conceive.'
+
+"Virata said, 'I have a hundred thousand kine divided into distinct
+herds. All those together with their keepers, I place in thy charge.
+Henceforth my beasts will be in thy keep.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O king, undiscovered by that monarch,
+that lord of men, Sahadeva, maintained by Virata, began to live happily.
+Nor did anyone else (besides his brothers) recognise him."
+
+
+SECTION XI
+
+"Vaisampayana said, 'Next appeared at the gate of the ramparts another
+person of enormous size and exquisite beauty decked in the ornaments of
+women, and wearing large ear-rings and beautiful conch-bracelets
+overlaid with gold. And that mighty-armed individual with long and
+abundant hair floating about his neck, resembled an elephant in gait.
+And shaking the very earth with his tread, he approached Virata and
+stood in his court. And beholding the son of the great Indra, shining
+with exquisite lustre and having the gait of a mighty elephant,--that
+grinder of foes having his true form concealed in disguise, entering the
+council-hall and advancing towards the monarch, the king addressed all
+his courtiers, saying, 'Whence doth this person come? I have never heard
+of him before.' And when the men present spoke of the newcomer as one
+unknown to them, the king wonderingly said, 'Possessed of great
+strength, thou art like unto a celestial, and young and of darkish hue,
+thou resemblest the leader of a herd of elephants. Wearing
+conch-bracelets overlaid with gold, a braid, and ear-rings, thou shinest
+yet like one amongst those that riding on chariots wander about equipped
+with mail and bow and arrows and decked with garlands and fine hair. I
+am old and desirous of relinquishing my burden. Be thou like my son, or
+rule thou like myself all the Matsyas. It seemeth to me that such a
+person as thou can never be of the neuter sex.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'I sing, dance, and play on instruments. I am proficient
+in dance and skilled in song. O lord of men, assign me unto (the
+princess) Uttara. I shall be dancing-master to the royal maiden. As to
+how I have come by this form, what will it avail thee to hear the
+account which will only augment my pain? Know me, O king of men, to be
+Vrihannala, a son or daughter without father or mother.'
+
+"Virata said, 'O Vrihannala, I give thee what thou desirest. Instruct my
+daughter, and those like her, in dancing. To me, however, this office
+seemeth unworthy of thee. Thou deservest (the dominion of) the entire
+earth girt round by the ocean.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "The king of the Matsyas then tested Vrihannala
+in dancing, music, and other fine arts, and consulting with his various
+ministers forthwith caused him to be examined by women. And learning
+that this impotency was of a permanent nature, he sent him to the
+maiden's apartments. And there the mighty Arjuna began giving lessons in
+singing and instrumental music to the daughter of Virata, her friends,
+and her waiting-maids, and soon won their good graces. And in this
+manner the self-possessed Arjuna lived there in disguise, partaking of
+pleasures in their company, and unknown to the people within or without
+the palace."
+
+
+SECTION XII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "After a while, another powerful son of Pandu was
+seen making towards king Virata in haste. And as he advanced, he seemed
+to everyone like solar orb emerged from the clouds. And he began to
+observe the horses around. And seeing this, the king of the Matsyas said
+to his followers, 'I wonder whence this man, possessed of the effulgence
+of a celestial, cometh. He looks intently at my steeds. Verily, he must
+be proficient in horse-lore. Let him be ushered into my presence
+quickly. He is a warrior and looks like a god!' And that destroyer of
+foes then went up to the king and accosted him, saying, 'Victory to
+thee, O king, and blest be ye. As a trainer of horses, I have always
+been highly esteemed by kings. I will be a clever keeper of thy horses.'
+
+"Virata said, 'I will give thee vehicles, wealth, and spacious quarters.
+Thou shalt be the manager of my horses. But first tell me whence thou
+comest, who thou art, and how also thou happenest to come here. Tell us
+also all the arts thou art master of.' Nakula replied, 'O mower of
+enemies, know that Yudhishthira is the eldest brother of the five sons
+of Pandu. I was formerly employed by him to keep his horses. I am
+acquainted with the temper of steeds, and know perfectly the art of
+breaking them. I know also how to correct vicious horses, and all the
+methods of treating their diseases. No animal in my hands becometh weak
+or ill. Not to speak of horses, even mares in my hands will never be
+found to be vicious. People called me Granthika by name and so did
+Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu.'
+
+"Virata said, 'Whatever horses I have, I consign to thy care even from
+today. And all the keepers of my horses and all my charioteers will from
+today be subordinate to thee. If this suits thee, say what remuneration
+is desired by thee. But, O thou that resemblest a celestial, the office
+of equerry is not worthy of thee. For thou lookest like a king and I
+esteem thee much. The appearance here hath pleased me as much as if
+Yudhishthira himself were here. Oh, how does that blameless son of Pandu
+dwell and divert himself in the forest, now destitute of servants as he
+is.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "That youth, like unto a chief of the
+_Gandharvas_, was treated thus respectfully by the delighted king
+Virata. And he conducted himself there in such a manner as to make
+himself dear and agreeable to all in the palace. And no one recognised
+him while living under Virata's protection. And it was in this manner
+then the sons of Pandu, the very sight of whom had never been fruitless,
+continued to live in the country of the Matsyas. And true to their
+pledge those lords of the earth bounded by her belt of seas passed their
+days of _incognito_ with great composure notwithstanding their poignant
+sufferings."
+
+
+SECTION XIII
+
+(_Samayapalana Parva_)
+
+Janamejaya said, "While living thus disguised in the city of the
+Matsyas, what did those descendants of the Kuru race endued with great
+prowess, do, O regenerate one!"
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Hear, O king, what those descendants of Kuru did
+while they dwelt thus in disguise in the city of the Matsyas,
+worshipping the king thereof. By the grace of the sage Trinavindu and of
+the high-souled lord of justice, the Pandavas continued to live
+unrecognised by others in the city of Virata. O lord of men,
+Yudhishthira, as courtier made himself agreeable to Virata and his sons
+as also to all the Matsyas. An adept in the mysteries of dice, the son
+of Pandu caused them to play at dice according to his pleasure and made
+them sit together in the dice-hall like a row of birds bound in a
+string. And that tiger among men, king Yudhishthira the Just, unknown to
+the monarch, distributed among his brothers, in due proportion, the
+wealth he won from Virata. And Bhimasena on his part, sold to
+Yudhishthira for price, meat and viands of various kinds which he
+obtained from the king. And Arjuna distributed among all his brothers
+the proceeds of worn-out cloths which he earned in the inner apartments
+of the palace. And Sahadeva, too, who was disguised as a cowherd gave
+milk, curds and clarified butter to his brothers. And Nakula also shared
+with his brothers the wealth the king gave him, satisfied with his
+management of the horses. And Draupadi, herself in a pitiable condition,
+looked after all those brothers and behaved in such a way as to remain
+unrecognized. And thus ministering unto one another's wants, those
+mighty warriors lived in the capital of Virata as hidden from view, as
+if they were once more in their mother's womb. And those lords of men,
+the sons of Pandu, apprehensive of danger from the son of Dhritarashtra,
+continued to dwell there in concealment, watching over their wife
+Draupadi. And after three months had passed away, in the fourth, the
+grand festival in honour of the divine Brahma which was celebrated with
+pomp in the country of the Matsyas, came off. And there came athletes
+from all quarters by thousands, like hosts of celestials to the abode of
+Brahma or of Siva to witness that festival. And they were endued with
+huge bodies and great prowess, like the demons called _Kalakhanjas_. And
+elated with their prowess and proud of their strength, they were highly
+honoured by the king. And their shoulders and waists and necks were like
+those of lions, and their bodies were very clean, and their hearts were
+quite at ease. And they had many a time won success in the lists in the
+presence of kings. And amongst them there was one who towered above the
+rest and challenged them all to a combat. And there was none that dared
+to approach him as he proudly stalked in the arena. And when all the
+athletes stood sad and dispirited, the king of the Matsyas made him
+fight with his cook. And urged by the king, Bhima made up his mind
+reluctantly, for he could not openly disobey the royal behest. And that
+tiger among men then having worshipped the king, entered the spacious
+arena, pacing with the careless steps of a tiger. And the son of Kunti
+then girded up his loins to the great delight of the spectators. And
+Bhima then summoned to the combat that athlete known by the name of
+Jimuta who was like unto the Asura Vritra whose prowess was widely
+known. And both of them were possessed of great courage, and both were
+endued with terrible prowess. And they were like a couple of infuriate
+and huge-bodied elephants, each sixty years old. And those brave tigers
+among men then cheerfully engaged in a wrestling combat, desirous of
+vanquishing each other. And terrible was the encounter that took place
+between them, like the clash of the thunderbolt against the stony
+mountain-breast. And both of them were exceedingly powerful and
+extremely delighted at each other's strength. And desirous of
+vanquishing each other, each stood eager to take advantage of his
+adversary's lapse. And both were greatly delighted and both looked like
+infuriate elephants of prodigious size. And various were the modes of
+attack and defence that they exhibited with their clenched fists.[12]
+And each dashed against the other and flung his adversary to a distance.
+And each cast the other down and pressed him close to the ground. And
+each got up again and squeezed the other in his arms. And each threw the
+other violently off his place by boxing him on the breast. And each
+caught the other by the legs and whirling him round threw him down on
+the ground. And they slapped each other with their palms that struck as
+hard as the thunderbolt. And they also struck each other with their
+outstretched fingers, and stretching them out like spears thrust the
+nails into each other's body. And they gave each other violent kicks.
+And they struck knee and head against head, producing the crash of one
+stone against another. And in this manner that furious combat between
+those warriors raged on without weapons, sustained mainly by the power
+of their arms and their physical and mental energy, to the infinite
+delight of the concourse of spectators. And all people, O king, took
+deep interest in that encounter of those powerful wrestlers who fought
+like Indra and the Asura Vritra. And they cheered both of them with loud
+acclamations of applause. And the broad-chested and long-armed experts
+in wrestling then pulled and pressed and whirled and hurled down each
+other and struck each other with their knees, expressing all the while
+their scorn for each other in loud voices. And they began to fight with
+their bare arms in this way, which were like spiked maces of iron. And
+at last the powerful and mighty-armed Bhima, the slayer of his foes,
+shouting aloud seized the vociferous athlete by the arms even as the
+lion seizes the elephant, and taking him up from the ground and holding
+him aloft, began to whirl him round, to the great astonishment of the
+assembled athletes and the people of Matsya. And having whirled him
+round and round a hundred times till he was insensible, the strong-armed
+Vrikodara dashed him to death on the ground. And when the brave and
+renowned Jimuta was thus killed, Virata and his friends were filled with
+great delight. And in the exuberance of his joy, the noble-minded king
+rewarded Vallava then and there with the liberality of Kuvera. And
+killing numerous athletes and many other men possessed of great bodily
+strength, he pleased the king very much. And when no one could be found
+there to encounter him in the lists, the king made him fight with tigers
+and lions and elephants. And the king also made him battle with furious
+and powerful lions in the harem for the pleasure of the ladies. And
+Arjuna, too, pleased the king and all the ladies of the inner apartments
+by singing and dancing. And Nakula pleased Virata, that best of kings,
+by showing him fleet and well-trained steeds that followed him wherever
+he went. And the king, gratified with him, rewarded him with ample
+presents. And beholding around Sahadeva a herd of well-trained bullocks,
+Virata that bull among men, bestowed upon him also wealth of diverse
+kinds. And, O king, Draupadi distressed to see all those warriors suffer
+pain, sighed incessantly. And it was in this way that those eminent
+persons lived there in disguise, rendering services unto king Virata."
+
+    [12] _Krita_--attack; _Pratikrita_--warding it off;
+    _Sankata_--clenched. _Some_ texts read _Sankatakais_. The
+    meaning then would be 'cased in gauntlets.'
+
+
+SECTION XIV
+
+(_Kichaka-badha Parva_)
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Living in such disguise, those mighty warriors, the
+sons of Pritha, passed ten months in Matsya's city. And, O monarch,
+although herself deserving to be waited upon by others, the daughter of
+Yajnasena, O Janamejaya, passed her days in extreme misery, waiting upon
+Sudeshna. And residing thus in Sudeshna's apartments, the princess of
+Panchala pleased that lady as also the other females of the inner
+apartments. And it came to pass that as the year was about to expire,
+the redoubtable Kichaka, the Commander of Virata's forces, chanced to
+behold the daughter of Drupada. And beholding that lady endued with the
+splendour of a daughter of the celestials, treading the earth like a
+goddess, Kichaka, afflicted with the shafts of Kama, desired to possess
+her. And burning with desire's flame, Virata's general came to Sudeshna
+(his sister) and smilingly addressed her in these words, 'This beauteous
+lady had never before been seen by me in king Virata's abode. This
+damsel maddens me with her beauty, even as a new wine maddens one with
+its fragrance. Tell me, who is this graceful and captivating lady
+possessed of the beauty of a goddess, and whose she is, and whence she
+hath come. Surely, grinding my heart she hath reduced me to subjection.
+It seems to me that (save her) there is no other medicine for my
+illness. O, this fair hand-maid of thine seemeth to me to be possessed
+of the beauty of a goddess. Surely, one like her is ill suited to serve
+thee. Let her rule over me and whatever is mine. O, let her grace my
+spacious and beautiful palace, decked with various ornaments of gold,
+full of viands and drinks in profusion, with excellent plates, and
+containing every kind of plenty, besides elephants and horses and cars
+in myriads.' And having consulted with Sudeshna thus, Kichaka went to
+princess Draupadi, and like a jackal in the forest accosting a lioness,
+spoke unto Krishna these words in a winning voice, 'Who and whose art
+thou, O beautiful one? And O thou of beautiful face, whence hast thou
+come to the city of Virata? Tell me all this, O fair lady. Thy beauty
+and gracefulness are of the very first order and the comeliness of thy
+features is unparalleled. With its loveliness thy face shineth ever like
+the resplendent moon. O thou of fair eye-brows, thy eyes are beautiful
+and large like lotus-petals. Thy speech also, O thou of beautiful limbs,
+resembles the notes of the _cuckoo_. O thou of fair hips, never before
+in this world have I beheld a woman possessed of beauty like thine, O
+thou of faultless features. Art thou Lakshmi herself having her abode in
+the midst of lotuses or, art thou, O slender-waisted one, she who is
+called _Bhuti_[13]. Or, which amongst these--_Hri, Sri, Kirti_ and
+_Kanti_,--art thou, O thou of beautiful face? Or possessed of beauty
+like Rati's, art thou, she who sporteth in the embraces of the God of
+love? O thou that possessest the fairest of eye-brows, thou shinest
+beautifully even like the lovely light of the moon. Who is there in the
+whole world that will not succumb to the influence of desire beholding
+thy face? Endued with unrivalled beauty and celestial grace of the most
+attractive kind, that face of thine is even like the full moon, its
+celestial effulgence resembling his radiant face, its smile resembling
+his soft-light, and its eye-lashes looking like the spokes on his disc.
+Both thy bosoms, so beautiful and well-developed and endued with
+unrivalled gracefulness and deep and well-rounded and without any space
+between them, are certainly worthy of being decked with garlands of
+gold. Resembling in shape the beautiful buds of the lotus, these thy
+breasts, O thou of fair eye-brows, are even as the whips of Kama that
+are urging me forward, O thou of sweet smiles. O damsel of slender
+waist, beholding that waist of thine marked with four wrinkles and
+measuring but a span, and slightly stooping forward because of the
+weight of thy breasts, and also looking on those graceful hips of thine
+broad as the banks of a river, the incurable fever of desire, O
+beauteous lady, afflicteth me sore. The flaming fire of desire, fierce
+as a forest conflagration, and fanned by the hope my heart cherisheth of
+a union with thee is consuming me intensely. O thou of exceeding beauty
+quench thou that flaming fire kindled by Manmatha. Union with thee is a
+rain-charged cloud, and the surrender of thy person is the shower that
+the cloud may drop. O thou of face resembling the moon, the fierce and
+maddening shafts of Manmatha whetted and sharpened by the desire of a
+union with thee, piercing this heart of mine in their impetuous course,
+have penetrated into its core. O black-eyed lady, those impetuous and
+cruel shafts are maddening me beyond endurance. It behoveth thee to
+relieve me from this plight by surrendering thyself to me and favouring
+me with thy embraces. Decked in beautiful garlands and robes and adorned
+with every ornament, sport thou, O sweet damsel, with me to thy fill. O
+thou of the gait of an elephant in rut, deserving as thou art of
+happiness though deprived of it now, it behoveth thee not to dwell here
+in misery. Let unrivalled weal be thine. Drinking various kinds of
+charming and delicious and ambrosial wines, and sporting at thy pleasure
+in the enjoyment of diverse objects of delight, do thou, O blessed lady,
+attain auspicious prosperity. This beauty of thine and this prime of thy
+youth, O sweet lady, are now without their use. For, O beauteous and
+chaste damsel, endued with such loveliness, thou dost not shine, like a
+graceful garland lying unused and unworn. I will forsake all my old
+wives. Let them, O thou of sweet smiles, become thy slaves. And I also,
+O fair damsel, will stay by thee as thy slave, ever obedient to thee, O
+thou of the most handsome face.' Hearing these words of his, Draupadi
+replied, 'In desiring me, a female servant of low extraction, employed
+in the despicable office of dressing hair, O _Suta's_ son, thou desirest
+one that deserves not that honour. Then, again, I am the wife of others.
+Therefore, good betide thee, this conduct of thine is not proper. Do
+thou remember the precept of morality, viz., that persons should take
+delight only in their wedded wives. Thou shouldst not, therefore, by any
+means bend thy heart to adultery. Surely abstaining from improper acts
+is ever the study of those that are good. Overcome by ignorance sinful
+men under the influence of desire come by either extreme infamy or
+dreadful calamity.'"
+
+    [13] _Bhuti, Hri, Sri, Kirti_ and _Kanti_ are respectively the
+    feminine embodiments of Prosperity, Modesty, Beauty, Fame and
+    Loveliness.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by the _Sairindhri_, the wicked
+Kichaka losing control over his senses and overcome by lust, although
+aware of the numerous evils of fornication, evils condemned by everybody
+and sometimes leading to the destruction of life itself,--then spoke
+unto Draupadi, 'It behoveth thee not, O beauteous lady, O thou of
+graceful features, thus to disregard me who am, O thou of sweet smiles,
+under the power of Manmatha on thy account. If now, O timid one, thou
+disregardest me who am under thy influence and who speak to thee so
+fair, thou wilt, O black-eyed damsel, have to repent for it afterwards.
+O thou of graceful eye-brows, the real lord of this entire kingdom, O
+slender-waisted lady, is myself. It is me depending upon whom the people
+of this realm live. In energy and prowess I am unrivalled on earth.
+There is no other man on earth who rivals me in beauty of person, in
+youth, in prosperity, and in the possession of excellent objects of
+enjoyment. Why it is, O auspicious lady, that having it in thy power to
+enjoy here every object of desire and every luxury and comfort without
+its equal, thou preferest servitude. Becoming the mistress of this
+kingdom which I shall confer on thee, O thou of fair face, accept me,
+and enjoy, O beauteous one, all excellent objects of desire.' Addressed
+in these accursed words by Kichaka, that chaste daughter of Drupada
+answered him thus reprovingly, 'Do not, O son of a _Suta_, act so
+foolishly and do not throw away thy life. Know that I am protected by my
+five husbands. Thou canst not have me. I have Gandharvas for my
+husbands. Enraged they will slay thee. Therefore, do thou not bring
+destruction on thyself. Thou intendest to tread along a path that is
+incapable of being trod by men. Thou, O wicked one, art even like a
+foolish child that standing on one shore of the ocean intends to cross
+over to the other. Even if thou enterest into the interior of the earth,
+or soarest into the sky, or rushest to the other shore of the ocean,
+still thou wilt have no escape from the hands of those sky-ranging
+offspring of gods, capable of grinding all foes. Why dost thou today, O
+Kichaka, solicit me so persistently even as a sick person wisheth for
+the night that will put a stop to his existence? Why dost thou desire
+me, even like an infant lying on its mother's lap wishing to catch the
+moon? For thee that thus solicitest their beloved wife, there is no
+refuge either on earth or in sky. O Kichaka, hast thou no sense which
+leads thee to seek thy good and by which thy life may be saved?'"
+
+
+SECTION XV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Rejected thus by the princess, Kichaka, afflicted
+with maddening lust and forgetting all sense of propriety, addressed
+Sudeshna saying, 'Do thou, Kekaya's daughter, so act that thy
+_Sairindhri_ may come into my arms. Do thou, O Sudeshna, adopt the means
+by which the damsel of the gait of an elephant may accept me; I am dying
+of absorbing desire.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing his profuse lamentations, that gentle
+lady, the intelligent queen of Virata, was touched with pity. And having
+taken counsel with her own self and reflected on Kichaka's purpose and
+on the anxiety of Krishna, Sudeshna addressed the _Suta's_ son in these
+words, 'Do thou, on the occasion of some festival, procure viands and
+wines for me. I shall then send my _Sairindhri_ to thee on the pretence
+of bringing wine. And when she will repair thither do thou in solitude,
+free from interruption, humour her as thou likest. Thus soothed, she may
+incline her mind to thee.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, he went out of his sister's
+apartments. And he soon procured wines well-filtered and worthy of a
+king. And employing skilled cooks, he prepared many and various kinds of
+choice viands and delicious drinks and many and various kinds of meat of
+different degrees of excellence. And when all this had been done, that
+gentle lady Sudeshna, as previously counselled by Kichaka, desired her
+_Sairindhri_ to repair to Kichaka's abode, saying, 'Get up, O
+_Sairindhri_ and repair to Kichaka's abode to bring wine, for, O
+beauteous lady, I am afflicted with thirst.' Thereupon the _Sairindhri_
+replied, 'O princess, I shall not be able to repair to Kichaka's
+apartments. Thou thyself knowest, O queen, how shameless he is. O thou
+of faultless limbs, O beauteous lady, in thy palace I shall not be able
+to lead a lustful life, becoming faithless to my husbands. Thou
+rememberest, O gentle lady, O beautiful one, the conditions I had set
+down before entering thy house. O thou of tresses ending in graceful
+curls, the foolish Kichaka afflicted by the god of desire, will, on
+seeing me, offer me insult. Therefore, I will not go to his quarters.
+Thou hast, O princess, many maids under thee. Do thou, good betide thee,
+send one of them. For, surely, Kichaka will insult me.' Sudeshna said,
+'Sent by me, from my abode, surely he will not harm thee.' And having
+said this, she handed over a golden vessel furnished with a cover. And
+filled with apprehension, and weeping, Draupadi mentally prayed for the
+protection of the gods, and set out for Kichaka's abode for fetching
+wine. And she said, 'As I do not know another person save my husbands,
+by virtue of that Truth let Kichaka not be able to overpower me although
+I may approach his presence.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "And that helpless damsel then adored Surya for
+a moment. And Surya, having considered all that she urged, commanded a
+_Rakshasa_ to protect her invisibly. And from that time the _Rakshasa_
+began to attend upon that blameless lady under any circumstances. And
+beholding Krishna in his presence like a frightened doe, the _Suta_ rose
+up from his seat, and felt the joy that is felt by a person wishing to
+cross to the other shore, when he obtains a boat."
+
+
+SECTION XVI
+
+"Kichaka said, 'O thou of tresses ending in beautiful curls, thou art
+welcome. Surely, the night that is gone hath brought me an auspicious
+day, for I have got thee today as the mistress of my house. Do what is
+agreeable to me. Let golden chains, and conchs and bright ear-rings made
+of gold, manufactured in various countries, and beautiful rubies and
+gems, and silken robes and deer-skins, be brought for thee. I have also
+an excellent bed prepared for thee. Come, sitting upon it do thou drink
+with me the wine prepared from the honey flower.' Hearing these words,
+Draupadi said, 'I have been sent to thee by the princess for taking away
+wine. Do thou speedily bring me wine, for she told me that she is
+exceedingly thirsty.' At this, Kichaka said, 'O gentle lady, others will
+carry what the princess wants.' And saying this, the _Suta's_ son caught
+hold of Draupadi's right arm. And at this, Draupadi exclaimed, 'As I
+have never, from intoxication of the senses, been unfaithful to my
+husbands even at heart, by that Truth, O wretch, I shall behold thee
+dragged and lying powerless on the ground.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Seeing that large-eyed lady reproving him in
+that strain, Kichaka suddenly seized her by the end of her upper garment
+as she attempted to run away. And seized with violence by Kichaka, the
+beautiful princess, unable to tolerate it, and with frame trembling with
+wrath, and breathing quickly, dashed him to the ground. And dashed to
+the ground thus, the sinful wretch tumbled down like a tree whose roots
+had been cut. And having thrown Kichaka down on the ground when the
+latter had seized her, she, trembling all over rushed to the court,
+where king Yudhishthira was, for protection. And while she was running
+with all her speed, Kichaka (who followed her), seizing her by the hair,
+and bringing her down on the ground, kicked her in the very presence of
+the king. Thereupon, O Bharata, the _Rakshasa_ that had been appointed
+by Surya to protect Draupadi, gave Kichaka a shove with a force mighty
+as that of the wind. And overpowered by the force of _Rakshasa_, Kichaka
+reeled and fell down senseless on the ground, even like an uprooted
+tree. And both Yudhishthira and Bhimasena who were seated there, beheld
+with wrathful eyes that outrage on Krishna by Kichaka. And desirous of
+compassing the destruction of the wicked Kichaka, the illustrious Bhima
+gnashed his teeth in rage. And his forehead was covered with sweat, and
+terrible wrinkles appeared thereon. And a smoky exhalation shot forth
+from his eyes, and his eye-lashes stood on end. And that slayer of
+hostile heroes pressed his forehead with his hands. And impelled by
+rage, he was on the point of starting up with speed. Thereat king
+Yudhishthira, apprehensive of discovery, squeezed his thumbs and
+commanded Bhima to forbear. And Bhima who then looked like an infuriate
+elephant eyeing a large tree, was thus forbidden by his elder brother.
+And the latter said, 'Lookest thou, O cook, for trees for fuel. If thou
+art in need of faggots, then go out and fell trees.' And the weeping
+Draupadi of fair hips, approaching the entrance of the court, and seeing
+her melancholy lords, desirous yet of keeping up the disguise duty-bound
+by their pledge, with eyes burning in fire, spoke these words unto the
+king of the Matsyas, 'Alas, the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked today the
+proud and beloved wife of those whose foe can never sleep in peace even
+if four kingdoms intervene between him and them. Alas, the son of a
+_Suta_ hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those truthful
+personages, who are devoted to Brahmanas and who always give away
+without asking any thing in gift. Alas! the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked
+today the proud and beloved wife of those, the sounds of whose
+kettle-drums and the twangs of whose bow-strings are ceaselessly heard.
+Alas, the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife
+of those who are possessed of abundant energy and might, and who are
+liberal in gifts and proud of their dignity. Alas, the son of a _Suta_
+hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those who, if they had
+not been fettered by the ties of duty, could destroy this entire world.
+Where, alas, are those mighty warriors today who, though living in
+disguise, have always granted protection unto those that solicit it? Oh,
+why do those heroes today, endued as they are with strength and
+possessed of immeasurable energy, quietly suffer, like eunuchs, their
+dear and chaste wife to be thus insulted by a _Suta's_ son? Oh, where is
+that wrath of theirs, that prowess, and that energy, when they quietly
+bear their wife to be thus insulted by a wicked wretch? What can I (a
+weak woman) do when Virata, deficient in virtue, coolly suffereth my
+innocent self to be thus wronged by a wretch? Thou dost not, O king, act
+like a king towards this Kichaka. Thy behaviour is like that of a
+robber, and doth not shine in a court. That I should thus be insulted in
+thy very presence, O Matsya, is highly improper. Oh, let all the
+courtiers here look at this violence of Kichaka. Kichaka is ignorant of
+duty and morality, and Matsya also is equally so. These courtiers also
+that wait upon such a king are destitute of virtue.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "With these and other words of the same kind the
+beautiful Krishna with tearful eyes rebuked the king of the Matsyas. And
+hearing her, Virata said, 'I do not know what your dispute has been out
+of our sight. Not knowing the true cause how can I show my
+discrimination?' Then the courtiers, having learnt every thing,
+applauded Krishna, and they all exclaimed, 'Well done!' 'Well done!' and
+censured Kichaka. And the courtiers said, 'That person who owneth this
+large-eyed lady having every limb of hers endued with beauty for his
+wife, possesseth what is of exceeding value and hath no occasion to
+indulge in any grief. Surely, such a damsel of transcendent beauty and
+limbs perfectly faultless is rare among men. Indeed, it seems to us that
+she is a goddess.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "And while the courtiers, having beheld Krishna
+(under such circumstances), were applauding her thus, Yudhishthira's
+forehead, from ire, became covered with sweat. And that bull of the Kuru
+race then addressed that princess, his beloved spouse, saying, 'Stay not
+here, O Sairindhri; but retire to the apartments of Sudeshna. The wives
+of heroes bear affliction for the sake of their husbands, and undergoing
+toil in ministering unto their lords, they at last attain to region
+where their husbands may go. Thy Gandharva husbands, effulgent as the
+sun, do not, I imagine, consider this as an occasion for manifesting
+their wrath, inasmuch as they do not rush to thy aid. O _Sairindhri_,
+thou art ignorant of the timeliness of things, and it is for this that
+thou weepest as an actress, besides interrupting the play of dice in
+Matsya's court. Retire, O _Sairindhri_; the Gandharvas will do what is
+agreeable to thee. And they will surely display thy woe and take the
+life of him that hath wronged thee.' Hearing these words the
+_Sairindhri_ replied, 'They of whom I am the wedded wife are, I ween,
+extremely kind. And as the eldest of them all is addicted to dice, they
+are liable to be oppressed by all.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "And having said this, the fair-hipped Krishna
+with dishevelled hair and eyes red in anger, ran towards the apartments
+of Sudeshna. And in consequence of having wept long her face looked
+beautiful like the lunar disc in the firmament, emerged from the clouds.
+And beholding her in that condition, Sudeshna asked, 'Who, O beauteous
+lady, hath insulted thee? Why, O amiable damsel, dost thou weep? Who,
+gentle one, hath done thee wrong? Whence is this thy grief?' Thus
+addressed, Draupadi said, 'As I went to bring wine for thee, Kichaka
+struck me in the court in the very presence of the king, as if in the
+midst of a solitary wood.' Hearing this, Sudeshna said, 'O thou of
+tresses ending in beautiful curls, as Kichaka, maddened by lust hath
+insulted thee that art incapable of being possessed by him, I shall
+cause him to be slain if thou wishest it.' Thereupon Draupadi answered,
+'Even others will slay him,--even they whom he hath wronged. I think it
+is clear that he will have to go to the abode of Yama this very day!'"
+
+
+SECTION XVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Thus insulted by the _Suta's_ son, that illustrious
+princess, the beautiful Krishna, eagerly wishing for the destruction of
+Virata's general, went to her quarters. And Drupada's daughter of dark
+hue and slender waist then performed her ablutions. And washing her body
+and cloths with water Krishna began to ponder weepingly on the means of
+dispelling her grief. And she reflected, saying, 'What am I to do?
+Whither shall I go? How can my purpose be effected?' And while she was
+thinking thus, she remembered Bhima and said to herself, 'There is none
+else, save Bhima, that can today accomplish the purpose on which my
+heart is set!' And afflicted with great grief, the large-eyed and
+intelligent Krishna possessed of powerful protectors then rose up at
+night, and leaving her bed speedily proceeded towards the quarters of
+Bhimasena, desirous of beholding her lord. And possessed of great
+intelligence, the daughter of Drupada entered her husband's quarters,
+saying, 'How canst thou sleep while that wretched commander of Virata's
+forces, who is my foe, yet liveth, having perpetrated today _that_ (foul
+act)?'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then the chamber where Bhima slept, breathing
+hard like a lion, being filled with the beauty of Drupada's daughter and
+of the high-souled Bhima, blazed forth in splendour. And Krishna of
+sweet smiles, finding Bhimasena in the cooking apartments, approached
+him with the eagerness of a three-year old cow brought up in the woods,
+approaching a powerful bull, in her first season, or of a she-crane
+living by the water-side approaching her mate in the pairing season. And
+the Princess of Panchala then embraced the second son of Pandu, even as
+a creeper embraces a huge and mighty _Sala_ on the banks of the Gomati.
+And embracing him with her arms, Krishna of faultless features awaked
+him as a lioness awaketh a sleeping lion in a trackless forest. And
+embracing Bhimasena even as a she-elephant embraceth her mighty mate,
+the faultless Panchali addressed him in voice sweet as the sound of a
+stringed instrument emitting _Gandhara_ note. And she said, 'Arise,
+arise! Why dost thou, O Bhimasena, lie down as one dead? Surely, he that
+is not dead, never suffereth a wicked wretch that hath disgraced his
+wife, to live.' And awakened by the princess, Bhima of mighty arms, then
+rose up, and sat upon his couch overlaid with a rich bed. And he of the
+Kuru race then addressed the princess--his beloved wife, saying, 'For
+what purpose hast thou come hither in such a hurry? Thy colour is gone
+and thou lookest lean and pale. Tell me everything in detail. I must
+know the truth. Whether it be pleasurable or painful, agreeable, or
+disagreeable, tell me all. Having heard everything, I shall apply the
+remedy. I alone, O Krishna, am entitled to thy confidence in all things,
+for it is I who deliver thee from perils again and again! Tell me
+quickly what is thy wish, and what is the purpose that is in thy view,
+and return thou to thy bed before others awake.'"
+
+
+SECTION XVIII
+
+"Draupadi said, 'What grief hath she not who hath Yudhishthira for her
+husband? Knowing all my griefs, why dost thou ask me? The _Pratikamin_
+dragged me to the court in the midst of an assembly of courtiers,
+calling me a slave. That grief, O Bharata, consumeth me. What other
+princess, save Draupadi, would live having suffered such intense misery?
+Who else, save myself, could bear such second insult as the wicked
+Saindhava offered me while residing in the forest? Who else of my
+position, save myself, could live, having been kicked by Kichaka in the
+very sight of the wicked king of the Matsyas? Of what value is life, O
+Bharata, when thou, O son of Kunti, dost not think me miserable,
+although I am afflicted with such woes? That vile and wicked wretch, O
+Bharata, known by the name of Kichaka, who is the brother-in-law of king
+Virata and the commander of his forces, every day, O tiger among men,
+addresses me who am residing in the palace as a _Sairindhri_, saying,
+_Do thou become my wife_.--Thus solicited, O slayer of foes, by that
+wretch deserving to be slain, my heart is bursting like a fruit ripened
+in season. Censure thou that elder brother of thine addicted to
+execrable dice, through whose act alone I have been afflicted with such
+woe. Who else, save him that is a desperate gambler, would play, giving
+up kingdom and everything including even myself, in order to lead a life
+in the woods? If he had gambled morning and evening for many years
+together, staking _nishkas_ by thousand and other kinds of substantial
+wealth, still his silver, and gold, and robes, and vehicles, and teams,
+and goats, and sheep, and multitudes of steeds and mares and mules would
+not have sustained any diminution. But now deprived of prosperity by the
+rivalry of dice, he sits dumb like a fool, reflecting on his own
+misdeeds. Alas, he who, while sojourning, was followed by ten thousand
+elephants adorned with golden garlands now supports himself by casting
+dice. That Yudhishthira who at Indraprastha was adored by kings of
+incomparable prowess by hundreds of thousands, that mighty monarch in
+whose kitchen a hundred thousand maid-servants, plate in hand, used
+every day to feed numerous guests day and night, that best of liberal
+men, who gave (every day) a thousand _nishkas_, alas, even he
+overwhelmed with woe in consequence of gambling which is the root of all
+evil, now supporteth himself by casting dice. Bards and encomiasts by
+thousands decked with ear-rings set with brilliant gems, and gifted with
+melodious voice, used to pay him homage morning and evening. Alas, that
+Yudhishthira, who was daily waited upon by a thousand sages of ascetic
+merit, versed in the _Vedas_ and having every desire gratified, as his
+courtiers,--that Yudhishthira who maintained eighty-eight thousands of
+domestic _Snatakas_ with thirty maid-servants assigned unto each, as
+also ten thousand _yatis_ not accepting anything in gift and with vital
+seed drawn up,--alas, even that mighty king now liveth in such guise.
+That Yudhishthira who is without malice, who is full of kindness, and
+who giveth every creature his due, who hath all these excellent
+attributes, alas--even he now liveth in such guise. Possessed of
+firmness and unbaffled prowess, with heart disposed to give every
+creature his due, king Yudhishthira, moved by compassion, constantly
+maintained in his kingdom the blind, the old, the helpless, the
+parentless and all others in his dominions in such distress. Alas, that
+Yudhishthira becoming a dependant and a servant of Matsya, a caster of
+dice in his court, now calls himself Kanka. He unto whom while residing
+at Indraprastha, all the rulers of earth used to pay timely
+tribute,--alas, even he now begs for subsistence at another's hands. He
+to whom the kings of the earth were in subjection,--alas, even that king
+having lost his liberty, liveth in subjection to others. Having dazzled
+the entire earth like the sun by his energy, that Yudhishthira, alas, is
+now a courtier of king Virata. O Pandu's son, that Pandava who was
+respectfully waited upon in court by kings and sages, behold him now
+waiting upon another. Alas, beholding Yudhishthira a courtier sitting
+beside another and breathing adulatory speeches to the other, who can
+help being afflicted with grief? And beholding the highly wise and
+virtuous Yudhishthira, undeserving as he is of serving others, actually
+serving another for sustenance, who can help being afflicted with grief?
+And, O hero, that Bharata who was worshipped in court by the entire
+earth, do thou now behold him worshipping another. Why then, O Bharata,
+dost thou not regard me as one afflicted with diverse miseries, like one
+forlorn and immersed in a sea of sorrow?'"
+
+
+SECTION XIX
+
+"Draupadi said, 'This O Bharata, that I am going to tell thee is another
+great grief of mine. Thou shouldst not blame me, for I tell thee this
+from sadness of heart. Who is there whose grief is not enhanced at sight
+of thee, O bull of the Bharata race, engaged in the ignoble office of a
+cook, so entirely beneath thee and calling thyself as one _of Vallava_
+caste? What can be sadder than this, that people should know thee as
+Virata's cook, Vallava by name, and therefore one that is sunk in
+servitude? Alas, when thy work of the kitchen is over, thou humbly
+sittest beside Virata, calling thyself as Vallava the cook, then
+despondency seizeth my heart. When the king of kings in joy maketh thee
+fight with elephants, and the women of the inner apartments (of the
+palace) laugh all the while, then I am sorely distressed. When thou
+fightest in the inner apartments with lions, tigers, and buffaloes, the
+princess Kaikeyi looking on, then I almost swoon away. And when Kaikeyi
+and those maidservants, leaving their seats, come to assist me and find
+that instead of suffering any injury in limbs mine is only a swoon, the
+princess speaks unto her women, saying, 'Surely, it is from affection
+and the duty begot of intercourse that this lady of sweet smiles
+grieveth for the exceedingly powerful cook when he fights with the
+beasts. Sairindhri is possessed of great beauty and Vallava also is
+eminently handsome. The heart of woman is hard to know, and they, I
+fancy, are deserving of each other. It is, therefore, likely that the
+Sairindhri invariably weepeth (at such times) on account of her
+connection with her lover. And then, they both have entered this royal
+family at the same time. And speaking such words she always upbraideth
+me. And beholding me wroth at this, she suspects me to be attached to
+thee.' When she speaketh thus, great is the grief that I feel. Indeed,
+on beholding thee, O Bhima of terrible prowess, afflicted with such
+calamity, sunk as I already am in grief on account of Yudhishthira, I do
+not desire to live. That youth who on a single car had vanquished all
+celestials and men, is now, alas, the dancing master of king Virata's
+daughter. That Pritha's son of immeasurable soul, who had gratified Agni
+in the forest of Khandava, is now living in the inner apartments (of a
+palace) like fire hid in a well. Alas, the bull among men, Dhananjaya,
+who was ever the terror of foes, is now living in a guise that is
+despaired by all. Alas, he whose mace-like arms have been cicatrized in
+consequence of the strokes of his bow-string, alas that Dhananjaya is
+passing the days in grief covering his wrists with bracelets of conchs.
+Alas, that Dhananjaya the twang of whose bow-string and the sound of
+whose leathern fences made every foe tremble, now entertains only
+gladdened women with his songs. Oh, that Dhananjaya whose head was
+formerly decked with a diadem of solar splendour, is now wearing braids
+ending in unsightly curls. O Bhima, beholding that terrible bowman,
+Arjuna, now wearing braids and in the midst of women, my heart is
+stricken with woe. That high-souled hero who is master of all the
+celestial weapons, and who is the repository of all the sciences, now
+weareth ear-rings (like one of the fair sex). That youth whom kings of
+incomparable prowess could not overpower in fight, even as the waters of
+the mighty ocean cannot overleap the continents, is now the
+dancing-master of king Virata's daughters and waits upon them in
+disguise. O Bhima, that Arjuna the clatter of whose car-wheels caused
+the entire earth with her mountains and forests, her mobile and immobile
+things to tremble, and whose birth dispelled all the sorrows of Kunti,
+that exalted hero, that younger brother of thine, O Bhimasena, now
+maketh me weep for him. Beholding him coming towards me, decked in
+golden ear-rings and other ornaments, and wearing on the wrists
+bracelets of conchs, my heart is afflicted with despondency. And
+Dhananjaya who hath not a bowman equal unto him on earth in prowess, now
+passeth his days in singing, surrounded by women. Beholding that son of
+Pritha who in virtue, heroism and truth, was the most admired in the
+world, now living in the guise of a woman, my heart is afflicted with
+sorrow. When I behold, the godlike Partha in the music-hall like an
+elephant with rent temples surrounded by she-elephants in the midst of
+females, waiting before Virata the king of the Matsyas, then I lose all
+sense of directions. Surely, my mother-in-law doth not know Dhananjaya
+to be afflicted with such extreme distress. Nor doth she know that
+descendant of the Kuru race, Ajatasatru, addicted to disastrous dice, to
+be sunk in misery. O Bharata, beholding the youngest of you all,
+Sahadeva, superintending the kine, in the guise of a cowherd, I grow
+pale. Always thinking of Sahadeva's plight, I cannot, O Bhimasena,
+obtain sleep,--what to speak you of the rest? I do not know, O
+mighty-armed one, what sin Sahadeva may have committed for which that
+hero of unbaffled prowess suffereth such misery. O foremost of the
+Bharatas, beholding that beloved brother of thine, that bull among men,
+employed by Matsya in looking after his kine, I am filled with woe.
+Seeing that hero of proud disposition gratifying Virata, by living at
+the head of his cowherds, attired in robes dyed in red, I am attacked
+with fever. My mother-in-law always applauds the heroic Sahadeva as one
+possessed of nobility, excellent behaviour, and rectitude of conduct.
+Ardently attached to her sons, the weeping Kunti stood, embracing
+Sahadeva while he was about to set out (with us) for the great forest.
+And she addressed me saying, "Sahadeva is bashful and sweet-speeched,
+and virtuous. He is also my favourite child. Therefore, O Yajnaseni,
+tend him in the forest day and night. Delicate and brave, devoted to the
+king, and always worshipping his elder brother, do thou, O Panchali,
+feed him thyself." O Pandava, beholding that foremost of warriors,
+Sahadeva, engaged in tending kine, and sleeping at night on calf-skins,
+how can I bear to live? He again who is crowned with the three
+attributes of beauty, arms, and intelligence, is now the superintendent
+of Virata's steeds. Behold the change brought on by time. Granthika
+(Nakula), at sight of whom hostile hosts fled from the field of battle,
+now traineth horses in the presence of the king, driving them with the
+speed. Alas, I now see that handsome youth wait upon the gorgeously
+decked and excellent Virata, the king of the Matsyas, and display horses
+before him. O son of Pritha, afflicted as I am with all these hundred
+kinds of misery on account of Yudhishthira, why dost thou, O chastiser
+of foes, yet deem me happy? Listen now to me, O son of Kunti, as I tell
+thee of other woes far surpassing these. What can be sadder to me than
+miseries so various as these should emaciate me while ye are alive.'"
+
+
+SECTION XX
+
+"Draupadi said, 'Alas, on account of that desperate gambler, I am now
+under Sudeshna's command, living in the palace in the guise of a
+_Sairindhri_. And, O chastiser of foes, behold the plight of poignant
+woe which I, a princess, am now in. I am living in expectation of the
+close of this stated period.[14] The extreme of misery, therefore, is
+mine. Success of purpose, victory, and defeat, as regards mortals, are
+transitory. It is in this belief that I am living in expectation of the
+return of prosperity to my husbands. Prosperity and adversity revolve
+like a wheel. It is in this belief that I am living in expectation of
+the return of prosperity to my husbands. That cause which bringeth on
+victory, may bring defeat as well. I live in this hope. Why dost thou
+not, O Bhimasena, regard me as one dead? I have heard that persons that
+give may beg: that they who slay may be slain; and that they who
+over-throw others may themselves be overthrown by foes. Nothing is
+difficult for Destiny and none can over-ride Destiny. It is for this
+that I am awaiting the return of favourable fortune. As a tank once
+dried, is filled up once again, so hoping for a change for the better, I
+await the return of prosperity. When one's business that hath been
+well-provided for is seen to be frustrated, a truly wise person should
+never strive for bringing back good fortune. Plunged as I am an sorrow,
+asked or unasked by thee to explain the purpose of these words spoken by
+me, I shall tell thee everything. Queen of the sons of Pandu and
+daughter of Drupada, who else, save myself, would wish to live, having
+fallen into such a plight? O represser of foes, the misery, therefore,
+that hath overtaken me, hath really humiliated the entire _Kuru_ race,
+the Panchalas, and the sons of Pandu. Surrounded by numerous brothers
+and father-in-law and sons, what other woman having such cause for joy,
+save myself, would be afflicted with such woe? Surely, I must, in my
+childhood, have committed act highly offensive to _Dhatri_ through whose
+displeasure, O bull of the Bharata race, I have been visited with such
+consequences. Mark, O son of Pandu, the pallour that hath come over my
+complexion which not even a life in the woods fraught as it was with
+extreme misery, could bring about. Thou, O Pritha's son, knowest what
+happiness, O Bhima, was formerly mine. Even I, who was such have now
+sunk into servitude. Sorely distressed, I can find no rest. That the
+mighty-armed and terrible bowman, Dhananjaya the son of Pritha, should
+now live like a fire that hath been put out, maketh me think of all this
+as attributable to Destiny. Surely, O son of Pritha, it is impossible
+for men to understand the destinies of creatures (in this world). I,
+therefore, think this downfall of yours as something that could not be
+averted by forethought. Alas, she who hath you all, that resemble Indra
+himself to attend to her comforts--even she, so chaste and exalted, hath
+now to attend to the comforts of others, that are to her far inferior in
+rank. Behold, O Pandava, my plight. It is what I do not deserve. You are
+alive, yet behold this inversion of order that time hath brought. She
+who had the whole Earth to the verge of the sea under her control, is
+now under the control of Sudeshna and living in fear of her. She who had
+dependants to walk both before and behind her, alas, now herself walketh
+before and behind Sudeshna. This, O Kaunteya, is another grief of mine
+that is intolerable. O, listen to it. She who had never, save for Kunti,
+pounded unguents even for her own use, now, good betide thee, poundeth
+sandal (for others). O Kaunteya, behold these hands of mine which were
+not so before.' Saying this she showed him her hands marked with corns.
+And she continued, 'she who had never feared Kunti herself nor thee and
+thy brothers, now standeth in fear before Virata as a slave, anxious of
+what that king of kings may say unto her regarding the proper
+preparation of the unguents, for Matsya liketh not sandal pounded by
+others.'"
+
+    [14] What Draupadi means is that instead of passing her days in
+    joy and happiness, instead of being able to wish time to be
+    stationary with her, she is obliged in consequence of her
+    misery, to wish time to pass off quickly.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Relating her woes thus, O Bharata, unto
+Bhimasena, Krishna began to weep silently, casting her eyes on Bhima.
+And then, with words choked in tears, and sighing repeatedly, she
+addressed Bhima in these words, powerfully stirring his heart, 'Signal,
+O Bhima, must have been my offence of old unto the gods, for,
+unfortunate as I am. I am yet alive, when, O Pandava, I should die.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then that slayer of hostile heroes, Vrikodara,
+covering his face with those delicate hands of his wife marked with
+corns, began to weep. And that mighty son of Kunti, holding the hands of
+Draupadi in his, shed copious tears. And afflicted with great woe, he
+spoke these words."
+
+
+SECTION XXI
+
+"Bhima said, 'Fie on the might of my arms and fie on the _Gandiva_ of
+Phalguna, inasmuch as thy hands, red before, now become covered with
+corns. I would have caused a carnage in Virata's court but for the fact
+that Kunti's son eyed me (by way of forbidding it), or like a mighty
+elephant, I would, without ado, have crushed the head of Kichaka
+intoxicated with the pride of sovereignty. When, O Krishna, I beheld
+thee kicked by Kichaka, I conceived at that instant a wholesale
+slaughter of the Matsyas. Yudhishthira, however, forbade me by a glance,
+and, O beauteous lady, understanding his intention I have kept quiet.
+That we have been deprived of our kingdom, that I have not yet slain the
+Kurus, that I have not yet taken the heads of Suyodhana and Karna, and
+Suvala's son Sakuni, and the wicked Duhsasana, these acts and omissions,
+O lady, are consuming every limb of mine. The thought of those abides in
+my heart like a javelin implanted in it. O thou of graceful hips, do not
+sacrifice virtue, and, O noble-hearted lady, subdue thy wrath. If king
+Yudhishthira hear from thee such rebukes, he will surely put an end to
+his life. If also Dhananjaya and the twins hear thee speak thus, even
+they will renounce life. And if these, O slender-waisted maiden, give up
+life, I also shall not be able to bear my own. In olden days Sarjati's
+daughter, the beautiful Sukanya, followed into the forest Chyavana of
+Bhrigu's race, whose mind was under complete control, and over whom,
+while engaged in ascetic meditation, the ants had built a hill. Thou
+mayst have heard that Indrasena also who in beauty was like unto
+_Narayani_ herself, followed her husband aged a thousand years. Thou
+mayst have heard that Janaka's daughter Sita, the princess of Videha,
+followed her lord while living in dense woods. And that lady of graceful
+hips, Rama's beloved wife, afflicted with calamities and persecuted by
+the Rakshasas, at length regained the company of Rama. Lopamudra also, O
+timid one, endued with youth and beauty, followed Agastya, renouncing
+all the objects of enjoyment unattainable by men. And the intelligent
+and faultless Savitri also followed the heroic Satyavan, the son of
+Dyumatsena, alone into the world of Yama. Even like these chaste and
+beautiful ladies that I have named, thou, O blessed girl, bloomest with
+every virtue. Do thou spend a short while more that is measured by even
+a half month. And when the thirteenth year is complete, thou wilt
+(again) become the Queen regnant of a king.' Hearing these words,
+Draupadi said, 'Unable, O Bhima, to bear my griefs, it is from grief
+alone that I have shed these tears. I do not censure Yudhishthira. Nor
+is there any use in dwelling on the past. O Bhima of mighty strength,
+come quickly forward to the work of the hour. O Bhima, Kaikeyi, jealous
+of my beauty, always pains me by her endeavours to prevent the king from
+taking a fancy to me. And understanding this disposition of hers, the
+wicked-souled Kichaka of immoral ways constantly solicits me himself.
+Angry with him for this, but then suppressing my wrath I answer that
+wretch deprived of sense by lust, saying, "O Kichaka, protect thyself. I
+am the beloved queen and wife of five Gandharvas. Those heroes in wrath
+will slay thee that art so rash." Thus addressed, Kichaka of wicked soul
+replied unto me, saying, "I have not the least fear of the Gandharvas, O
+Sairindhri of sweet smiles. I will slay hundred thousand Gandharvas,
+encountering them in battle. Therefore, O timid one, do thou consent."
+Hearing all this, I again addressed the lust-afflicted Suta, saying,
+"Thou art no match for those illustrious Gandharvas. Of respectable
+percentage and good disposition, I ever adhere to virtue and never wish
+for the death of any one. It is for this that thou I vest, O Kichaka!"
+At this, that wight of wicked soul burst out into a loud laughter. And
+it came to pass that Kaikeyi previously urged by Kichaka, and moved by
+affection for her brother, and desirous of doing him a good turn,
+despatched me to him, saying "Do thou, O Sairindhri, fetch wine from
+Kichaka's quarters!" On beholding me the Suta's son at first addressed
+me in sweet words, and when that failed, he became exceedingly enraged,
+and intended to use violence. Understanding the purpose of the wicked
+Kichaka, I speedily rushed towards the place where the king was. Felling
+me on the ground the wretch then kicked me in the very presence of the
+king himself and before the eyes of Kanka and many others, including
+charioteers, and royal favourites, and elephant-riders, and citizens. I
+rebuked the king and Kanka again and again. The king, however, neither
+prevented Kichaka, nor inflicted any chastisement on him. The principal
+ally of king Virata in war, the cruel Kichaka reft of virtue is loved by
+both the king and the queen. O exalted one, brave, proud, sinful,
+adulterous, and engrossed in all objects of enjoyment, he earneth
+immense wealth (from the king), and robs the possessions of others even
+if they cry in distress. And he never walketh in the path of virtue, nor
+doth he any virtuous act. Of wicked soul, and vicious disposition,
+haughty and villainous, and always afflicted by the shafts of Kama,
+though repulsed repeatedly, if he sees me again, he will outrage me. I
+shall then surely renounce my life. Although striving to acquire virtue
+(on my death) your highly meritorious acts will come to naught. Ye that
+are now obeying your pledge, ye will lose your wife. By protecting one's
+wife one's offspring are protected, and by protecting one's offspring,
+one's own self is protected. And it is because one begets one's own self
+in one's wife that the wife is called _Jaya_[15] by the wise. The
+husband also should be protected by the wife, thinking,--_How else will
+he take his birth in my womb_?--I have heard it from Brahmanas
+expounding the duties of the several orders that a Kshatriya hath no
+other duty than subduing enemies. Alas, Kichaka kicked me in the very
+presence of Yudhishthira the Just, and also of thyself, O Bhimasena of
+mighty strength. It was thou, O Bhima, that didst deliver me from the
+terrible Jatasura. It was thou also that with thy brothers didst
+vanquish Jayadratha. Do thou now slay this wretch also who hath insulted
+me. Presuming upon his being a favourite of the king, Kichaka, O
+Bharata, hath enhanced my woe. Do thou, therefore, smash this lustful
+wight even like an earthen pot dashed upon a stone. If, O Bharata,
+tomorrow's sun sheds his rays upon him who is the source of many griefs
+of mine, I shall, surely, mixing poison (with some drink), drink it
+up,--for I never shall yield to Kichaka. Far better it were, O Bhima,
+that I should die before thee.'"
+
+    [15] _Jayate asyas_--i.e., she from whom one is born.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, Krishna, hiding her face in
+Bhima's breast began to weep. And Bhima, embracing her, consoled her to
+the best of his power. And having abundantly consoled that
+slender-waisted daughter of Drupada by means of words fraught with grave
+reason and sense, he wiped with his hands her face flooded with tears.
+And thinking of Kichaka and licking with his tongue the corners of his
+mouth, Bhima, filled with wrath thus spake to that distressed lady."
+
+
+SECTION XXII
+
+"Bhima said, 'I will, O timid one, do even as thou sayest. I will
+presently slay Kichaka with all his friends. O Yajnaseni of sweet
+smiles, tomorrow evening, renouncing sorrow and grief, manage to have a
+meeting with Kichaka. The dancing-hall that the king of the Matsya hath
+caused to be erected is used by the girls for dancing during the day.
+They repair, however, to their homes at night. There in that hall, is an
+excellent and well-placed wooden bed-stead. Even there I will make him
+see the spirits of his deceased grandsires. But, O beautiful one, when
+thou holdest converse with him, thou must manage it so that others may
+not espy thee.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having thus conversed with others, and shed
+tears in grief, they waited for the dawn of that night with painful
+impatience. And when the night had passed away, Kichaka, rising in the
+morning, went to the palace, and accosted Draupadi saying, 'Throwing
+thee down in the court I kicked thee in the presence of the king.
+Attacked by mighty self, thou couldst not obtain protection. This Virata
+is in name only the king of the Matsyas. Commanding the forces of this
+realm it is I, who am the real lord of the Matsyas. Do thou, O timid
+one, accept me cheerfully. I shall become thy slave. And, O thou of
+graceful hips, I will immediately give thee a hundred _nishkas_, and
+engage a hundred male and a hundred female servants (to tend thee), and
+will also bestow on thee cars yoked with she-mules. O timid lady, let
+our union take place.' Draupadi replied, 'O Kichaka, know even this is
+my condition. Neither thy friends nor thy brothers should know thy union
+with me. I am a terror of detection by those illustrious Gandharvas.
+Promise me this, and I yield to thee.' Hearing this Kichaka said, 'I
+will, O thou of graceful hips, do even as thou sayest. Afflicted by the
+god of love, I will, O beauteous damsel, alone repair to thy abode for
+union with thee, O thou of thighs round and tapering like the trunks of
+the plantain,--so that those Gandharvas, effulgent as the sun, may not
+come to know of this act of thine.' Draupadi said, 'Do thou, when it is
+dark, go to the dancing-hall erected by the king of the Matsyas where
+the girls dance during the day, repairing to their respective homes at
+night. The Gandharvas do not know that place. We shall then without
+doubt, escape all censure.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Reflecting on the subject of her conversation
+with Kichaka, that half a day seemed to Krishna as long as a whole
+month. And the stupid Kichaka also, not knowing that it was Death that
+had assumed the form of a _Sairindhri_, returning home experienced the
+greatest delight. And deprived of sense by lust, Kichaka became speedily
+engaged in embellishing his person with unguents and garlands and
+ornaments. And while he was doing all this, thinking of that damsel of
+large eyes, the day seemed to him to be without an end. And the beauty
+of Kichaka, who was about to forsake his beauty for ever, seemed to
+heighten, like the wick of a burning lamp about to expire. And reposing
+the fullest confidence in Draupadi, Kichaka, deprived of his senses by
+lust and absorbed in the contemplation of expected meeting, did not even
+perceive that the day had departed. Meanwhile, the beautiful Draupadi
+approaching her husband Bhima of the Kuru race, stood before him in the
+kitchen. And that lady with tresses ending in beautiful curls then spake
+unto him, saying, 'O chastiser of foes, even as thou hadst directed, I
+have given Kichaka to understand that our meeting will take place in the
+dancing-hall. Alone will he come at night to the empty hall. Slay him
+there, O thou of mighty arms. Do thou, O son of Kunti, repair to that
+dancing-hall, and take the life, O Pandava, of Kichaka, that son of a
+_Suta_ intoxicated with vanity. From vanity alone, that son of a _Suta_
+slights the Gandharvas. O best of smiters, lift him up from the earth
+even as Krishna had lifted up the _Naga_ (Kaliya) from the Yamuna. O
+Pandava, afflicted as I am with grief, wipe thou my tears, and blessed
+be thou, protect thy own honour and that of thy race.'
+
+"Bhima said, 'Welcome, O beauteous lady. Except the glad tidings thou
+bringest me, I need, O thou of exceeding beauty, no other aid whatever.
+The delight that I feel, O thou of great beauty, on hearing from thee
+about my coming encounter with Kichaka, is equal to what I felt in
+slaying Hidimva. I swear unto thee by Truth, by my brothers, and by
+morality, that I will slay Kichaka even as the lord of the celestials
+slew Vritra. Whether secretly or openly, I will crush Kichaka, and if
+the Matsyas fight for him, then I will slay them too. And slaying
+Duryodhana afterwards, I shall win back the earth. Let Yudhishthira, the
+son of Kunti, continue to pay homage unto the king of Matsya.' Hearing
+these words of Bhima, Draupadi said, 'In order that, O lord, thou mayst
+not have to renounce the truth already pledged to me, do thou, O hero,
+slay Kichaka in secret.' Bhima assuring her said, 'Even today I shall
+slay Kichaka together with his friends unknown to others during the
+darkness of the night. I shall, O faultless lady, crush, even as an
+elephant crusheth a _vela_ fruit,[16] the head of the wicked Kichaka who
+wisheth for what is unattainable by him!'"
+
+    [16] Some texts read, _Vilwam nagaviodhara--i.e.,_ 'As an
+    elephant lifts up a vela fruit.'
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Repairing first to the place of assignation at
+night, Bhima sat down, disguising himself. And he waited there in
+expectation of Kichaka, like a lion lying in wait for a deer. And
+Kichaka, having embellished his person as he chose, came to the
+dancing-hall at the appointed time in the hope of meeting Panchali. And
+thinking of the assignation, he entered the chamber. And having entered
+that hall enveloped in deep gloom, that wretch of wicked soul came upon
+Bhima of incomparable prowess, who had come a little before and who was
+waiting in a corner. And as an insect approacheth towards a flaming
+fire, or a puny animal towards a lion, Kichaka approached Bhima, lying
+down in a bed and burning in anger at the thought of the insult offered
+to Krishna, as if he were the Suta's Death. And having approached Bhima,
+Kichaka possessed by lust, and his heart and soul filled with ecstacy
+smilingly said, 'O thou of pencilled eye-brows, to thee I have already
+given many and various kinds of wealth from the stores earned by me, as
+well as hundred maids and many fine robes, and also a mansion with an
+inner apartment adorned with beauteous and lovely and youthful maid
+servants and embellished by every kind of sports and amusements. And
+having set all those apart for thee, I have speedily come hither. And
+all on a sudden, women have begun to praise me, saying, _There is not in
+this world any other person like unto thee in beauty and dress_!'
+Hearing this, Bhima said, 'It is well that thou art handsome, and it is
+well thou praisest thyself. I think, however, that thou hadst never
+before this such pleasurable touch! Thou hast an acute touch, and
+knowest the ways of gallantry. Skilled in the art of love-making, thou
+art a favourite with women. There is none like thee in this world!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, that son of Kunti, the
+mighty-armed Bhima of terrible prowess, suddenly rose up, and laughingly
+said, 'Thy sister, O wretch, shall today behold thee dragged by me to
+the ground, like a mighty elephant, huge as a mountain, dragged to the
+ground by a lion. Thyself slain _Sairindhri_ will live in peace, and we,
+her husbands, will also live in peace.' Saying this, the mighty Bhima
+seized Kichaka by the hairs of his head, which were adorned with
+garlands. And thus seized with force by the hair, that foremost of
+mighty persons, Kichaka, quickly freed his hair and grasped the arms of
+Bhima. And then between those lions among men, fired with wrath, between
+that chief of the Kichaka clan, and that best of men, there ensued a
+hand-to-hand encounter, like that between two powerful elephants for a
+female elephant in the season of spring, or like that which happened in
+days of yore between those lions among monkeys, the brothers Vali and
+Sugriva. And both equally infuriate and both eager for victory, both
+those combatants raised their arms resembling snakes furnished with five
+hoods, and attacked each other with their nails and teeth, wrought up to
+frenzy of wrath. Impetuously assailed by the powerful Kichaka in that
+encounter, the resolute Bhima did not waver a single step. And locked in
+each other's embraces and dragging each other, they fought on like two
+mighty bulls. And having nails and teeth for their weapons, the
+encounter between them was fierce and terrible like that of two furious
+tigers. And felling each other in fury, they encountered each other like
+a couple of elephants with rent temples. And the mighty Bhima then
+seized Kichaka, and Kichaka, that foremost of strong persons threw Bhima
+down with violence. And as those mighty combatants fought on, the crash
+of their arms produced a loud noise that resembled the clatter of
+splitting bamboos. Then Vrikodara throwing Kichaka down by main force
+within the room, began to toss him about furiously even as a hurricane
+tosseth a tree. And attacked thus in battle by the powerful Bhima,
+Kichaka grew weak and began to tremble. For all that, however, he tugged
+at the Pandava to the best of his power. And attacking Bhima, and making
+him wave a little, the mighty Kichaka struck him with his knees and
+brought him down to the ground. And overthrown by the powerful Kichaka,
+Bhima quickly rose up like Yama himself with mace in hand. And thus that
+powerful _Suta_ and the Pandava, intoxicated with strength and
+challenging each other, grappled with each other at midnight in that
+solitary place. And as they roared at each other in wrath, that
+excellent and strong edifice began to shake every moment. And slapped on
+the chest by the mighty Bhima, Kichaka fired with wrath moved not a
+single pace. And bearing for a moment only that onslaught incapable of
+being born on earth, the _Suta_, overpowered by Bhima's might, became
+enfeebled. And seeing him waning weak, Bhima endued with great strength
+forcibly drew Kichaka towards his breast, and began to press hard. And
+breathing hard again and again in wrath, that best of victors,
+Vrikodara, forcibly seized Kichaka by the hair. And having seized
+Kichaka, the mighty Bhima began to roar like a hungry tiger that hath
+killed a large animal. And finding him exceedingly exhausted, Vrikodara
+bound him fast with his arms, as one binds a beast with a cord. And then
+Bhima began for a long while, to whirl the senseless Kichaka, who began
+to roar frightfully like a broken trumpet.[17] And in order to pacify
+Krishna's wrath Vrikodara grasped Kichaka's throat with his arms and
+began to squeeze it. And assailing with his knees the waist of that
+worst of the Kichakas, all the limbs of whose body had been broken into
+fragments and whose eye-lids were closed, Vrikodara slew him, as one
+would slay a beast. And beholding Kichaka entirely motionless, the son
+of Pandu began to roll him about on the ground. And Bhima then said,
+'Slaying this wretch who intended to violate our wife,--this thorn in
+the side of _Sairindhri_, I am freed from the debt I owed to my
+brothers, and have attained perfect peace.' And having said this, that
+foremost of men, with eyes red in wrath, relinquished his hold of
+Kichaka, whose dress and ornaments had been thrown off his person, whose
+eyes were rolling, and whose body was yet trembling. And that foremost
+of mighty persons, squeezing his own hands, and biting his lips in rage,
+again attacked his adversary and thrust his arms and legs and neck and
+head into his body like the wielder of the _Pinaka_ reducing into
+shapeless mass the deer, which form sacrifice had assumed in order to
+escape his ire. And having crushed all his limbs, and reduced him into a
+ball of flesh, the mighty Bhimasena showed him unto Krishna. And endued
+with mighty energy that hero then addressed Draupadi, that foremost of
+all women, saying, 'Come princess of Panchala, and see what hath become
+of that lustful wretch!' And saying this, Bhima of terrible prowess
+began to press with his feet the body of that wicked wight. And lighting
+a torch then and showing Draupadi the body of Kichaka, that hero
+addressed her, saying, 'O thou of tresses ending in beautiful curls,
+those that solicit thee, endued as thou art with an excellent
+disposition and every virtue, will be slain by me even as this Kichaka
+hath been, O timid one.' And having accomplished that difficult task so
+highly agreeable to Krishna--having indeed slain Kichaka and thereby
+pacified his wrath, Bhima bade farewell to Krishna, the daughter of
+Drupada, and quickly went back to the kitchen. And Draupadi also, that
+best of women, having caused Kichaka to be slain had her grief removed
+and experienced the greatest delight. And addressing the keepers of the
+dancing-hall, she said, 'Come ye and behold Kichaka who had violated
+after other people's wives lieth down here, slain by my Gandharva
+husbands.' And hearing these words the guards of the dancing hall soon
+came by thousands to that spot, torches in hand. And repairing to that
+room, they beheld the lifeless Kichaka thrown on the ground, drenched
+with blood. And beholding him without arms and legs, they were filled
+with grief. And as they gazed at Kichaka, they were struck with
+amazement. And seeing that superhuman act, viz., the overthrow of
+Kichaka, they said, 'Where is his neck, and where are his legs?' And
+beholding him in this plight they all concluded that he had been killed
+by a Gandharva."
+
+    [17] _Weri_ means both a kettle-drum and a trumpet. The latter
+    however conveys a better meaning here.
+
+
+SECTION XXII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then all the relatives of Kichaka, arriving at that
+place, beheld him there and began to wail aloud, surrounding him on all
+sides. And beholding Kichaka with every limb mangled, and lying like a
+tortoise dragged to dry ground from the water, all of them were overcome
+with exceeding fright, and the bristles of their bodies stood on end.
+And seeing him crushed all over by Bhima, like a Danava by Indra, they
+proceeded to take him outside, for performing his funeral obsequies. And
+then those persons of the _Suta_ clan thus assembled together espied
+Krishna of faultless limbs hard by, who stood reclining on a pillar. And
+all the Kichakas assembled there, exclaimed, 'Let this unchaste woman be
+slain for whom Kichaka hath himself lost his life. Or, without slaying
+her here, let us cremate her with him that had lusted after her,--for it
+behoveth us to accomplish in every way what is agreeable to that
+deceased son of _Suta_.' And then they addressed Virata, saying, 'It is
+for her sake that Kichaka hath lost his life. Let him, therefore, be
+cremated along with her. It behoveth thee to grant this permission.'
+Thus addressed by them, king Virata, O monarch, knowing fully well the
+prowess of the _Suta_ gave his assent to _Sairindhri_ being burnt along
+with the _Suta's_ son. And at this, the Kichakas approaching the
+frightened and stupefied Krishna of lotus-like eyes, seized her with
+violence. And binding that damsel of slender waist and placing her upon
+the bier, they set out with great energy towards the cemetery. And, O
+king, while thus forcibly carried towards the cemetery by those sons of
+the _Suta_ tribe, the blameless and chaste Krishna living under the
+protections of her lords, then wailed aloud for the help of her
+husbands, saying, 'Oh, let Jaya, and Jayanta, and Vijaya and Jayatsena,
+and Jayadvala listen to my words. The _Sutas_ are taking me away. Let
+those illustrious Gandharvas endued with speed of hand, the clatter of
+whose cars is loud and the twang of whose bowstrings in the midst of the
+mighty conflict are heard like the roar of thunder, listen to my
+words,--the _Sutas_ are taking me away!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing those sorrowful words and lamentations
+of Krishna, Bhima, without a moment's reflection started up from his bed
+and said, 'I have heard, O _Sairindhri_ the words thou hast spoken. Thou
+hast, therefore, O timid lady, no more fear at the hands of the
+_Sutas._'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, the mighty-armed Bhima
+desirous of slaying the Kichakas, began to swell his body. And carefully
+changing his attire, he went out of the palace by a wrong egress. And
+climbing over a wall by the aid of a tree, he proceeded towards the
+cemetery whither the Kichakas had gone. And having leapt over the wall,
+and gone out of the excellent city, Bhima impetuously rushed to where
+the _Sutas_ were. And, O monarch, proceeding towards the funeral pyre he
+beheld a large tree, tall as palmyra-palm, with gigantic shoulders and
+withered top. And that slayer of foes grasping with his arms that tree
+measuring ten _Vyamas_, uprooted it, even like an elephant, and placed
+it upon his shoulders. And taking up that tree with trunk and branches
+and measuring ten _Vyamas_, that mighty hero rushed towards the _Sutas_,
+like Yama himself, mace in hand. And by the impetus of his rush[18]
+banians and peepals and _Kinsukas_ falling down on the earth lay in
+clusters. And beholding that Gandharva approach them like a lion in
+fury, all the _Sutas_ trembling with fear and greatly distressed, became
+panic-struck. And they addressed each other, saying, 'Lo, the powerful
+Gandharva cometh hither, filled with rage, and with an upraised tree in
+hand. Let _Sairindhri_, therefore, from whom this danger of ours hath
+arisen, be set free.' And beholding the tree that had been uprooted by
+Bhimasena, they set Draupadi free and ran breathlessly towards the city.
+And seeing them run away, Bhima, that mighty son of the Wind-god,
+despatched, O foremost of kings, by means of that tree, a hundred and
+five of them unto the abode of Yama, like the wielder of the thunderbolt
+slaying the Danavas. And setting Draupadi free from her bonds, he then,
+O king, comforted her. And that mighty-armed and irrepressible
+Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, then addressed the distressed princess of
+Panchala with face bathed in tears, saying, 'Thus, O timid one, are they
+slain that wrong thee without cause. Return, O Krishna, to the city.
+Thou hast no longer any fear; I myself will go to the Virata's kitchen
+by another route.'"
+
+    [18] Literature, force of his thighs.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "It was thus, O Bharata, that a hundred and five
+of those Kichakas were slain. And their corpses lay on the ground,
+making the place look like a great forest overspread with uprooted trees
+after a hurricane. Thus fell those hundred and five Kichakas. And
+including Virata's general slain before, the slaughtered Sutas numbered
+one hundred and six. And beholding that exceedingly wonderful feat, men
+and women that assembled together, were filled with astonishment. And
+the power of speech, O Bharata, was suspended in every one."
+
+
+SECTION XXIV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "And beholding the Sutas slain, the citizens went to
+the king, and represented unto him what had happened, saying, 'O king,
+those mighty sons of the Sutas have all been slain by the Gandharvas.
+Indeed, they lie scattered on the earth like huge peaks of mountains
+riven by thunder. _Sairindhri_ also, having been set free, returneth to
+thy palace in the city. Alas, O king, if _Sairindhri_ cometh, thy entire
+kingdom will be endangered. _Sairindhri_ is endued with great beauty;
+the Gandharvas also are exceedingly powerful. Men again, without doubt,
+are naturally sexual. Devise, therefore, O king, without delay, such
+means that in consequence of wrongs done to _Sairindhri_, thy kingdom
+may not meet with destruction.' Hearing those words of theirs, Virata,
+that lord of hosts, said unto them, 'Do ye perform the last rites of the
+Sutas. Let all the Kichakas be burnt, in one blazing pyre with gems and
+fragrant unguents in profusion.' And filled with fear, the king then
+addressed his queen Sudeshna, saying, 'When _Sairindhri_ comes back, do
+thou tell her these words from me, "Blessed be thou, O fair-faced
+_Sairindhri_. Go thou whithersoever thou likest. The king hath been
+alarmed, O thou of graceful hips, at the defeat already experienced at
+the hands of the Gandharvas. Protected as thou art by the Gandharvas, I
+dare not personally say all this to thee. A woman, however, cannot
+offend, and it is for this that I tell thee all this through a woman."'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus delivered by Bhimasena after the slaughter
+of the Sutas, the intelligent and youthful Krishna relieved from all her
+fears, washed her limbs and clothes in water, and proceeded towards the
+city, like a doe frightened by a tiger. And beholding her, the citizens,
+O king, afflicted with the fear of the Gandharvas fled in all
+directions. And some of them went so far as to shut their eyes. And
+then, O king, at the gate of the kitchen, the princess of Panchala saw
+Bhimasena staying, like an infuriate elephant of gigantic proportions.
+And looking upon him with wonder-expanded eyes, Draupadi, by means of
+words intelligible to them alone, said, 'I bow unto that prince of the
+Gandharvas, who hath rescued me.' At these words of her, Bhima said,
+'Hearing these words of hers in obedience to whom those persons were
+hitherto living in the city, they will henceforth range here, regarding
+themselves as freed from the debt.'"[19]
+
+    [19] What Bhima says is this.--The Gandharvas, your husbands,
+    are always obedient to thee! If they have been able to do thee a
+    service, they have only repaid a debt.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then she beheld the mighty-armed Dhananjaya, in
+the dancing-hall instructing king Virata's daughters in dancing. And
+issuing with Arjuna from the dancing-hall, all those damsels came to
+Krishna who had arrived there, and who had been persecuted so sorely,
+all innocent though she was. And they said, 'By good luck also it is, O
+_Sairindhri_, that thou hast been delivered from thy dangers. By good
+luck it is that thou hast returned safe. And by good luck also it is
+that those Sutas have been slain that had wronged thee, innocent though
+thou art.' Hearing this, Vrihannala said, 'How hast thou, O
+_Sairindhri_, been delivered? And how have those sinful wretches been
+slain? I wish to learn all this from thee exactly as it occurred.'
+_Sairindhri_ replied, 'O blessed Vrihannala, always passing thy days
+happily in the apartments of the girls, what concern hast thou with
+_Sairindhri's_ fate to say? Thou hast no grief to bear that _Sairindhri_
+hath to bear! It is for this, that thou askest me thus, distressed as I
+am in ridicule.' Thereat Vrihannala said, 'O blessed one, Vrihannala
+also hath unparalleled sorrows of her own. She hath become as low as a
+brute. Thou dost not, O girl, understand this. I have lived with thee,
+and thou too hast lived with us. When, therefore, thou art afflicted
+with misery, who is it that will not, O thou of beautiful hips, feel it?
+But no one can completely read another's heart. Therefore it is, O
+amiable one, that thou knowest not my heart!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then Draupadi, accompanied by those girls
+entered the royal abode, desirous of appearing before Sudeshna. And when
+she came before the queen, Virata's wife addressed her at the command of
+the king, saying, 'Do thou, O _Sairindhri_, speedily go whithersoever
+thou likest. The king, good betide thee, hath been filled with fear at
+this discomfiture at the hands of the Gandharvas. Thou art, O thou of
+graceful eye-brows, young and unparalleled on earth in beauty. Thou art,
+besides, an object of desire with men. The Gandharvas again, are
+exceedingly wrathful.' Thereat _Sairindhri_ said, 'O beauteous lady, let
+the king suffer me to live here for only thirteen days more. Without
+doubt, the Gandharvas also will be highly obliged at this. They will
+then convey me hence and do what would be agreeable to Virata. Without
+doubt, the king, by doing this, with his friends, will reap great
+benefit.'"
+
+
+SECTION XXV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "At the slaughter of Kichaka and brothers, people, O
+king, thinking of this terrible feat, were filled with surprise. And in
+the city and the provinces it was generally bruited about that for
+bravery the king's Vallava and Kichaka were both mighty warriors. The
+wicked Kichaka, however, had been an oppressor of men and a dishonourer
+of other people's wives. And it was for this that wicked of sinful soul
+had been slain by the Gandharvas. And it was thus, O king, that people
+began to speak, from province to province of the invincible Kichaka,
+that slayer of hostile ranks.
+
+"Meanwhile, the spies employed by Dhritarashtra's son, having searched
+various villages and towns and kingdoms and done all that they had been
+commanded to do and completed their examination, in the manner directed,
+of the countries indicated in their orders, returned to Nagarupa,
+gratified with at least one thing that they had learnt.[20] And seeing
+Dhritarashtra's son king Duryodhana of the Kuru race seated in his court
+with Drona and Karna and Kripa, with the high-souled Bhishma, his own
+brothers, and those great warriors--the Trigartas, they addressed him,
+saying, 'O lord of men, great hath been the care always bestowed by us
+in the search after the sons of Pandu in that mighty forest. Searched
+have we through the solitary wilderness abounding with deer and other
+animals and overgrown with trees and creepers of diverse kind. Searched
+have we also in arbours of matted woods and plants and creepers of every
+species, but we have failed in discovering that track by which Pritha's
+son of irrepressible energy may have gone. Searched have we in these and
+other places for their foot-prints. Searched have we closely, O king, on
+mountain tops and in inaccessible fastnesses, in various kingdoms and
+provinces teeming with people, in encampments and cities. No trace have
+yet been found of the sons of Pandu. Good betide thee, O bull among men,
+it seems that they have perished without leaving a mark behind. O
+foremost of warriors, although we followed in the track of those
+warriors, yet, O best of men, we soon lost their footprints and do not
+know their present residence. O lord of men, for some time we followed
+in the wake of their charioteers. And making our inquiries duly, we
+truly ascertained what we desired to know. O slayer of foes, the
+charioteers reached Dwaravati without the sons of Pritha among them. O
+king, neither the sons of Pandu, nor the chaste Krishna, are in that
+city of Yadavas. O bull of the Bharata race, we have not been able to
+discover either their track or their present abode. Salutations to thee,
+they are gone for good. We are acquainted with the disposition of the
+sons of Pandu and know something of the feats achieved by them. It
+behoveth thee, therefore, O lord of men, to give us instructions, O
+monarch, as to what we should next do in the search after the sons of
+Pandu. O hero, listen also to these agreeable words of ours, promising
+great good to thee. King Matsya's commander, Kichaka of wicked soul, by
+whom the Trigartas, O monarch, were repeatedly vanquished and slain with
+mighty force, now lieth low on the ground with all his brothers, slain,
+O monarch, by invisible Gandharvas during the hours of darkness, O thou
+of unfading glory. Having heard this delightful news about the
+discomfiture of our enemies, we have been exceedingly gratified, O
+Kauravya. Do thou now ordain what should next be done.'"
+
+    [20] _Krita-krita_--Nilakantha explains this to mean 'imagining
+    themselves to have achieved success in their mission' for having
+    learnt of Kichaka's death, they could readily guess the presence
+    of the Pandavas there. This is too far-fetched and does not at
+    all agree with the spirit of their report to Duryodhana below.
+    And then the same word occurs in the very last line of the
+    Section. I take it that in both places the word has been used in
+    the same sense.
+
+
+SECTION XXVI
+
+(_Go-harana Parva_)
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having listened to these words of his spies, king
+Duryodhana reflected inwardly for some time and then addressed his
+courtiers, saying, 'It is difficult to ascertain the course of events
+definitely. Discern ye all, therefore, whither the sons of Pandu have
+gone, of this thirteenth year which they are to pass undiscovered by us
+all, the greater part hath already expired. What remains is by much the
+smaller. If, indeed, the sons of Pandu can pass undiscovered what
+remains of this year, devoted to the vow of truth as they are, they will
+then have fulfilled their pledge. They will then return like mighty
+elephants with temporal juice trickling down, or like snakes of virulent
+poison. Filled with wrath, they will, without doubt, be inflicters of
+terrible chastisement on the Kurus. It behoveth ye, therefore, to make
+such efforts without loss of time as may induce the sons of Pandu,
+acquainted as they are with the proprieties of time, and staying as they
+now are in painful disguise, to re-enter the woods suppressing their
+rage. Indeed, adopt ye such means as may remove all causes of quarrel
+and anxiety from the kingdom, making it tranquil and foeless and
+incapable of sustaining a diminution of territory.' Hearing these words
+of Duryodhana, Karna said, 'Let other spies, abler and more cunning, and
+capable of accomplishing their object, quickly go hence, O Bharata. Let
+them, well-disguised, wander through swelling kingdoms and populous
+provinces, prying into assemblies of the learned and delightful retreats
+of provinces. In the inner apartments of palaces, in shrines and holy
+spots, in mines and diverse other regions, the sons of Pandu should be
+searched after with well-directed eagerness. Let the sons of Pandu who
+are living in disguise be searched after by well-skilled spies in large
+numbers, devoted to their work, themselves well-disguised, and all
+well-acquainted with the objects of their search. Let the search be made
+on the banks of rivers, in holy regions, in villages and towns, in
+retreats of ascetics, in delightful mountains and mountain-caves.' When
+Karna ceased, Duryodhana's second brother Duhsasana, wedded to a sinful
+disposition, then addressed his eldest brother and said, 'O monarch, O
+lord of men, let those spies only in whom we have confidence, receiving
+their rewards in advance, once more go after the search. This and what
+else hath been said by Karna have our fullest approval. Let all the
+spies engage themselves in the search according to the directions
+already given. Let these and others engage in the search from province
+to province according to approved rules. It is my belief, however, that
+the track the Pandavas have followed or their present abode or
+occupation will not be discovered. Perhaps, they are closely concealed;
+perhaps, they have gone to the other side of the ocean. Or, perhaps,
+proud as they are of their strength and courage, they have been devoured
+by wild beasts; or perhaps, having been overtaken by some unusual
+danger, they have perished for eternity. Therefore, O prince of the Kuru
+race, dispelling all anxieties from thy heart, achieve what thou wilt,
+always acting according to thy energy.'"
+
+
+SECTION XXVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Endued with mighty energy and possessed of great
+discernment, Drona then said, 'Persons like the sons of Pandu never
+perish nor undergo discomfiture. Brave and skilled in every science,
+intelligent and with senses under control, virtuous and grateful and
+obedient to the virtuous Yudhishthira, ever following in the wake of
+their eldest brother who is conversant with the conclusions of policy
+and virtue and profit, who is attached to them as a father, and who
+strictly adhereth to virtue and is firm in truth,--persons like them
+that are thus devoted to their illustrious and royal brother, who gifted
+with great intelligence, never injureth any body and who in his turn
+himself obeyeth his younger brothers, never perish in this way. Why,
+then, should not (Yudhishthira) the son of Pritha possessing a knowledge
+of policy, be able to restore the prosperity of his brothers who are so
+obedient and devoted and high-souled? It is for this that they are
+carefully waiting for the arrival of their opportunity. Men such as
+these never perish. This is what I see by my intellect. Do, therefore,
+quickly and without loss of time, what should now be done, after proper
+reflection. And let also the abode which the sons of Pandu with souls
+under control as regards every purpose of life, are to occupy, be now
+settled. Heroic and sinless and possessed of ascetic merit, the Pandavas
+are difficult to be discovered (within the period of non-discovery).
+Intelligent and possessed of every virtue, devoted to truth and versed
+in the principles of policy, endued with purity and holiness, and the
+embodiment of immeasurable energy, the son of Pritha is capable of
+consuming (his foes) by a glance alone of his eyes. Knowing all this, do
+what is proper. Let us, therefore, once more search after them, sending
+Brahmanas and _Charanas_, ascetics crowned with success, and others of
+this kind who may have a knowledge of those heroes!'"
+
+
+SECTION XXVIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then that grandsire of the Bharatas, Bhishma the son
+of Santanu, conversant with the _Vedas_, acquainted with the
+proprieties of time and place, and possessing a knowledge of every duty
+of morality, after the conclusion of Drona's speech, applauded the words
+of the preceptor and spake unto the Bharatas for their benefit these
+words consistent with virtue, expressive of his attachment to the
+virtuous Yudhishthira, rarely spoken by men that are dishonest, and
+always meeting with the approbation of the honest. And the words that
+Bhishma spake were thoroughly impartial and worshipped by the wise. And
+the grandsire of the Kurus said, 'The words that the regenerate Drona
+acquainted with the truth of every affair hath uttered, are approved by
+me. I have no hesitation in saying so. Endued with every auspicious
+mark, observant of virtuous vows, possessed of Vedic lore, devoted to
+religious observances, conversant with various sciences, obedient to the
+counsels of the aged, adhering to the vow of truth, acquainted with the
+proprieties of time, observant of the pledge they have given (in respect
+of their exile), pure in their behaviour, ever adhering to the duties of
+the Kshatriya order, always obedient to Kesava, high-souled, possessed
+of great strength, and ever-bearing the burthens of the wise, those
+heroic ones can never wither under misfortune. Aided by their own
+energy, sons of Pandu who are now leading a life of concealment in
+obedience to virtue, will surely never perish. It is even this that my
+mind surmiseth. Therefore, O Bharata, I am for employing the aid of
+honest counsel in our behaviour towards the sons of Pandu. It would not
+be the policy of any wise man to cause them to be discovered now by
+means of spies,[21] what we should do unto the sons of Pandu, I shall
+say, reflecting with the aid of the intellect. Know that I shall say
+nothing from ill will to thee. People like me should never give such
+counsels to him that is dishonest, for only counsels (like those I would
+give) should be offered unto them that are honest. Counsels, however,
+that are evil, should under no circumstances be offered. He, O child,
+that is devoted to truth and obedient to the aged, he, indeed, that is
+wise, while speaking in the midst of an assembly, should under all
+circumstances speak the truth, if the acquisition of virtue be an object
+with him. I should, therefore, say that I think differently from all
+those people here, in respect of the abode of Yudhishthira the just in
+this the thirteenth year of his exile. The ruler, O child, of the city
+or the province where king Yudhishthira resides cannot have any
+misfortune. Charitable and liberal and humble and modest must the people
+be of the country where king Yudhishthira resides. Agreeable in speech,
+with passions under control, observant of truth, cheerful, healthy, pure
+in conduct, and skilful in work must the people be of the country where
+king Yudhishthira resides. The people of the place, where Yudhishthira
+is, cannot be envious or malicious, or vain, or proud, but must all
+adhere to their respective duties. Indeed, in the place where
+Yudhishthira resides, Vedic hymns will be chanted all around, sacrifices
+will be performed, the last full libations will always be poured,[22]
+and gifts to Brahmanas will always be in profusion. There the clouds,
+without doubt, pour abundant rain, and furnished with good harvest the
+country will ever be without fear. There the paddy will not be without
+grain, fruits will not be bereft of juice, floral garlands will not be
+without fragrance, and the conversation of men will always be full of
+agreeable words. There where king Yudhishthira resides, the breezes will
+be delicious, the meetings of men will always be friendly, and cause of
+fear there will be none. There kine will be plentiful, without any of
+them being lean-fleshed or weak, and milk and curds and butter will all
+be savoury and nutritious. There where king Yudhishthira resides, every
+kind of corn will be full of nutrition and every edible full of flavour.
+There where king Yudhishthira resides, the objects of all the senses,
+viz.,--taste, touch, smell, and hearing, will be endued with excellent
+attributes. There where king Yudhishthira resides, the sights and scenes
+will be gladdening. And the regenerate ones of that place will be
+virtuous and steady in observing their respective duties. Indeed, in the
+country where the sons of Pandu may have taken up their abode during
+this thirteenth year of their exile, the people will be contented and
+cheerful, pure in conduct and without misery of any kind. Devoted to
+gods and guests and the worship of these with their whole soul, they
+will be fond of giving away, and filled with great energy, they will all
+be observant of eternal virtue. There where king Yudhishthira resides,
+the people, eschewing all that is evil, will be desirous of achieving
+only what is good. Always observant of sacrifices and pure vows, and
+hating untruth in speech, the people of the place where king
+Yudhishthira may reside will always be desirous of obtaining what is
+good, auspicious and beneficial. There where Yudhishthira resides, the
+people will certainly be desirous of achieving what is good, and their
+hearts will always incline towards virtue, and their vows being
+agreeable they themselves are ever-engaged in the acquisition of
+religious merit. O child, that son of Pritha in whom are intelligence
+and charity, the highest tranquillity and undoubted forgiveness, modesty
+and prosperity, and fame and great energy and a love for all creatures,
+is incapable of being found out (now that he hath concealed himself)
+even by Brahmanas, let alone ordinary persons. The wise Yudhishthira is
+living in close disguise in regions whose characteristics I have
+described. Regarding his excellent mode of life, I dare not say anything
+more. Reflecting well upon all this, do without loss of time what thou
+mayst think to be beneficial, O prince of the Kuru race, if indeed, thou
+hast any faith in me.'"
+
+    [21] This is a very difficult sloka. I am not sure that I have
+    understood it alright. Both Nilakantha and Arjuna Misra are
+    silent. Instead of depending, however, on my own intelligence, I
+    have consulted several friends who have read the _Mahabharata_
+    thoroughly. The grammatical structure is easy. The only
+    difficulty consists in the second half of the sloka. The
+    meaning, however, I have given is consistent with the tenor of
+    Bhishma's advice.
+
+    [22] Indicating the unobstructed completion of the sacrifice.
+
+
+SECTION XXIX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then Saradwata's son, Kripa said, 'What the aged
+Bhishma hath said concerning the Pandavas is reasonable, suited to the
+occasion, consistent with virtue and profit, agreeable to the ear,
+fraught with sound reason, and worthy of him. Listen also to what I
+would say on this subject. It behoveth thee to ascertain the track they
+have followed and their abode also by means of spies,[23] and to adopt
+that policy which may bring about thy welfare. O child, he that is
+solicitous of his welfare should not disregard even an ordinary foe.
+What shall I say, then, O child, of the Pandavas who are thorough
+masters of all weapons in battle. When, therefore, the time cometh for
+the reappearance of the high-souled Pandavas, who, having entered the
+forest,[24] are now passing their days in close disguise, thou shouldst
+ascertain thy strength both in thy own kingdom and in those of other
+kings. Without doubt, the return of the Pandavas is at hand. When their
+promised term of exile is over, the illustrious and mighty sons of
+Pritha, endued with immeasurable prowess, will come hither bursting with
+energy. Do thou, therefore, in order to conclude an advantageous treaty
+with them, have recourse to sound policy and address thyself to increase
+thy forces and improve thy treasury. O child, ascertaining all these,
+reckon thou thy own strength in respect of all thy allies weak and
+strong.[25] Ascertaining the efficiency, and weakness, and indifference
+of thy forces, as also who amongst them are well-affected and who are
+disaffected, we should either fight the foe or make treaty with him.
+Having recourse to the arts of conciliation, disunion, chastisement,
+bribery, presents and fair behaviour, attack thy foes and subdue the
+weak by might, and win over thy allies and troops and by soft speeches.
+When thou hast (by these means) strengthened thy army and filled thy
+treasury, entire success will be thine. When thou hast done all this,
+thou wilt be able to fight with powerful enemies that may present
+themselves, let alone the sons of Pandu deficient in troops and animals
+of their own. By adopting all these expedients according to the customs
+of thy order, thou wilt, O foremost of men, attain enduring happiness in
+due time!'"
+
+    [23] The word _tirtha_ here means, as Nilakantha rightly
+    explains spies and not holy spots.
+
+    [24] _Satram_ is explained by Nilakantha to mean here 'false
+    disguise.' I think, however, such an interpretation to be
+    far-fetched. It evidently means 'forest',--the use of
+    'pravisteshu' in connection with it almost settles the point.
+
+    [25] This sloka is not correctly printed in any of the texts
+    that I have seen. The reading that I adopt is that the second
+    word is the participle of the root _budh_ and not the
+    instrumental of _budhi_; the last word again of the second line
+    is a compound of _valavatsu_ and _avaleshu_ instead of (as
+    printed in many books) _valavatswavaleshu_. Any other reading
+    would certainly be incorrect. I have not consulted the Bombay
+    text.
+
+
+SECTION XXX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Discomfited before, O monarch, many a time and oft
+by Matsya's _Suta_ Kichaka aided by the Matsyas and the Salyas, the
+mighty king of the Trigartas, Susarman, who owned innumerable cars,
+regarding the opportunity to be a favourable one, then spoke the
+following words without losing a moment. And, O monarch, forcibly
+vanquished along with his relatives by the mighty Kichaka, king
+Susarman, eyeing Karna in askance, spoke these words unto Duryodhana,
+'My kingdom hath many a time been forcibly invaded by the king of the
+Matsyas. The mighty Kichaka was that king's generalissimo. Crooked and
+wrathful and of wicked soul, of prowess famed over all the world, sinful
+in deeds and highly cruel, that wretch, however, hath been slain by the
+Gandharvas. Kichaka being dead, king Virata, shorn of pride and his
+refuge gone, will, I imagine, lose all courage. I think we ought now to
+invade that kingdom, if it pleases thee, O sinless one, as also the
+illustrious Karna and all the Kauravas. The accident that hath happened
+is, I imagine, a favourable one for us. Let us, therefore, repair to
+Virata's kingdom abounding in corn. We will appropriate his gems and
+other wealth of diverse kinds, and let us go to share with each other as
+regards his villages and kingdom. Or, invading his city by force, let us
+carry off by thousands his excellent kine of various species. Uniting, O
+king, the forces of the Kauravas and the Trigartas, let us lift his
+cattle in droves. Or, uniting our forces well, we will check his power
+by forcing him to sue for peace. Or, destroying his entire host, we will
+bring Matsya under subjection. Having brought him under subjection by
+just means, we will live in our kingdom happily, while thy power also
+will, without doubt, be enhanced.' Hearing these words of Susarman,
+Karna addressed the king, saying, 'Susarman hath spoken well; the
+opportunity is favourable and promises to be profitable to us.
+Therefore, if it pleases thee, O sinless one, let us, drawing up our
+forces in battle array and marshalling them in divisions, speedily set
+out. Or, let the expedition be managed as Saradwata's son Kripa, the
+preceptor Drona, and the wise and aged grandsire of the Kurus may think.
+Consulting with each other, let us, O lord of earth, speedily set out to
+attain our end. What business have we with the sons of Pandu, destitute
+as they are of wealth, might, and prowess? They have either disappeared
+for good or have gone to the abode of _Yama_. We will, O king, repair
+without anxiety to Virata's city, and plunder his cattle and other
+wealth of diverse kinds.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Accepting these words of Karna, the son of
+Surya, king Duryodhana speedily commanded his brother Duhsasana, born
+immediately after him and always obedient to his wishes, saying,
+'Consulting with the elders, array without delay, our forces. We will
+with all the Kauravas go to the appointed place. Let also the mighty
+warrior, king Susarman, accompanied by a sufficient force with vehicles
+and animals, set out with the Trigartas for the dominions of Matsyas.
+And let Susarman proceed first, carefully concealing his intention.
+Following in their wake, we will set out the day after in close array,
+for the prosperous dominions of king Matsya. Let the Trigartas, however,
+suddenly repair to the city of Virata, and coming upon the cowherds,
+seize that immense wealth (of kine). We also marching in two divisions,
+will seize thousands of excellent kine furnished with auspicious
+marks.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O Lord of earth, those warriors, the
+Trigartas, accompanied by their infantry of terrible prowess, marched
+towards the south-eastern direction, intending to wage hostilities with
+Virata from the desire of seizing his kine. And Susarman set out on the
+seventh day of the dark fortnight for seizing the kine. And then, O
+king, on the eighth day following of the dark fortnight, the Kauravas
+also accompanied by all their troops, began to seize the kine by
+thousands."
+
+
+SECTION XXXI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "O mighty king, entering into king Virata's service,
+and dwelling in disguise in his excellent city, the high-souled Pandavas
+of immeasurable prowess, completed the promised period of non-discovery.
+And after Kichaka had been slain, that slayer of hostile heroes, the
+mighty king Virata began to rest his hopes on the sons of Kunti. And it
+was on the expiry of the thirteenth year of their exile, O Bharata, that
+Susarman seized Virata's cattle by thousands. And when the cattle had
+been seized, the herdsman of Virata came with great speed to the city,
+and saw his sovereign, the king of Matsyas, seated on the throne in the
+midst of wise councillors, and those bulls among men, the sons of Pandu,
+and surrounded by brave warriors decked with ear-rings and bracelets.
+And appearing before that enhancer of his dominion--King Virata seated
+in court--the herdsman bowed down unto him, and addressed him, saying,
+'O foremost of kings, defeating and humiliating us in battle along with
+our friends the Trigartas are seizing thy cattle by hundreds and by
+thousands. Do thou, therefore, speedily rescue them. Oh, see that they
+are not lost to thee.' Hearing these words, the king arrayed for battle
+the Matsya force abounding in cars and elephants and horses and infantry
+and standards. And kings and princes speedily put on, each in its proper
+place,[26] their shining and beautiful armour worthy of being worn by
+heroes. And Virata's beloved brother, Satanika, put on a coat of mail
+made of adamantine steel, adorned with burnished gold. And Madiraksha,
+next in birth to Satanika, put on a strong coat of mail plated with
+gold[27] and capable of resisting every weapon. And the coat of mail
+that the king himself of the Matsyas put on was invulnerable and decked
+with a hundred suns, a hundred circles, a hundred spots, and a hundred
+eyes. And the coat of mail that Suryadatta[28] put on was bright as the
+sun, plated with gold, and broad as a hundred lotuses of the fragrant
+(_Kahlara_) species. And the coat of mail that Virata's eldest son, the
+heroic Sanksha, put on was impenetrable and made of burnished steel, and
+decked with a hundred eyes of gold. And it was thus that those god-like
+and mighty warriors by hundreds, furnished with weapons, and eager for
+battle, each donned his corselet. And then they yoked unto their
+excellent cars of white-hue steeds equipped in mail. And then was
+hoisted--Matsya's glorious standard on his excellent car decked with
+gold and resembling the sun or the moon in its effulgence. And other
+Kshatriya warriors also raised on their respective cars gold-decked
+standards of various shapes and devices. And king Matsya then addressed
+his brother Satanika born immediately after him, saying, 'Kanka and
+Vallava and Tantripala and Damagranthi of great energy will, as it
+appears to me fight, without doubt. Give thou unto them cars furnished
+with banners and let them case their persons in beautiful coats of mail
+that should be both invulnerable and easy to wear. And let them also
+have weapons. Bearing such martial forms and possessed of arms
+resembling the trunk of mighty elephants, I can never persuade myself
+that they cannot fight.' Hearing these words of the king, Satanika, O
+monarch, immediately ordered cars for those sons of Pritha, viz., the
+royal Yudhishthira, and Bhima, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, and commanded
+by the king, the charioteers, with cheerful hearts and keeping loyalty
+in view, very soon got cars ready (for the Pandavas). And those
+repressers of foes then donned those beautiful coats of mail,
+invulnerable and easy to wear, that Virata had ordered for those heroes
+of spotless fame. And mounted on cars yoked with good steeds, those
+smiters of hostile ranks, those foremost of men, the sons of Pritha, set
+out with cheerful hearts. Indeed, those mighty warriors skilled in
+fight, those bulls of the Kuru race and sons of Pandu, those four heroic
+brothers possessed of prowess incapable of being baffled, mounting on
+cars decked with gold, together set out, following Virata's wake. And
+infuriate elephants of terrible mien, full sixty years of age, with
+shapely tusks and rent temples and juice trickling down and looking (on
+that account) like cloud pouring rain and mounted by trained warriors
+skilled in fight, followed the king like unto moving hills. And the
+principal warriors of Matsya who cheerfully followed the king had eight
+thousand cars, a thousand elephants and sixty thousand horses. And, O
+bull among the Bharatas, that force of Virata, O king, as it marched
+forth marking the footprints of the cattle looked exceedingly beautiful.
+And on its march that foremost of armies owned by Virata, crowded with
+soldiers armed with strong weapons, and abounding in elephants, horses
+and cars, looked really splendid."
+
+    [26] _Bhagasas_ lit., each in its proper place. It may also
+    mean, 'according to their respective division.'
+
+    [27] _Kalyana-patalam_ is explained by Nilakantha to mean
+    _suvarna pattachchaditam_.
+
+    [28] One of the generals of Virata.
+
+
+SECTION XXXII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Marching out of the city, those heroic smiters the
+Matsyas, arrayed in order of battle, overtook the Trigartas when the sun
+had passed the meridian. And both excited to fury and both desirous of
+having the king, the mighty Trigartas and the Matsyas, irrepressible in
+battle, sent up loud roars. And then the terrible and infuriate
+elephants ridden over by the skilful combatants of both sides were urged
+on with spiked clubs and hooks. And the encounter, O king, that took
+place when the sun was low in the horizon, between the infantry and
+cavalry and chariots and elephants of both parties, was like unto that
+of old between the gods and the _Asuras_, terrible and fierce and
+sufficient for making one's hair stand on end and calculated to increase
+the population of Yama's kingdom. And as the combatants rushed against
+one another, smiting and slashing, thick clouds of dust began to rise,
+so that nothing could be discovered. And covered with the dust raised by
+the contending armies, birds began to drop down on the earth. And the
+sun himself disappeared behind the thick cloud of arrows shot, and the
+firmament looked bright as if with myriads of the fireflies. And
+shifting their bows, the staves of which were decked with gold, from one
+hand to another, those heroes began to strike each other down,
+discharging their arrows right and left. And cars encountered cars, and
+foot-soldiers fought with foot-soldiers, and horse-men with horsemen,
+and elephants with mighty elephants. And they furiously encountered one
+another with swords and axes, bearded darts and javelins, and iron
+clubs. And although, O king, those mighty-armed warriors furiously
+assailed one another in that conflict, yet neither party succeeded in
+prevailing over the other. And severed heads, some with beautiful noses,
+some with upper lips deeply gashed, some decked with ear-rings, and some
+divided with wounds about the well-trimmed hair were seen rolling on the
+ground covered with dust. And soon the field of battle was overspread
+with the limbs of Kshatriya warriors, cut off by means of arrows and
+lying like trunks of _Sala_ trees. And scattered over with heads decked
+in ear-rings, and sandal-besmeared arms looking like the bodies of
+snakes, the field of battle became exceedingly beautiful. And as cars
+encountered cars, and horsemen encountered horsemen, and foot-soldiers
+fought with foot-soldiers, and elephants met with elephants, the
+frightful dust soon became drenched with torrents of blood. And some
+amongst the combatants began to swoon away, and the warriors began to
+fight reckless of consideration of humanity, friendship and
+relationship. And both their course and sight obstructed by the arrowy
+shower, vultures began to alight on the ground. But although those
+strong-armed combatants furiously fought with one another, yet the
+heroes of neither party succeeded in routing their antagonists. And
+Satanika having slain a full hundred of the enemy and Visalaksha full
+four hundred, both those mighty warriors penetrated into the heart of
+the great Trigarta host. And having entered into the thick of the
+Trigarta host, those famous and mighty heroes began to deprive their
+antagonists of their senses by causing a closer conflict to set in--a
+conflict, in which the combatants seized one another by the hair and
+tore one another with their nails.[29] And eyeing the point where the
+cars of the Trigartas had been mustered in strong numbers, those heroes
+at last directed their attack towards it. And that foremost of
+car-warriors, king Virata also, with Suryadatta in his van and
+Madiraksha in his rear, having destroyed in that conflict five hundred
+cars, eight hundred horses, and five warriors on great cars, displayed
+various skilful manoeuvres on his car on that field of battle. And at
+last the king came upon the ruler of the Trigartas mounted on a golden
+chariot. And those high-souled and powerful warriors, desirous of
+fighting, rushed roaring against each like two bulls in a cow-pen. Then
+that bull among men, irrepressible in battle, Susarman, the king of the
+Trigartas, challenged Matsya to a single combat on car. Then those
+warriors excited to fury rushed against each other on their cars and
+began to shower their arrows upon each other like clouds pouring
+torrents of rain.[30] And enraged with each other, those fierce
+warriors, both skilled in weapons, both wielding swords and darts and
+maces, then moved about (on the field of battle) assailing each other
+with whetted arrows. Then king Virata pierced Susarman with ten shafts
+and each of his four horses also with five shafts. And Susarman also,
+irresistible in battle and conversant with fatal weapons, pierced king
+of Matsya with fifty whetted shafts. And then, O mighty monarch, in
+consequence of the dust on the field of battle, the soldiers of both
+Susarman and Matsya's king could not distinguish one another."
+
+    [29] Some differences of reading are noticeable here, for
+    _Yasaswinau_ some texts read _Manaswinau_, and for
+    Vahusamravdhau-Vahusanrambhat; and for Nakha-naki--Ratha-rathi.
+
+    [30] Some texts read Ghanabiva for Ghanarva. The latter is
+    unquestionably better in form.
+
+
+SECTION XXXIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then, O Bharata, when the world was enveloped in
+dust and the gloom of night, the warriors of both sides, without
+breaking the order of battle, desisted for a while.[31] And then,
+dispelling the darkness the moon arose illumining the night and
+gladdening the hearts of the Kshatriya warriors. And when everything
+became visible, the battle once more began. And it raged on so furiously
+that the combatants could not distinguish one another. And then
+Trigarta's lord, Susarman with his younger brother, and accompanied by
+all his cars, rushed towards the king of Matsya. And descending from
+their cars, those bulls among Kshatriyas, the (royal) brothers, mace in
+hand, rushed furiously towards the cars of the foe. And the hostile
+hosts fiercely assailed each other with maces and swords and scimitars,
+battle-axes and bearded darts with keen edges and points of excellent
+temper. And king Susarman, the lord of the Trigartas having by his
+energy oppressed and defeated the whole army of the Matsyas, impetuously
+rushed towards Virata himself endued with great energy. And the two
+brothers having severally slain Virata's two steeds and his charioteer,
+as also those soldiers that protected his rear, took him captive alive,
+when deprived of his car. Then afflicting him sorely, like a lustful man
+afflicting a defenceless damsel, Susarman placed Virata on his own car,
+and speedily rushed out of the field. And when the powerful Virata,
+deprived of his car, was taken captive, the Matsyas, harrassed solely by
+the Trigartas, began to flee in fear in all directions. And beholding
+them panic-stricken, Kunti's son, Yudhishthira, addressed that subduer
+of foes, the mighty-armed Bhima, saying, 'The king of the Matsyas hath
+been taken by the Trigartas. Do thou, O mighty-armed one, rescue him, so
+that he may not fall under the power of the enemy. As we have lived
+happily in Virata's city, having every desire of ours gratified, it
+behoveth thee, O Bhimasena, to discharge that debt (by liberating the
+king).' Thereat Bhimasena replied, 'I will liberate him, O king, at thy
+command. Mark the feat I achieve (today) in battling with the foe,
+relying solely on the might of my arms. Do thou, O king, stay aside,
+along with our brothers and witness my prowess today. Uprooting this
+mighty tree of huge trunk looking like a mace, I will rout the enemy.'"
+
+    [31] The word in the original is Muhurta equal to 48 minutes.
+    Nilakantha points out very ingeniously that the night being the
+    seventh of the dark fortnight, the moon would not rise till
+    after 14 Dandas from the hour of sunset, a Danda being equal to
+    24 minutes. A Muhurta, therefore implies not 48 minutes exactly,
+    but some time.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding Bhima casting his eyes on that tree
+like a mad elephant, the heroic king Yudhishthira the just spake unto
+his brother, saying, 'Do not, O Bhima, commit such a rash act. Let the
+tree stand there. Thou must not achieve such feats in a super-human
+manner by means of that tree, for if thou dost, the people, O Bharata,
+will recognise thee and say, _This is Bhima_. Take thou, therefore, some
+human weapon such as a bow (and arrows), or a dart, or a sword, or a
+battle-axe. And taking therefore, O Bhima, some weapon that is human,
+liberate thou the king without giving anybody the means of knowing thee
+truly. The twins endued with great strength will defend thy wheels.
+Fighting together, O child, liberate the king of the Matsyas!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, the mighty Bhimasena endued
+with great speed, quickly took up an excellent bow and impetuously shot
+from it a shower of arrows, thick as the downpour of a rain-charged
+cloud. And Bhima then rushed furiously towards Susarman of terrible
+deeds, and assuring Virata with the words--_O good king!_[32] said unto
+the lord of the Trigartas,--_Stay! Stay!_ Seeing Bhima like unto Yama
+himself in his rear, saying, _Stay! Stay! Do thou witness this mighty
+feat,--this combat that is at hand!_--the bull among warriors, Susarman,
+seriously considered (the situation), and taking up his bow turned back,
+along with his brothers. Within the twinkling of an eye, Bhima destroyed
+those cars that sought to oppose him. And soon again hundreds of
+thousands of cars and elephants and horses and horsemen and brave and
+fierce bowmen were overthrown by Bhima in the very sight of Virata. And
+the hostile infantry also began to be slaughtered by the illustrious
+Bhima, mace in hand. And beholding that terrible onslaught, Susarman,
+irrepressible in fight, thought within himself, 'My brother seems to
+have already succumbed in the midst of his mighty host. Is my army going
+to be annihilated?' And drawing his bow-string to his ear Susarman then
+turned back and began to shoot keen-edged shafts incessantly. And seeing
+the Pandavas return to the charge on their car, the Matsya warriors of
+mighty host, urging on their steeds, shot excellent weapons for grinding
+the Trigarta soldiers. And Virata's son also, exceedingly exasperated
+began to perform prodigious fears of valour. And Kunti's son
+Yudhishthira slew a thousand (of the foe), and Bhima showed the abode of
+Yama unto seven thousand. And Nakula sent seven hundred (to their last
+account) by means of his shafts. And powerful Sahadeva also, commanded
+by Yudhishthira, slew three hundred brave warriors. And having slain
+such numbers, that fierce and mighty warrior, Yudhishthira, with weapons
+upraised, rushed against Susarman. And rushing impetuously at Susarman,
+that foremost of car-warriors, king Yudhishthira, assailed him with
+vollies of shafts. And Susarman also, in great rage, quickly pierced
+Yudhishthira with nine arrows, and each of his four steeds with four
+arrows. Then, O king, Kunti's son Bhima of quick movements, approaching
+Susarman crushed his steeds. And having slain also those soldiers that
+protected his rear, he dragged from the car his antagonist's charioteer
+to the ground. And seeing the king of Trigarta's car without a driver,
+the defender of his car-wheels, the famous and brave Madiraksha speedily
+came to his aid. And thereat, leaping down from Susarman's car, and
+securing the latter's mace the powerful Virata ran in pursuit of him.
+And though old, he moved on the field, mace in hand, even like a lusty
+youth. And beholding Susarman flee Bhima addressed him, saying, 'Desist,
+O Prince! This flight of thine is not proper! With this prowess of
+thine, how couldst thou wish to carry off the cattle by force? How also,
+forsaking thy follower, dost thou droop so amidst foes?' Thus addressed
+by Pritha's son, the mighty Susarman, that lord of countless cars saying
+unto Bhima, _Stay! Stay!_--suddenly turned round and rushed at him. Then
+Bhima, the son of Pandu, leaping down from his car, as he alone could
+do,[33] rushed forward with great coolness, desirous of taking
+Susarman's life. And desirous of seizing Trigarta's king advancing
+towards him, the mighty Bhimasena rushed impetuously towards him, even
+like a lion rushing at a small deer. And advancing impetuously, the
+mighty-armed Bhima seized Susarman by the hair, and lifting him up in
+wrath, dashed him down on the ground. And as he lay crying in agony, the
+mighty-armed Bhima kicked him at the head, and placing his knee on his
+breast dealt him severe blows. And sorely afflicted with that kicking,
+the king of Trigartas became senseless. And when the king of the
+Trigartas deprived of his car, had been seized thus, the whole Trigarta
+army stricken with panic, broke and fled in all directions, and the
+mighty sons of Pandu, endued with modesty and observant of vows and
+relying on the might of their own arms, after having vanquished
+Susarman, and rescued the kine as well as other kinds of wealth and
+having thus dispelled Virata's anxiety, stood together before that
+monarch. And Bhimasena then said, 'This wretch given to wicked deeds
+doth not deserve to escape me with life. But what can I do? The king is
+so lenient!' And then taking Susarman by the neck as he was lying on the
+ground insensible and covered with dust, and binding him fast, Pritha's
+son Vrikodara placed him on his car, and went to where Yudhishthira was
+staying in the midst of the field. And Bhima then showed Susarman unto
+the monarch. And beholding Susarman in that plight, that tiger among men
+king Yudhishthira smilingly addressed Bhima--that ornament of
+battle,--saying, 'Let this worst of men be set free.' Thus addressed,
+Bhima spoke unto the mighty Susarman, saying, 'If, O wretch, thou
+wishest to live, listen to those words of mine. Thou must say in every
+court and assembly of men,--_I am a slave._ On this condition only I
+will grant thee thy life. Verily, this is the law about the vanquished.'
+Thereupon his elder brother affectionately addressed Bhima, saying, 'If
+thou regardest us as an authority, liberate this wicked wight. He hath
+already become king Virata's slave.' And turning then to Susarman, he
+said, 'Thou art freed. Go thou a free man, and never act again in this
+way.'"
+
+    [32] Some Vikshyainam, Nilakantha explains Sama as a word spoken
+    by Bhima for assuring the captive Virata, and Vikshya as
+    'assuring' or 'consoling by a glance.' Perhaps this is right.
+
+    [33] The adjective Bhima-sankasas as explained by Nilakantha is
+    in this sense, quoting the celebrated simile of Valmiki.
+
+
+SECTION XXXIV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Yudhishthira Susarman was
+overwhelmed with shame and hung down his head. And liberated (from
+slavery), he went to king Virata, and having saluted the monarch, took
+his departure. And the Pandavas also relying on the might of their own
+arms, and endued with modesty and observant of vows, having slain their
+enemies and liberated Susarman, passed that night happily on the field
+of battle. And Virata gratified those mighty warriors, the sons of
+Kunti, possessed of super-human prowess with wealth and honour. And
+Virata said, 'All these gems of mine are now as much mine as yours. Do
+ye according to your pleasure live here happily. And ye smiter of foes
+in battle, I will bestow on you damsels decked with ornaments, wealth in
+plenty, and other things that ye may like. Delivered from perils today
+by your prowess, I am now crowned with victory. Do ye all become the
+lords of the Matsyas.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "And when the king of the Matsyas had addressed
+them thus, those descendants of the Kurus with Yudhishthira at their
+head, joining their hands, severally replied unto him saying, 'We are
+well-pleased with all that thou sayest, O monarch. We, however, have
+been much gratified that thou hast today been freed from thy foes.' Thus
+answered, that foremost of kings, Virata the lord of the Matsyas, again
+addressed Yudhishthira, saying, 'Come, we will install thee in
+sovereignty of the Matsyas. And we will also bestow on thee things that
+are rare on earth and are objects of desire, for thou deservest
+everything at our hands. O foremost of Brahmanas of the _Vaiyaghra_
+order I will bestow on thee gems and kine and gold and rubies and
+pearls. I bow unto thee. It is owing to thee that I once more behold
+today my sons and kingdom. Afflicted and threatened as I had been with
+disaster and danger, it is through thy prowess that I have not succumbed
+to the foe.' Then Yudhishthira again addressed the Matsyas, saying,
+'Well-pleased are we with the delightful words that thou hast spoken.
+Mayst thou be ever happy, always practising humanity towards all
+creatures. Let messengers now, at thy command, speedily repair into the
+city, in order to communicate the glad tidings to our friends, and
+proclaim thy victory.' Hearing these words of him, king Matsya ordered
+the messengers, saying, 'Do ye repair to the city and proclaim my
+victory in battle. And let damsels and courtesans, decked in ornaments,
+come out of the city with every kind of musical instruments.' Hearing
+this command uttered by the king of the Matsyas, the men, laying the
+mandate on their head, all departed with cheerful hearts. And having
+repaired to the city that very night, they proclaimed at the hour of
+sunrise the victory of the king about the city-gates."
+
+
+SECTION XXXV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "When the king of the Matsyas, anxious of recovering
+the kine, had set out in pursuit of the Trigartas, Duryodhana with his
+counsellors invaded the dominions of Virata. And Bhishma and Drona, and
+Karna, and Kripa acquainted with the best of weapons, Aswatthaman, and
+Suvala's son, and Duhsasana, O lord of men, and Vivingsati and Vikarna
+and Chitrasena endued with great energy, and Durmukha and
+Dussaha,--these and many other great warriors, coming upon the Matsya
+dominion speedily drove off the cowherds of king Virata and forcibly
+took away the kine. And the Kauravas, surrounding all sides with a
+multitude of cars, seized sixty thousands of kine. And loud was the yell
+of woe set up by the cowherds smitten by those warriors in that terrible
+conflict. And the chief of the cowherds, greatly affrighted speedily
+mounted on a chariot and set out for the city, bewailing in affliction.
+And entering the city of the king, he proceeded to the place, and
+speedily alighting from the chariot, got in for relating (what had
+happened). And beholding the proud son of Matsya, named Bhuminjaya, he
+told him everything about the seizure of the royal kine. And he said,
+'the Kauravas are taking away sixty thousand kine. Rise, therefore, O
+enhancer of the kingdom's glory, for bringing back thy cattle. O prince,
+if thou art desirous of achieving (the kingdom's) good set out thyself
+without loss of time. Indeed, the king of the Matsyas left thee in the
+empty city. The king (thy father) boasteth of thee in court, saying, "My
+son, equal unto me, is a hero and is the supporter of (the glory of) my
+race. My son is a warrior skilled in arrows and weapons and is always
+possessed of great courage."--Oh, let the words of that lord of men be
+true! O chief of herd-owners, bring thou back the kine after vanquishing
+the Kurus, and consume thou their troops with the terrific energy of thy
+arrows. Do thou like a leader of elephants rushing at a herd, pierce the
+ranks of the foe with straight arrows of golden wings, discharged from
+thy bow. Thy bow is even like a _Vina_. Its two ends represent the ivory
+pillows; its string, the main chord; its staff, the finger-board; and
+the arrows shot from it musical notes. Do thou strike in the midst of
+the foe that _Vina_ of musical sound.[34] Let thy steeds, O lord, of
+silvery hue, be yoked unto thy car, and let thy standard be hoisted,
+bearing the emblem of the golden lion. Let thy keen-edged arrows endued
+with wings of gold, shot by thy strong arms, obstruct the path of those
+kings and eclipse the very sun. Vanquishing all the Kurus in battle like
+unto the wielder of the thunderbolt defeating the _Asuras_, return thou
+again to the city having achieved great renown. Son of Matsya's king,
+thou art the sole refuge of this kingdom, as that foremost of virtuous
+warriors, Arjuna is of the sons of Pandu. Even like Arjuna of his
+brothers, thou art, without doubt, the refuge of those dwelling within
+these dominions. Indeed, we, the subject of this realm, have our
+protector in thee.'"
+
+    [34] To understand the comparison would require in the reader a
+    knowledge of the mechanism of the Indian Vina. Briefly, the Vina
+    consists of a bamboo of about two cubits attached to two gourds
+    towards its ends. Along the bamboo which serves the purpose of a
+    finger-board, is the main chord and several thinner wires. All
+    these pass over a number of frets, two and a half heptachords,
+    representing the total compass of the instrument. The wires rest
+    towards their ends on two pieces of ivory called Upadhanas in
+    Sanskrit or Swaris in Urdu.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by the cowherd in the presence
+of the females, in words breathing courage, the prince indulging in
+self-commendation within the female apartments, spoke these words."
+
+
+SECTION XXXVI
+
+"Uttara said, 'Firm as I am in the use of the bow, I would set out this
+very day in the track of the kine if only some one skilled in the
+management of horses becomes my charioteer. I do not, however, know the
+man who may be my charioteer. Look ye, therefore, without delay, for a
+charioteer for me that am prepared for starting. My own charioteer was
+slain in the great battle that was fought from day to day for a whole
+month or at least for eight and twenty nights. As soon as I get another
+person conversant with the management of the steeds, I will immediately
+set out, hoisting high my own standard. Penetrating into the midst of
+the hostile army abounding with elephants and horses and chariots, I
+will bring back the kine, having vanquished the Kurus who are feeble in
+strength and weak in weapons. Like a second wielder of the thunderbolt
+terrifying the Danavas, I will bring back the kine this very moment,
+affrighting in battle Duryodhana and Bhishma and Karna and Kripa and
+Drona with his son, and other mighty bowmen assembled for fight. Finding
+none (to oppose), the Kurus are taking away the kine. What can I do when
+I am not there? The assembled Kurus shall witness my prowess today. And
+they shall say unto one another, "Is it Arjuna himself who is opposing
+us?'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having heard these words spoken by the prince,
+Arjuna fully acquainted with the import of everything, after a little
+while cheerfully spake in private unto his dear wife of faultless
+beauty, Krishna, the princess of Panchala, Drupada's daughter of slender
+make, sprung from the (sacrificial) fire and endued with the virtues of
+truthfulness and honesty and ever attentive to the good of her husbands.
+And the hero said, 'Do thou, O beauteous one, at my request say unto
+Uttara without delay, "This Vrihannala was formerly the accomplished
+resolute charioteer of Pandu's son (Arjuna). Tried in many a great
+battle, even he will be thy charioteer."'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words uttered by the prince over
+and over again in the midst of the women, Panchali could not quietly
+bear those allusions to Vibhatsu. And bashfully stepping out from among
+the women, the poor princess of Panchala gently spake unto him these
+words, 'The handsome youth, looking like a mighty elephant and known by
+the name of Vrihannala, was formerly the charioteer of Arjuna. A
+disciple of that illustrious warrior, and inferior to none in use of the
+bow, he was known to me while I was living with the Pandavas. It was by
+him that the reins were held of Arjuna's excellent steeds when Agni
+consumed the forest of Khandava. It was with him as charioteer that
+Partha conquered all creatures at Khandava-prastha. In fact, there is no
+charioteer equal unto him.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Thou knowest, O _Sairindhri_, this youth. Thou knowest,
+what this one of the neuter sex may or may not be. I cannot, however, O
+blessed one, myself request Vrihannala to hold the reins of my horses.'
+
+"Draupadi said, 'Vrihannala, O hero, will without doubt, obey the words
+of thy younger sister[35]--that damsel of graceful hips. If he consents
+to be thy charioteer, thou wilt, without doubt, return, having
+vanquished the Kurus and rescued thy kine.'
+
+    [35] Some read _kaniasi_ for _vaviasi_. Both words are the same,
+    and mean the same thing.
+
+"Thus addressed by the _Sairindhri_, Uttara spake unto his sister, 'Go
+thyself, O thou of faultless beauty, and bring Vrihannala hither.' And
+despatched by her brother, she hastily repaired to the dancing-hall
+where that strong-armed son of Pandu was staying in disguise."
+
+
+SECTION XXXVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Thus despatched by her elder brother, the far-famed
+daughter of king Matsya, adorned with a golden necklace, ever obedient
+to her brother and possessed of a waist slender as that of the wasp,[36]
+endued with the splendour of Lakshmi herself,[37] decked with the plumes
+of the peacock of slender make and graceful limbs, her hips encircled by
+a zone of pearls, her eye-lashes slightly curved, and her form endued
+with every grace, hastily repaired to the dancing-hall like a flash of
+lightning rushing towards a mass of dark clouds.[38] And the faultless
+and auspicious daughter of Virata, of fine teeth and slender-waist, of
+thighs close unto each other and each like the trunk of an elephant, her
+person embellished with an excellent garland, sought the son of Pritha
+like a she-elephant seeking her mate. And like unto a precious gem or
+the very embodiment of prosperity of Indra, of exceeding beauty and
+large eyes, that charming and adored and celebrated damsel saluted
+Arjuna. And saluted by her, Partha asked that maiden of close thighs and
+golden complexion, saying 'What brings thee hither, a damsel decked in a
+necklace of gold? Why art thou in such a hurry, O gazelle-eyed maiden?
+Why is thy face, O beauteous lady, so cheerless? Tell me all this
+without delay!'"
+
+    [36] _Vedi-Vilagnamadhya_--Vedi in this connection means a wasp
+    and not, as explained by Mallinatha in his commentary of the
+    _Kumarasambhava_, a sacrificial platform. I would remark in
+    passing that many of the most poetic and striking adjectives in
+    both the Raghu and the _Kumarasambhava_ of Kalidasa are borrowed
+    unblushingly from the _Ramayana_ and the _Mahabharata_.
+
+    [37] _Padma patrabha-nibha_ may also mean 'of the splendour of
+    the gem called Marakata.' Nilakantha, however, shows that this
+    would militate against the adjective _Kankojwalatwacham_ below.
+
+    [38] The princess being of the complexion of burnished gold and
+    Arjuna dark as a mass of clouds, the comparison is exceedingly
+    appropriate. The Vaishnava poets of Bengal never tire of this
+    simile in speaking of Radha and Krishna in the groves of
+    Vrindavana.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding, O king, his friend, the princess of
+large-eyes (in that plight), her friend (Arjuna) cheerfully enquired of
+her (in these words) the cause of her arrival there and then. And having
+approached that bull among men, the princess, standing in the midst of
+her female attendants, the displaying proper modesty[39], addressed him,
+saying, 'The kine of this realm, O Vrihannala, are being driven away by
+the Kurus, and it is to conquer them that my brother will set out bow in
+hand. Not long ago his own charioteer was slain in battle, and there is
+none equal unto the one slain that can act as my brother's charioteer.
+And unto him striving to obtain a charioteer, _Sairindhri_, O
+Vrihannala, hath spoken about thy skill in the management of steeds.
+Thou wert formerly the favourite charioteer of Arjuna, and it was with
+thee that that bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the
+whole earth. Do thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, act as the charioteer of
+my brother. (By this time) our kine have surely been driven away by the
+Kurus to a great distance. Requested by me if thou dost not act up to my
+words, I who am asking this service of thee out of affection, will give
+up my life!' Thus addressed by this friend of graceful hips, that
+oppressor of foes, endued with immeasurable prowess, went into the
+prince's presence. And like unto a she-elephant running after her young
+one, the princess possessed of large eyes followed that hero advancing
+with hasty steps like unto an elephant with rent temples. And beholding
+him from a distance, the prince himself said, 'With thee as his
+charioteer, Dhananjaya the son of Kunti had gratified _Agni_ at the
+Khandava forest and subjugated the whole world! The _Sairindhri_ hath
+spoken of thee to me. She knoweth the Pandavas. Do thou, therefore, O
+Vrihannala, hold, as thou didst, the reins of my steeds, desirous as I
+am of righting with the Kurus and rescuing my bovine wealth. Thou wert
+formerly the beloved charioteer of Arjuna and it was with thee that that
+bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the whole earth!' Thus
+addressed, Vrihannala replied unto the prince, saying, 'What ability
+have I to act as a charioteer in the field of battle? If it is song or
+dance or musical instruments or such other things, I can entertain thee
+therewith, but where is my skill for becoming a charioteer?'
+
+    [39] The words in the original is _pranayam_, lit., love.
+    Nilakantha, however, explains it as meaning modesty, humility. I
+    think, Nilakantha is right. The relations between Arjuna and the
+    princess were like those between father and daughter.
+
+"Uttara said, 'O Vrihannala, be thou a singer or a dancer, hold thou
+(for the present), without loss of time, the reins of my excellent
+steeds, mounting upon my car!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Although that oppressor of foes, the son of
+Pandu, was acquainted with everything, yet in the presence of Uttara, he
+began to make many mistakes for the sake of fun. And when he sought to
+put the coat of mail on his body by raising it upwards, the large-eyed
+maidens, beholding it, burst out into a loud laughter. And seeing him
+quite ignorant of putting on armour, Uttara himself equipped Vrihannala
+with a costly coat of mail. And casing his own person in an excellent
+armour of solar effulgence, and hoisting his standard bearing the figure
+of a lion, the prince caused Vrihannala to become his charioteer. And
+with Vrihannala to hold his reins, the hero set out, taking with him
+many costly bows and a large number of beautiful arrows. And his friend,
+Uttara and her maidens then said unto Vrihannala, 'Do thou, O
+Vrihannala, bring for our dolls (when thou comest back) various kinds of
+good and fine cloths after vanquishing the Kurus assembled for battle of
+whom Bhishma and Drona are foremost!' Thus addressed, Partha the son of
+Pandu, in a voice deep as the roar of the clouds, smilingly said unto
+that bevy of fair maidens. 'If thus Uttara can vanquish those mighty
+warriors in battle, I will certainly bring excellent and beautiful
+cloths.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said these words, the heroic Arjuna
+urged the steeds towards the Kuru army over which floated innumerable
+flags. Just, however, as they were starting, elderly dames and maidens,
+and Brahmanas of rigid vows, beholding Uttara seated on his excellent
+car with Vrihannala as charioteer and under that great banner hoisted on
+high, walked round the car to bless the hero. And the women said, 'Let
+the victory that Arjuna treading like a bull had achieved of old on the
+occasion of burning the forest of Khandava, be thine, O Vrihannala, when
+thou encounterest the Kurus today with prince Uttara.'"
+
+
+SECTION XXXVIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having issued forth from the city, the dauntless son
+of Virata addressed his charioteer, saying, 'Proceed whither the Kurus
+are. Defeating the assembled Kurus who have come hither from desire of
+victory, and quickly rescuing my kine from them, I will return to the
+capital.' At these words of the prince, the son of Pandu urged those
+excellent steeds. And endued with the speed of the wind and decked with
+necklaces of gold, those steeds, urged by that lion among men, seemed to
+fly through the air. And they had not proceeded far when those smiters
+of foes, Dhananjaya and the son of Matsya, sighted the army of the
+powerful Kurus. And proceeding towards the cemetery, they came upon the
+Kurus and beheld their army arrayed in order of battle.[40] And that
+large army of theirs looked like the vast sea or a forest of innumerable
+trees moving through the sky. And then was seen, O best among the Kurus,
+the dust raised by that moving army which reached the sky and obstructed
+the sight of all creatures. And beholding that mighty host abounding in
+elephants, horses and chariots, and protected by Karna and Duryodhana
+and Kripa and Santanu's son, and that intelligent and great bowman
+Drona, with his son (Aswatthaman), the son of Virata, agitated with fear
+and the bristles on his body standing on their ends, thus spake unto
+Partha, 'I dare not fight with the Kurus. See, the bristles on my body
+have stood on their ends. I am incapable of battling with this countless
+host of the Kurus, abounding in the heroic warriors, that are extremely
+fierce and difficult of being vanquished even by the celestials. I do
+not venture to penetrate into the army of the Bharatas consisting of
+terrible bowmen and abounding in horses and elephants and cars and
+footsoldiers and banners. My mind is too much perturbed by the very
+sight of the foe on the field of battle on which stand Drona and
+Bhishma, and Kripa, and Karna, and Vivingsati, and Aswatthaman and
+Vikarna, and Saumadatti, and Vahlika, and the heroic king Duryodhana
+also--that foremost of car-warriors, and many other splendid bowmen, all
+skilled in battle. My hairs have stood on their ends, and I am fainting
+with fear at the very sight of these smiters, the Kurus arrayed in order
+of battle.'"
+
+    [40] This sloka is not correctly printed in any of the texts
+    that I have seen. The Burdwan Pandits read _tat-samim_. This I
+    think, is correct, but then _asasada_ in the singular when the
+    other verbs are all dual seems to be correct. The poet must have
+    used some other verb in the dual for _asasada_.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "And the low-minded and foolish Uttara out of
+folly alone, began to bewail (his fate) in the presence of the
+high-spirited (Arjuna) disguised (as his charioteer) in these words, 'My
+father hath gone out to meet the Trigartas taking with him his whole
+army, leaving me in the empty city. There are no troops to assist me.
+Alone and a mere boy who has not undergone much exercise in arms, I am
+unable to encounter these innumerable warriors and all skilled in
+weapons. Do thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, cease to advance!'
+
+"Vrihannala said, 'Why dost thou look so pale through fear and enhance
+the joy of thy foes? As yet thou hast done nothing on the field of
+battle with the enemy. It was thou that hadst ordered me, saying, _Take
+me towards the Kauravas_. I will, therefore, take thee, thither where
+those innumerable flags are. I will certainly take thee, O mighty-armed
+one, into the midst of the hostile Kurus, prepared to fight as they are
+for the kine like hawks for meat. I would do this, even if I regarded
+them to have come hither for battling for a much higher stake such as
+the sovereignty of the earth. Having, at the time of setting out, talked
+before both men and women so highly of thy manliness, why wouldst thou
+desist from the fight? If thou shouldst return home without recapturing
+the kine, brave men and even women, when they meet together, will laugh
+at thee (in derision). As regards myself, I cannot return to the city
+without having rescued the kine, applauded as I have been so highly by
+the _Sairindhri_ in respect of my skill in driving cars. It is for those
+praises by the _Sairindhri_ and for those words of thine also (that I
+have come). Why should I not, therefore, give battle to the Kurus? (As
+regards thyself), be thou still.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Let the Kurus rob the Matsyas of all their wealth. Let
+men and women, O Vrihannala, laugh at me. Let my kine perish, let the
+city be a desert. Let me stand exposed before my father. Still there is
+no need of battle.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, that much affrighted prince decked
+in ear-ring jumped down from his car, and throwing down his bow and
+arrows began to flee, sacrificing honour and pride. Vrihannala, however,
+exclaimed, 'This is not the practice of the brave, this flight of a
+Kshatriya from the field of battle. Even death in battle is better than
+flight from fear.' Having said this, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti,
+coming down from that excellent car ran after that prince thus running
+away, his own long braid and pure red garments fluttering in the air.
+And some soldiers, not knowing that it was Arjuna who was thus running
+with his braid fluttering in the air, burst out into laughter at the
+sight. And beholding him thus running, the Kurus began to argue, 'Who is
+this person, thus disguised like fire concealed in ashes? He is partly a
+man and partly a woman. Although bearing a neuter form, he yet
+resembleth Arjuna. His are the same head and neck, and his the same arms
+like unto a couple of maces. And this one's gait also is like unto his.
+He can be none else than Dhananjaya. As _Indra_ is among the celestials,
+so Dhananjaya is among men. Who else in this world than Dhananjaya,
+would alone come against us? Virata left a single son of his in the
+empty city. He hath come out from childishness and not from true
+heroism. It is Uttara who must have come out of the city, having,
+without doubt, made as a charioteer Arjuna, the son of Pritha, now
+living in disguise. It seems that he is now flying away in panic at
+sight of our army. And without doubt Dhananjaya runneth after him to
+bring him back.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding the disguised son of Pandu, the
+Kauravas, O Bharata, began to indulge in these surmises, but they could
+not come to any definite conclusion. Meanwhile, Dhananjaya, hastily
+pursuing the retreating Uttara, seized him by the hair within a hundred
+steps. And seized by Arjuna, the son of Virata began to lament most
+woefully like one in great affliction, and said, 'Listen, O good
+Vrihannala, O thou of handsome waist. Turn thou quickly the course of
+the car. He that liveth meeteth with prosperity. I will give thee a
+hundred coins of pure gold and eight _lapis lazuli_ of great brightness
+set with gold, and one chariot furnished with a golden flag-staff and
+drawn by excellent steeds, and also ten elephants of infuriate prowess.
+Do thou, O Vrihannala, set me free.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, that tiger among men laughingly
+dragged Uttara who was almost deprived of his senses and who was
+uttering these words of lamentation towards the car. And the son of
+Pritha then addressed the affrighted prince who had nearly lost his
+senses, saying, 'If, O chastiser of foes, thou dost not venture to fight
+with enemy, come thou and hold the reins of the steeds as I fight with
+the foe. Protected by the might of my arms, penetrate thou yon
+formidable and invincible array of cars guarded by heroic and mighty
+warriors. Fear not, O chastiser of foes, thou art a _Kshatriya_ and the
+foremost of royal princes. Why dost thou, O tiger among men, succumb in
+the midst of the foe? I shall surely fight with the Kurus and recover
+the kine, penetrating into this formidable and inaccessible array of
+cars. Be thou my charioteer, O best of men, I will fight with the
+Kurus.' Thus speaking unto Uttara, the son of Virata, Vibhatsu,
+heretofore unconquered in battle, for a while comforted him. And then
+the son of Pritha, that foremost of smiters, raised on the car that
+fainting and reluctant prince stricken with fear!"
+
+
+SECTION XXXIX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Beholding that bull among men seated on the car in
+the habit of a person of the third sex, driving toward the _Sami_ tree,
+having taken (the flying) Uttara up, all the great car-warriors of the
+Kurus with Bhishma and Drona at their head, became affrighted at heart,
+suspecting the comer to be Dhananjaya. And seeing them so dispirited and
+marking also the many wonderful portents, that foremost of all wielders
+of arms, the preceptor Drona, son of Bharadwaja, said, 'Violent and hot
+are the winds that below, showering gravels in profusion. The sky also
+is overcast with a gloom of ashy hue. The clouds present the strange
+sight of being dry and waterless. Our weapons also of various kinds are
+coming out of their cases. The jackals are yelling hideously affrighted
+at the conflagrations on all sides.[41] The horses too are shedding
+tears, and our banners are trembling though moved by none. Such being
+the inauspicious indications seen, a great danger is at hand. Stay ye
+with vigilance. Protect ye your own selves and array the troops in order
+of battle. Stand ye, expecting a terrible slaughter, and guard ye well
+the kine. This mighty bowman, this foremost of all wielders of weapons,
+this hero that hath come in the habit of a person of the third sex, is
+the son of Pritha. There is no doubt of this.' Then addressing Bhishma,
+the preceptor continued, 'O offspring of the Ganges, apparelled as a
+woman, this is _Kiriti_ called after a tree, the son of the enemy of the
+mountains, and having on his banner the sign of devastator of the
+gardens of Lanka's lord. Vanquishing us he will surely take away the
+kine today![42] This chastiser of foes is the valiant son of Pritha
+surnamed _Savyasachin_. He doth not desist from conflict even with the
+gods and demons combined. Put to great hardship in the forest he cometh
+in wrath. Taught by even Indra himself, he is like unto Indra in battle.
+Therefore, ye Kauravas, I do not see any hero who can withstand him. It
+is said that the lord _Mahadeva_ himself, disguised in the attire of a
+hunter, was gratified by this son of Pritha in battle on the mountains
+of Himavat.' Hearing these words, Karna said, 'You always censure us by
+speaking on the virtues of _Phalguna_. Arjuna, however, is not equal to
+even a full sixteenth part of myself or Duryodhana!' And Duryodhana
+said, 'If this be Partha, O Radheya, then my purpose hath already been
+fulfilled, for then, O king, if traced out, the Pandavas shall have to
+wander for twelve years again. Or, if this one be any other person in a
+eunuch's garb, I will soon prostrate him on the earth with keen-edged
+arrows.'"
+
+    [41] Some texts read _Diptasya_ for _Diptayam_.
+
+    [42] This sloka does not occur in every text. This is a typical
+    illustration of the round about way, frequently adopted by
+    Sanskrit writers, of expressing a simple truth. The excuse in
+    the present instance consists in Drona's unwillingness to
+    identify the solitary hero with Arjuna, in the midst of all his
+    hearers. Nadiji is an exclamation referring to Bhishma, the son
+    of the river Ganga. _Lankesa-vanari-ketu_ is simply
+    'ape-bannered,' or as rendered in the text, having the
+    devastator of the gardens of Lanka's lord for the sign of his
+    banner. Nagahvaya is 'named after tree' for Arjuna is the name
+    of an Indian tree. Nagri-sunu is 'Indra's son',--Indra being the
+    foe of mountain, for formerly it was he who cut off the wings of
+    all mountains and compelled them to be stationary. He failed
+    only in the case of Mainaka, the son of Himavat.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "The son of Dhritarashtra, O chastiser of foes,
+having said this, Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Drona's son all
+applauded his manliness!"
+
+
+SECTION XL
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having reached that _Sami_ tree, and having
+ascertained Virata's son to be exceedingly delicate and inexperienced in
+battle, Partha addressed him, saying, 'Enjoined by me, O Uttara, quickly
+take down (from this tree) some bows that are there. For these bows of
+thine are unable to bear my strength, my heavy weight when I shall grind
+down horses and elephants, and the stretch of my arms when I seek to
+vanquish the foe. Therefore, O Bhuminjaya, climb thou up this tree of
+thick foliage, for in this tree are tied the bows and arrows and banners
+and excellent coats of mail of the heroic sons of Pandu, viz.,
+Yudhishthira and Bhima and Vibhatsu and the twins. There also is that
+bow of great energy, the _Gandiva_ of Arjuna, which singly is equal to
+many thousands of other bows and which is capable of extending the
+limits of a kingdom. Large like a palmyra tree, able to bear the
+greatest stress, the largest of all weapons, capable of obstructing the
+foe, handsome, and smooth, and broad, without a knot, and adorned with
+gold, it is stiff and beautiful in make and beareth the heaviest weight.
+And the other bows also that are there, of Yudhishthira and Bhima and
+Vibhatsu and the twins, are equally mighty and tough.'"
+
+
+SECTION XLI
+
+"Uttara said, 'It hath been heard by us that a corpse is tied in this
+tree. How can I, therefore, being a prince by birth, touch it with my
+hands? Born in the _Kshatriya_ order, and the son of a great king, and
+always observant of _mantras_ and vows, it is not becoming of me to
+touch it. Why shouldst thou, O Vrihannala, make me a polluted and
+unclean bearer of corpses, by compelling me to come in contact with a
+corpse?'
+
+"Vrihannala said, 'Thou shalt, O king of kings, remain clean and
+unpolluted. Do not fear, there are only bows in this tree and not
+corpses. Heir to the king of the Matsyas, and born in a noble family,
+why should I, O prince, make thee do such a reproachable deed?'"
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Partha, Virata's son, decked in
+ear-rings, alighted from the car, and climbed up that _Sami_ tree
+reluctantly. And staying on the car, Dhananjaya, that slayer of enemies,
+said unto him, 'Speedily bring thou down those bows from the top of the
+tree.' And cutting off their wrappings first and then the ropes with
+which they were tied, the prince beheld the _Gandiva_ there along with
+four other bows. And as they were untied, the splendour of those bows
+radiant as the sun, began to shine with great effulgence like unto that
+of the planets about the time of their rising. And beholding the forms
+of those bows, so like unto sighing snakes, he become afflicted with
+fear and in a moment the bristles of his body stood on their ends. And
+touching those large bows of great splendour, Virata's son, O king, thus
+spake unto Arjuna!"
+
+
+SECTION XLII
+
+"Uttara said, 'To what warrior of fame doth this excellent bow belong,
+on which are a hundred golden bosses and which hath such radiant ends?
+Whose is this excellent bow of good sides and easy hold, on the staff of
+which shine golden elephants of such brightness? Whose is this excellent
+bow, adorned with three scores of _Indragopakas_[43] of pure gold,
+placed on the back of the staff at proper intervals? Whose is this
+excellent bow, furnished with three golden suns of great effulgence,
+blazing forth with such brilliancy? Whose is this beautiful bow which is
+variegated with gold and gems, and on which are golden insects set with
+beautiful stones? Whose are these arrows furnished with wing around,
+numbering a thousand, having golden heads, and cased in golden quivers?
+Who owneth these large shafts, so thick, furnished with vulturine wings
+whetted on stone, yellowish in hue, sharp-pointed, well-tempered, and
+entirely made of iron? Whose is this sable quiver,[44] bearing five
+images of tigers, which holdeth shafts intermined with boar-eared arrows
+altogether numbering ten? Whose are these seven hundred arrows, long and
+thick, capable of drinking (the enemy's) blood, and looking like the
+crescent-shaped moon?[45] Whose are these gold-crested arrows whetted on
+stones, the lower halves of which are well-furnished with wings of the
+hue of parrots' feather and the upper halves, of well-tempered
+steels?[46] Whose is this excellent sword irresistible, and terrible to
+adversaries, with the mark of a toad on it, and pointed like a toad's
+head?[47] Cased in variegated sheath of tiger-skin, whose is this large
+sword of excellent blade and variegated with gold and furnished with
+tinkling bells? Whose is this handsome scimitar of polished blade and
+golden hilt? Manufactured in the country of the _Nishadas_,
+irresistible, incapable of being broken, whose is this sword of polished
+blade in a scabbard of cow-skin? Whose is this beautiful and long sword,
+sable in hue as the sky, mounted with gold, well-tempered, and cased in
+a sheath of goat-skin? Who owneth this heavy, well-tempered, and broad
+sword, just longer than the breadth of thirty fingers, polished by
+constant clash with other's weapons and kept in a case of gold, bright
+as fire? Whose is this beautiful scimitar of sable blade covered with
+golden bosses, capable of cutting through the bodies of adversaries,
+whose touch is as fatal as that of a venomous snake which is
+irresistible and exciteth the terror of foes? Asked by me, O Vrihannala,
+do thou answer me truly. Great is my wonder at the sight of all these
+excellent objects.'"
+
+    [43] Indian insects of a particular kind.
+
+    [44] Most editions read _chapas_ which is evidently wrong. The
+    correct reading is _avapas_, meaning quiver. The Burdwan Pandits
+    give this latter reading.
+
+    [45] Some read _chandrargha-darsanas_. The correct reading is
+    _chandrardha-darsanas_.
+
+    [46] Most editions read _hema-punkha_ and _silasita_ in the
+    instrumental plural; the correct reading is their nominative
+    plural forms.
+
+    [47] _Sayaka_ means here, as explained by Nilakantha, a sword,
+    and not a shaft.
+
+
+SECTION XLIII
+
+"Vrihannala said, 'That about which thou hath first enquired is Arjuna's
+bow, of world-wide fame, called _Gandiva_, capable of devastating
+hostile hosts. Embellished with gold, this _Gandiva_, the highest and
+largest of all weapons belonged to Arjuna. Alone equal unto a hundred
+thousand weapons, and always capable of extending the confines of
+kingdoms, it is with this that Partha vanquisheth in battle both men and
+celestials. Worshipped ever by the gods, the _Danavas_ and the
+_Gandharvas_ and variegated with excellent colours, this large and
+smooth bow is without a knot or stain anywhere. Shiva held it first for
+a thousand years. Afterwards Prajapati held it for five hundred and
+three years. After that Sakra, for five and eighty years. And then Soma
+held it for five hundred years. And after that _Varuna_ held it for a
+hundred years. And finally Partha, surnamed _Swetavahana,_[48] hath held
+it for five and sixty years.[49] Endued with great energy and of high
+celestial origin, this is the best of all bows. Adored among gods and
+men, it hath a handsome form. Partha obtained this beautiful bow from
+Varuna. This other bow of handsome sides and golden handle is Bhima's
+with which that son of Pritha, that chastiser of foes, had conquered the
+whole of the eastern regions. This other excellent bow of beautiful
+shape, adorned with images of _Indragopakas_, belongeth, O Virata's son,
+to king Yudhishthira. This other weapon with golden suns of blazing
+splendour shedding a dazzling effulgence around, belongeth to Nakula.
+And this bow adorned with golden images of insects and set also with
+gems and stones, belongeth to that son of Madri who is called Sahadeva.
+These winged arrows, thousand in number, sharp as razors and destructive
+as the poison of snakes, belong, O Virata's son, to Arjuna. When
+shooting them in battle against foes, these swift arrows blaze forth
+more brilliantly and become inexhaustible. And these long and thick
+shafts resembling the lunar crescent in shape, keen-edged and capable of
+thinning the enemy's ranks, belong to Bhima. And this quiver bearing
+five images of tigers, full of yellowish shafts whetted on stone and
+furnished with golden wings belong to Nakula. This is the quiver of the
+intelligent son of Madri, with which he had conquered in battle the
+whole of the western regions. And these arrows, all effulgent as the
+sun, painted all over with various colours, and capable of destroying
+enemies by thousands are those of Sahadeva. And these short and
+well-tempered and thick shafts, furnished with long feathers and golden
+heads, and consisting of three knots, belong to king Yudhishthira. And
+this sword with blade long and carved with the image of a toad and head
+shaped as a toad's mouth, strong and irresistible belongeth to Arjuna.
+Cased in a sheath of tiger-skin, of long blade, handsome and
+irresistible, and terrible to adversaries, this sword belongeth to
+Bhimasena. Of excellent blade and cased in a well-painted sheath, and
+furnished with a golden hilt, this handsome sword belongeth to the wise
+Kaurava--Yudhishthira the just. And this sword of strong blade,
+irresistible and intended for various excellent modes of fight and cased
+in a sheath of goat-skin, belongeth to Nakula. And this huge scimitar,
+cased in a sheath of cow-skin, strong and irresistible belongeth to
+Sahadeva.'"
+
+    [48] From the colour of his steeds.
+
+    [49] Nilakantha spends much learning and ingenuity in making out
+    that sixty-five years in this connection means thirty-two years
+    of ordinary human computation.
+
+
+SECTION XLIV
+
+"Uttara said, 'Indeed, these weapons adorned with gold, belonging to the
+light-handed and high-souled Partha, look exceedingly beautiful. But
+where are that Arjuna, the son of Pritha, and Yudhishthira of the Kuru
+race, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Bhimasena, the sons of Pandu? Having
+lost their kingdom at dice, the high-souled Pandavas, capable of
+destroying all foes, are no longer heard of. Where also is Draupadi, the
+princess of _Panchala_, famed as the gem among women, who followed the
+sons of Pandu after their defeat at dice to the forest?'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'I am Arjuna, called also Partha. Thy father's courtier is
+Yudhishthira and thy father's cook Vallava is Bhimasena, the groom of
+horses is Nakula, and Sahadeva is in the cow-pen. And know thou that the
+_Sairindhri_ is Draupadi, for whose sake the Kichakas have been slain.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'I would believe all this if thou canst enumerate the ten
+names of Partha, previously heard by me!'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'I will, O son of Virata, tell thee my ten names. Listen
+thou and compare them with what thou hadst heard before. Listen to them
+with close attention and concentrated mind. They are _Arjuna, Phalguna,
+Jishnu, Kiritin, Swetavahana, Vibhatsu, Vijaya, Krishna, Savyasachin_
+and _Dhananjaya_.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Tell me truly why art thou called Vijaya, and why
+Swetavahana. Why art thou named Krishna and why Arjuna and Phalguna and
+Jishnu and Kiritin and Vibhatsu, and for what art thou Dhananjaya and
+Savyasachin? I have heard before about the origin of the several names
+of that hero, and can put faith in thy words if thou canst tell me all
+about them.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'They called me Dhananjaya because I lived in the midst of
+wealth, having subjugated all the countries and taking away their
+treasures. They called me Vijaya because when I go out to battle with
+invincible kings, I never return (from the field) without vanquishing
+them. I am called Swetavahana because when battling with the foe, white
+horses decked in golden armour are always yoked unto my car. They call
+me Phalguna because I was born on the breast of the Himavat on a day
+when the constellation _Uttara Phalguna_ was on the ascendent. I am
+named Kiritin from a diadem, resplendent like the sun, having been
+placed of old on my head by Indra during my encounter with the powerful
+_Danavas_. I am known as Vibhatsu among gods and men, for my never
+having committed a detestable deed on the battle-field. And since both
+of my hands are capable of drawing the _Gandiva_, I am known as
+Savyasachin among gods and men. They call me Arjuna because my
+complexion is very rare within the four boundaries of the earth and
+because also my acts are always stainless. I am known among human beings
+and celestials by the name of Jishnu, because I am unapproachable and
+incapable of being kept down, and a tamer of adversaries and son of the
+slayer of Paka. And Krishna, my tenth appellation, was given to me by my
+father out of affection towards his black-skinned boy of great purity.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "The son of Virata then, approaching nearer
+saluted Partha and said, 'My name is Bhuminjaya, and I am also called
+Uttara. It is by good luck, O Partha, that I behold thee. Thou art
+welcome, O Dhananjaya. O thou with red eyes, and arms that are mighty
+and each like unto the trunk of an elephant, it behoveth thee to pardon
+what I said unto thee from ignorance. And as wonderful and difficult
+have been the feats achieved by thee before, my fears have been
+dispelled, and indeed the love I bear to thee is great.'"
+
+
+SECTION XLV
+
+"Uttara said, 'O hero, mounting on this large car with myself as driver,
+which division of the (hostile) army wouldst thou penetrate? Commanded
+by thee, I would drive thee thither.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'I am pleased with thee, O tiger among men. Thou hast no
+cause of fear. I will rout all thy foes in battle, O great warrior, And,
+O thou of mighty arms, be at thy ease. Accomplishing great and terrible
+feats in the melee, I will fight with thy foes. Tie quickly all those
+quivers to my car, and take (from among those) a sword of polished blade
+and adorned with gold.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Arjuna, Uttara cast off
+all inactivity. And he speedily alighted from the tree, bringing with
+him Arjuna's weapons. Then Arjuna addressed him, saying, 'Yes, I will
+fight with the Kurus and recover thy kine. Protected by me, the top of
+this car will be to thee as a citadel. The passages and alleys and other
+divisions of this car will be the streets and edifices of that fortified
+city. These my arms will be its ramparts and gateways. This treble pole
+and my quiver will constitute defensive works inaccessible to the foe.
+This my banner--single and grand--will it not alone be equal unto those
+of thy city? This my bow-string will constitute the catapults and
+cannons for vomiting forth missiles on the besieging host. My excited
+wrath will make that fortress formidable, and the clatter of my
+car-wheels--will it not resemble the kettle-drums of thy capital? Ridden
+by myself wielding the _Gandiva_, this car will be incapable of being
+vanquished by the hostile host, O son of Virata, let thy fear be
+dispelled.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'I am no longer afraid of these. I know thy steadiness in
+battle, which is even like unto that of Kesava or Indra himself. But
+reflecting on this, I am continually bewildered. Foolish as I am, I am
+incapable of arriving at certain conclusion. By what distressful
+circumstances could _a person of such handsome limbs and auspicious
+signs become deprived of manhood_! Indeed, thou seemest to me to be
+Mahadeva, or Indra, or the chief of the Gandharvas, dwelling in the
+guise only of one of the third sex.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'I tell thee truly that I am only observing this vow for a
+whole year agreeable to the behest of my elder brother. O thou of mighty
+arms, I am not truly one of the neuter sex, but I have adopted this vow
+of eunuchism from subservience to another's will and from desire of
+religious merit. O prince, know me now to have completed my vow.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Thou hast conferred a great favour on me today, for I now
+find that my suspicion was not altogether unfounded. Indeed, such a
+person as thou, O best of men, cannot be of the neuter sex. I have now
+an ally in battle. I can now fight with the celestials themselves. My
+fears have been dispelled. What shall I do? Command me now. Trained in
+driving cars by a learned preceptor I will, O bull among men, hold the
+reins of thy horses that are capable of breaking the ranks of hostile
+cars. Know me, O bull among men, to be as competent a charioteer as
+Daruka of Vasudeva, or Matali of Sakra. The horse that is yoked unto the
+right-hand pole (of thy car) and whose hoofs as they light on the ground
+are scarcely visible when running, is like unto _Sugriva_ of Krishna.
+This other handsome horse, the foremost of his race, that is yoked unto
+the left pole, is, I regard, equal in speed to _Meghapushpa_. This
+(third) beautiful horse, clad in golden mail, yoked unto the rear-pole
+on the left, is, I regard, _Sivya_ equal in speed to but superior in
+strength. And this (fourth) horse, yoked to the rear-pole on the right,
+is regarded as superior to _Valahaka_ in speed and strength. This car is
+worthy of bearing on the field of battle a bowman like thee, and thou
+also art worthy of fighting on this car. This is what I think!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then Arjuna, endued with great energy, took off
+the bracelets from his arms and wore on his hands a pair of beautiful
+gloves embroidered with gold. And he then tied his black and curling
+locks with a piece of white cloth. And seated on that excellent car with
+face turned to the east, the mighty-armed hero, purifying his body and
+concentrating his soul, recalled to his mind all his weapons. And all
+the weapons came, and addressing the royal son of Partha, said, 'We are
+here, O illustrious one. We are thy servants, O son of Indra.' And
+bowing unto them, Partha received them unto his hands and replied unto
+them, saying, 'Dwell ye all in my memory.' And obtaining all his
+weapons, the hero looked cheerful. And quickly stringing his bow, the
+_Gandiva_, he twanged it. And the twang of that bow was as loud as the
+collision of two mighty bulls. And dreadful was the sound that filled
+the earth, and violent was the wind that blew on all sides. And thick
+was the shower of fallen meteors[50] and all sides were enveloped in
+gloom. And the birds began to totter in the skies and large trees began
+to shake.[51] And loud as the burst of the thunder, the Kurus knew from
+that sound that it was Arjuna that drew with his hands the string of his
+best of bows from his car. And Uttara said, 'Thou, O best of Pandavas,
+art alone. These mighty car-warriors are many. How wilt thou vanquish in
+battle all these that are skilled in every kind of weapon? Thou, O son
+of Kunti, art without a follower, while the Kauravas have many. It is
+for this, O thou of mighty arms, that I stay beside thee, stricken with
+fear.' 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_? Who was my
+ally while engaged in the terrific conflict at _Khandava_ against so
+many celestials and _Danavas_? Who was my ally when I fought, on behalf
+of the lord of the celestials against the mighty _Nivatakavachas_ and
+the _Paulomas_! And who was my ally, O child, while I encountered in
+battle innumerable kings at the _Swayamvara_ to the princess of
+Panchala? Trained in arms by the preceptor Drona, by Sakra, and
+Vaisravana, and Yama, and Varuna, and Agni, and Kripa, and Krishna of
+Madhu's race, and by the wielder of the _Pinaka_ (Siva), why shall I not
+fight with these? Drive thou my car speedily, and let thy heart's fever
+be dispelled.'"
+
+    [50] Some texts read,--'One large meteor fell.'
+
+    [51] In some editions read,--_Bharata dwijam_, and _Maha-hardam_
+    for _maha-drumam_. The meaning would then be,--'The banners (of
+    the hostile army) began to tremble in the sky, and large lakes
+    were agitated.'
+
+
+SECTION XLVI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Making Uttara his charioteer, and circumambulating
+the _Sami_ tree, the son of Pandu set out taking all his weapons with
+him. And that mighty car-warrior set out with Uttara as the driver of
+his car, having taken down that banner with the lion's figure and
+deposited it at the foot of the _Sami_ tree. And he hoisted on that car
+his own golden banner bearing the figure of an ape with a lion's tail,
+which was a celestial illusion contrived by Viswakarman himself. For, as
+soon, indeed, as he had thought of that gift of Agni, than the latter,
+knowing his wish, ordered those superhuman creatures (that usually sat
+there) to take their place in that banner. And furnished with a
+beautiful flag of handsome make, with quivers attached to it, and
+adorned with gold, that excellent flag-staff of celestial beauty then
+quickly fell from the firmament on his car.[52] And beholding that
+banner arrived on his car, the hero circumambulated it (respectively).
+And then the ape-bannered Vibhatsu, the son of Kunti, called also
+Swetavahana, with fingers cased in leathern fences of the _Iguana_ skin,
+and taking up his bow and arrows set out in a northernly direction. And
+that grinder of foes, possessed of great strength, then forcibly blew
+his large conch-shell, of thundering sound, capable of making the
+bristles of foes to stand on their ends. And at the sound of that conch,
+those steeds endued with swiftness dropped down on the ground on their
+knees. And Uttara also, greatly affrighted, sat down on the car. And
+thereupon the son of Kunti took the reins himself and raising the
+steeds, placed them in their proper positions. And embracing Uttara, he
+encouraged him also, saying, 'Fear not, O foremost of princes, thou art,
+O chastiser of foes, a _Kshatriya_ by birth. Why, O tiger among men,
+dost thou become so dispirited in the midst of foes? Thou must have
+heard before the blare of many conchs and the note of many trumpets, and
+the roar also of many elephants in the midst of ranks arrayed for
+battled. Why art thou, therefore, so dispirited and agitated and
+terrified by the blare of this conch, as if thou wert an ordinary
+person?'
+
+    [52] Some texts read _Maharatham_ (incorrectly) for
+    _hiranmayan_. Indeed, _Maharatham_ would give no meaning in this
+    connection. The incomplete edition of the Roy Press under the
+    auspices of the Principal of the Calcutta Sanskrit College
+    abounds with such incorrect readings and misprints.
+
+"Uttara said, 'Heard have I the blare of many a conch and many a trumpet
+and the roar of many an elephant stationed in the battle-array, but
+never have I heard before the blare of such conch. Nor have I ever seen
+a banner like this. Never before have I heard also the twang of a bow
+such as this. Truly, sir, with the blare of this conch, the twang of
+this bow, the superhuman cries of the creatures stationed on this
+banner, and the battle of this car, my mind is greatly bewildered. My
+perception of the directions also is confused, and my heart is painfully
+afflicted. The whole firmament seemeth to me to have been covered by
+this banner, and everything seemeth to be hidden from my view! My ears
+also have been deafened by the twang of the _Gandiva_!'[53]
+
+    [53] The Roy Press edition adds here a line which looks very
+    much like an interpolation.
+
+"Arjuna said, 'Firmly stand thou on the car, pressing thy feet on it,
+and tightly catch hold of the bridles, for I will blow the conch
+again.'"
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Arjuna then blew his conch again, that conch which
+filled foes with grief and enhanced the joy of friends. And the sound
+was so loud that it seemed to split hills and mountains, and pierce
+mountain-caves and the cardinal points. And Uttara once again sat down
+on the car, clinging to it in fear. And with the blare of the conch and
+the rattle of the car-wheels, and the twang of the Gandiva, the earth
+itself seemed to tremble. And beholding Uttara's fight, Dhananjaya began
+to comfort him again.'
+
+"Meanwhile, Drona said, 'From the rattle of the car, and from the manner
+in which the clouds have enveloped the sky and the earth itself
+trembles, this warrior can be none else than _Savyasachin_. Our weapons
+do not shine, our steeds are dispirited, and our fires, though fed with
+fuel, do not blare up. All this is ominous. All our animals are setting
+up a frightful howl, gazing towards the sun. The crows are perching on
+our banners. All this is ominous. Yon vultures and kites on our right
+portend a great danger. That jackal also, running through our ranks,
+waileth dismally. Lo, it hath escaped unstruck. All this portends a
+heavy calamity. The bristles also of ye all are on their ends. Surely,
+this forebodes a great destruction of Kshatriyas in battle. Things
+endued with light are all pale; beasts and birds look fierce; and there
+are to be witnessed many terrific portents indicative of the destruction
+of Kshatriyas. And these omens forebode great havoc among ourselves. O
+king, thy ranks seem to be confounded by these blazing meteors, and thy
+animals look dispirited and seem to be weeping. Vultures and kites are
+wheeling all around thy troops. Thou shalt have to repent upon beholding
+thy army afflicted by Partha's arrows. Indeed, our ranks seem to have
+been already vanquished, for none is eager to go to fight. All our
+warriors are of pale face, and almost deprived of their senses. Sending
+the kine ahead we should stand here, ready to strike, with all our
+warriors arrayed in order of battle.'"
+
+
+SECTION XLVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "King Duryodhana then, on the field of battle said
+unto Bhishma, and unto Drona--that tiger among warriors, and unto
+Kripa--that mighty car-warrior, these words, 'Both myself and Karna had
+said this unto the preceptors.[54] I refer to the subject again, for I
+am not satisfied with having said it once. Even this was the pledge of
+the sons of Pandu that if defeated (at dice) they would reside to our
+knowledge in countries and woods for twelve years, and one more year
+unknown to us. That thirteenth year, instead of being over, is yet
+running. Vibhatsu, therefore, who is still to live undiscovered hath
+appeared before us. And if Vibhatsu hath come before the term of exile
+is at end, the Pandavas shall have to pass another twelve years in the
+woods. Whether it is due to forgetfulness (on their part) induced by
+desire of dominion, or whether it is a mistake of ours, it behoveth
+Bhishma to calculate the shortness or excess (of the promised period).
+When an object of desire may or may not be attained, a doubt necessarily
+attaches to one of the alternatives, and what is decided in one way
+often ends differently.[55] Even moralists are puzzled in judging of
+their own acts.[56] As regards ourselves, we have come hither to fight
+with the Matsyas and to seize their kine stationed towards the north.
+If, meanwhile, it is Arjuna that hath come, what fault can attach to us?
+We have come hither to fight against the Matsyas on behalf of the
+Trigartas; and as numerous were the acts represented unto us of the
+oppressions committed by the Matsyas, it was for this that we promised
+aid to the Trigartas who were overcome with fear. And it was agreed
+between us that they should first seize, on the afternoon of the seventh
+lunar day, the enormous wealth of kine that the Matsyas have, and that
+we should, at sunrise of the eighteen day of the moon, seize these kine
+when the king of the Matsyas would be pursuing those first seized. It
+may be that the Trigartas are now bringing away the kine, or being
+defeated, are coming towards us for negotiating with the king of the
+Matsyas. Or, it may be, that having driven the Trigartas off, the king
+of the Matsyas, at the head of this people and his whole army of fierce
+warriors, appeareth on the scene and advanceth to make night-attacks
+upon us. It may be that some one leader among them, endued with mighty
+energy, is advancing for vanquishing us, or, it may be that the king
+himself of the Matsyas is come. But be it the king of the Matsyas or
+Vibhatsu, we must all fight him. Even this hath been our pledge. Why are
+all these of foremost car-warriors,--Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and
+Vikarna and Drona's son,--now sitting on their cars, panic-stricken? At
+present there is nothing better than fighting. Therefore, make up your
+minds. If, for the cattle we have seized, an encounter takes place with
+the divine wielder himself of the thunderbolt or even with Yama, who is
+there that will be liable to reach Hastinapura? Pierced by the shafts
+(of the foe), how will the foot-soldiers, in flying through the deep
+forest with their backs on the field, escape with life, when escape for
+the cavalry is doubtful?' Hearing these words of Duryodhana, Karna said,
+'Disregarding the preceptor, make all arrangements. He knoweth well the
+intentions of the Pandavas and striketh terror in our hearts. I see that
+his affection for Arjuna is very great. Seeing him only coming, he
+chanteth his praises. Make ye such arrangements that our troops may not
+break. Everything is in confusion for Drona's having only heard the
+neigh of (Arjuna's) steeds. Make ye such arrangements that these troops,
+come to a distant land in this hot season and in the midst of this
+mighty forest, may not fall into confusion and be subjugated by the foe.
+The Pandavas are always the special favourites of the preceptor. The
+selfish Pandavas have stationed Drona amongst us. Indeed, he betrayeth
+himself by his speech. Who would ever extol a person upon hearing the
+neigh only of his steeds? Horses always neigh, whether walking or
+standing, the winds blow at all times; and Indra also always showereth
+rain. The roar of the clouds may frequently be heard. What hath Partha
+to do with these, and why is he to be praised for these? All this (on
+Drona's part), therefore, is due only to either the desire of doing good
+to Arjuna or to his wrath and hatred towards us. Preceptors are wise,
+and sinless, and very kind to all creatures. They, however, should never
+be consulted at times of peril. It is in luxurious palaces, and
+assemblies and pleasure-gardens, that learned men, capable of making
+speeches, seem to be in their place. Performing many wonderful things,
+in the assembly, it is there that learned men find their place, or even
+there where sacrificial utensils and their proper placing and washing
+are needed. In a knowledge of the lapses of others, in studying the
+characters of men, in the science of horses and elephants and cars, in
+treating the diseases of asses and camels and goats and sheeps and kine,
+in planning buildings and gateways, and in pointing out the defects of
+food and drink, the learned are truly in their own sphere. Disregarding
+learned men that extol the heroism of the foe, make ye such arrangements
+that the foe may be destroyed. Placing the kine securely, array the
+troops in order of battle. Place guards in proper places so that we may
+fight the foe.'"
+
+    [54] The true reading is _Acharya_ in the dual number, meaning
+    Drona and Kripa. Some texts read the word in the singular form.
+    Nilakantha notices both these reading, but prefers the dual to
+    the singular.
+
+    [55] The meaning is rather doubtful. Duryodhana seems to say
+    that 'the hostile appearance of Arjuna has been an act of
+    imprudence on his part. The Pandavas, after the expiry of the
+    thirteenth year, would claim their kingdom. I, Duryodhana, may
+    or may not accede to their demand. When, therefore, it was not
+    certain that Arjuna would be refused by me, his hostile
+    appearance is unwise. He has come sure of victory, but he may
+    yet be defeated.'
+
+    [56] The sense seems to be that when moralists even are puzzled
+    in judging of the propriety or otherwise of their acts, it can
+    easily be imagined that the Pandavas, however virtuous, have, in
+    the matter of this their appearance, acted wrongly, for, after
+    all, the thirteenth year may not have really been over as
+    believed by them. Or, it may mean, that as regards our presence
+    here, we have not acted imprudently when even moralists cannot
+    always arrive at right conclusion. It seems that for this
+    Duryodhana proceeds to justify that presence in the following
+    sentences.
+
+
+SECTION XLVIII
+
+"Karna said, 'I behold all these blessed ones, looking as if alarmed and
+panic-struck and unresolved and unwilling to fight. If he that is come
+is the king of the Matsyas or Vibhatsu, even I will resist him as the
+banks resist the swelling sea. Shot from my bow these straight and
+flying arrows, like gliding snakes, are all sure of aim. Discharged by
+my light hands, these keen-edged arrows furnished with golden wings
+shall cover Partha all over, like locusts shrouding a tree. Strongly
+pressed by these winged arrows, the bow-string will cause these my
+leathern fences to produce sounds that will be heard to resemble those
+of a couple of kettle-drums. Having been engaged in ascetic austerities
+for the (last) eight and five years, Vibhatsu will strike me but mildly
+in this conflict, and the son of Kunti having become a Brahmana endued
+with good qualities, hath thus become a fit person to quietly receive
+shafts by thousands shot by me. This mighty bowman is indeed, celebrated
+over the three worlds. I, too, am, by no means, inferior to Arjuna, that
+foremost of human beings. With golden arrows furnished with vulturine
+wings shot on all sides, let the firmament seem today to swarm with
+fire-flies. Slaying Arjuna in battle, I will discharge today that debt,
+difficult of repayments, but promised of old by me unto Dhritarashtra's
+son. When man is there, even amongst all the gods and the _Asuras_, that
+will endure to stand in the teeth of the straight arrows shot from my
+bow? Let my flying arrows, winged and depressed at the middle, present
+the spectacle of the coursing of the fire-flies through the welkin. Hard
+though he be as Indra's thunderbolt and possessed of the energy of the
+chief of the celestials, I will surely grind Partha, even as one
+afflicts an elephant by means of burning brands. A heroic and mighty
+car-warrior as he is, and the foremost of all wielders of weapons I
+shall seize the unresisting Partha, even like Garuda seizing a snake.
+Irresistible like fire, and fed by the fuel of swords, darts, and
+arrows, the blazing Pandava-fire that consumeth foes, will be
+extinguished even by myself who am like unto a mighty cloud incessantly
+dropping an arrowy shower,--the multitude of cars (I will lead)
+constituting its thunder, and the speed of my horses, the wind in
+advance. Discharged from my bow, my arrows like venomous snakes will
+pierce Partha's body, like serpent penetrating through an ant-hill.
+Pierced with well-tempered and straight shafts endued with golden wings
+and great energy, behold ye today the son of Kunti decked like a hill
+covered with _Karnikara_ flowers. Having obtained weapons from that best
+of ascetics--the son of Jamadagni, I would, relying on their energy,
+fight with even the celestials. Struck with my javelin, the ape
+stationed on his banner-top shall fall down today on the ground,
+uttering terrible cries. The firmament will today be filled with the
+cries of the (super-human) creatures stationed in the flagstaff of the
+foe, and afflicted by me, they will fly away in all directions. I shall
+today pluck up by the roots the long-existing dart in Duryodhana's heart
+by throwing Arjuna down from his car. The Kauravas will today behold
+Partha with his car broken, his horses killed, his valour gone, and
+himself sighing like a snake. Let the Kauravas, following their own will
+go away taking this wealth of kine, or, if they wish, let them stay on
+their cars and witness my combat.'"
+
+
+SECTION XLIX
+
+"Kripa said, 'O Radheya, thy crooked heart always inclineth to war. Thou
+knowest not the true nature of things; nor dost thou take into account
+their after-consequences. There are various kinds of expedients
+inferrable from the scriptures. Of these, a battle hath been regarded by
+those acquainted with the past, as the most sinful. It is only when time
+and place are favourable that military operations can lead to success.
+In the present instance, however, the time being unfavourable, no good
+results will be deprived. A display of prowess in proper time and place
+becometh beneficial. It is by the favourableness or otherwise (of time
+and place) that the opportuneness of an act is determined. Learned men
+can never act according to the ideas of a car-maker. Considering all
+this, an encounter with Partha is not advisible for us. Alone he saved
+the Kurus (from the _Gandharvas_), and alone he satiated Agni. Alone he
+led the life of a _Brahmacharin_ for five years (on the breast of
+Himavat). Taking up Subhadra on his car, alone he challenged Krishna to
+single combat. Alone he fought with Rudra who stood before him as a
+forester. It was in this very forest that Partha rescued Krishna while
+she was being taken away (by Jayadratha). It is he alone that hath, for
+five years, studied the science of weapons under Indra. 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. Alone he
+overthrew in battle the fierce _Nivatakavachas_ and the _Kalakhanchas_,
+that were both incapable of being slain by the gods themselves. What,
+however, O Karna, hath been achieved by thee single-handed like any of
+the sons of Pandu, each of whom had alone subjugated many lords of
+earth? Even Indra himself is unfit to encounter Partha in battle. He,
+therefore, that desireth to fight with Arjuna should take a sedative. As
+to thyself, thou desirest to take out the fangs of an angry snake of
+virulent poison by stretching forth thy right hand and extending thy
+forefinger. Or, wandering alone in the forest thou desirest to ride an
+infuriate elephant and go to a boar without a hook in hand. Or, rubbed
+over with clarified butter and dressed in silken robes, thou desirest to
+pass through the midst of a blazing fire fed with fat and tallow and
+clarified butter. Who is there that would, binding his own hands and
+feet and tying a huge stone unto his neck, cross the ocean swimming with
+his bare arms? What manliness is there in such an act? O Karna, he is a
+fool that would, without skill in weapons and without strength, desire
+to fight with Partha who is so mighty and skilled in weapons.
+Dishonestly deceived by us and liberated from thirteen years' exile,
+will not the illustrious hero annihilate us? Having ignorantly come to a
+place where Partha lay concealed like fire hidden in a well, we have,
+indeed, exposed to a great danger. But irresistible though he be in
+battle, we should fight against him. Let, therefore, our troops, clad in
+mail, stand here arrayed in ranks and ready to strike. Let Drona and
+Duryodhana and Bhishma and thyself and Drona's son and ourselves, all
+fight with the son of Pritha. Do not, O Karna, act so rashly as to fight
+alone. If we six car-warriors be united, we can then be a match for and
+fight with that son of Pritha who is resolved to fight and who is as
+fierce as the wielder of the thunderbolt. Aided by our troops arrayed in
+ranks, ourselves--great bowmen--standing carefully will fight with
+Arjuna even as the _Danavas_ encounter Vasava in battle.'"
+
+
+SECTION L
+
+"Aswatthaman said, 'The kine, O Karna, have not yet been won, nor have
+they yet crossed the boundary (of their owner's dominions), nor have
+they yet reached Hastinapura. Why dost thou, therefore, boast of
+thyself? Having won numerous battles, and acquired enormous wealth, and
+vanquished hostile hosts, men of true heroism speak not a word of their
+prowess. Fire burneth mutely and mutely doth the sun shine. Mutely also
+doth the Earth bear creatures, both mobile and immobile. The
+Self-existent hath sanctioned such offices for the four orders that
+having recourse to them each may acquire wealth without being
+censurable. A Brahmana, having studied the _Vedas_, should perform
+sacrifices himself, and officiate at the sacrifices of others. And a
+Kshatriya, depending upon the bow, should perform sacrifices himself but
+should never officiate at the sacrifices of others. And a Vaisya, having
+earned wealth, should cause the rites enjoined in the _Vedas_ to be
+performed for himself. A Sudra should always wait upon and serve the
+other three orders. As regards those that live by practising the
+profession of flowers and vendors of meat, they may earn wealth by
+expedients fraught with deceit and fraud. Always acting according to the
+dictates of the scriptures, the exalted sons of Pandu acquired the
+sovereignty of the whole earth, and they always act respectfully towards
+their superiors, even if the latter prove hostile to them. What
+Kshatriya is there that expressed delight at having obtained a kingdom
+by means of dice, like this wicked and shameless son of Dhritarashtra?
+Having acquired wealth in this way by deceit and fraud like a vendor of
+meat, who that is wise boast of it? In what single combat didst thou
+vanquish Dhananjaya, or Nakula, or Sahadeva, although thou hast robbed
+them of their wealth? In what battle didst thou defeat Yudhishthira, or
+Bhima that foremost of strong men? In what battle was Indraprastha
+conquered by thee? What thou hast done, however, O thou of wicked deeds,
+is to drag that princess to court while she was ill and had but one
+raiment on? Thou hast cut the mighty root, delicate as the sandal, of
+the Pandava tree. Actuated by desire of wealth, when thou madest the
+Pandavas act as slaves, rememberest thou what Vidura said! We see that
+men and others, even insects and ants, show forgiveness according to
+their power of endurance. The son of Pandu, however, is incapable of
+forgiving the sufferings of Draupadi. Surely, Dhananjaya cometh here for
+the destruction of the sons of Dhritarashtra. It is true, affecting
+great wisdom, thou art for making speeches but will not Vibhatsu, that
+slayer of foes, exterminate us all! If it be gods, or _Gandharvas_ or
+_Asuras_, or _Rakshasas_, will Dhananjaya the son of Kunti, desist to
+fight from panic? Inflamed with wrath upon whomsoever he will fall, even
+him he will overthrow like a tree under the weight of Garuda! Superior
+to thee in prowess, in bowmanship equal unto the lord himself of the
+celestials, and in battle equal unto Vasudeva himself, who is there that
+would not praise Partha? Counteracting celestial weapons with celestial,
+and human weapons with human, what man is a match for Arjuna? Those
+acquainted with the scriptures declare that a disciple is no way
+inferior to a son, and it is for this that the son of Pandu is a
+favourite of Drona. Employ thou the means now which thou hadst adopted
+in the match at dice,--the same means, viz., by which thou hadst
+subjugated Indraprastha, and the same means by which thou hadst dragged
+Krishna to the assembly! This thy wise uncle, fully conversant with the
+duties of the _Kshatriya_ order--this deceitful gambler Sakuni, the
+prince of Gandhara, let _him_ fight now! The _Gandiva_, however, doth
+not cast dice such as the _Krita_ or the _Dwapara_, but it shooteth upon
+foes blazing and keen-edged shafts by myriads. The fierce arrows shot
+from the _Gandiva_, endued with great energy and furnished with
+vulturine wings, car, pierce even mountains. The destroyer of all, named
+Yama, and Vayu, and the horse-faced Agni, leave some remnant behind, but
+Dhananjaya inflamed with wrath never doth so. As thou hadst, aided by
+thy uncle, played at dice in the assembly so do fight in this battle
+protected by Suvala's son. Let the preceptor, if he chooses fight; I
+shall not, however, fight with Dhananjaya. We are to fight with the king
+of the Matsyas, if indeed, he cometh in the track of the kine.'"
+
+
+SECTION LI
+
+"Bhishma said, 'Drona's son observeth well, and Kripa too observeth
+rightly. As for Karna, it is only out of regard for the duties of the
+Kshatriya order that he desireth to fight. No man of wisdom can blame
+the preceptor. I, however, am of opinion that fight we must, considering
+both the time and the place. Why should not that man be bewildered who
+hath five adversaries effulgent as five suns, who are heroic combatants
+and who have just emerged from adversity? Even those conversant with
+morality are bewildered in respect of their own interests. It is for
+this, O king, that I tell thee this, whether my words be acceptable to
+you or not. What Karna said unto thee was only for raising our
+(drooping) courage. As regards thyself, O preceptor's son, forgive
+everything. The business at hand is very grave. When the son of Kunti
+hath come, this is not the time for quarrel. Everything should now be
+forgiven by thyself and the preceptor Kripa. Like light in the sun, the
+mastery of all weapons doth reside in you. As beauty is never separated
+from _Chandramas_, so are the _Vedas_ and the _Brahma_ weapon both
+established in you. It is often seen that the four _Vedas_ dwell in one
+object and _Kshatriya_ attributes in another. We have never heard of
+these two dwelling together in any other person than the preceptor of
+the Bharata race and his son. Even this is what I think. In the
+_Vedantas_, in the _Puranas_, and in old histories, who save Jamadagni,
+O king, would be Drona's superior? A combination of the _Brahma_ weapon
+with the _Vedas_,--this is never to be seen anywhere else. O preceptor's
+son, do thou forgive. This is not the time for disunion. Let all of us,
+uniting, fight with Indra's son who hath come. Of all the calamities
+that may befall an army that have been enumerated by men of wisdom, the
+worst is disunion among the leaders.' Aswatthaman said, 'O bull among
+men, these thy just observations, need not be uttered in our presence;
+the preceptor, however, filled with wrath, had spoken of Arjuna's
+virtues. The virtues of even an enemy should be admitted, while the
+faults of even one's preceptor may be pointed out; therefore one should,
+to the best of his power, declare the merits of a son or a disciple.'
+
+"Duryodhana said, 'Let the preceptor grant his forgiveness and let peace
+be restored. If the preceptor be at one with us, whatever should be done
+(in view of the present emergency) would seem to have been already
+done.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O Bharata, Duryodhana assisted by Karna
+and Kripa, and the high-souled Bhishma pacified Drona.
+
+"Drona said, 'Appeased I have already been at the words first spoken by
+Bhishma, the son of Santanu. Let such arrangements be made that Partha
+may not be able to approach Duryodhana in battle. And let such
+arrangements be made that king Duryodhana may not be captured by the
+foe, in consequence either of his rashness or want of judgment. Arjuna
+hath not, to be sure, revealed himself before the expiry of the term of
+exile. Nor will he pardon this act (of ours) today, having only
+recovered the kine. Let such arrangements, therefore, be made that he
+may not succeed in attacking Dhritarashtra's son and defeating our
+troops. Like myself (who am doubtful of the completion of period of
+exile) Duryodhana also had said so before. Bearing it in mind, it
+behoveth the son of Ganga to say what is true.'"
+
+
+SECTION LII
+
+"Bhishma said, 'The wheel of time revolves with its divisions, viz.,
+with _Kalas_ and _Kasthas_ and _Muhurtas_ and days and fortnights and
+months and constellations and planets and seasons and years. In
+consequence of their fractional excesses and the deviations of also of
+the heavenly bodies, there is an increase of two months in every five
+years. It seems to me that calculating this wise, there would be an
+excess of five months and twelve nights in thirteen years. Everything,
+therefore, that the sons of Pandu had promised, hath been exactly
+fulfilled by them. Knowing this to be certain, Vibhatsu hath made his
+appearance. All of them are high-souled and fully conversant with the
+meanings of the scriptures. How would they deviate from virtue that have
+Yudhishthira for their guide? The sons of Kunti do not yield to
+temptation. They have achieved a difficult feat. If they had coveted the
+possession of their kingdom by unfair means, then those descendants of
+the Kuru race would have sought to display their prowess at the time of
+the match at dice. Bound in bonds of virtue, they did not deviate from
+the duties of the Kshatriya order. He that will regard them to have
+behaved falsely will surely meet with defeat. The sons of Pritha would
+prefer death to falsehood. When the time, however, comes, those bulls
+among men--the Pandavas--endued with energy like that of Sakra, would
+not give up what is theirs even if it is defended by the wielder himself
+of the thunderbolt. We shall have to oppose in battle the foremost of
+all wielders of weapons. Therefore, let such advantageous arrangements
+as have the sanction of the good and the honest be now made without loss
+of time so that our possessions may not be appropriated by the foe. O
+king of kings, O Kaurava, I have never seen a battle in which one of the
+parties could say,--_we are sure to win_. When a battle occurs, there
+must be victory or defeat, prosperity or adversity. Without doubt, a
+party to a battle must have either of the two. Therefore, O king of
+kings, whether a battle be now proper or not consistent with virtue or
+not, make thy arrangements soon, for Dhananjaya is at hand.'
+
+"Duryodhana said, 'I will not, O grandsire, give back the Pandavas their
+kingdom. Let every preparation, therefore, for battle be made without
+delay.'
+
+"Bhishma said, 'Listen to what I regard as proper, if it pleases thee. I
+should always say what is for thy good, O Kaurava. Proceed thou towards
+the capital, without loss of time, taking with thee a fourth part of the
+army. And let another fourth march, escorting the kine. With half the
+troops we will fight the Pandava. Myself and Drona, and Karna and
+Aswatthaman and Kripa will resolutely withstand Vibhatsu, or the king of
+the Matsyas, or Indra himself, if he approaches. Indeed, we will
+withstand any of these like the bank withstanding the surging sea.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "These words spoken by the high-souled Bhishma
+were acceptable to them, and the king of the Kauravas acted accordingly
+without delay. And having sent away the king and then the kine, Bhishma
+began to array the soldiers in order of battle. And addressing the
+preceptor, he said, 'O preceptor, stand thou in the centre, and let
+Aswatthaman stand on the left, and let the wise Kripa, son of Saradwata,
+defend the right wing, and let Karna of the _Suta_ caste, clad in mail,
+stand in the van. I will stand in the rear of the whole army, protecting
+it from that point.'"
+
+
+SECTION LIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "After the Kauravas, O Bharata, had taken their stand
+in this order, Arjuna, filling the air with the rattle and din of his
+car, advanced quickly towards them. And the Kurus beheld his banner-top
+and heard the rattle and din of his car as also the twang of the
+_Gandiva_ stretched repeatedly by him. And noting all this, and seeing
+that great car-warrior--the wielder of the _Gandiva_--come, Drona spoke
+thus, 'That is the banner-top of Partha which shineth at a distance, and
+this is the noise of his car, and that is the ape that roareth
+frightfully. Indeed, the ape striketh terror in the troops. And there
+stationed on that excellent car, the foremost of car-warriors draweth
+that best of bows, the _Gandiva_, whose twang is as loud as the thunder.
+Behold, these two shafts coming together fall at my feet, and two others
+pass off barely touching my ears. Completing the period of exile and
+having achieved many wonderful feats, Partha saluteth me and whispereth
+in my ears. Endued with wisdom and beloved of his relatives, this
+Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, is, indeed, beheld by us after a long
+time, blazing with beauty and grace. Possessed of car and arrows,
+furnished with handsome fences and quiver and conch and banner and coat
+of mail, decked with diadem and scimitar and bow, the son of Pritha
+shineth like the blazing (_Homa_) fire surrounded with sacrificial
+ladles and fed with sacrificial butter.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding the Kurus ready for battle, Arjuna
+addressing Matsya's son in words suitable to the occasion, said, 'O
+charioteer, restrain thou the steeds at such a point whence my arrows
+may reach the enemy. Meanwhile, let me see, where, in the midst of this
+army, is that vile wretch of the Kuru race. Disregarding all these, and
+singling out that vainest of princes I will fall upon his head, for upon
+the defeat of that wretch the others will regard themselves as defeated.
+There standeth Drona, and thereafter him his son. And there are those
+great bowmen--Bhishma and Kripa and Karna. I do not see, however, the
+king there. I suspect that anxious to save his life, he retreateth by
+the southern road, taking away with him the kine. Leaving this array of
+car-warriors, proceed to the spot where Suyodhana is. There will I
+fight, O son of Virata, for there the battle will not be fruitless,
+Defeating him I will come back, taking away the kine.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, the son of Virata restrained
+the steeds with an effort and turned them by a pull at the bridle from
+the spot where those bulls of the Kuru race were, and urged them on
+towards the place where Duryodhana was. And as Arjuna went away leaving
+that thick array of cars, Kripa, guessing his intention, addressed his
+own comrades, saying, 'This Vibhatsu desireth not to take up his stand
+at a spot remote from the king. Let us quickly fall upon the flanks of
+the advancing hero. When inflamed with wrath, none else, unassisted, can
+encounter him in battle save the deity of a thousand eyes, or Krishna
+the son of Devaki. Of what use to us would the kine be or this vast
+wealth also, if Duryodhana were to sink, like a boat, in the ocean of
+_Partha_?' Meanwhile, Vibhatsu, having proceeded towards that division
+of the army, announced himself speedily by name, and covered the troops
+with his arrows thick as locusts. And covered with those countless
+shafts shot by Partha, the hostile warriors could not see anything, the
+earth itself and the sky becoming overwhelmed therewith. And the
+soldiers who had been ready for the fight were so confounded that none
+could even the flee from the field. And beholding the light-handedness
+of Partha they all applauded it mentally. And Arjuna then blew his conch
+which always made the bristles of the foe stand erect. And twanging his
+best of bows, he urged the creatures on his flagstaff to roar more
+frightfully. And at the blare of his conch and the rattle of his
+car-wheels, and the twang of the _Gandiva_, and the roar of the
+superhuman creatures stationed on his flagstaff, the earth itself began
+to tremble. And shaking their upraised tails and lowing together, the
+kine turned back, proceeding along the southern road.'"
+
+
+SECTION LIV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having disorganised the hostile host by force and
+having recovered the kine, that foremost of bowmen, desirous of fighting
+again, proceeded towards Duryodhana. And beholding the kine running wild
+towards the city of the Matsyas, the foremost warriors of the Kurus
+regarded Kiritin to have already achieved success. And all of a sudden
+they fell upon Arjuna who was advancing towards Duryodhana. And
+beholding their countless divisions firmly arrayed in order of battle
+with countless banners waving over them, that slayer of foes, addressing
+the son of the king of the Matsyas, said, 'Urge on, to the best of their
+speed by this road, these white steeds decked with golden bridles.
+Strive thou well, for I would approach this crowd of Kuru lions. Like an
+elephant desiring an encounter with another, the _Suta's_ son of wicked
+soul eagerly desireth a battle with me. Take me, O prince, to him who
+hath grown so proud under the patronage of Duryodhana.' Thus addressed,
+the son of Virata by means of those large steeds endued with the speed
+of the wind and furnished with golden armour, broke that array of cars
+and took the Pandava into the midst of the battle-field. And seeing this
+those mighty car-warriors, Chitrasena and Sangramajit and Satrusaha and
+Jaya, desirous of aiding Karna, rushed with arrows and long shafts,
+towards the advancing hero of Bharata's race. Then that foremost of men,
+inflamed with wrath, began to consume by means of fiery arrows shot from
+his bow, that array of cars belonging to those bulls among the Kurus,
+like a tremendous conflagration consuming a forest. Then, when the
+battle began to rage furiously, the Kuru hero, Vikarna, mounted on his
+car, approached that foremost of car-warriors, Partha, the younger
+brother of Bhima,--showering upon him terrible shafts thick and long.
+Then cutting Vikarna's bow furnished with a tough string and horns
+overlaid with gold, Arjuna cut off his flagstaff. And Vikarna, beholding
+his flagstaff cut off, speedily took to flight. And after Vikarna's
+flight, Satruntapa, unable to repress his ire, began to afflict Partha,
+that obstructer of foes and achiever of super-human feats, by means of a
+perfect shower of arrows. And drowned, as it were, in the midst of the
+Kuru-array, Arjuna, pierced by that mighty car-warrior,--king
+Satruntapa--pierced the latter in return with five and then slew his
+car-driver with ten shafts, and pierced by that bull of the Bharata race
+with an arrow capable of cleaving the thickest coat of mail, Satruntapa
+fell dead on the field of battle, like a tree from a mountain-top torn
+up by the wind. And those brave bulls among men, mangled in battle by
+that braver bull among men, began to waver and tremble like mighty
+forests shaken by the violence of the wind that blows at the time of the
+universal dissolution. And struck in battle by Partha, the son of
+Vasava, those well-dressed heroes among men--those givers of wealth
+endued with the energy of Vasava--defeated and deprived of life, began
+to measure their lengths on the ground, like full-grown Himalayan
+elephants clad in mails of black steel decked with gold. And like unto a
+raging fire consuming a forest at the close of summer, that foremost of
+men, wielding the _Gandiva_, ranged the field in all directions, slaying
+his foes in battle thus. And as the wind rangeth at will, scattering
+masses of clouds and fallen leaves in the season of spring, so did that
+foremost of car-warriors--Kiritin--ranged in that battle, scattering all
+his foes before him. And soon slaying the red steeds yoked unto the car
+of Sangramajit, the brother of Vikartana's son, that hero decked in
+diadem and endued with great vigour then cut off his antagonist's head
+by a crescent-shaped arrow. And when his brother was slain, Vikartana's
+son of the _Suta_ caste, mustering all his prowess, rushed at Arjuna,
+like a huge elephant with out-stretched tusks, or like a tiger at a
+mighty bull. And the son of Vikarna quickly pierced the son of Pandu
+with twelve shafts and all his steeds also in every part of their bodies
+and Virata's son too in his hand. And rushing impetuously against
+Vikarna's son who was suddenly advancing against him, Kiritin attacked
+him fiercely like Garuda of variegated plumage swooping down upon a
+snake. And both of them were foremost of bowmen, and both were endued
+with great strength, and both were capable of slaying foes. And seeing
+that an encounter was imminent between them, the Kauravas, anxious to
+witness it, stood aloof as lookers on. And beholding the offender Karna,
+the son of Pandu, excited to fury, and glad also at having him, soon
+made him, his horses, his car, and car-driver invisible by means of a
+frightful shower of countless arrows. And the warriors of the Bharatas
+headed by Bhishma, with their horses, elephants, and cars, pierced by
+Kiritin and rendered invisible by means of his shafts, their ranks also
+scattered and broken, began to wail aloud in grief. The illustrious and
+heroic Karna, however counteracting with numberless arrows of his own
+those shafts by Arjuna's hand, soon burst forth in view with bow and
+arrows like a blazing fire. And then there arose the sound of loud
+clapping of hands, with the blare of conchs and trumpets and
+kettle-drums made by the Kurus while they applauded Vikartana's son who
+filled the atmosphere with the sound of his bow-string flapping against
+his fence. And beholding Kiritin filling the air with the twang of
+_Gandiva_, and the upraised tail of the monkey that constituted his flag
+and that terrible creature yelling furiously from the top of his
+flagstaff, Karna sent forth a loud roar. And afflicting by means of his
+shafts, Vikartana's son along with his steeds, car and car-driver,
+Kiritin impetuously poured an arrowy shower on him, casting his eyes on
+the grandsire and Drona and Kripa. And Vikartana's son also poured upon
+Partha a heavy shower of arrows like a rain-charged cloud. And the
+diadem-decked Arjuna also covered Karna with a thick down-pour of
+keen-edged shafts. And the two heroes stationed on their cars, creating
+clouds of keen-edged arrows in a combat carried on by means of countless
+shafts and weapons, appeared to the spectators like the sun and the moon
+covered by clouds, and the light-handed Karna, unable to bear the sight
+of the foe, pierced the four horses of the diadem-decked hero with
+whetted arrows, and then struck his car-driver with three shafts, and
+his flagstaff also with three. Thus struck, that grinder of all
+adversaries in battle, that bull of the Kuru race, Jishnu wielding the
+_Gandiva_, like a lion awaked from slumber, furiously attacked Karna by
+means of straight-going arrows. And afflicted by the arrowy shower (of
+Karna), that illustrious achiever of super-human deeds soon displayed a
+thick shower of arrows in return. And he covered Karna's car with
+countless shafts like the sun covering the different worlds with rays.
+And like a lion attacked by an elephant, Arjuna, taking some keen
+crescent-shaped arrows from out of his quiver and drawing his bow to his
+ear, pierced the _Suta's_ son on every part of his body. And that
+grinder of foes pierced Karna's arms and thighs and head and forehead
+and neck and other principal parts of his body with whetted shafts
+endued with the impetuosity of the thunderbolt and shot from the
+_Gandiva_ in battle. And mangled and afflicted by the arrows shot by
+Partha the son of Pandu, Vikartana's son, quitted the van of battle, and
+quickly took to flight, like one elephant vanquished by another.'"
+
+
+SECTION LV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "After the son of Radha had fled from the field,
+other warriors headed by Duryodhana, one after another, fell upon the
+son of Pandu with their respective divisions. And like the shore
+withstanding the fury of the surging sea, that warrior withstood the
+rage of that countless host rushing towards him, arrayed in order of
+battle and showering clouds of arrows. And that foremost of
+car-warriors, Kunti's son Vibhatsu of white steeds, rushed towards the
+foe, discharging celestial weapons all the while. Partha soon covered
+all the points of the horizon with countless arrows shot from the
+_Gandiva_, like the sun covering the whole earth with his rays. And
+amongst those that fought on cars and horses and elephants, and amongst
+the mail-clad foot-soldiers, there was none that had on his body a space
+of even two finger's breadth unwounded with sharp arrows. And for his
+dexterity in applying celestial weapons, and for the training of the
+steeds and the skill of Uttara, and for the coursing of his weapons, and
+his prowess and light-handedness, people began to regard Arjuna as the
+fire that blazeth forth during the time of the universal dissolution for
+consuming all created things. And none amongst the foe could cast his
+eyes on Arjuna who shone like a blazing fire of great effulgence. And
+mangled by the arrows of Arjuna, the hostile ranks looked like
+newly-risen clouds on the breast of a hill reflecting the solar rays, or
+like groves of _Asoka_ trees resplendent with clusters of flowers.
+Indeed, afflicted by the arrows of Partha, the soldiers looked like
+these, or like a beautiful garland whose flowers gradually wither and
+drop away: And the all-pervading wind bore on its wings in the sky the
+torn flags and umbrellas of the hostile host. And affrighted at the
+havoc amongst their own ranks, the steeds fled in all directions, freed
+from their yokes by means of Partha's arrows and dragging after them
+broken portions of cars and elephants, struck on their ears and ribs and
+tusks and nether lips and other delicate parts of the body, began to
+drop down on the battle-field. And the earth, bestrewn in a short time
+with the corpses of elephants belonging to the Kauravas, looked like the
+sky overcast with masses of black clouds. And as that fire of blazing
+flames at the end of the _yuga_ consumeth all perishable things of the
+world, both mobile and immobile, so did Partha, O king, consumeth all
+foes in battle. And by the energy of his weapons and the twang of his
+bow, and the preter-natural yells of the creatures stationed on his
+flagstaff, and the terrible roar of the monkey, and by the blast of his
+conch, that mighty grinder of foes, Vibhatsu, struck terror into the
+hearts of all the troops of Duryodhana. And the strength of every
+hostile warrior seemed, as it were, to be levelled to the dust at the
+very sight of Arjuna. And unwilling to commit the daring act of sin of
+slaying them that were defenceless, Arjuna suddenly fell back and
+attacked the army from behind by means of clouds of keen-edged arrows
+proceeding towards their aims like hawks let off by fowlers. And he soon
+covered the entire welkin with clusters of blood-drinking arrows. And as
+the (infinite) rays of the powerful sun, entering a small vessel, are
+contracted within it for want of space, so the countless shafts of
+Arjuna could not find space for their expansion even within the vast
+welkin. Foes were able to behold Arjuna's car, when near, only once, for
+immediately after, they were with their horses, sent to the other world.
+And as his arrows unobstructed by the bodies of foes always passed
+through them, so his car, unimpeded by hostile ranks, always passed
+through the latter. And, indeed, he began to toss about and agitate the
+hostile troops with great violence like the thousand-headed Vasuki
+sporting in the great ocean. And as Kiritin incessantly shot his shafts,
+the noise of the bow-string, transcending every sound, was so loud that
+the like of it had never been heard before by created beings. And the
+elephants crowding the field, their bodies pierced with (blazing) arrows
+with small intervals between looked like black clouds coruscated with
+solar rays. And ranging in all directions and shooting (arrows) right
+and left, Arjuna's bow was always to be seen drawn to a perfect circle.
+And the arrows of the wielder of the _Gandiva_ never fell upon anything
+except the aim, even as the eye never dwelleth on anything that is not
+beautiful. And as the track of a herd of elephants marching through the
+forest is made of itself, so was the track was made of itself for the
+car of Kiritin. And struck and mangled by Partha, the hostile warriors
+thought that,--_Verily, Indra himself, desirous of Partha's victory,
+accompanied by all the immortals is slaying us_! And they also regarded
+Vijaya, who was making a terrible slaughter around, to be none else than
+Death himself who having assumed the form of Arjuna, was slaying all
+creatures. And the troops of the Kurus, struck by Partha, were so
+mangled and shattered that the scene looked like the achievement of
+Partha himself and could be compared with nothing else save what was
+observable in Partha's combats. And he severed the heads of foes, even
+as reapers cut off the tops of deciduous herbs. And the Kurus all lost
+their energy owing to the terror begot of Arjuna. And tossed and mangled
+by the Arjuna-gale, the forest of Arjuna's foes reddened the earth with
+purple secretions. And the dust mixed with blood, uplifted by the wind,
+made the very rays of the sun redder still. And soon the sun-decked sky
+became so red that it looked very much like the evening. Indeed, the sun
+ceaseth to shed his rays as soon as he sets, but the son of Pandu ceased
+not to shoot his shafts. And that hero of inconceivable energy
+overwhelmed, by means of all celestial weapons, all the great bowmen of
+the enemy, although they were possessed of great prowess. And Arjuna
+then shot three and seventy arrows of sharp points at Drona, and ten at
+Dussaha and eight at Drona's son, and twelve at Duhsasana, and three at
+Kripa, the son of Saradwat. And that slayer of foes pierced Bhishma, the
+son of Santanu, with arrows, and king Duryodhana with a hundred. And,
+lastly, he pierced Karna in the ear with a bearded shaft. And when that
+great bowmen Karna, skilled in all weapons, was thus pierced, and his
+horses and car and car-driver were all destroyed, the troops that
+supported him began to break. And beholding those soldiers break and
+give way the son of Virata desirous of knowing Partha's purpose,
+addressed him on the field of battle, and said, 'O Partha, standing on
+this beautiful car, with myself as charioteer, towards which division
+shall I go? For, commanded by thee, I would soon take thee thither.'
+
+"Arjuna replied, 'O Uttara, yonder auspicious warrior whom thou seest
+cased in coat of tiger-skin and stationed on his car furnished with a
+blue-flag and drawn by red steeds, is Kripa. There is to be seen the van
+of Kripa's division. Take me thither. I shall show that great bowman my
+swift-handedness in archery. And that warrior whose flag beareth the
+device of an elegant water-pot worked in gold, is the preceptor
+Drona--that foremost of all wielders of weapons. He is always an object
+of regard with me, as also with all bearers of arms. Do thou, therefore,
+circumambulate that great hero cheerfully. Let us bend our heads there,
+for that is the eternal virtue. If Drona strikes my body first, then I
+shall strike him, for then he will not be able to resent it. There,
+close to Drona, that warrior whose flag beareth the device of a bow, is
+the preceptor's son, the great car-warrior Aswatthaman, who is always an
+object of regard with me as also with every bearer of arms. Do thou,
+therefore, stop again and again, while thou comest by his car. There,
+that warrior who stayeth on his car, cased in golden mail and surrounded
+by a third part of the army consisting of the most efficient troops, and
+whose flag beareth the device of an elephant in a ground of gold, is the
+illustrious king Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra. O hero, take
+before him this thy car that is capable of grinding hostile cars. This
+king is difficult of being vanquished in battle and is capable of
+grinding all foes. He is regarded as the first of all Drona's disciples
+in lightness of hand. I shall, in battle, show him my superior swiftness
+in archery. There, that warrior whose flag beareth the device of a stout
+chord for binding elephants, is Karna, the son of Vikartana, already
+known to thee. When thou comest before that wicked son of Radha, be thou
+very careful, for he always challengeth me to an encounter. And that
+warrior whose flag is blue and beareth the device of five stars with a
+sun (in the centre), and who endued with great energy stayeth on his car
+holding a huge bow in hand and wearing excellent fences, and over whose
+head is an umbrella of pure white, who standeth at the head of a
+multitudinous array of cars with various flags and banners like the sun
+in advance of masses of black clouds, and whose mail of gold looks
+bright as the sun or the moon, and who with his helmet of gold striketh
+terror into my heart, is Bhishma, the son of Santanu and the grandsire
+of us all. Entertained with regal splendour by Duryodhana, he is very
+partial and well-affected towards that prince. Let him be approached
+last of all, for he may, even now, be an obstacle to me. While fighting
+with me, do thou carefully guide the steeds.' Thus addressed by him,
+Virata's son, O king, guided Savyasachin's car with great alacrity
+towards the spot where Kripa stood anxious to fight."
+
+
+SECTION LVI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "And the ranks of those fierce bowmen, the Kurus,
+looked like masses of clouds in the rainy season drifting before a
+gentle wind. And close (to those ranks of foot-soldiers) stood the
+enemy's horses ridden by terrible warriors. And there were also
+elephants of terrible mien, looking resplendent in beautiful armour,
+ridden by skilled combatants and urged on with iron crows and hooks.
+And, O king, mounted on a beautiful car, Sakra came there accompanied by
+the celestials,--the _Viswas_ and _Maruts_. And crowded with gods,
+_Yakshas, Gandharvas_ and _Nagas_, the firmament looked as resplendent
+as it does when bespangled with the planetary constellation in a
+cloudless night. And the celestials came there, each on his own car,
+desirous of beholding the efficacy of their weapons in human warfare,
+and for witnessing also the fierce and mighty combat that would take
+place when Bhishma and Arjuna would meet. And embellished with gems of
+every kind and capable of going everywhere at the will of the rider, the
+heavenly car of the lord of the celestials, whose roof was upheld by a
+hundred thousand pillars of gold with (a central) one made entirely of
+jewels and gems, was conspicuous in the clear sky. And there appeared on
+the scene three and thirty gods with Vasava (at their head)--and (many)
+_Gandharvas_ and _Rakshasas_ and _Nagas_ and _Pitris_, together with the
+great _Rishis_. And seated on the car of the lord of the celestials,
+appeared the effulgent persons of kings, Vasumanas and Valakshas and
+Supratarddana, and Ashtaka and Sivi and Yayati and Nahusha and Gaya and
+Manu and Puru and Raghu and Bhanu and Krisaswa and Sagara and Nala. And
+there shone in a splendid array, each in its proper place the cars of
+Agni and Isa and Soma and Varuna and Prajapati and Dhatri and Vidhatri
+and Kuvera and Yama, and Alamvusha and Ugrasena and others, and of the
+_Gandharva_ Tumburu. And all the celestials and the _Siddhas_, and all
+the foremost of sages came there to behold that encounter between Arjuna
+and the Kurus. And the sacred fragrance of celestial garlands filled the
+air like that of blossoming woods at the advent of spring. And the red
+and reddish umbrellas and robes and garlands and _chamaras_ of the gods,
+as they were stationed there, looked exceedingly beautiful. And the dust
+of the earth soon disappeared and (celestial) effulgence lit up
+everything. And redolent of divine perfumes, the breeze began to soothe
+the combatants. And the firmament seemed ablaze and exceedingly
+beautiful, decked with already arrived and arriving cars of handsome and
+various make, all illumined with diverse sorts of jewels, and brought
+thither by the foremost of the celestials. And surrounded by the
+celestials, and wearing a garland of lotuses and lilies the powerful
+wielder of the thunderbolt looked exceedingly beautiful on his car. And
+the slayer of Vala, although he steadfastly gazed at his son on the
+field of battle, was not satiated with such gazing."
+
+
+SECTION LVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Beholding the army of the Kurus arrayed in order of
+battle, that descendant of the Kuru race, Partha, addressing Virata's
+son, said, 'Do thou proceed to the spot where Kripa, the son of
+Saradwat, is going by the southern side of that car whose flag is seen
+to bear the device of a golden altar.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Dhananjaya, the son of
+Virata urged, without a moment's delay, those steeds of silvery hue
+decked in golden armour. And making them adopt, one after another, every
+kind of the swifter paces, he urged those fiery steeds resembling the
+moon in colour. And versed in horse-lore, Uttara, having approached the
+Kuru host, turned back those steeds endued with the speed of the wind.
+And skilled in guiding vehicles, the prince of Matsya, sometimes
+wheeling about, and sometimes proceeding in circular mazes, and
+sometimes turning to the left, began to be wilder than the Kurus. And
+wheeling round, the intrepid and mighty son of Virata at last approached
+the car of Kripa, and stood confronting him. Then announcing his own
+name, Arjuna powerfully blew that best of conchs called _Devadatta_, of
+loud blare. And blown on the field of battle by the mighty Jishnu, the
+blare of that conch was heard like the splitting of a mountain. And
+seeing that the conch did not break into a hundred fragments when blown
+by Arjuna, the Kurus with all their warriors began to applaud it highly.
+And having reached the very heavens, that sound coming back was heard
+even like the crash of the thunderbolt hurled by Maghavat on the
+mountain breast. Thereupon that heroic and intrepid and mighty
+car-warrior, Saradwat's son Kripa, endued with strength and prowess,
+waxing wroth at Arjuna, and unable to bear that sound and eager for
+fight, took up his own sea-begotten conch and blew it vehemently. And
+filling the three worlds with that sound, that foremost of car-warriors
+took up a large bow and twanged the bow-string powerfully. And those
+mighty car-warriors, equal unto two suns, standing opposed to each
+other, shone like two masses of autumnal clouds. Then Saradwat's son
+quickly pierced Partha, that slayer of hostile heroes, with ten swift
+and whetted arrows capable of entering into the very vitals. And
+Pritha's son also, on his part, drawing that foremost of weapons, the
+_Gandiva_, celebrated over the world, shot innumerable iron-arrows, all
+capable of penetrating into the very core of the body. Thereupon Kripa,
+by means of whetted shafts, cut into hundreds and thousands of
+fragments, those blood-drinking arrows of Partha before they could come
+up. Then that mighty car-warrior, Partha also, in wrath displaying
+various manoeuvres, covered all sides with a shower of arrows. And
+covering the entire welkin with his shafts, that mighty warrior of
+immeasurable soul, the son of Pritha, enveloped Kripa with hundreds of
+shafts. And sorely afflicted by those whetted arrows resembling flames
+of fire, Kripa waxed wroth and quickly afflicting the high-souled Partha
+of immeasurable prowess with ten thousand shafts, set up on the field of
+battle a loud roar. Then the heroic Arjuna quickly pierced the four
+steeds of his adversary with four fatal arrows shot from the _Gandiva_,
+sharp and straight, and furnished with golden wings. And pierced by
+means of those whetted arrows resembling flames of fire those steeds
+suddenly reared themselves, and in consequence Kripa reeled off his
+place. And seeing Gautama thrown off his place, the slayer of hostile
+heroes, the descendant of the Kuru race, out of regard for his
+opponent's dignity, ceased to discharge his shafts at him. Then
+regaining his proper place, Gautama quickly pierced Savyasachin with ten
+arrows furnished with feathers of the _Kanka_ bird. Then with a
+crescent-shaped arrow of keen edge, Partha cut off Kripa's bow and
+leathern fences. And soon Partha cut off Kripa's coat of mail also by
+means of arrows capable of penetrating the very vitals, but he did not
+wound his person. And divested of his coat of mail, his body resembled
+that of a serpent which hath in season cast off its slough. And as soon
+as his bow had been cut off by Partha, Gautama took up another and
+stringed it in a trice. And strange to say, that bow of him was also cut
+off by Kunti's son, by means of straight shafts. And in this way that
+slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Pandu, cut off other bows as soon
+as they were taken up, one after another, by Saradwat's son. And when
+all his bows were thus cut off, that mighty hero hurled, from his car,
+at Pandu's son, a javelin like unto the blazing thunderbolt. Thereupon,
+as the gold-decked javelin came whizzing through the air with the flash
+of a meteor, Arjuna cut it off by means of ten arrows. And beholding his
+dart thus cut off by the intelligent Arjuna, Kripa quickly took up
+another bow and almost simultaneously shot a number of crescent-shaped
+arrows. Partha, however, quickly cut them into fragments by means of ten
+keen-edged shafts, and endued with great energy, the son of Pritha then,
+inflamed with wrath on the field of battle, discharged three and ten
+arrows whetted on stone and resembling flames of fire. And with one of
+these he cut off the yoke of his adversary's car, and with four pierced
+his four steeds, and with the sixth he severed the head of his
+antagonist's car-driver from off his body. And with three that mighty
+car-warrior pierced, in that encounter, the triple bamboo-pole of
+Kripa's car and with two, its wheels. And with the twelfth arrow he cut
+off Kripa's flagstaff. And with the thirteenth Phalguna, who was like
+Indra himself as if smiling in derision, pierced Kripa in the breast.
+Then with his bow cut off, his car broken, his steeds slain, his
+car-driver killed, Kripa leapt down and taking up a mace quickly hurled
+it at Arjuna. But that heavy and polished mace hurled by Kripa was sent
+back along its course, struck by means of Arjuna's arrows. And then the
+warriors (of Kripa's division), desirous of rescuing the wrathful son of
+Saradwat encountered Partha from all sides and covered him with their
+arrows. Then the son of Virata, turning the steed to the left began to
+perform circuitous evolution called _Yamaka_ and thus withstood all
+those warriors. And those illustrious bulls among men, taking Kripa with
+them who had been deprived of his car, led him away from the vicinity of
+Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti."
+
+
+SECTION LVIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "After Kripa had thus been taken away, the invincible
+Drona of red steeds, taking up his bow to which he had already stringed
+an arrow, rushed towards Arjuna of white steeds. And beholding at no
+great distance from him the preceptor advancing on his golden car,
+Arjuna that foremost of victorious warriors, addressing Uttara, said,
+'Blessed be thou, O friend, carry me before that warrior on whose high
+banner-top is seen a golden altar resembling a long flame of fire and
+decked with numerous flags placed around, and whose car is drawn by
+steeds that are red and large, exceedingly handsome and highly-trained,
+of face pleasant and of quiet mien, and like unto corals in colour and
+with faces of coppery hue, for that warrior is Drona with whom I desire
+to fight. Of long arms and endued with mighty energy possessed of
+strength and beauty of person, celebrated over all the worlds for his
+prowess, resembling Usanas himself in intelligence and Vrihaspati in
+knowledge of morality, he is conversant with the four _Vedas_ and
+devoted to the practice of _Brahmacharya_ virtues. O friend, the use of
+the celestial weapons together with the mysteries of their withdrawal
+and the entire science of weapons, always reside in him. Forgiveness,
+self-control, truth, abstention from injury, rectitude of
+conduct,--these and countless other virtues always dwell in that
+regenerate one. I desire to fight with that highly-blessed one on the
+field. Therefore, take me before the preceptor and carry me thither, O
+Uttara.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Arjuna, Virata's son urged
+his steeds decked with gold towards the car of Bharadwaja's son. And
+Drona also rushed towards the impetuously advancing Partha, the son of
+Pandu,--that foremost of car-warriors,--like an infuriate elephant
+rushing towards an infuriate compeer. And the son of Bharadwaja then
+blew his conch whose blare resembled that of a hundred trumpets. And at
+that sound the whole army become agitated like the sea in a tempest. And
+beholding those excellent steeds red in hue mingling in battle with
+Arjuna's steeds of swan-like whiteness endued with the speed of the
+mind, all the spectators were filled with wonder. And seeing on the
+field of battle those car-warriors--the preceptor Drona and his disciple
+Partha--both endued with prowess, both invincible, both well-trained,
+both possessed of great energy and great strength, engaged with each
+other, that mighty host of the Bharatas began to tremble frequently. And
+that mighty car-warrior Partha, possessed of great prowess and filled
+with joy upon reaching Drona's car on his own, saluted the preceptor.
+And that slayer of hostile heroes, the mighty armed son of Kunti, then
+addressed Drona in an humble and sweet tone, saying, 'Having completed
+our exile in the woods, we are now desirous of avenging our wrongs. Even
+invincible in battle, it doth not behove thee to be angry with us. O
+sinless one, I will not strike thee unless thou strikest me first. Even
+this is my intention. It behoveth thee to act as thou choosest.' Thus
+addressed Drona discharged at him more than twenty arrows. But the
+light-handed Partha cut them off before they could reach him. And at
+this, the mighty Drona, displaying his lightness of hand in the use of
+weapons, covered Partha's car with a thousand arrows. And desirous of
+angering, Partha, that hero of immeasurable soul, then covered his
+steeds of silvery whiteness with arrows whetted on stone and winged with
+the feathers of the _Kanka_ bird. And when the battle between Drona and
+Kiritin thus commenced, both of them discharging in the encounter arrows
+of blazing splendour, both well-known for their achievements, both equal
+to the wind itself in speed, both conversant with celestial weapons, and
+both endued with mighty energy, began shooting clouds of arrows to
+bewilder the royal Kshatriyas. And all the warriors that were assembled
+there were filled with wonder at sight of all this. And they all admired
+Drona who quickly shot clouds of arrows exclaiming,--_Well done! Well
+done_! Indeed, _who else save Phalguna, is worthy of fighting with Drona
+in battle? Surely the duties of a Kshatriya are stern, for Arjuna
+fighteth with even his own preceptor_!--And it was thus that they who
+stood on the field of battle said unto one another. And inflamed with
+fire, those mighty-armed heroes standing before other, and each
+incapable of overcoming the other, covered each other with arrowy
+showers. And Bharadwaja's son, waxing wroth, drew his large and
+unconquerable bow plated on the back with gold, and pierced Phalguna
+with his arrows. And discharging at Arjuna's car innumerable whetted
+arrows possessed of solar effulgence, he entirely shrouded the light of
+the sun. And that great car-warrior of mighty arms, violently pierced
+Pritha's son with keen-edged shafts even as the clouds shower upon a
+mountain. Then taking up that foremost of bows, the _Gandiva_,
+destructive of foes and capable of withstanding the greatest strain, the
+impetuous son of Pandu cheerfully discharged countless shafts of various
+kinds adorned with gold, and that powerful warrior also baffled in a
+moment Drona's arrowy shower by means of those shafts shot from his own
+bow. And at this the spectators wondered greatly. And the handsome
+Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, ranging on his car, displayed his weapons
+on all sides at the same time. And the entire welkin covered with his
+arrows, became one wide expanse of shade. And at this Drona become
+invisible like the sun enveloped in mist. And shrouded by those
+excellent arrows on all sides, Drona looked like a mountain on fire. And
+beholding his own car completely enveloped by the arrows of Pritha's
+son, Drona that ornament of battle, bent his terrible and foremost of
+bows whose noise was as loud as that of the clouds. And drawing that
+first of weapons, which was like unto a circle of fire, he discharged a
+cloud of keen-edged shafts. And then there were heard on the field loud
+sounds like the splitting of bamboos set on fire. And that warrior of
+immeasurable soul, shooting from his bow arrows furnished with golden
+wings, covered all sides, shrouding the very light of the sun. And those
+arrows with knots well-peeled off, and furnished with golden wings,
+looked like flocks of birds in the sky. And the arrows discharged by
+Drona from his bow, touching one another at the wings, appeared like one
+endless line in the sky. And those heroes, thus discharging their arrows
+decked with gold, seemed to cover the sky with showers of meteors. And
+furnished with feathers of the _Kanka_ bird, those arrows looked like
+rows of cranes ranging in the autumnal sky. And the fierce and terrible
+encounter that took place between the illustrious Drona and Arjuna
+resembled that between Virata and Vasava of old. And discharging arrows
+at each other from bows drawn at their fullest stretch, they resembled
+two elephants assailing each other with their tusks. And those wrathful
+warriors--those ornaments of battle--fighting strictly according to
+established usage, displayed in that conflict various celestial weapons
+in due order. Then that foremost of victorious men, Arjuna, by means of
+his keen shafts resisted the whetted arrows shot by that best of
+preceptors. And displaying before the spectators various weapons, that
+hero of terrible prowess covered the sky with various kinds of arrows.
+And beholding that tiger among men, Arjuna, endued with fierce energy
+and intent upon striking him, that foremost of warriors and best of
+preceptors (from affection) began to fight with him playfully by means
+of smooth and straight arrows. And Bharadwaja's son fought on with
+Phalguna, resisting with his own the celestial weapons shot by the
+former. And the fight that took place between those enraged lions among
+men, incapable of bearing each other, was like unto encounter between
+the gods and the _Danavas_. And the son of Pandu repeatedly baffled with
+his own, the _Aindra_, the _Vayavya_, and the _Agneya_ weapons that were
+shot by Drona. And discharging keen shafts, those mighty bowmen, by
+their arrowy showers completely covered the sky and made a wide expanse
+of shade. And then the arrows shot by Arjuna, falling on the bodies of
+hostile warriors, produced the crash of thunderbolt. O king, elephants,
+cars, and horses, bathed in blood, looked like _Kinsuka_ trees crowned
+with flowers. And in that encounter between Drona and Arjuna, beholding
+the field covered with arms decked with bangles, and gorgeously-attired
+car-warriors, and coats of mail variegated with gold, and with banners
+lying scattered all about, and with warriors slain by means of Partha's
+arrows, the Kuru host became panic-stricken. And shaking their bows
+capable of bearing much strain, those combatants began to shroud and
+weaken each other with their shafts. And, O bull of the Bharata race,
+the encounter that took place between Drona and Kunti's son was dreadful
+in the extreme and resembled that between Vali and Vasava. And staking
+their very lives, they began to pierce each other straight arrows shot
+from their fully-stretched bow-strings. And a voice was heard in the sky
+applauding Drona, and saying, 'Difficult is the feat performed by Drona,
+inasmuch as he fighteth with Arjuna,--that grinder of foes, that warrior
+endued with mighty energy, of firm grasp, and invincible in
+battle,--that conqueror of both celestials and _Daityas_, that foremost
+of all car-warriors.' And beholding Partha's infallibility, training,
+fleetness of hand, and the range also of Arjuna's, arrows, Drona became
+amazed. And, O bull of the Bharata race, lifting up his excellent bow,
+the _Gandiva_, the unforbearing Partha drew it now with one hand and now
+with another shot an arrowy shower. And beholding that shower resembling
+a flight of locusts, the spectators wondering applauded him exclaiming,
+'Excellent! Excellent!' And so ceaselessly did he shoot his arrows that
+the very air was unable to penetrate the thick array. And the spectators
+could not perceive any interval between the taking up of the arrows and
+letting them off. And in that fierce encounter characterised by
+lightness of hand in the discharge of weapons, Partha began to shoot his
+arrows more quickly than before. And then all at once hundreds and
+thousands of straight arrows fell upon Drona's car. And, O bull of the
+Bharata race, beholding Drona completely covered by the wielder of the
+_Gandiva_ with his arrows, the Kuru army set up exclamation of '_Oh'!_
+and '_Alas'!_ And Maghavat, together with those _Gandharvas_ and
+_Apsaras_ that have come there, applauded the fleetness of Partha's
+hand. And that mighty car-warrior, the preceptor's son, then resisted
+the Pandva with a mighty array of cars. And although enraged with
+Arjuna, yet Aswatthaman mentally admired that feat of the high-souled
+son of Pritha. And waxing wroth, he rushed towards Partha, and
+discharged at him an arrowy shower like a heavy down-pour by the cloud.
+And turning his steeds towards Drona's son, Partha gave Drona an
+opportunity to leave the field. And thereupon the latter, wounded in
+that terrible encounter, and his mail and banner gone sped away by the
+aid of swift horses."
+
+
+SECTION LIX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then, O mighty king, Drona's son rushed to an
+encounter with Arjuna in battle. And beholding his rush to the conflict
+like a hurricane, showering shafts like a rain charged cloud Pritha's
+son received him with a cloud of arrows. And terrible was the encounter
+between them, like that between the gods and the _Danavas_. And they
+shot arrows at each other like Virata and Vasava. And the welkin being
+enveloped on all sides with arrows, the sun was completely hidden, and
+the air itself was hushed. And, O conqueror of hostile cities, as they
+assailed and struck each other, loud sounds arose as of bamboos on fire.
+And, O king, Aswatthaman's horses being sorely afflicted by Arjuna, they
+became bewildered and could not ascertain which way to go. And as
+Pritha's son ranged on the field, the powerful son of Drona finding an
+opportunity, cut off the string of the _Gandiva_ with an arrow furnished
+with a horse-shoe head. And beholding that extraordinary feat of his,
+the celestials applauded him highly. And exclaiming--'Well done!'--'Well
+done!' Drona and Bhishma, and Karna, and the mighty warrior Kripa, all
+applauded that feat of his greatly. And the son of Drona, drawing his
+excellent bow, pierced with his shafts, furnished with the feathers of
+the _Kanka_ bird, the breast of Partha, that bull among warriors.
+Thereupon, with a loud laughter, the mighty-armed son of Pritha attached
+a strong and fresh string to _Gandiva_. And moistening his bow-string
+with the sweat that stood on his forehead resembling the crescent moon,
+Pritha's son advanced towards his adversary, even as an infuriated
+leader of a herd of elephants rusheth at another elephant. And the
+encounter that took place between those two matchless heroes on the
+field of battle was exceedingly fierce and made the bristles of the
+spectators stand on their ends. And as those heroes endued with mighty
+energy fought on, the two mighty elephants, the Kurus beheld them with
+wonder. And those brave bulls among men assailed each other with arrows
+of snaky forms and resembling blazing fires. And as the couple of
+quivers belonging to the Pandava was inexhaustible, that hero was able
+to remain on the field immovable as a mountain. And as Aswatthaman's
+arrows, in consequence of his ceaseless discharge in that conflict, were
+quickly exhausted, it was for this that Arjuna prevailed over his
+adversary. Then Karna, drawing his large bow with great force twanged
+the bow-string. And thereupon arose loud exclamation of '_Oh!_' and
+'_Alas!_' And Pritha's son, casting his eyes towards the spot where that
+bow was twanged, beheld before him the son of Radha. And at that sight
+his wrath was greatly excited. And inflamed with ire and desirous of
+slaying Karna, that bull of the Kuru race stared at him with rolling
+eyes. And, O king, beholding Partha turn away from Aswatthaman's side,
+the Kuru warriors discharged thousands of arrows on Arjuna. And the
+mighty-armed Dhananjaya, that conqueror of foes, leaving Drona's son,
+all on a sudden rushed towards Karna. And rushing towards Karna, with
+eyes reddened in anger the son of Kunti, desirous of a single combat
+with him, said these words."
+
+
+SECTION LX
+
+"Arjuna said, 'The time, O Karna, hath now come for making good thy
+loquacious boast in the midst of the assembly, viz., that there is none
+equal to thee in fight. Today, O Karna, contending with me in terrible
+conflict, thou shalt know thy own strength, and shalt no longer
+disregard others. Abandoning good breeding, thou hadst uttered many
+harsh words, but this that thou endeavourest to do, is, I think,
+exceedingly difficult. Do thou now, O Radha's son, contending with me in
+the sight of the Kurus, make good what thou hadst said before in
+disregard of myself. Thou who hadst witnessed Panchala's princess
+outraged by villains in the midst of the court, do thou now reap the
+fruit of that act of thine. Fettered by the bonds of morality before, I
+desisted from vengeance then. Behold now, O son of Radha, the fruit of
+that wrath in conflict at hand. O wicked wight, we have suffered much
+misery in that forest for full twelve years. Reap thou today the fruits
+of our concentrated vengeance. Come, O Karna, cope with me in battle.
+Let these thy Kaurava warriors witness the conflict.' Hearing these
+words, Karna replied, 'Do thou, O Partha, accomplish in deed what thou
+sayst in words. The world knows that thy words verily exceed thy deed.
+That thou hadst foreborne formerly was owing to thy inability to do
+anything. If we witness thy prowess even now, we may acknowledge its
+truth. If thy past forbearance was due to thy having been bound by the
+bonds of morality, truly thou art equally bound now although thou
+regardest thyself free. Having as thou sayst, passed thy exile in the
+woods in strict accordance with thy pledge and being therefore weakened
+by practising an ascetic course of life, how canst thou desire a combat
+with me now! O Pritha's son, if Sakra himself fight on thy side, still I
+would feel no anxiety in putting forth my prowess. Thy wish, O son of
+Kunti, is about to be gratified. Do thou fight with me now, and behold
+my strength.' Hearing this, Arjuna said, 'Even now, O Radha's son, thou
+hadst fled from battle with me, and it is for this that thou livest
+although thy younger brother hath been slain. What other person, save
+thee, having beheld his younger brother slain in battle would himself
+fly from the field, and boast as thou dost, amid good and true men?'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said these words unto Karna, the
+invincible Vibhatsu rushed at him and charged a volley of shafts capable
+of penetrating through a coat of mail. But that mighty car-warrior,
+Karna, received with great alacrity that discharge with an arrowy shower
+of his own, heavy as the downpour of the clouds. And that fierce volley
+of arrows covered all sides and severally pierced the steeds and arms
+and leathern fences of the combatants. And incapable of putting up with
+that assault, Arjuna cut off the strings of Karna's quiver by means of a
+straight and sharp arrow. Thereupon, taking out from his quiver another
+arrow, Karna pierced the Pandava in the hand at which the latter's hold
+of the bow was loosened. And then the mighty-armed Partha cut off
+Karna's bow into fragments. And Karna replied by hurling a dart at his
+adversary, but Arjuna cut it off by means of his arrows. And then the
+warriors that followed the son of Radha rushed in crowds at Arjuna, but
+Partha sent them all to the abode of Yama by means of arrows shot from
+the _Gandiva_. And Vibhatsu slew the steeds of Karna by means of sharp
+and tough arrows shot from the bow-string drawn to the ear, and deprived
+of life they dropped down on the ground. And taking another sharp and
+blazing arrow endued with great energy, the mighty son of Kunti pierced
+the breast of Karna. And that arrow, cleaving through his mail,
+penetrated into his body. And at this, Karna's vision was obscured and
+his senses left him. And regaining consciousness, he felt a great pain,
+and leaving the combat fled in a northernly direction. And at this, the
+mighty car-warrior Arjuna and Uttara, both began to address him
+contumely."
+
+
+SECTION LXI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having defeated Vikartana's son, Arjuna said unto
+the son of Virata, 'Take me towards that division where yonder device of
+a golden palmyra is seen. There our grandfather, Santanu's son, like
+unto a celestial, waiteth, desirous of an encounter with me.' Thereupon,
+beholding that mighty host thronged with cars and horses and elephants,
+Uttara, sorely pierced with arrows, said, 'O hero, I am no longer able
+to guide thy excellent steeds. My spirits droop and my mind is
+exceedingly bewildered. All the directions seem to be whirling before my
+eyes in consequence of the energy of the celestial weapons used by thee
+and the Kurus. I have been deprived of my senses by the stench of fat
+and blood and flesh. Beholding all this, from terror my mind is, as it
+were, cleft in twain. Never before had I beheld such a muster of horses
+in battle. And at the flapping of fences, and the blare of conchs, the
+leonine roars made by the warriors and the shrieks of elephants, and the
+twang of the _Gandiva_ resembling the thunder, I have, O hero, been so
+stupefied that I have been deprived of both hearing and memory. And, O
+hero, beholding thee incessantly drawing to a circle, in course of the
+conflict, the _Gandiva_ which resembleth a circle of fire, my sight
+faileth me and my heart is rent asunder. And seeing thy fierce form in
+battle, like that of the wielder of the _Pinaka_ while inflamed with
+wrath, and looking also at the terrible arrows shot by thee, I am filled
+with fear. I fail to see when thou takest up thy excellent arrows, when
+thou fixest them on the bow-string, and when thou lettest them off. And
+though all this is done before my eyes, yet, deprived of my senses, I do
+not see it. My spirits are drooping and earth itself seems to be
+swimming before me. I have no strength to hold the whip and the reins.'
+Hearing these words, Arjuna said, 'Do thou not fear. Assure thyself.
+Thou also hast, on the field of battle performed, O bull among men,
+wonderful feats. Blessed be thou, thou art a prince and born in the
+illustrious line of Matsyas. It behoveth thee not to feel dispirited in
+chastising thy foes. Therefore, O prince, stationed on my car, muster
+all thy fortitude and hold the reins of my steeds, O slayer of foes,
+when I once more become engaged in battle.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this unto Virata's son, that best
+of men and foremost of car-warriors, the mighty-armed Arjuna, again
+addressed the son of Virata, saying. 'Take me without delay to the van
+of Bhishma's division. I will cut off his very bow-string in the battle.
+Thou shalt behold today the celestial weapons of blazing beauty, shot by
+me, look like flashes of lightning disporting amid the clouds in the
+sky. The Kauravas shall behold the gold decked back of my _Gandiva_
+today, and assembled together the foe shall dispute, saying,--_By which
+hand of his, the right or the left, doth he shoot_? And I shall cause a
+dreadful river (of death) to flow today towards the other world with
+blood for its waters and cars for its eddies, and elephants for its
+crocodiles. I shall today, with my straight arrows, extirpate the _Kuru_
+forest having hands and feet and heads and backs and arms for the
+branches of its trees. Alone, bow in hand, vanquishing the Kuru host, a
+hundred paths shall open before me like those of a forest in
+conflagration. Struck by me thou shalt today behold the Kuru army moving
+round and round like a wheel (unable to fly off the field). I shall show
+thee today my excellent training in arrows and weapons. Stay thou on my
+car firmly, whether the ground be smooth or uneven. I can pierce with my
+winged arrows even the mountain of _Sumeru_ that stands touching the
+very heavens. I slew of old, at Indra's command, hundreds and thousands
+of _Paulomas_ and _Kalakhanjas_ in battle. I have obtained my firmness
+of grasp from Indra, and my lightness of hand from _Brahman_, and I have
+learnt various modes of fierce attack and defence amid crowds of foes
+from _Prajapati_. I vanquished, on the other side of the great ocean,
+sixty thousands of car-warriors--all fierce archers--residing in
+_Hiranyapura_. Behold, now I defeat the multitudinous host of the Kurus
+like a tempest scattering a heap of cotton. With my fiery arrows I shall
+today set the _Kuru_-forest to fire, having banners for its trees, the
+foot-soldiers for its shrubs, and the car-warriors for its beasts of
+prey. Like unto the wielder of the thunderbolt overthrowing the Danavas,
+alone I shall, with my straight arrows, bring down from the chambers of
+their cars the mighty warrior of the Kuru army stationed therein and
+struggling in the conflict to the best of their power. I have obtained
+from _Rudra_ the _Raudra_, from _Varuna_ the _Varuna_, from _Agni_ the
+_Agneya_, from the god of Wind the _Vayava_, and from Sakra the
+thunderbolt and other weapons. I shall certainly exterminate the fierce
+_Dhartarashtra-forest_ though protected by many leonine warriors.
+Therefore, O Virata's son, let thy fears be dispelled.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus assured by Savyasachin, the son of Virata
+penetrated into that fierce array of cars protected by Bhishma. The son
+of Ganga, however, of fierce deeds, cheerfully withstood the
+mighty-armed hero advancing from desire of vanquishing the heroes in
+battle. Jishnu, then, confronting Bhishma, cut off his standard clean
+off at the roots by shooting a gold-decked arrow pierced by which it
+fell to the ground. And at this, four mighty warriors, Duhsasana and
+Vikarna and Dussaha and Vivingsati, skilled in weapons and endued with
+great energy, and all decked with handsome garlands and ornaments,
+rushed towards that terrible bowman. And advancing towards
+Vibhatsu--that fierce archer, these all encompassed him around. Then the
+heroic Duhsasana pierced the son of Virata with a crescent-shaped arrow
+and he pierced Arjuna with another arrow in the breast. And Jishnu,
+confronting Duhsasana, cut off by means of a sharp-edged arrow furnished
+with vulturine wings his adversary's bow plaited with gold, and then
+pierced his person in the breast by means of five arrows. And afflicted
+by the arrows of Partha, Duhsasana fled, leaving the combat. Then
+Vikarna, the son of Dhritarashtra, pierced Arjuna--that slayer of
+hostile heroes, by means of sharp and straight arrows furnished with
+vulturine wings. But the son of Kunti within a moment hit him also in
+the forehead with straight shafts. And pierced by Arjuna, he fell down
+from his car. And at this, Dussaha, supported by Vivingsati, covered
+Arjuna with a cloud of sharp arrows, impelled by the desire of rescuing
+his brother. Dhananjaya, however, without the least anxiety, pierced
+both of them almost at the same instant by means of couple of keen-edged
+arrows and then slew the steeds of both. And there upon, both those sons
+of Dhritarashtra, deprived of their steeds and their bodies mangled were
+taken away by the warrior behind them who had rushed forward with other
+cars. Then the unvanquished Vibhatsu, the mighty son of Kunti, decked
+with diadem and sure of aim, simultaneously attacked all sides with his
+arrows."
+
+
+SECTION LXII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then, O thou of the Bharata race, all the great
+car-warriors of the Kurus, united together, began to assail Arjuna to
+the best of their might from all sides. But that hero of immeasurable
+soul completely covered all those mighty car-warriors with clouds of
+arrows, even as the mist covereth the mountains. And the roars of huge
+elephants and conchs, mingling together, produced a loud up roar. And
+penetrating through the bodies of elephants and horses as also through
+steel coats of mail, the arrows shot by Partha fell by thousands. And
+shooting shafts with the utmost celerity, the son of Pandu seemed in
+that contest to resemble the blazing sun of an autumnal midday. And
+afflicted with fear, the car-warriors began to leap down from their cars
+and the horse-soldiers from horse-back, while the foot-soldiers began to
+fly in all directions. And loud was the clatter made by Arjuna's shafts
+as they cleft the coats of mail belonging to mighty warriors, made of
+steel, silver, and copper. And the field was soon covered with the
+corpses of warriors mounted on elephants and horses, all mangled by the
+shafts of Partha of great impetuosity like unto sighing snakes. And then
+it seemed as if Dhananjaya, bow in hand, was dancing on the field of
+battle. And sorely affrighted at the twang of the _Gandiva_ resembling
+the noise of the thunder, many were the combatants that fled from that
+terrible conflict. And the field of battle was bestrewn with severed
+heads decked with turbans, ear-rings and necklaces of gold, and the
+earth looked beautiful by being scattered all over with human trunks
+mangled by shafts, and arms having bows in their grasp and hands decked
+with ornaments. And, O bull of the Bharata race, in consequence of heads
+cut off by whetted shafts ceaselessly falling on the ground, it seemed
+as if a shower of stones fell from the sky. And that Partha of
+formidable prowess, displaying his fierceness, now ranged the field of
+battle, pouring the terrible fire of his wrath upon the sons of
+Dhritarashtra. And beholding the fierce prowess of Arjuna who thus
+scorched the hostile host, the Kuru warriors, in the very presence of
+Duryodhana, became dispirited and ceased to fight. And, O Bharata,
+having struck terror into that host and routed those mighty
+car-warriors, that fore-most of victors, ranged on the field. And the
+son of Pandu then created on the field of battle a dreadful river of
+blood, with waving billows, like unto the river of death that is created
+by Time at the end of the _Yuga_, having the dishevelled hair of the
+dead and the dying for its floating moss and straw, with bows and arrows
+for its boats, fierce in the extreme and having flesh and animal juices
+for its mire. And coats of mail and turbans floated thick on its
+surface. And elephants constituted its alligators and the cars its
+rafts. And marrow and fat and blood constituted its currents. And it was
+calculated to strike terror into the hearts of the spectators. And
+dreadful to behold, and fearful in the extreme, and resounding with the
+yells of ferocious beasts, keen edged weapons constituted its
+crocodiles. And _Rakshasas_ and other cannibals haunted it from one end
+to the other. And strings of pearls constituted its ripples, and various
+excellent ornaments, its bubbles. And having swarms of arrows for its
+fierce eddies and steeds for its tortoises, it was incapable of being
+crossed. And the mighty car warrior constituted its large island, and it
+resounded with the blare of conchs and the sound of drums. And the river
+of blood that Partha created was incapable of being crossed. Indeed, so
+swift-handed was Arjuna that the spectators could not perceive any
+interval between his taking up an arrow, and fixing it on the
+bow-string, and letting it off by a stretch of the _Gandiva_."
+
+
+SECTION LXIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then while a great havoc was being made among the
+Kurus, Santanu's son, Bhishma, and grandsire of the Bharatas rushed at
+Arjuna, taking up an excellent bow adorned with gold, and many arrows
+also of keen points and capable of piercing into the very vitals of the
+foe and afflicting him sorely. And in consequence of a white umbrella
+being held over his head, that tiger among men looked beautiful like
+unto a hill at sunrise. And the son of Ganga, blowing his conch cheered
+the sons of Dhritarashtra, and wheeling along his right came upon
+Vibhatsu and impeded his course. And that slayer of hostile heroes, the
+son of Kunti, beholding him approach, received him with a glad heart,
+like a hill receiving a rain-charged cloud. And Bhishma, endued with
+great energy, pierced Partha's flag-staff with eight arrows. The arrows
+reaching the flag-staff of Pandu's son, struck the blazing ape and those
+creatures also stationed in the banner-top. And then the son of Pandu,
+with a mighty javelin of sharp edge cut of Bhishma's umbrella which
+instantly fell on the ground. And then the light-handed son of Kunti
+struck his adversary's flag-staff also with many shafts, and then his
+steeds and then the couple of drivers that protected Bhishma's flanks.
+And unable to bear this, Bhishma though cognisant of the Pandava's
+might, covered Dhananjaya with a powerful celestial weapon. And the son
+of Pandu, of immeasurable soul, hurling in return a celestial weapon at
+Bhishma, received that from Bhishma like a hill receiving a deep mass of
+clouds. And the encounter that took place between Partha and Bhishma,
+was fierce and the Kaurava warriors with their troops stood as lookers
+on. And in the conflict between Bhishma and the son of Pandu, shafts
+striking against shafts shone in the air like fireflies in the season of
+rains. And, O king, in consequence of Partha's shooting arrows with both
+his right and left hands, the bent _Gandiva_ seemed like a continuous
+circle of fire. And the son of Kunti then covered Bhishma with hundreds
+of sharp and keen-edged arrows, like a cloud covering the
+mountain-breast with its heavy downpour. And Bhishma baffled with his
+own arrows that arrowy shower, like the bank resisting the swelling sea,
+and covered the son of Pandu in return. And those warriors, cut into a
+thousand pieces in battle, fell fast in the vicinity of Phalguna's car.
+And then there was a downpour, from the car of Pandu's son, of arrows
+furnished with golden wing, and raining through the sky like a flight of
+locusts. And Bhishma again repelled that arrowy shower with hundreds of
+whetted shafts shot by him. And then the Kauravas exclaimed.--
+'Excellent! Excellent!--Indeed, Bhishma hath performed an exceedingly
+difficult feat inasmuch as he hath fought with Arjuna. Dhananjaya is
+mighty and youthful, and dexterous and swift of hand. Who else, save
+Bhishma, the son of Santanu, or Krishna, the son of Devaki, or the
+mighty son of Bharadwaja, the foremost of preceptors, is able to bear
+the impetus of Partha in battle?' And repelling weapons with weapons,
+those two bulls of the Bharata race, both endued with great might,
+fought on playfully and infatuated the eyes of all created beings. And
+those illustrious warriors ranged on the field of battle, using the
+celestials weapons obtained from _Prajapati_ and _Indra_, and _Agni_ and
+the fierce _Rudra_, and _Kuvera_, and _Varuna_, and _Yama_, and _Vayu_.
+And all beings were greatly surprised, upon beholding those warriors
+engaged in combat. And they all exclaimed,--_Bravo Partha of long arms!
+Bravo Bhishma! Indeed, this application of celestial weapons that is
+being witnessed in the combat between Bhishma and Partha_ is rare among
+human beings."
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus raged that conflict with weapons between
+those warriors conversant with all weapons. And when that conflict of
+celestial weapons ceased, then commenced a conflict with arrows. And
+Jishnu approaching his opponent, cut off with an arrow sharp like a
+razor the gold-decked bow of Bhishma. Within the twinkling of the eye,
+however, Bhishma, that mighty-armed and great car-warrior, took up
+another bow and stringed it. And inflamed with wrath, he showered upon
+Dhananjaya a cloud of arrows. And Arjuna, too, endued with great energy,
+rained upon Bhishma innumerable sharp-pointed and keen-edged arrows. And
+Bhishma also shot clouds of arrows upon Pandu's son. And conversant with
+celestial weapons and engaged in shooting and each other, arrows of keen
+points, no distinction, O king, could then be perceived between those
+illustrious warriors. And that mighty car-warrior, Kunti's son, covered
+with a diadem, and the heroic son of Santanu, obscured the ten
+directions with their arrows. And the Pandava covered Bhishma, and
+Bhishma also covered the Pandava, with clouds of shafts. And, O king,
+wonderful was this combat that took place in this world of men. And the
+heroic warriors that protected Bhishma's car, slain by the son of Pandu,
+fell prostrate, O monarch, beside the car of Kunti's son. And the
+feathery arrows of Swetavahana, shot from the _Gandiva_, fell in all
+directions as if with the object of making a wholesale slaughter of the
+foe. And issuing forth from his car those blazing arrows furnished with
+golden wings looked like rows of swans in the sky. And all the
+celestials with Indra, stationed in the firmament, gazed with wonder
+upon another celestial weapon hurled with great force by that wonderful
+archer Arjuna. And beholding that wonderful weapon of great beauty, the
+mighty _Gandiva_, Chitrasena, highly pleased, addressed the lord of
+celestials, saying, 'Behold these arrows shot by Partha coursing through
+the sky in one continuous line. Wonderful is the dexterity of Jishnu in
+evolving this celestial weapon! Human beings are incapable of shooting
+such a weapon, for it does not exist among men. How wonderful again is
+this concourse of mighty weapons existing from days of old! No interval
+can be perceived between his taking up the arrows, fixing them on the
+bow-string, and letting them off by stretching the _Gandiva_. The
+soldiers are incapable of even looking at the son of Pandu, who is like
+unto the midday sun blazing in the sky. So also none ventures to look at
+Bhishma, the son of Ganga. Both are famous for their achievements, and
+both are of fierce prowess. Both are equal in feats of heroism, and both
+are difficult of being vanquished in battle.'
+
+"Thus addressed by the _Gandharva_ about that combat between Partha and
+Bhishma, the lord of the celestials, O Bharata, paid proper respect unto
+both by a shower of celestial flowers. Meanwhile, Bhishma, the son of
+Santanu, assailed Arjuna on the left side, while that drawer of the bow
+with either hands was on the point of piercing him. And at this,
+Vibhatsu, laughing aloud, cut off with an arrow of keen edge and
+furnished with vulturine wings, the bow of Bhishma, that hero of solar
+effulgence. And then Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, pierced Bhishma in
+the breast with ten shafts although the latter was contending with all
+his prowess. And sorely afflicted with pain Ganga's son of mighty arms
+and irresistible in battle, stood for a long time leaning on the pole of
+his car. And beholding him deprived of consciousness the driver of his
+car-steeds, calling to mind the instructions about protecting the
+warriors when in a swoon, led him away for safety."
+
+
+SECTION LXIV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "After Bhishma had fled, leaving the van of battle,
+the illustrious son of Dhritarashtra hoisting high flag approached
+Arjuna, bow in hand and setting up a loud roar. And with a spear-headed
+shaft shot from his bow stretched to the ear, he pierced on the forehead
+of that terrible bowman of fierce prowess, Dhananjaya, ranging amidst the
+foes. And pierced with that keen shaft of golden point on the forehead,
+that hero of famous deeds looked resplendent, O king, like unto a
+beautiful hill with a single peak. And cut by that arrow, the warm
+life-blood gushed out profusely from the wound. And the blood trickling
+down his body shone beautifully like a wreath of golden flowers. And
+struck by Duryodhana with the shaft, the swift-handed Arjuna of
+unfailing strength, swelling with rage, pierced the king in return,
+taking up arrows that were endued with the energy of snakes of virulent
+poison. And Duryodhana of formidable energy attacked Partha, and Partha
+also, that foremost of heroes, attacked Duryodhana. And it was that
+those foremost of men, both born in the race of Ajamida, struck each
+other alike in the combat. And then (seated) on an infuriate elephant
+huge as a mountain and supported by four cars, Vikarna rushed against
+Jishnu, the son of Kunti. And beholding that huge elephant, advancing
+with speed, Dhananjaya struck him on the head between the temples with
+an iron arrow of great impetus shot from the bow-string stretched to the
+ear. And like the thunderbolt hurled by Indra splitting a mountain, that
+arrow furnished with vulturine wings, shot by Partha, penetrated, up to
+the very feathers, into the body of that elephant huge as hill. And
+sorely afflicted by the shaft, that lord of the elephant species began
+to tremble, and deprived of strength fell down on the ground in intense
+anguish, like the peak of mountain riven by thunder. And that best of
+elephants falling down on the earth, Vikarna suddenly alighting in great
+terror, ran back full eight hundred paces and ascended on the car of
+Vivingsati. And having slain with that thunder-like arrow that elephant
+huge as a mighty hill and looking like a mass of clouds, the son of
+Pritha smote Duryodhana in the breast with another arrow of the same
+kind. And both the elephant and the king having thus been wounded, and
+Vikarna having broken and fled along with the supporters of the king's
+car, the other warriors, smitten with the arrows shot from the
+_Gandiva_, fled from the field in panic. And beholding the elephant
+slain by Partha, and all the other warriors running away, Duryodhana,
+the foremost of the Kurus, turning away his car precipitately fled in
+that direction where Partha was not. And when Duryodhana was fast
+running away in alarm, pierced by that arrow and vomitting forth blood,
+Kiritin, still eager for battle and capable of enduring every enemy,
+thus censured him from wrath, 'Sacrificing thy great fame and glory, why
+dost thou fly away, turning thy back? Why are not those trumpets sounded
+now, as they were when thou hadst set out from thy kingdom? Lo, I am an
+obedient servant of Yudhishthira, myself being the third son of Pritha,
+standing here for battle. Turn back, show me thy face, O son of
+Dhritarashtra, and bear in thy mind the behaviour of kings. The name
+_Duryodhana_ bestowed on thee before is hereby rendered meaningless.
+When thou runnest away, leaving the battle, where is thy persistence in
+battle? Neither do I behold thy body-guards, O Duryodhana, before nor
+behind. O foremost of men, fly thou away and save thy life which is dear
+from the hands of Pandu's son.'"
+
+
+SECTION LXV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Thus summoned to battle by the illustrious hero,
+Dhritarashtra's son turned back stung by those censures, like an
+infuriate and mighty elephant pricked by a hook. And stung by those
+reproaches and unable to bear them, that mighty and brave car-warrior
+endued with great swiftness, turned back on his car, like a snake that
+is trampled under foot. And beholding Duryodhana turn back with his
+wounds, Karna, that hero among men, decked with a golden necklace,
+stopped the king on the way and soothing him, himself proceeded along
+the north of Duryodhana's car to meet Partha in battle. And the
+mighty-armed Bhishma also, the son of Santanu, turning back his steeds
+decked with gold, enormous in size, and of tawny hue, rushed bow in
+hand, for protecting Duryodhana from Partha's hand. And Drona and Kripa
+and Vivingsati and Duhsasana and others also, quickly turning back,
+rushed forward with speed with drawn bows and arrows fixed on the
+bow-strings, for protecting Duryodhana. And beholding those divisions
+advance towards him like the swelling surges of the ocean, Dhananjaya,
+the son of Pritha, quickly rushed at them like a crane rushing at a
+descending cloud. And with celestial weapons in their hands, they
+completely surrounded the son of Pritha and rained on him from all sides
+a perfect shower of shafts, like clouds showering on the mountain breast
+a heavy downpour of rain. And warding off with weapons, all the weapons
+of those bulls among the Kurus, the wielder of the _Gandiva_ who was
+capable of enduring all foes, evolved another irresistible weapon
+obtained from Indra, called _Sanmohana_. And entirely covering the
+cardinal and other directions with sharp and keen-edged arrows furnished
+with beautiful feathers, that mighty hero stupefied their senses with
+the twang of the _Gandiva_. And once more, taking up with both his hands
+that large conch of loud blare, Partha, that slayer of foes, blew it
+with force and filled the cardinal and other points, the whole earth,
+and sky, with that noise. And those foremost of the Kuru heroes were all
+deprived of their senses by the sound of that conch blown by Partha. And
+all of them stood still, their bows, from which they were never
+separated, dropping down from their hands. And when the Kuru army became
+insensible, Partha calling to mind the words of Uttara, addressed the
+son of the Matsya king, saying, 'O best of men, go thou among the Kurus,
+so long as they remain insensible, and bring away the white garments of
+Drona and Kripa, and the yellow and handsome ones of Karna, as also the
+blue ones of the king and Drona's son. Methinks, Bhishma is not
+stupefied, for he knoweth how to counteract this weapon of mine. So,
+pass thou on, keeping his steeds to thy left; for those that are
+sensible should thus be avoided.' Hearing these words, the illustrious
+son of Matsya, giving up the reins of the steeds, jumped down from the
+car and taking off the garments of the warriors, came back to his place.
+And the son of Virata then urged the four handsome steeds with flanks
+adorned with golden armours. And those white steeds, urged on, took
+Arjuna away from the midst of battle-field and beyond the array of the
+infantry bearing standards in their hands. And, Bhishma, beholding that
+best of men thus going away, struck him with arrows. And Partha, too,
+having slain Bhishma's steeds, pierced him with ten shafts. And
+abandoning Bhishma on the field of battle, having first slain his
+car-driver, Arjuna with a good-looking bow in hand came out of that
+multitude of cars, like the sun emerging from the clouds. And
+Dhritarashtra's son, that foremost of heroes among the Kurus, recovering
+his senses, saw the son of Pritha standing like the lord of the
+celestials, alone on the battle-field. And he said in hurry (unto
+Bhishma), 'How hath this one escape from thee? Do thou afflict him in
+such a way that he may not escape.' And at this, Santanu's son, smiling,
+said unto him, 'Where had been this sense of thine, and where had been
+thy prowess too, when thou hadst been in a state of unconsciousness
+renouncing thy arrows and handsome bow? Vibhatsu is not addicted to the
+commission of atrocious deeds; nor is his soul inclined to sin. He
+renounceth not his principles even for the sake of the three worlds. It
+is for this only that all of us have not been slain in this battle. O
+thou foremost of Kuru heroes, go back to the city of the Kurus, and let
+Partha also go away, having conquered the kine. Do thou never foolishly
+throw away thy own good. Indeed, that which leadeth to one's welfare
+ought to be accomplished.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having listened to the words of the grandsire
+that tended to his own welfare, the wrathful king Duryodhana no longer
+eager for battle, drew a deep sigh and became silent. And reflecting
+that the advice of Bhishma was beneficial and seeing that the Pandavas
+gaining in strength, the other warriors also, desirous of protecting
+Duryodhana, resolved to return. And beholding those foremost of Kuru
+heroes departing for their city, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, with a
+cheerful heart followed them for a while, desirous of addressing and
+worshipping them. And having worshipped the aged grandsire--the son of
+Santanu, as also the preceptor Drona, and having saluted with beautiful
+arrows Drona's son and Kripa and other venerable ones among the Kurus,
+the son of Pritha broke into fragments Duryodhana's crown decked with
+precious gems, with another arrow. And having saluted all the venerable
+and brave warriors thus, he filled the three worlds with the twang of
+the _Gandiva_. And suddenly blowing his conch called _Devadatta_, the
+hero pierced the hearts of all his foes. And having humbled the hostile,
+he looked resplendent on his car decked with a handsome flag. And
+beholding the Kurus depart, Kiritin cheerfully said unto Matsya's son,
+'Turn back thy steeds; thy kine have been recovered; the foe is going
+away and do thou also return to thy city with a cheerful heart.' And the
+celestials also, having witnessed that most wonderful encounter between
+Phalguna and the Kurus, were highly delighted, and went to their
+respective abodes, reflecting upon Partha's feats."
+
+
+SECTION LXVI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having vanquished the Kurus in battle, that one with
+eyes like those of a bull brought back that profuse cattle wealth of
+Virata. And while the Dhritarashtra, after their rout, were going away,
+a large number of Kuru-soldiers issuing out of the deep forest appeared
+with slow steps before Partha, their hearts afflicted with fear. And
+they stood before him with joined palms and with hair dishevelled. And
+fatigued with hunger and thirst, arrived in a foreign land, insensible
+with terror, and confused in mind, they all bowed down unto the son of
+Pritha and said,--_We are thy slaves_.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'Welcome, blessed be ye. Go ye away. Ye have no cause of
+fear. I will not take the lives of them that are afflicted. Ye have my
+assurance of protection.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of assurance, the assembled
+warriors greeted him with benedictions in praise of his achievements and
+fame and wishing him long life. And the Kauravas were unable to confront
+Arjuna while after routing the foe he proceeded towards the city of
+Virata, like an elephant with rent temples. And having routed the whole
+army of the Kuru like a violent wind scattering the clouds, that slayer
+of foes, Partha, regardfully addressing the prince of Matsya, said, 'It
+is known to thee alone, O child, that the sons of Pritha are all living
+with thy father. Do not eulogise them upon entering the city, for then
+the king of the Matsyas may hide himself in fear. On the other hand,
+entering the city, do thou proclaim in the presence of thy father that
+the deed is thy own, saying,--_By me hath the army of the Kurus been
+vanquished and by me have the kine been recovered from the foe!_'
+
+"Uttara said, 'The feat thou hast achieved is beyond my power. I do not
+possess the ability to achieve it. I shall not, however, O Savyasachin,
+discover thee to my father, as long as thou wilt not tell me to do it.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having vanquished the hostile army and wrested
+the whole of the cattle wealth from the Kurus, Jishnu returned again to
+the cemetery and having approached the same _Sami_ tree stood there with
+body mangled by the arrows of the enemy. Then that terrible monkey
+blazing like fire ascended into the sky with those other creatures in
+the flag-staff. And the illusion created (by Viswakarma) melted away and
+Uttara's own banner bearing the device of a lion was set up on the car
+again. And having replaced the arrows and quivers of those foremost of
+the Kuru princes, and also that other weapon the _(Gandiva)_ which
+enhances the fierceness of a battle, the illustrious prince of Matsya
+set out for the city with a glad heart, having Kiritin as his
+charioteer. And having achieved an exceedingly mighty feat and slain the
+foe, Partha also, that slayer of foes, binding his hair into a braid as
+before, took the reins from Uttara's hands. And that illustrious hero
+entered the city of Virata, with a cheerful heart rehabilitating himself
+as Vrihannala, the car-driver of Uttara.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "When all the Kauravas utterly routed and
+vanquished, set out in a dejected mood for Hastinapura, Phalguna, on his
+way back, addressed Uttara, saying, 'O prince, O hero of mighty arms,
+seeing the kine escorted in advance of us by the cowherds, we shall
+enter Virata's metropolis in the afternoon, having tended the steeds
+with drink and a bath. Let the cowherds, despatched by thee, speedily
+repair to the city with the good news and proclaim thy victory.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Agreeable to Arjuna's words, Uttara speedily
+ordered the messengers, saying, 'Go ye and proclaim the king's victory.
+The foe hath been routed, and the kine have been recovered.' And the
+Matsya and the Bharata princes having thus consulted together
+re-approached the same _Sami_ tree. And gratified with the victory they
+had won, and arrived at the foot of the _Sami_ tree, they wore on their
+persons and took up on their car the ornaments and robes they had left
+there. And having vanquished the whole hostile army and recovered the
+whole of the wealth from the Kurus, the heroic son of Virata returned to
+the city with Vrihannala as his car-driver."
+
+
+SECTION LXVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having speedily recovered his wealth Virata owning a
+large army entered his city with a cheerful heart, accompanied by the
+four Pandavas. And having vanquished the _Trigartas_ in battle and
+recovered all the kine, that mighty monarch, along with the sons of
+Pritha, looked resplendent and blazed forth in beauty. And as the brave
+king, that enhancer of the joys of friends, was seated on his throne,
+all his subjects headed by the Brahmanas stood before him. And
+worshipped by them, the king of the Matsyas, at the head of his army,
+saluted the Brahmanas and his subjects in return and dismissed them
+cheerfully. And Virata, the king of the Matsyas owning a large army,
+enquired after Uttara, saying, 'Where hath Uttara gone?' And the women
+and the maidens of the palace and the other females living in the inner
+apartments joyfully said unto him, 'Our kine having been seized by the
+Kurus, Bhuminjaya incensed at this and from excess of bravery hath
+issued forth alone with only Vrihannala as his second, for vanquishing
+the six mighty car-warriors, Bhishma the son of Santanu, and Kripa, and
+Karna, and Duryodhana, and Drona, and Drona's son who have all come with
+the Kuru army.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then king Virata, hearing that his brave son
+had gone forth with only one car and with Vrihannala as his car-driver,
+became filled with grief, and addressing his chief counsellors, said,
+'Without doubt, the Kauravas and other lords of earth, learning the
+defeat of the Trigartas, will never keep their ground. Therefore, let
+those of my warriors that have not been wounded by the _Trigartas_ go
+out, accompanied by a mighty force, for the protection of Uttara.' And
+saying this, the king speedily despatched, for the sake of his son,
+horses and elephants and cars and a large number of foot-soldiers,
+equipped and decked with various kinds of weapons and ornaments. And it
+was thus that Virata, the king of the Matsyas, owning a large army,
+quickly ordered out a large division consisting of four kinds of troops.
+And having done this, he said, 'Learn ye, without loss of time whether
+the prince liveth still or not! I myself think that he who hath got a
+person of the neuter sex for his car-driver is not alive.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then king Yudhishthira the just, smilingly said
+unto the afflicted king Virata, 'If, O monarch, Vrihannala hath been his
+charioteer, the foe will never be able to take away thy kine today.
+Protected by that charioteer, thy son will be able to vanquish in battle
+all the lords of earth allied with the Kurus, indeed, even the gods and
+the _Asuras_ and the _Siddhas_ and the _Yakshas_ together.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Meanwhile, the swift-footed messengers
+despatched by Uttara, having reached Virata's city, gave tidings of the
+victory. And the minister-in-chief then informed the king of everything,
+viz., the great victory that had been won, the defeat of the Kurus, and
+the expected arrival of Uttara. And he said, 'All the kine have been
+brought back, the Kurus have been defeated, and Uttara, that slayer of
+foes, is well with his car-driver.' Then Yudhishthira said, 'By good
+luck it is that the kine have been recovered and the Kurus routed. I do
+not, however, regard it strange that thy son should have vanquished the
+Kurus, for his victory is assured that hath Vrihannala for his
+charioteer.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing of the victory of his son possessed of
+immeasurable might, king Virata became so glad that the bristles of his
+body stood erect. And having made presents of raiments unto the
+messengers, he ordered his ministers, saying, 'Let the highways be
+decorated with flags, and let all the gods and goddesses be worshipped
+with flowery offerings. And let princes and brave warriors, and
+musicians and harlots decked in ornaments, march out to receive my son.
+And let the bellman, speedily riding an intoxicated elephant, proclaim
+my victory at places where four roads meet. And let Uttara, too, in
+gorgeous attire and surrounded by virgins and chanters of eulogies, go
+forth to receive my son.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having listened to these words of the king, all
+the citizens with auspicious things in hand, and many amongst them with
+cymbals and trumpets and conchs, and beautiful women attired in gorgeous
+robes, and reciters of auspicious and sacred hymns, accompanied by
+encomiasts and minstrels, and drummers and other kinds of musicians
+issued forth from the city of the mighty Virata to welcome Uttara of
+immeasurable prowess. And having despatched troops and maidens and
+courtesans decked in ornaments, the wise king of the Matsyas cheerfully
+said these words, '_O Sairindhri_, fetch the dice. And, O Kanka, let the
+play commence.' The son of Pandu replied, saying, 'We have heard it said
+that one whose heart is filled with joy should not play with a cunning
+gambler. I do not therefore, dare gamble with thee that are so
+transported with joy. I am ever desirous of doing what is for thy good.
+Let the play, however, commence if it pleases thee.'
+
+"Virata said, 'My female slaves and kine, my gold and whatsoever other
+wealth I have, nothing of all this shall thou be able to protect today
+even if I do not gamble.' Kanka said in reply, 'O monarch, O bestower of
+honours, what business hast thou with gamble which is attended with
+numerous evils? Gambling is fraught with many evils; it should,
+therefore, be shunned. Thou mayst have seen or at least heard of
+Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu. He lost his extensive and prosperous
+kingdom and his god-like brothers at dice. For this, I am averse to
+gambling. But if thou likest, O king, I will play.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "While the play was going on, Matsya said unto
+the son of Pandu, 'Lo, the Kauravas that are so formidable have been
+vanquished in battle by my son.' Upon this, the illustrious king
+Yudhishthira said, 'Why should not he conquer that hath Vrihannala for
+his charioteer?'
+
+"Thus addressed, King Matsya became angry and said unto Pandu's son,
+'Thou wretch of a Brahmana, dost thou compare one of the neuter sex with
+my son! Hast thou no knowledge of what is proper and what improper for
+one to say? Without doubt, thou disregardest me. Why should not my son
+vanquish all those with Bhishma and Drona as their leaders? O Brahmana,
+for friendship only I pardon thee this thy offence. Thou must not,
+however, say so again if thou wishest to live.'
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'There where Bhishma and Drona and Drona's son and
+the son of Vikartana and Kripa and king Duryodhana and other royal and
+mighty car-warriors are assembled or there where Indra himself is
+surrounded by the Maruts, what other person than Vrihannala can fight,
+encountering them all! None hath been, none will be, his equal in
+strength of arms! Indeed, it is Vrihannala only whose heart is filled
+with joy at sight of a terrible conflict. It is he who had vanquished
+the celestials and the _Asuras_ and human beings fighting together. With
+such a one for his ally, why should not thy son conquer the foe?' Virata
+said, 'Repeatedly forbidden by me, thou dost not yet restrain thy
+tongue. If there is none to punish, no one would practise virtue.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, the king inflamed with anger
+forcibly struck Yudhishthira in the face with a dice, and reproached him
+angrily, saying, 'Let it not occur again!' And having been violently
+struck, blood began to flow from his nose. But the son of Pritha held it
+in his hands before it fell on the ground. And the virtuous Yudhishthira
+then glanced at Draupadi who was standing by his side. Ever obedient to
+the wishes of her lord, the faultless Draupadi, understanding his
+meaning, and bringing a golden vessel filled with water, received the
+blood that flowed from his nose. Meanwhile, Uttara, entertained with
+sweet perfumes of diverse kinds and decked with floral chaplets, slowly
+entered the city, received with respect by the citizens, the women, and
+the people of the provinces. And approaching the gate of the palace he
+sent the news of his arrival to his father. And the porter then,
+approaching the king, said, 'Thy son Uttara, waiteth at the gate with
+Vrihannala as his companion.' And the Matsya king, with a cheerful
+heart, said unto him, 'Do thou usher both, as I am very anxious to see
+them.' Then Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, gently whispered unto
+the ears of the warder, 'Let Uttara enter alone; Vrihannala must not
+come in. Such is the vow of that hero of mighty arms that whoever
+causeth a wound on my person or sheddeth my blood except in battle,
+shall not live. Inflamed with rage he will never bear patiently to see
+me bleeding, but will slay Virata even now with his counsellors and
+troops and steeds.'"
+
+
+SECTION LXVIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then Bhuminjaya, the eldest son of the king,
+entered, and having worshipped the feet of his father approached Kanka.
+And he beheld Kanka covered with blood, and seated on the ground at one
+end of the court, and waited upon by the _Sairindhri_. And seeing this,
+Uttara asked his father in a hurry, saying, 'By whom, O king, hath this
+one been struck? By whom hath this sinful act been perpetrated?'
+
+"Virata said, 'This crooked Brahmana hath been struck by me. He
+deserveth even more than this. When I was praising thee, he praised that
+person of the third sex.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Thou hast, O king, committed an improper act. Do thou
+speedily propitiate him so that the virulent poison of a Brahmana's
+curse may not consume thee to thy roots!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having heard the words of his son, Virata, that
+enhancer of the limits of his kingdom, began to soothe Kunti's son, who
+was like unto a fire hid in ashes, for obtaining his forgiveness. And
+unto the king desirous of obtaining his pardon the Pandava replied, 'O
+king, I have long ago forgiven it. Anger I have none. Had this blood
+from my nostrils fallen on the ground, then, without doubt, thou, O
+monarch, wouldst have been destroyed with thy kingdom. I do not,
+however, blame thee, O king, for having struck an innocent person. For,
+O king, they that are powerful generally act with unreasoning
+severity.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "When the bleeding had stopped, Vrihannala
+entered (the council-room) and having saluted both Virata and Kanka,
+stood silent. And the king, having appeased the chief of the Kurus,
+began to praise, in Savyasachin's hearing, Uttara who had returned from
+the battle. And the king said, 'O enhancer of the joys of Kekaya's
+princess, in thee have I truly a son! I never had nor shall have, a son
+that is equal to thee! How, indeed, couldst thou, O child, encounter
+that Karna who leaveth not a single mark unhit amongst even a thousand
+that he may aim at all at once? How couldst thou, O child, encounter
+that Bhishma who hath no equal in the whole world of men? How also
+couldst thou, O child, encounter Drona, that foremost of all wielders of
+weapons, that preceptor of the Vrishnis and Kauravas, twice-born one who
+may be regarded as the preceptor of all the Kshatriyas? How couldst thou
+meet in battle the celebrated Aswatthaman? How couldst thou, O child,
+encounter that Duryodhana, the prince who is capable of piercing even a
+mountain with his mighty arrows? My foes have all been thrashed. A
+delicious breeze seems to blow around me. And since thou hast recovered
+in battle the whole of my wealth that had been seized by the Kurus, it
+seems that all those mighty warriors were struck with panic. Without
+doubt, thou, O bull amongst men, has routed the foe and snatched away
+from them my wealth of kine, like his prey from a tiger.'"
+
+
+SECTION LXIX
+
+"Uttara said, 'The kine have not been recovered by me, nor have the foe
+been vanquished by me. All that hath been accomplished by the son of a
+deity. Capable of striking like a thunderbolt, that youth of celestial
+origin, beholding me running away in fear, stopped me and himself
+mounted on my car. It was by him that the kine have been recovered and
+the Kauravas vanquished. The deed, O father, is that hero's and not
+mine. It was he that repulsed with arrows Kripa and Drona and Drona's
+son of powerful energy, and the _Suta's_ son and Bhishma. That mighty
+hero then spoke unto the affrighted prince Duryodhana who was running
+away like the leader of a head of elephants, these words, "O prince of
+the Kuru race, I do not see that thou art safe by any means even at
+Hastinapura. Protect thy life by putting forth thy might. Thou shalt not
+escape me by flight. Therefore, make up thy mind for fight. If
+victorious, the sovereignty of the earth will be thine, or if slain,
+heaven itself will be thine."
+
+"'Thus addressed, king Duryodhana--that tiger among men surrounded by
+his counsellors,--sighing on his car like a snake turned back, showered
+arrows endued with the speed and force of thunderbolts. Beholding all
+this, venerable sire, my thighs began to quake. Then that celestial
+youth pierced with arrows the Kuru army consisting of leonine warriors.
+And having pierced and afflicted that crowd of cars, that youth, stout
+as the lion, laughed at them and robbed them of their clothes and
+attires. Indeed, the six great car-warriors of the Kurus were vanquished
+by that hero alone, even like herds of animals ranging in the forest by
+a single tiger in rage.'
+
+"Virata said, 'Where is that mighty-armed and famous youth of celestial
+origin, that hero who recovered in battle my wealth that had been seized
+by the Kurus? I am anxious to behold and worship that mighty warrior of
+celestial origin who hath saved thee and my kine also.'
+
+"Uttara replied, 'The mighty son of a deity disappeared there and then.
+I think, however, that he will show himself either tomorrow or the day
+after.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Virata, that owner of a large army, remained
+ignorant of the son of Pandu who was thus described unto him by Uttara,
+and who was living in the palace in disguise. And permitted by the
+high-souled Virata, Partha presented with his own hands the garments he
+had brought, unto Virata's daughter. And the beautiful Uttara, obtaining
+those new and costly clothes of diverse kinds, became highly glad, along
+with the son of the Matsya king."
+
+
+SECTION LXX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then, on the third day, attired in white robes after
+a bath, and decked in ornaments of all kinds, those great car-warriors,
+the five Pandava brothers, having accomplished their vow, and with
+Yudhishthira at their head, looked resplendent as they entered the
+palace-gate like five intoxicated elephants. And having entered the
+council-hall of Virata, they took their seats on the thrones reserved
+for kings, and shone brilliantly like fires on the sacrificial altar.
+And after Pandavas had taken their seats, Virata, that lord of earth,
+came there for holding his council and discharging other royal offices.
+And beholding the illustrious Pandavas blazing like fires, the king
+reflected for a moment. And then, filled with wrath, the Matsya king
+spoke unto Kanka seated there like a celestial and looking like the lord
+of celestials surrounded by the Martus. And he said, 'A player at dice
+thou wert employed by me as a courtier! How couldst thou occupy the
+royal seat thus attired in handsome robes and ornaments?'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Virata, O king, and
+desirous of jesting with him, Arjuna smilingly said in reply, 'This
+person, O king, deserveth to occupy the same seat with Indra himself.
+Devoted to the Brahmanas, acquainted with the _Vedas_, indifferent to
+luxury and carnal enjoyments, habitually performing sacrifices, steady
+in vows, this one, indeed, is the very embodiment of virtue. The
+foremost of all Persons endued with energy and superior to every body on
+earth in intelligence, devoted to asceticism, he is conversant with
+various weapons. No other person among the mobile and immobile creatures
+of the three worlds possesseth or will ever possess such knowledge of
+weapons. And there is none even amongst the gods, or _Asuras_, or men,
+or _Rakshasas_, or _Gandharvas_, or _Yaksha_ chiefs, or _Kinnaras_--or
+mighty _Uragas_, who is like him. Endued with great foresight and
+energy, beloved by the citizens and inhabitants of the provinces, he is
+the mightiest of car-warriors amongst the sons of Pandu. A performer of
+sacrifices, devoted to morality, and of subdued passions, like unto a
+great _Rishi_, this royal sage is celebrated over all the worlds.
+Possessed of great strength and great intelligence, able and truthful,
+he hath all his senses under complete control. Equal unto Indra in
+wealth and Kuvera in hoarding, he is the protector of the worlds like
+unto _Manu_ himself of mighty prowess. Endued with great might, he is
+even such. Kind unto all creatures he is no other than the bull of the
+Kuru race, king Yudhishthira the just. The achievements of this king
+resemble the sun himself of blazing effulgence. And his fame hath
+travelled in all directions like the rays of that luminary. And like the
+rays following the risen sun of blazing effulgence, ten thousand swift
+elephants followed him, O king, when he dwelt among the Kurus. And, O
+king, thirty thousand cars decked in gold and drawn by the best steeds,
+also used to follow him then. And full eight hundred bards adorned with
+ear-rings set with shining gems, and accompanied by minstrels, recited
+his praises in those days, like the _Rishis_ adorning Indra. And, O
+king, the Kauravas and other lords of earth always waited upon him like
+slaves, as the celestials upon Kuvera. This eminent king, resembling the
+bright-rayed sun, made all lords of earth pay tribute unto him like
+persons of the agricultural class. And eighty-eight thousands of
+high-souled _Snatakas_ depended for their subsistence upon this king
+practising excellent vows. This illustrious lord protected the aged and
+the helpless, the maimed and the blind, as his sons, and he ruled over
+his subjects virtuously. Steady in morality and self-control, capable of
+restraining his anger, bountiful, devoted to the Brahmanas, and
+truthful, this one is the son of Pandu. The prosperity and prowess of
+this one afflict king Suyodhana with his followers including Karna and
+Suvala's son. And, O lord of men, the virtues of this one are incapable
+of being enumerated. This son of Pandu is devoted to morality and always
+abstains from injury. Possessed of such attributes, doth not this bull
+among kings, this son of Pandu, deserve, O monarch, to occupy a royal
+seat?'"
+
+
+SECTION LXXI
+
+"Virata said, 'If this one, indeed, be the Kuru king Yudhishthira the son
+of Kunti, which amongst these is his brother Arjuna, and which, the
+mighty Bhima. Which of these is Nakula, and which Sahadeva and where is
+the celebrated Draupadi? After their defeat at dice, the sons of Pritha
+have not been heard of by any one.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'Even this one, O king, who is called Vallava and is thy
+cook, is that Bhima of mighty arms and terrible prowess and furious
+impetus. It was he who slew the furious _Rakshasas_ on the mountains of
+_Gandhamadana_, and procured for Krishna celestial flowers of great
+fragrance. Even he is that _Gandharva_, who slew the Kichaka of wicked
+soul and it was he who killed tigers and bears and boars in the inner
+apartment of thy palace. He who had been the keeper of thy horse is that
+slayer of foes called Nakula, and this one is Sahadeva, the keeper of
+thy kine. Both these sons of Madri are great car-warriors, possessed of
+great fame and beauty of person. These two bulls of the Bharata race,
+attired in handsome robes and decked in excellent ornaments, are a match
+for a thousand great car-warriors. And even this lady of eyes like
+lotus-petals and slender waist and sweet smiles is Drupada's daughter,
+thy wife's _Sairindhri_, for whose sake, O king, the Kichakas were
+slain. I am, O king, Arjuna who, it is evident, thou hast heard, is that
+son of Pritha, who is Bhima's junior and the senior of the twins! We
+have, O king, happily passed in thy abode the period of non-discovery,
+like infants in the womb!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "After Arjuna had pointed out those heroes--the
+five Pandavas, the son of Virata then spoke of Arjuna's prowess. And
+Uttara once again identified the sons of Pritha. And the prince said,
+'That one whose complexion is bright like that of pure gold, who is
+stout like a full-grown lion, whose nose is so prominent, whose eyes are
+large and expansive, and whose face is broad and of coppery hue, is the
+king of the Kurus. And behold, that one whose tread is like that of an
+infuriate elephant, whose complexion is like that of heated gold, whose
+shoulders are broad and expanded, and whose arms are long and thick, is
+Vrikodara. And he who stands by his side, that youth of darkish hue, who
+is like unto a leader of a herd of elephants, whose shoulders are broad
+like those of a lion, whose tread is like that of a mighty elephant, and
+whose eyes are large and expansive like lotus-leaves, is Arjuna that
+foremost of bowmen. All lo, close to the king, are those foremost of
+men, the twins, like unto Vishnu and Indra, and who have no equals, in
+the world of men, in beauty, might, and behaviour. And close by them,
+behold, standeth Krishna, beautiful as gold, like unto the very
+embodiment of light, possessing the complexion of the blue lotus, like
+unto a celestial damsel, and resembling the living embodiment of
+_Lakshmi_ herself.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then Virata's son began to describe the prowess
+of Arjuna, saying, 'Even this one is he that slew the foe, like unto a
+lion devastating a flock of deer. Even he ranged through crowds of
+hostile cars, slaying their best of car-warriors. By him was slain a
+huge, infuriate elephant by means of a single arrow. Pierced by him,
+that huge beast having its flanks adorned with an armour of gold, fell
+down piercing the earth with his tusks. By him have the kine been
+recovered and the Kauravas vanquished in battle. My ears have been
+deafened by the blare of his conch. It was by this hero of fierce deeds
+that Bhishma and Drona, along with Duryodhana, were vanquished. That
+achievement is his and not mine.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of his, the mighty king of
+the Matsyas, considering himself guilty of having offended Yudhishthira,
+said unto Uttara in reply, 'I think the time hath come for me to
+propitiate the sons of Pandu. And, if thou likest, I shall bestow my
+daughter Uttara upon Arjuna.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Worthy of our adorations and worship and respect, the
+time hath come for worshipping the illustrious sons of Pandu who deserve
+to be worshipped by us.'
+
+"Virata said, 'When brought under the foe's subjection in battle, it was
+Bhimasena that rescued me. My kine also have been recovered by Arjuna.
+It is through the might of their arms that we have obtained victory in
+battle. Such being the case, all of us, with our counsellors, shall
+propitiate Yudhishthira the son of Kunti. Blessed be thou, with all thy
+brothers, O bull among the sons of Pandu. If, O king, we have ever said
+or done anything in ignorance to offend thee, it behoveth thee to
+forgive us. The son of Pandu is virtuous.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then the high-souled Virata, delighted greatly,
+approached king Yudhishthira and made an alliance with him, and offered
+him his whole kingdom together with the sceptre and treasury and
+metropolis. And addressing all the Pandavas, and especially Dhananjaya,
+the mighty king of the Matsyas repeatedly said, 'By good luck it is that
+I see you.' And having again and again embraced Yudhishthira and Bhima
+and the sons of Madri, and smelt their heads, Virata, that owner of a
+large army, was not satiated with gazing at them. And being highly
+pleased, he said unto king Yudhishthira, 'By good luck it is that I see
+you safe from woods. By good luck it is that ye have accomplished with
+difficulty the period of exile, undiscovered by those wicked wights. I
+make over my entire kingdom to the sons of Pritha, and what else I have.
+Let the sons of Pandu accept these without the slightest hesitation. And
+let Dhananjaya, called also Savyasachin, accept the hand of Uttara:
+for that best of men is fit to be her lord.' Thus addressed, king
+Yudhishthira the just cast a look upon Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha.
+And looked at by his brother, Arjuna said unto the Matsya king, 'O
+monarch, I accept thy daughter as my daughter-in-law. And alliance of
+this kind between the Matsya and the Bharatas is, indeed, desirable.'"
+
+
+SECTION LXXII
+
+"Virata said, 'Why, O best among the Pandavas, dost thou not wish to
+accept as wife this my daughter that I bestow upon thee?'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'Residing in thy inner apartments, I had occasion always
+to behold thy daughter, and she too, alone or in company trusted me as
+her father. Well-versed in singing and dancing, I was liked and regarded
+by her, and, indeed, thy daughter always regardeth me as her protector.
+O king, I lived for one whole year with her though she had attained the
+age of puberty. Under these circumstances, thyself or other men may not
+without reason, entertain suspicions against her or me. Therefore, O
+king, myself who am pure, and have my senses under control, beg to thee,
+O monarch, thy daughter as my daughter-in-law. Thus do I attest her
+purity. There is no difference between a daughter-in-law and a daughter,
+as also between a son and son's own-self. By adopting this course,
+therefore, her purity will be proved. I am afraid of slanderous and
+false accusations. I accept, therefore, O king, thy daughter Uttara as
+my daughter-in-law. Surpassing all in knowledge of weapons, resembling a
+celestial youth in beauty, my son, the mighty-armed Abhimanyu is the
+favourite nephew of Vasudeva, the wielder of the discus. He, O king, is
+fit to be thy son-in-law and the husband of thy daughter.'
+
+"Virata said, 'It behoveth the best of the Kurus, Dhananjaya, the son of
+Kunti, who is so virtuous and wise, to say this. O son of Pritha, do
+thou carry out what thou thinkest should be done after this. He that
+hath Arjuna for the father of his son-in-law, hath all his desires
+gratified.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "The monarch having said this, Yudhishthira, the
+son of Kunti, gave his assent to what was thus agreed upon between the
+Matsya king and Arjuna. And, O Bharata, the son of Kunti sent
+invitations to Vasudeva and to all his friends and relatives, and Virata
+also did the same. And then, after the expiry of the thirteenth year,
+the five Pandavas took up their abode in one of Virata's towns called
+_Upaplavya_, and Vibhatsu, the son of Pandu, brought over Abhimanyu and
+Janardana, and also many people of the Dasarha race from the Anarta
+country. And the king of Kasi, and also Saivya, being very friendly to
+Yudhishthira, arrived there, each accompanied by an _Akshauhini_ of
+troops. And the mighty Drupada, also with the heroic sons of Draupadi
+and the unvanquished Sikhandin, and that foremost of wielder of weapons,
+the invincible Dhrishtadyumna came there with another _Akshauhini_ of
+troops. And all the kings that came were not only lords of _Akshauhini_,
+but performers of sacrifices with gifts in profusion to Brahmanas,
+conversant with the _Vedas_ endued with heroism, and ready to die in
+battle. And beholding them arrived, that foremost of virtuous men, the
+king of the Matsyas, adored them duly, and entertained their troops and
+servants and carriers of burdens. And he was highly pleased to bestow
+his daughter upon Abhimanyu. And after the kings had come there from
+different parts of the country, there came Vasudeva decked in floral
+garlands, and Halayudha, and Kritavarman, the son of Hridika, and
+Yuyudhana, the son of Satyaki, and Anadhristi and Akrura, and Samva and
+Nisatha. And these repressers of foes came there bringing with them
+Abhimanyu and his mother. And Indrasena and others, having lived at
+Dwaraka for one whole year, came there, bringing with them the well
+adorned cars of the Pandavas. And there came also ten thousand elephants
+and ten thousand cars, and hundred millions of horses and hundred
+billions of foot-soldiers, and innumerable Vrishni and Andhaka and Bhoja
+warriors of great energy, in the train of that tiger among the Vrishnis,
+Vasudeva of great effulgence. And Krishna gave unto each of the
+illustrious sons of Pandu numerous female slaves, and gems and robes.
+And then the nuptial festival set in between the families of the Matsya
+king and the Pandavas. And then conchs and cymbals and horns and drums
+and other musical instruments appointed by the Pandavas, began to play
+in the palace of Virata. And deer of various kinds and clean animals by
+hundreds were slain. And wines of various kinds and intoxicating juices
+of trees were profusely collected. And mimes and bards and encomiasts,
+versed in singing and legendary lore, waited upon the kings, and chanted
+their praises and genealogies. And the matrons of the Matsyas of
+symmetrical bodies and limbs, and wearing ear-rings of pearls and gems,
+headed by Sudeshna, came to the place where the marriage knot was to be
+tied. And amongst those beautiful females of fair complexion and
+excellent ornaments, Krishna was the foremost in beauty and fame and
+splendour. And they all came there, leading forth the princess Uttara
+decked in every ornament and resembling the daughter of the great Indra
+himself. And then Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, accepted Virata's
+daughter of faultless limbs on behalf of his son by Subhadra. And that
+great king, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, who stood there like Indra,
+also accepted her as his daughter-in-law. And having accepted her, the
+son of Pritha, with Janardana before him, caused the nuptial ceremonies
+to be performed of the illustrious son of Subhadra. And Virata then gave
+him (as dowry) seven thousand steeds endued with the speed of the wind
+and two hundred elephants of the best kind and much wealth also. And
+having duly poured libations of clarified butter on the blazing fire,
+and paid homage unto the twice-born ones, Virata offered to the Pandavas
+his kingdom, army, treasury, and his own self. And after the marriage
+had taken place, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, gave away unto the
+Brahmanas all the wealth that had been brought by Krishna of unfading
+glory. And he also gave away thousands of kine, and diverse kinds of
+robes, and various excellent ornaments, and vehicles, and beds,
+delicious viands of various kinds, and cardinal drinks of diverse
+species. And the king also made gifts of land unto the Brahmanas with
+due rites, and also cattle by thousands. And he also gave away thousands
+of steeds and much gold and much wealth of other kinds, unto persons of
+all ages. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the city of the Matsya king,
+thronged with men cheerful and well-fed, shone brightly like a great
+festival."
+
+_The end of Virata Parva._
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana
+Vyasa Bk. 4, by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12058 ***
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+<title>The Mahabharata, Virata Parva</title>
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+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12058 ***</div>
+
+<h1>THE MAHABHARATA</h1>
+<h1>VIRATA PARVA</h1>
+<h2>SECTION I</h2>
+<h3>(<i>Pandava-Pravesa Parva</i>)</h3>
+<p>OM! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted of
+male beings, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word
+<i>Jaya</i> be uttered.</p>
+<p>Janamejaya said, "How did my great-grandfathers, afflicted with
+the fear of Duryodhana, pass their days undiscovered in the city of
+Virata? And, O Brahman, how did the highly blessed Draupadi,
+stricken with woe, devoted to her lords, and ever adoring the
+Deity<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href=
+"#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a>, spend her days unrecognised?"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Listen, O lord of men, how thy great
+grandfathers passed the period of unrecognition in the city of
+Virata. Having in this way obtained boons from the god of Justice,
+that best of virtuous men, Yudhishthira, returned to the asylum and
+related unto the Brahmanas all that had happened. And having
+related everything unto them, Yudhishthira restored to that
+regenerate Brahmana who had followed him the churning staff and the
+fire-sticks he had lost. And, O Bharata, the son of the god of
+Justice, the royal Yudhishthira of high soul then called together
+all his younger brothers and addressed them, saying, 'Exiled from
+our kingdom, we have passed twelve years. The thirteenth year, hard
+to spend, hath now come. Do thou therefore, O Arjuna, the son of
+Kunti, select some spot where we may pass our days undiscovered by
+our enemies.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna replied, "Even by virtue of Dharma's boon, we shall, O
+lord of men, range about undiscovered by men. Still, for purposes
+of residence, I shall mention some spots that are both delightful
+and secluded. Do thou select some one of them. Surrounding the
+kingdom of the Kurus, are, many countries beautiful and abounding
+in corn, such as Panchala, Chedi, Matsya, Surasena, Pattachchara,
+Dasarna, Navarashtra, Malla, Salva, Yugandhara, Saurashtra, Avanti,
+and the spacious Kuntirashtra. Which of these, O king, wouldst thou
+choose, and where, O foremost of monarchs, shall we spend this
+year?'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said 'O thou of mighty arms, it is even so. What
+that adorable Lord of all creatures hath said must become true.
+Surely, after consulting together, we must select some delightful,
+auspicious, and agreeable region for our abode, where we may live
+free from fear. The aged Virata, king of the Matsyas, is virtuous
+and powerful and charitable, and is liked by all. And he is also
+attached to the Pandavas. Even in the city of Virata, O child, we
+shall, O Bharata, spend this year, entering his service. Tell me,
+ye sons of the Kuru race, in what capacities ye will severally
+present yourselves before the king of the Matsyas!'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'O god among men, what service wilt thou take in
+Virata's kingdom? O righteous one, in what capacity wilt thou
+reside in the city of Virata? Thou art mild, and charitable, and
+modest, and virtuous, and firm in promise. What wilt thou, O king,
+afflicted as thou art with calamity, do? A king is qualified to
+bear trouble like an ordinary person. How wilt thou overcome this
+great calamity that has overtaken thee?'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira replied, 'Ye sons of the Kuru race, ye bulls among
+men, hear what I shall do on appearing before king Virata.
+Presenting myself as a Brahmana, Kanka by name, skilled in dice and
+fond of play, I shall become a courtier of that high-souled king.
+And moving upon chess-boards beautiful pawns made of ivory, of blue
+and yellow and red and white hue, by throws of black and red dice,
+I shall entertain the king with his courtiers and friends. And
+while I shall continue to thus delight the king, nobody will
+succeed in discovering me. And should the monarch ask me, I shall
+say, <i>Formerly I was the bosom friend of Yudhishthira</i>. I tell
+you that it is thus that I shall pass my days (in the city of
+Virata). What office wilt thou, O Vrikodara, fill in the city of
+Virata?'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION II</h2>
+<p>"Bhima said, 'I intend to present myself before the lord of
+Virata as a cook bearing the name of Vallava. I am skilled in
+culinary art, and I shall prepare curries for the king, and
+excelling all those skilful cooks that had hitherto dressed his
+food I shall gratify the monarch. And I shall carry mighty loads of
+wood. And witnessing that mighty feat, the monarch will be pleased.
+And, O Bharata, beholding such superhuman feats of mine, the
+servants of the royal household will honour me as a king. And I
+shall have entire control over all kinds of viands and drinks. And
+commanded to subdue powerful elephants and mighty bulls, I will do
+as bidden. And if any combatants will fight with me in the lists,
+then will I vanquish them, and thereby entertain the monarch. But I
+shall not take the life of any of them. I shall only bring them
+down in such way that they may not be killed. And on being asked as
+regards my antecedent I shall say that&mdash;<i>Formerly I was the
+wrestler and cook of Yudhishthira.</i> Thus shall I, O king,
+maintain myself.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'And what office will be performed by that
+mighty descendant of the Kurus, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, that
+foremost of men possessed of long arms, invincible in fight, and
+before whom, while he was staying with Krishna, the divine Agni
+himself desirous of consuming the forest of Khandava had formerly
+appeared in the guise of a Brahmana? What office will be performed
+by that best of warriors, Arjuna, who proceeded to that forest and
+gratified Agni, vanquishing on a single car and slaying huge
+<i>Nagas</i> and <i>Rakshasas</i>, and who married the sister of
+Vasuki himself, the king of the <i>Nagas</i>? Even as the sun is
+the foremost of all heat-giving bodies, as the Brahmana is the best
+of all bipeds, as the cobra is the foremost of all serpents, as
+Fire is the first of all things possessed of energy, as the
+thunderbolt is the foremost of all weapons, as the humped bull is
+the foremost of all animals of the bovine breed, as the ocean is
+the foremost of all watery expanses, as clouds charged with rain
+are the foremost of all clouds, as Ananta is the first of all
+<i>Nagas</i>, as Airavata is the foremost of all elephants, as the
+son is the foremost of all beloved objects, and lastly, as the wife
+is the best of all friends, so, O Vrikodara, is the youthful
+Gudakesa, the foremost of all bowmen. And O Bharata, what office
+will be performed by Vibhatsu, the wielder of <i>Gandiva</i>, whose
+car is drawn by white horses, and who is not inferior to Indra or
+Vasudeva Himself? What office will be performed by Arjuna who,
+dwelling for five years in the abode of the thousand-eyed Deity
+(Indra) shining in celestial lustre, acquired by his own energy the
+science of superhuman arms with all celestial weapons, and whom I
+regard as the tenth <i>Rudra</i>, the thirteenth <i>Aditya</i>, the
+ninth <i>Vasu</i>, and the tenth <i>Graha</i>, whose arms,
+symmetrical and long, have the skin hardened by constant strokes of
+the bowstring and cicatrices which resemble those on the humps of
+bulls,&mdash;that foremost of warriors who is as Himavat among
+mountains, the ocean among expanses of water, Sakra among the
+celestial, Havyavaha (fire) among the Vasus, the tiger among
+beasts, and Garuda among feathery tribes!'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna replied, 'O lord of the Earth, I will declare myself as
+one of the neuter sex. O monarch, it is, indeed difficult to hide
+the marks of the bowstring on my arms. I will, however, cover both
+my cicatrized arms with bangles. Wearing brilliant rings on my ears
+and conch-bangles on my wrists and causing a braid to hang down
+from my head, I shall, O king, appear as one of the third sex,
+Vrihannala by name. And living as a female I shall (always)
+entertain the king and the inmates of the inner apartments by
+reciting stories. And, O king, I shall also instruct the women of
+Virata's palace in singing and delightful modes of dancing and in
+musical instruments of diverse kinds. And I shall also recite the
+various excellent acts of men and thus conceal myself, O son of
+Kunti, by feigning disguise. And, O Bharata should the king
+enquire, I will say that, <i>I lived as a waiting maid of Draupadi
+in Yudhishthira's palace</i>. And, O foremost of kings, concealing
+myself by this means, as fire is concealed by ashes, I shall pass
+my days agreeably in the palace of Virata.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, Arjuna, that best of
+men and foremost of virtuous persons, became silent. Then the king
+addressed another brother of his."<a id="footnotetag2" name=
+"footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a></p>
+<h2>SECTION III</h2>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'Tender, possessed of a graceful presence,
+and deserving of every luxury as thou art, what office wilt thou, O
+heroic Nakula, discharge while living in the dominions of that
+king? Tell me all about it!'</p>
+<p>"Nakula said, 'Under the name of Granthika, I shall become the
+keeper of the horses of king Virata. I have a thorough knowledge
+(of this work) and am skilful in tending horses. Besides, the task
+is agreeable to me, and I possess great skill in training and
+treating horses; and horses are ever dear to me as they are to
+thee, O king of the Kurus. At my hands even colts and mares become
+docile; these never become vicious in bearing a rider or drawing a
+car.<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href=
+"#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a> And those persons in the city of
+Virata that may enquire of me, I shall, O bull of the Bharata race,
+say,&mdash;<i>Formerly I was employed by Yudhishthira in the charge
+of his horses</i>. Thus disguised, O king, I shall spend my days
+delightfully in the city of Virata. No one will be able to discover
+me as I will gratify the monarch thus!'<a id="footnotetag4" name=
+"footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a></p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'How wilt thou, O Sahadeva, bear thyself
+before that king? And what, O child, is that which thou wilt do in
+order to live in disguise.'</p>
+<p>"Sahadeva replied, 'I will become a keeper of the king of
+Virata's kine. I am skilled in milking kine and taking their
+history as well as in taming their fierceness. Passing under the
+name of Tantripala, I shall perform my duties deftly. Let thy
+heart's fever be dispelled. Formerly I was frequently employed to
+look after thy kine, and, O Lord of earth, I have a particular
+knowledge of that work. And, O monarch, I am well-acquainted with
+the nature of kine, as also with their auspicious marks and other
+matters relating to them. I can also discriminate bulls with
+auspicious marks, the scent of whose urine may make even the barren
+being forth child. Even thus will I live, and I always take delight
+in work of this kind. Indeed, no one will then be able to recognise
+me, and I will moreover gratify the monarch.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'This is our beloved wife dearer to us than
+our lives. Verily, she deserveth to be cherished by us like a
+mother, and regarded like an elder sister. Unacquainted as she is
+with any kind of womanly work, what office will Krishna, the
+daughter of Drupada, perform? Delicate and young, she is a princess
+of great repute. Devoted to her lords, and eminently virtuous,
+also, how will she live? Since her birth, she hath enjoyed only
+garlands and perfumes and ornaments and costly robes.'</p>
+<p>"Draupadi replied, 'There is a class of persons called
+<i>Sairindhris</i>,<a id="footnotetag5" name=
+"footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> who enter
+the services of other. Other females, however (that are
+respectable) do not do so. Of this class there are some. I shall
+give myself out as a <i>Sairindhri</i>, skilled in dressing hair.
+And, O Bharata, on being questioned by the king, I shall say that I
+served as a waiting woman of Draupadi in Yudhishthira's household.
+I shall thus pass my days in disguise. And I shall serve the famous
+Sudeshna, the wife of the king. Surely, obtaining me she will
+cherish me (duly). Do not grieve so, O king.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'O Krishna, thou speakest well. But O fair
+girl, thou wert born in a respectable family. Chaste as thou art,
+and always engaged in observing virtuous vows, thou knowest not
+what is sin. Do thou, therefore, conduct thyself in such a way that
+sinful men of evil hearts may not be gladdened by gazing at
+thee.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION IV</h2>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'Ye have already said what offices ye will
+respectively perform. I also, according to the measure of my sense,
+have said what office I will perform. Let our priest, accompanied
+by charioteers and cooks, repair to the abode of Drupada, and there
+maintain our <i>Agnihotra</i> fires. And let Indrasena and the
+others, taking with them the empty cars, speedily proceeded to
+Dwaravati. Even this is my wish. And let all these maid-servants of
+Draupadi go to the Panchalas, with our charioteers and cooks. And
+let all of them say,&mdash;<i>We do not know where the Pandavas
+have gone leaving us at the lake of Dwaitavana</i>.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having thus taken counsel of one another and
+told one another the offices they would discharge, the Pandavas
+sought Dhaumya's advice. And Dhaumya also gave them advice in the
+following words, saying, 'Ye sons of Pandu, the arrangements ye
+have made regarding the Brahmanas, your friends, cars, weapons, and
+the (sacred) fires, are excellent. But it behoveth thee, O
+Yudhishthira, and Arjuna specially, to make provision for the
+protection of Draupadi. Ye king, ye are well-acquainted with the
+characters of men. Yet whatever may be your knowledge, friends may
+from affection be permitted to repeat what is already known. Even
+this is subservient to the eternal interests of virtue, pleasure,
+and profit. I shall, therefore speak to you something. Mark ye. To
+dwell with a king is, alas, difficult. I shall tell you, ye
+princes, how ye may reside in the royal household, avoiding every
+fault. Ye Kauravas, honourably or otherwise, ye will have to pass
+this year in the king's palace, undiscovered by those that know
+you. Then in the fourteenth year, ye will live happy. O son of
+Pandu, in this world, that cherisher and protector of all beings,
+the king, who is a deity in an embodied form, is as a great fire
+sanctified with all the <i>mantras</i>.<a id="footnotetag6" name=
+"footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> One should
+present himself before the king, after having obtained his
+permission at the gate. No one should keep contact with royal
+secrets. Nor should one desire a seat which another may covet. He
+who doth not, regarding himself to be a favourite, occupy (the
+king's) car, or coach, or seat, or vehicle, or elephant, is alone
+worthy of dwelling in a royal household. He that sits not upon a
+seat the occupation of which is calculated raise alarm in the minds
+of malicious people, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal
+household. No one should, unasked offer counsel (to a king). Paying
+homage in season unto the king, one should silently and
+respectfully sit beside the king, for kings take umbrage at
+babblers, and disgrace lying counsellors. A wise person should not
+contact friendship with the king's wife, nor with the inmates of
+the inner apartments, nor with those that are objects of royal
+displeasure. One about the king should do even the most unimportant
+acts and with the king's knowledge. Behaving thus with a sovereign,
+one doth not come by harm. Even if an individual attain the highest
+office, he should, as long as he is not asked or commanded,
+consider himself as born-blind, having regard to the king's
+dignity, for O repressers of foes, the rulers of men do not forgive
+even their sons and grandsons and brothers when they happen to
+tamper with their dignity. Kings should be served with regardful
+care, even as Agni and other gods; and he that is disloyal to his
+sovereign, is certainly destroyed by him. Renouncing anger, and
+pride, and negligence, it behoveth a man to follow the course
+directed by the monarch. After carefully deliberating on all
+things, a person should set forth before the king those topics that
+are both profitable and pleasant; but should a subject be
+profitable without being pleasant, he should still communicate it,
+despite its disagreeableness. It behoveth a man to be well-disposed
+towards the king in all his interests, and not to indulge in speech
+that is alike unpleasant and profitless. Always thinking&mdash;<i>I
+am not liked by the king</i>&mdash;one should banish negligence,
+and be intent on bringing about what is agreeable and advantageous
+to him. He that swerveth not from his place, he that is not
+friendly to those that are hostile to the king, he that striveth
+not to do wrong to the king, is alone worthy to dwell in a royal
+household. A learned man should sit either on the king's right or
+the left; he should not sit behind him for that is the place
+appointed for armed guards, and to sit before him is always
+interdicted. Let none, when the king is engaged in doing anything
+(in respect of his servants) come forward pressing himself
+zealously before others, for even if the aggrieved be very poor,
+such conduct would still be inexcusable.<a id="footnotetag7" name=
+"footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> It
+behoveth no man to reveal to others any lie the king may have told
+inasmuch as the king bears ill will to those that report his
+falsehoods. Kings also always disregard persons that regard
+themselves as learned. No man should be proud thinking&mdash;<i>I
+am brave, or, I am intelligent</i>, but a person obtains the good
+graces of a king and enjoys the good things of life, by behaving
+agreeably to the wishes of the king. And, O Bharata, obtaining
+things agreeable, and wealth also which is so hard to acquire, a
+person should always do what is profitable as well as pleasant to
+the king. What man that is respected by the wise can even think of
+doing mischief to one whose ire is great impediment and whose
+favour is productive of mighty fruits? No one should move his lips,
+arms and thighs, before the king. A person should speak and spit
+before the king only mildly. In the presence of even laughable
+objects, a man should not break out into loud laughter, like a
+maniac; nor should one show (unreasonable) gravity by containing
+himself, to the utmost. One should smile modestly, to show his
+interest (in what is before him). He that is ever mindful of the
+king's welfare, and is neither exhilarated by reward nor depressed
+by disgrace, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal household. That
+learned courtier who always pleaseth the king and his son with
+agreeable speeches, succeedeth in dwelling in a royal household as
+a favourite. The favourite courtier who, having lost the royal
+favour for just reason, does not speak evil of the king, regains
+prosperity. The man who serveth the king or liveth in his domains,
+if sagacious, should speak in praise of the king, both in his
+presence and absence. The courtier who attempts to obtain his end
+by employing force on the king, cannot keep his place long and
+incurs also the risk of death. None should, for the purpose of
+self-interest, open communications with the king's enemies.<a id=
+"footnotetag8" name="footnotetag8"></a><a href=
+"#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a> Nor should one distinguish himself
+above the king in matters requiring ability and talents. He that is
+always cheerful and strong, brave and truthful and mild, and of
+subdued senses, and who followeth his master like his shadow, is
+alone worthy to dwell in a royal household. He that on being
+entrusted with a work, cometh forward, saying,&mdash;<i>I will do
+this</i>&mdash;is alone worthy of living in a royal household. He
+that on being entrusted with a task, either within the king's
+dominion or out of it, never feareth to undertake it, is alone fit
+to reside in a royal household. He that living away from his home,
+doth no remember his dear ones, and who undergoeth (present) misery
+in expectation of (future) happiness, is alone worthy of dwelling
+in a royal household. One should not dress like the king, nor
+should one indulge in laughter in the king's presence nor should
+one disclose royal secrets. By acting thus one may win royal
+favour. Commissioned to a task, one should not touch bribes for by
+such appropriation one becometh liable to fetters or death. The
+robes, ornaments, cars, and other things which the king may be
+pleased to bestow should always be used, for by this, one winneth
+the royal favour. Ye children, controlling your minds, do ye spend
+this year, ye sons of Pandu, behaving in this way. Regaining your
+own kingdom, ye may live as ye please.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'We have been well taught by thee. Blessed
+be thou. There is none that could say so to us, save our mother
+Kunti and Vidura of great wisdom. It behoveth thee to do all that
+is necessary now for our departure, and for enabling us to come
+safely through this woe, as well as for our victory over the
+foe.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Yudhishthira,
+Dhaumya, that best of Brahmanas, performed according to the
+ordinance the rites ordained in respect of departure. And lighting
+up their fires, he offered, with <i>mantras</i>, oblations on them
+for the prosperity and success of the Pandavas, as for their
+reconquest of the whole world. And walking round those fires and
+round the Brahmanas of ascetic wealth, the six set out, placing
+Yajnaseni in their front. And when those heroes had departed,
+Dhaumya, that best of ascetics, taking their sacred fires, set out
+for the Panchalas. And Indrasena, and others already mentioned,
+went to the Yadavas, and looking after the horses and the cars of
+the Pandavas passed their time happily and in privacy."</p>
+<h2>SECTION V</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Girding their waists with swords, and
+equipped with finger-protectors made of iguana skins and with
+various weapons, those heroes proceeded in the direction of the
+river Yamuna. And those bowmen desirous of (speedily) recovering
+their kingdom, hitherto living in inaccessible hills and forest
+fastnesses, now terminated their forest-life and proceeded to the
+southern bank of that river. And those mighty warriors endued with
+great strength and hitherto leading the lives of hunters by killing
+the deer of the forest, passed through <i>Yakrilloma</i> and
+Surasena, leaving behind, on their right, the country of the
+Panchalas, and on their left, that of the Dasarnas. And those
+bowmen, looking wan and wearing beards and equipped with swords,
+entered Matsya's dominions leaving the forest, giving themselves
+out as hunters. And on arriving at that country, Krishna addressed
+Yudhishthira, saying, 'We see footpaths here, and various fields.
+From this it appears that Virata's metropolis is still at a
+distance. Pass we here what part of the night is still left, for
+great is my fatigue.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira answered, 'O Dhananjaya of Bharata's race, do thou
+take up Panchali and carry her. Just on emerging from this forest,
+we arrive at the city.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thereupon like the leader of a herd of
+elephants, Arjuna speedily took up Draupadi, and on coming to the
+vicinity of the city, let her down. And on reaching the city,
+Ruru's son (Yudhishthira), addressed Arjuna, saying, 'Where shall
+we deposit our weapons, before entering the city? If, O child, we
+enter it with our weapons about us, we shall thereby surely excite
+the alarm of the citizens. Further, the tremendous bow, the
+<i>Gandiva</i>, is known to all men, so that people will, without
+doubt, recognise us soon. And if even one of us is discovered, we
+shall, according to promise, have to pass another twelve years in
+the forest.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'Hard by yon cemetery and near that inaccessible
+peak is a mighty <i>Sami</i> tree, throwing-about its gigantic
+branches and difficult to ascend. Nor is there any human being,
+who, I think, O Pandu's son, will espy us depositing our arms at
+that place. That tree is in the midst of an out-of-the way forest
+abounding in beasts and snakes, and is in the vicinity of a dreary
+cemetery. Stowing away our weapons on the <i>Sami</i> tree, let us,
+O Bharata, go to the city, and live there, free from anxiety!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having O bull of the Bharata race
+spoken thus to king Yudhishthira the just, Arjuna prepared to
+deposit the weapons (on the tree). And that bull among the Kurus,
+then loosened the string of the large and dreadful <i>Gandiva</i>,
+ever producing thundering twang and always destructive of hostile
+hosts, and with which he had conquered, on a single car, gods and
+men and <i>Nagas</i> and swelling provinces. And the warlike
+Yudhishthira, that represser of foes, unfastened the undecaying
+string of that bow with which he had defended the field of
+Kurukshetra. And the illustrious Bhimasena unstrung that bow by
+means of which that sinless one had vanquished in fight the
+Panchalas and the lord of Sindhu, and with which, during his career
+of conquest, he had, single-handed, opposed innumerable foes, and
+hearing whose twang which was like unto the roar of the thunder or
+the splitting of a mountain, enemies always fly (in panic) from the
+field of battle. And that son of Pandu of coppery complexion and
+mild speech who is endued with great prowess in the field, and is
+called Nakula in consequence of his unexampled beauty in the
+family, then unfastened the string of that bow with which he had
+conquered all the regions of the west. And the heroic Sahadeva
+also, possessed of a mild disposition, then untied the string of
+that bow with which he had subjugated the countries of the south.
+And with their bows, they put together their long and flashing
+swords, their precious quivers, and their arrows sharp as razors.
+And Nakula ascended the tree, and deposited on it the bows and the
+other weapons. And he tied them fast on those parts of the tree
+which he thought would not break, and where the rain would not
+penetrate. And the Pandavas hung up a corpse (on the tree), knowing
+that people smelling the stench of the corpse would
+say&mdash;<i>here sure, is a dead body</i>, and avoid the tree from
+a distance. And on being asked by the shepherds and cowherds
+regarding the corpse, those repressers of foes said unto them,
+'This is our mother, aged one hundred and eighty years. We have
+hung up her dead body, in accordance with the custom observed by
+our forefathers.' And then those resisters of foes approached the
+city. And for purposes of non-discovery Yudhishthira kept these
+(five) names for himself and his brothers respectively, viz., Jaya,
+Jayanta, Vijaya, Jayatsena, and Jayadvala. Then they entered the
+great city, with the view to passing the thirteenth year
+undiscovered in that kingdom, agreeably to the promise (to
+Duryodhana)."</p>
+<h2>SECTION VI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "And while Yudhishthira was on his way to the
+delightful city of Virata, he began to praise mentally the Divine
+Durga, the Supreme Goddess of the Universe, born on the womb of
+Yasoda, and fond of the boons bestowed on her by Narayana, sprung
+from the race of cowherd Nanda, and the giver of prosperity, the
+enhancer (of the glory) of (the worshipper's) family, the terrifier
+of Kansa, and the destroyer of <i>Asuras</i>,&mdash;and saluted the
+Goddess&mdash;her who ascended the skies when dashed (by Kansa) on
+a stony platform, who is the sister of Vasudeva, one who is always
+decked in celestial garlands and attired in celestial
+robes,&mdash;who is armed with scimitar and shield, and always
+rescues the worshipper sunk in sin, like a cow in the mire, who in
+the hours of distress calls upon that eternal giver of blessings
+for relieving him of their burdens. And the king, desirous with his
+brothers of obtaining a sight of the Goddess, invoked her and began
+to praise her by reciting various names derived from (approved)
+hymns. And Yudhishthira said, 'Salutations to thee, O giver of
+boons. O thou that art identical with Krishna, O maiden, O thou
+that hast observed the vow of <i>Brahmacharya</i>, O thou of body
+bright as the newly-risen Sun, O thou of face beautiful as the full
+moon. Salutations to thee, O thou of four hands and four faces, O
+thou of fair round hips and deep bosom, O thou that wearest bangles
+made of emeralds and sapphires, O thou that bearest excellent
+bracelets on thy upper arm. Thou shinest, O Goddess, as Padma, the
+consort of Narayana. O thou that rangest the etherial regions, thy
+true form and thy <i>Brahmacharya</i> are both of the purest kind.
+Sable as the black clouds, thy face is beautiful as that of
+<i>Sankarshana</i>. Thou bearest two large arms long as a couple of
+poles raised in honour of Indra. In thy (six) other arms thou
+bearest a vessel, a lotus, a bell, a noose, a bow, a large discus,
+and various other weapons. Thou art the only female in the universe
+that possessest the attribute of purity. Thou art decked with a
+pair of well-made ears graced with excellent rings. O Goddess, thou
+shinest with a face that challengeth the moon in beauty. With an
+excellent diadem and beautiful braid with robes made of the bodies
+of snakes, and with also the brilliant girdle round thy hips, thou
+shinest like the Mandara mountain encircled with snakes. Thou
+shinest also with peacock-plumes standing erect on thy head, and
+thou hast sanctified the celestial regions by adopting the vow of
+perpetual maiden-hood. It is for this, O thou that hast slain the
+<i>Mahishasura</i>,<a id="footnotetag9" name=
+"footnotetag9"></a><a href="#footnote9"><sup>9</sup></a> that thou
+art praised and worshipped by the gods for the protection of the
+three worlds. O thou foremost of all deities, extend to me thy
+grace, show me thy mercy, and be thou the source of blessings to
+me. Thou art <i>Jaya</i> and <i>Vijaya</i>, and it is thou that
+givest victory in battle. Grant me victory, O Goddess, and give me
+boons also at this hour of distress. Thy eternal abode is on
+Vindhya&mdash;that foremost of mountains. O <i>Kali</i>, O
+<i>Kali</i>, thou art the great <i>Kali</i>, ever fond of wine and
+meat and animal sacrifice. Capable of going everywhere at will, and
+bestowing boons on thy devotees, thou art ever followed in thy
+journeys by Brahma and the other gods. By them that call upon thee
+for the relief of their burdens, and by them also that bow to thee
+at daybreak on Earth, there is nothing that cannot be attained in
+respect either of offspring or wealth. And because thou rescuest
+people from difficulties whether when they are afflicted in the
+wilderness or sinking in the great ocean, it is for this that thou
+art called <i>Durga</i><a id="footnotetag10" name=
+"footnotetag10"></a><a href="#footnote10"><sup>10</sup></a> by all.
+Thou art the sole refuge of men when attacked by robbers or while
+afflicted in crossing streams and seas or in wilderness and
+forests. Those men that remember thee are never prostrated, O great
+Goddess. Thou art Fame, thou art Prosperity, thou art Steadiness,
+thou art Success; thou art the Wife, thou art men's Offspring, thou
+art Knowledge, and thou art the Intellect. Thou art the two
+Twilights, the Night Sleep, Light&mdash;both solar and lunar,
+Beauty, Forgiveness, Mercy, and every other thing. Thou dispellest,
+worshipped by the devotees their fetters, ignorance, loss of
+children and loss of wealth, disease, death, and fear. I, who have
+been deprived of my kingdom, seek thy protection. And as I bow to
+thee with bended head, O Supreme Goddess, grant me protection, O
+thou of eyes like lotus leaves. And be thou as boon-giving Truth
+unto us that are acting according to Truth. And, O Durga, kind as
+thou art unto all that seek thy protection, and affectionate unto
+all thy devotees, grant me protection!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus praised by the son of Pandu, the
+Goddess showed herself unto him. And approaching the king, she
+addressed him in these words, 'O mighty armed king, listen, O Lord,
+to these words of mine. Having vanquished and slain the ranks of
+the Kauravas through my grace, victory in battle will soon be
+thine. Thou shalt again lord it over the entire Earth, having made
+thy dominions destitute of thorns. And, O king, thou shalt also,
+with thy brothers, obtain great happiness. And through my grace,
+joy and health will be thine. And they also in the world who will
+recite my attributes and achievements will be freed from their
+sins, and gratified. I will bestow upon them kingdom, long life,
+beauty of person, and offspring. And they, O king, who will invoke
+me, after thy manner, in exile or in the city, in the midst of
+battle or of dangers from foes, in forests or in inaccessible
+deserts, in seas or mountain fastnesses, there is nothing that they
+will not obtain in this world. And ye sons of Pandu, he will
+achieve success in every business of his that will listen to, or
+himself recite with devotion, this excellent hymn. And through my
+grace neither the Kuru's spies, nor those that dwell in the country
+of the Matsyas, will succeed in recognising you all as long as ye
+reside in Virata's city!' And having said these words unto
+Yudhishthira, that chastiser of foes, and having arranged for the
+protection of the sons of Pandu, the Goddess disappeared there and
+then."</p>
+<h2>SECTION VII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then tying up in his cloth dice made of gold
+and set with <i>lapis lazuli</i>, and holding them below his
+arm-pit, king Yudhishthira,&mdash;that illustrious lord of
+men&mdash;that high-souled perpetuator of the Kuru race, regarded
+by kings, irrepressible in might, and like unto a snake of virulent
+poison,&mdash;that bull among men, endued with strength and beauty
+and prowess, and possessed of greatness, and resembling in form a
+celestial though now like unto the sun enveloped in dense clouds,
+or fire covered with ashes, first made his appearance when the
+famous king Virata was seated in his court. And beholding with his
+followers that son of Pandu in his court, looking like the moon hid
+in clouds and possessed of a face beautiful as the full moon, king
+Virata addressed his counsellors and the twice-born ones and the
+charioteers and the Vaisyas and others, saying, 'Enquire ye who it
+is, so like a king that looketh on my court for the first time. He
+cannot be a Brahmana. Methinks he is a man of men, and a lord of
+earth. He hath neither slaves, nor cars, nor elephants with him,
+yet he shineth like the very Indra. The marks on his person
+indicate him to be one whose coronal locks have undergone the
+sacred investiture. Even this is my belief. He approacheth me
+without any hesitation, even as an elephant in rut approacheth an
+assemblage of lotuses!'</p>
+<p>"And as the king was indulging in these thoughts, that bull
+among men, Yudhishthira, came before Virata and addressed him,
+saying, 'O great king, know me for a Brahmana who, having lost his
+all hath come to thee for the means of subsistence. I desire, O
+sinless one, to live here beside thee acting under thy
+commands,<a id="footnotetag11" name="footnotetag11"></a><a href=
+"#footnote11"><sup>11</sup></a> O lord.' The king then,
+well-pleased, replied unto him saying, 'Thou art welcome. Do thou
+then accept the appointment thou seekest!' And having appointed the
+lion among kings in the post he had prayed for, king Virata
+addressed him with a glad heart, saying, 'O child, I ask thee from
+affection, from the dominions of what king dost thou come hither?
+Tell me also truly what is thy name and family, and what thou hast
+a knowledge of.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'My name is Kanka, and I am a Brahmana
+belonging to the family known by the name of <i>Vaiyaghra</i>. I am
+skilled in casting dice, and formerly I was a friend of
+Yudhishthira.'</p>
+<p>"Virata replied, 'I will grant thee whatever boon thou mayst
+desire. Do thou rule the Matsyas.&mdash;I shall remain in
+submission to thee. Even cunning gamblers are liked by me. Thou, on
+the other hand, art like a god, and deservest a kingdom.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'My first prayer, O lord of earth, is that I
+may not be involved in any dispute (on account of dice) with low
+people. Further, a person defeated by me (at dice) shall not be
+permitted to retain the wealth (won by me). Let this boon be
+granted to me through thy grace.'</p>
+<p>"Virata replied, 'I shall certainly slay him who may happen to
+displease thee, and should he be one of the twice-born ones, I
+shall banish him from my dominions. Let the assembled subjects
+listen! Kanka is as much lord of this realm as I myself. Thou
+(Kanka) shalt be my friend and shalt ride the same vehicles as I.
+And there shall also be at thy disposal apparel in plenty, and
+various kinds of viands and drinks. And thou shalt look into my
+affairs, both internal and external. And for thee all my doors
+shall be open. When men out of employ or of strained circumstances
+will apply to thee, do thou at all hours bring their words unto me,
+and I will surely give them whatever they desire. No fear shall be
+thine as long as thou residest with me.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having thus obtained an interview with
+Virata's king, and received from him boons, that heroic bull among
+men, began to live happily, highly regarded by all. Nor could any
+one discover him as he lived there."</p>
+<h2>SECTION VIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then another endued with the dreadful
+strength and blazing in beauty, approached king Virata, with the
+playful gait of the lion. And holding in hand a cooking ladle and a
+spoon, as also an unsheathed sword of sable hue and without a spot
+on the blade, he came in the guise of a cook illumining all around
+him by his splendour like the sun discovering the whole world. And
+attired in black and possessed of the strength of the king of
+mountains, he approached the king of the Matsyas and stood before
+him. And beholding that king-like person before him, Virata
+addressed his assembled subjects saying, 'Who is that youth, that
+bull among men, with shoulders broad like those of a lion, and so
+exceedingly beautiful? That person, never seen before, is like the
+sun. Revolving the matter in my mind, I cannot ascertain who he is,
+nor can I with even serious thoughts guess the intention of that
+bull among men (in coming here). Beholding him, it seems to me that
+he is either the king of the Gandharvas, or Purandara himself. Do
+ye ascertain who it is that standeth before my eyes. Let him have
+quickly what he seeks.' Thus commanded by king Virata, his
+swift-footed messengers went up to the son of Kunti and informed
+that younger brother of Yudhishthira of everything the king had
+said. Then the high-souled son of Pandu, approaching Virata,
+addressed him in words that were not unsuited to his object,
+saying, 'O foremost of kings, I am a cook, Vallava by name. I am
+skilled in dressing dishes. Do thou employ me in the kitchen!'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'I do not believe, O Vallava, that cooking is thy
+office. Thou resemblest the deity of a thousand eyes; and in grace
+and beauty and prowess, thou shinest among these all as a
+king!'</p>
+<p>"Bhima replied, 'O king of kings, I am thy cook and servant in
+the first place. It is not curries only of which I have knowledge,
+O monarch, although king Yudhishthira always used in days gone by
+to taste my dishes. O lord of earth, I am also a wrestler. Nor is
+there one that is equal to me in strength. And engaging in fight
+with lions and elephants, I shall, O sinless one, always contribute
+to thy entertainment.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'I will even grant thee boons. Thou wilt do what
+thou wishest, as thou describest thyself skilled in it. I do not,
+however, think, that this office is worthy of thee, for thou
+deservest this (entire) earth girt round by the sea. But do as thou
+likest. Be thou the superintendent of my kitchen, and thou art
+placed at the head of those who have been appointed there before by
+me.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus appointed in the kitchen, Bhima
+soon became the favourite of king Virata. And, O king, he continued
+to live there unrecognised by the other servants of Virata as also
+by other people!"</p>
+<h2>SECTION IX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Binding her black, soft, fine, long and
+faultless tresses with crisped ends into a knotted braid, Draupadi
+of black eyes and sweet smiles, throwing it upon her right
+shoulders, concealed it by her cloth. And she wore a single piece
+of a black and dirty though costly cloth. And dressing herself as a
+<i>Sairindhri</i>, she began to wander hither and thither in
+seeming affliction. And beholding her wandering, men and women came
+to her hastily and addressed her, saying, 'Who are you? And what do
+you seek?' And she replied, 'I am a king's <i>Sairindhri</i>. I
+desire to serve any one that will maintain me.' But beholding her
+beauty and dress, and hearing also her speech that was so sweet,
+the people could not take her for a maid-servant in search of
+subsistence. And it came to pass that while looking this way and
+that from the terrace, Virata's beloved queen, daughter of the king
+of Kekaya, saw Draupadi. And beholding her forlorn and clad in a
+single piece of cloth, the queen addressed her saying, 'O beautiful
+one, who are you, and what do you seek?' Thereupon, Draupadi
+answered her, saying, 'O foremost of queens, I am
+<i>Sairindhri</i>. I will serve anybody that will maintain me.'
+Then Sudeshna said, 'What you say (regarding your profession) can
+never be compatible with so much beauty. (On the contrary) you
+might well be the mistress of servants both, male and female. Your
+heels are not prominent, and your thighs touch each other. And your
+intelligence is great, and your navel deep, and your words solemn.
+And your great toes, and bust and hips, and back and sides, and
+toe-nails, and palms are all well-developed. And your palms, soles,
+and face are ruddy. And your speech is sweet even as the voice of
+the swan. And your hair is beautiful, and your bust shapely, and
+you are possessed of the highest grace. And your hips and bust are
+plump. And like a Kashmerean mare you are furnished with every
+auspicious mark. And your eye-lashes are (beautiful) bent, and your
+nether-lip is like the ruddy ground. And your waist is slender, and
+your neck bears lines that resemble those of the conch. And your
+veins are scarcely visible. Indeed, your countenance is like the
+full moon, and your eyes resemble the leaves of the autumnal lotus,
+and your body is fragrant as the lotus itself. Verily, in beauty
+you resemble <i>Sri</i> herself, whose seat is the autumnal lotus.
+Tell me, O beautiful damsel, who thou art. Thou canst never be a
+maidservant. Art thou a <i>Yakshi</i>, a Goddess, a
+<i>Gandharvi</i>, or an <i>Apsara</i>? Art thou the daughter of a
+celestial, or art thou a female <i>Naga</i>? Art thou the guardian
+goddess of some city, a <i>Vidyadhari</i>, or a
+<i>Kinnari</i>,&mdash;or art thou <i>Rohini</i> herself? Or art
+thou Alamvusha, or Misrakesi, Pundarika, or Malini, or the queen of
+Indra, or of Varuna? Or, art thou the spouse of Viswakarma, or of
+the creative Lord himself? Of these goddesses who art renowned in
+the celestial regions, who art thou, O graceful one?'</p>
+<p>"Draupadi replied, 'O auspicious lady, I am neither a goddess
+nor a <i>Gandharvi</i>, nor a <i>Yakshi</i>, nor a <i>Rakshasi</i>.
+I am a maid-servant of the <i>Sairindhri</i> class. I tell thee
+this truly. I know to dress the hair, to pound (fragrant
+substances) for preparing unguents, and also to make beautiful and
+variegated garlands, O beauteous lady, of jasmines and lotuses and
+blue lilies and <i>Champakas</i>. Formerly I served Krishna's
+favourite queen Satyabhama, and also Draupadi, the wife of the
+Pandavas and the foremost beauty of the Kuru race. I wander about
+alone, earning good food and dress; and as long as I get these, I
+continue to live in the place where they are obtainable. Draupadi
+herself called me Malini (maker of garlands).'</p>
+<p>"Hearing this, Sudeshna said, 'I would keep thee upon my head
+itself, if the doubt did not cross my mind that the king himself
+would be attracted towards thee with his whole heart. Attracted by
+thy beauty, the females of the royal household and my maids are
+looking at thee. What male person then is there that can resist thy
+attraction? Surely, O thou of well-rounded hips, O damsel of
+exquisite charms, beholding thy form of superhuman beauty, king
+Virata is sure to forsake me, and will turn to thee with his whole
+heart. O thou of faultless limbs, O thou that art endued with large
+eyes casting quick glances, he upon whom thou wilt look with desire
+is sure to be stricken. O thou of sweet smiles, O thou that
+possessest a faultless form, he that will behold thee constantly,
+will surely catch the flame. Even as a person that climbs up a tree
+for compassing his own destruction, even as the crab conceives for
+her own ruin, I may, O thou of sweet smiles, bring destruction upon
+myself by harbouring thee.'</p>
+<p>"Draupadi replied, 'O fair lady, neither Virata nor any other
+person will be able to have me, for my five youthful husbands, who
+are <i>Gandharvas</i> and sons of a <i>Gandharva</i> king of
+exceeding power, always protect me. None can do me a wrong. It is
+the wish of my <i>Gandharva</i> husbands that I should serve only
+such persons as will not give me to touch food already partaken of
+by another, or tell me to wash their feet. Any man that attempts to
+have me like any common woman, meeteth with death that very night.
+No one can succeed in having me, for, O beautiful lady, O thou of
+sweet smiles, those beloved <i>Gandharvas</i>, possessed of great
+energy and mighty strength always protect me secretly.'</p>
+<p>"Sudeshna said, 'O thou that bringest delight to the heart, if
+it is as thou sayest, I will take thee into my household. Thou
+shalt not have to touch food that hath been partaken of by another,
+or to wash another's feet.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Virata's wife, O
+Janamejaya, Krishna (Draupadi) ever devoted to her lords, began to
+live in that city. Nor could anyone ascertain who in reality she
+was!"</p>
+<h2>SECTION X</h2>
+<p>"Vaisampayana said, 'Then clad in a cowherd's dress, and
+speaking the dialect of cowherds, Sahadeva came to the cowpen of
+Virata's city. And beholding that bull among men, who was shining
+in splendour, the king was struck with amazement. And he directed
+his men to summon Sahadeva. And when the latter came, the king
+addressed him, saying, 'To whom dost thou belong? And whence dost
+thou come? And what work dost thou seek? I have never seen thee
+before. O bull among men, tell me truly about thee.'</p>
+<p>"Having come before the king that afflicter of foes, Sahadeva
+answered in accents deep as the roar of the cloud, 'I am a Vaisya,
+Arishtanemi by name. I was employed as a cowherd in the service of
+those bulls of the Kuru race, the sons of Pandu. O foremost of men,
+I intend now to live beside thee, for I do not know where those
+lions among kings, the sons of Pritha, are. I cannot live without
+service, and, O king, I do not like to enter into the service of
+anyone else save thee.'</p>
+<p>"Hearing these words, Virata said, 'Thou must either be a
+Brahmana or a Kshatriya. Thou lookest as if thou wert the lord of
+the entire earth surrounded by the sea. Tell me truly, O thou that
+mowest down thy foes. The office of a Vaisya is not fit for thee.
+Tell me from the dominions of what king thou comest, and what thou
+knowest, and in what capacity thou wouldst remain with us, and also
+what pay thou wouldst accept.'</p>
+<p>"Sahadeva answered, 'Yudhishthira, the eldest of the five sons
+of Pandu, had one division of kine numbering eight hundred and ten
+thousand, and another, ten thousand, and another, again, twenty
+thousand, and so on. I was employed in keeping those cattle. People
+used to call me Tantripala. I know the present, the past, and the
+future of all kine living within ten <i>Yojanas</i>, and whose
+<i>tale</i> has been taken. My merits were known to that
+illustrious one, and the Kuru king Yudhishthira was well-pleased
+with me. I am also acquainted with the means which aid kine in
+multiplying within a short time, and by which they may enjoy
+immunity from disease. Also these arts are known to me. I can also
+single out bulls having auspicious marks for which they are
+worshipped by men, and by smelling whose urine, the barren may
+conceive.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'I have a hundred thousand kine divided into
+distinct herds. All those together with their keepers, I place in
+thy charge. Henceforth my beasts will be in thy keep.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O king, undiscovered by that
+monarch, that lord of men, Sahadeva, maintained by Virata, began to
+live happily. Nor did anyone else (besides his brothers) recognise
+him."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XI</h2>
+<p>"Vaisampayana said, 'Next appeared at the gate of the ramparts
+another person of enormous size and exquisite beauty decked in the
+ornaments of women, and wearing large ear-rings and beautiful
+conch-bracelets overlaid with gold. And that mighty-armed
+individual with long and abundant hair floating about his neck,
+resembled an elephant in gait. And shaking the very earth with his
+tread, he approached Virata and stood in his court. And beholding
+the son of the great Indra, shining with exquisite lustre and
+having the gait of a mighty elephant,&mdash;that grinder of foes
+having his true form concealed in disguise, entering the
+council-hall and advancing towards the monarch, the king addressed
+all his courtiers, saying, 'Whence doth this person come? I have
+never heard of him before.' And when the men present spoke of the
+newcomer as one unknown to them, the king wonderingly said,
+'Possessed of great strength, thou art like unto a celestial, and
+young and of darkish hue, thou resemblest the leader of a herd of
+elephants. Wearing conch-bracelets overlaid with gold, a braid, and
+ear-rings, thou shinest yet like one amongst those that riding on
+chariots wander about equipped with mail and bow and arrows and
+decked with garlands and fine hair. I am old and desirous of
+relinquishing my burden. Be thou like my son, or rule thou like
+myself all the Matsyas. It seemeth to me that such a person as thou
+can never be of the neuter sex.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'I sing, dance, and play on instruments. I am
+proficient in dance and skilled in song. O lord of men, assign me
+unto (the princess) Uttara. I shall be dancing-master to the royal
+maiden. As to how I have come by this form, what will it avail thee
+to hear the account which will only augment my pain? Know me, O
+king of men, to be Vrihannala, a son or daughter without father or
+mother.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'O Vrihannala, I give thee what thou desirest.
+Instruct my daughter, and those like her, in dancing. To me,
+however, this office seemeth unworthy of thee. Thou deservest (the
+dominion of) the entire earth girt round by the ocean.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "The king of the Matsyas then tested
+Vrihannala in dancing, music, and other fine arts, and consulting
+with his various ministers forthwith caused him to be examined by
+women. And learning that this impotency was of a permanent nature,
+he sent him to the maiden's apartments. And there the mighty Arjuna
+began giving lessons in singing and instrumental music to the
+daughter of Virata, her friends, and her waiting-maids, and soon
+won their good graces. And in this manner the self-possessed Arjuna
+lived there in disguise, partaking of pleasures in their company,
+and unknown to the people within or without the palace."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "After a while, another powerful son of Pandu
+was seen making towards king Virata in haste. And as he advanced,
+he seemed to everyone like solar orb emerged from the clouds. And
+he began to observe the horses around. And seeing this, the king of
+the Matsyas said to his followers, 'I wonder whence this man,
+possessed of the effulgence of a celestial, cometh. He looks
+intently at my steeds. Verily, he must be proficient in horse-lore.
+Let him be ushered into my presence quickly. He is a warrior and
+looks like a god!' And that destroyer of foes then went up to the
+king and accosted him, saying, 'Victory to thee, O king, and blest
+be ye. As a trainer of horses, I have always been highly esteemed
+by kings. I will be a clever keeper of thy horses.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'I will give thee vehicles, wealth, and spacious
+quarters. Thou shalt be the manager of my horses. But first tell me
+whence thou comest, who thou art, and how also thou happenest to
+come here. Tell us also all the arts thou art master of.' Nakula
+replied, 'O mower of enemies, know that Yudhishthira is the eldest
+brother of the five sons of Pandu. I was formerly employed by him
+to keep his horses. I am acquainted with the temper of steeds, and
+know perfectly the art of breaking them. I know also how to correct
+vicious horses, and all the methods of treating their diseases. No
+animal in my hands becometh weak or ill. Not to speak of horses,
+even mares in my hands will never be found to be vicious. People
+called me Granthika by name and so did Yudhishthira, the son of
+Pandu.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'Whatever horses I have, I consign to thy care
+even from today. And all the keepers of my horses and all my
+charioteers will from today be subordinate to thee. If this suits
+thee, say what remuneration is desired by thee. But, O thou that
+resemblest a celestial, the office of equerry is not worthy of
+thee. For thou lookest like a king and I esteem thee much. The
+appearance here hath pleased me as much as if Yudhishthira himself
+were here. Oh, how does that blameless son of Pandu dwell and
+divert himself in the forest, now destitute of servants as he
+is.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "That youth, like unto a chief of the
+<i>Gandharvas</i>, was treated thus respectfully by the delighted
+king Virata. And he conducted himself there in such a manner as to
+make himself dear and agreeable to all in the palace. And no one
+recognised him while living under Virata's protection. And it was
+in this manner then the sons of Pandu, the very sight of whom had
+never been fruitless, continued to live in the country of the
+Matsyas. And true to their pledge those lords of the earth bounded
+by her belt of seas passed their days of <i>incognito</i> with
+great composure notwithstanding their poignant sufferings."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XIII</h2>
+<h3>(<i>Samayapalana Parva</i>)</h3>
+<p>Janamejaya said, "While living thus disguised in the city of the
+Matsyas, what did those descendants of the Kuru race endued with
+great prowess, do, O regenerate one!"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Hear, O king, what those descendants of Kuru
+did while they dwelt thus in disguise in the city of the Matsyas,
+worshipping the king thereof. By the grace of the sage Trinavindu
+and of the high-souled lord of justice, the Pandavas continued to
+live unrecognised by others in the city of Virata. O lord of men,
+Yudhishthira, as courtier made himself agreeable to Virata and his
+sons as also to all the Matsyas. An adept in the mysteries of dice,
+the son of Pandu caused them to play at dice according to his
+pleasure and made them sit together in the dice-hall like a row of
+birds bound in a string. And that tiger among men, king
+Yudhishthira the Just, unknown to the monarch, distributed among
+his brothers, in due proportion, the wealth he won from Virata. And
+Bhimasena on his part, sold to Yudhishthira for price, meat and
+viands of various kinds which he obtained from the king. And Arjuna
+distributed among all his brothers the proceeds of worn-out cloths
+which he earned in the inner apartments of the palace. And
+Sahadeva, too, who was disguised as a cowherd gave milk, curds and
+clarified butter to his brothers. And Nakula also shared with his
+brothers the wealth the king gave him, satisfied with his
+management of the horses. And Draupadi, herself in a pitiable
+condition, looked after all those brothers and behaved in such a
+way as to remain unrecognized. And thus ministering unto one
+another's wants, those mighty warriors lived in the capital of
+Virata as hidden from view, as if they were once more in their
+mother's womb. And those lords of men, the sons of Pandu,
+apprehensive of danger from the son of Dhritarashtra, continued to
+dwell there in concealment, watching over their wife Draupadi. And
+after three months had passed away, in the fourth, the grand
+festival in honour of the divine Brahma which was celebrated with
+pomp in the country of the Matsyas, came off. And there came
+athletes from all quarters by thousands, like hosts of celestials
+to the abode of Brahma or of Siva to witness that festival. And
+they were endued with huge bodies and great prowess, like the
+demons called <i>Kalakhanjas</i>. And elated with their prowess and
+proud of their strength, they were highly honoured by the king. And
+their shoulders and waists and necks were like those of lions, and
+their bodies were very clean, and their hearts were quite at ease.
+And they had many a time won success in the lists in the presence
+of kings. And amongst them there was one who towered above the rest
+and challenged them all to a combat. And there was none that dared
+to approach him as he proudly stalked in the arena. And when all
+the athletes stood sad and dispirited, the king of the Matsyas made
+him fight with his cook. And urged by the king, Bhima made up his
+mind reluctantly, for he could not openly disobey the royal behest.
+And that tiger among men then having worshipped the king, entered
+the spacious arena, pacing with the careless steps of a tiger. And
+the son of Kunti then girded up his loins to the great delight of
+the spectators. And Bhima then summoned to the combat that athlete
+known by the name of Jimuta who was like unto the Asura Vritra
+whose prowess was widely known. And both of them were possessed of
+great courage, and both were endued with terrible prowess. And they
+were like a couple of infuriate and huge-bodied elephants, each
+sixty years old. And those brave tigers among men then cheerfully
+engaged in a wrestling combat, desirous of vanquishing each other.
+And terrible was the encounter that took place between them, like
+the clash of the thunderbolt against the stony mountain-breast. And
+both of them were exceedingly powerful and extremely delighted at
+each other's strength. And desirous of vanquishing each other, each
+stood eager to take advantage of his adversary's lapse. And both
+were greatly delighted and both looked like infuriate elephants of
+prodigious size. And various were the modes of attack and defence
+that they exhibited with their clenched fists.<a id="footnotetag12"
+name="footnotetag12"></a><a href="#footnote12"><sup>12</sup></a>
+And each dashed against the other and flung his adversary to a
+distance. And each cast the other down and pressed him close to the
+ground. And each got up again and squeezed the other in his arms.
+And each threw the other violently off his place by boxing him on
+the breast. And each caught the other by the legs and whirling him
+round threw him down on the ground. And they slapped each other
+with their palms that struck as hard as the thunderbolt. And they
+also struck each other with their outstretched fingers, and
+stretching them out like spears thrust the nails into each other's
+body. And they gave each other violent kicks. And they struck knee
+and head against head, producing the crash of one stone against
+another. And in this manner that furious combat between those
+warriors raged on without weapons, sustained mainly by the power of
+their arms and their physical and mental energy, to the infinite
+delight of the concourse of spectators. And all people, O king,
+took deep interest in that encounter of those powerful wrestlers
+who fought like Indra and the Asura Vritra. And they cheered both
+of them with loud acclamations of applause. And the broad-chested
+and long-armed experts in wrestling then pulled and pressed and
+whirled and hurled down each other and struck each other with their
+knees, expressing all the while their scorn for each other in loud
+voices. And they began to fight with their bare arms in this way,
+which were like spiked maces of iron. And at last the powerful and
+mighty-armed Bhima, the slayer of his foes, shouting aloud seized
+the vociferous athlete by the arms even as the lion seizes the
+elephant, and taking him up from the ground and holding him aloft,
+began to whirl him round, to the great astonishment of the
+assembled athletes and the people of Matsya. And having whirled him
+round and round a hundred times till he was insensible, the
+strong-armed Vrikodara dashed him to death on the ground. And when
+the brave and renowned Jimuta was thus killed, Virata and his
+friends were filled with great delight. And in the exuberance of
+his joy, the noble-minded king rewarded Vallava then and there with
+the liberality of Kuvera. And killing numerous athletes and many
+other men possessed of great bodily strength, he pleased the king
+very much. And when no one could be found there to encounter him in
+the lists, the king made him fight with tigers and lions and
+elephants. And the king also made him battle with furious and
+powerful lions in the harem for the pleasure of the ladies. And
+Arjuna, too, pleased the king and all the ladies of the inner
+apartments by singing and dancing. And Nakula pleased Virata, that
+best of kings, by showing him fleet and well-trained steeds that
+followed him wherever he went. And the king, gratified with him,
+rewarded him with ample presents. And beholding around Sahadeva a
+herd of well-trained bullocks, Virata that bull among men, bestowed
+upon him also wealth of diverse kinds. And, O king, Draupadi
+distressed to see all those warriors suffer pain, sighed
+incessantly. And it was in this way that those eminent persons
+lived there in disguise, rendering services unto king Virata."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XIV</h2>
+<h3>(<i>Kichaka-badha Parva</i>)</h3>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Living in such disguise, those mighty
+warriors, the sons of Pritha, passed ten months in Matsya's city.
+And, O monarch, although herself deserving to be waited upon by
+others, the daughter of Yajnasena, O Janamejaya, passed her days in
+extreme misery, waiting upon Sudeshna. And residing thus in
+Sudeshna's apartments, the princess of Panchala pleased that lady
+as also the other females of the inner apartments. And it came to
+pass that as the year was about to expire, the redoubtable Kichaka,
+the Commander of Virata's forces, chanced to behold the daughter of
+Drupada. And beholding that lady endued with the splendour of a
+daughter of the celestials, treading the earth like a goddess,
+Kichaka, afflicted with the shafts of Kama, desired to possess her.
+And burning with desire's flame, Virata's general came to Sudeshna
+(his sister) and smilingly addressed her in these words, 'This
+beauteous lady had never before been seen by me in king Virata's
+abode. This damsel maddens me with her beauty, even as a new wine
+maddens one with its fragrance. Tell me, who is this graceful and
+captivating lady possessed of the beauty of a goddess, and whose
+she is, and whence she hath come. Surely, grinding my heart she
+hath reduced me to subjection. It seems to me that (save her) there
+is no other medicine for my illness. O, this fair hand-maid of
+thine seemeth to me to be possessed of the beauty of a goddess.
+Surely, one like her is ill suited to serve thee. Let her rule over
+me and whatever is mine. O, let her grace my spacious and beautiful
+palace, decked with various ornaments of gold, full of viands and
+drinks in profusion, with excellent plates, and containing every
+kind of plenty, besides elephants and horses and cars in myriads.'
+And having consulted with Sudeshna thus, Kichaka went to princess
+Draupadi, and like a jackal in the forest accosting a lioness,
+spoke unto Krishna these words in a winning voice, 'Who and whose
+art thou, O beautiful one? And O thou of beautiful face, whence
+hast thou come to the city of Virata? Tell me all this, O fair
+lady. Thy beauty and gracefulness are of the very first order and
+the comeliness of thy features is unparalleled. With its loveliness
+thy face shineth ever like the resplendent moon. O thou of fair
+eye-brows, thy eyes are beautiful and large like lotus-petals. Thy
+speech also, O thou of beautiful limbs, resembles the notes of the
+<i>cuckoo</i>. O thou of fair hips, never before in this world have
+I beheld a woman possessed of beauty like thine, O thou of
+faultless features. Art thou Lakshmi herself having her abode in
+the midst of lotuses or, art thou, O slender-waisted one, she who
+is called <i>Bhuti</i><a id="footnotetag13" name=
+"footnotetag13"></a><a href="#footnote13"><sup>13</sup></a>. Or,
+which amongst these&mdash;<i>Hri, Sri, Kirti</i> and
+<i>Kanti</i>,&mdash;art thou, O thou of beautiful face? Or
+possessed of beauty like Rati's, art thou, she who sporteth in the
+embraces of the God of love? O thou that possessest the fairest of
+eye-brows, thou shinest beautifully even like the lovely light of
+the moon. Who is there in the whole world that will not succumb to
+the influence of desire beholding thy face? Endued with unrivalled
+beauty and celestial grace of the most attractive kind, that face
+of thine is even like the full moon, its celestial effulgence
+resembling his radiant face, its smile resembling his soft-light,
+and its eye-lashes looking like the spokes on his disc. Both thy
+bosoms, so beautiful and well-developed and endued with unrivalled
+gracefulness and deep and well-rounded and without any space
+between them, are certainly worthy of being decked with garlands of
+gold. Resembling in shape the beautiful buds of the lotus, these
+thy breasts, O thou of fair eye-brows, are even as the whips of
+Kama that are urging me forward, O thou of sweet smiles. O damsel
+of slender waist, beholding that waist of thine marked with four
+wrinkles and measuring but a span, and slightly stooping forward
+because of the weight of thy breasts, and also looking on those
+graceful hips of thine broad as the banks of a river, the incurable
+fever of desire, O beauteous lady, afflicteth me sore. The flaming
+fire of desire, fierce as a forest conflagration, and fanned by the
+hope my heart cherisheth of a union with thee is consuming me
+intensely. O thou of exceeding beauty quench thou that flaming fire
+kindled by Manmatha. Union with thee is a rain-charged cloud, and
+the surrender of thy person is the shower that the cloud may drop.
+O thou of face resembling the moon, the fierce and maddening shafts
+of Manmatha whetted and sharpened by the desire of a union with
+thee, piercing this heart of mine in their impetuous course, have
+penetrated into its core. O black-eyed lady, those impetuous and
+cruel shafts are maddening me beyond endurance. It behoveth thee to
+relieve me from this plight by surrendering thyself to me and
+favouring me with thy embraces. Decked in beautiful garlands and
+robes and adorned with every ornament, sport thou, O sweet damsel,
+with me to thy fill. O thou of the gait of an elephant in rut,
+deserving as thou art of happiness though deprived of it now, it
+behoveth thee not to dwell here in misery. Let unrivalled weal be
+thine. Drinking various kinds of charming and delicious and
+ambrosial wines, and sporting at thy pleasure in the enjoyment of
+diverse objects of delight, do thou, O blessed lady, attain
+auspicious prosperity. This beauty of thine and this prime of thy
+youth, O sweet lady, are now without their use. For, O beauteous
+and chaste damsel, endued with such loveliness, thou dost not
+shine, like a graceful garland lying unused and unworn. I will
+forsake all my old wives. Let them, O thou of sweet smiles, become
+thy slaves. And I also, O fair damsel, will stay by thee as thy
+slave, ever obedient to thee, O thou of the most handsome face.'
+Hearing these words of his, Draupadi replied, 'In desiring me, a
+female servant of low extraction, employed in the despicable office
+of dressing hair, O <i>Suta's</i> son, thou desirest one that
+deserves not that honour. Then, again, I am the wife of others.
+Therefore, good betide thee, this conduct of thine is not proper.
+Do thou remember the precept of morality, viz., that persons should
+take delight only in their wedded wives. Thou shouldst not,
+therefore, by any means bend thy heart to adultery. Surely
+abstaining from improper acts is ever the study of those that are
+good. Overcome by ignorance sinful men under the influence of
+desire come by either extreme infamy or dreadful calamity.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by the
+<i>Sairindhri</i>, the wicked Kichaka losing control over his
+senses and overcome by lust, although aware of the numerous evils
+of fornication, evils condemned by everybody and sometimes leading
+to the destruction of life itself,&mdash;then spoke unto Draupadi,
+'It behoveth thee not, O beauteous lady, O thou of graceful
+features, thus to disregard me who am, O thou of sweet smiles,
+under the power of Manmatha on thy account. If now, O timid one,
+thou disregardest me who am under thy influence and who speak to
+thee so fair, thou wilt, O black-eyed damsel, have to repent for it
+afterwards. O thou of graceful eye-brows, the real lord of this
+entire kingdom, O slender-waisted lady, is myself. It is me
+depending upon whom the people of this realm live. In energy and
+prowess I am unrivalled on earth. There is no other man on earth
+who rivals me in beauty of person, in youth, in prosperity, and in
+the possession of excellent objects of enjoyment. Why it is, O
+auspicious lady, that having it in thy power to enjoy here every
+object of desire and every luxury and comfort without its equal,
+thou preferest servitude. Becoming the mistress of this kingdom
+which I shall confer on thee, O thou of fair face, accept me, and
+enjoy, O beauteous one, all excellent objects of desire.' Addressed
+in these accursed words by Kichaka, that chaste daughter of Drupada
+answered him thus reprovingly, 'Do not, O son of a <i>Suta</i>, act
+so foolishly and do not throw away thy life. Know that I am
+protected by my five husbands. Thou canst not have me. I have
+Gandharvas for my husbands. Enraged they will slay thee. Therefore,
+do thou not bring destruction on thyself. Thou intendest to tread
+along a path that is incapable of being trod by men. Thou, O wicked
+one, art even like a foolish child that standing on one shore of
+the ocean intends to cross over to the other. Even if thou enterest
+into the interior of the earth, or soarest into the sky, or rushest
+to the other shore of the ocean, still thou wilt have no escape
+from the hands of those sky-ranging offspring of gods, capable of
+grinding all foes. Why dost thou today, O Kichaka, solicit me so
+persistently even as a sick person wisheth for the night that will
+put a stop to his existence? Why dost thou desire me, even like an
+infant lying on its mother's lap wishing to catch the moon? For
+thee that thus solicitest their beloved wife, there is no refuge
+either on earth or in sky. O Kichaka, hast thou no sense which
+leads thee to seek thy good and by which thy life may be
+saved?'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Rejected thus by the princess, Kichaka,
+afflicted with maddening lust and forgetting all sense of
+propriety, addressed Sudeshna saying, 'Do thou, Kekaya's daughter,
+so act that thy <i>Sairindhri</i> may come into my arms. Do thou, O
+Sudeshna, adopt the means by which the damsel of the gait of an
+elephant may accept me; I am dying of absorbing desire.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing his profuse lamentations, that
+gentle lady, the intelligent queen of Virata, was touched with
+pity. And having taken counsel with her own self and reflected on
+Kichaka's purpose and on the anxiety of Krishna, Sudeshna addressed
+the <i>Suta's</i> son in these words, 'Do thou, on the occasion of
+some festival, procure viands and wines for me. I shall then send
+my <i>Sairindhri</i> to thee on the pretence of bringing wine. And
+when she will repair thither do thou in solitude, free from
+interruption, humour her as thou likest. Thus soothed, she may
+incline her mind to thee.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, he went out of his
+sister's apartments. And he soon procured wines well-filtered and
+worthy of a king. And employing skilled cooks, he prepared many and
+various kinds of choice viands and delicious drinks and many and
+various kinds of meat of different degrees of excellence. And when
+all this had been done, that gentle lady Sudeshna, as previously
+counselled by Kichaka, desired her <i>Sairindhri</i> to repair to
+Kichaka's abode, saying, 'Get up, O <i>Sairindhri</i> and repair to
+Kichaka's abode to bring wine, for, O beauteous lady, I am
+afflicted with thirst.' Thereupon the <i>Sairindhri</i> replied, 'O
+princess, I shall not be able to repair to Kichaka's apartments.
+Thou thyself knowest, O queen, how shameless he is. O thou of
+faultless limbs, O beauteous lady, in thy palace I shall not be
+able to lead a lustful life, becoming faithless to my husbands.
+Thou rememberest, O gentle lady, O beautiful one, the conditions I
+had set down before entering thy house. O thou of tresses ending in
+graceful curls, the foolish Kichaka afflicted by the god of desire,
+will, on seeing me, offer me insult. Therefore, I will not go to
+his quarters. Thou hast, O princess, many maids under thee. Do
+thou, good betide thee, send one of them. For, surely, Kichaka will
+insult me.' Sudeshna said, 'Sent by me, from my abode, surely he
+will not harm thee.' And having said this, she handed over a golden
+vessel furnished with a cover. And filled with apprehension, and
+weeping, Draupadi mentally prayed for the protection of the gods,
+and set out for Kichaka's abode for fetching wine. And she said,
+'As I do not know another person save my husbands, by virtue of
+that Truth let Kichaka not be able to overpower me although I may
+approach his presence.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "And that helpless damsel then adored
+Surya for a moment. And Surya, having considered all that she
+urged, commanded a <i>Rakshasa</i> to protect her invisibly. And
+from that time the <i>Rakshasa</i> began to attend upon that
+blameless lady under any circumstances. And beholding Krishna in
+his presence like a frightened doe, the <i>Suta</i> rose up from
+his seat, and felt the joy that is felt by a person wishing to
+cross to the other shore, when he obtains a boat."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XVI</h2>
+<p>"Kichaka said, 'O thou of tresses ending in beautiful curls,
+thou art welcome. Surely, the night that is gone hath brought me an
+auspicious day, for I have got thee today as the mistress of my
+house. Do what is agreeable to me. Let golden chains, and conchs
+and bright ear-rings made of gold, manufactured in various
+countries, and beautiful rubies and gems, and silken robes and
+deer-skins, be brought for thee. I have also an excellent bed
+prepared for thee. Come, sitting upon it do thou drink with me the
+wine prepared from the honey flower.' Hearing these words, Draupadi
+said, 'I have been sent to thee by the princess for taking away
+wine. Do thou speedily bring me wine, for she told me that she is
+exceedingly thirsty.' At this, Kichaka said, 'O gentle lady, others
+will carry what the princess wants.' And saying this, the
+<i>Suta's</i> son caught hold of Draupadi's right arm. And at this,
+Draupadi exclaimed, 'As I have never, from intoxication of the
+senses, been unfaithful to my husbands even at heart, by that
+Truth, O wretch, I shall behold thee dragged and lying powerless on
+the ground.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Seeing that large-eyed lady reproving
+him in that strain, Kichaka suddenly seized her by the end of her
+upper garment as she attempted to run away. And seized with
+violence by Kichaka, the beautiful princess, unable to tolerate it,
+and with frame trembling with wrath, and breathing quickly, dashed
+him to the ground. And dashed to the ground thus, the sinful wretch
+tumbled down like a tree whose roots had been cut. And having
+thrown Kichaka down on the ground when the latter had seized her,
+she, trembling all over rushed to the court, where king
+Yudhishthira was, for protection. And while she was running with
+all her speed, Kichaka (who followed her), seizing her by the hair,
+and bringing her down on the ground, kicked her in the very
+presence of the king. Thereupon, O Bharata, the <i>Rakshasa</i>
+that had been appointed by Surya to protect Draupadi, gave Kichaka
+a shove with a force mighty as that of the wind. And overpowered by
+the force of <i>Rakshasa</i>, Kichaka reeled and fell down
+senseless on the ground, even like an uprooted tree. And both
+Yudhishthira and Bhimasena who were seated there, beheld with
+wrathful eyes that outrage on Krishna by Kichaka. And desirous of
+compassing the destruction of the wicked Kichaka, the illustrious
+Bhima gnashed his teeth in rage. And his forehead was covered with
+sweat, and terrible wrinkles appeared thereon. And a smoky
+exhalation shot forth from his eyes, and his eye-lashes stood on
+end. And that slayer of hostile heroes pressed his forehead with
+his hands. And impelled by rage, he was on the point of starting up
+with speed. Thereat king Yudhishthira, apprehensive of discovery,
+squeezed his thumbs and commanded Bhima to forbear. And Bhima who
+then looked like an infuriate elephant eyeing a large tree, was
+thus forbidden by his elder brother. And the latter said, 'Lookest
+thou, O cook, for trees for fuel. If thou art in need of faggots,
+then go out and fell trees.' And the weeping Draupadi of fair hips,
+approaching the entrance of the court, and seeing her melancholy
+lords, desirous yet of keeping up the disguise duty-bound by their
+pledge, with eyes burning in fire, spoke these words unto the king
+of the Matsyas, 'Alas, the son of a <i>Suta</i> hath kicked today
+the proud and beloved wife of those whose foe can never sleep in
+peace even if four kingdoms intervene between him and them. Alas,
+the son of a <i>Suta</i> hath kicked today the proud and beloved
+wife of those truthful personages, who are devoted to Brahmanas and
+who always give away without asking any thing in gift. Alas! the
+son of a <i>Suta</i> hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife
+of those, the sounds of whose kettle-drums and the twangs of whose
+bow-strings are ceaselessly heard. Alas, the son of a <i>Suta</i>
+hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those who are
+possessed of abundant energy and might, and who are liberal in
+gifts and proud of their dignity. Alas, the son of a <i>Suta</i>
+hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those who, if they
+had not been fettered by the ties of duty, could destroy this
+entire world. Where, alas, are those mighty warriors today who,
+though living in disguise, have always granted protection unto
+those that solicit it? Oh, why do those heroes today, endued as
+they are with strength and possessed of immeasurable energy,
+quietly suffer, like eunuchs, their dear and chaste wife to be thus
+insulted by a <i>Suta's</i> son? Oh, where is that wrath of theirs,
+that prowess, and that energy, when they quietly bear their wife to
+be thus insulted by a wicked wretch? What can I (a weak woman) do
+when Virata, deficient in virtue, coolly suffereth my innocent self
+to be thus wronged by a wretch? Thou dost not, O king, act like a
+king towards this Kichaka. Thy behaviour is like that of a robber,
+and doth not shine in a court. That I should thus be insulted in
+thy very presence, O Matsya, is highly improper. Oh, let all the
+courtiers here look at this violence of Kichaka. Kichaka is
+ignorant of duty and morality, and Matsya also is equally so. These
+courtiers also that wait upon such a king are destitute of
+virtue.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "With these and other words of the same
+kind the beautiful Krishna with tearful eyes rebuked the king of
+the Matsyas. And hearing her, Virata said, 'I do not know what your
+dispute has been out of our sight. Not knowing the true cause how
+can I show my discrimination?' Then the courtiers, having learnt
+every thing, applauded Krishna, and they all exclaimed, 'Well
+done!' 'Well done!' and censured Kichaka. And the courtiers said,
+'That person who owneth this large-eyed lady having every limb of
+hers endued with beauty for his wife, possesseth what is of
+exceeding value and hath no occasion to indulge in any grief.
+Surely, such a damsel of transcendent beauty and limbs perfectly
+faultless is rare among men. Indeed, it seems to us that she is a
+goddess.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "And while the courtiers, having beheld
+Krishna (under such circumstances), were applauding her thus,
+Yudhishthira's forehead, from ire, became covered with sweat. And
+that bull of the Kuru race then addressed that princess, his
+beloved spouse, saying, 'Stay not here, O Sairindhri; but retire to
+the apartments of Sudeshna. The wives of heroes bear affliction for
+the sake of their husbands, and undergoing toil in ministering unto
+their lords, they at last attain to region where their husbands may
+go. Thy Gandharva husbands, effulgent as the sun, do not, I
+imagine, consider this as an occasion for manifesting their wrath,
+inasmuch as they do not rush to thy aid. O <i>Sairindhri</i>, thou
+art ignorant of the timeliness of things, and it is for this that
+thou weepest as an actress, besides interrupting the play of dice
+in Matsya's court. Retire, O <i>Sairindhri</i>; the Gandharvas will
+do what is agreeable to thee. And they will surely display thy woe
+and take the life of him that hath wronged thee.' Hearing these
+words the <i>Sairindhri</i> replied, 'They of whom I am the wedded
+wife are, I ween, extremely kind. And as the eldest of them all is
+addicted to dice, they are liable to be oppressed by all.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "And having said this, the fair-hipped
+Krishna with dishevelled hair and eyes red in anger, ran towards
+the apartments of Sudeshna. And in consequence of having wept long
+her face looked beautiful like the lunar disc in the firmament,
+emerged from the clouds. And beholding her in that condition,
+Sudeshna asked, 'Who, O beauteous lady, hath insulted thee? Why, O
+amiable damsel, dost thou weep? Who, gentle one, hath done thee
+wrong? Whence is this thy grief?' Thus addressed, Draupadi said,
+'As I went to bring wine for thee, Kichaka struck me in the court
+in the very presence of the king, as if in the midst of a solitary
+wood.' Hearing this, Sudeshna said, 'O thou of tresses ending in
+beautiful curls, as Kichaka, maddened by lust hath insulted thee
+that art incapable of being possessed by him, I shall cause him to
+be slain if thou wishest it.' Thereupon Draupadi answered, 'Even
+others will slay him,&mdash;even they whom he hath wronged. I think
+it is clear that he will have to go to the abode of Yama this very
+day!'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Thus insulted by the <i>Suta's</i> son, that
+illustrious princess, the beautiful Krishna, eagerly wishing for
+the destruction of Virata's general, went to her quarters. And
+Drupada's daughter of dark hue and slender waist then performed her
+ablutions. And washing her body and cloths with water Krishna began
+to ponder weepingly on the means of dispelling her grief. And she
+reflected, saying, 'What am I to do? Whither shall I go? How can my
+purpose be effected?' And while she was thinking thus, she
+remembered Bhima and said to herself, 'There is none else, save
+Bhima, that can today accomplish the purpose on which my heart is
+set!' And afflicted with great grief, the large-eyed and
+intelligent Krishna possessed of powerful protectors then rose up
+at night, and leaving her bed speedily proceeded towards the
+quarters of Bhimasena, desirous of beholding her lord. And
+possessed of great intelligence, the daughter of Drupada entered
+her husband's quarters, saying, 'How canst thou sleep while that
+wretched commander of Virata's forces, who is my foe, yet liveth,
+having perpetrated today <i>that</i> (foul act)?'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then the chamber where Bhima slept,
+breathing hard like a lion, being filled with the beauty of
+Drupada's daughter and of the high-souled Bhima, blazed forth in
+splendour. And Krishna of sweet smiles, finding Bhimasena in the
+cooking apartments, approached him with the eagerness of a
+three-year old cow brought up in the woods, approaching a powerful
+bull, in her first season, or of a she-crane living by the
+water-side approaching her mate in the pairing season. And the
+Princess of Panchala then embraced the second son of Pandu, even as
+a creeper embraces a huge and mighty <i>Sala</i> on the banks of
+the Gomati. And embracing him with her arms, Krishna of faultless
+features awaked him as a lioness awaketh a sleeping lion in a
+trackless forest. And embracing Bhimasena even as a she-elephant
+embraceth her mighty mate, the faultless Panchali addressed him in
+voice sweet as the sound of a stringed instrument emitting
+<i>Gandhara</i> note. And she said, 'Arise, arise! Why dost thou, O
+Bhimasena, lie down as one dead? Surely, he that is not dead, never
+suffereth a wicked wretch that hath disgraced his wife, to live.'
+And awakened by the princess, Bhima of mighty arms, then rose up,
+and sat upon his couch overlaid with a rich bed. And he of the Kuru
+race then addressed the princess&mdash;his beloved wife, saying,
+'For what purpose hast thou come hither in such a hurry? Thy colour
+is gone and thou lookest lean and pale. Tell me everything in
+detail. I must know the truth. Whether it be pleasurable or
+painful, agreeable, or disagreeable, tell me all. Having heard
+everything, I shall apply the remedy. I alone, O Krishna, am
+entitled to thy confidence in all things, for it is I who deliver
+thee from perils again and again! Tell me quickly what is thy wish,
+and what is the purpose that is in thy view, and return thou to thy
+bed before others awake.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XVIII</h2>
+<p>"Draupadi said, 'What grief hath she not who hath Yudhishthira
+for her husband? Knowing all my griefs, why dost thou ask me? The
+<i>Pratikamin</i> dragged me to the court in the midst of an
+assembly of courtiers, calling me a slave. That grief, O Bharata,
+consumeth me. What other princess, save Draupadi, would live having
+suffered such intense misery? Who else, save myself, could bear
+such second insult as the wicked Saindhava offered me while
+residing in the forest? Who else of my position, save myself, could
+live, having been kicked by Kichaka in the very sight of the wicked
+king of the Matsyas? Of what value is life, O Bharata, when thou, O
+son of Kunti, dost not think me miserable, although I am afflicted
+with such woes? That vile and wicked wretch, O Bharata, known by
+the name of Kichaka, who is the brother-in-law of king Virata and
+the commander of his forces, every day, O tiger among men,
+addresses me who am residing in the palace as a <i>Sairindhri</i>,
+saying, <i>Do thou become my wife</i>.&mdash;Thus solicited, O
+slayer of foes, by that wretch deserving to be slain, my heart is
+bursting like a fruit ripened in season. Censure thou that elder
+brother of thine addicted to execrable dice, through whose act
+alone I have been afflicted with such woe. Who else, save him that
+is a desperate gambler, would play, giving up kingdom and
+everything including even myself, in order to lead a life in the
+woods? If he had gambled morning and evening for many years
+together, staking <i>nishkas</i> by thousand and other kinds of
+substantial wealth, still his silver, and gold, and robes, and
+vehicles, and teams, and goats, and sheep, and multitudes of steeds
+and mares and mules would not have sustained any diminution. But
+now deprived of prosperity by the rivalry of dice, he sits dumb
+like a fool, reflecting on his own misdeeds. Alas, he who, while
+sojourning, was followed by ten thousand elephants adorned with
+golden garlands now supports himself by casting dice. That
+Yudhishthira who at Indraprastha was adored by kings of
+incomparable prowess by hundreds of thousands, that mighty monarch
+in whose kitchen a hundred thousand maid-servants, plate in hand,
+used every day to feed numerous guests day and night, that best of
+liberal men, who gave (every day) a thousand <i>nishkas</i>, alas,
+even he overwhelmed with woe in consequence of gambling which is
+the root of all evil, now supporteth himself by casting dice. Bards
+and encomiasts by thousands decked with ear-rings set with
+brilliant gems, and gifted with melodious voice, used to pay him
+homage morning and evening. Alas, that Yudhishthira, who was daily
+waited upon by a thousand sages of ascetic merit, versed in the
+<i>Vedas</i> and having every desire gratified, as his
+courtiers,&mdash;that Yudhishthira who maintained eighty-eight
+thousands of domestic <i>Snatakas</i> with thirty maid-servants
+assigned unto each, as also ten thousand <i>yatis</i> not accepting
+anything in gift and with vital seed drawn up,&mdash;alas, even
+that mighty king now liveth in such guise. That Yudhishthira who is
+without malice, who is full of kindness, and who giveth every
+creature his due, who hath all these excellent attributes,
+alas&mdash;even he now liveth in such guise. Possessed of firmness
+and unbaffled prowess, with heart disposed to give every creature
+his due, king Yudhishthira, moved by compassion, constantly
+maintained in his kingdom the blind, the old, the helpless, the
+parentless and all others in his dominions in such distress. Alas,
+that Yudhishthira becoming a dependant and a servant of Matsya, a
+caster of dice in his court, now calls himself Kanka. He unto whom
+while residing at Indraprastha, all the rulers of earth used to pay
+timely tribute,&mdash;alas, even he now begs for subsistence at
+another's hands. He to whom the kings of the earth were in
+subjection,&mdash;alas, even that king having lost his liberty,
+liveth in subjection to others. Having dazzled the entire earth
+like the sun by his energy, that Yudhishthira, alas, is now a
+courtier of king Virata. O Pandu's son, that Pandava who was
+respectfully waited upon in court by kings and sages, behold him
+now waiting upon another. Alas, beholding Yudhishthira a courtier
+sitting beside another and breathing adulatory speeches to the
+other, who can help being afflicted with grief? And beholding the
+highly wise and virtuous Yudhishthira, undeserving as he is of
+serving others, actually serving another for sustenance, who can
+help being afflicted with grief? And, O hero, that Bharata who was
+worshipped in court by the entire earth, do thou now behold him
+worshipping another. Why then, O Bharata, dost thou not regard me
+as one afflicted with diverse miseries, like one forlorn and
+immersed in a sea of sorrow?'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XIX</h2>
+<p>"Draupadi said, 'This O Bharata, that I am going to tell thee is
+another great grief of mine. Thou shouldst not blame me, for I tell
+thee this from sadness of heart. Who is there whose grief is not
+enhanced at sight of thee, O bull of the Bharata race, engaged in
+the ignoble office of a cook, so entirely beneath thee and calling
+thyself as one <i>of Vallava</i> caste? What can be sadder than
+this, that people should know thee as Virata's cook, Vallava by
+name, and therefore one that is sunk in servitude? Alas, when thy
+work of the kitchen is over, thou humbly sittest beside Virata,
+calling thyself as Vallava the cook, then despondency seizeth my
+heart. When the king of kings in joy maketh thee fight with
+elephants, and the women of the inner apartments (of the palace)
+laugh all the while, then I am sorely distressed. When thou
+fightest in the inner apartments with lions, tigers, and buffaloes,
+the princess Kaikeyi looking on, then I almost swoon away. And when
+Kaikeyi and those maidservants, leaving their seats, come to assist
+me and find that instead of suffering any injury in limbs mine is
+only a swoon, the princess speaks unto her women, saying, 'Surely,
+it is from affection and the duty begot of intercourse that this
+lady of sweet smiles grieveth for the exceedingly powerful cook
+when he fights with the beasts. Sairindhri is possessed of great
+beauty and Vallava also is eminently handsome. The heart of woman
+is hard to know, and they, I fancy, are deserving of each other. It
+is, therefore, likely that the Sairindhri invariably weepeth (at
+such times) on account of her connection with her lover. And then,
+they both have entered this royal family at the same time. And
+speaking such words she always upbraideth me. And beholding me
+wroth at this, she suspects me to be attached to thee.' When she
+speaketh thus, great is the grief that I feel. Indeed, on beholding
+thee, O Bhima of terrible prowess, afflicted with such calamity,
+sunk as I already am in grief on account of Yudhishthira, I do not
+desire to live. That youth who on a single car had vanquished all
+celestials and men, is now, alas, the dancing master of king
+Virata's daughter. That Pritha's son of immeasurable soul, who had
+gratified Agni in the forest of Khandava, is now living in the
+inner apartments (of a palace) like fire hid in a well. Alas, the
+bull among men, Dhananjaya, who was ever the terror of foes, is now
+living in a guise that is despaired by all. Alas, he whose
+mace-like arms have been cicatrized in consequence of the strokes
+of his bow-string, alas that Dhananjaya is passing the days in
+grief covering his wrists with bracelets of conchs. Alas, that
+Dhananjaya the twang of whose bow-string and the sound of whose
+leathern fences made every foe tremble, now entertains only
+gladdened women with his songs. Oh, that Dhananjaya whose head was
+formerly decked with a diadem of solar splendour, is now wearing
+braids ending in unsightly curls. O Bhima, beholding that terrible
+bowman, Arjuna, now wearing braids and in the midst of women, my
+heart is stricken with woe. That high-souled hero who is master of
+all the celestial weapons, and who is the repository of all the
+sciences, now weareth ear-rings (like one of the fair sex). That
+youth whom kings of incomparable prowess could not overpower in
+fight, even as the waters of the mighty ocean cannot overleap the
+continents, is now the dancing-master of king Virata's daughters
+and waits upon them in disguise. O Bhima, that Arjuna the clatter
+of whose car-wheels caused the entire earth with her mountains and
+forests, her mobile and immobile things to tremble, and whose birth
+dispelled all the sorrows of Kunti, that exalted hero, that younger
+brother of thine, O Bhimasena, now maketh me weep for him.
+Beholding him coming towards me, decked in golden ear-rings and
+other ornaments, and wearing on the wrists bracelets of conchs, my
+heart is afflicted with despondency. And Dhananjaya who hath not a
+bowman equal unto him on earth in prowess, now passeth his days in
+singing, surrounded by women. Beholding that son of Pritha who in
+virtue, heroism and truth, was the most admired in the world, now
+living in the guise of a woman, my heart is afflicted with sorrow.
+When I behold, the godlike Partha in the music-hall like an
+elephant with rent temples surrounded by she-elephants in the midst
+of females, waiting before Virata the king of the Matsyas, then I
+lose all sense of directions. Surely, my mother-in-law doth not
+know Dhananjaya to be afflicted with such extreme distress. Nor
+doth she know that descendant of the Kuru race, Ajatasatru,
+addicted to disastrous dice, to be sunk in misery. O Bharata,
+beholding the youngest of you all, Sahadeva, superintending the
+kine, in the guise of a cowherd, I grow pale. Always thinking of
+Sahadeva's plight, I cannot, O Bhimasena, obtain sleep,&mdash;what
+to speak you of the rest? I do not know, O mighty-armed one, what
+sin Sahadeva may have committed for which that hero of unbaffled
+prowess suffereth such misery. O foremost of the Bharatas,
+beholding that beloved brother of thine, that bull among men,
+employed by Matsya in looking after his kine, I am filled with woe.
+Seeing that hero of proud disposition gratifying Virata, by living
+at the head of his cowherds, attired in robes dyed in red, I am
+attacked with fever. My mother-in-law always applauds the heroic
+Sahadeva as one possessed of nobility, excellent behaviour, and
+rectitude of conduct. Ardently attached to her sons, the weeping
+Kunti stood, embracing Sahadeva while he was about to set out (with
+us) for the great forest. And she addressed me saying, "Sahadeva is
+bashful and sweet-speeched, and virtuous. He is also my favourite
+child. Therefore, O Yajnaseni, tend him in the forest day and
+night. Delicate and brave, devoted to the king, and always
+worshipping his elder brother, do thou, O Panchali, feed him
+thyself." O Pandava, beholding that foremost of warriors, Sahadeva,
+engaged in tending kine, and sleeping at night on calf-skins, how
+can I bear to live? He again who is crowned with the three
+attributes of beauty, arms, and intelligence, is now the
+superintendent of Virata's steeds. Behold the change brought on by
+time. Granthika (Nakula), at sight of whom hostile hosts fled from
+the field of battle, now traineth horses in the presence of the
+king, driving them with the speed. Alas, I now see that handsome
+youth wait upon the gorgeously decked and excellent Virata, the
+king of the Matsyas, and display horses before him. O son of
+Pritha, afflicted as I am with all these hundred kinds of misery on
+account of Yudhishthira, why dost thou, O chastiser of foes, yet
+deem me happy? Listen now to me, O son of Kunti, as I tell thee of
+other woes far surpassing these. What can be sadder to me than
+miseries so various as these should emaciate me while ye are
+alive.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XX</h2>
+<p>"Draupadi said, 'Alas, on account of that desperate gambler, I
+am now under Sudeshna's command, living in the palace in the guise
+of a <i>Sairindhri</i>. And, O chastiser of foes, behold the plight
+of poignant woe which I, a princess, am now in. I am living in
+expectation of the close of this stated period.<a id=
+"footnotetag14" name="footnotetag14"></a><a href=
+"#footnote14"><sup>14</sup></a> The extreme of misery, therefore,
+is mine. Success of purpose, victory, and defeat, as regards
+mortals, are transitory. It is in this belief that I am living in
+expectation of the return of prosperity to my husbands. Prosperity
+and adversity revolve like a wheel. It is in this belief that I am
+living in expectation of the return of prosperity to my husbands.
+That cause which bringeth on victory, may bring defeat as well. I
+live in this hope. Why dost thou not, O Bhimasena, regard me as one
+dead? I have heard that persons that give may beg: that they who
+slay may be slain; and that they who over-throw others may
+themselves be overthrown by foes. Nothing is difficult for Destiny
+and none can over-ride Destiny. It is for this that I am awaiting
+the return of favourable fortune. As a tank once dried, is filled
+up once again, so hoping for a change for the better, I await the
+return of prosperity. When one's business that hath been
+well-provided for is seen to be frustrated, a truly wise person
+should never strive for bringing back good fortune. Plunged as I am
+an sorrow, asked or unasked by thee to explain the purpose of these
+words spoken by me, I shall tell thee everything. Queen of the sons
+of Pandu and daughter of Drupada, who else, save myself, would wish
+to live, having fallen into such a plight? O represser of foes, the
+misery, therefore, that hath overtaken me, hath really humiliated
+the entire <i>Kuru</i> race, the Panchalas, and the sons of Pandu.
+Surrounded by numerous brothers and father-in-law and sons, what
+other woman having such cause for joy, save myself, would be
+afflicted with such woe? Surely, I must, in my childhood, have
+committed act highly offensive to <i>Dhatri</i> through whose
+displeasure, O bull of the Bharata race, I have been visited with
+such consequences. Mark, O son of Pandu, the pallour that hath come
+over my complexion which not even a life in the woods fraught as it
+was with extreme misery, could bring about. Thou, O Pritha's son,
+knowest what happiness, O Bhima, was formerly mine. Even I, who was
+such have now sunk into servitude. Sorely distressed, I can find no
+rest. That the mighty-armed and terrible bowman, Dhananjaya the son
+of Pritha, should now live like a fire that hath been put out,
+maketh me think of all this as attributable to Destiny. Surely, O
+son of Pritha, it is impossible for men to understand the destinies
+of creatures (in this world). I, therefore, think this downfall of
+yours as something that could not be averted by forethought. Alas,
+she who hath you all, that resemble Indra himself to attend to her
+comforts&mdash;even she, so chaste and exalted, hath now to attend
+to the comforts of others, that are to her far inferior in rank.
+Behold, O Pandava, my plight. It is what I do not deserve. You are
+alive, yet behold this inversion of order that time hath brought.
+She who had the whole Earth to the verge of the sea under her
+control, is now under the control of Sudeshna and living in fear of
+her. She who had dependants to walk both before and behind her,
+alas, now herself walketh before and behind Sudeshna. This, O
+Kaunteya, is another grief of mine that is intolerable. O, listen
+to it. She who had never, save for Kunti, pounded unguents even for
+her own use, now, good betide thee, poundeth sandal (for others). O
+Kaunteya, behold these hands of mine which were not so before.'
+Saying this she showed him her hands marked with corns. And she
+continued, 'she who had never feared Kunti herself nor thee and thy
+brothers, now standeth in fear before Virata as a slave, anxious of
+what that king of kings may say unto her regarding the proper
+preparation of the unguents, for Matsya liketh not sandal pounded
+by others.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Relating her woes thus, O Bharata, unto
+Bhimasena, Krishna began to weep silently, casting her eyes on
+Bhima. And then, with words choked in tears, and sighing
+repeatedly, she addressed Bhima in these words, powerfully stirring
+his heart, 'Signal, O Bhima, must have been my offence of old unto
+the gods, for, unfortunate as I am. I am yet alive, when, O
+Pandava, I should die.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then that slayer of hostile heroes,
+Vrikodara, covering his face with those delicate hands of his wife
+marked with corns, began to weep. And that mighty son of Kunti,
+holding the hands of Draupadi in his, shed copious tears. And
+afflicted with great woe, he spoke these words."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXI</h2>
+<p>"Bhima said, 'Fie on the might of my arms and fie on the
+<i>Gandiva</i> of Phalguna, inasmuch as thy hands, red before, now
+become covered with corns. I would have caused a carnage in
+Virata's court but for the fact that Kunti's son eyed me (by way of
+forbidding it), or like a mighty elephant, I would, without ado,
+have crushed the head of Kichaka intoxicated with the pride of
+sovereignty. When, O Krishna, I beheld thee kicked by Kichaka, I
+conceived at that instant a wholesale slaughter of the Matsyas.
+Yudhishthira, however, forbade me by a glance, and, O beauteous
+lady, understanding his intention I have kept quiet. That we have
+been deprived of our kingdom, that I have not yet slain the Kurus,
+that I have not yet taken the heads of Suyodhana and Karna, and
+Suvala's son Sakuni, and the wicked Duhsasana, these acts and
+omissions, O lady, are consuming every limb of mine. The thought of
+those abides in my heart like a javelin implanted in it. O thou of
+graceful hips, do not sacrifice virtue, and, O noble-hearted lady,
+subdue thy wrath. If king Yudhishthira hear from thee such rebukes,
+he will surely put an end to his life. If also Dhananjaya and the
+twins hear thee speak thus, even they will renounce life. And if
+these, O slender-waisted maiden, give up life, I also shall not be
+able to bear my own. In olden days Sarjati's daughter, the
+beautiful Sukanya, followed into the forest Chyavana of Bhrigu's
+race, whose mind was under complete control, and over whom, while
+engaged in ascetic meditation, the ants had built a hill. Thou
+mayst have heard that Indrasena also who in beauty was like unto
+<i>Narayani</i> herself, followed her husband aged a thousand
+years. Thou mayst have heard that Janaka's daughter Sita, the
+princess of Videha, followed her lord while living in dense woods.
+And that lady of graceful hips, Rama's beloved wife, afflicted with
+calamities and persecuted by the Rakshasas, at length regained the
+company of Rama. Lopamudra also, O timid one, endued with youth and
+beauty, followed Agastya, renouncing all the objects of enjoyment
+unattainable by men. And the intelligent and faultless Savitri also
+followed the heroic Satyavan, the son of Dyumatsena, alone into the
+world of Yama. Even like these chaste and beautiful ladies that I
+have named, thou, O blessed girl, bloomest with every virtue. Do
+thou spend a short while more that is measured by even a half
+month. And when the thirteenth year is complete, thou wilt (again)
+become the Queen regnant of a king.' Hearing these words, Draupadi
+said, 'Unable, O Bhima, to bear my griefs, it is from grief alone
+that I have shed these tears. I do not censure Yudhishthira. Nor is
+there any use in dwelling on the past. O Bhima of mighty strength,
+come quickly forward to the work of the hour. O Bhima, Kaikeyi,
+jealous of my beauty, always pains me by her endeavours to prevent
+the king from taking a fancy to me. And understanding this
+disposition of hers, the wicked-souled Kichaka of immoral ways
+constantly solicits me himself. Angry with him for this, but then
+suppressing my wrath I answer that wretch deprived of sense by
+lust, saying, "O Kichaka, protect thyself. I am the beloved queen
+and wife of five Gandharvas. Those heroes in wrath will slay thee
+that art so rash." Thus addressed, Kichaka of wicked soul replied
+unto me, saying, "I have not the least fear of the Gandharvas, O
+Sairindhri of sweet smiles. I will slay hundred thousand
+Gandharvas, encountering them in battle. Therefore, O timid one, do
+thou consent." Hearing all this, I again addressed the
+lust-afflicted Suta, saying, "Thou art no match for those
+illustrious Gandharvas. Of respectable percentage and good
+disposition, I ever adhere to virtue and never wish for the death
+of any one. It is for this that thou I vest, O Kichaka!" At this,
+that wight of wicked soul burst out into a loud laughter. And it
+came to pass that Kaikeyi previously urged by Kichaka, and moved by
+affection for her brother, and desirous of doing him a good turn,
+despatched me to him, saying "Do thou, O Sairindhri, fetch wine
+from Kichaka's quarters!" On beholding me the Suta's son at first
+addressed me in sweet words, and when that failed, he became
+exceedingly enraged, and intended to use violence. Understanding
+the purpose of the wicked Kichaka, I speedily rushed towards the
+place where the king was. Felling me on the ground the wretch then
+kicked me in the very presence of the king himself and before the
+eyes of Kanka and many others, including charioteers, and royal
+favourites, and elephant-riders, and citizens. I rebuked the king
+and Kanka again and again. The king, however, neither prevented
+Kichaka, nor inflicted any chastisement on him. The principal ally
+of king Virata in war, the cruel Kichaka reft of virtue is loved by
+both the king and the queen. O exalted one, brave, proud, sinful,
+adulterous, and engrossed in all objects of enjoyment, he earneth
+immense wealth (from the king), and robs the possessions of others
+even if they cry in distress. And he never walketh in the path of
+virtue, nor doth he any virtuous act. Of wicked soul, and vicious
+disposition, haughty and villainous, and always afflicted by the
+shafts of Kama, though repulsed repeatedly, if he sees me again, he
+will outrage me. I shall then surely renounce my life. Although
+striving to acquire virtue (on my death) your highly meritorious
+acts will come to naught. Ye that are now obeying your pledge, ye
+will lose your wife. By protecting one's wife one's offspring are
+protected, and by protecting one's offspring, one's own self is
+protected. And it is because one begets one's own self in one's
+wife that the wife is called <i>Jaya</i><a id="footnotetag15" name=
+"footnotetag15"></a><a href="#footnote15"><sup>15</sup></a> by the
+wise. The husband also should be protected by the wife,
+thinking,&mdash;<i>How else will he take his birth in my
+womb</i>?&mdash;I have heard it from Brahmanas expounding the
+duties of the several orders that a Kshatriya hath no other duty
+than subduing enemies. Alas, Kichaka kicked me in the very presence
+of Yudhishthira the Just, and also of thyself, O Bhimasena of
+mighty strength. It was thou, O Bhima, that didst deliver me from
+the terrible Jatasura. It was thou also that with thy brothers
+didst vanquish Jayadratha. Do thou now slay this wretch also who
+hath insulted me. Presuming upon his being a favourite of the king,
+Kichaka, O Bharata, hath enhanced my woe. Do thou, therefore, smash
+this lustful wight even like an earthen pot dashed upon a stone.
+If, O Bharata, tomorrow's sun sheds his rays upon him who is the
+source of many griefs of mine, I shall, surely, mixing poison (with
+some drink), drink it up,&mdash;for I never shall yield to Kichaka.
+Far better it were, O Bhima, that I should die before thee.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, Krishna, hiding her
+face in Bhima's breast began to weep. And Bhima, embracing her,
+consoled her to the best of his power. And having abundantly
+consoled that slender-waisted daughter of Drupada by means of words
+fraught with grave reason and sense, he wiped with his hands her
+face flooded with tears. And thinking of Kichaka and licking with
+his tongue the corners of his mouth, Bhima, filled with wrath thus
+spake to that distressed lady."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXII</h2>
+<p>"Bhima said, 'I will, O timid one, do even as thou sayest. I
+will presently slay Kichaka with all his friends. O Yajnaseni of
+sweet smiles, tomorrow evening, renouncing sorrow and grief, manage
+to have a meeting with Kichaka. The dancing-hall that the king of
+the Matsya hath caused to be erected is used by the girls for
+dancing during the day. They repair, however, to their homes at
+night. There in that hall, is an excellent and well-placed wooden
+bed-stead. Even there I will make him see the spirits of his
+deceased grandsires. But, O beautiful one, when thou holdest
+converse with him, thou must manage it so that others may not espy
+thee.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having thus conversed with others, and
+shed tears in grief, they waited for the dawn of that night with
+painful impatience. And when the night had passed away, Kichaka,
+rising in the morning, went to the palace, and accosted Draupadi
+saying, 'Throwing thee down in the court I kicked thee in the
+presence of the king. Attacked by mighty self, thou couldst not
+obtain protection. This Virata is in name only the king of the
+Matsyas. Commanding the forces of this realm it is I, who am the
+real lord of the Matsyas. Do thou, O timid one, accept me
+cheerfully. I shall become thy slave. And, O thou of graceful hips,
+I will immediately give thee a hundred <i>nishkas</i>, and engage a
+hundred male and a hundred female servants (to tend thee), and will
+also bestow on thee cars yoked with she-mules. O timid lady, let
+our union take place.' Draupadi replied, 'O Kichaka, know even this
+is my condition. Neither thy friends nor thy brothers should know
+thy union with me. I am a terror of detection by those illustrious
+Gandharvas. Promise me this, and I yield to thee.' Hearing this
+Kichaka said, 'I will, O thou of graceful hips, do even as thou
+sayest. Afflicted by the god of love, I will, O beauteous damsel,
+alone repair to thy abode for union with thee, O thou of thighs
+round and tapering like the trunks of the plantain,&mdash;so that
+those Gandharvas, effulgent as the sun, may not come to know of
+this act of thine.' Draupadi said, 'Do thou, when it is dark, go to
+the dancing-hall erected by the king of the Matsyas where the girls
+dance during the day, repairing to their respective homes at night.
+The Gandharvas do not know that place. We shall then without doubt,
+escape all censure.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Reflecting on the subject of her
+conversation with Kichaka, that half a day seemed to Krishna as
+long as a whole month. And the stupid Kichaka also, not knowing
+that it was Death that had assumed the form of a <i>Sairindhri</i>,
+returning home experienced the greatest delight. And deprived of
+sense by lust, Kichaka became speedily engaged in embellishing his
+person with unguents and garlands and ornaments. And while he was
+doing all this, thinking of that damsel of large eyes, the day
+seemed to him to be without an end. And the beauty of Kichaka, who
+was about to forsake his beauty for ever, seemed to heighten, like
+the wick of a burning lamp about to expire. And reposing the
+fullest confidence in Draupadi, Kichaka, deprived of his senses by
+lust and absorbed in the contemplation of expected meeting, did not
+even perceive that the day had departed. Meanwhile, the beautiful
+Draupadi approaching her husband Bhima of the Kuru race, stood
+before him in the kitchen. And that lady with tresses ending in
+beautiful curls then spake unto him, saying, 'O chastiser of foes,
+even as thou hadst directed, I have given Kichaka to understand
+that our meeting will take place in the dancing-hall. Alone will he
+come at night to the empty hall. Slay him there, O thou of mighty
+arms. Do thou, O son of Kunti, repair to that dancing-hall, and
+take the life, O Pandava, of Kichaka, that son of a <i>Suta</i>
+intoxicated with vanity. From vanity alone, that son of a
+<i>Suta</i> slights the Gandharvas. O best of smiters, lift him up
+from the earth even as Krishna had lifted up the <i>Naga</i>
+(Kaliya) from the Yamuna. O Pandava, afflicted as I am with grief,
+wipe thou my tears, and blessed be thou, protect thy own honour and
+that of thy race.'</p>
+<p>"Bhima said, 'Welcome, O beauteous lady. Except the glad tidings
+thou bringest me, I need, O thou of exceeding beauty, no other aid
+whatever. The delight that I feel, O thou of great beauty, on
+hearing from thee about my coming encounter with Kichaka, is equal
+to what I felt in slaying Hidimva. I swear unto thee by Truth, by
+my brothers, and by morality, that I will slay Kichaka even as the
+lord of the celestials slew Vritra. Whether secretly or openly, I
+will crush Kichaka, and if the Matsyas fight for him, then I will
+slay them too. And slaying Duryodhana afterwards, I shall win back
+the earth. Let Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, continue to pay
+homage unto the king of Matsya.' Hearing these words of Bhima,
+Draupadi said, 'In order that, O lord, thou mayst not have to
+renounce the truth already pledged to me, do thou, O hero, slay
+Kichaka in secret.' Bhima assuring her said, 'Even today I shall
+slay Kichaka together with his friends unknown to others during the
+darkness of the night. I shall, O faultless lady, crush, even as an
+elephant crusheth a <i>vela</i> fruit,<a id="footnotetag16" name=
+"footnotetag16"></a><a href="#footnote16"><sup>16</sup></a> the
+head of the wicked Kichaka who wisheth for what is unattainable by
+him!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Repairing first to the place of
+assignation at night, Bhima sat down, disguising himself. And he
+waited there in expectation of Kichaka, like a lion lying in wait
+for a deer. And Kichaka, having embellished his person as he chose,
+came to the dancing-hall at the appointed time in the hope of
+meeting Panchali. And thinking of the assignation, he entered the
+chamber. And having entered that hall enveloped in deep gloom, that
+wretch of wicked soul came upon Bhima of incomparable prowess, who
+had come a little before and who was waiting in a corner. And as an
+insect approacheth towards a flaming fire, or a puny animal towards
+a lion, Kichaka approached Bhima, lying down in a bed and burning
+in anger at the thought of the insult offered to Krishna, as if he
+were the Suta's Death. And having approached Bhima, Kichaka
+possessed by lust, and his heart and soul filled with ecstacy
+smilingly said, 'O thou of pencilled eye-brows, to thee I have
+already given many and various kinds of wealth from the stores
+earned by me, as well as hundred maids and many fine robes, and
+also a mansion with an inner apartment adorned with beauteous and
+lovely and youthful maid servants and embellished by every kind of
+sports and amusements. And having set all those apart for thee, I
+have speedily come hither. And all on a sudden, women have begun to
+praise me, saying, <i>There is not in this world any other person
+like unto thee in beauty and dress</i>!' Hearing this, Bhima said,
+'It is well that thou art handsome, and it is well thou praisest
+thyself. I think, however, that thou hadst never before this such
+pleasurable touch! Thou hast an acute touch, and knowest the ways
+of gallantry. Skilled in the art of love-making, thou art a
+favourite with women. There is none like thee in this world!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, that son of Kunti, the
+mighty-armed Bhima of terrible prowess, suddenly rose up, and
+laughingly said, 'Thy sister, O wretch, shall today behold thee
+dragged by me to the ground, like a mighty elephant, huge as a
+mountain, dragged to the ground by a lion. Thyself slain
+<i>Sairindhri</i> will live in peace, and we, her husbands, will
+also live in peace.' Saying this, the mighty Bhima seized Kichaka
+by the hairs of his head, which were adorned with garlands. And
+thus seized with force by the hair, that foremost of mighty
+persons, Kichaka, quickly freed his hair and grasped the arms of
+Bhima. And then between those lions among men, fired with wrath,
+between that chief of the Kichaka clan, and that best of men, there
+ensued a hand-to-hand encounter, like that between two powerful
+elephants for a female elephant in the season of spring, or like
+that which happened in days of yore between those lions among
+monkeys, the brothers Vali and Sugriva. And both equally infuriate
+and both eager for victory, both those combatants raised their arms
+resembling snakes furnished with five hoods, and attacked each
+other with their nails and teeth, wrought up to frenzy of wrath.
+Impetuously assailed by the powerful Kichaka in that encounter, the
+resolute Bhima did not waver a single step. And locked in each
+other's embraces and dragging each other, they fought on like two
+mighty bulls. And having nails and teeth for their weapons, the
+encounter between them was fierce and terrible like that of two
+furious tigers. And felling each other in fury, they encountered
+each other like a couple of elephants with rent temples. And the
+mighty Bhima then seized Kichaka, and Kichaka, that foremost of
+strong persons threw Bhima down with violence. And as those mighty
+combatants fought on, the crash of their arms produced a loud noise
+that resembled the clatter of splitting bamboos. Then Vrikodara
+throwing Kichaka down by main force within the room, began to toss
+him about furiously even as a hurricane tosseth a tree. And
+attacked thus in battle by the powerful Bhima, Kichaka grew weak
+and began to tremble. For all that, however, he tugged at the
+Pandava to the best of his power. And attacking Bhima, and making
+him wave a little, the mighty Kichaka struck him with his knees and
+brought him down to the ground. And overthrown by the powerful
+Kichaka, Bhima quickly rose up like Yama himself with mace in hand.
+And thus that powerful <i>Suta</i> and the Pandava, intoxicated
+with strength and challenging each other, grappled with each other
+at midnight in that solitary place. And as they roared at each
+other in wrath, that excellent and strong edifice began to shake
+every moment. And slapped on the chest by the mighty Bhima, Kichaka
+fired with wrath moved not a single pace. And bearing for a moment
+only that onslaught incapable of being born on earth, the
+<i>Suta</i>, overpowered by Bhima's might, became enfeebled. And
+seeing him waning weak, Bhima endued with great strength forcibly
+drew Kichaka towards his breast, and began to press hard. And
+breathing hard again and again in wrath, that best of victors,
+Vrikodara, forcibly seized Kichaka by the hair. And having seized
+Kichaka, the mighty Bhima began to roar like a hungry tiger that
+hath killed a large animal. And finding him exceedingly exhausted,
+Vrikodara bound him fast with his arms, as one binds a beast with a
+cord. And then Bhima began for a long while, to whirl the senseless
+Kichaka, who began to roar frightfully like a broken trumpet.<a id=
+"footnotetag17" name="footnotetag17"></a><a href=
+"#footnote17"><sup>17</sup></a> And in order to pacify Krishna's
+wrath Vrikodara grasped Kichaka's throat with his arms and began to
+squeeze it. And assailing with his knees the waist of that worst of
+the Kichakas, all the limbs of whose body had been broken into
+fragments and whose eye-lids were closed, Vrikodara slew him, as
+one would slay a beast. And beholding Kichaka entirely motionless,
+the son of Pandu began to roll him about on the ground. And Bhima
+then said, 'Slaying this wretch who intended to violate our
+wife,&mdash;this thorn in the side of <i>Sairindhri</i>, I am freed
+from the debt I owed to my brothers, and have attained perfect
+peace.' And having said this, that foremost of men, with eyes red
+in wrath, relinquished his hold of Kichaka, whose dress and
+ornaments had been thrown off his person, whose eyes were rolling,
+and whose body was yet trembling. And that foremost of mighty
+persons, squeezing his own hands, and biting his lips in rage,
+again attacked his adversary and thrust his arms and legs and neck
+and head into his body like the wielder of the <i>Pinaka</i>
+reducing into shapeless mass the deer, which form sacrifice had
+assumed in order to escape his ire. And having crushed all his
+limbs, and reduced him into a ball of flesh, the mighty Bhimasena
+showed him unto Krishna. And endued with mighty energy that hero
+then addressed Draupadi, that foremost of all women, saying, 'Come
+princess of Panchala, and see what hath become of that lustful
+wretch!' And saying this, Bhima of terrible prowess began to press
+with his feet the body of that wicked wight. And lighting a torch
+then and showing Draupadi the body of Kichaka, that hero addressed
+her, saying, 'O thou of tresses ending in beautiful curls, those
+that solicit thee, endued as thou art with an excellent disposition
+and every virtue, will be slain by me even as this Kichaka hath
+been, O timid one.' And having accomplished that difficult task so
+highly agreeable to Krishna&mdash;having indeed slain Kichaka and
+thereby pacified his wrath, Bhima bade farewell to Krishna, the
+daughter of Drupada, and quickly went back to the kitchen. And
+Draupadi also, that best of women, having caused Kichaka to be
+slain had her grief removed and experienced the greatest delight.
+And addressing the keepers of the dancing-hall, she said, 'Come ye
+and behold Kichaka who had violated after other people's wives
+lieth down here, slain by my Gandharva husbands.' And hearing these
+words the guards of the dancing hall soon came by thousands to that
+spot, torches in hand. And repairing to that room, they beheld the
+lifeless Kichaka thrown on the ground, drenched with blood. And
+beholding him without arms and legs, they were filled with grief.
+And as they gazed at Kichaka, they were struck with amazement. And
+seeing that superhuman act, viz., the overthrow of Kichaka, they
+said, 'Where is his neck, and where are his legs?' And beholding
+him in this plight they all concluded that he had been killed by a
+Gandharva."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then all the relatives of Kichaka, arriving
+at that place, beheld him there and began to wail aloud,
+surrounding him on all sides. And beholding Kichaka with every limb
+mangled, and lying like a tortoise dragged to dry ground from the
+water, all of them were overcome with exceeding fright, and the
+bristles of their bodies stood on end. And seeing him crushed all
+over by Bhima, like a Danava by Indra, they proceeded to take him
+outside, for performing his funeral obsequies. And then those
+persons of the <i>Suta</i> clan thus assembled together espied
+Krishna of faultless limbs hard by, who stood reclining on a
+pillar. And all the Kichakas assembled there, exclaimed, 'Let this
+unchaste woman be slain for whom Kichaka hath himself lost his
+life. Or, without slaying her here, let us cremate her with him
+that had lusted after her,&mdash;for it behoveth us to accomplish
+in every way what is agreeable to that deceased son of
+<i>Suta</i>.' And then they addressed Virata, saying, 'It is for
+her sake that Kichaka hath lost his life. Let him, therefore, be
+cremated along with her. It behoveth thee to grant this
+permission.' Thus addressed by them, king Virata, O monarch,
+knowing fully well the prowess of the <i>Suta</i> gave his assent
+to <i>Sairindhri</i> being burnt along with the <i>Suta's</i> son.
+And at this, the Kichakas approaching the frightened and stupefied
+Krishna of lotus-like eyes, seized her with violence. And binding
+that damsel of slender waist and placing her upon the bier, they
+set out with great energy towards the cemetery. And, O king, while
+thus forcibly carried towards the cemetery by those sons of the
+<i>Suta</i> tribe, the blameless and chaste Krishna living under
+the protections of her lords, then wailed aloud for the help of her
+husbands, saying, 'Oh, let Jaya, and Jayanta, and Vijaya and
+Jayatsena, and Jayadvala listen to my words. The <i>Sutas</i> are
+taking me away. Let those illustrious Gandharvas endued with speed
+of hand, the clatter of whose cars is loud and the twang of whose
+bowstrings in the midst of the mighty conflict are heard like the
+roar of thunder, listen to my words,&mdash;the <i>Sutas</i> are
+taking me away!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing those sorrowful words and
+lamentations of Krishna, Bhima, without a moment's reflection
+started up from his bed and said, 'I have heard, O
+<i>Sairindhri</i> the words thou hast spoken. Thou hast, therefore,
+O timid lady, no more fear at the hands of the <i>Sutas.</i>'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, the mighty-armed
+Bhima desirous of slaying the Kichakas, began to swell his body.
+And carefully changing his attire, he went out of the palace by a
+wrong egress. And climbing over a wall by the aid of a tree, he
+proceeded towards the cemetery whither the Kichakas had gone. And
+having leapt over the wall, and gone out of the excellent city,
+Bhima impetuously rushed to where the <i>Sutas</i> were. And, O
+monarch, proceeding towards the funeral pyre he beheld a large
+tree, tall as palmyra-palm, with gigantic shoulders and withered
+top. And that slayer of foes grasping with his arms that tree
+measuring ten <i>Vyamas</i>, uprooted it, even like an elephant,
+and placed it upon his shoulders. And taking up that tree with
+trunk and branches and measuring ten <i>Vyamas</i>, that mighty
+hero rushed towards the <i>Sutas</i>, like Yama himself, mace in
+hand. And by the impetus of his rush<a id="footnotetag18" name=
+"footnotetag18"></a><a href="#footnote18"><sup>18</sup></a> banians
+and peepals and <i>Kinsukas</i> falling down on the earth lay in
+clusters. And beholding that Gandharva approach them like a lion in
+fury, all the <i>Sutas</i> trembling with fear and greatly
+distressed, became panic-struck. And they addressed each other,
+saying, 'Lo, the powerful Gandharva cometh hither, filled with
+rage, and with an upraised tree in hand. Let <i>Sairindhri</i>,
+therefore, from whom this danger of ours hath arisen, be set free.'
+And beholding the tree that had been uprooted by Bhimasena, they
+set Draupadi free and ran breathlessly towards the city. And seeing
+them run away, Bhima, that mighty son of the Wind-god, despatched,
+O foremost of kings, by means of that tree, a hundred and five of
+them unto the abode of Yama, like the wielder of the thunderbolt
+slaying the Danavas. And setting Draupadi free from her bonds, he
+then, O king, comforted her. And that mighty-armed and
+irrepressible Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, then addressed the
+distressed princess of Panchala with face bathed in tears, saying,
+'Thus, O timid one, are they slain that wrong thee without cause.
+Return, O Krishna, to the city. Thou hast no longer any fear; I
+myself will go to the Virata's kitchen by another route.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "It was thus, O Bharata, that a hundred
+and five of those Kichakas were slain. And their corpses lay on the
+ground, making the place look like a great forest overspread with
+uprooted trees after a hurricane. Thus fell those hundred and five
+Kichakas. And including Virata's general slain before, the
+slaughtered Sutas numbered one hundred and six. And beholding that
+exceedingly wonderful feat, men and women that assembled together,
+were filled with astonishment. And the power of speech, O Bharata,
+was suspended in every one."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXIV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "And beholding the Sutas slain, the citizens
+went to the king, and represented unto him what had happened,
+saying, 'O king, those mighty sons of the Sutas have all been slain
+by the Gandharvas. Indeed, they lie scattered on the earth like
+huge peaks of mountains riven by thunder. <i>Sairindhri</i> also,
+having been set free, returneth to thy palace in the city. Alas, O
+king, if <i>Sairindhri</i> cometh, thy entire kingdom will be
+endangered. <i>Sairindhri</i> is endued with great beauty; the
+Gandharvas also are exceedingly powerful. Men again, without doubt,
+are naturally sexual. Devise, therefore, O king, without delay,
+such means that in consequence of wrongs done to <i>Sairindhri</i>,
+thy kingdom may not meet with destruction.' Hearing those words of
+theirs, Virata, that lord of hosts, said unto them, 'Do ye perform
+the last rites of the Sutas. Let all the Kichakas be burnt, in one
+blazing pyre with gems and fragrant unguents in profusion.' And
+filled with fear, the king then addressed his queen Sudeshna,
+saying, 'When <i>Sairindhri</i> comes back, do thou tell her these
+words from me, "Blessed be thou, O fair-faced <i>Sairindhri</i>. Go
+thou whithersoever thou likest. The king hath been alarmed, O thou
+of graceful hips, at the defeat already experienced at the hands of
+the Gandharvas. Protected as thou art by the Gandharvas, I dare not
+personally say all this to thee. A woman, however, cannot offend,
+and it is for this that I tell thee all this through a
+woman."'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus delivered by Bhimasena after the
+slaughter of the Sutas, the intelligent and youthful Krishna
+relieved from all her fears, washed her limbs and clothes in water,
+and proceeded towards the city, like a doe frightened by a tiger.
+And beholding her, the citizens, O king, afflicted with the fear of
+the Gandharvas fled in all directions. And some of them went so far
+as to shut their eyes. And then, O king, at the gate of the
+kitchen, the princess of Panchala saw Bhimasena staying, like an
+infuriate elephant of gigantic proportions. And looking upon him
+with wonder-expanded eyes, Draupadi, by means of words intelligible
+to them alone, said, 'I bow unto that prince of the Gandharvas, who
+hath rescued me.' At these words of her, Bhima said, 'Hearing these
+words of hers in obedience to whom those persons were hitherto
+living in the city, they will henceforth range here, regarding
+themselves as freed from the debt.'"<a id="footnotetag19" name=
+"footnotetag19"></a><a href="#footnote19"><sup>19</sup></a></p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then she beheld the mighty-armed
+Dhananjaya, in the dancing-hall instructing king Virata's daughters
+in dancing. And issuing with Arjuna from the dancing-hall, all
+those damsels came to Krishna who had arrived there, and who had
+been persecuted so sorely, all innocent though she was. And they
+said, 'By good luck also it is, O <i>Sairindhri</i>, that thou hast
+been delivered from thy dangers. By good luck it is that thou hast
+returned safe. And by good luck also it is that those Sutas have
+been slain that had wronged thee, innocent though thou art.'
+Hearing this, Vrihannala said, 'How hast thou, O <i>Sairindhri</i>,
+been delivered? And how have those sinful wretches been slain? I
+wish to learn all this from thee exactly as it occurred.'
+<i>Sairindhri</i> replied, 'O blessed Vrihannala, always passing
+thy days happily in the apartments of the girls, what concern hast
+thou with <i>Sairindhri's</i> fate to say? Thou hast no grief to
+bear that <i>Sairindhri</i> hath to bear! It is for this, that thou
+askest me thus, distressed as I am in ridicule.' Thereat Vrihannala
+said, 'O blessed one, Vrihannala also hath unparalleled sorrows of
+her own. She hath become as low as a brute. Thou dost not, O girl,
+understand this. I have lived with thee, and thou too hast lived
+with us. When, therefore, thou art afflicted with misery, who is it
+that will not, O thou of beautiful hips, feel it? But no one can
+completely read another's heart. Therefore it is, O amiable one,
+that thou knowest not my heart!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then Draupadi, accompanied by those
+girls entered the royal abode, desirous of appearing before
+Sudeshna. And when she came before the queen, Virata's wife
+addressed her at the command of the king, saying, 'Do thou, O
+<i>Sairindhri</i>, speedily go whithersoever thou likest. The king,
+good betide thee, hath been filled with fear at this discomfiture
+at the hands of the Gandharvas. Thou art, O thou of graceful
+eye-brows, young and unparalleled on earth in beauty. Thou art,
+besides, an object of desire with men. The Gandharvas again, are
+exceedingly wrathful.' Thereat <i>Sairindhri</i> said, 'O beauteous
+lady, let the king suffer me to live here for only thirteen days
+more. Without doubt, the Gandharvas also will be highly obliged at
+this. They will then convey me hence and do what would be agreeable
+to Virata. Without doubt, the king, by doing this, with his
+friends, will reap great benefit.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "At the slaughter of Kichaka and brothers,
+people, O king, thinking of this terrible feat, were filled with
+surprise. And in the city and the provinces it was generally
+bruited about that for bravery the king's Vallava and Kichaka were
+both mighty warriors. The wicked Kichaka, however, had been an
+oppressor of men and a dishonourer of other people's wives. And it
+was for this that wicked of sinful soul had been slain by the
+Gandharvas. And it was thus, O king, that people began to speak,
+from province to province of the invincible Kichaka, that slayer of
+hostile ranks.</p>
+<p>"Meanwhile, the spies employed by Dhritarashtra's son, having
+searched various villages and towns and kingdoms and done all that
+they had been commanded to do and completed their examination, in
+the manner directed, of the countries indicated in their orders,
+returned to Nagarupa, gratified with at least one thing that they
+had learnt.<a id="footnotetag20" name="footnotetag20"></a><a href=
+"#footnote20"><sup>20</sup></a> And seeing Dhritarashtra's son king
+Duryodhana of the Kuru race seated in his court with Drona and
+Karna and Kripa, with the high-souled Bhishma, his own brothers,
+and those great warriors&mdash;the Trigartas, they addressed him,
+saying, 'O lord of men, great hath been the care always bestowed by
+us in the search after the sons of Pandu in that mighty forest.
+Searched have we through the solitary wilderness abounding with
+deer and other animals and overgrown with trees and creepers of
+diverse kind. Searched have we also in arbours of matted woods and
+plants and creepers of every species, but we have failed in
+discovering that track by which Pritha's son of irrepressible
+energy may have gone. Searched have we in these and other places
+for their foot-prints. Searched have we closely, O king, on
+mountain tops and in inaccessible fastnesses, in various kingdoms
+and provinces teeming with people, in encampments and cities. No
+trace have yet been found of the sons of Pandu. Good betide thee, O
+bull among men, it seems that they have perished without leaving a
+mark behind. O foremost of warriors, although we followed in the
+track of those warriors, yet, O best of men, we soon lost their
+footprints and do not know their present residence. O lord of men,
+for some time we followed in the wake of their charioteers. And
+making our inquiries duly, we truly ascertained what we desired to
+know. O slayer of foes, the charioteers reached Dwaravati without
+the sons of Pritha among them. O king, neither the sons of Pandu,
+nor the chaste Krishna, are in that city of Yadavas. O bull of the
+Bharata race, we have not been able to discover either their track
+or their present abode. Salutations to thee, they are gone for
+good. We are acquainted with the disposition of the sons of Pandu
+and know something of the feats achieved by them. It behoveth thee,
+therefore, O lord of men, to give us instructions, O monarch, as to
+what we should next do in the search after the sons of Pandu. O
+hero, listen also to these agreeable words of ours, promising great
+good to thee. King Matsya's commander, Kichaka of wicked soul, by
+whom the Trigartas, O monarch, were repeatedly vanquished and slain
+with mighty force, now lieth low on the ground with all his
+brothers, slain, O monarch, by invisible Gandharvas during the
+hours of darkness, O thou of unfading glory. Having heard this
+delightful news about the discomfiture of our enemies, we have been
+exceedingly gratified, O Kauravya. Do thou now ordain what should
+next be done.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXVI</h2>
+<h3>(<i>Go-harana Parva</i>)</h3>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having listened to these words of his spies,
+king Duryodhana reflected inwardly for some time and then addressed
+his courtiers, saying, 'It is difficult to ascertain the course of
+events definitely. Discern ye all, therefore, whither the sons of
+Pandu have gone, of this thirteenth year which they are to pass
+undiscovered by us all, the greater part hath already expired. What
+remains is by much the smaller. If, indeed, the sons of Pandu can
+pass undiscovered what remains of this year, devoted to the vow of
+truth as they are, they will then have fulfilled their pledge. They
+will then return like mighty elephants with temporal juice
+trickling down, or like snakes of virulent poison. Filled with
+wrath, they will, without doubt, be inflicters of terrible
+chastisement on the Kurus. It behoveth ye, therefore, to make such
+efforts without loss of time as may induce the sons of Pandu,
+acquainted as they are with the proprieties of time, and staying as
+they now are in painful disguise, to re-enter the woods suppressing
+their rage. Indeed, adopt ye such means as may remove all causes of
+quarrel and anxiety from the kingdom, making it tranquil and
+foeless and incapable of sustaining a diminution of territory.'
+Hearing these words of Duryodhana, Karna said, 'Let other spies,
+abler and more cunning, and capable of accomplishing their object,
+quickly go hence, O Bharata. Let them, well-disguised, wander
+through swelling kingdoms and populous provinces, prying into
+assemblies of the learned and delightful retreats of provinces. In
+the inner apartments of palaces, in shrines and holy spots, in
+mines and diverse other regions, the sons of Pandu should be
+searched after with well-directed eagerness. Let the sons of Pandu
+who are living in disguise be searched after by well-skilled spies
+in large numbers, devoted to their work, themselves well-disguised,
+and all well-acquainted with the objects of their search. Let the
+search be made on the banks of rivers, in holy regions, in villages
+and towns, in retreats of ascetics, in delightful mountains and
+mountain-caves.' When Karna ceased, Duryodhana's second brother
+Duhsasana, wedded to a sinful disposition, then addressed his
+eldest brother and said, 'O monarch, O lord of men, let those spies
+only in whom we have confidence, receiving their rewards in
+advance, once more go after the search. This and what else hath
+been said by Karna have our fullest approval. Let all the spies
+engage themselves in the search according to the directions already
+given. Let these and others engage in the search from province to
+province according to approved rules. It is my belief, however,
+that the track the Pandavas have followed or their present abode or
+occupation will not be discovered. Perhaps, they are closely
+concealed; perhaps, they have gone to the other side of the ocean.
+Or, perhaps, proud as they are of their strength and courage, they
+have been devoured by wild beasts; or perhaps, having been
+overtaken by some unusual danger, they have perished for eternity.
+Therefore, O prince of the Kuru race, dispelling all anxieties from
+thy heart, achieve what thou wilt, always acting according to thy
+energy.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Endued with mighty energy and possessed of
+great discernment, Drona then said, 'Persons like the sons of Pandu
+never perish nor undergo discomfiture. Brave and skilled in every
+science, intelligent and with senses under control, virtuous and
+grateful and obedient to the virtuous Yudhishthira, ever following
+in the wake of their eldest brother who is conversant with the
+conclusions of policy and virtue and profit, who is attached to
+them as a father, and who strictly adhereth to virtue and is firm
+in truth,&mdash;persons like them that are thus devoted to their
+illustrious and royal brother, who gifted with great intelligence,
+never injureth any body and who in his turn himself obeyeth his
+younger brothers, never perish in this way. Why, then, should not
+(Yudhishthira) the son of Pritha possessing a knowledge of policy,
+be able to restore the prosperity of his brothers who are so
+obedient and devoted and high-souled? It is for this that they are
+carefully waiting for the arrival of their opportunity. Men such as
+these never perish. This is what I see by my intellect. Do,
+therefore, quickly and without loss of time, what should now be
+done, after proper reflection. And let also the abode which the
+sons of Pandu with souls under control as regards every purpose of
+life, are to occupy, be now settled. Heroic and sinless and
+possessed of ascetic merit, the Pandavas are difficult to be
+discovered (within the period of non-discovery). Intelligent and
+possessed of every virtue, devoted to truth and versed in the
+principles of policy, endued with purity and holiness, and the
+embodiment of immeasurable energy, the son of Pritha is capable of
+consuming (his foes) by a glance alone of his eyes. Knowing all
+this, do what is proper. Let us, therefore, once more search after
+them, sending Brahmanas and <i>Charanas</i>, ascetics crowned with
+success, and others of this kind who may have a knowledge of those
+heroes!'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXVIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then that grandsire of the Bharatas, Bhishma
+the son of Santanu, conversant with the <i>Vedas</i>, acquainted
+with the proprieties of time and place, and possessing a knowledge
+of every duty of morality, after the conclusion of Drona's speech,
+applauded the words of the preceptor and spake unto the Bharatas
+for their benefit these words consistent with virtue, expressive of
+his attachment to the virtuous Yudhishthira, rarely spoken by men
+that are dishonest, and always meeting with the approbation of the
+honest. And the words that Bhishma spake were thoroughly impartial
+and worshipped by the wise. And the grandsire of the Kurus said,
+'The words that the regenerate Drona acquainted with the truth of
+every affair hath uttered, are approved by me. I have no hesitation
+in saying so. Endued with every auspicious mark, observant of
+virtuous vows, possessed of Vedic lore, devoted to religious
+observances, conversant with various sciences, obedient to the
+counsels of the aged, adhering to the vow of truth, acquainted with
+the proprieties of time, observant of the pledge they have given
+(in respect of their exile), pure in their behaviour, ever adhering
+to the duties of the Kshatriya order, always obedient to Kesava,
+high-souled, possessed of great strength, and ever-bearing the
+burthens of the wise, those heroic ones can never wither under
+misfortune. Aided by their own energy, sons of Pandu who are now
+leading a life of concealment in obedience to virtue, will surely
+never perish. It is even this that my mind surmiseth. Therefore, O
+Bharata, I am for employing the aid of honest counsel in our
+behaviour towards the sons of Pandu. It would not be the policy of
+any wise man to cause them to be discovered now by means of
+spies,<a id="footnotetag21" name="footnotetag21"></a><a href=
+"#footnote21"><sup>21</sup></a> what we should do unto the sons of
+Pandu, I shall say, reflecting with the aid of the intellect. Know
+that I shall say nothing from ill will to thee. People like me
+should never give such counsels to him that is dishonest, for only
+counsels (like those I would give) should be offered unto them that
+are honest. Counsels, however, that are evil, should under no
+circumstances be offered. He, O child, that is devoted to truth and
+obedient to the aged, he, indeed, that is wise, while speaking in
+the midst of an assembly, should under all circumstances speak the
+truth, if the acquisition of virtue be an object with him. I
+should, therefore, say that I think differently from all those
+people here, in respect of the abode of Yudhishthira the just in
+this the thirteenth year of his exile. The ruler, O child, of the
+city or the province where king Yudhishthira resides cannot have
+any misfortune. Charitable and liberal and humble and modest must
+the people be of the country where king Yudhishthira resides.
+Agreeable in speech, with passions under control, observant of
+truth, cheerful, healthy, pure in conduct, and skilful in work must
+the people be of the country where king Yudhishthira resides. The
+people of the place, where Yudhishthira is, cannot be envious or
+malicious, or vain, or proud, but must all adhere to their
+respective duties. Indeed, in the place where Yudhishthira resides,
+Vedic hymns will be chanted all around, sacrifices will be
+performed, the last full libations will always be poured,<a id=
+"footnotetag22" name="footnotetag22"></a><a href=
+"#footnote22"><sup>22</sup></a> and gifts to Brahmanas will always
+be in profusion. There the clouds, without doubt, pour abundant
+rain, and furnished with good harvest the country will ever be
+without fear. There the paddy will not be without grain, fruits
+will not be bereft of juice, floral garlands will not be without
+fragrance, and the conversation of men will always be full of
+agreeable words. There where king Yudhishthira resides, the breezes
+will be delicious, the meetings of men will always be friendly, and
+cause of fear there will be none. There kine will be plentiful,
+without any of them being lean-fleshed or weak, and milk and curds
+and butter will all be savoury and nutritious. There where king
+Yudhishthira resides, every kind of corn will be full of nutrition
+and every edible full of flavour. There where king Yudhishthira
+resides, the objects of all the senses, viz.,&mdash;taste, touch,
+smell, and hearing, will be endued with excellent attributes. There
+where king Yudhishthira resides, the sights and scenes will be
+gladdening. And the regenerate ones of that place will be virtuous
+and steady in observing their respective duties. Indeed, in the
+country where the sons of Pandu may have taken up their abode
+during this thirteenth year of their exile, the people will be
+contented and cheerful, pure in conduct and without misery of any
+kind. Devoted to gods and guests and the worship of these with
+their whole soul, they will be fond of giving away, and filled with
+great energy, they will all be observant of eternal virtue. There
+where king Yudhishthira resides, the people, eschewing all that is
+evil, will be desirous of achieving only what is good. Always
+observant of sacrifices and pure vows, and hating untruth in
+speech, the people of the place where king Yudhishthira may reside
+will always be desirous of obtaining what is good, auspicious and
+beneficial. There where Yudhishthira resides, the people will
+certainly be desirous of achieving what is good, and their hearts
+will always incline towards virtue, and their vows being agreeable
+they themselves are ever-engaged in the acquisition of religious
+merit. O child, that son of Pritha in whom are intelligence and
+charity, the highest tranquillity and undoubted forgiveness,
+modesty and prosperity, and fame and great energy and a love for
+all creatures, is incapable of being found out (now that he hath
+concealed himself) even by Brahmanas, let alone ordinary persons.
+The wise Yudhishthira is living in close disguise in regions whose
+characteristics I have described. Regarding his excellent mode of
+life, I dare not say anything more. Reflecting well upon all this,
+do without loss of time what thou mayst think to be beneficial, O
+prince of the Kuru race, if indeed, thou hast any faith in
+me.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXIX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then Saradwata's son, Kripa said, 'What the
+aged Bhishma hath said concerning the Pandavas is reasonable,
+suited to the occasion, consistent with virtue and profit,
+agreeable to the ear, fraught with sound reason, and worthy of him.
+Listen also to what I would say on this subject. It behoveth thee
+to ascertain the track they have followed and their abode also by
+means of spies,<a id="footnotetag23" name=
+"footnotetag23"></a><a href="#footnote23"><sup>23</sup></a> and to
+adopt that policy which may bring about thy welfare. O child, he
+that is solicitous of his welfare should not disregard even an
+ordinary foe. What shall I say, then, O child, of the Pandavas who
+are thorough masters of all weapons in battle. When, therefore, the
+time cometh for the reappearance of the high-souled Pandavas, who,
+having entered the forest,<a id="footnotetag24" name=
+"footnotetag24"></a><a href="#footnote24"><sup>24</sup></a> are now
+passing their days in close disguise, thou shouldst ascertain thy
+strength both in thy own kingdom and in those of other kings.
+Without doubt, the return of the Pandavas is at hand. When their
+promised term of exile is over, the illustrious and mighty sons of
+Pritha, endued with immeasurable prowess, will come hither bursting
+with energy. Do thou, therefore, in order to conclude an
+advantageous treaty with them, have recourse to sound policy and
+address thyself to increase thy forces and improve thy treasury. O
+child, ascertaining all these, reckon thou thy own strength in
+respect of all thy allies weak and strong.<a id="footnotetag25"
+name="footnotetag25"></a><a href="#footnote25"><sup>25</sup></a>
+Ascertaining the efficiency, and weakness, and indifference of thy
+forces, as also who amongst them are well-affected and who are
+disaffected, we should either fight the foe or make treaty with
+him. Having recourse to the arts of conciliation, disunion,
+chastisement, bribery, presents and fair behaviour, attack thy foes
+and subdue the weak by might, and win over thy allies and troops
+and by soft speeches. When thou hast (by these means) strengthened
+thy army and filled thy treasury, entire success will be thine.
+When thou hast done all this, thou wilt be able to fight with
+powerful enemies that may present themselves, let alone the sons of
+Pandu deficient in troops and animals of their own. By adopting all
+these expedients according to the customs of thy order, thou wilt,
+O foremost of men, attain enduring happiness in due time!'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Discomfited before, O monarch, many a time
+and oft by Matsya's <i>Suta</i> Kichaka aided by the Matsyas and
+the Salyas, the mighty king of the Trigartas, Susarman, who owned
+innumerable cars, regarding the opportunity to be a favourable one,
+then spoke the following words without losing a moment. And, O
+monarch, forcibly vanquished along with his relatives by the mighty
+Kichaka, king Susarman, eyeing Karna in askance, spoke these words
+unto Duryodhana, 'My kingdom hath many a time been forcibly invaded
+by the king of the Matsyas. The mighty Kichaka was that king's
+generalissimo. Crooked and wrathful and of wicked soul, of prowess
+famed over all the world, sinful in deeds and highly cruel, that
+wretch, however, hath been slain by the Gandharvas. Kichaka being
+dead, king Virata, shorn of pride and his refuge gone, will, I
+imagine, lose all courage. I think we ought now to invade that
+kingdom, if it pleases thee, O sinless one, as also the illustrious
+Karna and all the Kauravas. The accident that hath happened is, I
+imagine, a favourable one for us. Let us, therefore, repair to
+Virata's kingdom abounding in corn. We will appropriate his gems
+and other wealth of diverse kinds, and let us go to share with each
+other as regards his villages and kingdom. Or, invading his city by
+force, let us carry off by thousands his excellent kine of various
+species. Uniting, O king, the forces of the Kauravas and the
+Trigartas, let us lift his cattle in droves. Or, uniting our forces
+well, we will check his power by forcing him to sue for peace. Or,
+destroying his entire host, we will bring Matsya under subjection.
+Having brought him under subjection by just means, we will live in
+our kingdom happily, while thy power also will, without doubt, be
+enhanced.' Hearing these words of Susarman, Karna addressed the
+king, saying, 'Susarman hath spoken well; the opportunity is
+favourable and promises to be profitable to us. Therefore, if it
+pleases thee, O sinless one, let us, drawing up our forces in
+battle array and marshalling them in divisions, speedily set out.
+Or, let the expedition be managed as Saradwata's son Kripa, the
+preceptor Drona, and the wise and aged grandsire of the Kurus may
+think. Consulting with each other, let us, O lord of earth,
+speedily set out to attain our end. What business have we with the
+sons of Pandu, destitute as they are of wealth, might, and prowess?
+They have either disappeared for good or have gone to the abode of
+<i>Yama</i>. We will, O king, repair without anxiety to Virata's
+city, and plunder his cattle and other wealth of diverse
+kinds.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Accepting these words of Karna, the son
+of Surya, king Duryodhana speedily commanded his brother Duhsasana,
+born immediately after him and always obedient to his wishes,
+saying, 'Consulting with the elders, array without delay, our
+forces. We will with all the Kauravas go to the appointed place.
+Let also the mighty warrior, king Susarman, accompanied by a
+sufficient force with vehicles and animals, set out with the
+Trigartas for the dominions of Matsyas. And let Susarman proceed
+first, carefully concealing his intention. Following in their wake,
+we will set out the day after in close array, for the prosperous
+dominions of king Matsya. Let the Trigartas, however, suddenly
+repair to the city of Virata, and coming upon the cowherds, seize
+that immense wealth (of kine). We also marching in two divisions,
+will seize thousands of excellent kine furnished with auspicious
+marks.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O Lord of earth, those warriors,
+the Trigartas, accompanied by their infantry of terrible prowess,
+marched towards the south-eastern direction, intending to wage
+hostilities with Virata from the desire of seizing his kine. And
+Susarman set out on the seventh day of the dark fortnight for
+seizing the kine. And then, O king, on the eighth day following of
+the dark fortnight, the Kauravas also accompanied by all their
+troops, began to seize the kine by thousands."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "O mighty king, entering into king Virata's
+service, and dwelling in disguise in his excellent city, the
+high-souled Pandavas of immeasurable prowess, completed the
+promised period of non-discovery. And after Kichaka had been slain,
+that slayer of hostile heroes, the mighty king Virata began to rest
+his hopes on the sons of Kunti. And it was on the expiry of the
+thirteenth year of their exile, O Bharata, that Susarman seized
+Virata's cattle by thousands. And when the cattle had been seized,
+the herdsman of Virata came with great speed to the city, and saw
+his sovereign, the king of Matsyas, seated on the throne in the
+midst of wise councillors, and those bulls among men, the sons of
+Pandu, and surrounded by brave warriors decked with ear-rings and
+bracelets. And appearing before that enhancer of his
+dominion&mdash;King Virata seated in court&mdash;the herdsman bowed
+down unto him, and addressed him, saying, 'O foremost of kings,
+defeating and humiliating us in battle along with our friends the
+Trigartas are seizing thy cattle by hundreds and by thousands. Do
+thou, therefore, speedily rescue them. Oh, see that they are not
+lost to thee.' Hearing these words, the king arrayed for battle the
+Matsya force abounding in cars and elephants and horses and
+infantry and standards. And kings and princes speedily put on, each
+in its proper place,<a id="footnotetag26" name=
+"footnotetag26"></a><a href="#footnote26"><sup>26</sup></a> their
+shining and beautiful armour worthy of being worn by heroes. And
+Virata's beloved brother, Satanika, put on a coat of mail made of
+adamantine steel, adorned with burnished gold. And Madiraksha, next
+in birth to Satanika, put on a strong coat of mail plated with
+gold<a id="footnotetag27" name="footnotetag27"></a><a href=
+"#footnote27"><sup>27</sup></a> and capable of resisting every
+weapon. And the coat of mail that the king himself of the Matsyas
+put on was invulnerable and decked with a hundred suns, a hundred
+circles, a hundred spots, and a hundred eyes. And the coat of mail
+that Suryadatta<a id="footnotetag28" name=
+"footnotetag28"></a><a href="#footnote28"><sup>28</sup></a> put on
+was bright as the sun, plated with gold, and broad as a hundred
+lotuses of the fragrant (<i>Kahlara</i>) species. And the coat of
+mail that Virata's eldest son, the heroic Sanksha, put on was
+impenetrable and made of burnished steel, and decked with a hundred
+eyes of gold. And it was thus that those god-like and mighty
+warriors by hundreds, furnished with weapons, and eager for battle,
+each donned his corselet. And then they yoked unto their excellent
+cars of white-hue steeds equipped in mail. And then was
+hoisted&mdash;Matsya's glorious standard on his excellent car
+decked with gold and resembling the sun or the moon in its
+effulgence. And other Kshatriya warriors also raised on their
+respective cars gold-decked standards of various shapes and
+devices. And king Matsya then addressed his brother Satanika born
+immediately after him, saying, 'Kanka and Vallava and Tantripala
+and Damagranthi of great energy will, as it appears to me fight,
+without doubt. Give thou unto them cars furnished with banners and
+let them case their persons in beautiful coats of mail that should
+be both invulnerable and easy to wear. And let them also have
+weapons. Bearing such martial forms and possessed of arms
+resembling the trunk of mighty elephants, I can never persuade
+myself that they cannot fight.' Hearing these words of the king,
+Satanika, O monarch, immediately ordered cars for those sons of
+Pritha, viz., the royal Yudhishthira, and Bhima, and Nakula, and
+Sahadeva, and commanded by the king, the charioteers, with cheerful
+hearts and keeping loyalty in view, very soon got cars ready (for
+the Pandavas). And those repressers of foes then donned those
+beautiful coats of mail, invulnerable and easy to wear, that Virata
+had ordered for those heroes of spotless fame. And mounted on cars
+yoked with good steeds, those smiters of hostile ranks, those
+foremost of men, the sons of Pritha, set out with cheerful hearts.
+Indeed, those mighty warriors skilled in fight, those bulls of the
+Kuru race and sons of Pandu, those four heroic brothers possessed
+of prowess incapable of being baffled, mounting on cars decked with
+gold, together set out, following Virata's wake. And infuriate
+elephants of terrible mien, full sixty years of age, with shapely
+tusks and rent temples and juice trickling down and looking (on
+that account) like cloud pouring rain and mounted by trained
+warriors skilled in fight, followed the king like unto moving
+hills. And the principal warriors of Matsya who cheerfully followed
+the king had eight thousand cars, a thousand elephants and sixty
+thousand horses. And, O bull among the Bharatas, that force of
+Virata, O king, as it marched forth marking the footprints of the
+cattle looked exceedingly beautiful. And on its march that foremost
+of armies owned by Virata, crowded with soldiers armed with strong
+weapons, and abounding in elephants, horses and cars, looked really
+splendid."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Marching out of the city, those heroic
+smiters the Matsyas, arrayed in order of battle, overtook the
+Trigartas when the sun had passed the meridian. And both excited to
+fury and both desirous of having the king, the mighty Trigartas and
+the Matsyas, irrepressible in battle, sent up loud roars. And then
+the terrible and infuriate elephants ridden over by the skilful
+combatants of both sides were urged on with spiked clubs and hooks.
+And the encounter, O king, that took place when the sun was low in
+the horizon, between the infantry and cavalry and chariots and
+elephants of both parties, was like unto that of old between the
+gods and the <i>Asuras</i>, terrible and fierce and sufficient for
+making one's hair stand on end and calculated to increase the
+population of Yama's kingdom. And as the combatants rushed against
+one another, smiting and slashing, thick clouds of dust began to
+rise, so that nothing could be discovered. And covered with the
+dust raised by the contending armies, birds began to drop down on
+the earth. And the sun himself disappeared behind the thick cloud
+of arrows shot, and the firmament looked bright as if with myriads
+of the fireflies. And shifting their bows, the staves of which were
+decked with gold, from one hand to another, those heroes began to
+strike each other down, discharging their arrows right and left.
+And cars encountered cars, and foot-soldiers fought with
+foot-soldiers, and horse-men with horsemen, and elephants with
+mighty elephants. And they furiously encountered one another with
+swords and axes, bearded darts and javelins, and iron clubs. And
+although, O king, those mighty-armed warriors furiously assailed
+one another in that conflict, yet neither party succeeded in
+prevailing over the other. And severed heads, some with beautiful
+noses, some with upper lips deeply gashed, some decked with
+ear-rings, and some divided with wounds about the well-trimmed hair
+were seen rolling on the ground covered with dust. And soon the
+field of battle was overspread with the limbs of Kshatriya
+warriors, cut off by means of arrows and lying like trunks of
+<i>Sala</i> trees. And scattered over with heads decked in
+ear-rings, and sandal-besmeared arms looking like the bodies of
+snakes, the field of battle became exceedingly beautiful. And as
+cars encountered cars, and horsemen encountered horsemen, and
+foot-soldiers fought with foot-soldiers, and elephants met with
+elephants, the frightful dust soon became drenched with torrents of
+blood. And some amongst the combatants began to swoon away, and the
+warriors began to fight reckless of consideration of humanity,
+friendship and relationship. And both their course and sight
+obstructed by the arrowy shower, vultures began to alight on the
+ground. But although those strong-armed combatants furiously fought
+with one another, yet the heroes of neither party succeeded in
+routing their antagonists. And Satanika having slain a full hundred
+of the enemy and Visalaksha full four hundred, both those mighty
+warriors penetrated into the heart of the great Trigarta host. And
+having entered into the thick of the Trigarta host, those famous
+and mighty heroes began to deprive their antagonists of their
+senses by causing a closer conflict to set in&mdash;a conflict, in
+which the combatants seized one another by the hair and tore one
+another with their nails.<a id="footnotetag29" name=
+"footnotetag29"></a><a href="#footnote29"><sup>29</sup></a> And
+eyeing the point where the cars of the Trigartas had been mustered
+in strong numbers, those heroes at last directed their attack
+towards it. And that foremost of car-warriors, king Virata also,
+with Suryadatta in his van and Madiraksha in his rear, having
+destroyed in that conflict five hundred cars, eight hundred horses,
+and five warriors on great cars, displayed various skilful
+manoeuvres on his car on that field of battle. And at last the king
+came upon the ruler of the Trigartas mounted on a golden chariot.
+And those high-souled and powerful warriors, desirous of fighting,
+rushed roaring against each like two bulls in a cow-pen. Then that
+bull among men, irrepressible in battle, Susarman, the king of the
+Trigartas, challenged Matsya to a single combat on car. Then those
+warriors excited to fury rushed against each other on their cars
+and began to shower their arrows upon each other like clouds
+pouring torrents of rain.<a id="footnotetag30" name=
+"footnotetag30"></a><a href="#footnote30"><sup>30</sup></a> And
+enraged with each other, those fierce warriors, both skilled in
+weapons, both wielding swords and darts and maces, then moved about
+(on the field of battle) assailing each other with whetted arrows.
+Then king Virata pierced Susarman with ten shafts and each of his
+four horses also with five shafts. And Susarman also, irresistible
+in battle and conversant with fatal weapons, pierced king of Matsya
+with fifty whetted shafts. And then, O mighty monarch, in
+consequence of the dust on the field of battle, the soldiers of
+both Susarman and Matsya's king could not distinguish one
+another."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then, O Bharata, when the world was
+enveloped in dust and the gloom of night, the warriors of both
+sides, without breaking the order of battle, desisted for a
+while.<a id="footnotetag31" name="footnotetag31"></a><a href=
+"#footnote31"><sup>31</sup></a> And then, dispelling the darkness
+the moon arose illumining the night and gladdening the hearts of
+the Kshatriya warriors. And when everything became visible, the
+battle once more began. And it raged on so furiously that the
+combatants could not distinguish one another. And then Trigarta's
+lord, Susarman with his younger brother, and accompanied by all his
+cars, rushed towards the king of Matsya. And descending from their
+cars, those bulls among Kshatriyas, the (royal) brothers, mace in
+hand, rushed furiously towards the cars of the foe. And the hostile
+hosts fiercely assailed each other with maces and swords and
+scimitars, battle-axes and bearded darts with keen edges and points
+of excellent temper. And king Susarman, the lord of the Trigartas
+having by his energy oppressed and defeated the whole army of the
+Matsyas, impetuously rushed towards Virata himself endued with
+great energy. And the two brothers having severally slain Virata's
+two steeds and his charioteer, as also those soldiers that
+protected his rear, took him captive alive, when deprived of his
+car. Then afflicting him sorely, like a lustful man afflicting a
+defenceless damsel, Susarman placed Virata on his own car, and
+speedily rushed out of the field. And when the powerful Virata,
+deprived of his car, was taken captive, the Matsyas, harrassed
+solely by the Trigartas, began to flee in fear in all directions.
+And beholding them panic-stricken, Kunti's son, Yudhishthira,
+addressed that subduer of foes, the mighty-armed Bhima, saying,
+'The king of the Matsyas hath been taken by the Trigartas. Do thou,
+O mighty-armed one, rescue him, so that he may not fall under the
+power of the enemy. As we have lived happily in Virata's city,
+having every desire of ours gratified, it behoveth thee, O
+Bhimasena, to discharge that debt (by liberating the king).'
+Thereat Bhimasena replied, 'I will liberate him, O king, at thy
+command. Mark the feat I achieve (today) in battling with the foe,
+relying solely on the might of my arms. Do thou, O king, stay
+aside, along with our brothers and witness my prowess today.
+Uprooting this mighty tree of huge trunk looking like a mace, I
+will rout the enemy.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding Bhima casting his eyes on
+that tree like a mad elephant, the heroic king Yudhishthira the
+just spake unto his brother, saying, 'Do not, O Bhima, commit such
+a rash act. Let the tree stand there. Thou must not achieve such
+feats in a super-human manner by means of that tree, for if thou
+dost, the people, O Bharata, will recognise thee and say, <i>This
+is Bhima</i>. Take thou, therefore, some human weapon such as a bow
+(and arrows), or a dart, or a sword, or a battle-axe. And taking
+therefore, O Bhima, some weapon that is human, liberate thou the
+king without giving anybody the means of knowing thee truly. The
+twins endued with great strength will defend thy wheels. Fighting
+together, O child, liberate the king of the Matsyas!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, the mighty Bhimasena
+endued with great speed, quickly took up an excellent bow and
+impetuously shot from it a shower of arrows, thick as the downpour
+of a rain-charged cloud. And Bhima then rushed furiously towards
+Susarman of terrible deeds, and assuring Virata with the
+words&mdash;<i>O good king!</i><a id="footnotetag32" name=
+"footnotetag32"></a><a href="#footnote32"><sup>32</sup></a> said
+unto the lord of the Trigartas,&mdash;<i>Stay! Stay!</i> Seeing
+Bhima like unto Yama himself in his rear, saying, <i>Stay! Stay! Do
+thou witness this mighty feat,&mdash;this combat that is at
+hand!</i>&mdash;the bull among warriors, Susarman, seriously
+considered (the situation), and taking up his bow turned back,
+along with his brothers. Within the twinkling of an eye, Bhima
+destroyed those cars that sought to oppose him. And soon again
+hundreds of thousands of cars and elephants and horses and horsemen
+and brave and fierce bowmen were overthrown by Bhima in the very
+sight of Virata. And the hostile infantry also began to be
+slaughtered by the illustrious Bhima, mace in hand. And beholding
+that terrible onslaught, Susarman, irrepressible in fight, thought
+within himself, 'My brother seems to have already succumbed in the
+midst of his mighty host. Is my army going to be annihilated?' And
+drawing his bow-string to his ear Susarman then turned back and
+began to shoot keen-edged shafts incessantly. And seeing the
+Pandavas return to the charge on their car, the Matsya warriors of
+mighty host, urging on their steeds, shot excellent weapons for
+grinding the Trigarta soldiers. And Virata's son also, exceedingly
+exasperated began to perform prodigious fears of valour. And
+Kunti's son Yudhishthira slew a thousand (of the foe), and Bhima
+showed the abode of Yama unto seven thousand. And Nakula sent seven
+hundred (to their last account) by means of his shafts. And
+powerful Sahadeva also, commanded by Yudhishthira, slew three
+hundred brave warriors. And having slain such numbers, that fierce
+and mighty warrior, Yudhishthira, with weapons upraised, rushed
+against Susarman. And rushing impetuously at Susarman, that
+foremost of car-warriors, king Yudhishthira, assailed him with
+vollies of shafts. And Susarman also, in great rage, quickly
+pierced Yudhishthira with nine arrows, and each of his four steeds
+with four arrows. Then, O king, Kunti's son Bhima of quick
+movements, approaching Susarman crushed his steeds. And having
+slain also those soldiers that protected his rear, he dragged from
+the car his antagonist's charioteer to the ground. And seeing the
+king of Trigarta's car without a driver, the defender of his
+car-wheels, the famous and brave Madiraksha speedily came to his
+aid. And thereat, leaping down from Susarman's car, and securing
+the latter's mace the powerful Virata ran in pursuit of him. And
+though old, he moved on the field, mace in hand, even like a lusty
+youth. And beholding Susarman flee Bhima addressed him, saying,
+'Desist, O Prince! This flight of thine is not proper! With this
+prowess of thine, how couldst thou wish to carry off the cattle by
+force? How also, forsaking thy follower, dost thou droop so amidst
+foes?' Thus addressed by Pritha's son, the mighty Susarman, that
+lord of countless cars saying unto Bhima, <i>Stay!
+Stay!</i>&mdash;suddenly turned round and rushed at him. Then
+Bhima, the son of Pandu, leaping down from his car, as he alone
+could do,<a id="footnotetag33" name="footnotetag33"></a><a href=
+"#footnote33"><sup>33</sup></a> rushed forward with great coolness,
+desirous of taking Susarman's life. And desirous of seizing
+Trigarta's king advancing towards him, the mighty Bhimasena rushed
+impetuously towards him, even like a lion rushing at a small deer.
+And advancing impetuously, the mighty-armed Bhima seized Susarman
+by the hair, and lifting him up in wrath, dashed him down on the
+ground. And as he lay crying in agony, the mighty-armed Bhima
+kicked him at the head, and placing his knee on his breast dealt
+him severe blows. And sorely afflicted with that kicking, the king
+of Trigartas became senseless. And when the king of the Trigartas
+deprived of his car, had been seized thus, the whole Trigarta army
+stricken with panic, broke and fled in all directions, and the
+mighty sons of Pandu, endued with modesty and observant of vows and
+relying on the might of their own arms, after having vanquished
+Susarman, and rescued the kine as well as other kinds of wealth and
+having thus dispelled Virata's anxiety, stood together before that
+monarch. And Bhimasena then said, 'This wretch given to wicked
+deeds doth not deserve to escape me with life. But what can I do?
+The king is so lenient!' And then taking Susarman by the neck as he
+was lying on the ground insensible and covered with dust, and
+binding him fast, Pritha's son Vrikodara placed him on his car, and
+went to where Yudhishthira was staying in the midst of the field.
+And Bhima then showed Susarman unto the monarch. And beholding
+Susarman in that plight, that tiger among men king Yudhishthira
+smilingly addressed Bhima&mdash;that ornament of
+battle,&mdash;saying, 'Let this worst of men be set free.' Thus
+addressed, Bhima spoke unto the mighty Susarman, saying, 'If, O
+wretch, thou wishest to live, listen to those words of mine. Thou
+must say in every court and assembly of men,&mdash;<i>I am a
+slave.</i> On this condition only I will grant thee thy life.
+Verily, this is the law about the vanquished.' Thereupon his elder
+brother affectionately addressed Bhima, saying, 'If thou regardest
+us as an authority, liberate this wicked wight. He hath already
+become king Virata's slave.' And turning then to Susarman, he said,
+'Thou art freed. Go thou a free man, and never act again in this
+way.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXIV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Yudhishthira Susarman was
+overwhelmed with shame and hung down his head. And liberated (from
+slavery), he went to king Virata, and having saluted the monarch,
+took his departure. And the Pandavas also relying on the might of
+their own arms, and endued with modesty and observant of vows,
+having slain their enemies and liberated Susarman, passed that
+night happily on the field of battle. And Virata gratified those
+mighty warriors, the sons of Kunti, possessed of super-human
+prowess with wealth and honour. And Virata said, 'All these gems of
+mine are now as much mine as yours. Do ye according to your
+pleasure live here happily. And ye smiter of foes in battle, I will
+bestow on you damsels decked with ornaments, wealth in plenty, and
+other things that ye may like. Delivered from perils today by your
+prowess, I am now crowned with victory. Do ye all become the lords
+of the Matsyas.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "And when the king of the Matsyas had
+addressed them thus, those descendants of the Kurus with
+Yudhishthira at their head, joining their hands, severally replied
+unto him saying, 'We are well-pleased with all that thou sayest, O
+monarch. We, however, have been much gratified that thou hast today
+been freed from thy foes.' Thus answered, that foremost of kings,
+Virata the lord of the Matsyas, again addressed Yudhishthira,
+saying, 'Come, we will install thee in sovereignty of the Matsyas.
+And we will also bestow on thee things that are rare on earth and
+are objects of desire, for thou deservest everything at our hands.
+O foremost of Brahmanas of the <i>Vaiyaghra</i> order I will bestow
+on thee gems and kine and gold and rubies and pearls. I bow unto
+thee. It is owing to thee that I once more behold today my sons and
+kingdom. Afflicted and threatened as I had been with disaster and
+danger, it is through thy prowess that I have not succumbed to the
+foe.' Then Yudhishthira again addressed the Matsyas, saying,
+'Well-pleased are we with the delightful words that thou hast
+spoken. Mayst thou be ever happy, always practising humanity
+towards all creatures. Let messengers now, at thy command, speedily
+repair into the city, in order to communicate the glad tidings to
+our friends, and proclaim thy victory.' Hearing these words of him,
+king Matsya ordered the messengers, saying, 'Do ye repair to the
+city and proclaim my victory in battle. And let damsels and
+courtesans, decked in ornaments, come out of the city with every
+kind of musical instruments.' Hearing this command uttered by the
+king of the Matsyas, the men, laying the mandate on their head, all
+departed with cheerful hearts. And having repaired to the city that
+very night, they proclaimed at the hour of sunrise the victory of
+the king about the city-gates."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "When the king of the Matsyas, anxious of
+recovering the kine, had set out in pursuit of the Trigartas,
+Duryodhana with his counsellors invaded the dominions of Virata.
+And Bhishma and Drona, and Karna, and Kripa acquainted with the
+best of weapons, Aswatthaman, and Suvala's son, and Duhsasana, O
+lord of men, and Vivingsati and Vikarna and Chitrasena endued with
+great energy, and Durmukha and Dussaha,&mdash;these and many other
+great warriors, coming upon the Matsya dominion speedily drove off
+the cowherds of king Virata and forcibly took away the kine. And
+the Kauravas, surrounding all sides with a multitude of cars,
+seized sixty thousands of kine. And loud was the yell of woe set up
+by the cowherds smitten by those warriors in that terrible
+conflict. And the chief of the cowherds, greatly affrighted
+speedily mounted on a chariot and set out for the city, bewailing
+in affliction. And entering the city of the king, he proceeded to
+the place, and speedily alighting from the chariot, got in for
+relating (what had happened). And beholding the proud son of
+Matsya, named Bhuminjaya, he told him everything about the seizure
+of the royal kine. And he said, 'the Kauravas are taking away sixty
+thousand kine. Rise, therefore, O enhancer of the kingdom's glory,
+for bringing back thy cattle. O prince, if thou art desirous of
+achieving (the kingdom's) good set out thyself without loss of
+time. Indeed, the king of the Matsyas left thee in the empty city.
+The king (thy father) boasteth of thee in court, saying, "My son,
+equal unto me, is a hero and is the supporter of (the glory of) my
+race. My son is a warrior skilled in arrows and weapons and is
+always possessed of great courage."&mdash;Oh, let the words of that
+lord of men be true! O chief of herd-owners, bring thou back the
+kine after vanquishing the Kurus, and consume thou their troops
+with the terrific energy of thy arrows. Do thou like a leader of
+elephants rushing at a herd, pierce the ranks of the foe with
+straight arrows of golden wings, discharged from thy bow. Thy bow
+is even like a <i>Vina</i>. Its two ends represent the ivory
+pillows; its string, the main chord; its staff, the finger-board;
+and the arrows shot from it musical notes. Do thou strike in the
+midst of the foe that <i>Vina</i> of musical sound.<a id=
+"footnotetag34" name="footnotetag34"></a><a href=
+"#footnote34"><sup>34</sup></a> Let thy steeds, O lord, of silvery
+hue, be yoked unto thy car, and let thy standard be hoisted,
+bearing the emblem of the golden lion. Let thy keen-edged arrows
+endued with wings of gold, shot by thy strong arms, obstruct the
+path of those kings and eclipse the very sun. Vanquishing all the
+Kurus in battle like unto the wielder of the thunderbolt defeating
+the <i>Asuras</i>, return thou again to the city having achieved
+great renown. Son of Matsya's king, thou art the sole refuge of
+this kingdom, as that foremost of virtuous warriors, Arjuna is of
+the sons of Pandu. Even like Arjuna of his brothers, thou art,
+without doubt, the refuge of those dwelling within these dominions.
+Indeed, we, the subject of this realm, have our protector in
+thee.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by the cowherd in the
+presence of the females, in words breathing courage, the prince
+indulging in self-commendation within the female apartments, spoke
+these words."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXVI</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Firm as I am in the use of the bow, I would set
+out this very day in the track of the kine if only some one skilled
+in the management of horses becomes my charioteer. I do not,
+however, know the man who may be my charioteer. Look ye, therefore,
+without delay, for a charioteer for me that am prepared for
+starting. My own charioteer was slain in the great battle that was
+fought from day to day for a whole month or at least for eight and
+twenty nights. As soon as I get another person conversant with the
+management of the steeds, I will immediately set out, hoisting high
+my own standard. Penetrating into the midst of the hostile army
+abounding with elephants and horses and chariots, I will bring back
+the kine, having vanquished the Kurus who are feeble in strength
+and weak in weapons. Like a second wielder of the thunderbolt
+terrifying the Danavas, I will bring back the kine this very
+moment, affrighting in battle Duryodhana and Bhishma and Karna and
+Kripa and Drona with his son, and other mighty bowmen assembled for
+fight. Finding none (to oppose), the Kurus are taking away the
+kine. What can I do when I am not there? The assembled Kurus shall
+witness my prowess today. And they shall say unto one another, "Is
+it Arjuna himself who is opposing us?'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having heard these words spoken by the
+prince, Arjuna fully acquainted with the import of everything,
+after a little while cheerfully spake in private unto his dear wife
+of faultless beauty, Krishna, the princess of Panchala, Drupada's
+daughter of slender make, sprung from the (sacrificial) fire and
+endued with the virtues of truthfulness and honesty and ever
+attentive to the good of her husbands. And the hero said, 'Do thou,
+O beauteous one, at my request say unto Uttara without delay, "This
+Vrihannala was formerly the accomplished resolute charioteer of
+Pandu's son (Arjuna). Tried in many a great battle, even he will be
+thy charioteer."'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words uttered by the
+prince over and over again in the midst of the women, Panchali
+could not quietly bear those allusions to Vibhatsu. And bashfully
+stepping out from among the women, the poor princess of Panchala
+gently spake unto him these words, 'The handsome youth, looking
+like a mighty elephant and known by the name of Vrihannala, was
+formerly the charioteer of Arjuna. A disciple of that illustrious
+warrior, and inferior to none in use of the bow, he was known to me
+while I was living with the Pandavas. It was by him that the reins
+were held of Arjuna's excellent steeds when Agni consumed the
+forest of Khandava. It was with him as charioteer that Partha
+conquered all creatures at Khandava-prastha. In fact, there is no
+charioteer equal unto him.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Thou knowest, O <i>Sairindhri</i>, this youth.
+Thou knowest, what this one of the neuter sex may or may not be. I
+cannot, however, O blessed one, myself request Vrihannala to hold
+the reins of my horses.'</p>
+<p>"Draupadi said, 'Vrihannala, O hero, will without doubt, obey
+the words of thy younger sister<a id="footnotetag35" name=
+"footnotetag35"></a><a href=
+"#footnote35"><sup>35</sup></a>&mdash;that damsel of graceful hips.
+If he consents to be thy charioteer, thou wilt, without doubt,
+return, having vanquished the Kurus and rescued thy kine.'</p>
+<p>"Thus addressed by the <i>Sairindhri</i>, Uttara spake unto his
+sister, 'Go thyself, O thou of faultless beauty, and bring
+Vrihannala hither.' And despatched by her brother, she hastily
+repaired to the dancing-hall where that strong-armed son of Pandu
+was staying in disguise."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Thus despatched by her elder brother, the
+far-famed daughter of king Matsya, adorned with a golden necklace,
+ever obedient to her brother and possessed of a waist slender as
+that of the wasp,<a id="footnotetag36" name=
+"footnotetag36"></a><a href="#footnote36"><sup>36</sup></a> endued
+with the splendour of Lakshmi herself,<a id="footnotetag37" name=
+"footnotetag37"></a><a href="#footnote37"><sup>37</sup></a> decked
+with the plumes of the peacock of slender make and graceful limbs,
+her hips encircled by a zone of pearls, her eye-lashes slightly
+curved, and her form endued with every grace, hastily repaired to
+the dancing-hall like a flash of lightning rushing towards a mass
+of dark clouds.<a id="footnotetag38" name=
+"footnotetag38"></a><a href="#footnote38"><sup>38</sup></a> And the
+faultless and auspicious daughter of Virata, of fine teeth and
+slender-waist, of thighs close unto each other and each like the
+trunk of an elephant, her person embellished with an excellent
+garland, sought the son of Pritha like a she-elephant seeking her
+mate. And like unto a precious gem or the very embodiment of
+prosperity of Indra, of exceeding beauty and large eyes, that
+charming and adored and celebrated damsel saluted Arjuna. And
+saluted by her, Partha asked that maiden of close thighs and golden
+complexion, saying 'What brings thee hither, a damsel decked in a
+necklace of gold? Why art thou in such a hurry, O gazelle-eyed
+maiden? Why is thy face, O beauteous lady, so cheerless? Tell me
+all this without delay!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding, O king, his friend, the
+princess of large-eyes (in that plight), her friend (Arjuna)
+cheerfully enquired of her (in these words) the cause of her
+arrival there and then. And having approached that bull among men,
+the princess, standing in the midst of her female attendants, the
+displaying proper modesty<a id="footnotetag39" name=
+"footnotetag39"></a><a href="#footnote39"><sup>39</sup></a>,
+addressed him, saying, 'The kine of this realm, O Vrihannala, are
+being driven away by the Kurus, and it is to conquer them that my
+brother will set out bow in hand. Not long ago his own charioteer
+was slain in battle, and there is none equal unto the one slain
+that can act as my brother's charioteer. And unto him striving to
+obtain a charioteer, <i>Sairindhri</i>, O Vrihannala, hath spoken
+about thy skill in the management of steeds. Thou wert formerly the
+favourite charioteer of Arjuna, and it was with thee that that bull
+among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the whole earth. Do
+thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, act as the charioteer of my brother.
+(By this time) our kine have surely been driven away by the Kurus
+to a great distance. Requested by me if thou dost not act up to my
+words, I who am asking this service of thee out of affection, will
+give up my life!' Thus addressed by this friend of graceful hips,
+that oppressor of foes, endued with immeasurable prowess, went into
+the prince's presence. And like unto a she-elephant running after
+her young one, the princess possessed of large eyes followed that
+hero advancing with hasty steps like unto an elephant with rent
+temples. And beholding him from a distance, the prince himself
+said, 'With thee as his charioteer, Dhananjaya the son of Kunti had
+gratified <i>Agni</i> at the Khandava forest and subjugated the
+whole world! The <i>Sairindhri</i> hath spoken of thee to me. She
+knoweth the Pandavas. Do thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, hold, as
+thou didst, the reins of my steeds, desirous as I am of righting
+with the Kurus and rescuing my bovine wealth. Thou wert formerly
+the beloved charioteer of Arjuna and it was with thee that that
+bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the whole earth!'
+Thus addressed, Vrihannala replied unto the prince, saying, 'What
+ability have I to act as a charioteer in the field of battle? If it
+is song or dance or musical instruments or such other things, I can
+entertain thee therewith, but where is my skill for becoming a
+charioteer?'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'O Vrihannala, be thou a singer or a dancer, hold
+thou (for the present), without loss of time, the reins of my
+excellent steeds, mounting upon my car!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Although that oppressor of foes, the
+son of Pandu, was acquainted with everything, yet in the presence
+of Uttara, he began to make many mistakes for the sake of fun. And
+when he sought to put the coat of mail on his body by raising it
+upwards, the large-eyed maidens, beholding it, burst out into a
+loud laughter. And seeing him quite ignorant of putting on armour,
+Uttara himself equipped Vrihannala with a costly coat of mail. And
+casing his own person in an excellent armour of solar effulgence,
+and hoisting his standard bearing the figure of a lion, the prince
+caused Vrihannala to become his charioteer. And with Vrihannala to
+hold his reins, the hero set out, taking with him many costly bows
+and a large number of beautiful arrows. And his friend, Uttara and
+her maidens then said unto Vrihannala, 'Do thou, O Vrihannala,
+bring for our dolls (when thou comest back) various kinds of good
+and fine cloths after vanquishing the Kurus assembled for battle of
+whom Bhishma and Drona are foremost!' Thus addressed, Partha the
+son of Pandu, in a voice deep as the roar of the clouds, smilingly
+said unto that bevy of fair maidens. 'If thus Uttara can vanquish
+those mighty warriors in battle, I will certainly bring excellent
+and beautiful cloths.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said these words, the heroic
+Arjuna urged the steeds towards the Kuru army over which floated
+innumerable flags. Just, however, as they were starting, elderly
+dames and maidens, and Brahmanas of rigid vows, beholding Uttara
+seated on his excellent car with Vrihannala as charioteer and under
+that great banner hoisted on high, walked round the car to bless
+the hero. And the women said, 'Let the victory that Arjuna treading
+like a bull had achieved of old on the occasion of burning the
+forest of Khandava, be thine, O Vrihannala, when thou encounterest
+the Kurus today with prince Uttara.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXVIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having issued forth from the city, the
+dauntless son of Virata addressed his charioteer, saying, 'Proceed
+whither the Kurus are. Defeating the assembled Kurus who have come
+hither from desire of victory, and quickly rescuing my kine from
+them, I will return to the capital.' At these words of the prince,
+the son of Pandu urged those excellent steeds. And endued with the
+speed of the wind and decked with necklaces of gold, those steeds,
+urged by that lion among men, seemed to fly through the air. And
+they had not proceeded far when those smiters of foes, Dhananjaya
+and the son of Matsya, sighted the army of the powerful Kurus. And
+proceeding towards the cemetery, they came upon the Kurus and
+beheld their army arrayed in order of battle.<a id="footnotetag40"
+name="footnotetag40"></a><a href="#footnote40"><sup>40</sup></a>
+And that large army of theirs looked like the vast sea or a forest
+of innumerable trees moving through the sky. And then was seen, O
+best among the Kurus, the dust raised by that moving army which
+reached the sky and obstructed the sight of all creatures. And
+beholding that mighty host abounding in elephants, horses and
+chariots, and protected by Karna and Duryodhana and Kripa and
+Santanu's son, and that intelligent and great bowman Drona, with
+his son (Aswatthaman), the son of Virata, agitated with fear and
+the bristles on his body standing on their ends, thus spake unto
+Partha, 'I dare not fight with the Kurus. See, the bristles on my
+body have stood on their ends. I am incapable of battling with this
+countless host of the Kurus, abounding in the heroic warriors, that
+are extremely fierce and difficult of being vanquished even by the
+celestials. I do not venture to penetrate into the army of the
+Bharatas consisting of terrible bowmen and abounding in horses and
+elephants and cars and footsoldiers and banners. My mind is too
+much perturbed by the very sight of the foe on the field of battle
+on which stand Drona and Bhishma, and Kripa, and Karna, and
+Vivingsati, and Aswatthaman and Vikarna, and Saumadatti, and
+Vahlika, and the heroic king Duryodhana also&mdash;that foremost of
+car-warriors, and many other splendid bowmen, all skilled in
+battle. My hairs have stood on their ends, and I am fainting with
+fear at the very sight of these smiters, the Kurus arrayed in order
+of battle.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "And the low-minded and foolish Uttara
+out of folly alone, began to bewail (his fate) in the presence of
+the high-spirited (Arjuna) disguised (as his charioteer) in these
+words, 'My father hath gone out to meet the Trigartas taking with
+him his whole army, leaving me in the empty city. There are no
+troops to assist me. Alone and a mere boy who has not undergone
+much exercise in arms, I am unable to encounter these innumerable
+warriors and all skilled in weapons. Do thou, therefore, O
+Vrihannala, cease to advance!'</p>
+<p>"Vrihannala said, 'Why dost thou look so pale through fear and
+enhance the joy of thy foes? As yet thou hast done nothing on the
+field of battle with the enemy. It was thou that hadst ordered me,
+saying, <i>Take me towards the Kauravas</i>. I will, therefore,
+take thee, thither where those innumerable flags are. I will
+certainly take thee, O mighty-armed one, into the midst of the
+hostile Kurus, prepared to fight as they are for the kine like
+hawks for meat. I would do this, even if I regarded them to have
+come hither for battling for a much higher stake such as the
+sovereignty of the earth. Having, at the time of setting out,
+talked before both men and women so highly of thy manliness, why
+wouldst thou desist from the fight? If thou shouldst return home
+without recapturing the kine, brave men and even women, when they
+meet together, will laugh at thee (in derision). As regards myself,
+I cannot return to the city without having rescued the kine,
+applauded as I have been so highly by the <i>Sairindhri</i> in
+respect of my skill in driving cars. It is for those praises by the
+<i>Sairindhri</i> and for those words of thine also (that I have
+come). Why should I not, therefore, give battle to the Kurus? (As
+regards thyself), be thou still.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Let the Kurus rob the Matsyas of all their
+wealth. Let men and women, O Vrihannala, laugh at me. Let my kine
+perish, let the city be a desert. Let me stand exposed before my
+father. Still there is no need of battle.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, that much affrighted
+prince decked in ear-ring jumped down from his car, and throwing
+down his bow and arrows began to flee, sacrificing honour and
+pride. Vrihannala, however, exclaimed, 'This is not the practice of
+the brave, this flight of a Kshatriya from the field of battle.
+Even death in battle is better than flight from fear.' Having said
+this, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, coming down from that excellent
+car ran after that prince thus running away, his own long braid and
+pure red garments fluttering in the air. And some soldiers, not
+knowing that it was Arjuna who was thus running with his braid
+fluttering in the air, burst out into laughter at the sight. And
+beholding him thus running, the Kurus began to argue, 'Who is this
+person, thus disguised like fire concealed in ashes? He is partly a
+man and partly a woman. Although bearing a neuter form, he yet
+resembleth Arjuna. His are the same head and neck, and his the same
+arms like unto a couple of maces. And this one's gait also is like
+unto his. He can be none else than Dhananjaya. As <i>Indra</i> is
+among the celestials, so Dhananjaya is among men. Who else in this
+world than Dhananjaya, would alone come against us? Virata left a
+single son of his in the empty city. He hath come out from
+childishness and not from true heroism. It is Uttara who must have
+come out of the city, having, without doubt, made as a charioteer
+Arjuna, the son of Pritha, now living in disguise. It seems that he
+is now flying away in panic at sight of our army. And without doubt
+Dhananjaya runneth after him to bring him back.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding the disguised son of Pandu,
+the Kauravas, O Bharata, began to indulge in these surmises, but
+they could not come to any definite conclusion. Meanwhile,
+Dhananjaya, hastily pursuing the retreating Uttara, seized him by
+the hair within a hundred steps. And seized by Arjuna, the son of
+Virata began to lament most woefully like one in great affliction,
+and said, 'Listen, O good Vrihannala, O thou of handsome waist.
+Turn thou quickly the course of the car. He that liveth meeteth
+with prosperity. I will give thee a hundred coins of pure gold and
+eight <i>lapis lazuli</i> of great brightness set with gold, and
+one chariot furnished with a golden flag-staff and drawn by
+excellent steeds, and also ten elephants of infuriate prowess. Do
+thou, O Vrihannala, set me free.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, that tiger among men
+laughingly dragged Uttara who was almost deprived of his senses and
+who was uttering these words of lamentation towards the car. And
+the son of Pritha then addressed the affrighted prince who had
+nearly lost his senses, saying, 'If, O chastiser of foes, thou dost
+not venture to fight with enemy, come thou and hold the reins of
+the steeds as I fight with the foe. Protected by the might of my
+arms, penetrate thou yon formidable and invincible array of cars
+guarded by heroic and mighty warriors. Fear not, O chastiser of
+foes, thou art a <i>Kshatriya</i> and the foremost of royal
+princes. Why dost thou, O tiger among men, succumb in the midst of
+the foe? I shall surely fight with the Kurus and recover the kine,
+penetrating into this formidable and inaccessible array of cars. Be
+thou my charioteer, O best of men, I will fight with the Kurus.'
+Thus speaking unto Uttara, the son of Virata, Vibhatsu, heretofore
+unconquered in battle, for a while comforted him. And then the son
+of Pritha, that foremost of smiters, raised on the car that
+fainting and reluctant prince stricken with fear!"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXIX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Beholding that bull among men seated on the
+car in the habit of a person of the third sex, driving toward the
+<i>Sami</i> tree, having taken (the flying) Uttara up, all the
+great car-warriors of the Kurus with Bhishma and Drona at their
+head, became affrighted at heart, suspecting the comer to be
+Dhananjaya. And seeing them so dispirited and marking also the many
+wonderful portents, that foremost of all wielders of arms, the
+preceptor Drona, son of Bharadwaja, said, 'Violent and hot are the
+winds that below, showering gravels in profusion. The sky also is
+overcast with a gloom of ashy hue. The clouds present the strange
+sight of being dry and waterless. Our weapons also of various kinds
+are coming out of their cases. The jackals are yelling hideously
+affrighted at the conflagrations on all sides.<a id="footnotetag41"
+name="footnotetag41"></a><a href="#footnote41"><sup>41</sup></a>
+The horses too are shedding tears, and our banners are trembling
+though moved by none. Such being the inauspicious indications seen,
+a great danger is at hand. Stay ye with vigilance. Protect ye your
+own selves and array the troops in order of battle. Stand ye,
+expecting a terrible slaughter, and guard ye well the kine. This
+mighty bowman, this foremost of all wielders of weapons, this hero
+that hath come in the habit of a person of the third sex, is the
+son of Pritha. There is no doubt of this.' Then addressing Bhishma,
+the preceptor continued, 'O offspring of the Ganges, apparelled as
+a woman, this is <i>Kiriti</i> called after a tree, the son of the
+enemy of the mountains, and having on his banner the sign of
+devastator of the gardens of Lanka's lord. Vanquishing us he will
+surely take away the kine today!<a id="footnotetag42" name=
+"footnotetag42"></a><a href="#footnote42"><sup>42</sup></a> This
+chastiser of foes is the valiant son of Pritha surnamed
+<i>Savyasachin</i>. He doth not desist from conflict even with the
+gods and demons combined. Put to great hardship in the forest he
+cometh in wrath. Taught by even Indra himself, he is like unto
+Indra in battle. Therefore, ye Kauravas, I do not see any hero who
+can withstand him. It is said that the lord <i>Mahadeva</i>
+himself, disguised in the attire of a hunter, was gratified by this
+son of Pritha in battle on the mountains of Himavat.' Hearing these
+words, Karna said, 'You always censure us by speaking on the
+virtues of <i>Phalguna</i>. Arjuna, however, is not equal to even a
+full sixteenth part of myself or Duryodhana!' And Duryodhana said,
+'If this be Partha, O Radheya, then my purpose hath already been
+fulfilled, for then, O king, if traced out, the Pandavas shall have
+to wander for twelve years again. Or, if this one be any other
+person in a eunuch's garb, I will soon prostrate him on the earth
+with keen-edged arrows.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "The son of Dhritarashtra, O chastiser
+of foes, having said this, Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Drona's
+son all applauded his manliness!"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XL</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having reached that <i>Sami</i> tree, and
+having ascertained Virata's son to be exceedingly delicate and
+inexperienced in battle, Partha addressed him, saying, 'Enjoined by
+me, O Uttara, quickly take down (from this tree) some bows that are
+there. For these bows of thine are unable to bear my strength, my
+heavy weight when I shall grind down horses and elephants, and the
+stretch of my arms when I seek to vanquish the foe. Therefore, O
+Bhuminjaya, climb thou up this tree of thick foliage, for in this
+tree are tied the bows and arrows and banners and excellent coats
+of mail of the heroic sons of Pandu, viz., Yudhishthira and Bhima
+and Vibhatsu and the twins. There also is that bow of great energy,
+the <i>Gandiva</i> of Arjuna, which singly is equal to many
+thousands of other bows and which is capable of extending the
+limits of a kingdom. Large like a palmyra tree, able to bear the
+greatest stress, the largest of all weapons, capable of obstructing
+the foe, handsome, and smooth, and broad, without a knot, and
+adorned with gold, it is stiff and beautiful in make and beareth
+the heaviest weight. And the other bows also that are there, of
+Yudhishthira and Bhima and Vibhatsu and the twins, are equally
+mighty and tough.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLI</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'It hath been heard by us that a corpse is tied in
+this tree. How can I, therefore, being a prince by birth, touch it
+with my hands? Born in the <i>Kshatriya</i> order, and the son of a
+great king, and always observant of <i>mantras</i> and vows, it is
+not becoming of me to touch it. Why shouldst thou, O Vrihannala,
+make me a polluted and unclean bearer of corpses, by compelling me
+to come in contact with a corpse?'</p>
+<p>"Vrihannala said, 'Thou shalt, O king of kings, remain clean and
+unpolluted. Do not fear, there are only bows in this tree and not
+corpses. Heir to the king of the Matsyas, and born in a noble
+family, why should I, O prince, make thee do such a reproachable
+deed?'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Partha, Virata's son,
+decked in ear-rings, alighted from the car, and climbed up that
+<i>Sami</i> tree reluctantly. And staying on the car, Dhananjaya,
+that slayer of enemies, said unto him, 'Speedily bring thou down
+those bows from the top of the tree.' And cutting off their
+wrappings first and then the ropes with which they were tied, the
+prince beheld the <i>Gandiva</i> there along with four other bows.
+And as they were untied, the splendour of those bows radiant as the
+sun, began to shine with great effulgence like unto that of the
+planets about the time of their rising. And beholding the forms of
+those bows, so like unto sighing snakes, he become afflicted with
+fear and in a moment the bristles of his body stood on their ends.
+And touching those large bows of great splendour, Virata's son, O
+king, thus spake unto Arjuna!"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLII</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'To what warrior of fame doth this excellent bow
+belong, on which are a hundred golden bosses and which hath such
+radiant ends? Whose is this excellent bow of good sides and easy
+hold, on the staff of which shine golden elephants of such
+brightness? Whose is this excellent bow, adorned with three scores
+of <i>Indragopakas</i><a id="footnotetag43" name=
+"footnotetag43"></a><a href="#footnote43"><sup>43</sup></a> of pure
+gold, placed on the back of the staff at proper intervals? Whose is
+this excellent bow, furnished with three golden suns of great
+effulgence, blazing forth with such brilliancy? Whose is this
+beautiful bow which is variegated with gold and gems, and on which
+are golden insects set with beautiful stones? Whose are these
+arrows furnished with wing around, numbering a thousand, having
+golden heads, and cased in golden quivers? Who owneth these large
+shafts, so thick, furnished with vulturine wings whetted on stone,
+yellowish in hue, sharp-pointed, well-tempered, and entirely made
+of iron? Whose is this sable quiver,<a id="footnotetag44" name=
+"footnotetag44"></a><a href="#footnote44"><sup>44</sup></a> bearing
+five images of tigers, which holdeth shafts intermined with
+boar-eared arrows altogether numbering ten? Whose are these seven
+hundred arrows, long and thick, capable of drinking (the enemy's)
+blood, and looking like the crescent-shaped moon?<a id=
+"footnotetag45" name="footnotetag45"></a><a href=
+"#footnote45"><sup>45</sup></a> Whose are these gold-crested arrows
+whetted on stones, the lower halves of which are well-furnished
+with wings of the hue of parrots' feather and the upper halves, of
+well-tempered steels?<a id="footnotetag46" name=
+"footnotetag46"></a><a href="#footnote46"><sup>46</sup></a> Whose
+is this excellent sword irresistible, and terrible to adversaries,
+with the mark of a toad on it, and pointed like a toad's
+head?<a id="footnotetag47" name="footnotetag47"></a><a href=
+"#footnote47"><sup>47</sup></a> Cased in variegated sheath of
+tiger-skin, whose is this large sword of excellent blade and
+variegated with gold and furnished with tinkling bells? Whose is
+this handsome scimitar of polished blade and golden hilt?
+Manufactured in the country of the <i>Nishadas</i>, irresistible,
+incapable of being broken, whose is this sword of polished blade in
+a scabbard of cow-skin? Whose is this beautiful and long sword,
+sable in hue as the sky, mounted with gold, well-tempered, and
+cased in a sheath of goat-skin? Who owneth this heavy,
+well-tempered, and broad sword, just longer than the breadth of
+thirty fingers, polished by constant clash with other's weapons and
+kept in a case of gold, bright as fire? Whose is this beautiful
+scimitar of sable blade covered with golden bosses, capable of
+cutting through the bodies of adversaries, whose touch is as fatal
+as that of a venomous snake which is irresistible and exciteth the
+terror of foes? Asked by me, O Vrihannala, do thou answer me truly.
+Great is my wonder at the sight of all these excellent
+objects.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLIII</h2>
+<p>"Vrihannala said, 'That about which thou hath first enquired is
+Arjuna's bow, of world-wide fame, called <i>Gandiva</i>, capable of
+devastating hostile hosts. Embellished with gold, this
+<i>Gandiva</i>, the highest and largest of all weapons belonged to
+Arjuna. Alone equal unto a hundred thousand weapons, and always
+capable of extending the confines of kingdoms, it is with this that
+Partha vanquisheth in battle both men and celestials. Worshipped
+ever by the gods, the <i>Danavas</i> and the <i>Gandharvas</i> and
+variegated with excellent colours, this large and smooth bow is
+without a knot or stain anywhere. Shiva held it first for a
+thousand years. Afterwards Prajapati held it for five hundred and
+three years. After that Sakra, for five and eighty years. And then
+Soma held it for five hundred years. And after that <i>Varuna</i>
+held it for a hundred years. And finally Partha, surnamed
+<i>Swetavahana,</i><a id="footnotetag48" name=
+"footnotetag48"></a><a href="#footnote48"><sup>48</sup></a> hath
+held it for five and sixty years.<a id="footnotetag49" name=
+"footnotetag49"></a><a href="#footnote49"><sup>49</sup></a> Endued
+with great energy and of high celestial origin, this is the best of
+all bows. Adored among gods and men, it hath a handsome form.
+Partha obtained this beautiful bow from Varuna. This other bow of
+handsome sides and golden handle is Bhima's with which that son of
+Pritha, that chastiser of foes, had conquered the whole of the
+eastern regions. This other excellent bow of beautiful shape,
+adorned with images of <i>Indragopakas</i>, belongeth, O Virata's
+son, to king Yudhishthira. This other weapon with golden suns of
+blazing splendour shedding a dazzling effulgence around, belongeth
+to Nakula. And this bow adorned with golden images of insects and
+set also with gems and stones, belongeth to that son of Madri who
+is called Sahadeva. These winged arrows, thousand in number, sharp
+as razors and destructive as the poison of snakes, belong, O
+Virata's son, to Arjuna. When shooting them in battle against foes,
+these swift arrows blaze forth more brilliantly and become
+inexhaustible. And these long and thick shafts resembling the lunar
+crescent in shape, keen-edged and capable of thinning the enemy's
+ranks, belong to Bhima. And this quiver bearing five images of
+tigers, full of yellowish shafts whetted on stone and furnished
+with golden wings belong to Nakula. This is the quiver of the
+intelligent son of Madri, with which he had conquered in battle the
+whole of the western regions. And these arrows, all effulgent as
+the sun, painted all over with various colours, and capable of
+destroying enemies by thousands are those of Sahadeva. And these
+short and well-tempered and thick shafts, furnished with long
+feathers and golden heads, and consisting of three knots, belong to
+king Yudhishthira. And this sword with blade long and carved with
+the image of a toad and head shaped as a toad's mouth, strong and
+irresistible belongeth to Arjuna. Cased in a sheath of tiger-skin,
+of long blade, handsome and irresistible, and terrible to
+adversaries, this sword belongeth to Bhimasena. Of excellent blade
+and cased in a well-painted sheath, and furnished with a golden
+hilt, this handsome sword belongeth to the wise
+Kaurava&mdash;Yudhishthira the just. And this sword of strong
+blade, irresistible and intended for various excellent modes of
+fight and cased in a sheath of goat-skin, belongeth to Nakula. And
+this huge scimitar, cased in a sheath of cow-skin, strong and
+irresistible belongeth to Sahadeva.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLIV</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Indeed, these weapons adorned with gold,
+belonging to the light-handed and high-souled Partha, look
+exceedingly beautiful. But where are that Arjuna, the son of
+Pritha, and Yudhishthira of the Kuru race, and Nakula, and
+Sahadeva, and Bhimasena, the sons of Pandu? Having lost their
+kingdom at dice, the high-souled Pandavas, capable of destroying
+all foes, are no longer heard of. Where also is Draupadi, the
+princess of <i>Panchala</i>, famed as the gem among women, who
+followed the sons of Pandu after their defeat at dice to the
+forest?'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'I am Arjuna, called also Partha. Thy father's
+courtier is Yudhishthira and thy father's cook Vallava is
+Bhimasena, the groom of horses is Nakula, and Sahadeva is in the
+cow-pen. And know thou that the <i>Sairindhri</i> is Draupadi, for
+whose sake the Kichakas have been slain.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'I would believe all this if thou canst enumerate
+the ten names of Partha, previously heard by me!'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'I will, O son of Virata, tell thee my ten names.
+Listen thou and compare them with what thou hadst heard before.
+Listen to them with close attention and concentrated mind. They are
+<i>Arjuna, Phalguna, Jishnu, Kiritin, Swetavahana, Vibhatsu,
+Vijaya, Krishna, Savyasachin</i> and <i>Dhananjaya</i>.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Tell me truly why art thou called Vijaya, and why
+Swetavahana. Why art thou named Krishna and why Arjuna and Phalguna
+and Jishnu and Kiritin and Vibhatsu, and for what art thou
+Dhananjaya and Savyasachin? I have heard before about the origin of
+the several names of that hero, and can put faith in thy words if
+thou canst tell me all about them.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'They called me Dhananjaya because I lived in the
+midst of wealth, having subjugated all the countries and taking
+away their treasures. They called me Vijaya because when I go out
+to battle with invincible kings, I never return (from the field)
+without vanquishing them. I am called Swetavahana because when
+battling with the foe, white horses decked in golden armour are
+always yoked unto my car. They call me Phalguna because I was born
+on the breast of the Himavat on a day when the constellation
+<i>Uttara Phalguna</i> was on the ascendent. I am named Kiritin
+from a diadem, resplendent like the sun, having been placed of old
+on my head by Indra during my encounter with the powerful
+<i>Danavas</i>. I am known as Vibhatsu among gods and men, for my
+never having committed a detestable deed on the battle-field. And
+since both of my hands are capable of drawing the <i>Gandiva</i>, I
+am known as Savyasachin among gods and men. They call me Arjuna
+because my complexion is very rare within the four boundaries of
+the earth and because also my acts are always stainless. I am known
+among human beings and celestials by the name of Jishnu, because I
+am unapproachable and incapable of being kept down, and a tamer of
+adversaries and son of the slayer of Paka. And Krishna, my tenth
+appellation, was given to me by my father out of affection towards
+his black-skinned boy of great purity.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "The son of Virata then, approaching
+nearer saluted Partha and said, 'My name is Bhuminjaya, and I am
+also called Uttara. It is by good luck, O Partha, that I behold
+thee. Thou art welcome, O Dhananjaya. O thou with red eyes, and
+arms that are mighty and each like unto the trunk of an elephant,
+it behoveth thee to pardon what I said unto thee from ignorance.
+And as wonderful and difficult have been the feats achieved by thee
+before, my fears have been dispelled, and indeed the love I bear to
+thee is great.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLV</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'O hero, mounting on this large car with myself as
+driver, which division of the (hostile) army wouldst thou
+penetrate? Commanded by thee, I would drive thee thither.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'I am pleased with thee, O tiger among men. Thou
+hast no cause of fear. I will rout all thy foes in battle, O great
+warrior, And, O thou of mighty arms, be at thy ease. Accomplishing
+great and terrible feats in the melee, I will fight with thy foes.
+Tie quickly all those quivers to my car, and take (from among
+those) a sword of polished blade and adorned with gold.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Arjuna, Uttara
+cast off all inactivity. And he speedily alighted from the tree,
+bringing with him Arjuna's weapons. Then Arjuna addressed him,
+saying, 'Yes, I will fight with the Kurus and recover thy kine.
+Protected by me, the top of this car will be to thee as a citadel.
+The passages and alleys and other divisions of this car will be the
+streets and edifices of that fortified city. These my arms will be
+its ramparts and gateways. This treble pole and my quiver will
+constitute defensive works inaccessible to the foe. This my
+banner&mdash;single and grand&mdash;will it not alone be equal unto
+those of thy city? This my bow-string will constitute the catapults
+and cannons for vomiting forth missiles on the besieging host. My
+excited wrath will make that fortress formidable, and the clatter
+of my car-wheels&mdash;will it not resemble the kettle-drums of thy
+capital? Ridden by myself wielding the <i>Gandiva</i>, this car
+will be incapable of being vanquished by the hostile host, O son of
+Virata, let thy fear be dispelled.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'I am no longer afraid of these. I know thy
+steadiness in battle, which is even like unto that of Kesava or
+Indra himself. But reflecting on this, I am continually bewildered.
+Foolish as I am, I am incapable of arriving at certain conclusion.
+By what distressful circumstances could <i>a person of such
+handsome limbs and auspicious signs become deprived of manhood</i>!
+Indeed, thou seemest to me to be Mahadeva, or Indra, or the chief
+of the Gandharvas, dwelling in the guise only of one of the third
+sex.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'I tell thee truly that I am only observing this
+vow for a whole year agreeable to the behest of my elder brother. O
+thou of mighty arms, I am not truly one of the neuter sex, but I
+have adopted this vow of eunuchism from subservience to another's
+will and from desire of religious merit. O prince, know me now to
+have completed my vow.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Thou hast conferred a great favour on me today,
+for I now find that my suspicion was not altogether unfounded.
+Indeed, such a person as thou, O best of men, cannot be of the
+neuter sex. I have now an ally in battle. I can now fight with the
+celestials themselves. My fears have been dispelled. What shall I
+do? Command me now. Trained in driving cars by a learned preceptor
+I will, O bull among men, hold the reins of thy horses that are
+capable of breaking the ranks of hostile cars. Know me, O bull
+among men, to be as competent a charioteer as Daruka of Vasudeva,
+or Matali of Sakra. The horse that is yoked unto the right-hand
+pole (of thy car) and whose hoofs as they light on the ground are
+scarcely visible when running, is like unto <i>Sugriva</i> of
+Krishna. This other handsome horse, the foremost of his race, that
+is yoked unto the left pole, is, I regard, equal in speed to
+<i>Meghapushpa</i>. This (third) beautiful horse, clad in golden
+mail, yoked unto the rear-pole on the left, is, I regard,
+<i>Sivya</i> equal in speed to but superior in strength. And this
+(fourth) horse, yoked to the rear-pole on the right, is regarded as
+superior to <i>Valahaka</i> in speed and strength. This car is
+worthy of bearing on the field of battle a bowman like thee, and
+thou also art worthy of fighting on this car. This is what I
+think!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then Arjuna, endued with great energy,
+took off the bracelets from his arms and wore on his hands a pair
+of beautiful gloves embroidered with gold. And he then tied his
+black and curling locks with a piece of white cloth. And seated on
+that excellent car with face turned to the east, the mighty-armed
+hero, purifying his body and concentrating his soul, recalled to
+his mind all his weapons. And all the weapons came, and addressing
+the royal son of Partha, said, 'We are here, O illustrious one. We
+are thy servants, O son of Indra.' And bowing unto them, Partha
+received them unto his hands and replied unto them, saying, 'Dwell
+ye all in my memory.' And obtaining all his weapons, the hero
+looked cheerful. And quickly stringing his bow, the <i>Gandiva</i>,
+he twanged it. And the twang of that bow was as loud as the
+collision of two mighty bulls. And dreadful was the sound that
+filled the earth, and violent was the wind that blew on all sides.
+And thick was the shower of fallen meteors<a id="footnotetag50"
+name="footnotetag50"></a><a href="#footnote50"><sup>50</sup></a>
+and all sides were enveloped in gloom. And the birds began to
+totter in the skies and large trees began to shake.<a id=
+"footnotetag51" name="footnotetag51"></a><a href=
+"#footnote51"><sup>51</sup></a> And loud as the burst of the
+thunder, the Kurus knew from that sound that it was Arjuna that
+drew with his hands the string of his best of bows from his car.
+And Uttara said, 'Thou, O best of Pandavas, art alone. These mighty
+car-warriors are many. How wilt thou vanquish in battle all these
+that are skilled in every kind of weapon? Thou, O son of Kunti, art
+without a follower, while the Kauravas have many. It is for this, O
+thou of mighty arms, that I stay beside thee, stricken with fear.'
+Bursting out into loud laughter, Partha said unto him, 'Be not
+afraid, O hero, what friendly follower had I while fighting with
+the mighty <i>Gandharvas</i> on the occasion of the
+<i>Ghoshayatra</i>? Who was my ally while engaged in the terrific
+conflict at <i>Khandava</i> against so many celestials and
+<i>Danavas</i>? Who was my ally when I fought, on behalf of the
+lord of the celestials against the mighty <i>Nivatakavachas</i> and
+the <i>Paulomas</i>! And who was my ally, O child, while I
+encountered in battle innumerable kings at the <i>Swayamvara</i> to
+the princess of Panchala? Trained in arms by the preceptor Drona,
+by Sakra, and Vaisravana, and Yama, and Varuna, and Agni, and
+Kripa, and Krishna of Madhu's race, and by the wielder of the
+<i>Pinaka</i> (Siva), why shall I not fight with these? Drive thou
+my car speedily, and let thy heart's fever be dispelled.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLVI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Making Uttara his charioteer, and
+circumambulating the <i>Sami</i> tree, the son of Pandu set out
+taking all his weapons with him. And that mighty car-warrior set
+out with Uttara as the driver of his car, having taken down that
+banner with the lion's figure and deposited it at the foot of the
+<i>Sami</i> tree. And he hoisted on that car his own golden banner
+bearing the figure of an ape with a lion's tail, which was a
+celestial illusion contrived by Viswakarman himself. For, as soon,
+indeed, as he had thought of that gift of Agni, than the latter,
+knowing his wish, ordered those superhuman creatures (that usually
+sat there) to take their place in that banner. And furnished with a
+beautiful flag of handsome make, with quivers attached to it, and
+adorned with gold, that excellent flag-staff of celestial beauty
+then quickly fell from the firmament on his car.<a id=
+"footnotetag52" name="footnotetag52"></a><a href=
+"#footnote52"><sup>52</sup></a> And beholding that banner arrived
+on his car, the hero circumambulated it (respectively). And then
+the ape-bannered Vibhatsu, the son of Kunti, called also
+Swetavahana, with fingers cased in leathern fences of the
+<i>Iguana</i> skin, and taking up his bow and arrows set out in a
+northernly direction. And that grinder of foes, possessed of great
+strength, then forcibly blew his large conch-shell, of thundering
+sound, capable of making the bristles of foes to stand on their
+ends. And at the sound of that conch, those steeds endued with
+swiftness dropped down on the ground on their knees. And Uttara
+also, greatly affrighted, sat down on the car. And thereupon the
+son of Kunti took the reins himself and raising the steeds, placed
+them in their proper positions. And embracing Uttara, he encouraged
+him also, saying, 'Fear not, O foremost of princes, thou art, O
+chastiser of foes, a <i>Kshatriya</i> by birth. Why, O tiger among
+men, dost thou become so dispirited in the midst of foes? Thou must
+have heard before the blare of many conchs and the note of many
+trumpets, and the roar also of many elephants in the midst of ranks
+arrayed for battled. Why art thou, therefore, so dispirited and
+agitated and terrified by the blare of this conch, as if thou wert
+an ordinary person?'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Heard have I the blare of many a conch and many a
+trumpet and the roar of many an elephant stationed in the
+battle-array, but never have I heard before the blare of such
+conch. Nor have I ever seen a banner like this. Never before have I
+heard also the twang of a bow such as this. Truly, sir, with the
+blare of this conch, the twang of this bow, the superhuman cries of
+the creatures stationed on this banner, and the battle of this car,
+my mind is greatly bewildered. My perception of the directions also
+is confused, and my heart is painfully afflicted. The whole
+firmament seemeth to me to have been covered by this banner, and
+everything seemeth to be hidden from my view! My ears also have
+been deafened by the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i>!'<a id=
+"footnotetag53" name="footnotetag53"></a><a href=
+"#footnote53"><sup>53</sup></a></p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'Firmly stand thou on the car, pressing thy feet
+on it, and tightly catch hold of the bridles, for I will blow the
+conch again.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Arjuna then blew his conch again, that conch
+which filled foes with grief and enhanced the joy of friends. And
+the sound was so loud that it seemed to split hills and mountains,
+and pierce mountain-caves and the cardinal points. And Uttara once
+again sat down on the car, clinging to it in fear. And with the
+blare of the conch and the rattle of the car-wheels, and the twang
+of the Gandiva, the earth itself seemed to tremble. And beholding
+Uttara's fight, Dhananjaya began to comfort him again.'</p>
+<p>"Meanwhile, Drona said, 'From the rattle of the car, and from
+the manner in which the clouds have enveloped the sky and the earth
+itself trembles, this warrior can be none else than
+<i>Savyasachin</i>. Our weapons do not shine, our steeds are
+dispirited, and our fires, though fed with fuel, do not blare up.
+All this is ominous. All our animals are setting up a frightful
+howl, gazing towards the sun. The crows are perching on our
+banners. All this is ominous. Yon vultures and kites on our right
+portend a great danger. That jackal also, running through our
+ranks, waileth dismally. Lo, it hath escaped unstruck. All this
+portends a heavy calamity. The bristles also of ye all are on their
+ends. Surely, this forebodes a great destruction of Kshatriyas in
+battle. Things endued with light are all pale; beasts and birds
+look fierce; and there are to be witnessed many terrific portents
+indicative of the destruction of Kshatriyas. And these omens
+forebode great havoc among ourselves. O king, thy ranks seem to be
+confounded by these blazing meteors, and thy animals look
+dispirited and seem to be weeping. Vultures and kites are wheeling
+all around thy troops. Thou shalt have to repent upon beholding thy
+army afflicted by Partha's arrows. Indeed, our ranks seem to have
+been already vanquished, for none is eager to go to fight. All our
+warriors are of pale face, and almost deprived of their senses.
+Sending the kine ahead we should stand here, ready to strike, with
+all our warriors arrayed in order of battle.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "King Duryodhana then, on the field of battle
+said unto Bhishma, and unto Drona&mdash;that tiger among warriors,
+and unto Kripa&mdash;that mighty car-warrior, these words, 'Both
+myself and Karna had said this unto the preceptors.<a id=
+"footnotetag54" name="footnotetag54"></a><a href=
+"#footnote54"><sup>54</sup></a> I refer to the subject again, for I
+am not satisfied with having said it once. Even this was the pledge
+of the sons of Pandu that if defeated (at dice) they would reside
+to our knowledge in countries and woods for twelve years, and one
+more year unknown to us. That thirteenth year, instead of being
+over, is yet running. Vibhatsu, therefore, who is still to live
+undiscovered hath appeared before us. And if Vibhatsu hath come
+before the term of exile is at end, the Pandavas shall have to pass
+another twelve years in the woods. Whether it is due to
+forgetfulness (on their part) induced by desire of dominion, or
+whether it is a mistake of ours, it behoveth Bhishma to calculate
+the shortness or excess (of the promised period). When an object of
+desire may or may not be attained, a doubt necessarily attaches to
+one of the alternatives, and what is decided in one way often ends
+differently.<a id="footnotetag55" name="footnotetag55"></a><a href=
+"#footnote55"><sup>55</sup></a> Even moralists are puzzled in
+judging of their own acts.<a id="footnotetag56" name=
+"footnotetag56"></a><a href="#footnote56"><sup>56</sup></a> As
+regards ourselves, we have come hither to fight with the Matsyas
+and to seize their kine stationed towards the north. If, meanwhile,
+it is Arjuna that hath come, what fault can attach to us? We have
+come hither to fight against the Matsyas on behalf of the
+Trigartas; and as numerous were the acts represented unto us of the
+oppressions committed by the Matsyas, it was for this that we
+promised aid to the Trigartas who were overcome with fear. And it
+was agreed between us that they should first seize, on the
+afternoon of the seventh lunar day, the enormous wealth of kine
+that the Matsyas have, and that we should, at sunrise of the
+eighteen day of the moon, seize these kine when the king of the
+Matsyas would be pursuing those first seized. It may be that the
+Trigartas are now bringing away the kine, or being defeated, are
+coming towards us for negotiating with the king of the Matsyas. Or,
+it may be, that having driven the Trigartas off, the king of the
+Matsyas, at the head of this people and his whole army of fierce
+warriors, appeareth on the scene and advanceth to make
+night-attacks upon us. It may be that some one leader among them,
+endued with mighty energy, is advancing for vanquishing us, or, it
+may be that the king himself of the Matsyas is come. But be it the
+king of the Matsyas or Vibhatsu, we must all fight him. Even this
+hath been our pledge. Why are all these of foremost
+car-warriors,&mdash;Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Vikarna and
+Drona's son,&mdash;now sitting on their cars, panic-stricken? At
+present there is nothing better than fighting. Therefore, make up
+your minds. If, for the cattle we have seized, an encounter takes
+place with the divine wielder himself of the thunderbolt or even
+with Yama, who is there that will be liable to reach Hastinapura?
+Pierced by the shafts (of the foe), how will the foot-soldiers, in
+flying through the deep forest with their backs on the field,
+escape with life, when escape for the cavalry is doubtful?' Hearing
+these words of Duryodhana, Karna said, 'Disregarding the preceptor,
+make all arrangements. He knoweth well the intentions of the
+Pandavas and striketh terror in our hearts. I see that his
+affection for Arjuna is very great. Seeing him only coming, he
+chanteth his praises. Make ye such arrangements that our troops may
+not break. Everything is in confusion for Drona's having only heard
+the neigh of (Arjuna's) steeds. Make ye such arrangements that
+these troops, come to a distant land in this hot season and in the
+midst of this mighty forest, may not fall into confusion and be
+subjugated by the foe. The Pandavas are always the special
+favourites of the preceptor. The selfish Pandavas have stationed
+Drona amongst us. Indeed, he betrayeth himself by his speech. Who
+would ever extol a person upon hearing the neigh only of his
+steeds? Horses always neigh, whether walking or standing, the winds
+blow at all times; and Indra also always showereth rain. The roar
+of the clouds may frequently be heard. What hath Partha to do with
+these, and why is he to be praised for these? All this (on Drona's
+part), therefore, is due only to either the desire of doing good to
+Arjuna or to his wrath and hatred towards us. Preceptors are wise,
+and sinless, and very kind to all creatures. They, however, should
+never be consulted at times of peril. It is in luxurious palaces,
+and assemblies and pleasure-gardens, that learned men, capable of
+making speeches, seem to be in their place. Performing many
+wonderful things, in the assembly, it is there that learned men
+find their place, or even there where sacrificial utensils and
+their proper placing and washing are needed. In a knowledge of the
+lapses of others, in studying the characters of men, in the science
+of horses and elephants and cars, in treating the diseases of asses
+and camels and goats and sheeps and kine, in planning buildings and
+gateways, and in pointing out the defects of food and drink, the
+learned are truly in their own sphere. Disregarding learned men
+that extol the heroism of the foe, make ye such arrangements that
+the foe may be destroyed. Placing the kine securely, array the
+troops in order of battle. Place guards in proper places so that we
+may fight the foe.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLVIII</h2>
+<p>"Karna said, 'I behold all these blessed ones, looking as if
+alarmed and panic-struck and unresolved and unwilling to fight. If
+he that is come is the king of the Matsyas or Vibhatsu, even I will
+resist him as the banks resist the swelling sea. Shot from my bow
+these straight and flying arrows, like gliding snakes, are all sure
+of aim. Discharged by my light hands, these keen-edged arrows
+furnished with golden wings shall cover Partha all over, like
+locusts shrouding a tree. Strongly pressed by these winged arrows,
+the bow-string will cause these my leathern fences to produce
+sounds that will be heard to resemble those of a couple of
+kettle-drums. Having been engaged in ascetic austerities for the
+(last) eight and five years, Vibhatsu will strike me but mildly in
+this conflict, and the son of Kunti having become a Brahmana endued
+with good qualities, hath thus become a fit person to quietly
+receive shafts by thousands shot by me. This mighty bowman is
+indeed, celebrated over the three worlds. I, too, am, by no means,
+inferior to Arjuna, that foremost of human beings. With golden
+arrows furnished with vulturine wings shot on all sides, let the
+firmament seem today to swarm with fire-flies. Slaying Arjuna in
+battle, I will discharge today that debt, difficult of repayments,
+but promised of old by me unto Dhritarashtra's son. When man is
+there, even amongst all the gods and the <i>Asuras</i>, that will
+endure to stand in the teeth of the straight arrows shot from my
+bow? Let my flying arrows, winged and depressed at the middle,
+present the spectacle of the coursing of the fire-flies through the
+welkin. Hard though he be as Indra's thunderbolt and possessed of
+the energy of the chief of the celestials, I will surely grind
+Partha, even as one afflicts an elephant by means of burning
+brands. A heroic and mighty car-warrior as he is, and the foremost
+of all wielders of weapons I shall seize the unresisting Partha,
+even like Garuda seizing a snake. Irresistible like fire, and fed
+by the fuel of swords, darts, and arrows, the blazing Pandava-fire
+that consumeth foes, will be extinguished even by myself who am
+like unto a mighty cloud incessantly dropping an arrowy
+shower,&mdash;the multitude of cars (I will lead) constituting its
+thunder, and the speed of my horses, the wind in advance.
+Discharged from my bow, my arrows like venomous snakes will pierce
+Partha's body, like serpent penetrating through an ant-hill.
+Pierced with well-tempered and straight shafts endued with golden
+wings and great energy, behold ye today the son of Kunti decked
+like a hill covered with <i>Karnikara</i> flowers. Having obtained
+weapons from that best of ascetics&mdash;the son of Jamadagni, I
+would, relying on their energy, fight with even the celestials.
+Struck with my javelin, the ape stationed on his banner-top shall
+fall down today on the ground, uttering terrible cries. The
+firmament will today be filled with the cries of the (super-human)
+creatures stationed in the flagstaff of the foe, and afflicted by
+me, they will fly away in all directions. I shall today pluck up by
+the roots the long-existing dart in Duryodhana's heart by throwing
+Arjuna down from his car. The Kauravas will today behold Partha
+with his car broken, his horses killed, his valour gone, and
+himself sighing like a snake. Let the Kauravas, following their own
+will go away taking this wealth of kine, or, if they wish, let them
+stay on their cars and witness my combat.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLIX</h2>
+<p>"Kripa said, 'O Radheya, thy crooked heart always inclineth to
+war. Thou knowest not the true nature of things; nor dost thou take
+into account their after-consequences. There are various kinds of
+expedients inferrable from the scriptures. Of these, a battle hath
+been regarded by those acquainted with the past, as the most
+sinful. It is only when time and place are favourable that military
+operations can lead to success. In the present instance, however,
+the time being unfavourable, no good results will be deprived. A
+display of prowess in proper time and place becometh beneficial. It
+is by the favourableness or otherwise (of time and place) that the
+opportuneness of an act is determined. Learned men can never act
+according to the ideas of a car-maker. Considering all this, an
+encounter with Partha is not advisible for us. Alone he saved the
+Kurus (from the <i>Gandharvas</i>), and alone he satiated Agni.
+Alone he led the life of a <i>Brahmacharin</i> for five years (on
+the breast of Himavat). Taking up Subhadra on his car, alone he
+challenged Krishna to single combat. Alone he fought with Rudra who
+stood before him as a forester. It was in this very forest that
+Partha rescued Krishna while she was being taken away (by
+Jayadratha). It is he alone that hath, for five years, studied the
+science of weapons under Indra. 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 <i>Gandharvas</i>
+and in a moment his invincible troops also. Alone he overthrew in
+battle the fierce <i>Nivatakavachas</i> and the
+<i>Kalakhanchas</i>, that were both incapable of being slain by the
+gods themselves. What, however, O Karna, hath been achieved by thee
+single-handed like any of the sons of Pandu, each of whom had alone
+subjugated many lords of earth? Even Indra himself is unfit to
+encounter Partha in battle. He, therefore, that desireth to fight
+with Arjuna should take a sedative. As to thyself, thou desirest to
+take out the fangs of an angry snake of virulent poison by
+stretching forth thy right hand and extending thy forefinger. Or,
+wandering alone in the forest thou desirest to ride an infuriate
+elephant and go to a boar without a hook in hand. Or, rubbed over
+with clarified butter and dressed in silken robes, thou desirest to
+pass through the midst of a blazing fire fed with fat and tallow
+and clarified butter. Who is there that would, binding his own
+hands and feet and tying a huge stone unto his neck, cross the
+ocean swimming with his bare arms? What manliness is there in such
+an act? O Karna, he is a fool that would, without skill in weapons
+and without strength, desire to fight with Partha who is so mighty
+and skilled in weapons. Dishonestly deceived by us and liberated
+from thirteen years' exile, will not the illustrious hero
+annihilate us? Having ignorantly come to a place where Partha lay
+concealed like fire hidden in a well, we have, indeed, exposed to a
+great danger. But irresistible though he be in battle, we should
+fight against him. Let, therefore, our troops, clad in mail, stand
+here arrayed in ranks and ready to strike. Let Drona and Duryodhana
+and Bhishma and thyself and Drona's son and ourselves, all fight
+with the son of Pritha. Do not, O Karna, act so rashly as to fight
+alone. If we six car-warriors be united, we can then be a match for
+and fight with that son of Pritha who is resolved to fight and who
+is as fierce as the wielder of the thunderbolt. Aided by our troops
+arrayed in ranks, ourselves&mdash;great bowmen&mdash;standing
+carefully will fight with Arjuna even as the <i>Danavas</i>
+encounter Vasava in battle.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION L</h2>
+<p>"Aswatthaman said, 'The kine, O Karna, have not yet been won,
+nor have they yet crossed the boundary (of their owner's
+dominions), nor have they yet reached Hastinapura. Why dost thou,
+therefore, boast of thyself? Having won numerous battles, and
+acquired enormous wealth, and vanquished hostile hosts, men of true
+heroism speak not a word of their prowess. Fire burneth mutely and
+mutely doth the sun shine. Mutely also doth the Earth bear
+creatures, both mobile and immobile. The Self-existent hath
+sanctioned such offices for the four orders that having recourse to
+them each may acquire wealth without being censurable. A Brahmana,
+having studied the <i>Vedas</i>, should perform sacrifices himself,
+and officiate at the sacrifices of others. And a Kshatriya,
+depending upon the bow, should perform sacrifices himself but
+should never officiate at the sacrifices of others. And a Vaisya,
+having earned wealth, should cause the rites enjoined in the
+<i>Vedas</i> to be performed for himself. A Sudra should always
+wait upon and serve the other three orders. As regards those that
+live by practising the profession of flowers and vendors of meat,
+they may earn wealth by expedients fraught with deceit and fraud.
+Always acting according to the dictates of the scriptures, the
+exalted sons of Pandu acquired the sovereignty of the whole earth,
+and they always act respectfully towards their superiors, even if
+the latter prove hostile to them. What Kshatriya is there that
+expressed delight at having obtained a kingdom by means of dice,
+like this wicked and shameless son of Dhritarashtra? Having
+acquired wealth in this way by deceit and fraud like a vendor of
+meat, who that is wise boast of it? In what single combat didst
+thou vanquish Dhananjaya, or Nakula, or Sahadeva, although thou
+hast robbed them of their wealth? In what battle didst thou defeat
+Yudhishthira, or Bhima that foremost of strong men? In what battle
+was Indraprastha conquered by thee? What thou hast done, however, O
+thou of wicked deeds, is to drag that princess to court while she
+was ill and had but one raiment on? Thou hast cut the mighty root,
+delicate as the sandal, of the Pandava tree. Actuated by desire of
+wealth, when thou madest the Pandavas act as slaves, rememberest
+thou what Vidura said! We see that men and others, even insects and
+ants, show forgiveness according to their power of endurance. The
+son of Pandu, however, is incapable of forgiving the sufferings of
+Draupadi. Surely, Dhananjaya cometh here for the destruction of the
+sons of Dhritarashtra. It is true, affecting great wisdom, thou art
+for making speeches but will not Vibhatsu, that slayer of foes,
+exterminate us all! If it be gods, or <i>Gandharvas</i> or
+<i>Asuras</i>, or <i>Rakshasas</i>, will Dhananjaya the son of
+Kunti, desist to fight from panic? Inflamed with wrath upon
+whomsoever he will fall, even him he will overthrow like a tree
+under the weight of Garuda! Superior to thee in prowess, in
+bowmanship equal unto the lord himself of the celestials, and in
+battle equal unto Vasudeva himself, who is there that would not
+praise Partha? Counteracting celestial weapons with celestial, and
+human weapons with human, what man is a match for Arjuna? Those
+acquainted with the scriptures declare that a disciple is no way
+inferior to a son, and it is for this that the son of Pandu is a
+favourite of Drona. Employ thou the means now which thou hadst
+adopted in the match at dice,&mdash;the same means, viz., by which
+thou hadst subjugated Indraprastha, and the same means by which
+thou hadst dragged Krishna to the assembly! This thy wise uncle,
+fully conversant with the duties of the <i>Kshatriya</i>
+order&mdash;this deceitful gambler Sakuni, the prince of Gandhara,
+let <i>him</i> fight now! The <i>Gandiva</i>, however, doth not
+cast dice such as the <i>Krita</i> or the <i>Dwapara</i>, but it
+shooteth upon foes blazing and keen-edged shafts by myriads. The
+fierce arrows shot from the <i>Gandiva</i>, endued with great
+energy and furnished with vulturine wings, car, pierce even
+mountains. The destroyer of all, named Yama, and Vayu, and the
+horse-faced Agni, leave some remnant behind, but Dhananjaya
+inflamed with wrath never doth so. As thou hadst, aided by thy
+uncle, played at dice in the assembly so do fight in this battle
+protected by Suvala's son. Let the preceptor, if he chooses fight;
+I shall not, however, fight with Dhananjaya. We are to fight with
+the king of the Matsyas, if indeed, he cometh in the track of the
+kine.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LI</h2>
+<p>"Bhishma said, 'Drona's son observeth well, and Kripa too
+observeth rightly. As for Karna, it is only out of regard for the
+duties of the Kshatriya order that he desireth to fight. No man of
+wisdom can blame the preceptor. I, however, am of opinion that
+fight we must, considering both the time and the place. Why should
+not that man be bewildered who hath five adversaries effulgent as
+five suns, who are heroic combatants and who have just emerged from
+adversity? Even those conversant with morality are bewildered in
+respect of their own interests. It is for this, O king, that I tell
+thee this, whether my words be acceptable to you or not. What Karna
+said unto thee was only for raising our (drooping) courage. As
+regards thyself, O preceptor's son, forgive everything. The
+business at hand is very grave. When the son of Kunti hath come,
+this is not the time for quarrel. Everything should now be forgiven
+by thyself and the preceptor Kripa. Like light in the sun, the
+mastery of all weapons doth reside in you. As beauty is never
+separated from <i>Chandramas</i>, so are the <i>Vedas</i> and the
+<i>Brahma</i> weapon both established in you. It is often seen that
+the four <i>Vedas</i> dwell in one object and <i>Kshatriya</i>
+attributes in another. We have never heard of these two dwelling
+together in any other person than the preceptor of the Bharata race
+and his son. Even this is what I think. In the <i>Vedantas</i>, in
+the <i>Puranas</i>, and in old histories, who save Jamadagni, O
+king, would be Drona's superior? A combination of the <i>Brahma</i>
+weapon with the <i>Vedas</i>,&mdash;this is never to be seen
+anywhere else. O preceptor's son, do thou forgive. This is not the
+time for disunion. Let all of us, uniting, fight with Indra's son
+who hath come. Of all the calamities that may befall an army that
+have been enumerated by men of wisdom, the worst is disunion among
+the leaders.' Aswatthaman said, 'O bull among men, these thy just
+observations, need not be uttered in our presence; the preceptor,
+however, filled with wrath, had spoken of Arjuna's virtues. The
+virtues of even an enemy should be admitted, while the faults of
+even one's preceptor may be pointed out; therefore one should, to
+the best of his power, declare the merits of a son or a
+disciple.'</p>
+<p>"Duryodhana said, 'Let the preceptor grant his forgiveness and
+let peace be restored. If the preceptor be at one with us, whatever
+should be done (in view of the present emergency) would seem to
+have been already done.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O Bharata, Duryodhana assisted by
+Karna and Kripa, and the high-souled Bhishma pacified Drona.</p>
+<p>"Drona said, 'Appeased I have already been at the words first
+spoken by Bhishma, the son of Santanu. Let such arrangements be
+made that Partha may not be able to approach Duryodhana in battle.
+And let such arrangements be made that king Duryodhana may not be
+captured by the foe, in consequence either of his rashness or want
+of judgment. Arjuna hath not, to be sure, revealed himself before
+the expiry of the term of exile. Nor will he pardon this act (of
+ours) today, having only recovered the kine. Let such arrangements,
+therefore, be made that he may not succeed in attacking
+Dhritarashtra's son and defeating our troops. Like myself (who am
+doubtful of the completion of period of exile) Duryodhana also had
+said so before. Bearing it in mind, it behoveth the son of Ganga to
+say what is true.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LII</h2>
+<p>"Bhishma said, 'The wheel of time revolves with its divisions,
+viz., with <i>Kalas</i> and <i>Kasthas</i> and <i>Muhurtas</i> and
+days and fortnights and months and constellations and planets and
+seasons and years. In consequence of their fractional excesses and
+the deviations of also of the heavenly bodies, there is an increase
+of two months in every five years. It seems to me that calculating
+this wise, there would be an excess of five months and twelve
+nights in thirteen years. Everything, therefore, that the sons of
+Pandu had promised, hath been exactly fulfilled by them. Knowing
+this to be certain, Vibhatsu hath made his appearance. All of them
+are high-souled and fully conversant with the meanings of the
+scriptures. How would they deviate from virtue that have
+Yudhishthira for their guide? The sons of Kunti do not yield to
+temptation. They have achieved a difficult feat. If they had
+coveted the possession of their kingdom by unfair means, then those
+descendants of the Kuru race would have sought to display their
+prowess at the time of the match at dice. Bound in bonds of virtue,
+they did not deviate from the duties of the Kshatriya order. He
+that will regard them to have behaved falsely will surely meet with
+defeat. The sons of Pritha would prefer death to falsehood. When
+the time, however, comes, those bulls among men&mdash;the
+Pandavas&mdash;endued with energy like that of Sakra, would not
+give up what is theirs even if it is defended by the wielder
+himself of the thunderbolt. We shall have to oppose in battle the
+foremost of all wielders of weapons. Therefore, let such
+advantageous arrangements as have the sanction of the good and the
+honest be now made without loss of time so that our possessions may
+not be appropriated by the foe. O king of kings, O Kaurava, I have
+never seen a battle in which one of the parties could
+say,&mdash;<i>we are sure to win</i>. When a battle occurs, there
+must be victory or defeat, prosperity or adversity. Without doubt,
+a party to a battle must have either of the two. Therefore, O king
+of kings, whether a battle be now proper or not consistent with
+virtue or not, make thy arrangements soon, for Dhananjaya is at
+hand.'</p>
+<p>"Duryodhana said, 'I will not, O grandsire, give back the
+Pandavas their kingdom. Let every preparation, therefore, for
+battle be made without delay.'</p>
+<p>"Bhishma said, 'Listen to what I regard as proper, if it pleases
+thee. I should always say what is for thy good, O Kaurava. Proceed
+thou towards the capital, without loss of time, taking with thee a
+fourth part of the army. And let another fourth march, escorting
+the kine. With half the troops we will fight the Pandava. Myself
+and Drona, and Karna and Aswatthaman and Kripa will resolutely
+withstand Vibhatsu, or the king of the Matsyas, or Indra himself,
+if he approaches. Indeed, we will withstand any of these like the
+bank withstanding the surging sea.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "These words spoken by the high-souled
+Bhishma were acceptable to them, and the king of the Kauravas acted
+accordingly without delay. And having sent away the king and then
+the kine, Bhishma began to array the soldiers in order of battle.
+And addressing the preceptor, he said, 'O preceptor, stand thou in
+the centre, and let Aswatthaman stand on the left, and let the wise
+Kripa, son of Saradwata, defend the right wing, and let Karna of
+the <i>Suta</i> caste, clad in mail, stand in the van. I will stand
+in the rear of the whole army, protecting it from that point.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "After the Kauravas, O Bharata, had taken
+their stand in this order, Arjuna, filling the air with the rattle
+and din of his car, advanced quickly towards them. And the Kurus
+beheld his banner-top and heard the rattle and din of his car as
+also the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i> stretched repeatedly by him.
+And noting all this, and seeing that great car-warrior&mdash;the
+wielder of the <i>Gandiva</i>&mdash;come, Drona spoke thus, 'That
+is the banner-top of Partha which shineth at a distance, and this
+is the noise of his car, and that is the ape that roareth
+frightfully. Indeed, the ape striketh terror in the troops. And
+there stationed on that excellent car, the foremost of car-warriors
+draweth that best of bows, the <i>Gandiva</i>, whose twang is as
+loud as the thunder. Behold, these two shafts coming together fall
+at my feet, and two others pass off barely touching my ears.
+Completing the period of exile and having achieved many wonderful
+feats, Partha saluteth me and whispereth in my ears. Endued with
+wisdom and beloved of his relatives, this Dhananjaya, the son of
+Pandu, is, indeed, beheld by us after a long time, blazing with
+beauty and grace. Possessed of car and arrows, furnished with
+handsome fences and quiver and conch and banner and coat of mail,
+decked with diadem and scimitar and bow, the son of Pritha shineth
+like the blazing (<i>Homa</i>) fire surrounded with sacrificial
+ladles and fed with sacrificial butter.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding the Kurus ready for battle,
+Arjuna addressing Matsya's son in words suitable to the occasion,
+said, 'O charioteer, restrain thou the steeds at such a point
+whence my arrows may reach the enemy. Meanwhile, let me see, where,
+in the midst of this army, is that vile wretch of the Kuru race.
+Disregarding all these, and singling out that vainest of princes I
+will fall upon his head, for upon the defeat of that wretch the
+others will regard themselves as defeated. There standeth Drona,
+and thereafter him his son. And there are those great
+bowmen&mdash;Bhishma and Kripa and Karna. I do not see, however,
+the king there. I suspect that anxious to save his life, he
+retreateth by the southern road, taking away with him the kine.
+Leaving this array of car-warriors, proceed to the spot where
+Suyodhana is. There will I fight, O son of Virata, for there the
+battle will not be fruitless, Defeating him I will come back,
+taking away the kine.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, the son of Virata
+restrained the steeds with an effort and turned them by a pull at
+the bridle from the spot where those bulls of the Kuru race were,
+and urged them on towards the place where Duryodhana was. And as
+Arjuna went away leaving that thick array of cars, Kripa, guessing
+his intention, addressed his own comrades, saying, 'This Vibhatsu
+desireth not to take up his stand at a spot remote from the king.
+Let us quickly fall upon the flanks of the advancing hero. When
+inflamed with wrath, none else, unassisted, can encounter him in
+battle save the deity of a thousand eyes, or Krishna the son of
+Devaki. Of what use to us would the kine be or this vast wealth
+also, if Duryodhana were to sink, like a boat, in the ocean of
+<i>Partha</i>?' Meanwhile, Vibhatsu, having proceeded towards that
+division of the army, announced himself speedily by name, and
+covered the troops with his arrows thick as locusts. And covered
+with those countless shafts shot by Partha, the hostile warriors
+could not see anything, the earth itself and the sky becoming
+overwhelmed therewith. And the soldiers who had been ready for the
+fight were so confounded that none could even the flee from the
+field. And beholding the light-handedness of Partha they all
+applauded it mentally. And Arjuna then blew his conch which always
+made the bristles of the foe stand erect. And twanging his best of
+bows, he urged the creatures on his flagstaff to roar more
+frightfully. And at the blare of his conch and the rattle of his
+car-wheels, and the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i>, and the roar of
+the superhuman creatures stationed on his flagstaff, the earth
+itself began to tremble. And shaking their upraised tails and
+lowing together, the kine turned back, proceeding along the
+southern road.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LIV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having disorganised the hostile host by
+force and having recovered the kine, that foremost of bowmen,
+desirous of fighting again, proceeded towards Duryodhana. And
+beholding the kine running wild towards the city of the Matsyas,
+the foremost warriors of the Kurus regarded Kiritin to have already
+achieved success. And all of a sudden they fell upon Arjuna who was
+advancing towards Duryodhana. And beholding their countless
+divisions firmly arrayed in order of battle with countless banners
+waving over them, that slayer of foes, addressing the son of the
+king of the Matsyas, said, 'Urge on, to the best of their speed by
+this road, these white steeds decked with golden bridles. Strive
+thou well, for I would approach this crowd of Kuru lions. Like an
+elephant desiring an encounter with another, the <i>Suta's</i> son
+of wicked soul eagerly desireth a battle with me. Take me, O
+prince, to him who hath grown so proud under the patronage of
+Duryodhana.' Thus addressed, the son of Virata by means of those
+large steeds endued with the speed of the wind and furnished with
+golden armour, broke that array of cars and took the Pandava into
+the midst of the battle-field. And seeing this those mighty
+car-warriors, Chitrasena and Sangramajit and Satrusaha and Jaya,
+desirous of aiding Karna, rushed with arrows and long shafts,
+towards the advancing hero of Bharata's race. Then that foremost of
+men, inflamed with wrath, began to consume by means of fiery arrows
+shot from his bow, that array of cars belonging to those bulls
+among the Kurus, like a tremendous conflagration consuming a
+forest. Then, when the battle began to rage furiously, the Kuru
+hero, Vikarna, mounted on his car, approached that foremost of
+car-warriors, Partha, the younger brother of Bhima,&mdash;showering
+upon him terrible shafts thick and long. Then cutting Vikarna's bow
+furnished with a tough string and horns overlaid with gold, Arjuna
+cut off his flagstaff. And Vikarna, beholding his flagstaff cut
+off, speedily took to flight. And after Vikarna's flight,
+Satruntapa, unable to repress his ire, began to afflict Partha,
+that obstructer of foes and achiever of super-human feats, by means
+of a perfect shower of arrows. And drowned, as it were, in the
+midst of the Kuru-array, Arjuna, pierced by that mighty
+car-warrior,&mdash;king Satruntapa&mdash;pierced the latter in
+return with five and then slew his car-driver with ten shafts, and
+pierced by that bull of the Bharata race with an arrow capable of
+cleaving the thickest coat of mail, Satruntapa fell dead on the
+field of battle, like a tree from a mountain-top torn up by the
+wind. And those brave bulls among men, mangled in battle by that
+braver bull among men, began to waver and tremble like mighty
+forests shaken by the violence of the wind that blows at the time
+of the universal dissolution. And struck in battle by Partha, the
+son of Vasava, those well-dressed heroes among men&mdash;those
+givers of wealth endued with the energy of Vasava&mdash;defeated
+and deprived of life, began to measure their lengths on the ground,
+like full-grown Himalayan elephants clad in mails of black steel
+decked with gold. And like unto a raging fire consuming a forest at
+the close of summer, that foremost of men, wielding the
+<i>Gandiva</i>, ranged the field in all directions, slaying his
+foes in battle thus. And as the wind rangeth at will, scattering
+masses of clouds and fallen leaves in the season of spring, so did
+that foremost of car-warriors&mdash;Kiritin&mdash;ranged in that
+battle, scattering all his foes before him. And soon slaying the
+red steeds yoked unto the car of Sangramajit, the brother of
+Vikartana's son, that hero decked in diadem and endued with great
+vigour then cut off his antagonist's head by a crescent-shaped
+arrow. And when his brother was slain, Vikartana's son of the
+<i>Suta</i> caste, mustering all his prowess, rushed at Arjuna,
+like a huge elephant with out-stretched tusks, or like a tiger at a
+mighty bull. And the son of Vikarna quickly pierced the son of
+Pandu with twelve shafts and all his steeds also in every part of
+their bodies and Virata's son too in his hand. And rushing
+impetuously against Vikarna's son who was suddenly advancing
+against him, Kiritin attacked him fiercely like Garuda of
+variegated plumage swooping down upon a snake. And both of them
+were foremost of bowmen, and both were endued with great strength,
+and both were capable of slaying foes. And seeing that an encounter
+was imminent between them, the Kauravas, anxious to witness it,
+stood aloof as lookers on. And beholding the offender Karna, the
+son of Pandu, excited to fury, and glad also at having him, soon
+made him, his horses, his car, and car-driver invisible by means of
+a frightful shower of countless arrows. And the warriors of the
+Bharatas headed by Bhishma, with their horses, elephants, and cars,
+pierced by Kiritin and rendered invisible by means of his shafts,
+their ranks also scattered and broken, began to wail aloud in
+grief. The illustrious and heroic Karna, however counteracting with
+numberless arrows of his own those shafts by Arjuna's hand, soon
+burst forth in view with bow and arrows like a blazing fire. And
+then there arose the sound of loud clapping of hands, with the
+blare of conchs and trumpets and kettle-drums made by the Kurus
+while they applauded Vikartana's son who filled the atmosphere with
+the sound of his bow-string flapping against his fence. And
+beholding Kiritin filling the air with the twang of <i>Gandiva</i>,
+and the upraised tail of the monkey that constituted his flag and
+that terrible creature yelling furiously from the top of his
+flagstaff, Karna sent forth a loud roar. And afflicting by means of
+his shafts, Vikartana's son along with his steeds, car and
+car-driver, Kiritin impetuously poured an arrowy shower on him,
+casting his eyes on the grandsire and Drona and Kripa. And
+Vikartana's son also poured upon Partha a heavy shower of arrows
+like a rain-charged cloud. And the diadem-decked Arjuna also
+covered Karna with a thick down-pour of keen-edged shafts. And the
+two heroes stationed on their cars, creating clouds of keen-edged
+arrows in a combat carried on by means of countless shafts and
+weapons, appeared to the spectators like the sun and the moon
+covered by clouds, and the light-handed Karna, unable to bear the
+sight of the foe, pierced the four horses of the diadem-decked hero
+with whetted arrows, and then struck his car-driver with three
+shafts, and his flagstaff also with three. Thus struck, that
+grinder of all adversaries in battle, that bull of the Kuru race,
+Jishnu wielding the <i>Gandiva</i>, like a lion awaked from
+slumber, furiously attacked Karna by means of straight-going
+arrows. And afflicted by the arrowy shower (of Karna), that
+illustrious achiever of super-human deeds soon displayed a thick
+shower of arrows in return. And he covered Karna's car with
+countless shafts like the sun covering the different worlds with
+rays. And like a lion attacked by an elephant, Arjuna, taking some
+keen crescent-shaped arrows from out of his quiver and drawing his
+bow to his ear, pierced the <i>Suta's</i> son on every part of his
+body. And that grinder of foes pierced Karna's arms and thighs and
+head and forehead and neck and other principal parts of his body
+with whetted shafts endued with the impetuosity of the thunderbolt
+and shot from the <i>Gandiva</i> in battle. And mangled and
+afflicted by the arrows shot by Partha the son of Pandu,
+Vikartana's son, quitted the van of battle, and quickly took to
+flight, like one elephant vanquished by another.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "After the son of Radha had fled from the
+field, other warriors headed by Duryodhana, one after another, fell
+upon the son of Pandu with their respective divisions. And like the
+shore withstanding the fury of the surging sea, that warrior
+withstood the rage of that countless host rushing towards him,
+arrayed in order of battle and showering clouds of arrows. And that
+foremost of car-warriors, Kunti's son Vibhatsu of white steeds,
+rushed towards the foe, discharging celestial weapons all the
+while. Partha soon covered all the points of the horizon with
+countless arrows shot from the <i>Gandiva</i>, like the sun
+covering the whole earth with his rays. And amongst those that
+fought on cars and horses and elephants, and amongst the mail-clad
+foot-soldiers, there was none that had on his body a space of even
+two finger's breadth unwounded with sharp arrows. And for his
+dexterity in applying celestial weapons, and for the training of
+the steeds and the skill of Uttara, and for the coursing of his
+weapons, and his prowess and light-handedness, people began to
+regard Arjuna as the fire that blazeth forth during the time of the
+universal dissolution for consuming all created things. And none
+amongst the foe could cast his eyes on Arjuna who shone like a
+blazing fire of great effulgence. And mangled by the arrows of
+Arjuna, the hostile ranks looked like newly-risen clouds on the
+breast of a hill reflecting the solar rays, or like groves of
+<i>Asoka</i> trees resplendent with clusters of flowers. Indeed,
+afflicted by the arrows of Partha, the soldiers looked like these,
+or like a beautiful garland whose flowers gradually wither and drop
+away: And the all-pervading wind bore on its wings in the sky the
+torn flags and umbrellas of the hostile host. And affrighted at the
+havoc amongst their own ranks, the steeds fled in all directions,
+freed from their yokes by means of Partha's arrows and dragging
+after them broken portions of cars and elephants, struck on their
+ears and ribs and tusks and nether lips and other delicate parts of
+the body, began to drop down on the battle-field. And the earth,
+bestrewn in a short time with the corpses of elephants belonging to
+the Kauravas, looked like the sky overcast with masses of black
+clouds. And as that fire of blazing flames at the end of the
+<i>yuga</i> consumeth all perishable things of the world, both
+mobile and immobile, so did Partha, O king, consumeth all foes in
+battle. And by the energy of his weapons and the twang of his bow,
+and the preter-natural yells of the creatures stationed on his
+flagstaff, and the terrible roar of the monkey, and by the blast of
+his conch, that mighty grinder of foes, Vibhatsu, struck terror
+into the hearts of all the troops of Duryodhana. And the strength
+of every hostile warrior seemed, as it were, to be levelled to the
+dust at the very sight of Arjuna. And unwilling to commit the
+daring act of sin of slaying them that were defenceless, Arjuna
+suddenly fell back and attacked the army from behind by means of
+clouds of keen-edged arrows proceeding towards their aims like
+hawks let off by fowlers. And he soon covered the entire welkin
+with clusters of blood-drinking arrows. And as the (infinite) rays
+of the powerful sun, entering a small vessel, are contracted within
+it for want of space, so the countless shafts of Arjuna could not
+find space for their expansion even within the vast welkin. Foes
+were able to behold Arjuna's car, when near, only once, for
+immediately after, they were with their horses, sent to the other
+world. And as his arrows unobstructed by the bodies of foes always
+passed through them, so his car, unimpeded by hostile ranks, always
+passed through the latter. And, indeed, he began to toss about and
+agitate the hostile troops with great violence like the
+thousand-headed Vasuki sporting in the great ocean. And as Kiritin
+incessantly shot his shafts, the noise of the bow-string,
+transcending every sound, was so loud that the like of it had never
+been heard before by created beings. And the elephants crowding the
+field, their bodies pierced with (blazing) arrows with small
+intervals between looked like black clouds coruscated with solar
+rays. And ranging in all directions and shooting (arrows) right and
+left, Arjuna's bow was always to be seen drawn to a perfect circle.
+And the arrows of the wielder of the <i>Gandiva</i> never fell upon
+anything except the aim, even as the eye never dwelleth on anything
+that is not beautiful. And as the track of a herd of elephants
+marching through the forest is made of itself, so was the track was
+made of itself for the car of Kiritin. And struck and mangled by
+Partha, the hostile warriors thought that,&mdash;<i>Verily, Indra
+himself, desirous of Partha's victory, accompanied by all the
+immortals is slaying us</i>! And they also regarded Vijaya, who was
+making a terrible slaughter around, to be none else than Death
+himself who having assumed the form of Arjuna, was slaying all
+creatures. And the troops of the Kurus, struck by Partha, were so
+mangled and shattered that the scene looked like the achievement of
+Partha himself and could be compared with nothing else save what
+was observable in Partha's combats. And he severed the heads of
+foes, even as reapers cut off the tops of deciduous herbs. And the
+Kurus all lost their energy owing to the terror begot of Arjuna.
+And tossed and mangled by the Arjuna-gale, the forest of Arjuna's
+foes reddened the earth with purple secretions. And the dust mixed
+with blood, uplifted by the wind, made the very rays of the sun
+redder still. And soon the sun-decked sky became so red that it
+looked very much like the evening. Indeed, the sun ceaseth to shed
+his rays as soon as he sets, but the son of Pandu ceased not to
+shoot his shafts. And that hero of inconceivable energy
+overwhelmed, by means of all celestial weapons, all the great
+bowmen of the enemy, although they were possessed of great prowess.
+And Arjuna then shot three and seventy arrows of sharp points at
+Drona, and ten at Dussaha and eight at Drona's son, and twelve at
+Duhsasana, and three at Kripa, the son of Saradwat. And that slayer
+of foes pierced Bhishma, the son of Santanu, with arrows, and king
+Duryodhana with a hundred. And, lastly, he pierced Karna in the ear
+with a bearded shaft. And when that great bowmen Karna, skilled in
+all weapons, was thus pierced, and his horses and car and
+car-driver were all destroyed, the troops that supported him began
+to break. And beholding those soldiers break and give way the son
+of Virata desirous of knowing Partha's purpose, addressed him on
+the field of battle, and said, 'O Partha, standing on this
+beautiful car, with myself as charioteer, towards which division
+shall I go? For, commanded by thee, I would soon take thee
+thither.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna replied, 'O Uttara, yonder auspicious warrior whom thou
+seest cased in coat of tiger-skin and stationed on his car
+furnished with a blue-flag and drawn by red steeds, is Kripa. There
+is to be seen the van of Kripa's division. Take me thither. I shall
+show that great bowman my swift-handedness in archery. And that
+warrior whose flag beareth the device of an elegant water-pot
+worked in gold, is the preceptor Drona&mdash;that foremost of all
+wielders of weapons. He is always an object of regard with me, as
+also with all bearers of arms. Do thou, therefore, circumambulate
+that great hero cheerfully. Let us bend our heads there, for that
+is the eternal virtue. If Drona strikes my body first, then I shall
+strike him, for then he will not be able to resent it. There, close
+to Drona, that warrior whose flag beareth the device of a bow, is
+the preceptor's son, the great car-warrior Aswatthaman, who is
+always an object of regard with me as also with every bearer of
+arms. Do thou, therefore, stop again and again, while thou comest
+by his car. There, that warrior who stayeth on his car, cased in
+golden mail and surrounded by a third part of the army consisting
+of the most efficient troops, and whose flag beareth the device of
+an elephant in a ground of gold, is the illustrious king
+Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra. O hero, take before him this
+thy car that is capable of grinding hostile cars. This king is
+difficult of being vanquished in battle and is capable of grinding
+all foes. He is regarded as the first of all Drona's disciples in
+lightness of hand. I shall, in battle, show him my superior
+swiftness in archery. There, that warrior whose flag beareth the
+device of a stout chord for binding elephants, is Karna, the son of
+Vikartana, already known to thee. When thou comest before that
+wicked son of Radha, be thou very careful, for he always
+challengeth me to an encounter. And that warrior whose flag is blue
+and beareth the device of five stars with a sun (in the centre),
+and who endued with great energy stayeth on his car holding a huge
+bow in hand and wearing excellent fences, and over whose head is an
+umbrella of pure white, who standeth at the head of a multitudinous
+array of cars with various flags and banners like the sun in
+advance of masses of black clouds, and whose mail of gold looks
+bright as the sun or the moon, and who with his helmet of gold
+striketh terror into my heart, is Bhishma, the son of Santanu and
+the grandsire of us all. Entertained with regal splendour by
+Duryodhana, he is very partial and well-affected towards that
+prince. Let him be approached last of all, for he may, even now, be
+an obstacle to me. While fighting with me, do thou carefully guide
+the steeds.' Thus addressed by him, Virata's son, O king, guided
+Savyasachin's car with great alacrity towards the spot where Kripa
+stood anxious to fight."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LVI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "And the ranks of those fierce bowmen, the
+Kurus, looked like masses of clouds in the rainy season drifting
+before a gentle wind. And close (to those ranks of foot-soldiers)
+stood the enemy's horses ridden by terrible warriors. And there
+were also elephants of terrible mien, looking resplendent in
+beautiful armour, ridden by skilled combatants and urged on with
+iron crows and hooks. And, O king, mounted on a beautiful car,
+Sakra came there accompanied by the celestials,&mdash;the
+<i>Viswas</i> and <i>Maruts</i>. And crowded with gods, <i>Yakshas,
+Gandharvas</i> and <i>Nagas</i>, the firmament looked as
+resplendent as it does when bespangled with the planetary
+constellation in a cloudless night. And the celestials came there,
+each on his own car, desirous of beholding the efficacy of their
+weapons in human warfare, and for witnessing also the fierce and
+mighty combat that would take place when Bhishma and Arjuna would
+meet. And embellished with gems of every kind and capable of going
+everywhere at the will of the rider, the heavenly car of the lord
+of the celestials, whose roof was upheld by a hundred thousand
+pillars of gold with (a central) one made entirely of jewels and
+gems, was conspicuous in the clear sky. And there appeared on the
+scene three and thirty gods with Vasava (at their head)&mdash;and
+(many) <i>Gandharvas</i> and <i>Rakshasas</i> and <i>Nagas</i> and
+<i>Pitris</i>, together with the great <i>Rishis</i>. And seated on
+the car of the lord of the celestials, appeared the effulgent
+persons of kings, Vasumanas and Valakshas and Supratarddana, and
+Ashtaka and Sivi and Yayati and Nahusha and Gaya and Manu and Puru
+and Raghu and Bhanu and Krisaswa and Sagara and Nala. And there
+shone in a splendid array, each in its proper place the cars of
+Agni and Isa and Soma and Varuna and Prajapati and Dhatri and
+Vidhatri and Kuvera and Yama, and Alamvusha and Ugrasena and
+others, and of the <i>Gandharva</i> Tumburu. And all the celestials
+and the <i>Siddhas</i>, and all the foremost of sages came there to
+behold that encounter between Arjuna and the Kurus. And the sacred
+fragrance of celestial garlands filled the air like that of
+blossoming woods at the advent of spring. And the red and reddish
+umbrellas and robes and garlands and <i>chamaras</i> of the gods,
+as they were stationed there, looked exceedingly beautiful. And the
+dust of the earth soon disappeared and (celestial) effulgence lit
+up everything. And redolent of divine perfumes, the breeze began to
+soothe the combatants. And the firmament seemed ablaze and
+exceedingly beautiful, decked with already arrived and arriving
+cars of handsome and various make, all illumined with diverse sorts
+of jewels, and brought thither by the foremost of the celestials.
+And surrounded by the celestials, and wearing a garland of lotuses
+and lilies the powerful wielder of the thunderbolt looked
+exceedingly beautiful on his car. And the slayer of Vala, although
+he steadfastly gazed at his son on the field of battle, was not
+satiated with such gazing."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Beholding the army of the Kurus arrayed in
+order of battle, that descendant of the Kuru race, Partha,
+addressing Virata's son, said, 'Do thou proceed to the spot where
+Kripa, the son of Saradwat, is going by the southern side of that
+car whose flag is seen to bear the device of a golden altar.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Dhananjaya, the
+son of Virata urged, without a moment's delay, those steeds of
+silvery hue decked in golden armour. And making them adopt, one
+after another, every kind of the swifter paces, he urged those
+fiery steeds resembling the moon in colour. And versed in
+horse-lore, Uttara, having approached the Kuru host, turned back
+those steeds endued with the speed of the wind. And skilled in
+guiding vehicles, the prince of Matsya, sometimes wheeling about,
+and sometimes proceeding in circular mazes, and sometimes turning
+to the left, began to be wilder than the Kurus. And wheeling round,
+the intrepid and mighty son of Virata at last approached the car of
+Kripa, and stood confronting him. Then announcing his own name,
+Arjuna powerfully blew that best of conchs called <i>Devadatta</i>,
+of loud blare. And blown on the field of battle by the mighty
+Jishnu, the blare of that conch was heard like the splitting of a
+mountain. And seeing that the conch did not break into a hundred
+fragments when blown by Arjuna, the Kurus with all their warriors
+began to applaud it highly. And having reached the very heavens,
+that sound coming back was heard even like the crash of the
+thunderbolt hurled by Maghavat on the mountain breast. Thereupon
+that heroic and intrepid and mighty car-warrior, Saradwat's son
+Kripa, endued with strength and prowess, waxing wroth at Arjuna,
+and unable to bear that sound and eager for fight, took up his own
+sea-begotten conch and blew it vehemently. And filling the three
+worlds with that sound, that foremost of car-warriors took up a
+large bow and twanged the bow-string powerfully. And those mighty
+car-warriors, equal unto two suns, standing opposed to each other,
+shone like two masses of autumnal clouds. Then Saradwat's son
+quickly pierced Partha, that slayer of hostile heroes, with ten
+swift and whetted arrows capable of entering into the very vitals.
+And Pritha's son also, on his part, drawing that foremost of
+weapons, the <i>Gandiva</i>, celebrated over the world, shot
+innumerable iron-arrows, all capable of penetrating into the very
+core of the body. Thereupon Kripa, by means of whetted shafts, cut
+into hundreds and thousands of fragments, those blood-drinking
+arrows of Partha before they could come up. Then that mighty
+car-warrior, Partha also, in wrath displaying various manoeuvres,
+covered all sides with a shower of arrows. And covering the entire
+welkin with his shafts, that mighty warrior of immeasurable soul,
+the son of Pritha, enveloped Kripa with hundreds of shafts. And
+sorely afflicted by those whetted arrows resembling flames of fire,
+Kripa waxed wroth and quickly afflicting the high-souled Partha of
+immeasurable prowess with ten thousand shafts, set up on the field
+of battle a loud roar. Then the heroic Arjuna quickly pierced the
+four steeds of his adversary with four fatal arrows shot from the
+<i>Gandiva</i>, sharp and straight, and furnished with golden
+wings. And pierced by means of those whetted arrows resembling
+flames of fire those steeds suddenly reared themselves, and in
+consequence Kripa reeled off his place. And seeing Gautama thrown
+off his place, the slayer of hostile heroes, the descendant of the
+Kuru race, out of regard for his opponent's dignity, ceased to
+discharge his shafts at him. Then regaining his proper place,
+Gautama quickly pierced Savyasachin with ten arrows furnished with
+feathers of the <i>Kanka</i> bird. Then with a crescent-shaped
+arrow of keen edge, Partha cut off Kripa's bow and leathern fences.
+And soon Partha cut off Kripa's coat of mail also by means of
+arrows capable of penetrating the very vitals, but he did not wound
+his person. And divested of his coat of mail, his body resembled
+that of a serpent which hath in season cast off its slough. And as
+soon as his bow had been cut off by Partha, Gautama took up another
+and stringed it in a trice. And strange to say, that bow of him was
+also cut off by Kunti's son, by means of straight shafts. And in
+this way that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Pandu, cut off
+other bows as soon as they were taken up, one after another, by
+Saradwat's son. And when all his bows were thus cut off, that
+mighty hero hurled, from his car, at Pandu's son, a javelin like
+unto the blazing thunderbolt. Thereupon, as the gold-decked javelin
+came whizzing through the air with the flash of a meteor, Arjuna
+cut it off by means of ten arrows. And beholding his dart thus cut
+off by the intelligent Arjuna, Kripa quickly took up another bow
+and almost simultaneously shot a number of crescent-shaped arrows.
+Partha, however, quickly cut them into fragments by means of ten
+keen-edged shafts, and endued with great energy, the son of Pritha
+then, inflamed with wrath on the field of battle, discharged three
+and ten arrows whetted on stone and resembling flames of fire. And
+with one of these he cut off the yoke of his adversary's car, and
+with four pierced his four steeds, and with the sixth he severed
+the head of his antagonist's car-driver from off his body. And with
+three that mighty car-warrior pierced, in that encounter, the
+triple bamboo-pole of Kripa's car and with two, its wheels. And
+with the twelfth arrow he cut off Kripa's flagstaff. And with the
+thirteenth Phalguna, who was like Indra himself as if smiling in
+derision, pierced Kripa in the breast. Then with his bow cut off,
+his car broken, his steeds slain, his car-driver killed, Kripa
+leapt down and taking up a mace quickly hurled it at Arjuna. But
+that heavy and polished mace hurled by Kripa was sent back along
+its course, struck by means of Arjuna's arrows. And then the
+warriors (of Kripa's division), desirous of rescuing the wrathful
+son of Saradwat encountered Partha from all sides and covered him
+with their arrows. Then the son of Virata, turning the steed to the
+left began to perform circuitous evolution called <i>Yamaka</i> and
+thus withstood all those warriors. And those illustrious bulls
+among men, taking Kripa with them who had been deprived of his car,
+led him away from the vicinity of Dhananjaya, the son of
+Kunti."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LVIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "After Kripa had thus been taken away, the
+invincible Drona of red steeds, taking up his bow to which he had
+already stringed an arrow, rushed towards Arjuna of white steeds.
+And beholding at no great distance from him the preceptor advancing
+on his golden car, Arjuna that foremost of victorious warriors,
+addressing Uttara, said, 'Blessed be thou, O friend, carry me
+before that warrior on whose high banner-top is seen a golden altar
+resembling a long flame of fire and decked with numerous flags
+placed around, and whose car is drawn by steeds that are red and
+large, exceedingly handsome and highly-trained, of face pleasant
+and of quiet mien, and like unto corals in colour and with faces of
+coppery hue, for that warrior is Drona with whom I desire to fight.
+Of long arms and endued with mighty energy possessed of strength
+and beauty of person, celebrated over all the worlds for his
+prowess, resembling Usanas himself in intelligence and Vrihaspati
+in knowledge of morality, he is conversant with the four
+<i>Vedas</i> and devoted to the practice of <i>Brahmacharya</i>
+virtues. O friend, the use of the celestial weapons together with
+the mysteries of their withdrawal and the entire science of
+weapons, always reside in him. Forgiveness, self-control, truth,
+abstention from injury, rectitude of conduct,&mdash;these and
+countless other virtues always dwell in that regenerate one. I
+desire to fight with that highly-blessed one on the field.
+Therefore, take me before the preceptor and carry me thither, O
+Uttara.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Arjuna, Virata's son
+urged his steeds decked with gold towards the car of Bharadwaja's
+son. And Drona also rushed towards the impetuously advancing
+Partha, the son of Pandu,&mdash;that foremost of
+car-warriors,&mdash;like an infuriate elephant rushing towards an
+infuriate compeer. And the son of Bharadwaja then blew his conch
+whose blare resembled that of a hundred trumpets. And at that sound
+the whole army become agitated like the sea in a tempest. And
+beholding those excellent steeds red in hue mingling in battle with
+Arjuna's steeds of swan-like whiteness endued with the speed of the
+mind, all the spectators were filled with wonder. And seeing on the
+field of battle those car-warriors&mdash;the preceptor Drona and
+his disciple Partha&mdash;both endued with prowess, both
+invincible, both well-trained, both possessed of great energy and
+great strength, engaged with each other, that mighty host of the
+Bharatas began to tremble frequently. And that mighty car-warrior
+Partha, possessed of great prowess and filled with joy upon
+reaching Drona's car on his own, saluted the preceptor. And that
+slayer of hostile heroes, the mighty armed son of Kunti, then
+addressed Drona in an humble and sweet tone, saying, 'Having
+completed our exile in the woods, we are now desirous of avenging
+our wrongs. Even invincible in battle, it doth not behove thee to
+be angry with us. O sinless one, I will not strike thee unless thou
+strikest me first. Even this is my intention. It behoveth thee to
+act as thou choosest.' Thus addressed Drona discharged at him more
+than twenty arrows. But the light-handed Partha cut them off before
+they could reach him. And at this, the mighty Drona, displaying his
+lightness of hand in the use of weapons, covered Partha's car with
+a thousand arrows. And desirous of angering, Partha, that hero of
+immeasurable soul, then covered his steeds of silvery whiteness
+with arrows whetted on stone and winged with the feathers of the
+<i>Kanka</i> bird. And when the battle between Drona and Kiritin
+thus commenced, both of them discharging in the encounter arrows of
+blazing splendour, both well-known for their achievements, both
+equal to the wind itself in speed, both conversant with celestial
+weapons, and both endued with mighty energy, began shooting clouds
+of arrows to bewilder the royal Kshatriyas. And all the warriors
+that were assembled there were filled with wonder at sight of all
+this. And they all admired Drona who quickly shot clouds of arrows
+exclaiming,&mdash;<i>Well done! Well done</i>! Indeed, <i>who else
+save Phalguna, is worthy of fighting with Drona in battle? Surely
+the duties of a Kshatriya are stern, for Arjuna fighteth with even
+his own preceptor</i>!&mdash;And it was thus that they who stood on
+the field of battle said unto one another. And inflamed with fire,
+those mighty-armed heroes standing before other, and each incapable
+of overcoming the other, covered each other with arrowy showers.
+And Bharadwaja's son, waxing wroth, drew his large and
+unconquerable bow plated on the back with gold, and pierced
+Phalguna with his arrows. And discharging at Arjuna's car
+innumerable whetted arrows possessed of solar effulgence, he
+entirely shrouded the light of the sun. And that great car-warrior
+of mighty arms, violently pierced Pritha's son with keen-edged
+shafts even as the clouds shower upon a mountain. Then taking up
+that foremost of bows, the <i>Gandiva</i>, destructive of foes and
+capable of withstanding the greatest strain, the impetuous son of
+Pandu cheerfully discharged countless shafts of various kinds
+adorned with gold, and that powerful warrior also baffled in a
+moment Drona's arrowy shower by means of those shafts shot from his
+own bow. And at this the spectators wondered greatly. And the
+handsome Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, ranging on his car,
+displayed his weapons on all sides at the same time. And the entire
+welkin covered with his arrows, became one wide expanse of shade.
+And at this Drona become invisible like the sun enveloped in mist.
+And shrouded by those excellent arrows on all sides, Drona looked
+like a mountain on fire. And beholding his own car completely
+enveloped by the arrows of Pritha's son, Drona that ornament of
+battle, bent his terrible and foremost of bows whose noise was as
+loud as that of the clouds. And drawing that first of weapons,
+which was like unto a circle of fire, he discharged a cloud of
+keen-edged shafts. And then there were heard on the field loud
+sounds like the splitting of bamboos set on fire. And that warrior
+of immeasurable soul, shooting from his bow arrows furnished with
+golden wings, covered all sides, shrouding the very light of the
+sun. And those arrows with knots well-peeled off, and furnished
+with golden wings, looked like flocks of birds in the sky. And the
+arrows discharged by Drona from his bow, touching one another at
+the wings, appeared like one endless line in the sky. And those
+heroes, thus discharging their arrows decked with gold, seemed to
+cover the sky with showers of meteors. And furnished with feathers
+of the <i>Kanka</i> bird, those arrows looked like rows of cranes
+ranging in the autumnal sky. And the fierce and terrible encounter
+that took place between the illustrious Drona and Arjuna resembled
+that between Virata and Vasava of old. And discharging arrows at
+each other from bows drawn at their fullest stretch, they resembled
+two elephants assailing each other with their tusks. And those
+wrathful warriors&mdash;those ornaments of battle&mdash;fighting
+strictly according to established usage, displayed in that conflict
+various celestial weapons in due order. Then that foremost of
+victorious men, Arjuna, by means of his keen shafts resisted the
+whetted arrows shot by that best of preceptors. And displaying
+before the spectators various weapons, that hero of terrible
+prowess covered the sky with various kinds of arrows. And beholding
+that tiger among men, Arjuna, endued with fierce energy and intent
+upon striking him, that foremost of warriors and best of preceptors
+(from affection) began to fight with him playfully by means of
+smooth and straight arrows. And Bharadwaja's son fought on with
+Phalguna, resisting with his own the celestial weapons shot by the
+former. And the fight that took place between those enraged lions
+among men, incapable of bearing each other, was like unto encounter
+between the gods and the <i>Danavas</i>. And the son of Pandu
+repeatedly baffled with his own, the <i>Aindra</i>, the
+<i>Vayavya</i>, and the <i>Agneya</i> weapons that were shot by
+Drona. And discharging keen shafts, those mighty bowmen, by their
+arrowy showers completely covered the sky and made a wide expanse
+of shade. And then the arrows shot by Arjuna, falling on the bodies
+of hostile warriors, produced the crash of thunderbolt. O king,
+elephants, cars, and horses, bathed in blood, looked like
+<i>Kinsuka</i> trees crowned with flowers. And in that encounter
+between Drona and Arjuna, beholding the field covered with arms
+decked with bangles, and gorgeously-attired car-warriors, and coats
+of mail variegated with gold, and with banners lying scattered all
+about, and with warriors slain by means of Partha's arrows, the
+Kuru host became panic-stricken. And shaking their bows capable of
+bearing much strain, those combatants began to shroud and weaken
+each other with their shafts. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the
+encounter that took place between Drona and Kunti's son was
+dreadful in the extreme and resembled that between Vali and Vasava.
+And staking their very lives, they began to pierce each other
+straight arrows shot from their fully-stretched bow-strings. And a
+voice was heard in the sky applauding Drona, and saying, 'Difficult
+is the feat performed by Drona, inasmuch as he fighteth with
+Arjuna,&mdash;that grinder of foes, that warrior endued with mighty
+energy, of firm grasp, and invincible in battle,&mdash;that
+conqueror of both celestials and <i>Daityas</i>, that foremost of
+all car-warriors.' And beholding Partha's infallibility, training,
+fleetness of hand, and the range also of Arjuna's, arrows, Drona
+became amazed. And, O bull of the Bharata race, lifting up his
+excellent bow, the <i>Gandiva</i>, the unforbearing Partha drew it
+now with one hand and now with another shot an arrowy shower. And
+beholding that shower resembling a flight of locusts, the
+spectators wondering applauded him exclaiming, 'Excellent!
+Excellent!' And so ceaselessly did he shoot his arrows that the
+very air was unable to penetrate the thick array. And the
+spectators could not perceive any interval between the taking up of
+the arrows and letting them off. And in that fierce encounter
+characterised by lightness of hand in the discharge of weapons,
+Partha began to shoot his arrows more quickly than before. And then
+all at once hundreds and thousands of straight arrows fell upon
+Drona's car. And, O bull of the Bharata race, beholding Drona
+completely covered by the wielder of the <i>Gandiva</i> with his
+arrows, the Kuru army set up exclamation of '<i>Oh'!</i> and
+'<i>Alas'!</i> And Maghavat, together with those <i>Gandharvas</i>
+and <i>Apsaras</i> that have come there, applauded the fleetness of
+Partha's hand. And that mighty car-warrior, the preceptor's son,
+then resisted the Pandva with a mighty array of cars. And although
+enraged with Arjuna, yet Aswatthaman mentally admired that feat of
+the high-souled son of Pritha. And waxing wroth, he rushed towards
+Partha, and discharged at him an arrowy shower like a heavy
+down-pour by the cloud. And turning his steeds towards Drona's son,
+Partha gave Drona an opportunity to leave the field. And thereupon
+the latter, wounded in that terrible encounter, and his mail and
+banner gone sped away by the aid of swift horses."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LIX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then, O mighty king, Drona's son rushed to
+an encounter with Arjuna in battle. And beholding his rush to the
+conflict like a hurricane, showering shafts like a rain charged
+cloud Pritha's son received him with a cloud of arrows. And
+terrible was the encounter between them, like that between the gods
+and the <i>Danavas</i>. And they shot arrows at each other like
+Virata and Vasava. And the welkin being enveloped on all sides with
+arrows, the sun was completely hidden, and the air itself was
+hushed. And, O conqueror of hostile cities, as they assailed and
+struck each other, loud sounds arose as of bamboos on fire. And, O
+king, Aswatthaman's horses being sorely afflicted by Arjuna, they
+became bewildered and could not ascertain which way to go. And as
+Pritha's son ranged on the field, the powerful son of Drona finding
+an opportunity, cut off the string of the <i>Gandiva</i> with an
+arrow furnished with a horse-shoe head. And beholding that
+extraordinary feat of his, the celestials applauded him highly. And
+exclaiming&mdash;'Well done!'&mdash;'Well done!' Drona and Bhishma,
+and Karna, and the mighty warrior Kripa, all applauded that feat of
+his greatly. And the son of Drona, drawing his excellent bow,
+pierced with his shafts, furnished with the feathers of the
+<i>Kanka</i> bird, the breast of Partha, that bull among warriors.
+Thereupon, with a loud laughter, the mighty-armed son of Pritha
+attached a strong and fresh string to <i>Gandiva</i>. And
+moistening his bow-string with the sweat that stood on his forehead
+resembling the crescent moon, Pritha's son advanced towards his
+adversary, even as an infuriated leader of a herd of elephants
+rusheth at another elephant. And the encounter that took place
+between those two matchless heroes on the field of battle was
+exceedingly fierce and made the bristles of the spectators stand on
+their ends. And as those heroes endued with mighty energy fought
+on, the two mighty elephants, the Kurus beheld them with wonder.
+And those brave bulls among men assailed each other with arrows of
+snaky forms and resembling blazing fires. And as the couple of
+quivers belonging to the Pandava was inexhaustible, that hero was
+able to remain on the field immovable as a mountain. And as
+Aswatthaman's arrows, in consequence of his ceaseless discharge in
+that conflict, were quickly exhausted, it was for this that Arjuna
+prevailed over his adversary. Then Karna, drawing his large bow
+with great force twanged the bow-string. And thereupon arose loud
+exclamation of '<i>Oh!</i>' and '<i>Alas!</i>' And Pritha's son,
+casting his eyes towards the spot where that bow was twanged,
+beheld before him the son of Radha. And at that sight his wrath was
+greatly excited. And inflamed with ire and desirous of slaying
+Karna, that bull of the Kuru race stared at him with rolling eyes.
+And, O king, beholding Partha turn away from Aswatthaman's side,
+the Kuru warriors discharged thousands of arrows on Arjuna. And the
+mighty-armed Dhananjaya, that conqueror of foes, leaving Drona's
+son, all on a sudden rushed towards Karna. And rushing towards
+Karna, with eyes reddened in anger the son of Kunti, desirous of a
+single combat with him, said these words."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LX</h2>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'The time, O Karna, hath now come for making good
+thy loquacious boast in the midst of the assembly, viz., that there
+is none equal to thee in fight. Today, O Karna, contending with me
+in terrible conflict, thou shalt know thy own strength, and shalt
+no longer disregard others. Abandoning good breeding, thou hadst
+uttered many harsh words, but this that thou endeavourest to do,
+is, I think, exceedingly difficult. Do thou now, O Radha's son,
+contending with me in the sight of the Kurus, make good what thou
+hadst said before in disregard of myself. Thou who hadst witnessed
+Panchala's princess outraged by villains in the midst of the court,
+do thou now reap the fruit of that act of thine. Fettered by the
+bonds of morality before, I desisted from vengeance then. Behold
+now, O son of Radha, the fruit of that wrath in conflict at hand. O
+wicked wight, we have suffered much misery in that forest for full
+twelve years. Reap thou today the fruits of our concentrated
+vengeance. Come, O Karna, cope with me in battle. Let these thy
+Kaurava warriors witness the conflict.' Hearing these words, Karna
+replied, 'Do thou, O Partha, accomplish in deed what thou sayst in
+words. The world knows that thy words verily exceed thy deed. That
+thou hadst foreborne formerly was owing to thy inability to do
+anything. If we witness thy prowess even now, we may acknowledge
+its truth. If thy past forbearance was due to thy having been bound
+by the bonds of morality, truly thou art equally bound now although
+thou regardest thyself free. Having as thou sayst, passed thy exile
+in the woods in strict accordance with thy pledge and being
+therefore weakened by practising an ascetic course of life, how
+canst thou desire a combat with me now! O Pritha's son, if Sakra
+himself fight on thy side, still I would feel no anxiety in putting
+forth my prowess. Thy wish, O son of Kunti, is about to be
+gratified. Do thou fight with me now, and behold my strength.'
+Hearing this, Arjuna said, 'Even now, O Radha's son, thou hadst
+fled from battle with me, and it is for this that thou livest
+although thy younger brother hath been slain. What other person,
+save thee, having beheld his younger brother slain in battle would
+himself fly from the field, and boast as thou dost, amid good and
+true men?'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said these words unto Karna, the
+invincible Vibhatsu rushed at him and charged a volley of shafts
+capable of penetrating through a coat of mail. But that mighty
+car-warrior, Karna, received with great alacrity that discharge
+with an arrowy shower of his own, heavy as the downpour of the
+clouds. And that fierce volley of arrows covered all sides and
+severally pierced the steeds and arms and leathern fences of the
+combatants. And incapable of putting up with that assault, Arjuna
+cut off the strings of Karna's quiver by means of a straight and
+sharp arrow. Thereupon, taking out from his quiver another arrow,
+Karna pierced the Pandava in the hand at which the latter's hold of
+the bow was loosened. And then the mighty-armed Partha cut off
+Karna's bow into fragments. And Karna replied by hurling a dart at
+his adversary, but Arjuna cut it off by means of his arrows. And
+then the warriors that followed the son of Radha rushed in crowds
+at Arjuna, but Partha sent them all to the abode of Yama by means
+of arrows shot from the <i>Gandiva</i>. And Vibhatsu slew the
+steeds of Karna by means of sharp and tough arrows shot from the
+bow-string drawn to the ear, and deprived of life they dropped down
+on the ground. And taking another sharp and blazing arrow endued
+with great energy, the mighty son of Kunti pierced the breast of
+Karna. And that arrow, cleaving through his mail, penetrated into
+his body. And at this, Karna's vision was obscured and his senses
+left him. And regaining consciousness, he felt a great pain, and
+leaving the combat fled in a northernly direction. And at this, the
+mighty car-warrior Arjuna and Uttara, both began to address him
+contumely."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having defeated Vikartana's son, Arjuna said
+unto the son of Virata, 'Take me towards that division where yonder
+device of a golden palmyra is seen. There our grandfather,
+Santanu's son, like unto a celestial, waiteth, desirous of an
+encounter with me.' Thereupon, beholding that mighty host thronged
+with cars and horses and elephants, Uttara, sorely pierced with
+arrows, said, 'O hero, I am no longer able to guide thy excellent
+steeds. My spirits droop and my mind is exceedingly bewildered. All
+the directions seem to be whirling before my eyes in consequence of
+the energy of the celestial weapons used by thee and the Kurus. I
+have been deprived of my senses by the stench of fat and blood and
+flesh. Beholding all this, from terror my mind is, as it were,
+cleft in twain. Never before had I beheld such a muster of horses
+in battle. And at the flapping of fences, and the blare of conchs,
+the leonine roars made by the warriors and the shrieks of
+elephants, and the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i> resembling the
+thunder, I have, O hero, been so stupefied that I have been
+deprived of both hearing and memory. And, O hero, beholding thee
+incessantly drawing to a circle, in course of the conflict, the
+<i>Gandiva</i> which resembleth a circle of fire, my sight faileth
+me and my heart is rent asunder. And seeing thy fierce form in
+battle, like that of the wielder of the <i>Pinaka</i> while
+inflamed with wrath, and looking also at the terrible arrows shot
+by thee, I am filled with fear. I fail to see when thou takest up
+thy excellent arrows, when thou fixest them on the bow-string, and
+when thou lettest them off. And though all this is done before my
+eyes, yet, deprived of my senses, I do not see it. My spirits are
+drooping and earth itself seems to be swimming before me. I have no
+strength to hold the whip and the reins.' Hearing these words,
+Arjuna said, 'Do thou not fear. Assure thyself. Thou also hast, on
+the field of battle performed, O bull among men, wonderful feats.
+Blessed be thou, thou art a prince and born in the illustrious line
+of Matsyas. It behoveth thee not to feel dispirited in chastising
+thy foes. Therefore, O prince, stationed on my car, muster all thy
+fortitude and hold the reins of my steeds, O slayer of foes, when I
+once more become engaged in battle.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this unto Virata's son,
+that best of men and foremost of car-warriors, the mighty-armed
+Arjuna, again addressed the son of Virata, saying. 'Take me without
+delay to the van of Bhishma's division. I will cut off his very
+bow-string in the battle. Thou shalt behold today the celestial
+weapons of blazing beauty, shot by me, look like flashes of
+lightning disporting amid the clouds in the sky. The Kauravas shall
+behold the gold decked back of my <i>Gandiva</i> today, and
+assembled together the foe shall dispute, saying,&mdash;<i>By which
+hand of his, the right or the left, doth he shoot</i>? And I shall
+cause a dreadful river (of death) to flow today towards the other
+world with blood for its waters and cars for its eddies, and
+elephants for its crocodiles. I shall today, with my straight
+arrows, extirpate the <i>Kuru</i> forest having hands and feet and
+heads and backs and arms for the branches of its trees. Alone, bow
+in hand, vanquishing the Kuru host, a hundred paths shall open
+before me like those of a forest in conflagration. Struck by me
+thou shalt today behold the Kuru army moving round and round like a
+wheel (unable to fly off the field). I shall show thee today my
+excellent training in arrows and weapons. Stay thou on my car
+firmly, whether the ground be smooth or uneven. I can pierce with
+my winged arrows even the mountain of <i>Sumeru</i> that stands
+touching the very heavens. I slew of old, at Indra's command,
+hundreds and thousands of <i>Paulomas</i> and <i>Kalakhanjas</i> in
+battle. I have obtained my firmness of grasp from Indra, and my
+lightness of hand from <i>Brahman</i>, and I have learnt various
+modes of fierce attack and defence amid crowds of foes from
+<i>Prajapati</i>. I vanquished, on the other side of the great
+ocean, sixty thousands of car-warriors&mdash;all fierce
+archers&mdash;residing in <i>Hiranyapura</i>. Behold, now I defeat
+the multitudinous host of the Kurus like a tempest scattering a
+heap of cotton. With my fiery arrows I shall today set the
+<i>Kuru</i>-forest to fire, having banners for its trees, the
+foot-soldiers for its shrubs, and the car-warriors for its beasts
+of prey. Like unto the wielder of the thunderbolt overthrowing the
+Danavas, alone I shall, with my straight arrows, bring down from
+the chambers of their cars the mighty warrior of the Kuru army
+stationed therein and struggling in the conflict to the best of
+their power. I have obtained from <i>Rudra</i> the <i>Raudra</i>,
+from <i>Varuna</i> the <i>Varuna</i>, from <i>Agni</i> the
+<i>Agneya</i>, from the god of Wind the <i>Vayava</i>, and from
+Sakra the thunderbolt and other weapons. I shall certainly
+exterminate the fierce <i>Dhartarashtra-forest</i> though protected
+by many leonine warriors. Therefore, O Virata's son, let thy fears
+be dispelled.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus assured by Savyasachin, the son of
+Virata penetrated into that fierce array of cars protected by
+Bhishma. The son of Ganga, however, of fierce deeds, cheerfully
+withstood the mighty-armed hero advancing from desire of
+vanquishing the heroes in battle. Jishnu, then, confronting
+Bhishma, cut off his standard clean off at the roots by shooting a
+gold-decked arrow pierced by which it fell to the ground. And at
+this, four mighty warriors, Duhsasana and Vikarna and Dussaha and
+Vivingsati, skilled in weapons and endued with great energy, and
+all decked with handsome garlands and ornaments, rushed towards
+that terrible bowman. And advancing towards Vibhatsu&mdash;that
+fierce archer, these all encompassed him around. Then the heroic
+Duhsasana pierced the son of Virata with a crescent-shaped arrow
+and he pierced Arjuna with another arrow in the breast. And Jishnu,
+confronting Duhsasana, cut off by means of a sharp-edged arrow
+furnished with vulturine wings his adversary's bow plaited with
+gold, and then pierced his person in the breast by means of five
+arrows. And afflicted by the arrows of Partha, Duhsasana fled,
+leaving the combat. Then Vikarna, the son of Dhritarashtra, pierced
+Arjuna&mdash;that slayer of hostile heroes, by means of sharp and
+straight arrows furnished with vulturine wings. But the son of
+Kunti within a moment hit him also in the forehead with straight
+shafts. And pierced by Arjuna, he fell down from his car. And at
+this, Dussaha, supported by Vivingsati, covered Arjuna with a cloud
+of sharp arrows, impelled by the desire of rescuing his brother.
+Dhananjaya, however, without the least anxiety, pierced both of
+them almost at the same instant by means of couple of keen-edged
+arrows and then slew the steeds of both. And there upon, both those
+sons of Dhritarashtra, deprived of their steeds and their bodies
+mangled were taken away by the warrior behind them who had rushed
+forward with other cars. Then the unvanquished Vibhatsu, the mighty
+son of Kunti, decked with diadem and sure of aim, simultaneously
+attacked all sides with his arrows."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then, O thou of the Bharata race, all the
+great car-warriors of the Kurus, united together, began to assail
+Arjuna to the best of their might from all sides. But that hero of
+immeasurable soul completely covered all those mighty car-warriors
+with clouds of arrows, even as the mist covereth the mountains. And
+the roars of huge elephants and conchs, mingling together, produced
+a loud up roar. And penetrating through the bodies of elephants and
+horses as also through steel coats of mail, the arrows shot by
+Partha fell by thousands. And shooting shafts with the utmost
+celerity, the son of Pandu seemed in that contest to resemble the
+blazing sun of an autumnal midday. And afflicted with fear, the
+car-warriors began to leap down from their cars and the
+horse-soldiers from horse-back, while the foot-soldiers began to
+fly in all directions. And loud was the clatter made by Arjuna's
+shafts as they cleft the coats of mail belonging to mighty
+warriors, made of steel, silver, and copper. And the field was soon
+covered with the corpses of warriors mounted on elephants and
+horses, all mangled by the shafts of Partha of great impetuosity
+like unto sighing snakes. And then it seemed as if Dhananjaya, bow
+in hand, was dancing on the field of battle. And sorely affrighted
+at the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i> resembling the noise of the
+thunder, many were the combatants that fled from that terrible
+conflict. And the field of battle was bestrewn with severed heads
+decked with turbans, ear-rings and necklaces of gold, and the earth
+looked beautiful by being scattered all over with human trunks
+mangled by shafts, and arms having bows in their grasp and hands
+decked with ornaments. And, O bull of the Bharata race, in
+consequence of heads cut off by whetted shafts ceaselessly falling
+on the ground, it seemed as if a shower of stones fell from the
+sky. And that Partha of formidable prowess, displaying his
+fierceness, now ranged the field of battle, pouring the terrible
+fire of his wrath upon the sons of Dhritarashtra. And beholding the
+fierce prowess of Arjuna who thus scorched the hostile host, the
+Kuru warriors, in the very presence of Duryodhana, became
+dispirited and ceased to fight. And, O Bharata, having struck
+terror into that host and routed those mighty car-warriors, that
+fore-most of victors, ranged on the field. And the son of Pandu
+then created on the field of battle a dreadful river of blood, with
+waving billows, like unto the river of death that is created by
+Time at the end of the <i>Yuga</i>, having the dishevelled hair of
+the dead and the dying for its floating moss and straw, with bows
+and arrows for its boats, fierce in the extreme and having flesh
+and animal juices for its mire. And coats of mail and turbans
+floated thick on its surface. And elephants constituted its
+alligators and the cars its rafts. And marrow and fat and blood
+constituted its currents. And it was calculated to strike terror
+into the hearts of the spectators. And dreadful to behold, and
+fearful in the extreme, and resounding with the yells of ferocious
+beasts, keen edged weapons constituted its crocodiles. And
+<i>Rakshasas</i> and other cannibals haunted it from one end to the
+other. And strings of pearls constituted its ripples, and various
+excellent ornaments, its bubbles. And having swarms of arrows for
+its fierce eddies and steeds for its tortoises, it was incapable of
+being crossed. And the mighty car warrior constituted its large
+island, and it resounded with the blare of conchs and the sound of
+drums. And the river of blood that Partha created was incapable of
+being crossed. Indeed, so swift-handed was Arjuna that the
+spectators could not perceive any interval between his taking up an
+arrow, and fixing it on the bow-string, and letting it off by a
+stretch of the <i>Gandiva</i>."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then while a great havoc was being made
+among the Kurus, Santanu's son, Bhishma, and grandsire of the
+Bharatas rushed at Arjuna, taking up an excellent bow adorned with
+gold, and many arrows also of keen points and capable of piercing
+into the very vitals of the foe and afflicting him sorely. And in
+consequence of a white umbrella being held over his head, that
+tiger among men looked beautiful like unto a hill at sunrise. And
+the son of Ganga, blowing his conch cheered the sons of
+Dhritarashtra, and wheeling along his right came upon Vibhatsu and
+impeded his course. And that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of
+Kunti, beholding him approach, received him with a glad heart, like
+a hill receiving a rain-charged cloud. And Bhishma, endued with
+great energy, pierced Partha's flag-staff with eight arrows. The
+arrows reaching the flag-staff of Pandu's son, struck the blazing
+ape and those creatures also stationed in the banner-top. And then
+the son of Pandu, with a mighty javelin of sharp edge cut of
+Bhishma's umbrella which instantly fell on the ground. And then the
+light-handed son of Kunti struck his adversary's flag-staff also
+with many shafts, and then his steeds and then the couple of
+drivers that protected Bhishma's flanks. And unable to bear this,
+Bhishma though cognisant of the Pandava's might, covered Dhananjaya
+with a powerful celestial weapon. And the son of Pandu, of
+immeasurable soul, hurling in return a celestial weapon at Bhishma,
+received that from Bhishma like a hill receiving a deep mass of
+clouds. And the encounter that took place between Partha and
+Bhishma, was fierce and the Kaurava warriors with their troops
+stood as lookers on. And in the conflict between Bhishma and the
+son of Pandu, shafts striking against shafts shone in the air like
+fireflies in the season of rains. And, O king, in consequence of
+Partha's shooting arrows with both his right and left hands, the
+bent <i>Gandiva</i> seemed like a continuous circle of fire. And
+the son of Kunti then covered Bhishma with hundreds of sharp and
+keen-edged arrows, like a cloud covering the mountain-breast with
+its heavy downpour. And Bhishma baffled with his own arrows that
+arrowy shower, like the bank resisting the swelling sea, and
+covered the son of Pandu in return. And those warriors, cut into a
+thousand pieces in battle, fell fast in the vicinity of Phalguna's
+car. And then there was a downpour, from the car of Pandu's son, of
+arrows furnished with golden wing, and raining through the sky like
+a flight of locusts. And Bhishma again repelled that arrowy shower
+with hundreds of whetted shafts shot by him. And then the Kauravas
+exclaimed.&mdash;'Excellent! Excellent!&mdash;Indeed, Bhishma hath
+performed an exceedingly difficult feat inasmuch as he hath fought
+with Arjuna. Dhananjaya is mighty and youthful, and dexterous and
+swift of hand. Who else, save Bhishma, the son of Santanu, or
+Krishna, the son of Devaki, or the mighty son of Bharadwaja, the
+foremost of preceptors, is able to bear the impetus of Partha in
+battle?' And repelling weapons with weapons, those two bulls of the
+Bharata race, both endued with great might, fought on playfully and
+infatuated the eyes of all created beings. And those illustrious
+warriors ranged on the field of battle, using the celestials
+weapons obtained from <i>Prajapati</i> and <i>Indra</i>, and
+<i>Agni</i> and the fierce <i>Rudra</i>, and <i>Kuvera</i>, and
+<i>Varuna</i>, and <i>Yama</i>, and <i>Vayu</i>. And all beings
+were greatly surprised, upon beholding those warriors engaged in
+combat. And they all exclaimed,&mdash;<i>Bravo Partha of long arms!
+Bravo Bhishma! Indeed, this application of celestial weapons that
+is being witnessed in the combat between Bhishma and Partha</i> is
+rare among human beings."</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus raged that conflict with weapons
+between those warriors conversant with all weapons. And when that
+conflict of celestial weapons ceased, then commenced a conflict
+with arrows. And Jishnu approaching his opponent, cut off with an
+arrow sharp like a razor the gold-decked bow of Bhishma. Within the
+twinkling of the eye, however, Bhishma, that mighty-armed and great
+car-warrior, took up another bow and stringed it. And inflamed with
+wrath, he showered upon Dhananjaya a cloud of arrows. And Arjuna,
+too, endued with great energy, rained upon Bhishma innumerable
+sharp-pointed and keen-edged arrows. And Bhishma also shot clouds
+of arrows upon Pandu's son. And conversant with celestial weapons
+and engaged in shooting and each other, arrows of keen points, no
+distinction, O king, could then be perceived between those
+illustrious warriors. And that mighty car-warrior, Kunti's son,
+covered with a diadem, and the heroic son of Santanu, obscured the
+ten directions with their arrows. And the Pandava covered Bhishma,
+and Bhishma also covered the Pandava, with clouds of shafts. And, O
+king, wonderful was this combat that took place in this world of
+men. And the heroic warriors that protected Bhishma's car, slain by
+the son of Pandu, fell prostrate, O monarch, beside the car of
+Kunti's son. And the feathery arrows of Swetavahana, shot from the
+<i>Gandiva</i>, fell in all directions as if with the object of
+making a wholesale slaughter of the foe. And issuing forth from his
+car those blazing arrows furnished with golden wings looked like
+rows of swans in the sky. And all the celestials with Indra,
+stationed in the firmament, gazed with wonder upon another
+celestial weapon hurled with great force by that wonderful archer
+Arjuna. And beholding that wonderful weapon of great beauty, the
+mighty <i>Gandiva</i>, Chitrasena, highly pleased, addressed the
+lord of celestials, saying, 'Behold these arrows shot by Partha
+coursing through the sky in one continuous line. Wonderful is the
+dexterity of Jishnu in evolving this celestial weapon! Human beings
+are incapable of shooting such a weapon, for it does not exist
+among men. How wonderful again is this concourse of mighty weapons
+existing from days of old! No interval can be perceived between his
+taking up the arrows, fixing them on the bow-string, and letting
+them off by stretching the <i>Gandiva</i>. The soldiers are
+incapable of even looking at the son of Pandu, who is like unto the
+midday sun blazing in the sky. So also none ventures to look at
+Bhishma, the son of Ganga. Both are famous for their achievements,
+and both are of fierce prowess. Both are equal in feats of heroism,
+and both are difficult of being vanquished in battle.'</p>
+<p>"Thus addressed by the <i>Gandharva</i> about that combat
+between Partha and Bhishma, the lord of the celestials, O Bharata,
+paid proper respect unto both by a shower of celestial flowers.
+Meanwhile, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, assailed Arjuna on the left
+side, while that drawer of the bow with either hands was on the
+point of piercing him. And at this, Vibhatsu, laughing aloud, cut
+off with an arrow of keen edge and furnished with vulturine wings,
+the bow of Bhishma, that hero of solar effulgence. And then
+Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, pierced Bhishma in the breast with
+ten shafts although the latter was contending with all his prowess.
+And sorely afflicted with pain Ganga's son of mighty arms and
+irresistible in battle, stood for a long time leaning on the pole
+of his car. And beholding him deprived of consciousness the driver
+of his car-steeds, calling to mind the instructions about
+protecting the warriors when in a swoon, led him away for
+safety."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXIV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "After Bhishma had fled, leaving the van of
+battle, the illustrious son of Dhritarashtra hoisting high flag
+approached Arjuna, bow in hand and setting up a loud roar. And with
+a spear-headed shaft shot from his bow stretched to the ear, he
+pierced on the forehead of that terrible bowman of fierce prowess,
+Dhananjaya, ranging amidst the foes. And pierced with that keen
+shaft of golden point on the forehead, that hero of famous deeds
+looked resplendent, O king, like unto a beautiful hill with a
+single peak. And cut by that arrow, the warm life-blood gushed out
+profusely from the wound. And the blood trickling down his body
+shone beautifully like a wreath of golden flowers. And struck by
+Duryodhana with the shaft, the swift-handed Arjuna of unfailing
+strength, swelling with rage, pierced the king in return, taking up
+arrows that were endued with the energy of snakes of virulent
+poison. And Duryodhana of formidable energy attacked Partha, and
+Partha also, that foremost of heroes, attacked Duryodhana. And it
+was that those foremost of men, both born in the race of Ajamida,
+struck each other alike in the combat. And then (seated) on an
+infuriate elephant huge as a mountain and supported by four cars,
+Vikarna rushed against Jishnu, the son of Kunti. And beholding that
+huge elephant, advancing with speed, Dhananjaya struck him on the
+head between the temples with an iron arrow of great impetus shot
+from the bow-string stretched to the ear. And like the thunderbolt
+hurled by Indra splitting a mountain, that arrow furnished with
+vulturine wings, shot by Partha, penetrated, up to the very
+feathers, into the body of that elephant huge as hill. And sorely
+afflicted by the shaft, that lord of the elephant species began to
+tremble, and deprived of strength fell down on the ground in
+intense anguish, like the peak of mountain riven by thunder. And
+that best of elephants falling down on the earth, Vikarna suddenly
+alighting in great terror, ran back full eight hundred paces and
+ascended on the car of Vivingsati. And having slain with that
+thunder-like arrow that elephant huge as a mighty hill and looking
+like a mass of clouds, the son of Pritha smote Duryodhana in the
+breast with another arrow of the same kind. And both the elephant
+and the king having thus been wounded, and Vikarna having broken
+and fled along with the supporters of the king's car, the other
+warriors, smitten with the arrows shot from the <i>Gandiva</i>,
+fled from the field in panic. And beholding the elephant slain by
+Partha, and all the other warriors running away, Duryodhana, the
+foremost of the Kurus, turning away his car precipitately fled in
+that direction where Partha was not. And when Duryodhana was fast
+running away in alarm, pierced by that arrow and vomitting forth
+blood, Kiritin, still eager for battle and capable of enduring
+every enemy, thus censured him from wrath, 'Sacrificing thy great
+fame and glory, why dost thou fly away, turning thy back? Why are
+not those trumpets sounded now, as they were when thou hadst set
+out from thy kingdom? Lo, I am an obedient servant of Yudhishthira,
+myself being the third son of Pritha, standing here for battle.
+Turn back, show me thy face, O son of Dhritarashtra, and bear in
+thy mind the behaviour of kings. The name <i>Duryodhana</i>
+bestowed on thee before is hereby rendered meaningless. When thou
+runnest away, leaving the battle, where is thy persistence in
+battle? Neither do I behold thy body-guards, O Duryodhana, before
+nor behind. O foremost of men, fly thou away and save thy life
+which is dear from the hands of Pandu's son.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Thus summoned to battle by the illustrious
+hero, Dhritarashtra's son turned back stung by those censures, like
+an infuriate and mighty elephant pricked by a hook. And stung by
+those reproaches and unable to bear them, that mighty and brave
+car-warrior endued with great swiftness, turned back on his car,
+like a snake that is trampled under foot. And beholding Duryodhana
+turn back with his wounds, Karna, that hero among men, decked with
+a golden necklace, stopped the king on the way and soothing him,
+himself proceeded along the north of Duryodhana's car to meet
+Partha in battle. And the mighty-armed Bhishma also, the son of
+Santanu, turning back his steeds decked with gold, enormous in
+size, and of tawny hue, rushed bow in hand, for protecting
+Duryodhana from Partha's hand. And Drona and Kripa and Vivingsati
+and Duhsasana and others also, quickly turning back, rushed forward
+with speed with drawn bows and arrows fixed on the bow-strings, for
+protecting Duryodhana. And beholding those divisions advance
+towards him like the swelling surges of the ocean, Dhananjaya, the
+son of Pritha, quickly rushed at them like a crane rushing at a
+descending cloud. And with celestial weapons in their hands, they
+completely surrounded the son of Pritha and rained on him from all
+sides a perfect shower of shafts, like clouds showering on the
+mountain breast a heavy downpour of rain. And warding off with
+weapons, all the weapons of those bulls among the Kurus, the
+wielder of the <i>Gandiva</i> who was capable of enduring all foes,
+evolved another irresistible weapon obtained from Indra, called
+<i>Sanmohana</i>. And entirely covering the cardinal and other
+directions with sharp and keen-edged arrows furnished with
+beautiful feathers, that mighty hero stupefied their senses with
+the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i>. And once more, taking up with both
+his hands that large conch of loud blare, Partha, that slayer of
+foes, blew it with force and filled the cardinal and other points,
+the whole earth, and sky, with that noise. And those foremost of
+the Kuru heroes were all deprived of their senses by the sound of
+that conch blown by Partha. And all of them stood still, their
+bows, from which they were never separated, dropping down from
+their hands. And when the Kuru army became insensible, Partha
+calling to mind the words of Uttara, addressed the son of the
+Matsya king, saying, 'O best of men, go thou among the Kurus, so
+long as they remain insensible, and bring away the white garments
+of Drona and Kripa, and the yellow and handsome ones of Karna, as
+also the blue ones of the king and Drona's son. Methinks, Bhishma
+is not stupefied, for he knoweth how to counteract this weapon of
+mine. So, pass thou on, keeping his steeds to thy left; for those
+that are sensible should thus be avoided.' Hearing these words, the
+illustrious son of Matsya, giving up the reins of the steeds,
+jumped down from the car and taking off the garments of the
+warriors, came back to his place. And the son of Virata then urged
+the four handsome steeds with flanks adorned with golden armours.
+And those white steeds, urged on, took Arjuna away from the midst
+of battle-field and beyond the array of the infantry bearing
+standards in their hands. And, Bhishma, beholding that best of men
+thus going away, struck him with arrows. And Partha, too, having
+slain Bhishma's steeds, pierced him with ten shafts. And abandoning
+Bhishma on the field of battle, having first slain his car-driver,
+Arjuna with a good-looking bow in hand came out of that multitude
+of cars, like the sun emerging from the clouds. And Dhritarashtra's
+son, that foremost of heroes among the Kurus, recovering his
+senses, saw the son of Pritha standing like the lord of the
+celestials, alone on the battle-field. And he said in hurry (unto
+Bhishma), 'How hath this one escape from thee? Do thou afflict him
+in such a way that he may not escape.' And at this, Santanu's son,
+smiling, said unto him, 'Where had been this sense of thine, and
+where had been thy prowess too, when thou hadst been in a state of
+unconsciousness renouncing thy arrows and handsome bow? Vibhatsu is
+not addicted to the commission of atrocious deeds; nor is his soul
+inclined to sin. He renounceth not his principles even for the sake
+of the three worlds. It is for this only that all of us have not
+been slain in this battle. O thou foremost of Kuru heroes, go back
+to the city of the Kurus, and let Partha also go away, having
+conquered the kine. Do thou never foolishly throw away thy own
+good. Indeed, that which leadeth to one's welfare ought to be
+accomplished.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having listened to the words of the
+grandsire that tended to his own welfare, the wrathful king
+Duryodhana no longer eager for battle, drew a deep sigh and became
+silent. And reflecting that the advice of Bhishma was beneficial
+and seeing that the Pandavas gaining in strength, the other
+warriors also, desirous of protecting Duryodhana, resolved to
+return. And beholding those foremost of Kuru heroes departing for
+their city, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, with a cheerful heart
+followed them for a while, desirous of addressing and worshipping
+them. And having worshipped the aged grandsire&mdash;the son of
+Santanu, as also the preceptor Drona, and having saluted with
+beautiful arrows Drona's son and Kripa and other venerable ones
+among the Kurus, the son of Pritha broke into fragments
+Duryodhana's crown decked with precious gems, with another arrow.
+And having saluted all the venerable and brave warriors thus, he
+filled the three worlds with the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i>. And
+suddenly blowing his conch called <i>Devadatta</i>, the hero
+pierced the hearts of all his foes. And having humbled the hostile,
+he looked resplendent on his car decked with a handsome flag. And
+beholding the Kurus depart, Kiritin cheerfully said unto Matsya's
+son, 'Turn back thy steeds; thy kine have been recovered; the foe
+is going away and do thou also return to thy city with a cheerful
+heart.' And the celestials also, having witnessed that most
+wonderful encounter between Phalguna and the Kurus, were highly
+delighted, and went to their respective abodes, reflecting upon
+Partha's feats."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXVI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having vanquished the Kurus in battle, that
+one with eyes like those of a bull brought back that profuse cattle
+wealth of Virata. And while the Dhritarashtra, after their rout,
+were going away, a large number of Kuru-soldiers issuing out of the
+deep forest appeared with slow steps before Partha, their hearts
+afflicted with fear. And they stood before him with joined palms
+and with hair dishevelled. And fatigued with hunger and thirst,
+arrived in a foreign land, insensible with terror, and confused in
+mind, they all bowed down unto the son of Pritha and
+said,&mdash;<i>We are thy slaves</i>.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'Welcome, blessed be ye. Go ye away. Ye have no
+cause of fear. I will not take the lives of them that are
+afflicted. Ye have my assurance of protection.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of assurance, the
+assembled warriors greeted him with benedictions in praise of his
+achievements and fame and wishing him long life. And the Kauravas
+were unable to confront Arjuna while after routing the foe he
+proceeded towards the city of Virata, like an elephant with rent
+temples. And having routed the whole army of the Kuru like a
+violent wind scattering the clouds, that slayer of foes, Partha,
+regardfully addressing the prince of Matsya, said, 'It is known to
+thee alone, O child, that the sons of Pritha are all living with
+thy father. Do not eulogise them upon entering the city, for then
+the king of the Matsyas may hide himself in fear. On the other
+hand, entering the city, do thou proclaim in the presence of thy
+father that the deed is thy own, saying,&mdash;<i>By me hath the
+army of the Kurus been vanquished and by me have the kine been
+recovered from the foe!</i>'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'The feat thou hast achieved is beyond my power. I
+do not possess the ability to achieve it. I shall not, however, O
+Savyasachin, discover thee to my father, as long as thou wilt not
+tell me to do it.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having vanquished the hostile army and
+wrested the whole of the cattle wealth from the Kurus, Jishnu
+returned again to the cemetery and having approached the same
+<i>Sami</i> tree stood there with body mangled by the arrows of the
+enemy. Then that terrible monkey blazing like fire ascended into
+the sky with those other creatures in the flag-staff. And the
+illusion created (by Viswakarma) melted away and Uttara's own
+banner bearing the device of a lion was set up on the car again.
+And having replaced the arrows and quivers of those foremost of the
+Kuru princes, and also that other weapon the <i>(Gandiva)</i> which
+enhances the fierceness of a battle, the illustrious prince of
+Matsya set out for the city with a glad heart, having Kiritin as
+his charioteer. And having achieved an exceedingly mighty feat and
+slain the foe, Partha also, that slayer of foes, binding his hair
+into a braid as before, took the reins from Uttara's hands. And
+that illustrious hero entered the city of Virata, with a cheerful
+heart rehabilitating himself as Vrihannala, the car-driver of
+Uttara.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "When all the Kauravas utterly routed
+and vanquished, set out in a dejected mood for Hastinapura,
+Phalguna, on his way back, addressed Uttara, saying, 'O prince, O
+hero of mighty arms, seeing the kine escorted in advance of us by
+the cowherds, we shall enter Virata's metropolis in the afternoon,
+having tended the steeds with drink and a bath. Let the cowherds,
+despatched by thee, speedily repair to the city with the good news
+and proclaim thy victory.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Agreeable to Arjuna's words, Uttara
+speedily ordered the messengers, saying, 'Go ye and proclaim the
+king's victory. The foe hath been routed, and the kine have been
+recovered.' And the Matsya and the Bharata princes having thus
+consulted together re-approached the same <i>Sami</i> tree. And
+gratified with the victory they had won, and arrived at the foot of
+the <i>Sami</i> tree, they wore on their persons and took up on
+their car the ornaments and robes they had left there. And having
+vanquished the whole hostile army and recovered the whole of the
+wealth from the Kurus, the heroic son of Virata returned to the
+city with Vrihannala as his car-driver."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having speedily recovered his wealth Virata
+owning a large army entered his city with a cheerful heart,
+accompanied by the four Pandavas. And having vanquished the
+<i>Trigartas</i> in battle and recovered all the kine, that mighty
+monarch, along with the sons of Pritha, looked resplendent and
+blazed forth in beauty. And as the brave king, that enhancer of the
+joys of friends, was seated on his throne, all his subjects headed
+by the Brahmanas stood before him. And worshipped by them, the king
+of the Matsyas, at the head of his army, saluted the Brahmanas and
+his subjects in return and dismissed them cheerfully. And Virata,
+the king of the Matsyas owning a large army, enquired after Uttara,
+saying, 'Where hath Uttara gone?' And the women and the maidens of
+the palace and the other females living in the inner apartments
+joyfully said unto him, 'Our kine having been seized by the Kurus,
+Bhuminjaya incensed at this and from excess of bravery hath issued
+forth alone with only Vrihannala as his second, for vanquishing the
+six mighty car-warriors, Bhishma the son of Santanu, and Kripa, and
+Karna, and Duryodhana, and Drona, and Drona's son who have all come
+with the Kuru army.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then king Virata, hearing that his
+brave son had gone forth with only one car and with Vrihannala as
+his car-driver, became filled with grief, and addressing his chief
+counsellors, said, 'Without doubt, the Kauravas and other lords of
+earth, learning the defeat of the Trigartas, will never keep their
+ground. Therefore, let those of my warriors that have not been
+wounded by the <i>Trigartas</i> go out, accompanied by a mighty
+force, for the protection of Uttara.' And saying this, the king
+speedily despatched, for the sake of his son, horses and elephants
+and cars and a large number of foot-soldiers, equipped and decked
+with various kinds of weapons and ornaments. And it was thus that
+Virata, the king of the Matsyas, owning a large army, quickly
+ordered out a large division consisting of four kinds of troops.
+And having done this, he said, 'Learn ye, without loss of time
+whether the prince liveth still or not! I myself think that he who
+hath got a person of the neuter sex for his car-driver is not
+alive.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then king Yudhishthira the just,
+smilingly said unto the afflicted king Virata, 'If, O monarch,
+Vrihannala hath been his charioteer, the foe will never be able to
+take away thy kine today. Protected by that charioteer, thy son
+will be able to vanquish in battle all the lords of earth allied
+with the Kurus, indeed, even the gods and the <i>Asuras</i> and the
+<i>Siddhas</i> and the <i>Yakshas</i> together.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Meanwhile, the swift-footed messengers
+despatched by Uttara, having reached Virata's city, gave tidings of
+the victory. And the minister-in-chief then informed the king of
+everything, viz., the great victory that had been won, the defeat
+of the Kurus, and the expected arrival of Uttara. And he said, 'All
+the kine have been brought back, the Kurus have been defeated, and
+Uttara, that slayer of foes, is well with his car-driver.' Then
+Yudhishthira said, 'By good luck it is that the kine have been
+recovered and the Kurus routed. I do not, however, regard it
+strange that thy son should have vanquished the Kurus, for his
+victory is assured that hath Vrihannala for his charioteer.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing of the victory of his son
+possessed of immeasurable might, king Virata became so glad that
+the bristles of his body stood erect. And having made presents of
+raiments unto the messengers, he ordered his ministers, saying,
+'Let the highways be decorated with flags, and let all the gods and
+goddesses be worshipped with flowery offerings. And let princes and
+brave warriors, and musicians and harlots decked in ornaments,
+march out to receive my son. And let the bellman, speedily riding
+an intoxicated elephant, proclaim my victory at places where four
+roads meet. And let Uttara, too, in gorgeous attire and surrounded
+by virgins and chanters of eulogies, go forth to receive my
+son.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having listened to these words of the
+king, all the citizens with auspicious things in hand, and many
+amongst them with cymbals and trumpets and conchs, and beautiful
+women attired in gorgeous robes, and reciters of auspicious and
+sacred hymns, accompanied by encomiasts and minstrels, and drummers
+and other kinds of musicians issued forth from the city of the
+mighty Virata to welcome Uttara of immeasurable prowess. And having
+despatched troops and maidens and courtesans decked in ornaments,
+the wise king of the Matsyas cheerfully said these words, '<i>O
+Sairindhri</i>, fetch the dice. And, O Kanka, let the play
+commence.' The son of Pandu replied, saying, 'We have heard it said
+that one whose heart is filled with joy should not play with a
+cunning gambler. I do not therefore, dare gamble with thee that are
+so transported with joy. I am ever desirous of doing what is for
+thy good. Let the play, however, commence if it pleases thee.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'My female slaves and kine, my gold and whatsoever
+other wealth I have, nothing of all this shall thou be able to
+protect today even if I do not gamble.' Kanka said in reply, 'O
+monarch, O bestower of honours, what business hast thou with gamble
+which is attended with numerous evils? Gambling is fraught with
+many evils; it should, therefore, be shunned. Thou mayst have seen
+or at least heard of Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu. He lost his
+extensive and prosperous kingdom and his god-like brothers at dice.
+For this, I am averse to gambling. But if thou likest, O king, I
+will play.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "While the play was going on, Matsya
+said unto the son of Pandu, 'Lo, the Kauravas that are so
+formidable have been vanquished in battle by my son.' Upon this,
+the illustrious king Yudhishthira said, 'Why should not he conquer
+that hath Vrihannala for his charioteer?'</p>
+<p>"Thus addressed, King Matsya became angry and said unto Pandu's
+son, 'Thou wretch of a Brahmana, dost thou compare one of the
+neuter sex with my son! Hast thou no knowledge of what is proper
+and what improper for one to say? Without doubt, thou disregardest
+me. Why should not my son vanquish all those with Bhishma and Drona
+as their leaders? O Brahmana, for friendship only I pardon thee
+this thy offence. Thou must not, however, say so again if thou
+wishest to live.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'There where Bhishma and Drona and Drona's
+son and the son of Vikartana and Kripa and king Duryodhana and
+other royal and mighty car-warriors are assembled or there where
+Indra himself is surrounded by the Maruts, what other person than
+Vrihannala can fight, encountering them all! None hath been, none
+will be, his equal in strength of arms! Indeed, it is Vrihannala
+only whose heart is filled with joy at sight of a terrible
+conflict. It is he who had vanquished the celestials and the
+<i>Asuras</i> and human beings fighting together. With such a one
+for his ally, why should not thy son conquer the foe?' Virata said,
+'Repeatedly forbidden by me, thou dost not yet restrain thy tongue.
+If there is none to punish, no one would practise virtue.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, the king inflamed with
+anger forcibly struck Yudhishthira in the face with a dice, and
+reproached him angrily, saying, 'Let it not occur again!' And
+having been violently struck, blood began to flow from his nose.
+But the son of Pritha held it in his hands before it fell on the
+ground. And the virtuous Yudhishthira then glanced at Draupadi who
+was standing by his side. Ever obedient to the wishes of her lord,
+the faultless Draupadi, understanding his meaning, and bringing a
+golden vessel filled with water, received the blood that flowed
+from his nose. Meanwhile, Uttara, entertained with sweet perfumes
+of diverse kinds and decked with floral chaplets, slowly entered
+the city, received with respect by the citizens, the women, and the
+people of the provinces. And approaching the gate of the palace he
+sent the news of his arrival to his father. And the porter then,
+approaching the king, said, 'Thy son Uttara, waiteth at the gate
+with Vrihannala as his companion.' And the Matsya king, with a
+cheerful heart, said unto him, 'Do thou usher both, as I am very
+anxious to see them.' Then Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus,
+gently whispered unto the ears of the warder, 'Let Uttara enter
+alone; Vrihannala must not come in. Such is the vow of that hero of
+mighty arms that whoever causeth a wound on my person or sheddeth
+my blood except in battle, shall not live. Inflamed with rage he
+will never bear patiently to see me bleeding, but will slay Virata
+even now with his counsellors and troops and steeds.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXVIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then Bhuminjaya, the eldest son of the king,
+entered, and having worshipped the feet of his father approached
+Kanka. And he beheld Kanka covered with blood, and seated on the
+ground at one end of the court, and waited upon by the
+<i>Sairindhri</i>. And seeing this, Uttara asked his father in a
+hurry, saying, 'By whom, O king, hath this one been struck? By whom
+hath this sinful act been perpetrated?'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'This crooked Brahmana hath been struck by me. He
+deserveth even more than this. When I was praising thee, he praised
+that person of the third sex.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Thou hast, O king, committed an improper act. Do
+thou speedily propitiate him so that the virulent poison of a
+Brahmana's curse may not consume thee to thy roots!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having heard the words of his son,
+Virata, that enhancer of the limits of his kingdom, began to soothe
+Kunti's son, who was like unto a fire hid in ashes, for obtaining
+his forgiveness. And unto the king desirous of obtaining his pardon
+the Pandava replied, 'O king, I have long ago forgiven it. Anger I
+have none. Had this blood from my nostrils fallen on the ground,
+then, without doubt, thou, O monarch, wouldst have been destroyed
+with thy kingdom. I do not, however, blame thee, O king, for having
+struck an innocent person. For, O king, they that are powerful
+generally act with unreasoning severity.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "When the bleeding had stopped,
+Vrihannala entered (the council-room) and having saluted both
+Virata and Kanka, stood silent. And the king, having appeased the
+chief of the Kurus, began to praise, in Savyasachin's hearing,
+Uttara who had returned from the battle. And the king said, 'O
+enhancer of the joys of Kekaya's princess, in thee have I truly a
+son! I never had nor shall have, a son that is equal to thee! How,
+indeed, couldst thou, O child, encounter that Karna who leaveth not
+a single mark unhit amongst even a thousand that he may aim at all
+at once? How couldst thou, O child, encounter that Bhishma who hath
+no equal in the whole world of men? How also couldst thou, O child,
+encounter Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, that
+preceptor of the Vrishnis and Kauravas, twice-born one who may be
+regarded as the preceptor of all the Kshatriyas? How couldst thou
+meet in battle the celebrated Aswatthaman? How couldst thou, O
+child, encounter that Duryodhana, the prince who is capable of
+piercing even a mountain with his mighty arrows? My foes have all
+been thrashed. A delicious breeze seems to blow around me. And
+since thou hast recovered in battle the whole of my wealth that had
+been seized by the Kurus, it seems that all those mighty warriors
+were struck with panic. Without doubt, thou, O bull amongst men,
+has routed the foe and snatched away from them my wealth of kine,
+like his prey from a tiger.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXIX</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'The kine have not been recovered by me, nor have
+the foe been vanquished by me. All that hath been accomplished by
+the son of a deity. Capable of striking like a thunderbolt, that
+youth of celestial origin, beholding me running away in fear,
+stopped me and himself mounted on my car. It was by him that the
+kine have been recovered and the Kauravas vanquished. The deed, O
+father, is that hero's and not mine. It was he that repulsed with
+arrows Kripa and Drona and Drona's son of powerful energy, and the
+<i>Suta's</i> son and Bhishma. That mighty hero then spoke unto the
+affrighted prince Duryodhana who was running away like the leader
+of a head of elephants, these words, "O prince of the Kuru race, I
+do not see that thou art safe by any means even at Hastinapura.
+Protect thy life by putting forth thy might. Thou shalt not escape
+me by flight. Therefore, make up thy mind for fight. If victorious,
+the sovereignty of the earth will be thine, or if slain, heaven
+itself will be thine."</p>
+<p>"'Thus addressed, king Duryodhana&mdash;that tiger among men
+surrounded by his counsellors,&mdash;sighing on his car like a
+snake turned back, showered arrows endued with the speed and force
+of thunderbolts. Beholding all this, venerable sire, my thighs
+began to quake. Then that celestial youth pierced with arrows the
+Kuru army consisting of leonine warriors. And having pierced and
+afflicted that crowd of cars, that youth, stout as the lion,
+laughed at them and robbed them of their clothes and attires.
+Indeed, the six great car-warriors of the Kurus were vanquished by
+that hero alone, even like herds of animals ranging in the forest
+by a single tiger in rage.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'Where is that mighty-armed and famous youth of
+celestial origin, that hero who recovered in battle my wealth that
+had been seized by the Kurus? I am anxious to behold and worship
+that mighty warrior of celestial origin who hath saved thee and my
+kine also.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara replied, 'The mighty son of a deity disappeared there
+and then. I think, however, that he will show himself either
+tomorrow or the day after.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Virata, that owner of a large army,
+remained ignorant of the son of Pandu who was thus described unto
+him by Uttara, and who was living in the palace in disguise. And
+permitted by the high-souled Virata, Partha presented with his own
+hands the garments he had brought, unto Virata's daughter. And the
+beautiful Uttara, obtaining those new and costly clothes of diverse
+kinds, became highly glad, along with the son of the Matsya
+king."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then, on the third day, attired in white
+robes after a bath, and decked in ornaments of all kinds, those
+great car-warriors, the five Pandava brothers, having accomplished
+their vow, and with Yudhishthira at their head, looked resplendent
+as they entered the palace-gate like five intoxicated elephants.
+And having entered the council-hall of Virata, they took their
+seats on the thrones reserved for kings, and shone brilliantly like
+fires on the sacrificial altar. And after Pandavas had taken their
+seats, Virata, that lord of earth, came there for holding his
+council and discharging other royal offices. And beholding the
+illustrious Pandavas blazing like fires, the king reflected for a
+moment. And then, filled with wrath, the Matsya king spoke unto
+Kanka seated there like a celestial and looking like the lord of
+celestials surrounded by the Martus. And he said, 'A player at dice
+thou wert employed by me as a courtier! How couldst thou occupy the
+royal seat thus attired in handsome robes and ornaments?'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Virata, O king,
+and desirous of jesting with him, Arjuna smilingly said in reply,
+'This person, O king, deserveth to occupy the same seat with Indra
+himself. Devoted to the Brahmanas, acquainted with the
+<i>Vedas</i>, indifferent to luxury and carnal enjoyments,
+habitually performing sacrifices, steady in vows, this one, indeed,
+is the very embodiment of virtue. The foremost of all Persons
+endued with energy and superior to every body on earth in
+intelligence, devoted to asceticism, he is conversant with various
+weapons. No other person among the mobile and immobile creatures of
+the three worlds possesseth or will ever possess such knowledge of
+weapons. And there is none even amongst the gods, or <i>Asuras</i>,
+or men, or <i>Rakshasas</i>, or <i>Gandharvas</i>, or <i>Yaksha</i>
+chiefs, or <i>Kinnaras</i>&mdash;or mighty <i>Uragas</i>, who is
+like him. Endued with great foresight and energy, beloved by the
+citizens and inhabitants of the provinces, he is the mightiest of
+car-warriors amongst the sons of Pandu. A performer of sacrifices,
+devoted to morality, and of subdued passions, like unto a great
+<i>Rishi</i>, this royal sage is celebrated over all the worlds.
+Possessed of great strength and great intelligence, able and
+truthful, he hath all his senses under complete control. Equal unto
+Indra in wealth and Kuvera in hoarding, he is the protector of the
+worlds like unto <i>Manu</i> himself of mighty prowess. Endued with
+great might, he is even such. Kind unto all creatures he is no
+other than the bull of the Kuru race, king Yudhishthira the just.
+The achievements of this king resemble the sun himself of blazing
+effulgence. And his fame hath travelled in all directions like the
+rays of that luminary. And like the rays following the risen sun of
+blazing effulgence, ten thousand swift elephants followed him, O
+king, when he dwelt among the Kurus. And, O king, thirty thousand
+cars decked in gold and drawn by the best steeds, also used to
+follow him then. And full eight hundred bards adorned with
+ear-rings set with shining gems, and accompanied by minstrels,
+recited his praises in those days, like the <i>Rishis</i> adorning
+Indra. And, O king, the Kauravas and other lords of earth always
+waited upon him like slaves, as the celestials upon Kuvera. This
+eminent king, resembling the bright-rayed sun, made all lords of
+earth pay tribute unto him like persons of the agricultural class.
+And eighty-eight thousands of high-souled <i>Snatakas</i> depended
+for their subsistence upon this king practising excellent vows.
+This illustrious lord protected the aged and the helpless, the
+maimed and the blind, as his sons, and he ruled over his subjects
+virtuously. Steady in morality and self-control, capable of
+restraining his anger, bountiful, devoted to the Brahmanas, and
+truthful, this one is the son of Pandu. The prosperity and prowess
+of this one afflict king Suyodhana with his followers including
+Karna and Suvala's son. And, O lord of men, the virtues of this one
+are incapable of being enumerated. This son of Pandu is devoted to
+morality and always abstains from injury. Possessed of such
+attributes, doth not this bull among kings, this son of Pandu,
+deserve, O monarch, to occupy a royal seat?'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXXI</h2>
+<p>"Virata said, 'If this one, indeed, be the Kuru king
+Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, which amongst these is his brother
+Arjuna, and which, the mighty Bhima. Which of these is Nakula, and
+which Sahadeva and where is the celebrated Draupadi? After their
+defeat at dice, the sons of Pritha have not been heard of by any
+one.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'Even this one, O king, who is called Vallava and
+is thy cook, is that Bhima of mighty arms and terrible prowess and
+furious impetus. It was he who slew the furious <i>Rakshasas</i> on
+the mountains of <i>Gandhamadana</i>, and procured for Krishna
+celestial flowers of great fragrance. Even he is that
+<i>Gandharva</i>, who slew the Kichaka of wicked soul and it was he
+who killed tigers and bears and boars in the inner apartment of thy
+palace. He who had been the keeper of thy horse is that slayer of
+foes called Nakula, and this one is Sahadeva, the keeper of thy
+kine. Both these sons of Madri are great car-warriors, possessed of
+great fame and beauty of person. These two bulls of the Bharata
+race, attired in handsome robes and decked in excellent ornaments,
+are a match for a thousand great car-warriors. And even this lady
+of eyes like lotus-petals and slender waist and sweet smiles is
+Drupada's daughter, thy wife's <i>Sairindhri</i>, for whose sake, O
+king, the Kichakas were slain. I am, O king, Arjuna who, it is
+evident, thou hast heard, is that son of Pritha, who is Bhima's
+junior and the senior of the twins! We have, O king, happily passed
+in thy abode the period of non-discovery, like infants in the
+womb!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "After Arjuna had pointed out those
+heroes&mdash;the five Pandavas, the son of Virata then spoke of
+Arjuna's prowess. And Uttara once again identified the sons of
+Pritha. And the prince said, 'That one whose complexion is bright
+like that of pure gold, who is stout like a full-grown lion, whose
+nose is so prominent, whose eyes are large and expansive, and whose
+face is broad and of coppery hue, is the king of the Kurus. And
+behold, that one whose tread is like that of an infuriate elephant,
+whose complexion is like that of heated gold, whose shoulders are
+broad and expanded, and whose arms are long and thick, is
+Vrikodara. And he who stands by his side, that youth of darkish
+hue, who is like unto a leader of a herd of elephants, whose
+shoulders are broad like those of a lion, whose tread is like that
+of a mighty elephant, and whose eyes are large and expansive like
+lotus-leaves, is Arjuna that foremost of bowmen. All lo, close to
+the king, are those foremost of men, the twins, like unto Vishnu
+and Indra, and who have no equals, in the world of men, in beauty,
+might, and behaviour. And close by them, behold, standeth Krishna,
+beautiful as gold, like unto the very embodiment of light,
+possessing the complexion of the blue lotus, like unto a celestial
+damsel, and resembling the living embodiment of <i>Lakshmi</i>
+herself.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then Virata's son began to describe the
+prowess of Arjuna, saying, 'Even this one is he that slew the foe,
+like unto a lion devastating a flock of deer. Even he ranged
+through crowds of hostile cars, slaying their best of car-warriors.
+By him was slain a huge, infuriate elephant by means of a single
+arrow. Pierced by him, that huge beast having its flanks adorned
+with an armour of gold, fell down piercing the earth with his
+tusks. By him have the kine been recovered and the Kauravas
+vanquished in battle. My ears have been deafened by the blare of
+his conch. It was by this hero of fierce deeds that Bhishma and
+Drona, along with Duryodhana, were vanquished. That achievement is
+his and not mine.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of his, the mighty
+king of the Matsyas, considering himself guilty of having offended
+Yudhishthira, said unto Uttara in reply, 'I think the time hath
+come for me to propitiate the sons of Pandu. And, if thou likest, I
+shall bestow my daughter Uttara upon Arjuna.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Worthy of our adorations and worship and respect,
+the time hath come for worshipping the illustrious sons of Pandu
+who deserve to be worshipped by us.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'When brought under the foe's subjection in
+battle, it was Bhimasena that rescued me. My kine also have been
+recovered by Arjuna. It is through the might of their arms that we
+have obtained victory in battle. Such being the case, all of us,
+with our counsellors, shall propitiate Yudhishthira the son of
+Kunti. Blessed be thou, with all thy brothers, O bull among the
+sons of Pandu. If, O king, we have ever said or done anything in
+ignorance to offend thee, it behoveth thee to forgive us. The son
+of Pandu is virtuous.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then the high-souled Virata, delighted
+greatly, approached king Yudhishthira and made an alliance with
+him, and offered him his whole kingdom together with the sceptre
+and treasury and metropolis. And addressing all the Pandavas, and
+especially Dhananjaya, the mighty king of the Matsyas repeatedly
+said, 'By good luck it is that I see you.' And having again and
+again embraced Yudhishthira and Bhima and the sons of Madri, and
+smelt their heads, Virata, that owner of a large army, was not
+satiated with gazing at them. And being highly pleased, he said
+unto king Yudhishthira, 'By good luck it is that I see you safe
+from woods. By good luck it is that ye have accomplished with
+difficulty the period of exile, undiscovered by those wicked
+wights. I make over my entire kingdom to the sons of Pritha, and
+what else I have. Let the sons of Pandu accept these without the
+slightest hesitation. And let Dhananjaya, called also Savyasachin,
+accept the hand of Uttara: for that best of men is fit to be her
+lord.' Thus addressed, king Yudhishthira the just cast a look upon
+Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha. And looked at by his brother, Arjuna
+said unto the Matsya king, 'O monarch, I accept thy daughter as my
+daughter-in-law. And alliance of this kind between the Matsya and
+the Bharatas is, indeed, desirable.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXXII</h2>
+<p>"Virata said, 'Why, O best among the Pandavas, dost thou not
+wish to accept as wife this my daughter that I bestow upon
+thee?'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'Residing in thy inner apartments, I had occasion
+always to behold thy daughter, and she too, alone or in company
+trusted me as her father. Well-versed in singing and dancing, I was
+liked and regarded by her, and, indeed, thy daughter always
+regardeth me as her protector. O king, I lived for one whole year
+with her though she had attained the age of puberty. Under these
+circumstances, thyself or other men may not without reason,
+entertain suspicions against her or me. Therefore, O king, myself
+who am pure, and have my senses under control, beg to thee, O
+monarch, thy daughter as my daughter-in-law. Thus do I attest her
+purity. There is no difference between a daughter-in-law and a
+daughter, as also between a son and son's own-self. By adopting
+this course, therefore, her purity will be proved. I am afraid of
+slanderous and false accusations. I accept, therefore, O king, thy
+daughter Uttara as my daughter-in-law. Surpassing all in knowledge
+of weapons, resembling a celestial youth in beauty, my son, the
+mighty-armed Abhimanyu is the favourite nephew of Vasudeva, the
+wielder of the discus. He, O king, is fit to be thy son-in-law and
+the husband of thy daughter.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'It behoveth the best of the Kurus, Dhananjaya,
+the son of Kunti, who is so virtuous and wise, to say this. O son
+of Pritha, do thou carry out what thou thinkest should be done
+after this. He that hath Arjuna for the father of his son-in-law,
+hath all his desires gratified.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "The monarch having said this,
+Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, gave his assent to what was thus
+agreed upon between the Matsya king and Arjuna. And, O Bharata, the
+son of Kunti sent invitations to Vasudeva and to all his friends
+and relatives, and Virata also did the same. And then, after the
+expiry of the thirteenth year, the five Pandavas took up their
+abode in one of Virata's towns called <i>Upaplavya</i>, and
+Vibhatsu, the son of Pandu, brought over Abhimanyu and Janardana,
+and also many people of the Dasarha race from the Anarta country.
+And the king of Kasi, and also Saivya, being very friendly to
+Yudhishthira, arrived there, each accompanied by an
+<i>Akshauhini</i> of troops. And the mighty Drupada, also with the
+heroic sons of Draupadi and the unvanquished Sikhandin, and that
+foremost of wielder of weapons, the invincible Dhrishtadyumna came
+there with another <i>Akshauhini</i> of troops. And all the kings
+that came were not only lords of <i>Akshauhini</i>, but performers
+of sacrifices with gifts in profusion to Brahmanas, conversant with
+the <i>Vedas</i> endued with heroism, and ready to die in battle.
+And beholding them arrived, that foremost of virtuous men, the king
+of the Matsyas, adored them duly, and entertained their troops and
+servants and carriers of burdens. And he was highly pleased to
+bestow his daughter upon Abhimanyu. And after the kings had come
+there from different parts of the country, there came Vasudeva
+decked in floral garlands, and Halayudha, and Kritavarman, the son
+of Hridika, and Yuyudhana, the son of Satyaki, and Anadhristi and
+Akrura, and Samva and Nisatha. And these repressers of foes came
+there bringing with them Abhimanyu and his mother. And Indrasena
+and others, having lived at Dwaraka for one whole year, came there,
+bringing with them the well adorned cars of the Pandavas. And there
+came also ten thousand elephants and ten thousand cars, and hundred
+millions of horses and hundred billions of foot-soldiers, and
+innumerable Vrishni and Andhaka and Bhoja warriors of great energy,
+in the train of that tiger among the Vrishnis, Vasudeva of great
+effulgence. And Krishna gave unto each of the illustrious sons of
+Pandu numerous female slaves, and gems and robes. And then the
+nuptial festival set in between the families of the Matsya king and
+the Pandavas. And then conchs and cymbals and horns and drums and
+other musical instruments appointed by the Pandavas, began to play
+in the palace of Virata. And deer of various kinds and clean
+animals by hundreds were slain. And wines of various kinds and
+intoxicating juices of trees were profusely collected. And mimes
+and bards and encomiasts, versed in singing and legendary lore,
+waited upon the kings, and chanted their praises and genealogies.
+And the matrons of the Matsyas of symmetrical bodies and limbs, and
+wearing ear-rings of pearls and gems, headed by Sudeshna, came to
+the place where the marriage knot was to be tied. And amongst those
+beautiful females of fair complexion and excellent ornaments,
+Krishna was the foremost in beauty and fame and splendour. And they
+all came there, leading forth the princess Uttara decked in every
+ornament and resembling the daughter of the great Indra himself.
+And then Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, accepted Virata's daughter
+of faultless limbs on behalf of his son by Subhadra. And that great
+king, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, who stood there like Indra,
+also accepted her as his daughter-in-law. And having accepted her,
+the son of Pritha, with Janardana before him, caused the nuptial
+ceremonies to be performed of the illustrious son of Subhadra. And
+Virata then gave him (as dowry) seven thousand steeds endued with
+the speed of the wind and two hundred elephants of the best kind
+and much wealth also. And having duly poured libations of clarified
+butter on the blazing fire, and paid homage unto the twice-born
+ones, Virata offered to the Pandavas his kingdom, army, treasury,
+and his own self. And after the marriage had taken place,
+Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, gave away unto the Brahmanas all
+the wealth that had been brought by Krishna of unfading glory. And
+he also gave away thousands of kine, and diverse kinds of robes,
+and various excellent ornaments, and vehicles, and beds, delicious
+viands of various kinds, and cardinal drinks of diverse species.
+And the king also made gifts of land unto the Brahmanas with due
+rites, and also cattle by thousands. And he also gave away
+thousands of steeds and much gold and much wealth of other kinds,
+unto persons of all ages. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the city
+of the Matsya king, thronged with men cheerful and well-fed, shone
+brightly like a great festival."</p>
+<p><i>The end of Virata Parva.</i></p>
+<hr>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote1" name=
+"footnote1"></a> <b>Footnote 1</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag1">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Brahma Vadini</i>&mdash;Nilakantha explains this as
+<i>Krishna-kirtanasila.</i></p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote2" name=
+"footnote2"></a> <b>Footnote 2</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag2">(return)</a>
+<p>This speech of Vaisampayana is not included in some texts within
+the second section. To include it, however, in the third, is
+evidently a mistake.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote3" name=
+"footnote3"></a> <b>Footnote 3</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag3">(return)</a>
+<p>The sloka commencing with <i>Adushta</i> and ending <i>ratheshu
+cha</i> does not occur in texts except those in Bengal.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote4" name=
+"footnote4"></a> <b>Footnote 4</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag4">(return)</a>
+<p>A difference reading is observable here. The sense, however, is
+the same.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote5" name=
+"footnote5"></a> <b>Footnote 5</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag5">(return)</a>
+<p>An independent female artisan working in another person's
+house.&mdash;Wilson.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote6" name=
+"footnote6"></a> <b>Footnote 6</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag6">(return)</a>
+<p>Some of the Bengal text and <i>Sarvatramaya</i> for
+<i>Sarvamantramaya</i>. The former is evidently incorrect.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote7" name=
+"footnote7"></a> <b>Footnote 7</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag7">(return)</a>
+<p>This is a very difficult <i>sloka</i>. Nilakantha adopts the
+reading <i>Sanjayet</i>. The Bengal editions read <i>Sanjapet</i>.
+If the latter be the correct reading, the meaning then would
+be,&mdash;'Let none talk about what transpires in the presence of
+the king. For those even that are poor, regard it as a grave
+fault.' The sense evidently is that the occurrences in respect of a
+king which one witnesses should not be divulged. Even they that are
+powerless regard such divulgence of what occurs in respect of them
+as an insult to them, and, therefore, inexcusable.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote8" name=
+"footnote8"></a> <b>Footnote 8</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag8">(return)</a>
+<p>The Bengal editions read <i>Rajna</i> in the instrumental case.
+Following a manuscript text of a Pandit of my acquaintance I read
+<i>Rajnas</i> in the genitive.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote9" name=
+"footnote9"></a> <b>Footnote 9</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag9">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Mahishasura</i>, the son of Rambhasura. Durga had to fight
+for many years before she could slay this formidable <i>Asura</i>.
+The story occurs in the <i>Markandeya Purana</i>. To this day,
+Bengal during the great Durga Puja festival in autumn, worships the
+goddess with great veneration.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote10" name=
+"footnote10"></a> <b>Footnote 10</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag10">(return)</a>
+<p>Literally, one that rescues from difficulty.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote11" name=
+"footnote11"></a> <b>Footnote 11</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag11">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Kamachara</i> is explained by Nilakantha thus, although in
+other places it bears a quite different meaning.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote12" name=
+"footnote12"></a> <b>Footnote 12</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag12">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Krita</i>&mdash;attack; <i>Pratikrita</i>&mdash;warding it
+off; <i>Sankata</i>&mdash;clenched. <i>Some</i> texts read
+<i>Sankatakais</i>. The meaning then would be 'cased in
+gauntlets.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote13" name=
+"footnote13"></a> <b>Footnote 13</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag13">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Bhuti, Hri, Sri, Kirti</i> and <i>Kanti</i> are respectively
+the feminine embodiments of Prosperity, Modesty, Beauty, Fame and
+Loveliness.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote14" name=
+"footnote14"></a> <b>Footnote 14</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag14">(return)</a>
+<p>What Draupadi means is that instead of passing her days in joy
+and happiness, instead of being able to wish time to be stationary
+with her, she is obliged in consequence of her misery, to wish time
+to pass off quickly.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote15" name=
+"footnote15"></a> <b>Footnote 15</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag15">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Jayate asyas</i>&mdash;i.e., she from whom one is born.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote16" name=
+"footnote16"></a> <b>Footnote 16</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag16">(return)</a>
+<p>Some texts read, <i>Vilwam nagaviodhara&mdash;i.e.,</i> 'As an
+elephant lifts up a vela fruit.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote17" name=
+"footnote17"></a> <b>Footnote 17</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag17">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Weri</i> means both a kettle-drum and a trumpet. The latter
+however conveys a better meaning here.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote18" name=
+"footnote18"></a> <b>Footnote 18</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag18">(return)</a>
+<p>Literature, force of his thighs.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote19" name=
+"footnote19"></a> <b>Footnote 19</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag19">(return)</a>
+<p>What Bhima says is this.&mdash;The Gandharvas, your husbands,
+are always obedient to thee! If they have been able to do thee a
+service, they have only repaid a debt.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote20" name=
+"footnote20"></a> <b>Footnote 20</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag20">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Krita-krita</i>&mdash;Nilakantha explains this to mean
+'imagining themselves to have achieved success in their mission'
+for having learnt of Kichaka's death, they could readily guess the
+presence of the Pandavas there. This is too far-fetched and does
+not at all agree with the spirit of their report to Duryodhana
+below. And then the same word occurs in the very last line of the
+Section. I take it that in both places the word has been used in
+the same sense.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote21" name=
+"footnote21"></a> <b>Footnote 21</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag21">(return)</a>
+<p>This is a very difficult sloka. I am not sure that I have
+understood it alright. Both Nilakantha and Arjuna Misra are silent.
+Instead of depending, however, on my own intelligence, I have
+consulted several friends who have read the <i>Mahabharata</i>
+thoroughly. The grammatical structure is easy. The only difficulty
+consists in the second half of the sloka. The meaning, however, I
+have given is consistent with the tenor of Bhishma's advice.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote22" name=
+"footnote22"></a> <b>Footnote 22</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag22">(return)</a>
+<p>Indicating the unobstructed completion of the sacrifice.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote23" name=
+"footnote23"></a> <b>Footnote 23</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag23">(return)</a>
+<p>The word <i>tirtha</i> here means, as Nilakantha rightly
+explains spies and not holy spots.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote24" name=
+"footnote24"></a> <b>Footnote 24</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag24">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Satram</i> is explained by Nilakantha to mean here 'false
+disguise.' I think, however, such an interpretation to be
+far-fetched. It evidently means 'forest',&mdash;the use of
+'pravisteshu' in connection with it almost settles the point.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote25" name=
+"footnote25"></a> <b>Footnote 25</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag25">(return)</a>
+<p>This sloka is not correctly printed in any of the texts that I
+have seen. The reading that I adopt is that the second word is the
+participle of the root <i>budh</i> and not the instrumental of
+<i>budhi</i>; the last word again of the second line is a compound
+of <i>valavatsu</i> and <i>avaleshu</i> instead of (as printed in
+many books) <i>valavatswavaleshu</i>. Any other reading would
+certainly be incorrect. I have not consulted the Bombay text.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote26" name=
+"footnote26"></a> <b>Footnote 26</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag26">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Bhagasas</i> lit., each in its proper place. It may also
+mean, 'according to their respective division.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote27" name=
+"footnote27"></a> <b>Footnote 27</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag27">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Kalyana-patalam</i> is explained by Nilakantha to mean
+<i>suvarna pattachchaditam</i>.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote28" name=
+"footnote28"></a> <b>Footnote 28</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag28">(return)</a>
+<p>One of the generals of Virata.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote29" name=
+"footnote29"></a> <b>Footnote 29</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag29">(return)</a>
+<p>Some differences of reading are noticeable here, for
+<i>Yasaswinau</i> some texts read <i>Manaswinau</i>, and for
+Vahusamravdhau-Vahusanrambhat; and for
+Nakha-naki&mdash;Ratha-rathi.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote30" name=
+"footnote30"></a> <b>Footnote 30</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag30">(return)</a>
+<p>Some texts read Ghanabiva for Ghanarva. The latter is
+unquestionably better in form.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote31" name=
+"footnote31"></a> <b>Footnote 31</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag31">(return)</a>
+<p>The word in the original is Muhurta equal to 48 minutes.
+Nilakantha points out very ingeniously that the night being the
+seventh of the dark fortnight, the moon would not rise till after
+14 Dandas from the hour of sunset, a Danda being equal to 24
+minutes. A Muhurta, therefore implies not 48 minutes exactly, but
+some time.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote32" name=
+"footnote32"></a> <b>Footnote 32</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag32">(return)</a>
+<p>Some Vikshyainam, Nilakantha explains Sama as a word spoken by
+Bhima for assuring the captive Virata, and Vikshya as 'assuring' or
+'consoling by a glance.' Perhaps this is right.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote33" name=
+"footnote33"></a> <b>Footnote 33</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag33">(return)</a>
+<p>The adjective Bhima-sankasas as explained by Nilakantha is in
+this sense, quoting the celebrated simile of Valmiki.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote34" name=
+"footnote34"></a> <b>Footnote 34</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag34">(return)</a>
+<p>To understand the comparison would require in the reader a
+knowledge of the mechanism of the Indian Vina. Briefly, the Vina
+consists of a bamboo of about two cubits attached to two gourds
+towards its ends. Along the bamboo which serves the purpose of a
+finger-board, is the main chord and several thinner wires. All
+these pass over a number of frets, two and a half heptachords,
+representing the total compass of the instrument. The wires rest
+towards their ends on two pieces of ivory called Upadhanas in
+Sanskrit or Swaris in Urdu.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote35" name=
+"footnote35"></a> <b>Footnote 35</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag35">(return)</a>
+<p>Some read <i>kaniasi</i> for <i>vaviasi</i>. Both words are the
+same, and mean the same thing.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote36" name=
+"footnote36"></a> <b>Footnote 36</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag36">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Vedi-Vilagnamadhya</i>&mdash;Vedi in this connection means a
+wasp and not, as explained by Mallinatha in his commentary of the
+<i>Kumarasambhava</i>, a sacrificial platform. I would remark in
+passing that many of the most poetic and striking adjectives in
+both the Raghu and the <i>Kumarasambhava</i> of Kalidasa are
+borrowed unblushingly from the <i>Ramayana</i> and the
+<i>Mahabharata</i>.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote37" name=
+"footnote37"></a> <b>Footnote 37</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag37">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Padma patrabha-nibha</i> may also mean 'of the splendour of
+the gem called Marakata.' Nilakantha, however, shows that this
+would militate against the adjective <i>Kankojwalatwacham</i>
+below.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote38" name=
+"footnote38"></a> <b>Footnote 38</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag38">(return)</a>
+<p>The princess being of the complexion of burnished gold and
+Arjuna dark as a mass of clouds, the comparison is exceedingly
+appropriate. The Vaishnava poets of Bengal never tire of this
+simile in speaking of Radha and Krishna in the groves of
+Vrindavana.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote39" name=
+"footnote39"></a> <b>Footnote 39</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag39">(return)</a>
+<p>The words in the original is <i>pranayam</i>, lit., love.
+Nilakantha, however, explains it as meaning modesty, humility. I
+think, Nilakantha is right. The relations between Arjuna and the
+princess were like those between father and daughter.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote40" name=
+"footnote40"></a> <b>Footnote 40</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag40">(return)</a>
+<p>This sloka is not correctly printed in any of the texts that I
+have seen. The Burdwan Pandits read <i>tat-samim</i>. This I think,
+is correct, but then <i>asasada</i> in the singular when the other
+verbs are all dual seems to be correct. The poet must have used
+some other verb in the dual for <i>asasada</i>.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote41" name=
+"footnote41"></a> <b>Footnote 41</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag41">(return)</a>
+<p>Some texts read <i>Diptasya</i> for <i>Diptayam</i>.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote42" name=
+"footnote42"></a> <b>Footnote 42</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag42">(return)</a>
+<p>This sloka does not occur in every text. This is a typical
+illustration of the round about way, frequently adopted by Sanskrit
+writers, of expressing a simple truth. The excuse in the present
+instance consists in Drona's unwillingness to identify the solitary
+hero with Arjuna, in the midst of all his hearers. Nadiji is an
+exclamation referring to Bhishma, the son of the river Ganga.
+<i>Lankesa-vanari-ketu</i> is simply 'ape-bannered,' or as rendered
+in the text, having the devastator of the gardens of Lanka's lord
+for the sign of his banner. Nagahvaya is 'named after tree' for
+Arjuna is the name of an Indian tree. Nagri-sunu is 'Indra's
+son',&mdash;Indra being the foe of mountain, for formerly it was he
+who cut off the wings of all mountains and compelled them to be
+stationary. He failed only in the case of Mainaka, the son of
+Himavat.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote43" name=
+"footnote43"></a> <b>Footnote 43</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag43">(return)</a>
+<p>Indian insects of a particular kind.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote44" name=
+"footnote44"></a> <b>Footnote 44</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag44">(return)</a>
+<p>Most editions read <i>chapas</i> which is evidently wrong. The
+correct reading is <i>avapas</i>, meaning quiver. The Burdwan
+Pandits give this latter reading.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote45" name=
+"footnote45"></a> <b>Footnote 45</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag45">(return)</a>
+<p>Some read <i>chandrargha-darsanas</i>. The correct reading is
+<i>chandrardha-darsanas</i>.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote46" name=
+"footnote46"></a> <b>Footnote 46</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag46">(return)</a>
+<p>Most editions read <i>hema-punkha</i> and <i>silasita</i> in the
+instrumental plural; the correct reading is their nominative plural
+forms.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote47" name=
+"footnote47"></a> <b>Footnote 47</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag47">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Sayaka</i> means here, as explained by Nilakantha, a sword,
+and not a shaft.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote48" name=
+"footnote48"></a> <b>Footnote 48</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag48">(return)</a>
+<p>From the colour of his steeds.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote49" name=
+"footnote49"></a> <b>Footnote 49</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag49">(return)</a>
+<p>Nilakantha spends much learning and ingenuity in making out that
+sixty-five years in this connection means thirty-two years of
+ordinary human computation.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote50" name=
+"footnote50"></a> <b>Footnote 50</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag50">(return)</a>
+<p>Some texts read,&mdash;'One large meteor fell.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote51" name=
+"footnote51"></a> <b>Footnote 51</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag51">(return)</a>
+<p>In some editions read,&mdash;<i>Bharata dwijam</i>, and
+<i>Maha-hardam</i> for <i>maha-drumam</i>. The meaning would then
+be,&mdash;'The banners (of the hostile army) began to tremble in
+the sky, and large lakes were agitated.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote52" name=
+"footnote52"></a> <b>Footnote 52</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag52">(return)</a>
+<p>Some texts read <i>Maharatham</i> (incorrectly) for
+<i>hiranmayan</i>. Indeed, <i>Maharatham</i> would give no meaning
+in this connection. The incomplete edition of the Roy Press under
+the auspices of the Principal of the Calcutta Sanskrit College
+abounds with such incorrect readings and misprints.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote53" name=
+"footnote53"></a> <b>Footnote 53</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag53">(return)</a>
+<p>The Roy Press edition adds here a line which looks very much
+like an interpolation.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote54" name=
+"footnote54"></a> <b>Footnote 54</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag54">(return)</a>
+<p>The true reading is <i>Acharya</i> in the dual number, meaning
+Drona and Kripa. Some texts read the word in the singular form.
+Nilakantha notices both these reading, but prefers the dual to the
+singular.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote55" name=
+"footnote55"></a> <b>Footnote 55</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag55">(return)</a>
+<p>The meaning is rather doubtful. Duryodhana seems to say that
+'the hostile appearance of Arjuna has been an act of imprudence on
+his part. The Pandavas, after the expiry of the thirteenth year,
+would claim their kingdom. I, Duryodhana, may or may not accede to
+their demand. When, therefore, it was not certain that Arjuna would
+be refused by me, his hostile appearance is unwise. He has come
+sure of victory, but he may yet be defeated.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote56" name=
+"footnote56"></a> <b>Footnote 56</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag56">(return)</a>
+<p>The sense seems to be that when moralists even are puzzled in
+judging of the propriety or otherwise of their acts, it can easily
+be imagined that the Pandavas, however virtuous, have, in the
+matter of this their appearance, acted wrongly, for, after all, the
+thirteenth year may not have really been over as believed by them.
+Or, it may mean, that as regards our presence here, we have not
+acted imprudently when even moralists cannot always arrive at right
+conclusion. It seems that for this Duryodhana proceeds to justify
+that presence in the following sentences.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<hr>
+
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12058 ***</div>
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
+Bk. 4, by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
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+Title: The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 4
+
+Author: Kisari Mohan Ganguli
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+Release Date: April 16, 2004 [EBook #12058]
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+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAHABHARATAM, BK. 4 ***
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+Produced by John B. Hare, Juliet Sutherland, David King, and the
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+</pre>
+
+<h1>THE MAHABHARATA</h1>
+<h1>VIRATA PARVA</h1>
+<h2>SECTION I</h2>
+<h3>(<i>Pandava-Pravesa Parva</i>)</h3>
+<p>OM! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted of
+male beings, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word
+<i>Jaya</i> be uttered.</p>
+<p>Janamejaya said, "How did my great-grandfathers, afflicted with
+the fear of Duryodhana, pass their days undiscovered in the city of
+Virata? And, O Brahman, how did the highly blessed Draupadi,
+stricken with woe, devoted to her lords, and ever adoring the
+Deity<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href=
+"#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a>, spend her days unrecognised?"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Listen, O lord of men, how thy great
+grandfathers passed the period of unrecognition in the city of
+Virata. Having in this way obtained boons from the god of Justice,
+that best of virtuous men, Yudhishthira, returned to the asylum and
+related unto the Brahmanas all that had happened. And having
+related everything unto them, Yudhishthira restored to that
+regenerate Brahmana who had followed him the churning staff and the
+fire-sticks he had lost. And, O Bharata, the son of the god of
+Justice, the royal Yudhishthira of high soul then called together
+all his younger brothers and addressed them, saying, 'Exiled from
+our kingdom, we have passed twelve years. The thirteenth year, hard
+to spend, hath now come. Do thou therefore, O Arjuna, the son of
+Kunti, select some spot where we may pass our days undiscovered by
+our enemies.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna replied, "Even by virtue of Dharma's boon, we shall, O
+lord of men, range about undiscovered by men. Still, for purposes
+of residence, I shall mention some spots that are both delightful
+and secluded. Do thou select some one of them. Surrounding the
+kingdom of the Kurus, are, many countries beautiful and abounding
+in corn, such as Panchala, Chedi, Matsya, Surasena, Pattachchara,
+Dasarna, Navarashtra, Malla, Salva, Yugandhara, Saurashtra, Avanti,
+and the spacious Kuntirashtra. Which of these, O king, wouldst thou
+choose, and where, O foremost of monarchs, shall we spend this
+year?'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said 'O thou of mighty arms, it is even so. What
+that adorable Lord of all creatures hath said must become true.
+Surely, after consulting together, we must select some delightful,
+auspicious, and agreeable region for our abode, where we may live
+free from fear. The aged Virata, king of the Matsyas, is virtuous
+and powerful and charitable, and is liked by all. And he is also
+attached to the Pandavas. Even in the city of Virata, O child, we
+shall, O Bharata, spend this year, entering his service. Tell me,
+ye sons of the Kuru race, in what capacities ye will severally
+present yourselves before the king of the Matsyas!'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'O god among men, what service wilt thou take in
+Virata's kingdom? O righteous one, in what capacity wilt thou
+reside in the city of Virata? Thou art mild, and charitable, and
+modest, and virtuous, and firm in promise. What wilt thou, O king,
+afflicted as thou art with calamity, do? A king is qualified to
+bear trouble like an ordinary person. How wilt thou overcome this
+great calamity that has overtaken thee?'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira replied, 'Ye sons of the Kuru race, ye bulls among
+men, hear what I shall do on appearing before king Virata.
+Presenting myself as a Brahmana, Kanka by name, skilled in dice and
+fond of play, I shall become a courtier of that high-souled king.
+And moving upon chess-boards beautiful pawns made of ivory, of blue
+and yellow and red and white hue, by throws of black and red dice,
+I shall entertain the king with his courtiers and friends. And
+while I shall continue to thus delight the king, nobody will
+succeed in discovering me. And should the monarch ask me, I shall
+say, <i>Formerly I was the bosom friend of Yudhishthira</i>. I tell
+you that it is thus that I shall pass my days (in the city of
+Virata). What office wilt thou, O Vrikodara, fill in the city of
+Virata?'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION II</h2>
+<p>"Bhima said, 'I intend to present myself before the lord of
+Virata as a cook bearing the name of Vallava. I am skilled in
+culinary art, and I shall prepare curries for the king, and
+excelling all those skilful cooks that had hitherto dressed his
+food I shall gratify the monarch. And I shall carry mighty loads of
+wood. And witnessing that mighty feat, the monarch will be pleased.
+And, O Bharata, beholding such superhuman feats of mine, the
+servants of the royal household will honour me as a king. And I
+shall have entire control over all kinds of viands and drinks. And
+commanded to subdue powerful elephants and mighty bulls, I will do
+as bidden. And if any combatants will fight with me in the lists,
+then will I vanquish them, and thereby entertain the monarch. But I
+shall not take the life of any of them. I shall only bring them
+down in such way that they may not be killed. And on being asked as
+regards my antecedent I shall say that&mdash;<i>Formerly I was the
+wrestler and cook of Yudhishthira.</i> Thus shall I, O king,
+maintain myself.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'And what office will be performed by that
+mighty descendant of the Kurus, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, that
+foremost of men possessed of long arms, invincible in fight, and
+before whom, while he was staying with Krishna, the divine Agni
+himself desirous of consuming the forest of Khandava had formerly
+appeared in the guise of a Brahmana? What office will be performed
+by that best of warriors, Arjuna, who proceeded to that forest and
+gratified Agni, vanquishing on a single car and slaying huge
+<i>Nagas</i> and <i>Rakshasas</i>, and who married the sister of
+Vasuki himself, the king of the <i>Nagas</i>? Even as the sun is
+the foremost of all heat-giving bodies, as the Brahmana is the best
+of all bipeds, as the cobra is the foremost of all serpents, as
+Fire is the first of all things possessed of energy, as the
+thunderbolt is the foremost of all weapons, as the humped bull is
+the foremost of all animals of the bovine breed, as the ocean is
+the foremost of all watery expanses, as clouds charged with rain
+are the foremost of all clouds, as Ananta is the first of all
+<i>Nagas</i>, as Airavata is the foremost of all elephants, as the
+son is the foremost of all beloved objects, and lastly, as the wife
+is the best of all friends, so, O Vrikodara, is the youthful
+Gudakesa, the foremost of all bowmen. And O Bharata, what office
+will be performed by Vibhatsu, the wielder of <i>Gandiva</i>, whose
+car is drawn by white horses, and who is not inferior to Indra or
+Vasudeva Himself? What office will be performed by Arjuna who,
+dwelling for five years in the abode of the thousand-eyed Deity
+(Indra) shining in celestial lustre, acquired by his own energy the
+science of superhuman arms with all celestial weapons, and whom I
+regard as the tenth <i>Rudra</i>, the thirteenth <i>Aditya</i>, the
+ninth <i>Vasu</i>, and the tenth <i>Graha</i>, whose arms,
+symmetrical and long, have the skin hardened by constant strokes of
+the bowstring and cicatrices which resemble those on the humps of
+bulls,&mdash;that foremost of warriors who is as Himavat among
+mountains, the ocean among expanses of water, Sakra among the
+celestial, Havyavaha (fire) among the Vasus, the tiger among
+beasts, and Garuda among feathery tribes!'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna replied, 'O lord of the Earth, I will declare myself as
+one of the neuter sex. O monarch, it is, indeed difficult to hide
+the marks of the bowstring on my arms. I will, however, cover both
+my cicatrized arms with bangles. Wearing brilliant rings on my ears
+and conch-bangles on my wrists and causing a braid to hang down
+from my head, I shall, O king, appear as one of the third sex,
+Vrihannala by name. And living as a female I shall (always)
+entertain the king and the inmates of the inner apartments by
+reciting stories. And, O king, I shall also instruct the women of
+Virata's palace in singing and delightful modes of dancing and in
+musical instruments of diverse kinds. And I shall also recite the
+various excellent acts of men and thus conceal myself, O son of
+Kunti, by feigning disguise. And, O Bharata should the king
+enquire, I will say that, <i>I lived as a waiting maid of Draupadi
+in Yudhishthira's palace</i>. And, O foremost of kings, concealing
+myself by this means, as fire is concealed by ashes, I shall pass
+my days agreeably in the palace of Virata.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, Arjuna, that best of
+men and foremost of virtuous persons, became silent. Then the king
+addressed another brother of his."<a id="footnotetag2" name=
+"footnotetag2"></a><a href="#footnote2"><sup>2</sup></a></p>
+<h2>SECTION III</h2>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'Tender, possessed of a graceful presence,
+and deserving of every luxury as thou art, what office wilt thou, O
+heroic Nakula, discharge while living in the dominions of that
+king? Tell me all about it!'</p>
+<p>"Nakula said, 'Under the name of Granthika, I shall become the
+keeper of the horses of king Virata. I have a thorough knowledge
+(of this work) and am skilful in tending horses. Besides, the task
+is agreeable to me, and I possess great skill in training and
+treating horses; and horses are ever dear to me as they are to
+thee, O king of the Kurus. At my hands even colts and mares become
+docile; these never become vicious in bearing a rider or drawing a
+car.<a id="footnotetag3" name="footnotetag3"></a><a href=
+"#footnote3"><sup>3</sup></a> And those persons in the city of
+Virata that may enquire of me, I shall, O bull of the Bharata race,
+say,&mdash;<i>Formerly I was employed by Yudhishthira in the charge
+of his horses</i>. Thus disguised, O king, I shall spend my days
+delightfully in the city of Virata. No one will be able to discover
+me as I will gratify the monarch thus!'<a id="footnotetag4" name=
+"footnotetag4"></a><a href="#footnote4"><sup>4</sup></a></p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'How wilt thou, O Sahadeva, bear thyself
+before that king? And what, O child, is that which thou wilt do in
+order to live in disguise.'</p>
+<p>"Sahadeva replied, 'I will become a keeper of the king of
+Virata's kine. I am skilled in milking kine and taking their
+history as well as in taming their fierceness. Passing under the
+name of Tantripala, I shall perform my duties deftly. Let thy
+heart's fever be dispelled. Formerly I was frequently employed to
+look after thy kine, and, O Lord of earth, I have a particular
+knowledge of that work. And, O monarch, I am well-acquainted with
+the nature of kine, as also with their auspicious marks and other
+matters relating to them. I can also discriminate bulls with
+auspicious marks, the scent of whose urine may make even the barren
+being forth child. Even thus will I live, and I always take delight
+in work of this kind. Indeed, no one will then be able to recognise
+me, and I will moreover gratify the monarch.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'This is our beloved wife dearer to us than
+our lives. Verily, she deserveth to be cherished by us like a
+mother, and regarded like an elder sister. Unacquainted as she is
+with any kind of womanly work, what office will Krishna, the
+daughter of Drupada, perform? Delicate and young, she is a princess
+of great repute. Devoted to her lords, and eminently virtuous,
+also, how will she live? Since her birth, she hath enjoyed only
+garlands and perfumes and ornaments and costly robes.'</p>
+<p>"Draupadi replied, 'There is a class of persons called
+<i>Sairindhris</i>,<a id="footnotetag5" name=
+"footnotetag5"></a><a href="#footnote5"><sup>5</sup></a> who enter
+the services of other. Other females, however (that are
+respectable) do not do so. Of this class there are some. I shall
+give myself out as a <i>Sairindhri</i>, skilled in dressing hair.
+And, O Bharata, on being questioned by the king, I shall say that I
+served as a waiting woman of Draupadi in Yudhishthira's household.
+I shall thus pass my days in disguise. And I shall serve the famous
+Sudeshna, the wife of the king. Surely, obtaining me she will
+cherish me (duly). Do not grieve so, O king.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'O Krishna, thou speakest well. But O fair
+girl, thou wert born in a respectable family. Chaste as thou art,
+and always engaged in observing virtuous vows, thou knowest not
+what is sin. Do thou, therefore, conduct thyself in such a way that
+sinful men of evil hearts may not be gladdened by gazing at
+thee.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION IV</h2>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'Ye have already said what offices ye will
+respectively perform. I also, according to the measure of my sense,
+have said what office I will perform. Let our priest, accompanied
+by charioteers and cooks, repair to the abode of Drupada, and there
+maintain our <i>Agnihotra</i> fires. And let Indrasena and the
+others, taking with them the empty cars, speedily proceeded to
+Dwaravati. Even this is my wish. And let all these maid-servants of
+Draupadi go to the Panchalas, with our charioteers and cooks. And
+let all of them say,&mdash;<i>We do not know where the Pandavas
+have gone leaving us at the lake of Dwaitavana</i>.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having thus taken counsel of one another and
+told one another the offices they would discharge, the Pandavas
+sought Dhaumya's advice. And Dhaumya also gave them advice in the
+following words, saying, 'Ye sons of Pandu, the arrangements ye
+have made regarding the Brahmanas, your friends, cars, weapons, and
+the (sacred) fires, are excellent. But it behoveth thee, O
+Yudhishthira, and Arjuna specially, to make provision for the
+protection of Draupadi. Ye king, ye are well-acquainted with the
+characters of men. Yet whatever may be your knowledge, friends may
+from affection be permitted to repeat what is already known. Even
+this is subservient to the eternal interests of virtue, pleasure,
+and profit. I shall, therefore speak to you something. Mark ye. To
+dwell with a king is, alas, difficult. I shall tell you, ye
+princes, how ye may reside in the royal household, avoiding every
+fault. Ye Kauravas, honourably or otherwise, ye will have to pass
+this year in the king's palace, undiscovered by those that know
+you. Then in the fourteenth year, ye will live happy. O son of
+Pandu, in this world, that cherisher and protector of all beings,
+the king, who is a deity in an embodied form, is as a great fire
+sanctified with all the <i>mantras</i>.<a id="footnotetag6" name=
+"footnotetag6"></a><a href="#footnote6"><sup>6</sup></a> One should
+present himself before the king, after having obtained his
+permission at the gate. No one should keep contact with royal
+secrets. Nor should one desire a seat which another may covet. He
+who doth not, regarding himself to be a favourite, occupy (the
+king's) car, or coach, or seat, or vehicle, or elephant, is alone
+worthy of dwelling in a royal household. He that sits not upon a
+seat the occupation of which is calculated raise alarm in the minds
+of malicious people, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal
+household. No one should, unasked offer counsel (to a king). Paying
+homage in season unto the king, one should silently and
+respectfully sit beside the king, for kings take umbrage at
+babblers, and disgrace lying counsellors. A wise person should not
+contact friendship with the king's wife, nor with the inmates of
+the inner apartments, nor with those that are objects of royal
+displeasure. One about the king should do even the most unimportant
+acts and with the king's knowledge. Behaving thus with a sovereign,
+one doth not come by harm. Even if an individual attain the highest
+office, he should, as long as he is not asked or commanded,
+consider himself as born-blind, having regard to the king's
+dignity, for O repressers of foes, the rulers of men do not forgive
+even their sons and grandsons and brothers when they happen to
+tamper with their dignity. Kings should be served with regardful
+care, even as Agni and other gods; and he that is disloyal to his
+sovereign, is certainly destroyed by him. Renouncing anger, and
+pride, and negligence, it behoveth a man to follow the course
+directed by the monarch. After carefully deliberating on all
+things, a person should set forth before the king those topics that
+are both profitable and pleasant; but should a subject be
+profitable without being pleasant, he should still communicate it,
+despite its disagreeableness. It behoveth a man to be well-disposed
+towards the king in all his interests, and not to indulge in speech
+that is alike unpleasant and profitless. Always thinking&mdash;<i>I
+am not liked by the king</i>&mdash;one should banish negligence,
+and be intent on bringing about what is agreeable and advantageous
+to him. He that swerveth not from his place, he that is not
+friendly to those that are hostile to the king, he that striveth
+not to do wrong to the king, is alone worthy to dwell in a royal
+household. A learned man should sit either on the king's right or
+the left; he should not sit behind him for that is the place
+appointed for armed guards, and to sit before him is always
+interdicted. Let none, when the king is engaged in doing anything
+(in respect of his servants) come forward pressing himself
+zealously before others, for even if the aggrieved be very poor,
+such conduct would still be inexcusable.<a id="footnotetag7" name=
+"footnotetag7"></a><a href="#footnote7"><sup>7</sup></a> It
+behoveth no man to reveal to others any lie the king may have told
+inasmuch as the king bears ill will to those that report his
+falsehoods. Kings also always disregard persons that regard
+themselves as learned. No man should be proud thinking&mdash;<i>I
+am brave, or, I am intelligent</i>, but a person obtains the good
+graces of a king and enjoys the good things of life, by behaving
+agreeably to the wishes of the king. And, O Bharata, obtaining
+things agreeable, and wealth also which is so hard to acquire, a
+person should always do what is profitable as well as pleasant to
+the king. What man that is respected by the wise can even think of
+doing mischief to one whose ire is great impediment and whose
+favour is productive of mighty fruits? No one should move his lips,
+arms and thighs, before the king. A person should speak and spit
+before the king only mildly. In the presence of even laughable
+objects, a man should not break out into loud laughter, like a
+maniac; nor should one show (unreasonable) gravity by containing
+himself, to the utmost. One should smile modestly, to show his
+interest (in what is before him). He that is ever mindful of the
+king's welfare, and is neither exhilarated by reward nor depressed
+by disgrace, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal household. That
+learned courtier who always pleaseth the king and his son with
+agreeable speeches, succeedeth in dwelling in a royal household as
+a favourite. The favourite courtier who, having lost the royal
+favour for just reason, does not speak evil of the king, regains
+prosperity. The man who serveth the king or liveth in his domains,
+if sagacious, should speak in praise of the king, both in his
+presence and absence. The courtier who attempts to obtain his end
+by employing force on the king, cannot keep his place long and
+incurs also the risk of death. None should, for the purpose of
+self-interest, open communications with the king's enemies.<a id=
+"footnotetag8" name="footnotetag8"></a><a href=
+"#footnote8"><sup>8</sup></a> Nor should one distinguish himself
+above the king in matters requiring ability and talents. He that is
+always cheerful and strong, brave and truthful and mild, and of
+subdued senses, and who followeth his master like his shadow, is
+alone worthy to dwell in a royal household. He that on being
+entrusted with a work, cometh forward, saying,&mdash;<i>I will do
+this</i>&mdash;is alone worthy of living in a royal household. He
+that on being entrusted with a task, either within the king's
+dominion or out of it, never feareth to undertake it, is alone fit
+to reside in a royal household. He that living away from his home,
+doth no remember his dear ones, and who undergoeth (present) misery
+in expectation of (future) happiness, is alone worthy of dwelling
+in a royal household. One should not dress like the king, nor
+should one indulge in laughter in the king's presence nor should
+one disclose royal secrets. By acting thus one may win royal
+favour. Commissioned to a task, one should not touch bribes for by
+such appropriation one becometh liable to fetters or death. The
+robes, ornaments, cars, and other things which the king may be
+pleased to bestow should always be used, for by this, one winneth
+the royal favour. Ye children, controlling your minds, do ye spend
+this year, ye sons of Pandu, behaving in this way. Regaining your
+own kingdom, ye may live as ye please.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'We have been well taught by thee. Blessed
+be thou. There is none that could say so to us, save our mother
+Kunti and Vidura of great wisdom. It behoveth thee to do all that
+is necessary now for our departure, and for enabling us to come
+safely through this woe, as well as for our victory over the
+foe.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Yudhishthira,
+Dhaumya, that best of Brahmanas, performed according to the
+ordinance the rites ordained in respect of departure. And lighting
+up their fires, he offered, with <i>mantras</i>, oblations on them
+for the prosperity and success of the Pandavas, as for their
+reconquest of the whole world. And walking round those fires and
+round the Brahmanas of ascetic wealth, the six set out, placing
+Yajnaseni in their front. And when those heroes had departed,
+Dhaumya, that best of ascetics, taking their sacred fires, set out
+for the Panchalas. And Indrasena, and others already mentioned,
+went to the Yadavas, and looking after the horses and the cars of
+the Pandavas passed their time happily and in privacy."</p>
+<h2>SECTION V</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Girding their waists with swords, and
+equipped with finger-protectors made of iguana skins and with
+various weapons, those heroes proceeded in the direction of the
+river Yamuna. And those bowmen desirous of (speedily) recovering
+their kingdom, hitherto living in inaccessible hills and forest
+fastnesses, now terminated their forest-life and proceeded to the
+southern bank of that river. And those mighty warriors endued with
+great strength and hitherto leading the lives of hunters by killing
+the deer of the forest, passed through <i>Yakrilloma</i> and
+Surasena, leaving behind, on their right, the country of the
+Panchalas, and on their left, that of the Dasarnas. And those
+bowmen, looking wan and wearing beards and equipped with swords,
+entered Matsya's dominions leaving the forest, giving themselves
+out as hunters. And on arriving at that country, Krishna addressed
+Yudhishthira, saying, 'We see footpaths here, and various fields.
+From this it appears that Virata's metropolis is still at a
+distance. Pass we here what part of the night is still left, for
+great is my fatigue.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira answered, 'O Dhananjaya of Bharata's race, do thou
+take up Panchali and carry her. Just on emerging from this forest,
+we arrive at the city.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thereupon like the leader of a herd of
+elephants, Arjuna speedily took up Draupadi, and on coming to the
+vicinity of the city, let her down. And on reaching the city,
+Ruru's son (Yudhishthira), addressed Arjuna, saying, 'Where shall
+we deposit our weapons, before entering the city? If, O child, we
+enter it with our weapons about us, we shall thereby surely excite
+the alarm of the citizens. Further, the tremendous bow, the
+<i>Gandiva</i>, is known to all men, so that people will, without
+doubt, recognise us soon. And if even one of us is discovered, we
+shall, according to promise, have to pass another twelve years in
+the forest.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'Hard by yon cemetery and near that inaccessible
+peak is a mighty <i>Sami</i> tree, throwing-about its gigantic
+branches and difficult to ascend. Nor is there any human being,
+who, I think, O Pandu's son, will espy us depositing our arms at
+that place. That tree is in the midst of an out-of-the way forest
+abounding in beasts and snakes, and is in the vicinity of a dreary
+cemetery. Stowing away our weapons on the <i>Sami</i> tree, let us,
+O Bharata, go to the city, and live there, free from anxiety!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having O bull of the Bharata race
+spoken thus to king Yudhishthira the just, Arjuna prepared to
+deposit the weapons (on the tree). And that bull among the Kurus,
+then loosened the string of the large and dreadful <i>Gandiva</i>,
+ever producing thundering twang and always destructive of hostile
+hosts, and with which he had conquered, on a single car, gods and
+men and <i>Nagas</i> and swelling provinces. And the warlike
+Yudhishthira, that represser of foes, unfastened the undecaying
+string of that bow with which he had defended the field of
+Kurukshetra. And the illustrious Bhimasena unstrung that bow by
+means of which that sinless one had vanquished in fight the
+Panchalas and the lord of Sindhu, and with which, during his career
+of conquest, he had, single-handed, opposed innumerable foes, and
+hearing whose twang which was like unto the roar of the thunder or
+the splitting of a mountain, enemies always fly (in panic) from the
+field of battle. And that son of Pandu of coppery complexion and
+mild speech who is endued with great prowess in the field, and is
+called Nakula in consequence of his unexampled beauty in the
+family, then unfastened the string of that bow with which he had
+conquered all the regions of the west. And the heroic Sahadeva
+also, possessed of a mild disposition, then untied the string of
+that bow with which he had subjugated the countries of the south.
+And with their bows, they put together their long and flashing
+swords, their precious quivers, and their arrows sharp as razors.
+And Nakula ascended the tree, and deposited on it the bows and the
+other weapons. And he tied them fast on those parts of the tree
+which he thought would not break, and where the rain would not
+penetrate. And the Pandavas hung up a corpse (on the tree), knowing
+that people smelling the stench of the corpse would
+say&mdash;<i>here sure, is a dead body</i>, and avoid the tree from
+a distance. And on being asked by the shepherds and cowherds
+regarding the corpse, those repressers of foes said unto them,
+'This is our mother, aged one hundred and eighty years. We have
+hung up her dead body, in accordance with the custom observed by
+our forefathers.' And then those resisters of foes approached the
+city. And for purposes of non-discovery Yudhishthira kept these
+(five) names for himself and his brothers respectively, viz., Jaya,
+Jayanta, Vijaya, Jayatsena, and Jayadvala. Then they entered the
+great city, with the view to passing the thirteenth year
+undiscovered in that kingdom, agreeably to the promise (to
+Duryodhana)."</p>
+<h2>SECTION VI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "And while Yudhishthira was on his way to the
+delightful city of Virata, he began to praise mentally the Divine
+Durga, the Supreme Goddess of the Universe, born on the womb of
+Yasoda, and fond of the boons bestowed on her by Narayana, sprung
+from the race of cowherd Nanda, and the giver of prosperity, the
+enhancer (of the glory) of (the worshipper's) family, the terrifier
+of Kansa, and the destroyer of <i>Asuras</i>,&mdash;and saluted the
+Goddess&mdash;her who ascended the skies when dashed (by Kansa) on
+a stony platform, who is the sister of Vasudeva, one who is always
+decked in celestial garlands and attired in celestial
+robes,&mdash;who is armed with scimitar and shield, and always
+rescues the worshipper sunk in sin, like a cow in the mire, who in
+the hours of distress calls upon that eternal giver of blessings
+for relieving him of their burdens. And the king, desirous with his
+brothers of obtaining a sight of the Goddess, invoked her and began
+to praise her by reciting various names derived from (approved)
+hymns. And Yudhishthira said, 'Salutations to thee, O giver of
+boons. O thou that art identical with Krishna, O maiden, O thou
+that hast observed the vow of <i>Brahmacharya</i>, O thou of body
+bright as the newly-risen Sun, O thou of face beautiful as the full
+moon. Salutations to thee, O thou of four hands and four faces, O
+thou of fair round hips and deep bosom, O thou that wearest bangles
+made of emeralds and sapphires, O thou that bearest excellent
+bracelets on thy upper arm. Thou shinest, O Goddess, as Padma, the
+consort of Narayana. O thou that rangest the etherial regions, thy
+true form and thy <i>Brahmacharya</i> are both of the purest kind.
+Sable as the black clouds, thy face is beautiful as that of
+<i>Sankarshana</i>. Thou bearest two large arms long as a couple of
+poles raised in honour of Indra. In thy (six) other arms thou
+bearest a vessel, a lotus, a bell, a noose, a bow, a large discus,
+and various other weapons. Thou art the only female in the universe
+that possessest the attribute of purity. Thou art decked with a
+pair of well-made ears graced with excellent rings. O Goddess, thou
+shinest with a face that challengeth the moon in beauty. With an
+excellent diadem and beautiful braid with robes made of the bodies
+of snakes, and with also the brilliant girdle round thy hips, thou
+shinest like the Mandara mountain encircled with snakes. Thou
+shinest also with peacock-plumes standing erect on thy head, and
+thou hast sanctified the celestial regions by adopting the vow of
+perpetual maiden-hood. It is for this, O thou that hast slain the
+<i>Mahishasura</i>,<a id="footnotetag9" name=
+"footnotetag9"></a><a href="#footnote9"><sup>9</sup></a> that thou
+art praised and worshipped by the gods for the protection of the
+three worlds. O thou foremost of all deities, extend to me thy
+grace, show me thy mercy, and be thou the source of blessings to
+me. Thou art <i>Jaya</i> and <i>Vijaya</i>, and it is thou that
+givest victory in battle. Grant me victory, O Goddess, and give me
+boons also at this hour of distress. Thy eternal abode is on
+Vindhya&mdash;that foremost of mountains. O <i>Kali</i>, O
+<i>Kali</i>, thou art the great <i>Kali</i>, ever fond of wine and
+meat and animal sacrifice. Capable of going everywhere at will, and
+bestowing boons on thy devotees, thou art ever followed in thy
+journeys by Brahma and the other gods. By them that call upon thee
+for the relief of their burdens, and by them also that bow to thee
+at daybreak on Earth, there is nothing that cannot be attained in
+respect either of offspring or wealth. And because thou rescuest
+people from difficulties whether when they are afflicted in the
+wilderness or sinking in the great ocean, it is for this that thou
+art called <i>Durga</i><a id="footnotetag10" name=
+"footnotetag10"></a><a href="#footnote10"><sup>10</sup></a> by all.
+Thou art the sole refuge of men when attacked by robbers or while
+afflicted in crossing streams and seas or in wilderness and
+forests. Those men that remember thee are never prostrated, O great
+Goddess. Thou art Fame, thou art Prosperity, thou art Steadiness,
+thou art Success; thou art the Wife, thou art men's Offspring, thou
+art Knowledge, and thou art the Intellect. Thou art the two
+Twilights, the Night Sleep, Light&mdash;both solar and lunar,
+Beauty, Forgiveness, Mercy, and every other thing. Thou dispellest,
+worshipped by the devotees their fetters, ignorance, loss of
+children and loss of wealth, disease, death, and fear. I, who have
+been deprived of my kingdom, seek thy protection. And as I bow to
+thee with bended head, O Supreme Goddess, grant me protection, O
+thou of eyes like lotus leaves. And be thou as boon-giving Truth
+unto us that are acting according to Truth. And, O Durga, kind as
+thou art unto all that seek thy protection, and affectionate unto
+all thy devotees, grant me protection!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus praised by the son of Pandu, the
+Goddess showed herself unto him. And approaching the king, she
+addressed him in these words, 'O mighty armed king, listen, O Lord,
+to these words of mine. Having vanquished and slain the ranks of
+the Kauravas through my grace, victory in battle will soon be
+thine. Thou shalt again lord it over the entire Earth, having made
+thy dominions destitute of thorns. And, O king, thou shalt also,
+with thy brothers, obtain great happiness. And through my grace,
+joy and health will be thine. And they also in the world who will
+recite my attributes and achievements will be freed from their
+sins, and gratified. I will bestow upon them kingdom, long life,
+beauty of person, and offspring. And they, O king, who will invoke
+me, after thy manner, in exile or in the city, in the midst of
+battle or of dangers from foes, in forests or in inaccessible
+deserts, in seas or mountain fastnesses, there is nothing that they
+will not obtain in this world. And ye sons of Pandu, he will
+achieve success in every business of his that will listen to, or
+himself recite with devotion, this excellent hymn. And through my
+grace neither the Kuru's spies, nor those that dwell in the country
+of the Matsyas, will succeed in recognising you all as long as ye
+reside in Virata's city!' And having said these words unto
+Yudhishthira, that chastiser of foes, and having arranged for the
+protection of the sons of Pandu, the Goddess disappeared there and
+then."</p>
+<h2>SECTION VII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then tying up in his cloth dice made of gold
+and set with <i>lapis lazuli</i>, and holding them below his
+arm-pit, king Yudhishthira,&mdash;that illustrious lord of
+men&mdash;that high-souled perpetuator of the Kuru race, regarded
+by kings, irrepressible in might, and like unto a snake of virulent
+poison,&mdash;that bull among men, endued with strength and beauty
+and prowess, and possessed of greatness, and resembling in form a
+celestial though now like unto the sun enveloped in dense clouds,
+or fire covered with ashes, first made his appearance when the
+famous king Virata was seated in his court. And beholding with his
+followers that son of Pandu in his court, looking like the moon hid
+in clouds and possessed of a face beautiful as the full moon, king
+Virata addressed his counsellors and the twice-born ones and the
+charioteers and the Vaisyas and others, saying, 'Enquire ye who it
+is, so like a king that looketh on my court for the first time. He
+cannot be a Brahmana. Methinks he is a man of men, and a lord of
+earth. He hath neither slaves, nor cars, nor elephants with him,
+yet he shineth like the very Indra. The marks on his person
+indicate him to be one whose coronal locks have undergone the
+sacred investiture. Even this is my belief. He approacheth me
+without any hesitation, even as an elephant in rut approacheth an
+assemblage of lotuses!'</p>
+<p>"And as the king was indulging in these thoughts, that bull
+among men, Yudhishthira, came before Virata and addressed him,
+saying, 'O great king, know me for a Brahmana who, having lost his
+all hath come to thee for the means of subsistence. I desire, O
+sinless one, to live here beside thee acting under thy
+commands,<a id="footnotetag11" name="footnotetag11"></a><a href=
+"#footnote11"><sup>11</sup></a> O lord.' The king then,
+well-pleased, replied unto him saying, 'Thou art welcome. Do thou
+then accept the appointment thou seekest!' And having appointed the
+lion among kings in the post he had prayed for, king Virata
+addressed him with a glad heart, saying, 'O child, I ask thee from
+affection, from the dominions of what king dost thou come hither?
+Tell me also truly what is thy name and family, and what thou hast
+a knowledge of.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'My name is Kanka, and I am a Brahmana
+belonging to the family known by the name of <i>Vaiyaghra</i>. I am
+skilled in casting dice, and formerly I was a friend of
+Yudhishthira.'</p>
+<p>"Virata replied, 'I will grant thee whatever boon thou mayst
+desire. Do thou rule the Matsyas.&mdash;I shall remain in
+submission to thee. Even cunning gamblers are liked by me. Thou, on
+the other hand, art like a god, and deservest a kingdom.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'My first prayer, O lord of earth, is that I
+may not be involved in any dispute (on account of dice) with low
+people. Further, a person defeated by me (at dice) shall not be
+permitted to retain the wealth (won by me). Let this boon be
+granted to me through thy grace.'</p>
+<p>"Virata replied, 'I shall certainly slay him who may happen to
+displease thee, and should he be one of the twice-born ones, I
+shall banish him from my dominions. Let the assembled subjects
+listen! Kanka is as much lord of this realm as I myself. Thou
+(Kanka) shalt be my friend and shalt ride the same vehicles as I.
+And there shall also be at thy disposal apparel in plenty, and
+various kinds of viands and drinks. And thou shalt look into my
+affairs, both internal and external. And for thee all my doors
+shall be open. When men out of employ or of strained circumstances
+will apply to thee, do thou at all hours bring their words unto me,
+and I will surely give them whatever they desire. No fear shall be
+thine as long as thou residest with me.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having thus obtained an interview with
+Virata's king, and received from him boons, that heroic bull among
+men, began to live happily, highly regarded by all. Nor could any
+one discover him as he lived there."</p>
+<h2>SECTION VIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then another endued with the dreadful
+strength and blazing in beauty, approached king Virata, with the
+playful gait of the lion. And holding in hand a cooking ladle and a
+spoon, as also an unsheathed sword of sable hue and without a spot
+on the blade, he came in the guise of a cook illumining all around
+him by his splendour like the sun discovering the whole world. And
+attired in black and possessed of the strength of the king of
+mountains, he approached the king of the Matsyas and stood before
+him. And beholding that king-like person before him, Virata
+addressed his assembled subjects saying, 'Who is that youth, that
+bull among men, with shoulders broad like those of a lion, and so
+exceedingly beautiful? That person, never seen before, is like the
+sun. Revolving the matter in my mind, I cannot ascertain who he is,
+nor can I with even serious thoughts guess the intention of that
+bull among men (in coming here). Beholding him, it seems to me that
+he is either the king of the Gandharvas, or Purandara himself. Do
+ye ascertain who it is that standeth before my eyes. Let him have
+quickly what he seeks.' Thus commanded by king Virata, his
+swift-footed messengers went up to the son of Kunti and informed
+that younger brother of Yudhishthira of everything the king had
+said. Then the high-souled son of Pandu, approaching Virata,
+addressed him in words that were not unsuited to his object,
+saying, 'O foremost of kings, I am a cook, Vallava by name. I am
+skilled in dressing dishes. Do thou employ me in the kitchen!'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'I do not believe, O Vallava, that cooking is thy
+office. Thou resemblest the deity of a thousand eyes; and in grace
+and beauty and prowess, thou shinest among these all as a
+king!'</p>
+<p>"Bhima replied, 'O king of kings, I am thy cook and servant in
+the first place. It is not curries only of which I have knowledge,
+O monarch, although king Yudhishthira always used in days gone by
+to taste my dishes. O lord of earth, I am also a wrestler. Nor is
+there one that is equal to me in strength. And engaging in fight
+with lions and elephants, I shall, O sinless one, always contribute
+to thy entertainment.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'I will even grant thee boons. Thou wilt do what
+thou wishest, as thou describest thyself skilled in it. I do not,
+however, think, that this office is worthy of thee, for thou
+deservest this (entire) earth girt round by the sea. But do as thou
+likest. Be thou the superintendent of my kitchen, and thou art
+placed at the head of those who have been appointed there before by
+me.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus appointed in the kitchen, Bhima
+soon became the favourite of king Virata. And, O king, he continued
+to live there unrecognised by the other servants of Virata as also
+by other people!"</p>
+<h2>SECTION IX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Binding her black, soft, fine, long and
+faultless tresses with crisped ends into a knotted braid, Draupadi
+of black eyes and sweet smiles, throwing it upon her right
+shoulders, concealed it by her cloth. And she wore a single piece
+of a black and dirty though costly cloth. And dressing herself as a
+<i>Sairindhri</i>, she began to wander hither and thither in
+seeming affliction. And beholding her wandering, men and women came
+to her hastily and addressed her, saying, 'Who are you? And what do
+you seek?' And she replied, 'I am a king's <i>Sairindhri</i>. I
+desire to serve any one that will maintain me.' But beholding her
+beauty and dress, and hearing also her speech that was so sweet,
+the people could not take her for a maid-servant in search of
+subsistence. And it came to pass that while looking this way and
+that from the terrace, Virata's beloved queen, daughter of the king
+of Kekaya, saw Draupadi. And beholding her forlorn and clad in a
+single piece of cloth, the queen addressed her saying, 'O beautiful
+one, who are you, and what do you seek?' Thereupon, Draupadi
+answered her, saying, 'O foremost of queens, I am
+<i>Sairindhri</i>. I will serve anybody that will maintain me.'
+Then Sudeshna said, 'What you say (regarding your profession) can
+never be compatible with so much beauty. (On the contrary) you
+might well be the mistress of servants both, male and female. Your
+heels are not prominent, and your thighs touch each other. And your
+intelligence is great, and your navel deep, and your words solemn.
+And your great toes, and bust and hips, and back and sides, and
+toe-nails, and palms are all well-developed. And your palms, soles,
+and face are ruddy. And your speech is sweet even as the voice of
+the swan. And your hair is beautiful, and your bust shapely, and
+you are possessed of the highest grace. And your hips and bust are
+plump. And like a Kashmerean mare you are furnished with every
+auspicious mark. And your eye-lashes are (beautiful) bent, and your
+nether-lip is like the ruddy ground. And your waist is slender, and
+your neck bears lines that resemble those of the conch. And your
+veins are scarcely visible. Indeed, your countenance is like the
+full moon, and your eyes resemble the leaves of the autumnal lotus,
+and your body is fragrant as the lotus itself. Verily, in beauty
+you resemble <i>Sri</i> herself, whose seat is the autumnal lotus.
+Tell me, O beautiful damsel, who thou art. Thou canst never be a
+maidservant. Art thou a <i>Yakshi</i>, a Goddess, a
+<i>Gandharvi</i>, or an <i>Apsara</i>? Art thou the daughter of a
+celestial, or art thou a female <i>Naga</i>? Art thou the guardian
+goddess of some city, a <i>Vidyadhari</i>, or a
+<i>Kinnari</i>,&mdash;or art thou <i>Rohini</i> herself? Or art
+thou Alamvusha, or Misrakesi, Pundarika, or Malini, or the queen of
+Indra, or of Varuna? Or, art thou the spouse of Viswakarma, or of
+the creative Lord himself? Of these goddesses who art renowned in
+the celestial regions, who art thou, O graceful one?'</p>
+<p>"Draupadi replied, 'O auspicious lady, I am neither a goddess
+nor a <i>Gandharvi</i>, nor a <i>Yakshi</i>, nor a <i>Rakshasi</i>.
+I am a maid-servant of the <i>Sairindhri</i> class. I tell thee
+this truly. I know to dress the hair, to pound (fragrant
+substances) for preparing unguents, and also to make beautiful and
+variegated garlands, O beauteous lady, of jasmines and lotuses and
+blue lilies and <i>Champakas</i>. Formerly I served Krishna's
+favourite queen Satyabhama, and also Draupadi, the wife of the
+Pandavas and the foremost beauty of the Kuru race. I wander about
+alone, earning good food and dress; and as long as I get these, I
+continue to live in the place where they are obtainable. Draupadi
+herself called me Malini (maker of garlands).'</p>
+<p>"Hearing this, Sudeshna said, 'I would keep thee upon my head
+itself, if the doubt did not cross my mind that the king himself
+would be attracted towards thee with his whole heart. Attracted by
+thy beauty, the females of the royal household and my maids are
+looking at thee. What male person then is there that can resist thy
+attraction? Surely, O thou of well-rounded hips, O damsel of
+exquisite charms, beholding thy form of superhuman beauty, king
+Virata is sure to forsake me, and will turn to thee with his whole
+heart. O thou of faultless limbs, O thou that art endued with large
+eyes casting quick glances, he upon whom thou wilt look with desire
+is sure to be stricken. O thou of sweet smiles, O thou that
+possessest a faultless form, he that will behold thee constantly,
+will surely catch the flame. Even as a person that climbs up a tree
+for compassing his own destruction, even as the crab conceives for
+her own ruin, I may, O thou of sweet smiles, bring destruction upon
+myself by harbouring thee.'</p>
+<p>"Draupadi replied, 'O fair lady, neither Virata nor any other
+person will be able to have me, for my five youthful husbands, who
+are <i>Gandharvas</i> and sons of a <i>Gandharva</i> king of
+exceeding power, always protect me. None can do me a wrong. It is
+the wish of my <i>Gandharva</i> husbands that I should serve only
+such persons as will not give me to touch food already partaken of
+by another, or tell me to wash their feet. Any man that attempts to
+have me like any common woman, meeteth with death that very night.
+No one can succeed in having me, for, O beautiful lady, O thou of
+sweet smiles, those beloved <i>Gandharvas</i>, possessed of great
+energy and mighty strength always protect me secretly.'</p>
+<p>"Sudeshna said, 'O thou that bringest delight to the heart, if
+it is as thou sayest, I will take thee into my household. Thou
+shalt not have to touch food that hath been partaken of by another,
+or to wash another's feet.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Virata's wife, O
+Janamejaya, Krishna (Draupadi) ever devoted to her lords, began to
+live in that city. Nor could anyone ascertain who in reality she
+was!"</p>
+<h2>SECTION X</h2>
+<p>"Vaisampayana said, 'Then clad in a cowherd's dress, and
+speaking the dialect of cowherds, Sahadeva came to the cowpen of
+Virata's city. And beholding that bull among men, who was shining
+in splendour, the king was struck with amazement. And he directed
+his men to summon Sahadeva. And when the latter came, the king
+addressed him, saying, 'To whom dost thou belong? And whence dost
+thou come? And what work dost thou seek? I have never seen thee
+before. O bull among men, tell me truly about thee.'</p>
+<p>"Having come before the king that afflicter of foes, Sahadeva
+answered in accents deep as the roar of the cloud, 'I am a Vaisya,
+Arishtanemi by name. I was employed as a cowherd in the service of
+those bulls of the Kuru race, the sons of Pandu. O foremost of men,
+I intend now to live beside thee, for I do not know where those
+lions among kings, the sons of Pritha, are. I cannot live without
+service, and, O king, I do not like to enter into the service of
+anyone else save thee.'</p>
+<p>"Hearing these words, Virata said, 'Thou must either be a
+Brahmana or a Kshatriya. Thou lookest as if thou wert the lord of
+the entire earth surrounded by the sea. Tell me truly, O thou that
+mowest down thy foes. The office of a Vaisya is not fit for thee.
+Tell me from the dominions of what king thou comest, and what thou
+knowest, and in what capacity thou wouldst remain with us, and also
+what pay thou wouldst accept.'</p>
+<p>"Sahadeva answered, 'Yudhishthira, the eldest of the five sons
+of Pandu, had one division of kine numbering eight hundred and ten
+thousand, and another, ten thousand, and another, again, twenty
+thousand, and so on. I was employed in keeping those cattle. People
+used to call me Tantripala. I know the present, the past, and the
+future of all kine living within ten <i>Yojanas</i>, and whose
+<i>tale</i> has been taken. My merits were known to that
+illustrious one, and the Kuru king Yudhishthira was well-pleased
+with me. I am also acquainted with the means which aid kine in
+multiplying within a short time, and by which they may enjoy
+immunity from disease. Also these arts are known to me. I can also
+single out bulls having auspicious marks for which they are
+worshipped by men, and by smelling whose urine, the barren may
+conceive.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'I have a hundred thousand kine divided into
+distinct herds. All those together with their keepers, I place in
+thy charge. Henceforth my beasts will be in thy keep.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O king, undiscovered by that
+monarch, that lord of men, Sahadeva, maintained by Virata, began to
+live happily. Nor did anyone else (besides his brothers) recognise
+him."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XI</h2>
+<p>"Vaisampayana said, 'Next appeared at the gate of the ramparts
+another person of enormous size and exquisite beauty decked in the
+ornaments of women, and wearing large ear-rings and beautiful
+conch-bracelets overlaid with gold. And that mighty-armed
+individual with long and abundant hair floating about his neck,
+resembled an elephant in gait. And shaking the very earth with his
+tread, he approached Virata and stood in his court. And beholding
+the son of the great Indra, shining with exquisite lustre and
+having the gait of a mighty elephant,&mdash;that grinder of foes
+having his true form concealed in disguise, entering the
+council-hall and advancing towards the monarch, the king addressed
+all his courtiers, saying, 'Whence doth this person come? I have
+never heard of him before.' And when the men present spoke of the
+newcomer as one unknown to them, the king wonderingly said,
+'Possessed of great strength, thou art like unto a celestial, and
+young and of darkish hue, thou resemblest the leader of a herd of
+elephants. Wearing conch-bracelets overlaid with gold, a braid, and
+ear-rings, thou shinest yet like one amongst those that riding on
+chariots wander about equipped with mail and bow and arrows and
+decked with garlands and fine hair. I am old and desirous of
+relinquishing my burden. Be thou like my son, or rule thou like
+myself all the Matsyas. It seemeth to me that such a person as thou
+can never be of the neuter sex.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'I sing, dance, and play on instruments. I am
+proficient in dance and skilled in song. O lord of men, assign me
+unto (the princess) Uttara. I shall be dancing-master to the royal
+maiden. As to how I have come by this form, what will it avail thee
+to hear the account which will only augment my pain? Know me, O
+king of men, to be Vrihannala, a son or daughter without father or
+mother.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'O Vrihannala, I give thee what thou desirest.
+Instruct my daughter, and those like her, in dancing. To me,
+however, this office seemeth unworthy of thee. Thou deservest (the
+dominion of) the entire earth girt round by the ocean.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "The king of the Matsyas then tested
+Vrihannala in dancing, music, and other fine arts, and consulting
+with his various ministers forthwith caused him to be examined by
+women. And learning that this impotency was of a permanent nature,
+he sent him to the maiden's apartments. And there the mighty Arjuna
+began giving lessons in singing and instrumental music to the
+daughter of Virata, her friends, and her waiting-maids, and soon
+won their good graces. And in this manner the self-possessed Arjuna
+lived there in disguise, partaking of pleasures in their company,
+and unknown to the people within or without the palace."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "After a while, another powerful son of Pandu
+was seen making towards king Virata in haste. And as he advanced,
+he seemed to everyone like solar orb emerged from the clouds. And
+he began to observe the horses around. And seeing this, the king of
+the Matsyas said to his followers, 'I wonder whence this man,
+possessed of the effulgence of a celestial, cometh. He looks
+intently at my steeds. Verily, he must be proficient in horse-lore.
+Let him be ushered into my presence quickly. He is a warrior and
+looks like a god!' And that destroyer of foes then went up to the
+king and accosted him, saying, 'Victory to thee, O king, and blest
+be ye. As a trainer of horses, I have always been highly esteemed
+by kings. I will be a clever keeper of thy horses.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'I will give thee vehicles, wealth, and spacious
+quarters. Thou shalt be the manager of my horses. But first tell me
+whence thou comest, who thou art, and how also thou happenest to
+come here. Tell us also all the arts thou art master of.' Nakula
+replied, 'O mower of enemies, know that Yudhishthira is the eldest
+brother of the five sons of Pandu. I was formerly employed by him
+to keep his horses. I am acquainted with the temper of steeds, and
+know perfectly the art of breaking them. I know also how to correct
+vicious horses, and all the methods of treating their diseases. No
+animal in my hands becometh weak or ill. Not to speak of horses,
+even mares in my hands will never be found to be vicious. People
+called me Granthika by name and so did Yudhishthira, the son of
+Pandu.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'Whatever horses I have, I consign to thy care
+even from today. And all the keepers of my horses and all my
+charioteers will from today be subordinate to thee. If this suits
+thee, say what remuneration is desired by thee. But, O thou that
+resemblest a celestial, the office of equerry is not worthy of
+thee. For thou lookest like a king and I esteem thee much. The
+appearance here hath pleased me as much as if Yudhishthira himself
+were here. Oh, how does that blameless son of Pandu dwell and
+divert himself in the forest, now destitute of servants as he
+is.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "That youth, like unto a chief of the
+<i>Gandharvas</i>, was treated thus respectfully by the delighted
+king Virata. And he conducted himself there in such a manner as to
+make himself dear and agreeable to all in the palace. And no one
+recognised him while living under Virata's protection. And it was
+in this manner then the sons of Pandu, the very sight of whom had
+never been fruitless, continued to live in the country of the
+Matsyas. And true to their pledge those lords of the earth bounded
+by her belt of seas passed their days of <i>incognito</i> with
+great composure notwithstanding their poignant sufferings."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XIII</h2>
+<h3>(<i>Samayapalana Parva</i>)</h3>
+<p>Janamejaya said, "While living thus disguised in the city of the
+Matsyas, what did those descendants of the Kuru race endued with
+great prowess, do, O regenerate one!"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Hear, O king, what those descendants of Kuru
+did while they dwelt thus in disguise in the city of the Matsyas,
+worshipping the king thereof. By the grace of the sage Trinavindu
+and of the high-souled lord of justice, the Pandavas continued to
+live unrecognised by others in the city of Virata. O lord of men,
+Yudhishthira, as courtier made himself agreeable to Virata and his
+sons as also to all the Matsyas. An adept in the mysteries of dice,
+the son of Pandu caused them to play at dice according to his
+pleasure and made them sit together in the dice-hall like a row of
+birds bound in a string. And that tiger among men, king
+Yudhishthira the Just, unknown to the monarch, distributed among
+his brothers, in due proportion, the wealth he won from Virata. And
+Bhimasena on his part, sold to Yudhishthira for price, meat and
+viands of various kinds which he obtained from the king. And Arjuna
+distributed among all his brothers the proceeds of worn-out cloths
+which he earned in the inner apartments of the palace. And
+Sahadeva, too, who was disguised as a cowherd gave milk, curds and
+clarified butter to his brothers. And Nakula also shared with his
+brothers the wealth the king gave him, satisfied with his
+management of the horses. And Draupadi, herself in a pitiable
+condition, looked after all those brothers and behaved in such a
+way as to remain unrecognized. And thus ministering unto one
+another's wants, those mighty warriors lived in the capital of
+Virata as hidden from view, as if they were once more in their
+mother's womb. And those lords of men, the sons of Pandu,
+apprehensive of danger from the son of Dhritarashtra, continued to
+dwell there in concealment, watching over their wife Draupadi. And
+after three months had passed away, in the fourth, the grand
+festival in honour of the divine Brahma which was celebrated with
+pomp in the country of the Matsyas, came off. And there came
+athletes from all quarters by thousands, like hosts of celestials
+to the abode of Brahma or of Siva to witness that festival. And
+they were endued with huge bodies and great prowess, like the
+demons called <i>Kalakhanjas</i>. And elated with their prowess and
+proud of their strength, they were highly honoured by the king. And
+their shoulders and waists and necks were like those of lions, and
+their bodies were very clean, and their hearts were quite at ease.
+And they had many a time won success in the lists in the presence
+of kings. And amongst them there was one who towered above the rest
+and challenged them all to a combat. And there was none that dared
+to approach him as he proudly stalked in the arena. And when all
+the athletes stood sad and dispirited, the king of the Matsyas made
+him fight with his cook. And urged by the king, Bhima made up his
+mind reluctantly, for he could not openly disobey the royal behest.
+And that tiger among men then having worshipped the king, entered
+the spacious arena, pacing with the careless steps of a tiger. And
+the son of Kunti then girded up his loins to the great delight of
+the spectators. And Bhima then summoned to the combat that athlete
+known by the name of Jimuta who was like unto the Asura Vritra
+whose prowess was widely known. And both of them were possessed of
+great courage, and both were endued with terrible prowess. And they
+were like a couple of infuriate and huge-bodied elephants, each
+sixty years old. And those brave tigers among men then cheerfully
+engaged in a wrestling combat, desirous of vanquishing each other.
+And terrible was the encounter that took place between them, like
+the clash of the thunderbolt against the stony mountain-breast. And
+both of them were exceedingly powerful and extremely delighted at
+each other's strength. And desirous of vanquishing each other, each
+stood eager to take advantage of his adversary's lapse. And both
+were greatly delighted and both looked like infuriate elephants of
+prodigious size. And various were the modes of attack and defence
+that they exhibited with their clenched fists.<a id="footnotetag12"
+name="footnotetag12"></a><a href="#footnote12"><sup>12</sup></a>
+And each dashed against the other and flung his adversary to a
+distance. And each cast the other down and pressed him close to the
+ground. And each got up again and squeezed the other in his arms.
+And each threw the other violently off his place by boxing him on
+the breast. And each caught the other by the legs and whirling him
+round threw him down on the ground. And they slapped each other
+with their palms that struck as hard as the thunderbolt. And they
+also struck each other with their outstretched fingers, and
+stretching them out like spears thrust the nails into each other's
+body. And they gave each other violent kicks. And they struck knee
+and head against head, producing the crash of one stone against
+another. And in this manner that furious combat between those
+warriors raged on without weapons, sustained mainly by the power of
+their arms and their physical and mental energy, to the infinite
+delight of the concourse of spectators. And all people, O king,
+took deep interest in that encounter of those powerful wrestlers
+who fought like Indra and the Asura Vritra. And they cheered both
+of them with loud acclamations of applause. And the broad-chested
+and long-armed experts in wrestling then pulled and pressed and
+whirled and hurled down each other and struck each other with their
+knees, expressing all the while their scorn for each other in loud
+voices. And they began to fight with their bare arms in this way,
+which were like spiked maces of iron. And at last the powerful and
+mighty-armed Bhima, the slayer of his foes, shouting aloud seized
+the vociferous athlete by the arms even as the lion seizes the
+elephant, and taking him up from the ground and holding him aloft,
+began to whirl him round, to the great astonishment of the
+assembled athletes and the people of Matsya. And having whirled him
+round and round a hundred times till he was insensible, the
+strong-armed Vrikodara dashed him to death on the ground. And when
+the brave and renowned Jimuta was thus killed, Virata and his
+friends were filled with great delight. And in the exuberance of
+his joy, the noble-minded king rewarded Vallava then and there with
+the liberality of Kuvera. And killing numerous athletes and many
+other men possessed of great bodily strength, he pleased the king
+very much. And when no one could be found there to encounter him in
+the lists, the king made him fight with tigers and lions and
+elephants. And the king also made him battle with furious and
+powerful lions in the harem for the pleasure of the ladies. And
+Arjuna, too, pleased the king and all the ladies of the inner
+apartments by singing and dancing. And Nakula pleased Virata, that
+best of kings, by showing him fleet and well-trained steeds that
+followed him wherever he went. And the king, gratified with him,
+rewarded him with ample presents. And beholding around Sahadeva a
+herd of well-trained bullocks, Virata that bull among men, bestowed
+upon him also wealth of diverse kinds. And, O king, Draupadi
+distressed to see all those warriors suffer pain, sighed
+incessantly. And it was in this way that those eminent persons
+lived there in disguise, rendering services unto king Virata."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XIV</h2>
+<h3>(<i>Kichaka-badha Parva</i>)</h3>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Living in such disguise, those mighty
+warriors, the sons of Pritha, passed ten months in Matsya's city.
+And, O monarch, although herself deserving to be waited upon by
+others, the daughter of Yajnasena, O Janamejaya, passed her days in
+extreme misery, waiting upon Sudeshna. And residing thus in
+Sudeshna's apartments, the princess of Panchala pleased that lady
+as also the other females of the inner apartments. And it came to
+pass that as the year was about to expire, the redoubtable Kichaka,
+the Commander of Virata's forces, chanced to behold the daughter of
+Drupada. And beholding that lady endued with the splendour of a
+daughter of the celestials, treading the earth like a goddess,
+Kichaka, afflicted with the shafts of Kama, desired to possess her.
+And burning with desire's flame, Virata's general came to Sudeshna
+(his sister) and smilingly addressed her in these words, 'This
+beauteous lady had never before been seen by me in king Virata's
+abode. This damsel maddens me with her beauty, even as a new wine
+maddens one with its fragrance. Tell me, who is this graceful and
+captivating lady possessed of the beauty of a goddess, and whose
+she is, and whence she hath come. Surely, grinding my heart she
+hath reduced me to subjection. It seems to me that (save her) there
+is no other medicine for my illness. O, this fair hand-maid of
+thine seemeth to me to be possessed of the beauty of a goddess.
+Surely, one like her is ill suited to serve thee. Let her rule over
+me and whatever is mine. O, let her grace my spacious and beautiful
+palace, decked with various ornaments of gold, full of viands and
+drinks in profusion, with excellent plates, and containing every
+kind of plenty, besides elephants and horses and cars in myriads.'
+And having consulted with Sudeshna thus, Kichaka went to princess
+Draupadi, and like a jackal in the forest accosting a lioness,
+spoke unto Krishna these words in a winning voice, 'Who and whose
+art thou, O beautiful one? And O thou of beautiful face, whence
+hast thou come to the city of Virata? Tell me all this, O fair
+lady. Thy beauty and gracefulness are of the very first order and
+the comeliness of thy features is unparalleled. With its loveliness
+thy face shineth ever like the resplendent moon. O thou of fair
+eye-brows, thy eyes are beautiful and large like lotus-petals. Thy
+speech also, O thou of beautiful limbs, resembles the notes of the
+<i>cuckoo</i>. O thou of fair hips, never before in this world have
+I beheld a woman possessed of beauty like thine, O thou of
+faultless features. Art thou Lakshmi herself having her abode in
+the midst of lotuses or, art thou, O slender-waisted one, she who
+is called <i>Bhuti</i><a id="footnotetag13" name=
+"footnotetag13"></a><a href="#footnote13"><sup>13</sup></a>. Or,
+which amongst these&mdash;<i>Hri, Sri, Kirti</i> and
+<i>Kanti</i>,&mdash;art thou, O thou of beautiful face? Or
+possessed of beauty like Rati's, art thou, she who sporteth in the
+embraces of the God of love? O thou that possessest the fairest of
+eye-brows, thou shinest beautifully even like the lovely light of
+the moon. Who is there in the whole world that will not succumb to
+the influence of desire beholding thy face? Endued with unrivalled
+beauty and celestial grace of the most attractive kind, that face
+of thine is even like the full moon, its celestial effulgence
+resembling his radiant face, its smile resembling his soft-light,
+and its eye-lashes looking like the spokes on his disc. Both thy
+bosoms, so beautiful and well-developed and endued with unrivalled
+gracefulness and deep and well-rounded and without any space
+between them, are certainly worthy of being decked with garlands of
+gold. Resembling in shape the beautiful buds of the lotus, these
+thy breasts, O thou of fair eye-brows, are even as the whips of
+Kama that are urging me forward, O thou of sweet smiles. O damsel
+of slender waist, beholding that waist of thine marked with four
+wrinkles and measuring but a span, and slightly stooping forward
+because of the weight of thy breasts, and also looking on those
+graceful hips of thine broad as the banks of a river, the incurable
+fever of desire, O beauteous lady, afflicteth me sore. The flaming
+fire of desire, fierce as a forest conflagration, and fanned by the
+hope my heart cherisheth of a union with thee is consuming me
+intensely. O thou of exceeding beauty quench thou that flaming fire
+kindled by Manmatha. Union with thee is a rain-charged cloud, and
+the surrender of thy person is the shower that the cloud may drop.
+O thou of face resembling the moon, the fierce and maddening shafts
+of Manmatha whetted and sharpened by the desire of a union with
+thee, piercing this heart of mine in their impetuous course, have
+penetrated into its core. O black-eyed lady, those impetuous and
+cruel shafts are maddening me beyond endurance. It behoveth thee to
+relieve me from this plight by surrendering thyself to me and
+favouring me with thy embraces. Decked in beautiful garlands and
+robes and adorned with every ornament, sport thou, O sweet damsel,
+with me to thy fill. O thou of the gait of an elephant in rut,
+deserving as thou art of happiness though deprived of it now, it
+behoveth thee not to dwell here in misery. Let unrivalled weal be
+thine. Drinking various kinds of charming and delicious and
+ambrosial wines, and sporting at thy pleasure in the enjoyment of
+diverse objects of delight, do thou, O blessed lady, attain
+auspicious prosperity. This beauty of thine and this prime of thy
+youth, O sweet lady, are now without their use. For, O beauteous
+and chaste damsel, endued with such loveliness, thou dost not
+shine, like a graceful garland lying unused and unworn. I will
+forsake all my old wives. Let them, O thou of sweet smiles, become
+thy slaves. And I also, O fair damsel, will stay by thee as thy
+slave, ever obedient to thee, O thou of the most handsome face.'
+Hearing these words of his, Draupadi replied, 'In desiring me, a
+female servant of low extraction, employed in the despicable office
+of dressing hair, O <i>Suta's</i> son, thou desirest one that
+deserves not that honour. Then, again, I am the wife of others.
+Therefore, good betide thee, this conduct of thine is not proper.
+Do thou remember the precept of morality, viz., that persons should
+take delight only in their wedded wives. Thou shouldst not,
+therefore, by any means bend thy heart to adultery. Surely
+abstaining from improper acts is ever the study of those that are
+good. Overcome by ignorance sinful men under the influence of
+desire come by either extreme infamy or dreadful calamity.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by the
+<i>Sairindhri</i>, the wicked Kichaka losing control over his
+senses and overcome by lust, although aware of the numerous evils
+of fornication, evils condemned by everybody and sometimes leading
+to the destruction of life itself,&mdash;then spoke unto Draupadi,
+'It behoveth thee not, O beauteous lady, O thou of graceful
+features, thus to disregard me who am, O thou of sweet smiles,
+under the power of Manmatha on thy account. If now, O timid one,
+thou disregardest me who am under thy influence and who speak to
+thee so fair, thou wilt, O black-eyed damsel, have to repent for it
+afterwards. O thou of graceful eye-brows, the real lord of this
+entire kingdom, O slender-waisted lady, is myself. It is me
+depending upon whom the people of this realm live. In energy and
+prowess I am unrivalled on earth. There is no other man on earth
+who rivals me in beauty of person, in youth, in prosperity, and in
+the possession of excellent objects of enjoyment. Why it is, O
+auspicious lady, that having it in thy power to enjoy here every
+object of desire and every luxury and comfort without its equal,
+thou preferest servitude. Becoming the mistress of this kingdom
+which I shall confer on thee, O thou of fair face, accept me, and
+enjoy, O beauteous one, all excellent objects of desire.' Addressed
+in these accursed words by Kichaka, that chaste daughter of Drupada
+answered him thus reprovingly, 'Do not, O son of a <i>Suta</i>, act
+so foolishly and do not throw away thy life. Know that I am
+protected by my five husbands. Thou canst not have me. I have
+Gandharvas for my husbands. Enraged they will slay thee. Therefore,
+do thou not bring destruction on thyself. Thou intendest to tread
+along a path that is incapable of being trod by men. Thou, O wicked
+one, art even like a foolish child that standing on one shore of
+the ocean intends to cross over to the other. Even if thou enterest
+into the interior of the earth, or soarest into the sky, or rushest
+to the other shore of the ocean, still thou wilt have no escape
+from the hands of those sky-ranging offspring of gods, capable of
+grinding all foes. Why dost thou today, O Kichaka, solicit me so
+persistently even as a sick person wisheth for the night that will
+put a stop to his existence? Why dost thou desire me, even like an
+infant lying on its mother's lap wishing to catch the moon? For
+thee that thus solicitest their beloved wife, there is no refuge
+either on earth or in sky. O Kichaka, hast thou no sense which
+leads thee to seek thy good and by which thy life may be
+saved?'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Rejected thus by the princess, Kichaka,
+afflicted with maddening lust and forgetting all sense of
+propriety, addressed Sudeshna saying, 'Do thou, Kekaya's daughter,
+so act that thy <i>Sairindhri</i> may come into my arms. Do thou, O
+Sudeshna, adopt the means by which the damsel of the gait of an
+elephant may accept me; I am dying of absorbing desire.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing his profuse lamentations, that
+gentle lady, the intelligent queen of Virata, was touched with
+pity. And having taken counsel with her own self and reflected on
+Kichaka's purpose and on the anxiety of Krishna, Sudeshna addressed
+the <i>Suta's</i> son in these words, 'Do thou, on the occasion of
+some festival, procure viands and wines for me. I shall then send
+my <i>Sairindhri</i> to thee on the pretence of bringing wine. And
+when she will repair thither do thou in solitude, free from
+interruption, humour her as thou likest. Thus soothed, she may
+incline her mind to thee.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, he went out of his
+sister's apartments. And he soon procured wines well-filtered and
+worthy of a king. And employing skilled cooks, he prepared many and
+various kinds of choice viands and delicious drinks and many and
+various kinds of meat of different degrees of excellence. And when
+all this had been done, that gentle lady Sudeshna, as previously
+counselled by Kichaka, desired her <i>Sairindhri</i> to repair to
+Kichaka's abode, saying, 'Get up, O <i>Sairindhri</i> and repair to
+Kichaka's abode to bring wine, for, O beauteous lady, I am
+afflicted with thirst.' Thereupon the <i>Sairindhri</i> replied, 'O
+princess, I shall not be able to repair to Kichaka's apartments.
+Thou thyself knowest, O queen, how shameless he is. O thou of
+faultless limbs, O beauteous lady, in thy palace I shall not be
+able to lead a lustful life, becoming faithless to my husbands.
+Thou rememberest, O gentle lady, O beautiful one, the conditions I
+had set down before entering thy house. O thou of tresses ending in
+graceful curls, the foolish Kichaka afflicted by the god of desire,
+will, on seeing me, offer me insult. Therefore, I will not go to
+his quarters. Thou hast, O princess, many maids under thee. Do
+thou, good betide thee, send one of them. For, surely, Kichaka will
+insult me.' Sudeshna said, 'Sent by me, from my abode, surely he
+will not harm thee.' And having said this, she handed over a golden
+vessel furnished with a cover. And filled with apprehension, and
+weeping, Draupadi mentally prayed for the protection of the gods,
+and set out for Kichaka's abode for fetching wine. And she said,
+'As I do not know another person save my husbands, by virtue of
+that Truth let Kichaka not be able to overpower me although I may
+approach his presence.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "And that helpless damsel then adored
+Surya for a moment. And Surya, having considered all that she
+urged, commanded a <i>Rakshasa</i> to protect her invisibly. And
+from that time the <i>Rakshasa</i> began to attend upon that
+blameless lady under any circumstances. And beholding Krishna in
+his presence like a frightened doe, the <i>Suta</i> rose up from
+his seat, and felt the joy that is felt by a person wishing to
+cross to the other shore, when he obtains a boat."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XVI</h2>
+<p>"Kichaka said, 'O thou of tresses ending in beautiful curls,
+thou art welcome. Surely, the night that is gone hath brought me an
+auspicious day, for I have got thee today as the mistress of my
+house. Do what is agreeable to me. Let golden chains, and conchs
+and bright ear-rings made of gold, manufactured in various
+countries, and beautiful rubies and gems, and silken robes and
+deer-skins, be brought for thee. I have also an excellent bed
+prepared for thee. Come, sitting upon it do thou drink with me the
+wine prepared from the honey flower.' Hearing these words, Draupadi
+said, 'I have been sent to thee by the princess for taking away
+wine. Do thou speedily bring me wine, for she told me that she is
+exceedingly thirsty.' At this, Kichaka said, 'O gentle lady, others
+will carry what the princess wants.' And saying this, the
+<i>Suta's</i> son caught hold of Draupadi's right arm. And at this,
+Draupadi exclaimed, 'As I have never, from intoxication of the
+senses, been unfaithful to my husbands even at heart, by that
+Truth, O wretch, I shall behold thee dragged and lying powerless on
+the ground.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Seeing that large-eyed lady reproving
+him in that strain, Kichaka suddenly seized her by the end of her
+upper garment as she attempted to run away. And seized with
+violence by Kichaka, the beautiful princess, unable to tolerate it,
+and with frame trembling with wrath, and breathing quickly, dashed
+him to the ground. And dashed to the ground thus, the sinful wretch
+tumbled down like a tree whose roots had been cut. And having
+thrown Kichaka down on the ground when the latter had seized her,
+she, trembling all over rushed to the court, where king
+Yudhishthira was, for protection. And while she was running with
+all her speed, Kichaka (who followed her), seizing her by the hair,
+and bringing her down on the ground, kicked her in the very
+presence of the king. Thereupon, O Bharata, the <i>Rakshasa</i>
+that had been appointed by Surya to protect Draupadi, gave Kichaka
+a shove with a force mighty as that of the wind. And overpowered by
+the force of <i>Rakshasa</i>, Kichaka reeled and fell down
+senseless on the ground, even like an uprooted tree. And both
+Yudhishthira and Bhimasena who were seated there, beheld with
+wrathful eyes that outrage on Krishna by Kichaka. And desirous of
+compassing the destruction of the wicked Kichaka, the illustrious
+Bhima gnashed his teeth in rage. And his forehead was covered with
+sweat, and terrible wrinkles appeared thereon. And a smoky
+exhalation shot forth from his eyes, and his eye-lashes stood on
+end. And that slayer of hostile heroes pressed his forehead with
+his hands. And impelled by rage, he was on the point of starting up
+with speed. Thereat king Yudhishthira, apprehensive of discovery,
+squeezed his thumbs and commanded Bhima to forbear. And Bhima who
+then looked like an infuriate elephant eyeing a large tree, was
+thus forbidden by his elder brother. And the latter said, 'Lookest
+thou, O cook, for trees for fuel. If thou art in need of faggots,
+then go out and fell trees.' And the weeping Draupadi of fair hips,
+approaching the entrance of the court, and seeing her melancholy
+lords, desirous yet of keeping up the disguise duty-bound by their
+pledge, with eyes burning in fire, spoke these words unto the king
+of the Matsyas, 'Alas, the son of a <i>Suta</i> hath kicked today
+the proud and beloved wife of those whose foe can never sleep in
+peace even if four kingdoms intervene between him and them. Alas,
+the son of a <i>Suta</i> hath kicked today the proud and beloved
+wife of those truthful personages, who are devoted to Brahmanas and
+who always give away without asking any thing in gift. Alas! the
+son of a <i>Suta</i> hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife
+of those, the sounds of whose kettle-drums and the twangs of whose
+bow-strings are ceaselessly heard. Alas, the son of a <i>Suta</i>
+hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those who are
+possessed of abundant energy and might, and who are liberal in
+gifts and proud of their dignity. Alas, the son of a <i>Suta</i>
+hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those who, if they
+had not been fettered by the ties of duty, could destroy this
+entire world. Where, alas, are those mighty warriors today who,
+though living in disguise, have always granted protection unto
+those that solicit it? Oh, why do those heroes today, endued as
+they are with strength and possessed of immeasurable energy,
+quietly suffer, like eunuchs, their dear and chaste wife to be thus
+insulted by a <i>Suta's</i> son? Oh, where is that wrath of theirs,
+that prowess, and that energy, when they quietly bear their wife to
+be thus insulted by a wicked wretch? What can I (a weak woman) do
+when Virata, deficient in virtue, coolly suffereth my innocent self
+to be thus wronged by a wretch? Thou dost not, O king, act like a
+king towards this Kichaka. Thy behaviour is like that of a robber,
+and doth not shine in a court. That I should thus be insulted in
+thy very presence, O Matsya, is highly improper. Oh, let all the
+courtiers here look at this violence of Kichaka. Kichaka is
+ignorant of duty and morality, and Matsya also is equally so. These
+courtiers also that wait upon such a king are destitute of
+virtue.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "With these and other words of the same
+kind the beautiful Krishna with tearful eyes rebuked the king of
+the Matsyas. And hearing her, Virata said, 'I do not know what your
+dispute has been out of our sight. Not knowing the true cause how
+can I show my discrimination?' Then the courtiers, having learnt
+every thing, applauded Krishna, and they all exclaimed, 'Well
+done!' 'Well done!' and censured Kichaka. And the courtiers said,
+'That person who owneth this large-eyed lady having every limb of
+hers endued with beauty for his wife, possesseth what is of
+exceeding value and hath no occasion to indulge in any grief.
+Surely, such a damsel of transcendent beauty and limbs perfectly
+faultless is rare among men. Indeed, it seems to us that she is a
+goddess.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "And while the courtiers, having beheld
+Krishna (under such circumstances), were applauding her thus,
+Yudhishthira's forehead, from ire, became covered with sweat. And
+that bull of the Kuru race then addressed that princess, his
+beloved spouse, saying, 'Stay not here, O Sairindhri; but retire to
+the apartments of Sudeshna. The wives of heroes bear affliction for
+the sake of their husbands, and undergoing toil in ministering unto
+their lords, they at last attain to region where their husbands may
+go. Thy Gandharva husbands, effulgent as the sun, do not, I
+imagine, consider this as an occasion for manifesting their wrath,
+inasmuch as they do not rush to thy aid. O <i>Sairindhri</i>, thou
+art ignorant of the timeliness of things, and it is for this that
+thou weepest as an actress, besides interrupting the play of dice
+in Matsya's court. Retire, O <i>Sairindhri</i>; the Gandharvas will
+do what is agreeable to thee. And they will surely display thy woe
+and take the life of him that hath wronged thee.' Hearing these
+words the <i>Sairindhri</i> replied, 'They of whom I am the wedded
+wife are, I ween, extremely kind. And as the eldest of them all is
+addicted to dice, they are liable to be oppressed by all.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "And having said this, the fair-hipped
+Krishna with dishevelled hair and eyes red in anger, ran towards
+the apartments of Sudeshna. And in consequence of having wept long
+her face looked beautiful like the lunar disc in the firmament,
+emerged from the clouds. And beholding her in that condition,
+Sudeshna asked, 'Who, O beauteous lady, hath insulted thee? Why, O
+amiable damsel, dost thou weep? Who, gentle one, hath done thee
+wrong? Whence is this thy grief?' Thus addressed, Draupadi said,
+'As I went to bring wine for thee, Kichaka struck me in the court
+in the very presence of the king, as if in the midst of a solitary
+wood.' Hearing this, Sudeshna said, 'O thou of tresses ending in
+beautiful curls, as Kichaka, maddened by lust hath insulted thee
+that art incapable of being possessed by him, I shall cause him to
+be slain if thou wishest it.' Thereupon Draupadi answered, 'Even
+others will slay him,&mdash;even they whom he hath wronged. I think
+it is clear that he will have to go to the abode of Yama this very
+day!'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Thus insulted by the <i>Suta's</i> son, that
+illustrious princess, the beautiful Krishna, eagerly wishing for
+the destruction of Virata's general, went to her quarters. And
+Drupada's daughter of dark hue and slender waist then performed her
+ablutions. And washing her body and cloths with water Krishna began
+to ponder weepingly on the means of dispelling her grief. And she
+reflected, saying, 'What am I to do? Whither shall I go? How can my
+purpose be effected?' And while she was thinking thus, she
+remembered Bhima and said to herself, 'There is none else, save
+Bhima, that can today accomplish the purpose on which my heart is
+set!' And afflicted with great grief, the large-eyed and
+intelligent Krishna possessed of powerful protectors then rose up
+at night, and leaving her bed speedily proceeded towards the
+quarters of Bhimasena, desirous of beholding her lord. And
+possessed of great intelligence, the daughter of Drupada entered
+her husband's quarters, saying, 'How canst thou sleep while that
+wretched commander of Virata's forces, who is my foe, yet liveth,
+having perpetrated today <i>that</i> (foul act)?'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then the chamber where Bhima slept,
+breathing hard like a lion, being filled with the beauty of
+Drupada's daughter and of the high-souled Bhima, blazed forth in
+splendour. And Krishna of sweet smiles, finding Bhimasena in the
+cooking apartments, approached him with the eagerness of a
+three-year old cow brought up in the woods, approaching a powerful
+bull, in her first season, or of a she-crane living by the
+water-side approaching her mate in the pairing season. And the
+Princess of Panchala then embraced the second son of Pandu, even as
+a creeper embraces a huge and mighty <i>Sala</i> on the banks of
+the Gomati. And embracing him with her arms, Krishna of faultless
+features awaked him as a lioness awaketh a sleeping lion in a
+trackless forest. And embracing Bhimasena even as a she-elephant
+embraceth her mighty mate, the faultless Panchali addressed him in
+voice sweet as the sound of a stringed instrument emitting
+<i>Gandhara</i> note. And she said, 'Arise, arise! Why dost thou, O
+Bhimasena, lie down as one dead? Surely, he that is not dead, never
+suffereth a wicked wretch that hath disgraced his wife, to live.'
+And awakened by the princess, Bhima of mighty arms, then rose up,
+and sat upon his couch overlaid with a rich bed. And he of the Kuru
+race then addressed the princess&mdash;his beloved wife, saying,
+'For what purpose hast thou come hither in such a hurry? Thy colour
+is gone and thou lookest lean and pale. Tell me everything in
+detail. I must know the truth. Whether it be pleasurable or
+painful, agreeable, or disagreeable, tell me all. Having heard
+everything, I shall apply the remedy. I alone, O Krishna, am
+entitled to thy confidence in all things, for it is I who deliver
+thee from perils again and again! Tell me quickly what is thy wish,
+and what is the purpose that is in thy view, and return thou to thy
+bed before others awake.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XVIII</h2>
+<p>"Draupadi said, 'What grief hath she not who hath Yudhishthira
+for her husband? Knowing all my griefs, why dost thou ask me? The
+<i>Pratikamin</i> dragged me to the court in the midst of an
+assembly of courtiers, calling me a slave. That grief, O Bharata,
+consumeth me. What other princess, save Draupadi, would live having
+suffered such intense misery? Who else, save myself, could bear
+such second insult as the wicked Saindhava offered me while
+residing in the forest? Who else of my position, save myself, could
+live, having been kicked by Kichaka in the very sight of the wicked
+king of the Matsyas? Of what value is life, O Bharata, when thou, O
+son of Kunti, dost not think me miserable, although I am afflicted
+with such woes? That vile and wicked wretch, O Bharata, known by
+the name of Kichaka, who is the brother-in-law of king Virata and
+the commander of his forces, every day, O tiger among men,
+addresses me who am residing in the palace as a <i>Sairindhri</i>,
+saying, <i>Do thou become my wife</i>.&mdash;Thus solicited, O
+slayer of foes, by that wretch deserving to be slain, my heart is
+bursting like a fruit ripened in season. Censure thou that elder
+brother of thine addicted to execrable dice, through whose act
+alone I have been afflicted with such woe. Who else, save him that
+is a desperate gambler, would play, giving up kingdom and
+everything including even myself, in order to lead a life in the
+woods? If he had gambled morning and evening for many years
+together, staking <i>nishkas</i> by thousand and other kinds of
+substantial wealth, still his silver, and gold, and robes, and
+vehicles, and teams, and goats, and sheep, and multitudes of steeds
+and mares and mules would not have sustained any diminution. But
+now deprived of prosperity by the rivalry of dice, he sits dumb
+like a fool, reflecting on his own misdeeds. Alas, he who, while
+sojourning, was followed by ten thousand elephants adorned with
+golden garlands now supports himself by casting dice. That
+Yudhishthira who at Indraprastha was adored by kings of
+incomparable prowess by hundreds of thousands, that mighty monarch
+in whose kitchen a hundred thousand maid-servants, plate in hand,
+used every day to feed numerous guests day and night, that best of
+liberal men, who gave (every day) a thousand <i>nishkas</i>, alas,
+even he overwhelmed with woe in consequence of gambling which is
+the root of all evil, now supporteth himself by casting dice. Bards
+and encomiasts by thousands decked with ear-rings set with
+brilliant gems, and gifted with melodious voice, used to pay him
+homage morning and evening. Alas, that Yudhishthira, who was daily
+waited upon by a thousand sages of ascetic merit, versed in the
+<i>Vedas</i> and having every desire gratified, as his
+courtiers,&mdash;that Yudhishthira who maintained eighty-eight
+thousands of domestic <i>Snatakas</i> with thirty maid-servants
+assigned unto each, as also ten thousand <i>yatis</i> not accepting
+anything in gift and with vital seed drawn up,&mdash;alas, even
+that mighty king now liveth in such guise. That Yudhishthira who is
+without malice, who is full of kindness, and who giveth every
+creature his due, who hath all these excellent attributes,
+alas&mdash;even he now liveth in such guise. Possessed of firmness
+and unbaffled prowess, with heart disposed to give every creature
+his due, king Yudhishthira, moved by compassion, constantly
+maintained in his kingdom the blind, the old, the helpless, the
+parentless and all others in his dominions in such distress. Alas,
+that Yudhishthira becoming a dependant and a servant of Matsya, a
+caster of dice in his court, now calls himself Kanka. He unto whom
+while residing at Indraprastha, all the rulers of earth used to pay
+timely tribute,&mdash;alas, even he now begs for subsistence at
+another's hands. He to whom the kings of the earth were in
+subjection,&mdash;alas, even that king having lost his liberty,
+liveth in subjection to others. Having dazzled the entire earth
+like the sun by his energy, that Yudhishthira, alas, is now a
+courtier of king Virata. O Pandu's son, that Pandava who was
+respectfully waited upon in court by kings and sages, behold him
+now waiting upon another. Alas, beholding Yudhishthira a courtier
+sitting beside another and breathing adulatory speeches to the
+other, who can help being afflicted with grief? And beholding the
+highly wise and virtuous Yudhishthira, undeserving as he is of
+serving others, actually serving another for sustenance, who can
+help being afflicted with grief? And, O hero, that Bharata who was
+worshipped in court by the entire earth, do thou now behold him
+worshipping another. Why then, O Bharata, dost thou not regard me
+as one afflicted with diverse miseries, like one forlorn and
+immersed in a sea of sorrow?'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XIX</h2>
+<p>"Draupadi said, 'This O Bharata, that I am going to tell thee is
+another great grief of mine. Thou shouldst not blame me, for I tell
+thee this from sadness of heart. Who is there whose grief is not
+enhanced at sight of thee, O bull of the Bharata race, engaged in
+the ignoble office of a cook, so entirely beneath thee and calling
+thyself as one <i>of Vallava</i> caste? What can be sadder than
+this, that people should know thee as Virata's cook, Vallava by
+name, and therefore one that is sunk in servitude? Alas, when thy
+work of the kitchen is over, thou humbly sittest beside Virata,
+calling thyself as Vallava the cook, then despondency seizeth my
+heart. When the king of kings in joy maketh thee fight with
+elephants, and the women of the inner apartments (of the palace)
+laugh all the while, then I am sorely distressed. When thou
+fightest in the inner apartments with lions, tigers, and buffaloes,
+the princess Kaikeyi looking on, then I almost swoon away. And when
+Kaikeyi and those maidservants, leaving their seats, come to assist
+me and find that instead of suffering any injury in limbs mine is
+only a swoon, the princess speaks unto her women, saying, 'Surely,
+it is from affection and the duty begot of intercourse that this
+lady of sweet smiles grieveth for the exceedingly powerful cook
+when he fights with the beasts. Sairindhri is possessed of great
+beauty and Vallava also is eminently handsome. The heart of woman
+is hard to know, and they, I fancy, are deserving of each other. It
+is, therefore, likely that the Sairindhri invariably weepeth (at
+such times) on account of her connection with her lover. And then,
+they both have entered this royal family at the same time. And
+speaking such words she always upbraideth me. And beholding me
+wroth at this, she suspects me to be attached to thee.' When she
+speaketh thus, great is the grief that I feel. Indeed, on beholding
+thee, O Bhima of terrible prowess, afflicted with such calamity,
+sunk as I already am in grief on account of Yudhishthira, I do not
+desire to live. That youth who on a single car had vanquished all
+celestials and men, is now, alas, the dancing master of king
+Virata's daughter. That Pritha's son of immeasurable soul, who had
+gratified Agni in the forest of Khandava, is now living in the
+inner apartments (of a palace) like fire hid in a well. Alas, the
+bull among men, Dhananjaya, who was ever the terror of foes, is now
+living in a guise that is despaired by all. Alas, he whose
+mace-like arms have been cicatrized in consequence of the strokes
+of his bow-string, alas that Dhananjaya is passing the days in
+grief covering his wrists with bracelets of conchs. Alas, that
+Dhananjaya the twang of whose bow-string and the sound of whose
+leathern fences made every foe tremble, now entertains only
+gladdened women with his songs. Oh, that Dhananjaya whose head was
+formerly decked with a diadem of solar splendour, is now wearing
+braids ending in unsightly curls. O Bhima, beholding that terrible
+bowman, Arjuna, now wearing braids and in the midst of women, my
+heart is stricken with woe. That high-souled hero who is master of
+all the celestial weapons, and who is the repository of all the
+sciences, now weareth ear-rings (like one of the fair sex). That
+youth whom kings of incomparable prowess could not overpower in
+fight, even as the waters of the mighty ocean cannot overleap the
+continents, is now the dancing-master of king Virata's daughters
+and waits upon them in disguise. O Bhima, that Arjuna the clatter
+of whose car-wheels caused the entire earth with her mountains and
+forests, her mobile and immobile things to tremble, and whose birth
+dispelled all the sorrows of Kunti, that exalted hero, that younger
+brother of thine, O Bhimasena, now maketh me weep for him.
+Beholding him coming towards me, decked in golden ear-rings and
+other ornaments, and wearing on the wrists bracelets of conchs, my
+heart is afflicted with despondency. And Dhananjaya who hath not a
+bowman equal unto him on earth in prowess, now passeth his days in
+singing, surrounded by women. Beholding that son of Pritha who in
+virtue, heroism and truth, was the most admired in the world, now
+living in the guise of a woman, my heart is afflicted with sorrow.
+When I behold, the godlike Partha in the music-hall like an
+elephant with rent temples surrounded by she-elephants in the midst
+of females, waiting before Virata the king of the Matsyas, then I
+lose all sense of directions. Surely, my mother-in-law doth not
+know Dhananjaya to be afflicted with such extreme distress. Nor
+doth she know that descendant of the Kuru race, Ajatasatru,
+addicted to disastrous dice, to be sunk in misery. O Bharata,
+beholding the youngest of you all, Sahadeva, superintending the
+kine, in the guise of a cowherd, I grow pale. Always thinking of
+Sahadeva's plight, I cannot, O Bhimasena, obtain sleep,&mdash;what
+to speak you of the rest? I do not know, O mighty-armed one, what
+sin Sahadeva may have committed for which that hero of unbaffled
+prowess suffereth such misery. O foremost of the Bharatas,
+beholding that beloved brother of thine, that bull among men,
+employed by Matsya in looking after his kine, I am filled with woe.
+Seeing that hero of proud disposition gratifying Virata, by living
+at the head of his cowherds, attired in robes dyed in red, I am
+attacked with fever. My mother-in-law always applauds the heroic
+Sahadeva as one possessed of nobility, excellent behaviour, and
+rectitude of conduct. Ardently attached to her sons, the weeping
+Kunti stood, embracing Sahadeva while he was about to set out (with
+us) for the great forest. And she addressed me saying, "Sahadeva is
+bashful and sweet-speeched, and virtuous. He is also my favourite
+child. Therefore, O Yajnaseni, tend him in the forest day and
+night. Delicate and brave, devoted to the king, and always
+worshipping his elder brother, do thou, O Panchali, feed him
+thyself." O Pandava, beholding that foremost of warriors, Sahadeva,
+engaged in tending kine, and sleeping at night on calf-skins, how
+can I bear to live? He again who is crowned with the three
+attributes of beauty, arms, and intelligence, is now the
+superintendent of Virata's steeds. Behold the change brought on by
+time. Granthika (Nakula), at sight of whom hostile hosts fled from
+the field of battle, now traineth horses in the presence of the
+king, driving them with the speed. Alas, I now see that handsome
+youth wait upon the gorgeously decked and excellent Virata, the
+king of the Matsyas, and display horses before him. O son of
+Pritha, afflicted as I am with all these hundred kinds of misery on
+account of Yudhishthira, why dost thou, O chastiser of foes, yet
+deem me happy? Listen now to me, O son of Kunti, as I tell thee of
+other woes far surpassing these. What can be sadder to me than
+miseries so various as these should emaciate me while ye are
+alive.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XX</h2>
+<p>"Draupadi said, 'Alas, on account of that desperate gambler, I
+am now under Sudeshna's command, living in the palace in the guise
+of a <i>Sairindhri</i>. And, O chastiser of foes, behold the plight
+of poignant woe which I, a princess, am now in. I am living in
+expectation of the close of this stated period.<a id=
+"footnotetag14" name="footnotetag14"></a><a href=
+"#footnote14"><sup>14</sup></a> The extreme of misery, therefore,
+is mine. Success of purpose, victory, and defeat, as regards
+mortals, are transitory. It is in this belief that I am living in
+expectation of the return of prosperity to my husbands. Prosperity
+and adversity revolve like a wheel. It is in this belief that I am
+living in expectation of the return of prosperity to my husbands.
+That cause which bringeth on victory, may bring defeat as well. I
+live in this hope. Why dost thou not, O Bhimasena, regard me as one
+dead? I have heard that persons that give may beg: that they who
+slay may be slain; and that they who over-throw others may
+themselves be overthrown by foes. Nothing is difficult for Destiny
+and none can over-ride Destiny. It is for this that I am awaiting
+the return of favourable fortune. As a tank once dried, is filled
+up once again, so hoping for a change for the better, I await the
+return of prosperity. When one's business that hath been
+well-provided for is seen to be frustrated, a truly wise person
+should never strive for bringing back good fortune. Plunged as I am
+an sorrow, asked or unasked by thee to explain the purpose of these
+words spoken by me, I shall tell thee everything. Queen of the sons
+of Pandu and daughter of Drupada, who else, save myself, would wish
+to live, having fallen into such a plight? O represser of foes, the
+misery, therefore, that hath overtaken me, hath really humiliated
+the entire <i>Kuru</i> race, the Panchalas, and the sons of Pandu.
+Surrounded by numerous brothers and father-in-law and sons, what
+other woman having such cause for joy, save myself, would be
+afflicted with such woe? Surely, I must, in my childhood, have
+committed act highly offensive to <i>Dhatri</i> through whose
+displeasure, O bull of the Bharata race, I have been visited with
+such consequences. Mark, O son of Pandu, the pallour that hath come
+over my complexion which not even a life in the woods fraught as it
+was with extreme misery, could bring about. Thou, O Pritha's son,
+knowest what happiness, O Bhima, was formerly mine. Even I, who was
+such have now sunk into servitude. Sorely distressed, I can find no
+rest. That the mighty-armed and terrible bowman, Dhananjaya the son
+of Pritha, should now live like a fire that hath been put out,
+maketh me think of all this as attributable to Destiny. Surely, O
+son of Pritha, it is impossible for men to understand the destinies
+of creatures (in this world). I, therefore, think this downfall of
+yours as something that could not be averted by forethought. Alas,
+she who hath you all, that resemble Indra himself to attend to her
+comforts&mdash;even she, so chaste and exalted, hath now to attend
+to the comforts of others, that are to her far inferior in rank.
+Behold, O Pandava, my plight. It is what I do not deserve. You are
+alive, yet behold this inversion of order that time hath brought.
+She who had the whole Earth to the verge of the sea under her
+control, is now under the control of Sudeshna and living in fear of
+her. She who had dependants to walk both before and behind her,
+alas, now herself walketh before and behind Sudeshna. This, O
+Kaunteya, is another grief of mine that is intolerable. O, listen
+to it. She who had never, save for Kunti, pounded unguents even for
+her own use, now, good betide thee, poundeth sandal (for others). O
+Kaunteya, behold these hands of mine which were not so before.'
+Saying this she showed him her hands marked with corns. And she
+continued, 'she who had never feared Kunti herself nor thee and thy
+brothers, now standeth in fear before Virata as a slave, anxious of
+what that king of kings may say unto her regarding the proper
+preparation of the unguents, for Matsya liketh not sandal pounded
+by others.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Relating her woes thus, O Bharata, unto
+Bhimasena, Krishna began to weep silently, casting her eyes on
+Bhima. And then, with words choked in tears, and sighing
+repeatedly, she addressed Bhima in these words, powerfully stirring
+his heart, 'Signal, O Bhima, must have been my offence of old unto
+the gods, for, unfortunate as I am. I am yet alive, when, O
+Pandava, I should die.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then that slayer of hostile heroes,
+Vrikodara, covering his face with those delicate hands of his wife
+marked with corns, began to weep. And that mighty son of Kunti,
+holding the hands of Draupadi in his, shed copious tears. And
+afflicted with great woe, he spoke these words."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXI</h2>
+<p>"Bhima said, 'Fie on the might of my arms and fie on the
+<i>Gandiva</i> of Phalguna, inasmuch as thy hands, red before, now
+become covered with corns. I would have caused a carnage in
+Virata's court but for the fact that Kunti's son eyed me (by way of
+forbidding it), or like a mighty elephant, I would, without ado,
+have crushed the head of Kichaka intoxicated with the pride of
+sovereignty. When, O Krishna, I beheld thee kicked by Kichaka, I
+conceived at that instant a wholesale slaughter of the Matsyas.
+Yudhishthira, however, forbade me by a glance, and, O beauteous
+lady, understanding his intention I have kept quiet. That we have
+been deprived of our kingdom, that I have not yet slain the Kurus,
+that I have not yet taken the heads of Suyodhana and Karna, and
+Suvala's son Sakuni, and the wicked Duhsasana, these acts and
+omissions, O lady, are consuming every limb of mine. The thought of
+those abides in my heart like a javelin implanted in it. O thou of
+graceful hips, do not sacrifice virtue, and, O noble-hearted lady,
+subdue thy wrath. If king Yudhishthira hear from thee such rebukes,
+he will surely put an end to his life. If also Dhananjaya and the
+twins hear thee speak thus, even they will renounce life. And if
+these, O slender-waisted maiden, give up life, I also shall not be
+able to bear my own. In olden days Sarjati's daughter, the
+beautiful Sukanya, followed into the forest Chyavana of Bhrigu's
+race, whose mind was under complete control, and over whom, while
+engaged in ascetic meditation, the ants had built a hill. Thou
+mayst have heard that Indrasena also who in beauty was like unto
+<i>Narayani</i> herself, followed her husband aged a thousand
+years. Thou mayst have heard that Janaka's daughter Sita, the
+princess of Videha, followed her lord while living in dense woods.
+And that lady of graceful hips, Rama's beloved wife, afflicted with
+calamities and persecuted by the Rakshasas, at length regained the
+company of Rama. Lopamudra also, O timid one, endued with youth and
+beauty, followed Agastya, renouncing all the objects of enjoyment
+unattainable by men. And the intelligent and faultless Savitri also
+followed the heroic Satyavan, the son of Dyumatsena, alone into the
+world of Yama. Even like these chaste and beautiful ladies that I
+have named, thou, O blessed girl, bloomest with every virtue. Do
+thou spend a short while more that is measured by even a half
+month. And when the thirteenth year is complete, thou wilt (again)
+become the Queen regnant of a king.' Hearing these words, Draupadi
+said, 'Unable, O Bhima, to bear my griefs, it is from grief alone
+that I have shed these tears. I do not censure Yudhishthira. Nor is
+there any use in dwelling on the past. O Bhima of mighty strength,
+come quickly forward to the work of the hour. O Bhima, Kaikeyi,
+jealous of my beauty, always pains me by her endeavours to prevent
+the king from taking a fancy to me. And understanding this
+disposition of hers, the wicked-souled Kichaka of immoral ways
+constantly solicits me himself. Angry with him for this, but then
+suppressing my wrath I answer that wretch deprived of sense by
+lust, saying, "O Kichaka, protect thyself. I am the beloved queen
+and wife of five Gandharvas. Those heroes in wrath will slay thee
+that art so rash." Thus addressed, Kichaka of wicked soul replied
+unto me, saying, "I have not the least fear of the Gandharvas, O
+Sairindhri of sweet smiles. I will slay hundred thousand
+Gandharvas, encountering them in battle. Therefore, O timid one, do
+thou consent." Hearing all this, I again addressed the
+lust-afflicted Suta, saying, "Thou art no match for those
+illustrious Gandharvas. Of respectable percentage and good
+disposition, I ever adhere to virtue and never wish for the death
+of any one. It is for this that thou I vest, O Kichaka!" At this,
+that wight of wicked soul burst out into a loud laughter. And it
+came to pass that Kaikeyi previously urged by Kichaka, and moved by
+affection for her brother, and desirous of doing him a good turn,
+despatched me to him, saying "Do thou, O Sairindhri, fetch wine
+from Kichaka's quarters!" On beholding me the Suta's son at first
+addressed me in sweet words, and when that failed, he became
+exceedingly enraged, and intended to use violence. Understanding
+the purpose of the wicked Kichaka, I speedily rushed towards the
+place where the king was. Felling me on the ground the wretch then
+kicked me in the very presence of the king himself and before the
+eyes of Kanka and many others, including charioteers, and royal
+favourites, and elephant-riders, and citizens. I rebuked the king
+and Kanka again and again. The king, however, neither prevented
+Kichaka, nor inflicted any chastisement on him. The principal ally
+of king Virata in war, the cruel Kichaka reft of virtue is loved by
+both the king and the queen. O exalted one, brave, proud, sinful,
+adulterous, and engrossed in all objects of enjoyment, he earneth
+immense wealth (from the king), and robs the possessions of others
+even if they cry in distress. And he never walketh in the path of
+virtue, nor doth he any virtuous act. Of wicked soul, and vicious
+disposition, haughty and villainous, and always afflicted by the
+shafts of Kama, though repulsed repeatedly, if he sees me again, he
+will outrage me. I shall then surely renounce my life. Although
+striving to acquire virtue (on my death) your highly meritorious
+acts will come to naught. Ye that are now obeying your pledge, ye
+will lose your wife. By protecting one's wife one's offspring are
+protected, and by protecting one's offspring, one's own self is
+protected. And it is because one begets one's own self in one's
+wife that the wife is called <i>Jaya</i><a id="footnotetag15" name=
+"footnotetag15"></a><a href="#footnote15"><sup>15</sup></a> by the
+wise. The husband also should be protected by the wife,
+thinking,&mdash;<i>How else will he take his birth in my
+womb</i>?&mdash;I have heard it from Brahmanas expounding the
+duties of the several orders that a Kshatriya hath no other duty
+than subduing enemies. Alas, Kichaka kicked me in the very presence
+of Yudhishthira the Just, and also of thyself, O Bhimasena of
+mighty strength. It was thou, O Bhima, that didst deliver me from
+the terrible Jatasura. It was thou also that with thy brothers
+didst vanquish Jayadratha. Do thou now slay this wretch also who
+hath insulted me. Presuming upon his being a favourite of the king,
+Kichaka, O Bharata, hath enhanced my woe. Do thou, therefore, smash
+this lustful wight even like an earthen pot dashed upon a stone.
+If, O Bharata, tomorrow's sun sheds his rays upon him who is the
+source of many griefs of mine, I shall, surely, mixing poison (with
+some drink), drink it up,&mdash;for I never shall yield to Kichaka.
+Far better it were, O Bhima, that I should die before thee.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, Krishna, hiding her
+face in Bhima's breast began to weep. And Bhima, embracing her,
+consoled her to the best of his power. And having abundantly
+consoled that slender-waisted daughter of Drupada by means of words
+fraught with grave reason and sense, he wiped with his hands her
+face flooded with tears. And thinking of Kichaka and licking with
+his tongue the corners of his mouth, Bhima, filled with wrath thus
+spake to that distressed lady."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXII</h2>
+<p>"Bhima said, 'I will, O timid one, do even as thou sayest. I
+will presently slay Kichaka with all his friends. O Yajnaseni of
+sweet smiles, tomorrow evening, renouncing sorrow and grief, manage
+to have a meeting with Kichaka. The dancing-hall that the king of
+the Matsya hath caused to be erected is used by the girls for
+dancing during the day. They repair, however, to their homes at
+night. There in that hall, is an excellent and well-placed wooden
+bed-stead. Even there I will make him see the spirits of his
+deceased grandsires. But, O beautiful one, when thou holdest
+converse with him, thou must manage it so that others may not espy
+thee.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having thus conversed with others, and
+shed tears in grief, they waited for the dawn of that night with
+painful impatience. And when the night had passed away, Kichaka,
+rising in the morning, went to the palace, and accosted Draupadi
+saying, 'Throwing thee down in the court I kicked thee in the
+presence of the king. Attacked by mighty self, thou couldst not
+obtain protection. This Virata is in name only the king of the
+Matsyas. Commanding the forces of this realm it is I, who am the
+real lord of the Matsyas. Do thou, O timid one, accept me
+cheerfully. I shall become thy slave. And, O thou of graceful hips,
+I will immediately give thee a hundred <i>nishkas</i>, and engage a
+hundred male and a hundred female servants (to tend thee), and will
+also bestow on thee cars yoked with she-mules. O timid lady, let
+our union take place.' Draupadi replied, 'O Kichaka, know even this
+is my condition. Neither thy friends nor thy brothers should know
+thy union with me. I am a terror of detection by those illustrious
+Gandharvas. Promise me this, and I yield to thee.' Hearing this
+Kichaka said, 'I will, O thou of graceful hips, do even as thou
+sayest. Afflicted by the god of love, I will, O beauteous damsel,
+alone repair to thy abode for union with thee, O thou of thighs
+round and tapering like the trunks of the plantain,&mdash;so that
+those Gandharvas, effulgent as the sun, may not come to know of
+this act of thine.' Draupadi said, 'Do thou, when it is dark, go to
+the dancing-hall erected by the king of the Matsyas where the girls
+dance during the day, repairing to their respective homes at night.
+The Gandharvas do not know that place. We shall then without doubt,
+escape all censure.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Reflecting on the subject of her
+conversation with Kichaka, that half a day seemed to Krishna as
+long as a whole month. And the stupid Kichaka also, not knowing
+that it was Death that had assumed the form of a <i>Sairindhri</i>,
+returning home experienced the greatest delight. And deprived of
+sense by lust, Kichaka became speedily engaged in embellishing his
+person with unguents and garlands and ornaments. And while he was
+doing all this, thinking of that damsel of large eyes, the day
+seemed to him to be without an end. And the beauty of Kichaka, who
+was about to forsake his beauty for ever, seemed to heighten, like
+the wick of a burning lamp about to expire. And reposing the
+fullest confidence in Draupadi, Kichaka, deprived of his senses by
+lust and absorbed in the contemplation of expected meeting, did not
+even perceive that the day had departed. Meanwhile, the beautiful
+Draupadi approaching her husband Bhima of the Kuru race, stood
+before him in the kitchen. And that lady with tresses ending in
+beautiful curls then spake unto him, saying, 'O chastiser of foes,
+even as thou hadst directed, I have given Kichaka to understand
+that our meeting will take place in the dancing-hall. Alone will he
+come at night to the empty hall. Slay him there, O thou of mighty
+arms. Do thou, O son of Kunti, repair to that dancing-hall, and
+take the life, O Pandava, of Kichaka, that son of a <i>Suta</i>
+intoxicated with vanity. From vanity alone, that son of a
+<i>Suta</i> slights the Gandharvas. O best of smiters, lift him up
+from the earth even as Krishna had lifted up the <i>Naga</i>
+(Kaliya) from the Yamuna. O Pandava, afflicted as I am with grief,
+wipe thou my tears, and blessed be thou, protect thy own honour and
+that of thy race.'</p>
+<p>"Bhima said, 'Welcome, O beauteous lady. Except the glad tidings
+thou bringest me, I need, O thou of exceeding beauty, no other aid
+whatever. The delight that I feel, O thou of great beauty, on
+hearing from thee about my coming encounter with Kichaka, is equal
+to what I felt in slaying Hidimva. I swear unto thee by Truth, by
+my brothers, and by morality, that I will slay Kichaka even as the
+lord of the celestials slew Vritra. Whether secretly or openly, I
+will crush Kichaka, and if the Matsyas fight for him, then I will
+slay them too. And slaying Duryodhana afterwards, I shall win back
+the earth. Let Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, continue to pay
+homage unto the king of Matsya.' Hearing these words of Bhima,
+Draupadi said, 'In order that, O lord, thou mayst not have to
+renounce the truth already pledged to me, do thou, O hero, slay
+Kichaka in secret.' Bhima assuring her said, 'Even today I shall
+slay Kichaka together with his friends unknown to others during the
+darkness of the night. I shall, O faultless lady, crush, even as an
+elephant crusheth a <i>vela</i> fruit,<a id="footnotetag16" name=
+"footnotetag16"></a><a href="#footnote16"><sup>16</sup></a> the
+head of the wicked Kichaka who wisheth for what is unattainable by
+him!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Repairing first to the place of
+assignation at night, Bhima sat down, disguising himself. And he
+waited there in expectation of Kichaka, like a lion lying in wait
+for a deer. And Kichaka, having embellished his person as he chose,
+came to the dancing-hall at the appointed time in the hope of
+meeting Panchali. And thinking of the assignation, he entered the
+chamber. And having entered that hall enveloped in deep gloom, that
+wretch of wicked soul came upon Bhima of incomparable prowess, who
+had come a little before and who was waiting in a corner. And as an
+insect approacheth towards a flaming fire, or a puny animal towards
+a lion, Kichaka approached Bhima, lying down in a bed and burning
+in anger at the thought of the insult offered to Krishna, as if he
+were the Suta's Death. And having approached Bhima, Kichaka
+possessed by lust, and his heart and soul filled with ecstacy
+smilingly said, 'O thou of pencilled eye-brows, to thee I have
+already given many and various kinds of wealth from the stores
+earned by me, as well as hundred maids and many fine robes, and
+also a mansion with an inner apartment adorned with beauteous and
+lovely and youthful maid servants and embellished by every kind of
+sports and amusements. And having set all those apart for thee, I
+have speedily come hither. And all on a sudden, women have begun to
+praise me, saying, <i>There is not in this world any other person
+like unto thee in beauty and dress</i>!' Hearing this, Bhima said,
+'It is well that thou art handsome, and it is well thou praisest
+thyself. I think, however, that thou hadst never before this such
+pleasurable touch! Thou hast an acute touch, and knowest the ways
+of gallantry. Skilled in the art of love-making, thou art a
+favourite with women. There is none like thee in this world!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, that son of Kunti, the
+mighty-armed Bhima of terrible prowess, suddenly rose up, and
+laughingly said, 'Thy sister, O wretch, shall today behold thee
+dragged by me to the ground, like a mighty elephant, huge as a
+mountain, dragged to the ground by a lion. Thyself slain
+<i>Sairindhri</i> will live in peace, and we, her husbands, will
+also live in peace.' Saying this, the mighty Bhima seized Kichaka
+by the hairs of his head, which were adorned with garlands. And
+thus seized with force by the hair, that foremost of mighty
+persons, Kichaka, quickly freed his hair and grasped the arms of
+Bhima. And then between those lions among men, fired with wrath,
+between that chief of the Kichaka clan, and that best of men, there
+ensued a hand-to-hand encounter, like that between two powerful
+elephants for a female elephant in the season of spring, or like
+that which happened in days of yore between those lions among
+monkeys, the brothers Vali and Sugriva. And both equally infuriate
+and both eager for victory, both those combatants raised their arms
+resembling snakes furnished with five hoods, and attacked each
+other with their nails and teeth, wrought up to frenzy of wrath.
+Impetuously assailed by the powerful Kichaka in that encounter, the
+resolute Bhima did not waver a single step. And locked in each
+other's embraces and dragging each other, they fought on like two
+mighty bulls. And having nails and teeth for their weapons, the
+encounter between them was fierce and terrible like that of two
+furious tigers. And felling each other in fury, they encountered
+each other like a couple of elephants with rent temples. And the
+mighty Bhima then seized Kichaka, and Kichaka, that foremost of
+strong persons threw Bhima down with violence. And as those mighty
+combatants fought on, the crash of their arms produced a loud noise
+that resembled the clatter of splitting bamboos. Then Vrikodara
+throwing Kichaka down by main force within the room, began to toss
+him about furiously even as a hurricane tosseth a tree. And
+attacked thus in battle by the powerful Bhima, Kichaka grew weak
+and began to tremble. For all that, however, he tugged at the
+Pandava to the best of his power. And attacking Bhima, and making
+him wave a little, the mighty Kichaka struck him with his knees and
+brought him down to the ground. And overthrown by the powerful
+Kichaka, Bhima quickly rose up like Yama himself with mace in hand.
+And thus that powerful <i>Suta</i> and the Pandava, intoxicated
+with strength and challenging each other, grappled with each other
+at midnight in that solitary place. And as they roared at each
+other in wrath, that excellent and strong edifice began to shake
+every moment. And slapped on the chest by the mighty Bhima, Kichaka
+fired with wrath moved not a single pace. And bearing for a moment
+only that onslaught incapable of being born on earth, the
+<i>Suta</i>, overpowered by Bhima's might, became enfeebled. And
+seeing him waning weak, Bhima endued with great strength forcibly
+drew Kichaka towards his breast, and began to press hard. And
+breathing hard again and again in wrath, that best of victors,
+Vrikodara, forcibly seized Kichaka by the hair. And having seized
+Kichaka, the mighty Bhima began to roar like a hungry tiger that
+hath killed a large animal. And finding him exceedingly exhausted,
+Vrikodara bound him fast with his arms, as one binds a beast with a
+cord. And then Bhima began for a long while, to whirl the senseless
+Kichaka, who began to roar frightfully like a broken trumpet.<a id=
+"footnotetag17" name="footnotetag17"></a><a href=
+"#footnote17"><sup>17</sup></a> And in order to pacify Krishna's
+wrath Vrikodara grasped Kichaka's throat with his arms and began to
+squeeze it. And assailing with his knees the waist of that worst of
+the Kichakas, all the limbs of whose body had been broken into
+fragments and whose eye-lids were closed, Vrikodara slew him, as
+one would slay a beast. And beholding Kichaka entirely motionless,
+the son of Pandu began to roll him about on the ground. And Bhima
+then said, 'Slaying this wretch who intended to violate our
+wife,&mdash;this thorn in the side of <i>Sairindhri</i>, I am freed
+from the debt I owed to my brothers, and have attained perfect
+peace.' And having said this, that foremost of men, with eyes red
+in wrath, relinquished his hold of Kichaka, whose dress and
+ornaments had been thrown off his person, whose eyes were rolling,
+and whose body was yet trembling. And that foremost of mighty
+persons, squeezing his own hands, and biting his lips in rage,
+again attacked his adversary and thrust his arms and legs and neck
+and head into his body like the wielder of the <i>Pinaka</i>
+reducing into shapeless mass the deer, which form sacrifice had
+assumed in order to escape his ire. And having crushed all his
+limbs, and reduced him into a ball of flesh, the mighty Bhimasena
+showed him unto Krishna. And endued with mighty energy that hero
+then addressed Draupadi, that foremost of all women, saying, 'Come
+princess of Panchala, and see what hath become of that lustful
+wretch!' And saying this, Bhima of terrible prowess began to press
+with his feet the body of that wicked wight. And lighting a torch
+then and showing Draupadi the body of Kichaka, that hero addressed
+her, saying, 'O thou of tresses ending in beautiful curls, those
+that solicit thee, endued as thou art with an excellent disposition
+and every virtue, will be slain by me even as this Kichaka hath
+been, O timid one.' And having accomplished that difficult task so
+highly agreeable to Krishna&mdash;having indeed slain Kichaka and
+thereby pacified his wrath, Bhima bade farewell to Krishna, the
+daughter of Drupada, and quickly went back to the kitchen. And
+Draupadi also, that best of women, having caused Kichaka to be
+slain had her grief removed and experienced the greatest delight.
+And addressing the keepers of the dancing-hall, she said, 'Come ye
+and behold Kichaka who had violated after other people's wives
+lieth down here, slain by my Gandharva husbands.' And hearing these
+words the guards of the dancing hall soon came by thousands to that
+spot, torches in hand. And repairing to that room, they beheld the
+lifeless Kichaka thrown on the ground, drenched with blood. And
+beholding him without arms and legs, they were filled with grief.
+And as they gazed at Kichaka, they were struck with amazement. And
+seeing that superhuman act, viz., the overthrow of Kichaka, they
+said, 'Where is his neck, and where are his legs?' And beholding
+him in this plight they all concluded that he had been killed by a
+Gandharva."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then all the relatives of Kichaka, arriving
+at that place, beheld him there and began to wail aloud,
+surrounding him on all sides. And beholding Kichaka with every limb
+mangled, and lying like a tortoise dragged to dry ground from the
+water, all of them were overcome with exceeding fright, and the
+bristles of their bodies stood on end. And seeing him crushed all
+over by Bhima, like a Danava by Indra, they proceeded to take him
+outside, for performing his funeral obsequies. And then those
+persons of the <i>Suta</i> clan thus assembled together espied
+Krishna of faultless limbs hard by, who stood reclining on a
+pillar. And all the Kichakas assembled there, exclaimed, 'Let this
+unchaste woman be slain for whom Kichaka hath himself lost his
+life. Or, without slaying her here, let us cremate her with him
+that had lusted after her,&mdash;for it behoveth us to accomplish
+in every way what is agreeable to that deceased son of
+<i>Suta</i>.' And then they addressed Virata, saying, 'It is for
+her sake that Kichaka hath lost his life. Let him, therefore, be
+cremated along with her. It behoveth thee to grant this
+permission.' Thus addressed by them, king Virata, O monarch,
+knowing fully well the prowess of the <i>Suta</i> gave his assent
+to <i>Sairindhri</i> being burnt along with the <i>Suta's</i> son.
+And at this, the Kichakas approaching the frightened and stupefied
+Krishna of lotus-like eyes, seized her with violence. And binding
+that damsel of slender waist and placing her upon the bier, they
+set out with great energy towards the cemetery. And, O king, while
+thus forcibly carried towards the cemetery by those sons of the
+<i>Suta</i> tribe, the blameless and chaste Krishna living under
+the protections of her lords, then wailed aloud for the help of her
+husbands, saying, 'Oh, let Jaya, and Jayanta, and Vijaya and
+Jayatsena, and Jayadvala listen to my words. The <i>Sutas</i> are
+taking me away. Let those illustrious Gandharvas endued with speed
+of hand, the clatter of whose cars is loud and the twang of whose
+bowstrings in the midst of the mighty conflict are heard like the
+roar of thunder, listen to my words,&mdash;the <i>Sutas</i> are
+taking me away!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing those sorrowful words and
+lamentations of Krishna, Bhima, without a moment's reflection
+started up from his bed and said, 'I have heard, O
+<i>Sairindhri</i> the words thou hast spoken. Thou hast, therefore,
+O timid lady, no more fear at the hands of the <i>Sutas.</i>'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, the mighty-armed
+Bhima desirous of slaying the Kichakas, began to swell his body.
+And carefully changing his attire, he went out of the palace by a
+wrong egress. And climbing over a wall by the aid of a tree, he
+proceeded towards the cemetery whither the Kichakas had gone. And
+having leapt over the wall, and gone out of the excellent city,
+Bhima impetuously rushed to where the <i>Sutas</i> were. And, O
+monarch, proceeding towards the funeral pyre he beheld a large
+tree, tall as palmyra-palm, with gigantic shoulders and withered
+top. And that slayer of foes grasping with his arms that tree
+measuring ten <i>Vyamas</i>, uprooted it, even like an elephant,
+and placed it upon his shoulders. And taking up that tree with
+trunk and branches and measuring ten <i>Vyamas</i>, that mighty
+hero rushed towards the <i>Sutas</i>, like Yama himself, mace in
+hand. And by the impetus of his rush<a id="footnotetag18" name=
+"footnotetag18"></a><a href="#footnote18"><sup>18</sup></a> banians
+and peepals and <i>Kinsukas</i> falling down on the earth lay in
+clusters. And beholding that Gandharva approach them like a lion in
+fury, all the <i>Sutas</i> trembling with fear and greatly
+distressed, became panic-struck. And they addressed each other,
+saying, 'Lo, the powerful Gandharva cometh hither, filled with
+rage, and with an upraised tree in hand. Let <i>Sairindhri</i>,
+therefore, from whom this danger of ours hath arisen, be set free.'
+And beholding the tree that had been uprooted by Bhimasena, they
+set Draupadi free and ran breathlessly towards the city. And seeing
+them run away, Bhima, that mighty son of the Wind-god, despatched,
+O foremost of kings, by means of that tree, a hundred and five of
+them unto the abode of Yama, like the wielder of the thunderbolt
+slaying the Danavas. And setting Draupadi free from her bonds, he
+then, O king, comforted her. And that mighty-armed and
+irrepressible Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, then addressed the
+distressed princess of Panchala with face bathed in tears, saying,
+'Thus, O timid one, are they slain that wrong thee without cause.
+Return, O Krishna, to the city. Thou hast no longer any fear; I
+myself will go to the Virata's kitchen by another route.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "It was thus, O Bharata, that a hundred
+and five of those Kichakas were slain. And their corpses lay on the
+ground, making the place look like a great forest overspread with
+uprooted trees after a hurricane. Thus fell those hundred and five
+Kichakas. And including Virata's general slain before, the
+slaughtered Sutas numbered one hundred and six. And beholding that
+exceedingly wonderful feat, men and women that assembled together,
+were filled with astonishment. And the power of speech, O Bharata,
+was suspended in every one."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXIV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "And beholding the Sutas slain, the citizens
+went to the king, and represented unto him what had happened,
+saying, 'O king, those mighty sons of the Sutas have all been slain
+by the Gandharvas. Indeed, they lie scattered on the earth like
+huge peaks of mountains riven by thunder. <i>Sairindhri</i> also,
+having been set free, returneth to thy palace in the city. Alas, O
+king, if <i>Sairindhri</i> cometh, thy entire kingdom will be
+endangered. <i>Sairindhri</i> is endued with great beauty; the
+Gandharvas also are exceedingly powerful. Men again, without doubt,
+are naturally sexual. Devise, therefore, O king, without delay,
+such means that in consequence of wrongs done to <i>Sairindhri</i>,
+thy kingdom may not meet with destruction.' Hearing those words of
+theirs, Virata, that lord of hosts, said unto them, 'Do ye perform
+the last rites of the Sutas. Let all the Kichakas be burnt, in one
+blazing pyre with gems and fragrant unguents in profusion.' And
+filled with fear, the king then addressed his queen Sudeshna,
+saying, 'When <i>Sairindhri</i> comes back, do thou tell her these
+words from me, "Blessed be thou, O fair-faced <i>Sairindhri</i>. Go
+thou whithersoever thou likest. The king hath been alarmed, O thou
+of graceful hips, at the defeat already experienced at the hands of
+the Gandharvas. Protected as thou art by the Gandharvas, I dare not
+personally say all this to thee. A woman, however, cannot offend,
+and it is for this that I tell thee all this through a
+woman."'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus delivered by Bhimasena after the
+slaughter of the Sutas, the intelligent and youthful Krishna
+relieved from all her fears, washed her limbs and clothes in water,
+and proceeded towards the city, like a doe frightened by a tiger.
+And beholding her, the citizens, O king, afflicted with the fear of
+the Gandharvas fled in all directions. And some of them went so far
+as to shut their eyes. And then, O king, at the gate of the
+kitchen, the princess of Panchala saw Bhimasena staying, like an
+infuriate elephant of gigantic proportions. And looking upon him
+with wonder-expanded eyes, Draupadi, by means of words intelligible
+to them alone, said, 'I bow unto that prince of the Gandharvas, who
+hath rescued me.' At these words of her, Bhima said, 'Hearing these
+words of hers in obedience to whom those persons were hitherto
+living in the city, they will henceforth range here, regarding
+themselves as freed from the debt.'"<a id="footnotetag19" name=
+"footnotetag19"></a><a href="#footnote19"><sup>19</sup></a></p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then she beheld the mighty-armed
+Dhananjaya, in the dancing-hall instructing king Virata's daughters
+in dancing. And issuing with Arjuna from the dancing-hall, all
+those damsels came to Krishna who had arrived there, and who had
+been persecuted so sorely, all innocent though she was. And they
+said, 'By good luck also it is, O <i>Sairindhri</i>, that thou hast
+been delivered from thy dangers. By good luck it is that thou hast
+returned safe. And by good luck also it is that those Sutas have
+been slain that had wronged thee, innocent though thou art.'
+Hearing this, Vrihannala said, 'How hast thou, O <i>Sairindhri</i>,
+been delivered? And how have those sinful wretches been slain? I
+wish to learn all this from thee exactly as it occurred.'
+<i>Sairindhri</i> replied, 'O blessed Vrihannala, always passing
+thy days happily in the apartments of the girls, what concern hast
+thou with <i>Sairindhri's</i> fate to say? Thou hast no grief to
+bear that <i>Sairindhri</i> hath to bear! It is for this, that thou
+askest me thus, distressed as I am in ridicule.' Thereat Vrihannala
+said, 'O blessed one, Vrihannala also hath unparalleled sorrows of
+her own. She hath become as low as a brute. Thou dost not, O girl,
+understand this. I have lived with thee, and thou too hast lived
+with us. When, therefore, thou art afflicted with misery, who is it
+that will not, O thou of beautiful hips, feel it? But no one can
+completely read another's heart. Therefore it is, O amiable one,
+that thou knowest not my heart!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then Draupadi, accompanied by those
+girls entered the royal abode, desirous of appearing before
+Sudeshna. And when she came before the queen, Virata's wife
+addressed her at the command of the king, saying, 'Do thou, O
+<i>Sairindhri</i>, speedily go whithersoever thou likest. The king,
+good betide thee, hath been filled with fear at this discomfiture
+at the hands of the Gandharvas. Thou art, O thou of graceful
+eye-brows, young and unparalleled on earth in beauty. Thou art,
+besides, an object of desire with men. The Gandharvas again, are
+exceedingly wrathful.' Thereat <i>Sairindhri</i> said, 'O beauteous
+lady, let the king suffer me to live here for only thirteen days
+more. Without doubt, the Gandharvas also will be highly obliged at
+this. They will then convey me hence and do what would be agreeable
+to Virata. Without doubt, the king, by doing this, with his
+friends, will reap great benefit.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "At the slaughter of Kichaka and brothers,
+people, O king, thinking of this terrible feat, were filled with
+surprise. And in the city and the provinces it was generally
+bruited about that for bravery the king's Vallava and Kichaka were
+both mighty warriors. The wicked Kichaka, however, had been an
+oppressor of men and a dishonourer of other people's wives. And it
+was for this that wicked of sinful soul had been slain by the
+Gandharvas. And it was thus, O king, that people began to speak,
+from province to province of the invincible Kichaka, that slayer of
+hostile ranks.</p>
+<p>"Meanwhile, the spies employed by Dhritarashtra's son, having
+searched various villages and towns and kingdoms and done all that
+they had been commanded to do and completed their examination, in
+the manner directed, of the countries indicated in their orders,
+returned to Nagarupa, gratified with at least one thing that they
+had learnt.<a id="footnotetag20" name="footnotetag20"></a><a href=
+"#footnote20"><sup>20</sup></a> And seeing Dhritarashtra's son king
+Duryodhana of the Kuru race seated in his court with Drona and
+Karna and Kripa, with the high-souled Bhishma, his own brothers,
+and those great warriors&mdash;the Trigartas, they addressed him,
+saying, 'O lord of men, great hath been the care always bestowed by
+us in the search after the sons of Pandu in that mighty forest.
+Searched have we through the solitary wilderness abounding with
+deer and other animals and overgrown with trees and creepers of
+diverse kind. Searched have we also in arbours of matted woods and
+plants and creepers of every species, but we have failed in
+discovering that track by which Pritha's son of irrepressible
+energy may have gone. Searched have we in these and other places
+for their foot-prints. Searched have we closely, O king, on
+mountain tops and in inaccessible fastnesses, in various kingdoms
+and provinces teeming with people, in encampments and cities. No
+trace have yet been found of the sons of Pandu. Good betide thee, O
+bull among men, it seems that they have perished without leaving a
+mark behind. O foremost of warriors, although we followed in the
+track of those warriors, yet, O best of men, we soon lost their
+footprints and do not know their present residence. O lord of men,
+for some time we followed in the wake of their charioteers. And
+making our inquiries duly, we truly ascertained what we desired to
+know. O slayer of foes, the charioteers reached Dwaravati without
+the sons of Pritha among them. O king, neither the sons of Pandu,
+nor the chaste Krishna, are in that city of Yadavas. O bull of the
+Bharata race, we have not been able to discover either their track
+or their present abode. Salutations to thee, they are gone for
+good. We are acquainted with the disposition of the sons of Pandu
+and know something of the feats achieved by them. It behoveth thee,
+therefore, O lord of men, to give us instructions, O monarch, as to
+what we should next do in the search after the sons of Pandu. O
+hero, listen also to these agreeable words of ours, promising great
+good to thee. King Matsya's commander, Kichaka of wicked soul, by
+whom the Trigartas, O monarch, were repeatedly vanquished and slain
+with mighty force, now lieth low on the ground with all his
+brothers, slain, O monarch, by invisible Gandharvas during the
+hours of darkness, O thou of unfading glory. Having heard this
+delightful news about the discomfiture of our enemies, we have been
+exceedingly gratified, O Kauravya. Do thou now ordain what should
+next be done.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXVI</h2>
+<h3>(<i>Go-harana Parva</i>)</h3>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having listened to these words of his spies,
+king Duryodhana reflected inwardly for some time and then addressed
+his courtiers, saying, 'It is difficult to ascertain the course of
+events definitely. Discern ye all, therefore, whither the sons of
+Pandu have gone, of this thirteenth year which they are to pass
+undiscovered by us all, the greater part hath already expired. What
+remains is by much the smaller. If, indeed, the sons of Pandu can
+pass undiscovered what remains of this year, devoted to the vow of
+truth as they are, they will then have fulfilled their pledge. They
+will then return like mighty elephants with temporal juice
+trickling down, or like snakes of virulent poison. Filled with
+wrath, they will, without doubt, be inflicters of terrible
+chastisement on the Kurus. It behoveth ye, therefore, to make such
+efforts without loss of time as may induce the sons of Pandu,
+acquainted as they are with the proprieties of time, and staying as
+they now are in painful disguise, to re-enter the woods suppressing
+their rage. Indeed, adopt ye such means as may remove all causes of
+quarrel and anxiety from the kingdom, making it tranquil and
+foeless and incapable of sustaining a diminution of territory.'
+Hearing these words of Duryodhana, Karna said, 'Let other spies,
+abler and more cunning, and capable of accomplishing their object,
+quickly go hence, O Bharata. Let them, well-disguised, wander
+through swelling kingdoms and populous provinces, prying into
+assemblies of the learned and delightful retreats of provinces. In
+the inner apartments of palaces, in shrines and holy spots, in
+mines and diverse other regions, the sons of Pandu should be
+searched after with well-directed eagerness. Let the sons of Pandu
+who are living in disguise be searched after by well-skilled spies
+in large numbers, devoted to their work, themselves well-disguised,
+and all well-acquainted with the objects of their search. Let the
+search be made on the banks of rivers, in holy regions, in villages
+and towns, in retreats of ascetics, in delightful mountains and
+mountain-caves.' When Karna ceased, Duryodhana's second brother
+Duhsasana, wedded to a sinful disposition, then addressed his
+eldest brother and said, 'O monarch, O lord of men, let those spies
+only in whom we have confidence, receiving their rewards in
+advance, once more go after the search. This and what else hath
+been said by Karna have our fullest approval. Let all the spies
+engage themselves in the search according to the directions already
+given. Let these and others engage in the search from province to
+province according to approved rules. It is my belief, however,
+that the track the Pandavas have followed or their present abode or
+occupation will not be discovered. Perhaps, they are closely
+concealed; perhaps, they have gone to the other side of the ocean.
+Or, perhaps, proud as they are of their strength and courage, they
+have been devoured by wild beasts; or perhaps, having been
+overtaken by some unusual danger, they have perished for eternity.
+Therefore, O prince of the Kuru race, dispelling all anxieties from
+thy heart, achieve what thou wilt, always acting according to thy
+energy.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Endued with mighty energy and possessed of
+great discernment, Drona then said, 'Persons like the sons of Pandu
+never perish nor undergo discomfiture. Brave and skilled in every
+science, intelligent and with senses under control, virtuous and
+grateful and obedient to the virtuous Yudhishthira, ever following
+in the wake of their eldest brother who is conversant with the
+conclusions of policy and virtue and profit, who is attached to
+them as a father, and who strictly adhereth to virtue and is firm
+in truth,&mdash;persons like them that are thus devoted to their
+illustrious and royal brother, who gifted with great intelligence,
+never injureth any body and who in his turn himself obeyeth his
+younger brothers, never perish in this way. Why, then, should not
+(Yudhishthira) the son of Pritha possessing a knowledge of policy,
+be able to restore the prosperity of his brothers who are so
+obedient and devoted and high-souled? It is for this that they are
+carefully waiting for the arrival of their opportunity. Men such as
+these never perish. This is what I see by my intellect. Do,
+therefore, quickly and without loss of time, what should now be
+done, after proper reflection. And let also the abode which the
+sons of Pandu with souls under control as regards every purpose of
+life, are to occupy, be now settled. Heroic and sinless and
+possessed of ascetic merit, the Pandavas are difficult to be
+discovered (within the period of non-discovery). Intelligent and
+possessed of every virtue, devoted to truth and versed in the
+principles of policy, endued with purity and holiness, and the
+embodiment of immeasurable energy, the son of Pritha is capable of
+consuming (his foes) by a glance alone of his eyes. Knowing all
+this, do what is proper. Let us, therefore, once more search after
+them, sending Brahmanas and <i>Charanas</i>, ascetics crowned with
+success, and others of this kind who may have a knowledge of those
+heroes!'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXVIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then that grandsire of the Bharatas, Bhishma
+the son of Santanu, conversant with the <i>Vedas</i>, acquainted
+with the proprieties of time and place, and possessing a knowledge
+of every duty of morality, after the conclusion of Drona's speech,
+applauded the words of the preceptor and spake unto the Bharatas
+for their benefit these words consistent with virtue, expressive of
+his attachment to the virtuous Yudhishthira, rarely spoken by men
+that are dishonest, and always meeting with the approbation of the
+honest. And the words that Bhishma spake were thoroughly impartial
+and worshipped by the wise. And the grandsire of the Kurus said,
+'The words that the regenerate Drona acquainted with the truth of
+every affair hath uttered, are approved by me. I have no hesitation
+in saying so. Endued with every auspicious mark, observant of
+virtuous vows, possessed of Vedic lore, devoted to religious
+observances, conversant with various sciences, obedient to the
+counsels of the aged, adhering to the vow of truth, acquainted with
+the proprieties of time, observant of the pledge they have given
+(in respect of their exile), pure in their behaviour, ever adhering
+to the duties of the Kshatriya order, always obedient to Kesava,
+high-souled, possessed of great strength, and ever-bearing the
+burthens of the wise, those heroic ones can never wither under
+misfortune. Aided by their own energy, sons of Pandu who are now
+leading a life of concealment in obedience to virtue, will surely
+never perish. It is even this that my mind surmiseth. Therefore, O
+Bharata, I am for employing the aid of honest counsel in our
+behaviour towards the sons of Pandu. It would not be the policy of
+any wise man to cause them to be discovered now by means of
+spies,<a id="footnotetag21" name="footnotetag21"></a><a href=
+"#footnote21"><sup>21</sup></a> what we should do unto the sons of
+Pandu, I shall say, reflecting with the aid of the intellect. Know
+that I shall say nothing from ill will to thee. People like me
+should never give such counsels to him that is dishonest, for only
+counsels (like those I would give) should be offered unto them that
+are honest. Counsels, however, that are evil, should under no
+circumstances be offered. He, O child, that is devoted to truth and
+obedient to the aged, he, indeed, that is wise, while speaking in
+the midst of an assembly, should under all circumstances speak the
+truth, if the acquisition of virtue be an object with him. I
+should, therefore, say that I think differently from all those
+people here, in respect of the abode of Yudhishthira the just in
+this the thirteenth year of his exile. The ruler, O child, of the
+city or the province where king Yudhishthira resides cannot have
+any misfortune. Charitable and liberal and humble and modest must
+the people be of the country where king Yudhishthira resides.
+Agreeable in speech, with passions under control, observant of
+truth, cheerful, healthy, pure in conduct, and skilful in work must
+the people be of the country where king Yudhishthira resides. The
+people of the place, where Yudhishthira is, cannot be envious or
+malicious, or vain, or proud, but must all adhere to their
+respective duties. Indeed, in the place where Yudhishthira resides,
+Vedic hymns will be chanted all around, sacrifices will be
+performed, the last full libations will always be poured,<a id=
+"footnotetag22" name="footnotetag22"></a><a href=
+"#footnote22"><sup>22</sup></a> and gifts to Brahmanas will always
+be in profusion. There the clouds, without doubt, pour abundant
+rain, and furnished with good harvest the country will ever be
+without fear. There the paddy will not be without grain, fruits
+will not be bereft of juice, floral garlands will not be without
+fragrance, and the conversation of men will always be full of
+agreeable words. There where king Yudhishthira resides, the breezes
+will be delicious, the meetings of men will always be friendly, and
+cause of fear there will be none. There kine will be plentiful,
+without any of them being lean-fleshed or weak, and milk and curds
+and butter will all be savoury and nutritious. There where king
+Yudhishthira resides, every kind of corn will be full of nutrition
+and every edible full of flavour. There where king Yudhishthira
+resides, the objects of all the senses, viz.,&mdash;taste, touch,
+smell, and hearing, will be endued with excellent attributes. There
+where king Yudhishthira resides, the sights and scenes will be
+gladdening. And the regenerate ones of that place will be virtuous
+and steady in observing their respective duties. Indeed, in the
+country where the sons of Pandu may have taken up their abode
+during this thirteenth year of their exile, the people will be
+contented and cheerful, pure in conduct and without misery of any
+kind. Devoted to gods and guests and the worship of these with
+their whole soul, they will be fond of giving away, and filled with
+great energy, they will all be observant of eternal virtue. There
+where king Yudhishthira resides, the people, eschewing all that is
+evil, will be desirous of achieving only what is good. Always
+observant of sacrifices and pure vows, and hating untruth in
+speech, the people of the place where king Yudhishthira may reside
+will always be desirous of obtaining what is good, auspicious and
+beneficial. There where Yudhishthira resides, the people will
+certainly be desirous of achieving what is good, and their hearts
+will always incline towards virtue, and their vows being agreeable
+they themselves are ever-engaged in the acquisition of religious
+merit. O child, that son of Pritha in whom are intelligence and
+charity, the highest tranquillity and undoubted forgiveness,
+modesty and prosperity, and fame and great energy and a love for
+all creatures, is incapable of being found out (now that he hath
+concealed himself) even by Brahmanas, let alone ordinary persons.
+The wise Yudhishthira is living in close disguise in regions whose
+characteristics I have described. Regarding his excellent mode of
+life, I dare not say anything more. Reflecting well upon all this,
+do without loss of time what thou mayst think to be beneficial, O
+prince of the Kuru race, if indeed, thou hast any faith in
+me.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXIX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then Saradwata's son, Kripa said, 'What the
+aged Bhishma hath said concerning the Pandavas is reasonable,
+suited to the occasion, consistent with virtue and profit,
+agreeable to the ear, fraught with sound reason, and worthy of him.
+Listen also to what I would say on this subject. It behoveth thee
+to ascertain the track they have followed and their abode also by
+means of spies,<a id="footnotetag23" name=
+"footnotetag23"></a><a href="#footnote23"><sup>23</sup></a> and to
+adopt that policy which may bring about thy welfare. O child, he
+that is solicitous of his welfare should not disregard even an
+ordinary foe. What shall I say, then, O child, of the Pandavas who
+are thorough masters of all weapons in battle. When, therefore, the
+time cometh for the reappearance of the high-souled Pandavas, who,
+having entered the forest,<a id="footnotetag24" name=
+"footnotetag24"></a><a href="#footnote24"><sup>24</sup></a> are now
+passing their days in close disguise, thou shouldst ascertain thy
+strength both in thy own kingdom and in those of other kings.
+Without doubt, the return of the Pandavas is at hand. When their
+promised term of exile is over, the illustrious and mighty sons of
+Pritha, endued with immeasurable prowess, will come hither bursting
+with energy. Do thou, therefore, in order to conclude an
+advantageous treaty with them, have recourse to sound policy and
+address thyself to increase thy forces and improve thy treasury. O
+child, ascertaining all these, reckon thou thy own strength in
+respect of all thy allies weak and strong.<a id="footnotetag25"
+name="footnotetag25"></a><a href="#footnote25"><sup>25</sup></a>
+Ascertaining the efficiency, and weakness, and indifference of thy
+forces, as also who amongst them are well-affected and who are
+disaffected, we should either fight the foe or make treaty with
+him. Having recourse to the arts of conciliation, disunion,
+chastisement, bribery, presents and fair behaviour, attack thy foes
+and subdue the weak by might, and win over thy allies and troops
+and by soft speeches. When thou hast (by these means) strengthened
+thy army and filled thy treasury, entire success will be thine.
+When thou hast done all this, thou wilt be able to fight with
+powerful enemies that may present themselves, let alone the sons of
+Pandu deficient in troops and animals of their own. By adopting all
+these expedients according to the customs of thy order, thou wilt,
+O foremost of men, attain enduring happiness in due time!'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Discomfited before, O monarch, many a time
+and oft by Matsya's <i>Suta</i> Kichaka aided by the Matsyas and
+the Salyas, the mighty king of the Trigartas, Susarman, who owned
+innumerable cars, regarding the opportunity to be a favourable one,
+then spoke the following words without losing a moment. And, O
+monarch, forcibly vanquished along with his relatives by the mighty
+Kichaka, king Susarman, eyeing Karna in askance, spoke these words
+unto Duryodhana, 'My kingdom hath many a time been forcibly invaded
+by the king of the Matsyas. The mighty Kichaka was that king's
+generalissimo. Crooked and wrathful and of wicked soul, of prowess
+famed over all the world, sinful in deeds and highly cruel, that
+wretch, however, hath been slain by the Gandharvas. Kichaka being
+dead, king Virata, shorn of pride and his refuge gone, will, I
+imagine, lose all courage. I think we ought now to invade that
+kingdom, if it pleases thee, O sinless one, as also the illustrious
+Karna and all the Kauravas. The accident that hath happened is, I
+imagine, a favourable one for us. Let us, therefore, repair to
+Virata's kingdom abounding in corn. We will appropriate his gems
+and other wealth of diverse kinds, and let us go to share with each
+other as regards his villages and kingdom. Or, invading his city by
+force, let us carry off by thousands his excellent kine of various
+species. Uniting, O king, the forces of the Kauravas and the
+Trigartas, let us lift his cattle in droves. Or, uniting our forces
+well, we will check his power by forcing him to sue for peace. Or,
+destroying his entire host, we will bring Matsya under subjection.
+Having brought him under subjection by just means, we will live in
+our kingdom happily, while thy power also will, without doubt, be
+enhanced.' Hearing these words of Susarman, Karna addressed the
+king, saying, 'Susarman hath spoken well; the opportunity is
+favourable and promises to be profitable to us. Therefore, if it
+pleases thee, O sinless one, let us, drawing up our forces in
+battle array and marshalling them in divisions, speedily set out.
+Or, let the expedition be managed as Saradwata's son Kripa, the
+preceptor Drona, and the wise and aged grandsire of the Kurus may
+think. Consulting with each other, let us, O lord of earth,
+speedily set out to attain our end. What business have we with the
+sons of Pandu, destitute as they are of wealth, might, and prowess?
+They have either disappeared for good or have gone to the abode of
+<i>Yama</i>. We will, O king, repair without anxiety to Virata's
+city, and plunder his cattle and other wealth of diverse
+kinds.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Accepting these words of Karna, the son
+of Surya, king Duryodhana speedily commanded his brother Duhsasana,
+born immediately after him and always obedient to his wishes,
+saying, 'Consulting with the elders, array without delay, our
+forces. We will with all the Kauravas go to the appointed place.
+Let also the mighty warrior, king Susarman, accompanied by a
+sufficient force with vehicles and animals, set out with the
+Trigartas for the dominions of Matsyas. And let Susarman proceed
+first, carefully concealing his intention. Following in their wake,
+we will set out the day after in close array, for the prosperous
+dominions of king Matsya. Let the Trigartas, however, suddenly
+repair to the city of Virata, and coming upon the cowherds, seize
+that immense wealth (of kine). We also marching in two divisions,
+will seize thousands of excellent kine furnished with auspicious
+marks.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O Lord of earth, those warriors,
+the Trigartas, accompanied by their infantry of terrible prowess,
+marched towards the south-eastern direction, intending to wage
+hostilities with Virata from the desire of seizing his kine. And
+Susarman set out on the seventh day of the dark fortnight for
+seizing the kine. And then, O king, on the eighth day following of
+the dark fortnight, the Kauravas also accompanied by all their
+troops, began to seize the kine by thousands."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "O mighty king, entering into king Virata's
+service, and dwelling in disguise in his excellent city, the
+high-souled Pandavas of immeasurable prowess, completed the
+promised period of non-discovery. And after Kichaka had been slain,
+that slayer of hostile heroes, the mighty king Virata began to rest
+his hopes on the sons of Kunti. And it was on the expiry of the
+thirteenth year of their exile, O Bharata, that Susarman seized
+Virata's cattle by thousands. And when the cattle had been seized,
+the herdsman of Virata came with great speed to the city, and saw
+his sovereign, the king of Matsyas, seated on the throne in the
+midst of wise councillors, and those bulls among men, the sons of
+Pandu, and surrounded by brave warriors decked with ear-rings and
+bracelets. And appearing before that enhancer of his
+dominion&mdash;King Virata seated in court&mdash;the herdsman bowed
+down unto him, and addressed him, saying, 'O foremost of kings,
+defeating and humiliating us in battle along with our friends the
+Trigartas are seizing thy cattle by hundreds and by thousands. Do
+thou, therefore, speedily rescue them. Oh, see that they are not
+lost to thee.' Hearing these words, the king arrayed for battle the
+Matsya force abounding in cars and elephants and horses and
+infantry and standards. And kings and princes speedily put on, each
+in its proper place,<a id="footnotetag26" name=
+"footnotetag26"></a><a href="#footnote26"><sup>26</sup></a> their
+shining and beautiful armour worthy of being worn by heroes. And
+Virata's beloved brother, Satanika, put on a coat of mail made of
+adamantine steel, adorned with burnished gold. And Madiraksha, next
+in birth to Satanika, put on a strong coat of mail plated with
+gold<a id="footnotetag27" name="footnotetag27"></a><a href=
+"#footnote27"><sup>27</sup></a> and capable of resisting every
+weapon. And the coat of mail that the king himself of the Matsyas
+put on was invulnerable and decked with a hundred suns, a hundred
+circles, a hundred spots, and a hundred eyes. And the coat of mail
+that Suryadatta<a id="footnotetag28" name=
+"footnotetag28"></a><a href="#footnote28"><sup>28</sup></a> put on
+was bright as the sun, plated with gold, and broad as a hundred
+lotuses of the fragrant (<i>Kahlara</i>) species. And the coat of
+mail that Virata's eldest son, the heroic Sanksha, put on was
+impenetrable and made of burnished steel, and decked with a hundred
+eyes of gold. And it was thus that those god-like and mighty
+warriors by hundreds, furnished with weapons, and eager for battle,
+each donned his corselet. And then they yoked unto their excellent
+cars of white-hue steeds equipped in mail. And then was
+hoisted&mdash;Matsya's glorious standard on his excellent car
+decked with gold and resembling the sun or the moon in its
+effulgence. And other Kshatriya warriors also raised on their
+respective cars gold-decked standards of various shapes and
+devices. And king Matsya then addressed his brother Satanika born
+immediately after him, saying, 'Kanka and Vallava and Tantripala
+and Damagranthi of great energy will, as it appears to me fight,
+without doubt. Give thou unto them cars furnished with banners and
+let them case their persons in beautiful coats of mail that should
+be both invulnerable and easy to wear. And let them also have
+weapons. Bearing such martial forms and possessed of arms
+resembling the trunk of mighty elephants, I can never persuade
+myself that they cannot fight.' Hearing these words of the king,
+Satanika, O monarch, immediately ordered cars for those sons of
+Pritha, viz., the royal Yudhishthira, and Bhima, and Nakula, and
+Sahadeva, and commanded by the king, the charioteers, with cheerful
+hearts and keeping loyalty in view, very soon got cars ready (for
+the Pandavas). And those repressers of foes then donned those
+beautiful coats of mail, invulnerable and easy to wear, that Virata
+had ordered for those heroes of spotless fame. And mounted on cars
+yoked with good steeds, those smiters of hostile ranks, those
+foremost of men, the sons of Pritha, set out with cheerful hearts.
+Indeed, those mighty warriors skilled in fight, those bulls of the
+Kuru race and sons of Pandu, those four heroic brothers possessed
+of prowess incapable of being baffled, mounting on cars decked with
+gold, together set out, following Virata's wake. And infuriate
+elephants of terrible mien, full sixty years of age, with shapely
+tusks and rent temples and juice trickling down and looking (on
+that account) like cloud pouring rain and mounted by trained
+warriors skilled in fight, followed the king like unto moving
+hills. And the principal warriors of Matsya who cheerfully followed
+the king had eight thousand cars, a thousand elephants and sixty
+thousand horses. And, O bull among the Bharatas, that force of
+Virata, O king, as it marched forth marking the footprints of the
+cattle looked exceedingly beautiful. And on its march that foremost
+of armies owned by Virata, crowded with soldiers armed with strong
+weapons, and abounding in elephants, horses and cars, looked really
+splendid."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Marching out of the city, those heroic
+smiters the Matsyas, arrayed in order of battle, overtook the
+Trigartas when the sun had passed the meridian. And both excited to
+fury and both desirous of having the king, the mighty Trigartas and
+the Matsyas, irrepressible in battle, sent up loud roars. And then
+the terrible and infuriate elephants ridden over by the skilful
+combatants of both sides were urged on with spiked clubs and hooks.
+And the encounter, O king, that took place when the sun was low in
+the horizon, between the infantry and cavalry and chariots and
+elephants of both parties, was like unto that of old between the
+gods and the <i>Asuras</i>, terrible and fierce and sufficient for
+making one's hair stand on end and calculated to increase the
+population of Yama's kingdom. And as the combatants rushed against
+one another, smiting and slashing, thick clouds of dust began to
+rise, so that nothing could be discovered. And covered with the
+dust raised by the contending armies, birds began to drop down on
+the earth. And the sun himself disappeared behind the thick cloud
+of arrows shot, and the firmament looked bright as if with myriads
+of the fireflies. And shifting their bows, the staves of which were
+decked with gold, from one hand to another, those heroes began to
+strike each other down, discharging their arrows right and left.
+And cars encountered cars, and foot-soldiers fought with
+foot-soldiers, and horse-men with horsemen, and elephants with
+mighty elephants. And they furiously encountered one another with
+swords and axes, bearded darts and javelins, and iron clubs. And
+although, O king, those mighty-armed warriors furiously assailed
+one another in that conflict, yet neither party succeeded in
+prevailing over the other. And severed heads, some with beautiful
+noses, some with upper lips deeply gashed, some decked with
+ear-rings, and some divided with wounds about the well-trimmed hair
+were seen rolling on the ground covered with dust. And soon the
+field of battle was overspread with the limbs of Kshatriya
+warriors, cut off by means of arrows and lying like trunks of
+<i>Sala</i> trees. And scattered over with heads decked in
+ear-rings, and sandal-besmeared arms looking like the bodies of
+snakes, the field of battle became exceedingly beautiful. And as
+cars encountered cars, and horsemen encountered horsemen, and
+foot-soldiers fought with foot-soldiers, and elephants met with
+elephants, the frightful dust soon became drenched with torrents of
+blood. And some amongst the combatants began to swoon away, and the
+warriors began to fight reckless of consideration of humanity,
+friendship and relationship. And both their course and sight
+obstructed by the arrowy shower, vultures began to alight on the
+ground. But although those strong-armed combatants furiously fought
+with one another, yet the heroes of neither party succeeded in
+routing their antagonists. And Satanika having slain a full hundred
+of the enemy and Visalaksha full four hundred, both those mighty
+warriors penetrated into the heart of the great Trigarta host. And
+having entered into the thick of the Trigarta host, those famous
+and mighty heroes began to deprive their antagonists of their
+senses by causing a closer conflict to set in&mdash;a conflict, in
+which the combatants seized one another by the hair and tore one
+another with their nails.<a id="footnotetag29" name=
+"footnotetag29"></a><a href="#footnote29"><sup>29</sup></a> And
+eyeing the point where the cars of the Trigartas had been mustered
+in strong numbers, those heroes at last directed their attack
+towards it. And that foremost of car-warriors, king Virata also,
+with Suryadatta in his van and Madiraksha in his rear, having
+destroyed in that conflict five hundred cars, eight hundred horses,
+and five warriors on great cars, displayed various skilful
+manoeuvres on his car on that field of battle. And at last the king
+came upon the ruler of the Trigartas mounted on a golden chariot.
+And those high-souled and powerful warriors, desirous of fighting,
+rushed roaring against each like two bulls in a cow-pen. Then that
+bull among men, irrepressible in battle, Susarman, the king of the
+Trigartas, challenged Matsya to a single combat on car. Then those
+warriors excited to fury rushed against each other on their cars
+and began to shower their arrows upon each other like clouds
+pouring torrents of rain.<a id="footnotetag30" name=
+"footnotetag30"></a><a href="#footnote30"><sup>30</sup></a> And
+enraged with each other, those fierce warriors, both skilled in
+weapons, both wielding swords and darts and maces, then moved about
+(on the field of battle) assailing each other with whetted arrows.
+Then king Virata pierced Susarman with ten shafts and each of his
+four horses also with five shafts. And Susarman also, irresistible
+in battle and conversant with fatal weapons, pierced king of Matsya
+with fifty whetted shafts. And then, O mighty monarch, in
+consequence of the dust on the field of battle, the soldiers of
+both Susarman and Matsya's king could not distinguish one
+another."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then, O Bharata, when the world was
+enveloped in dust and the gloom of night, the warriors of both
+sides, without breaking the order of battle, desisted for a
+while.<a id="footnotetag31" name="footnotetag31"></a><a href=
+"#footnote31"><sup>31</sup></a> And then, dispelling the darkness
+the moon arose illumining the night and gladdening the hearts of
+the Kshatriya warriors. And when everything became visible, the
+battle once more began. And it raged on so furiously that the
+combatants could not distinguish one another. And then Trigarta's
+lord, Susarman with his younger brother, and accompanied by all his
+cars, rushed towards the king of Matsya. And descending from their
+cars, those bulls among Kshatriyas, the (royal) brothers, mace in
+hand, rushed furiously towards the cars of the foe. And the hostile
+hosts fiercely assailed each other with maces and swords and
+scimitars, battle-axes and bearded darts with keen edges and points
+of excellent temper. And king Susarman, the lord of the Trigartas
+having by his energy oppressed and defeated the whole army of the
+Matsyas, impetuously rushed towards Virata himself endued with
+great energy. And the two brothers having severally slain Virata's
+two steeds and his charioteer, as also those soldiers that
+protected his rear, took him captive alive, when deprived of his
+car. Then afflicting him sorely, like a lustful man afflicting a
+defenceless damsel, Susarman placed Virata on his own car, and
+speedily rushed out of the field. And when the powerful Virata,
+deprived of his car, was taken captive, the Matsyas, harrassed
+solely by the Trigartas, began to flee in fear in all directions.
+And beholding them panic-stricken, Kunti's son, Yudhishthira,
+addressed that subduer of foes, the mighty-armed Bhima, saying,
+'The king of the Matsyas hath been taken by the Trigartas. Do thou,
+O mighty-armed one, rescue him, so that he may not fall under the
+power of the enemy. As we have lived happily in Virata's city,
+having every desire of ours gratified, it behoveth thee, O
+Bhimasena, to discharge that debt (by liberating the king).'
+Thereat Bhimasena replied, 'I will liberate him, O king, at thy
+command. Mark the feat I achieve (today) in battling with the foe,
+relying solely on the might of my arms. Do thou, O king, stay
+aside, along with our brothers and witness my prowess today.
+Uprooting this mighty tree of huge trunk looking like a mace, I
+will rout the enemy.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding Bhima casting his eyes on
+that tree like a mad elephant, the heroic king Yudhishthira the
+just spake unto his brother, saying, 'Do not, O Bhima, commit such
+a rash act. Let the tree stand there. Thou must not achieve such
+feats in a super-human manner by means of that tree, for if thou
+dost, the people, O Bharata, will recognise thee and say, <i>This
+is Bhima</i>. Take thou, therefore, some human weapon such as a bow
+(and arrows), or a dart, or a sword, or a battle-axe. And taking
+therefore, O Bhima, some weapon that is human, liberate thou the
+king without giving anybody the means of knowing thee truly. The
+twins endued with great strength will defend thy wheels. Fighting
+together, O child, liberate the king of the Matsyas!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, the mighty Bhimasena
+endued with great speed, quickly took up an excellent bow and
+impetuously shot from it a shower of arrows, thick as the downpour
+of a rain-charged cloud. And Bhima then rushed furiously towards
+Susarman of terrible deeds, and assuring Virata with the
+words&mdash;<i>O good king!</i><a id="footnotetag32" name=
+"footnotetag32"></a><a href="#footnote32"><sup>32</sup></a> said
+unto the lord of the Trigartas,&mdash;<i>Stay! Stay!</i> Seeing
+Bhima like unto Yama himself in his rear, saying, <i>Stay! Stay! Do
+thou witness this mighty feat,&mdash;this combat that is at
+hand!</i>&mdash;the bull among warriors, Susarman, seriously
+considered (the situation), and taking up his bow turned back,
+along with his brothers. Within the twinkling of an eye, Bhima
+destroyed those cars that sought to oppose him. And soon again
+hundreds of thousands of cars and elephants and horses and horsemen
+and brave and fierce bowmen were overthrown by Bhima in the very
+sight of Virata. And the hostile infantry also began to be
+slaughtered by the illustrious Bhima, mace in hand. And beholding
+that terrible onslaught, Susarman, irrepressible in fight, thought
+within himself, 'My brother seems to have already succumbed in the
+midst of his mighty host. Is my army going to be annihilated?' And
+drawing his bow-string to his ear Susarman then turned back and
+began to shoot keen-edged shafts incessantly. And seeing the
+Pandavas return to the charge on their car, the Matsya warriors of
+mighty host, urging on their steeds, shot excellent weapons for
+grinding the Trigarta soldiers. And Virata's son also, exceedingly
+exasperated began to perform prodigious fears of valour. And
+Kunti's son Yudhishthira slew a thousand (of the foe), and Bhima
+showed the abode of Yama unto seven thousand. And Nakula sent seven
+hundred (to their last account) by means of his shafts. And
+powerful Sahadeva also, commanded by Yudhishthira, slew three
+hundred brave warriors. And having slain such numbers, that fierce
+and mighty warrior, Yudhishthira, with weapons upraised, rushed
+against Susarman. And rushing impetuously at Susarman, that
+foremost of car-warriors, king Yudhishthira, assailed him with
+vollies of shafts. And Susarman also, in great rage, quickly
+pierced Yudhishthira with nine arrows, and each of his four steeds
+with four arrows. Then, O king, Kunti's son Bhima of quick
+movements, approaching Susarman crushed his steeds. And having
+slain also those soldiers that protected his rear, he dragged from
+the car his antagonist's charioteer to the ground. And seeing the
+king of Trigarta's car without a driver, the defender of his
+car-wheels, the famous and brave Madiraksha speedily came to his
+aid. And thereat, leaping down from Susarman's car, and securing
+the latter's mace the powerful Virata ran in pursuit of him. And
+though old, he moved on the field, mace in hand, even like a lusty
+youth. And beholding Susarman flee Bhima addressed him, saying,
+'Desist, O Prince! This flight of thine is not proper! With this
+prowess of thine, how couldst thou wish to carry off the cattle by
+force? How also, forsaking thy follower, dost thou droop so amidst
+foes?' Thus addressed by Pritha's son, the mighty Susarman, that
+lord of countless cars saying unto Bhima, <i>Stay!
+Stay!</i>&mdash;suddenly turned round and rushed at him. Then
+Bhima, the son of Pandu, leaping down from his car, as he alone
+could do,<a id="footnotetag33" name="footnotetag33"></a><a href=
+"#footnote33"><sup>33</sup></a> rushed forward with great coolness,
+desirous of taking Susarman's life. And desirous of seizing
+Trigarta's king advancing towards him, the mighty Bhimasena rushed
+impetuously towards him, even like a lion rushing at a small deer.
+And advancing impetuously, the mighty-armed Bhima seized Susarman
+by the hair, and lifting him up in wrath, dashed him down on the
+ground. And as he lay crying in agony, the mighty-armed Bhima
+kicked him at the head, and placing his knee on his breast dealt
+him severe blows. And sorely afflicted with that kicking, the king
+of Trigartas became senseless. And when the king of the Trigartas
+deprived of his car, had been seized thus, the whole Trigarta army
+stricken with panic, broke and fled in all directions, and the
+mighty sons of Pandu, endued with modesty and observant of vows and
+relying on the might of their own arms, after having vanquished
+Susarman, and rescued the kine as well as other kinds of wealth and
+having thus dispelled Virata's anxiety, stood together before that
+monarch. And Bhimasena then said, 'This wretch given to wicked
+deeds doth not deserve to escape me with life. But what can I do?
+The king is so lenient!' And then taking Susarman by the neck as he
+was lying on the ground insensible and covered with dust, and
+binding him fast, Pritha's son Vrikodara placed him on his car, and
+went to where Yudhishthira was staying in the midst of the field.
+And Bhima then showed Susarman unto the monarch. And beholding
+Susarman in that plight, that tiger among men king Yudhishthira
+smilingly addressed Bhima&mdash;that ornament of
+battle,&mdash;saying, 'Let this worst of men be set free.' Thus
+addressed, Bhima spoke unto the mighty Susarman, saying, 'If, O
+wretch, thou wishest to live, listen to those words of mine. Thou
+must say in every court and assembly of men,&mdash;<i>I am a
+slave.</i> On this condition only I will grant thee thy life.
+Verily, this is the law about the vanquished.' Thereupon his elder
+brother affectionately addressed Bhima, saying, 'If thou regardest
+us as an authority, liberate this wicked wight. He hath already
+become king Virata's slave.' And turning then to Susarman, he said,
+'Thou art freed. Go thou a free man, and never act again in this
+way.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXIV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Yudhishthira Susarman was
+overwhelmed with shame and hung down his head. And liberated (from
+slavery), he went to king Virata, and having saluted the monarch,
+took his departure. And the Pandavas also relying on the might of
+their own arms, and endued with modesty and observant of vows,
+having slain their enemies and liberated Susarman, passed that
+night happily on the field of battle. And Virata gratified those
+mighty warriors, the sons of Kunti, possessed of super-human
+prowess with wealth and honour. And Virata said, 'All these gems of
+mine are now as much mine as yours. Do ye according to your
+pleasure live here happily. And ye smiter of foes in battle, I will
+bestow on you damsels decked with ornaments, wealth in plenty, and
+other things that ye may like. Delivered from perils today by your
+prowess, I am now crowned with victory. Do ye all become the lords
+of the Matsyas.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "And when the king of the Matsyas had
+addressed them thus, those descendants of the Kurus with
+Yudhishthira at their head, joining their hands, severally replied
+unto him saying, 'We are well-pleased with all that thou sayest, O
+monarch. We, however, have been much gratified that thou hast today
+been freed from thy foes.' Thus answered, that foremost of kings,
+Virata the lord of the Matsyas, again addressed Yudhishthira,
+saying, 'Come, we will install thee in sovereignty of the Matsyas.
+And we will also bestow on thee things that are rare on earth and
+are objects of desire, for thou deservest everything at our hands.
+O foremost of Brahmanas of the <i>Vaiyaghra</i> order I will bestow
+on thee gems and kine and gold and rubies and pearls. I bow unto
+thee. It is owing to thee that I once more behold today my sons and
+kingdom. Afflicted and threatened as I had been with disaster and
+danger, it is through thy prowess that I have not succumbed to the
+foe.' Then Yudhishthira again addressed the Matsyas, saying,
+'Well-pleased are we with the delightful words that thou hast
+spoken. Mayst thou be ever happy, always practising humanity
+towards all creatures. Let messengers now, at thy command, speedily
+repair into the city, in order to communicate the glad tidings to
+our friends, and proclaim thy victory.' Hearing these words of him,
+king Matsya ordered the messengers, saying, 'Do ye repair to the
+city and proclaim my victory in battle. And let damsels and
+courtesans, decked in ornaments, come out of the city with every
+kind of musical instruments.' Hearing this command uttered by the
+king of the Matsyas, the men, laying the mandate on their head, all
+departed with cheerful hearts. And having repaired to the city that
+very night, they proclaimed at the hour of sunrise the victory of
+the king about the city-gates."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "When the king of the Matsyas, anxious of
+recovering the kine, had set out in pursuit of the Trigartas,
+Duryodhana with his counsellors invaded the dominions of Virata.
+And Bhishma and Drona, and Karna, and Kripa acquainted with the
+best of weapons, Aswatthaman, and Suvala's son, and Duhsasana, O
+lord of men, and Vivingsati and Vikarna and Chitrasena endued with
+great energy, and Durmukha and Dussaha,&mdash;these and many other
+great warriors, coming upon the Matsya dominion speedily drove off
+the cowherds of king Virata and forcibly took away the kine. And
+the Kauravas, surrounding all sides with a multitude of cars,
+seized sixty thousands of kine. And loud was the yell of woe set up
+by the cowherds smitten by those warriors in that terrible
+conflict. And the chief of the cowherds, greatly affrighted
+speedily mounted on a chariot and set out for the city, bewailing
+in affliction. And entering the city of the king, he proceeded to
+the place, and speedily alighting from the chariot, got in for
+relating (what had happened). And beholding the proud son of
+Matsya, named Bhuminjaya, he told him everything about the seizure
+of the royal kine. And he said, 'the Kauravas are taking away sixty
+thousand kine. Rise, therefore, O enhancer of the kingdom's glory,
+for bringing back thy cattle. O prince, if thou art desirous of
+achieving (the kingdom's) good set out thyself without loss of
+time. Indeed, the king of the Matsyas left thee in the empty city.
+The king (thy father) boasteth of thee in court, saying, "My son,
+equal unto me, is a hero and is the supporter of (the glory of) my
+race. My son is a warrior skilled in arrows and weapons and is
+always possessed of great courage."&mdash;Oh, let the words of that
+lord of men be true! O chief of herd-owners, bring thou back the
+kine after vanquishing the Kurus, and consume thou their troops
+with the terrific energy of thy arrows. Do thou like a leader of
+elephants rushing at a herd, pierce the ranks of the foe with
+straight arrows of golden wings, discharged from thy bow. Thy bow
+is even like a <i>Vina</i>. Its two ends represent the ivory
+pillows; its string, the main chord; its staff, the finger-board;
+and the arrows shot from it musical notes. Do thou strike in the
+midst of the foe that <i>Vina</i> of musical sound.<a id=
+"footnotetag34" name="footnotetag34"></a><a href=
+"#footnote34"><sup>34</sup></a> Let thy steeds, O lord, of silvery
+hue, be yoked unto thy car, and let thy standard be hoisted,
+bearing the emblem of the golden lion. Let thy keen-edged arrows
+endued with wings of gold, shot by thy strong arms, obstruct the
+path of those kings and eclipse the very sun. Vanquishing all the
+Kurus in battle like unto the wielder of the thunderbolt defeating
+the <i>Asuras</i>, return thou again to the city having achieved
+great renown. Son of Matsya's king, thou art the sole refuge of
+this kingdom, as that foremost of virtuous warriors, Arjuna is of
+the sons of Pandu. Even like Arjuna of his brothers, thou art,
+without doubt, the refuge of those dwelling within these dominions.
+Indeed, we, the subject of this realm, have our protector in
+thee.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by the cowherd in the
+presence of the females, in words breathing courage, the prince
+indulging in self-commendation within the female apartments, spoke
+these words."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXVI</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Firm as I am in the use of the bow, I would set
+out this very day in the track of the kine if only some one skilled
+in the management of horses becomes my charioteer. I do not,
+however, know the man who may be my charioteer. Look ye, therefore,
+without delay, for a charioteer for me that am prepared for
+starting. My own charioteer was slain in the great battle that was
+fought from day to day for a whole month or at least for eight and
+twenty nights. As soon as I get another person conversant with the
+management of the steeds, I will immediately set out, hoisting high
+my own standard. Penetrating into the midst of the hostile army
+abounding with elephants and horses and chariots, I will bring back
+the kine, having vanquished the Kurus who are feeble in strength
+and weak in weapons. Like a second wielder of the thunderbolt
+terrifying the Danavas, I will bring back the kine this very
+moment, affrighting in battle Duryodhana and Bhishma and Karna and
+Kripa and Drona with his son, and other mighty bowmen assembled for
+fight. Finding none (to oppose), the Kurus are taking away the
+kine. What can I do when I am not there? The assembled Kurus shall
+witness my prowess today. And they shall say unto one another, "Is
+it Arjuna himself who is opposing us?'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having heard these words spoken by the
+prince, Arjuna fully acquainted with the import of everything,
+after a little while cheerfully spake in private unto his dear wife
+of faultless beauty, Krishna, the princess of Panchala, Drupada's
+daughter of slender make, sprung from the (sacrificial) fire and
+endued with the virtues of truthfulness and honesty and ever
+attentive to the good of her husbands. And the hero said, 'Do thou,
+O beauteous one, at my request say unto Uttara without delay, "This
+Vrihannala was formerly the accomplished resolute charioteer of
+Pandu's son (Arjuna). Tried in many a great battle, even he will be
+thy charioteer."'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words uttered by the
+prince over and over again in the midst of the women, Panchali
+could not quietly bear those allusions to Vibhatsu. And bashfully
+stepping out from among the women, the poor princess of Panchala
+gently spake unto him these words, 'The handsome youth, looking
+like a mighty elephant and known by the name of Vrihannala, was
+formerly the charioteer of Arjuna. A disciple of that illustrious
+warrior, and inferior to none in use of the bow, he was known to me
+while I was living with the Pandavas. It was by him that the reins
+were held of Arjuna's excellent steeds when Agni consumed the
+forest of Khandava. It was with him as charioteer that Partha
+conquered all creatures at Khandava-prastha. In fact, there is no
+charioteer equal unto him.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Thou knowest, O <i>Sairindhri</i>, this youth.
+Thou knowest, what this one of the neuter sex may or may not be. I
+cannot, however, O blessed one, myself request Vrihannala to hold
+the reins of my horses.'</p>
+<p>"Draupadi said, 'Vrihannala, O hero, will without doubt, obey
+the words of thy younger sister<a id="footnotetag35" name=
+"footnotetag35"></a><a href=
+"#footnote35"><sup>35</sup></a>&mdash;that damsel of graceful hips.
+If he consents to be thy charioteer, thou wilt, without doubt,
+return, having vanquished the Kurus and rescued thy kine.'</p>
+<p>"Thus addressed by the <i>Sairindhri</i>, Uttara spake unto his
+sister, 'Go thyself, O thou of faultless beauty, and bring
+Vrihannala hither.' And despatched by her brother, she hastily
+repaired to the dancing-hall where that strong-armed son of Pandu
+was staying in disguise."</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Thus despatched by her elder brother, the
+far-famed daughter of king Matsya, adorned with a golden necklace,
+ever obedient to her brother and possessed of a waist slender as
+that of the wasp,<a id="footnotetag36" name=
+"footnotetag36"></a><a href="#footnote36"><sup>36</sup></a> endued
+with the splendour of Lakshmi herself,<a id="footnotetag37" name=
+"footnotetag37"></a><a href="#footnote37"><sup>37</sup></a> decked
+with the plumes of the peacock of slender make and graceful limbs,
+her hips encircled by a zone of pearls, her eye-lashes slightly
+curved, and her form endued with every grace, hastily repaired to
+the dancing-hall like a flash of lightning rushing towards a mass
+of dark clouds.<a id="footnotetag38" name=
+"footnotetag38"></a><a href="#footnote38"><sup>38</sup></a> And the
+faultless and auspicious daughter of Virata, of fine teeth and
+slender-waist, of thighs close unto each other and each like the
+trunk of an elephant, her person embellished with an excellent
+garland, sought the son of Pritha like a she-elephant seeking her
+mate. And like unto a precious gem or the very embodiment of
+prosperity of Indra, of exceeding beauty and large eyes, that
+charming and adored and celebrated damsel saluted Arjuna. And
+saluted by her, Partha asked that maiden of close thighs and golden
+complexion, saying 'What brings thee hither, a damsel decked in a
+necklace of gold? Why art thou in such a hurry, O gazelle-eyed
+maiden? Why is thy face, O beauteous lady, so cheerless? Tell me
+all this without delay!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding, O king, his friend, the
+princess of large-eyes (in that plight), her friend (Arjuna)
+cheerfully enquired of her (in these words) the cause of her
+arrival there and then. And having approached that bull among men,
+the princess, standing in the midst of her female attendants, the
+displaying proper modesty<a id="footnotetag39" name=
+"footnotetag39"></a><a href="#footnote39"><sup>39</sup></a>,
+addressed him, saying, 'The kine of this realm, O Vrihannala, are
+being driven away by the Kurus, and it is to conquer them that my
+brother will set out bow in hand. Not long ago his own charioteer
+was slain in battle, and there is none equal unto the one slain
+that can act as my brother's charioteer. And unto him striving to
+obtain a charioteer, <i>Sairindhri</i>, O Vrihannala, hath spoken
+about thy skill in the management of steeds. Thou wert formerly the
+favourite charioteer of Arjuna, and it was with thee that that bull
+among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the whole earth. Do
+thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, act as the charioteer of my brother.
+(By this time) our kine have surely been driven away by the Kurus
+to a great distance. Requested by me if thou dost not act up to my
+words, I who am asking this service of thee out of affection, will
+give up my life!' Thus addressed by this friend of graceful hips,
+that oppressor of foes, endued with immeasurable prowess, went into
+the prince's presence. And like unto a she-elephant running after
+her young one, the princess possessed of large eyes followed that
+hero advancing with hasty steps like unto an elephant with rent
+temples. And beholding him from a distance, the prince himself
+said, 'With thee as his charioteer, Dhananjaya the son of Kunti had
+gratified <i>Agni</i> at the Khandava forest and subjugated the
+whole world! The <i>Sairindhri</i> hath spoken of thee to me. She
+knoweth the Pandavas. Do thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, hold, as
+thou didst, the reins of my steeds, desirous as I am of righting
+with the Kurus and rescuing my bovine wealth. Thou wert formerly
+the beloved charioteer of Arjuna and it was with thee that that
+bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the whole earth!'
+Thus addressed, Vrihannala replied unto the prince, saying, 'What
+ability have I to act as a charioteer in the field of battle? If it
+is song or dance or musical instruments or such other things, I can
+entertain thee therewith, but where is my skill for becoming a
+charioteer?'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'O Vrihannala, be thou a singer or a dancer, hold
+thou (for the present), without loss of time, the reins of my
+excellent steeds, mounting upon my car!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Although that oppressor of foes, the
+son of Pandu, was acquainted with everything, yet in the presence
+of Uttara, he began to make many mistakes for the sake of fun. And
+when he sought to put the coat of mail on his body by raising it
+upwards, the large-eyed maidens, beholding it, burst out into a
+loud laughter. And seeing him quite ignorant of putting on armour,
+Uttara himself equipped Vrihannala with a costly coat of mail. And
+casing his own person in an excellent armour of solar effulgence,
+and hoisting his standard bearing the figure of a lion, the prince
+caused Vrihannala to become his charioteer. And with Vrihannala to
+hold his reins, the hero set out, taking with him many costly bows
+and a large number of beautiful arrows. And his friend, Uttara and
+her maidens then said unto Vrihannala, 'Do thou, O Vrihannala,
+bring for our dolls (when thou comest back) various kinds of good
+and fine cloths after vanquishing the Kurus assembled for battle of
+whom Bhishma and Drona are foremost!' Thus addressed, Partha the
+son of Pandu, in a voice deep as the roar of the clouds, smilingly
+said unto that bevy of fair maidens. 'If thus Uttara can vanquish
+those mighty warriors in battle, I will certainly bring excellent
+and beautiful cloths.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said these words, the heroic
+Arjuna urged the steeds towards the Kuru army over which floated
+innumerable flags. Just, however, as they were starting, elderly
+dames and maidens, and Brahmanas of rigid vows, beholding Uttara
+seated on his excellent car with Vrihannala as charioteer and under
+that great banner hoisted on high, walked round the car to bless
+the hero. And the women said, 'Let the victory that Arjuna treading
+like a bull had achieved of old on the occasion of burning the
+forest of Khandava, be thine, O Vrihannala, when thou encounterest
+the Kurus today with prince Uttara.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXVIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having issued forth from the city, the
+dauntless son of Virata addressed his charioteer, saying, 'Proceed
+whither the Kurus are. Defeating the assembled Kurus who have come
+hither from desire of victory, and quickly rescuing my kine from
+them, I will return to the capital.' At these words of the prince,
+the son of Pandu urged those excellent steeds. And endued with the
+speed of the wind and decked with necklaces of gold, those steeds,
+urged by that lion among men, seemed to fly through the air. And
+they had not proceeded far when those smiters of foes, Dhananjaya
+and the son of Matsya, sighted the army of the powerful Kurus. And
+proceeding towards the cemetery, they came upon the Kurus and
+beheld their army arrayed in order of battle.<a id="footnotetag40"
+name="footnotetag40"></a><a href="#footnote40"><sup>40</sup></a>
+And that large army of theirs looked like the vast sea or a forest
+of innumerable trees moving through the sky. And then was seen, O
+best among the Kurus, the dust raised by that moving army which
+reached the sky and obstructed the sight of all creatures. And
+beholding that mighty host abounding in elephants, horses and
+chariots, and protected by Karna and Duryodhana and Kripa and
+Santanu's son, and that intelligent and great bowman Drona, with
+his son (Aswatthaman), the son of Virata, agitated with fear and
+the bristles on his body standing on their ends, thus spake unto
+Partha, 'I dare not fight with the Kurus. See, the bristles on my
+body have stood on their ends. I am incapable of battling with this
+countless host of the Kurus, abounding in the heroic warriors, that
+are extremely fierce and difficult of being vanquished even by the
+celestials. I do not venture to penetrate into the army of the
+Bharatas consisting of terrible bowmen and abounding in horses and
+elephants and cars and footsoldiers and banners. My mind is too
+much perturbed by the very sight of the foe on the field of battle
+on which stand Drona and Bhishma, and Kripa, and Karna, and
+Vivingsati, and Aswatthaman and Vikarna, and Saumadatti, and
+Vahlika, and the heroic king Duryodhana also&mdash;that foremost of
+car-warriors, and many other splendid bowmen, all skilled in
+battle. My hairs have stood on their ends, and I am fainting with
+fear at the very sight of these smiters, the Kurus arrayed in order
+of battle.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "And the low-minded and foolish Uttara
+out of folly alone, began to bewail (his fate) in the presence of
+the high-spirited (Arjuna) disguised (as his charioteer) in these
+words, 'My father hath gone out to meet the Trigartas taking with
+him his whole army, leaving me in the empty city. There are no
+troops to assist me. Alone and a mere boy who has not undergone
+much exercise in arms, I am unable to encounter these innumerable
+warriors and all skilled in weapons. Do thou, therefore, O
+Vrihannala, cease to advance!'</p>
+<p>"Vrihannala said, 'Why dost thou look so pale through fear and
+enhance the joy of thy foes? As yet thou hast done nothing on the
+field of battle with the enemy. It was thou that hadst ordered me,
+saying, <i>Take me towards the Kauravas</i>. I will, therefore,
+take thee, thither where those innumerable flags are. I will
+certainly take thee, O mighty-armed one, into the midst of the
+hostile Kurus, prepared to fight as they are for the kine like
+hawks for meat. I would do this, even if I regarded them to have
+come hither for battling for a much higher stake such as the
+sovereignty of the earth. Having, at the time of setting out,
+talked before both men and women so highly of thy manliness, why
+wouldst thou desist from the fight? If thou shouldst return home
+without recapturing the kine, brave men and even women, when they
+meet together, will laugh at thee (in derision). As regards myself,
+I cannot return to the city without having rescued the kine,
+applauded as I have been so highly by the <i>Sairindhri</i> in
+respect of my skill in driving cars. It is for those praises by the
+<i>Sairindhri</i> and for those words of thine also (that I have
+come). Why should I not, therefore, give battle to the Kurus? (As
+regards thyself), be thou still.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Let the Kurus rob the Matsyas of all their
+wealth. Let men and women, O Vrihannala, laugh at me. Let my kine
+perish, let the city be a desert. Let me stand exposed before my
+father. Still there is no need of battle.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, that much affrighted
+prince decked in ear-ring jumped down from his car, and throwing
+down his bow and arrows began to flee, sacrificing honour and
+pride. Vrihannala, however, exclaimed, 'This is not the practice of
+the brave, this flight of a Kshatriya from the field of battle.
+Even death in battle is better than flight from fear.' Having said
+this, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, coming down from that excellent
+car ran after that prince thus running away, his own long braid and
+pure red garments fluttering in the air. And some soldiers, not
+knowing that it was Arjuna who was thus running with his braid
+fluttering in the air, burst out into laughter at the sight. And
+beholding him thus running, the Kurus began to argue, 'Who is this
+person, thus disguised like fire concealed in ashes? He is partly a
+man and partly a woman. Although bearing a neuter form, he yet
+resembleth Arjuna. His are the same head and neck, and his the same
+arms like unto a couple of maces. And this one's gait also is like
+unto his. He can be none else than Dhananjaya. As <i>Indra</i> is
+among the celestials, so Dhananjaya is among men. Who else in this
+world than Dhananjaya, would alone come against us? Virata left a
+single son of his in the empty city. He hath come out from
+childishness and not from true heroism. It is Uttara who must have
+come out of the city, having, without doubt, made as a charioteer
+Arjuna, the son of Pritha, now living in disguise. It seems that he
+is now flying away in panic at sight of our army. And without doubt
+Dhananjaya runneth after him to bring him back.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding the disguised son of Pandu,
+the Kauravas, O Bharata, began to indulge in these surmises, but
+they could not come to any definite conclusion. Meanwhile,
+Dhananjaya, hastily pursuing the retreating Uttara, seized him by
+the hair within a hundred steps. And seized by Arjuna, the son of
+Virata began to lament most woefully like one in great affliction,
+and said, 'Listen, O good Vrihannala, O thou of handsome waist.
+Turn thou quickly the course of the car. He that liveth meeteth
+with prosperity. I will give thee a hundred coins of pure gold and
+eight <i>lapis lazuli</i> of great brightness set with gold, and
+one chariot furnished with a golden flag-staff and drawn by
+excellent steeds, and also ten elephants of infuriate prowess. Do
+thou, O Vrihannala, set me free.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, that tiger among men
+laughingly dragged Uttara who was almost deprived of his senses and
+who was uttering these words of lamentation towards the car. And
+the son of Pritha then addressed the affrighted prince who had
+nearly lost his senses, saying, 'If, O chastiser of foes, thou dost
+not venture to fight with enemy, come thou and hold the reins of
+the steeds as I fight with the foe. Protected by the might of my
+arms, penetrate thou yon formidable and invincible array of cars
+guarded by heroic and mighty warriors. Fear not, O chastiser of
+foes, thou art a <i>Kshatriya</i> and the foremost of royal
+princes. Why dost thou, O tiger among men, succumb in the midst of
+the foe? I shall surely fight with the Kurus and recover the kine,
+penetrating into this formidable and inaccessible array of cars. Be
+thou my charioteer, O best of men, I will fight with the Kurus.'
+Thus speaking unto Uttara, the son of Virata, Vibhatsu, heretofore
+unconquered in battle, for a while comforted him. And then the son
+of Pritha, that foremost of smiters, raised on the car that
+fainting and reluctant prince stricken with fear!"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XXXIX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Beholding that bull among men seated on the
+car in the habit of a person of the third sex, driving toward the
+<i>Sami</i> tree, having taken (the flying) Uttara up, all the
+great car-warriors of the Kurus with Bhishma and Drona at their
+head, became affrighted at heart, suspecting the comer to be
+Dhananjaya. And seeing them so dispirited and marking also the many
+wonderful portents, that foremost of all wielders of arms, the
+preceptor Drona, son of Bharadwaja, said, 'Violent and hot are the
+winds that below, showering gravels in profusion. The sky also is
+overcast with a gloom of ashy hue. The clouds present the strange
+sight of being dry and waterless. Our weapons also of various kinds
+are coming out of their cases. The jackals are yelling hideously
+affrighted at the conflagrations on all sides.<a id="footnotetag41"
+name="footnotetag41"></a><a href="#footnote41"><sup>41</sup></a>
+The horses too are shedding tears, and our banners are trembling
+though moved by none. Such being the inauspicious indications seen,
+a great danger is at hand. Stay ye with vigilance. Protect ye your
+own selves and array the troops in order of battle. Stand ye,
+expecting a terrible slaughter, and guard ye well the kine. This
+mighty bowman, this foremost of all wielders of weapons, this hero
+that hath come in the habit of a person of the third sex, is the
+son of Pritha. There is no doubt of this.' Then addressing Bhishma,
+the preceptor continued, 'O offspring of the Ganges, apparelled as
+a woman, this is <i>Kiriti</i> called after a tree, the son of the
+enemy of the mountains, and having on his banner the sign of
+devastator of the gardens of Lanka's lord. Vanquishing us he will
+surely take away the kine today!<a id="footnotetag42" name=
+"footnotetag42"></a><a href="#footnote42"><sup>42</sup></a> This
+chastiser of foes is the valiant son of Pritha surnamed
+<i>Savyasachin</i>. He doth not desist from conflict even with the
+gods and demons combined. Put to great hardship in the forest he
+cometh in wrath. Taught by even Indra himself, he is like unto
+Indra in battle. Therefore, ye Kauravas, I do not see any hero who
+can withstand him. It is said that the lord <i>Mahadeva</i>
+himself, disguised in the attire of a hunter, was gratified by this
+son of Pritha in battle on the mountains of Himavat.' Hearing these
+words, Karna said, 'You always censure us by speaking on the
+virtues of <i>Phalguna</i>. Arjuna, however, is not equal to even a
+full sixteenth part of myself or Duryodhana!' And Duryodhana said,
+'If this be Partha, O Radheya, then my purpose hath already been
+fulfilled, for then, O king, if traced out, the Pandavas shall have
+to wander for twelve years again. Or, if this one be any other
+person in a eunuch's garb, I will soon prostrate him on the earth
+with keen-edged arrows.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "The son of Dhritarashtra, O chastiser
+of foes, having said this, Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Drona's
+son all applauded his manliness!"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XL</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having reached that <i>Sami</i> tree, and
+having ascertained Virata's son to be exceedingly delicate and
+inexperienced in battle, Partha addressed him, saying, 'Enjoined by
+me, O Uttara, quickly take down (from this tree) some bows that are
+there. For these bows of thine are unable to bear my strength, my
+heavy weight when I shall grind down horses and elephants, and the
+stretch of my arms when I seek to vanquish the foe. Therefore, O
+Bhuminjaya, climb thou up this tree of thick foliage, for in this
+tree are tied the bows and arrows and banners and excellent coats
+of mail of the heroic sons of Pandu, viz., Yudhishthira and Bhima
+and Vibhatsu and the twins. There also is that bow of great energy,
+the <i>Gandiva</i> of Arjuna, which singly is equal to many
+thousands of other bows and which is capable of extending the
+limits of a kingdom. Large like a palmyra tree, able to bear the
+greatest stress, the largest of all weapons, capable of obstructing
+the foe, handsome, and smooth, and broad, without a knot, and
+adorned with gold, it is stiff and beautiful in make and beareth
+the heaviest weight. And the other bows also that are there, of
+Yudhishthira and Bhima and Vibhatsu and the twins, are equally
+mighty and tough.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLI</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'It hath been heard by us that a corpse is tied in
+this tree. How can I, therefore, being a prince by birth, touch it
+with my hands? Born in the <i>Kshatriya</i> order, and the son of a
+great king, and always observant of <i>mantras</i> and vows, it is
+not becoming of me to touch it. Why shouldst thou, O Vrihannala,
+make me a polluted and unclean bearer of corpses, by compelling me
+to come in contact with a corpse?'</p>
+<p>"Vrihannala said, 'Thou shalt, O king of kings, remain clean and
+unpolluted. Do not fear, there are only bows in this tree and not
+corpses. Heir to the king of the Matsyas, and born in a noble
+family, why should I, O prince, make thee do such a reproachable
+deed?'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Partha, Virata's son,
+decked in ear-rings, alighted from the car, and climbed up that
+<i>Sami</i> tree reluctantly. And staying on the car, Dhananjaya,
+that slayer of enemies, said unto him, 'Speedily bring thou down
+those bows from the top of the tree.' And cutting off their
+wrappings first and then the ropes with which they were tied, the
+prince beheld the <i>Gandiva</i> there along with four other bows.
+And as they were untied, the splendour of those bows radiant as the
+sun, began to shine with great effulgence like unto that of the
+planets about the time of their rising. And beholding the forms of
+those bows, so like unto sighing snakes, he become afflicted with
+fear and in a moment the bristles of his body stood on their ends.
+And touching those large bows of great splendour, Virata's son, O
+king, thus spake unto Arjuna!"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLII</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'To what warrior of fame doth this excellent bow
+belong, on which are a hundred golden bosses and which hath such
+radiant ends? Whose is this excellent bow of good sides and easy
+hold, on the staff of which shine golden elephants of such
+brightness? Whose is this excellent bow, adorned with three scores
+of <i>Indragopakas</i><a id="footnotetag43" name=
+"footnotetag43"></a><a href="#footnote43"><sup>43</sup></a> of pure
+gold, placed on the back of the staff at proper intervals? Whose is
+this excellent bow, furnished with three golden suns of great
+effulgence, blazing forth with such brilliancy? Whose is this
+beautiful bow which is variegated with gold and gems, and on which
+are golden insects set with beautiful stones? Whose are these
+arrows furnished with wing around, numbering a thousand, having
+golden heads, and cased in golden quivers? Who owneth these large
+shafts, so thick, furnished with vulturine wings whetted on stone,
+yellowish in hue, sharp-pointed, well-tempered, and entirely made
+of iron? Whose is this sable quiver,<a id="footnotetag44" name=
+"footnotetag44"></a><a href="#footnote44"><sup>44</sup></a> bearing
+five images of tigers, which holdeth shafts intermined with
+boar-eared arrows altogether numbering ten? Whose are these seven
+hundred arrows, long and thick, capable of drinking (the enemy's)
+blood, and looking like the crescent-shaped moon?<a id=
+"footnotetag45" name="footnotetag45"></a><a href=
+"#footnote45"><sup>45</sup></a> Whose are these gold-crested arrows
+whetted on stones, the lower halves of which are well-furnished
+with wings of the hue of parrots' feather and the upper halves, of
+well-tempered steels?<a id="footnotetag46" name=
+"footnotetag46"></a><a href="#footnote46"><sup>46</sup></a> Whose
+is this excellent sword irresistible, and terrible to adversaries,
+with the mark of a toad on it, and pointed like a toad's
+head?<a id="footnotetag47" name="footnotetag47"></a><a href=
+"#footnote47"><sup>47</sup></a> Cased in variegated sheath of
+tiger-skin, whose is this large sword of excellent blade and
+variegated with gold and furnished with tinkling bells? Whose is
+this handsome scimitar of polished blade and golden hilt?
+Manufactured in the country of the <i>Nishadas</i>, irresistible,
+incapable of being broken, whose is this sword of polished blade in
+a scabbard of cow-skin? Whose is this beautiful and long sword,
+sable in hue as the sky, mounted with gold, well-tempered, and
+cased in a sheath of goat-skin? Who owneth this heavy,
+well-tempered, and broad sword, just longer than the breadth of
+thirty fingers, polished by constant clash with other's weapons and
+kept in a case of gold, bright as fire? Whose is this beautiful
+scimitar of sable blade covered with golden bosses, capable of
+cutting through the bodies of adversaries, whose touch is as fatal
+as that of a venomous snake which is irresistible and exciteth the
+terror of foes? Asked by me, O Vrihannala, do thou answer me truly.
+Great is my wonder at the sight of all these excellent
+objects.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLIII</h2>
+<p>"Vrihannala said, 'That about which thou hath first enquired is
+Arjuna's bow, of world-wide fame, called <i>Gandiva</i>, capable of
+devastating hostile hosts. Embellished with gold, this
+<i>Gandiva</i>, the highest and largest of all weapons belonged to
+Arjuna. Alone equal unto a hundred thousand weapons, and always
+capable of extending the confines of kingdoms, it is with this that
+Partha vanquisheth in battle both men and celestials. Worshipped
+ever by the gods, the <i>Danavas</i> and the <i>Gandharvas</i> and
+variegated with excellent colours, this large and smooth bow is
+without a knot or stain anywhere. Shiva held it first for a
+thousand years. Afterwards Prajapati held it for five hundred and
+three years. After that Sakra, for five and eighty years. And then
+Soma held it for five hundred years. And after that <i>Varuna</i>
+held it for a hundred years. And finally Partha, surnamed
+<i>Swetavahana,</i><a id="footnotetag48" name=
+"footnotetag48"></a><a href="#footnote48"><sup>48</sup></a> hath
+held it for five and sixty years.<a id="footnotetag49" name=
+"footnotetag49"></a><a href="#footnote49"><sup>49</sup></a> Endued
+with great energy and of high celestial origin, this is the best of
+all bows. Adored among gods and men, it hath a handsome form.
+Partha obtained this beautiful bow from Varuna. This other bow of
+handsome sides and golden handle is Bhima's with which that son of
+Pritha, that chastiser of foes, had conquered the whole of the
+eastern regions. This other excellent bow of beautiful shape,
+adorned with images of <i>Indragopakas</i>, belongeth, O Virata's
+son, to king Yudhishthira. This other weapon with golden suns of
+blazing splendour shedding a dazzling effulgence around, belongeth
+to Nakula. And this bow adorned with golden images of insects and
+set also with gems and stones, belongeth to that son of Madri who
+is called Sahadeva. These winged arrows, thousand in number, sharp
+as razors and destructive as the poison of snakes, belong, O
+Virata's son, to Arjuna. When shooting them in battle against foes,
+these swift arrows blaze forth more brilliantly and become
+inexhaustible. And these long and thick shafts resembling the lunar
+crescent in shape, keen-edged and capable of thinning the enemy's
+ranks, belong to Bhima. And this quiver bearing five images of
+tigers, full of yellowish shafts whetted on stone and furnished
+with golden wings belong to Nakula. This is the quiver of the
+intelligent son of Madri, with which he had conquered in battle the
+whole of the western regions. And these arrows, all effulgent as
+the sun, painted all over with various colours, and capable of
+destroying enemies by thousands are those of Sahadeva. And these
+short and well-tempered and thick shafts, furnished with long
+feathers and golden heads, and consisting of three knots, belong to
+king Yudhishthira. And this sword with blade long and carved with
+the image of a toad and head shaped as a toad's mouth, strong and
+irresistible belongeth to Arjuna. Cased in a sheath of tiger-skin,
+of long blade, handsome and irresistible, and terrible to
+adversaries, this sword belongeth to Bhimasena. Of excellent blade
+and cased in a well-painted sheath, and furnished with a golden
+hilt, this handsome sword belongeth to the wise
+Kaurava&mdash;Yudhishthira the just. And this sword of strong
+blade, irresistible and intended for various excellent modes of
+fight and cased in a sheath of goat-skin, belongeth to Nakula. And
+this huge scimitar, cased in a sheath of cow-skin, strong and
+irresistible belongeth to Sahadeva.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLIV</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Indeed, these weapons adorned with gold,
+belonging to the light-handed and high-souled Partha, look
+exceedingly beautiful. But where are that Arjuna, the son of
+Pritha, and Yudhishthira of the Kuru race, and Nakula, and
+Sahadeva, and Bhimasena, the sons of Pandu? Having lost their
+kingdom at dice, the high-souled Pandavas, capable of destroying
+all foes, are no longer heard of. Where also is Draupadi, the
+princess of <i>Panchala</i>, famed as the gem among women, who
+followed the sons of Pandu after their defeat at dice to the
+forest?'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'I am Arjuna, called also Partha. Thy father's
+courtier is Yudhishthira and thy father's cook Vallava is
+Bhimasena, the groom of horses is Nakula, and Sahadeva is in the
+cow-pen. And know thou that the <i>Sairindhri</i> is Draupadi, for
+whose sake the Kichakas have been slain.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'I would believe all this if thou canst enumerate
+the ten names of Partha, previously heard by me!'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'I will, O son of Virata, tell thee my ten names.
+Listen thou and compare them with what thou hadst heard before.
+Listen to them with close attention and concentrated mind. They are
+<i>Arjuna, Phalguna, Jishnu, Kiritin, Swetavahana, Vibhatsu,
+Vijaya, Krishna, Savyasachin</i> and <i>Dhananjaya</i>.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Tell me truly why art thou called Vijaya, and why
+Swetavahana. Why art thou named Krishna and why Arjuna and Phalguna
+and Jishnu and Kiritin and Vibhatsu, and for what art thou
+Dhananjaya and Savyasachin? I have heard before about the origin of
+the several names of that hero, and can put faith in thy words if
+thou canst tell me all about them.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'They called me Dhananjaya because I lived in the
+midst of wealth, having subjugated all the countries and taking
+away their treasures. They called me Vijaya because when I go out
+to battle with invincible kings, I never return (from the field)
+without vanquishing them. I am called Swetavahana because when
+battling with the foe, white horses decked in golden armour are
+always yoked unto my car. They call me Phalguna because I was born
+on the breast of the Himavat on a day when the constellation
+<i>Uttara Phalguna</i> was on the ascendent. I am named Kiritin
+from a diadem, resplendent like the sun, having been placed of old
+on my head by Indra during my encounter with the powerful
+<i>Danavas</i>. I am known as Vibhatsu among gods and men, for my
+never having committed a detestable deed on the battle-field. And
+since both of my hands are capable of drawing the <i>Gandiva</i>, I
+am known as Savyasachin among gods and men. They call me Arjuna
+because my complexion is very rare within the four boundaries of
+the earth and because also my acts are always stainless. I am known
+among human beings and celestials by the name of Jishnu, because I
+am unapproachable and incapable of being kept down, and a tamer of
+adversaries and son of the slayer of Paka. And Krishna, my tenth
+appellation, was given to me by my father out of affection towards
+his black-skinned boy of great purity.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "The son of Virata then, approaching
+nearer saluted Partha and said, 'My name is Bhuminjaya, and I am
+also called Uttara. It is by good luck, O Partha, that I behold
+thee. Thou art welcome, O Dhananjaya. O thou with red eyes, and
+arms that are mighty and each like unto the trunk of an elephant,
+it behoveth thee to pardon what I said unto thee from ignorance.
+And as wonderful and difficult have been the feats achieved by thee
+before, my fears have been dispelled, and indeed the love I bear to
+thee is great.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLV</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'O hero, mounting on this large car with myself as
+driver, which division of the (hostile) army wouldst thou
+penetrate? Commanded by thee, I would drive thee thither.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'I am pleased with thee, O tiger among men. Thou
+hast no cause of fear. I will rout all thy foes in battle, O great
+warrior, And, O thou of mighty arms, be at thy ease. Accomplishing
+great and terrible feats in the melee, I will fight with thy foes.
+Tie quickly all those quivers to my car, and take (from among
+those) a sword of polished blade and adorned with gold.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Arjuna, Uttara
+cast off all inactivity. And he speedily alighted from the tree,
+bringing with him Arjuna's weapons. Then Arjuna addressed him,
+saying, 'Yes, I will fight with the Kurus and recover thy kine.
+Protected by me, the top of this car will be to thee as a citadel.
+The passages and alleys and other divisions of this car will be the
+streets and edifices of that fortified city. These my arms will be
+its ramparts and gateways. This treble pole and my quiver will
+constitute defensive works inaccessible to the foe. This my
+banner&mdash;single and grand&mdash;will it not alone be equal unto
+those of thy city? This my bow-string will constitute the catapults
+and cannons for vomiting forth missiles on the besieging host. My
+excited wrath will make that fortress formidable, and the clatter
+of my car-wheels&mdash;will it not resemble the kettle-drums of thy
+capital? Ridden by myself wielding the <i>Gandiva</i>, this car
+will be incapable of being vanquished by the hostile host, O son of
+Virata, let thy fear be dispelled.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'I am no longer afraid of these. I know thy
+steadiness in battle, which is even like unto that of Kesava or
+Indra himself. But reflecting on this, I am continually bewildered.
+Foolish as I am, I am incapable of arriving at certain conclusion.
+By what distressful circumstances could <i>a person of such
+handsome limbs and auspicious signs become deprived of manhood</i>!
+Indeed, thou seemest to me to be Mahadeva, or Indra, or the chief
+of the Gandharvas, dwelling in the guise only of one of the third
+sex.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'I tell thee truly that I am only observing this
+vow for a whole year agreeable to the behest of my elder brother. O
+thou of mighty arms, I am not truly one of the neuter sex, but I
+have adopted this vow of eunuchism from subservience to another's
+will and from desire of religious merit. O prince, know me now to
+have completed my vow.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Thou hast conferred a great favour on me today,
+for I now find that my suspicion was not altogether unfounded.
+Indeed, such a person as thou, O best of men, cannot be of the
+neuter sex. I have now an ally in battle. I can now fight with the
+celestials themselves. My fears have been dispelled. What shall I
+do? Command me now. Trained in driving cars by a learned preceptor
+I will, O bull among men, hold the reins of thy horses that are
+capable of breaking the ranks of hostile cars. Know me, O bull
+among men, to be as competent a charioteer as Daruka of Vasudeva,
+or Matali of Sakra. The horse that is yoked unto the right-hand
+pole (of thy car) and whose hoofs as they light on the ground are
+scarcely visible when running, is like unto <i>Sugriva</i> of
+Krishna. This other handsome horse, the foremost of his race, that
+is yoked unto the left pole, is, I regard, equal in speed to
+<i>Meghapushpa</i>. This (third) beautiful horse, clad in golden
+mail, yoked unto the rear-pole on the left, is, I regard,
+<i>Sivya</i> equal in speed to but superior in strength. And this
+(fourth) horse, yoked to the rear-pole on the right, is regarded as
+superior to <i>Valahaka</i> in speed and strength. This car is
+worthy of bearing on the field of battle a bowman like thee, and
+thou also art worthy of fighting on this car. This is what I
+think!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then Arjuna, endued with great energy,
+took off the bracelets from his arms and wore on his hands a pair
+of beautiful gloves embroidered with gold. And he then tied his
+black and curling locks with a piece of white cloth. And seated on
+that excellent car with face turned to the east, the mighty-armed
+hero, purifying his body and concentrating his soul, recalled to
+his mind all his weapons. And all the weapons came, and addressing
+the royal son of Partha, said, 'We are here, O illustrious one. We
+are thy servants, O son of Indra.' And bowing unto them, Partha
+received them unto his hands and replied unto them, saying, 'Dwell
+ye all in my memory.' And obtaining all his weapons, the hero
+looked cheerful. And quickly stringing his bow, the <i>Gandiva</i>,
+he twanged it. And the twang of that bow was as loud as the
+collision of two mighty bulls. And dreadful was the sound that
+filled the earth, and violent was the wind that blew on all sides.
+And thick was the shower of fallen meteors<a id="footnotetag50"
+name="footnotetag50"></a><a href="#footnote50"><sup>50</sup></a>
+and all sides were enveloped in gloom. And the birds began to
+totter in the skies and large trees began to shake.<a id=
+"footnotetag51" name="footnotetag51"></a><a href=
+"#footnote51"><sup>51</sup></a> And loud as the burst of the
+thunder, the Kurus knew from that sound that it was Arjuna that
+drew with his hands the string of his best of bows from his car.
+And Uttara said, 'Thou, O best of Pandavas, art alone. These mighty
+car-warriors are many. How wilt thou vanquish in battle all these
+that are skilled in every kind of weapon? Thou, O son of Kunti, art
+without a follower, while the Kauravas have many. It is for this, O
+thou of mighty arms, that I stay beside thee, stricken with fear.'
+Bursting out into loud laughter, Partha said unto him, 'Be not
+afraid, O hero, what friendly follower had I while fighting with
+the mighty <i>Gandharvas</i> on the occasion of the
+<i>Ghoshayatra</i>? Who was my ally while engaged in the terrific
+conflict at <i>Khandava</i> against so many celestials and
+<i>Danavas</i>? Who was my ally when I fought, on behalf of the
+lord of the celestials against the mighty <i>Nivatakavachas</i> and
+the <i>Paulomas</i>! And who was my ally, O child, while I
+encountered in battle innumerable kings at the <i>Swayamvara</i> to
+the princess of Panchala? Trained in arms by the preceptor Drona,
+by Sakra, and Vaisravana, and Yama, and Varuna, and Agni, and
+Kripa, and Krishna of Madhu's race, and by the wielder of the
+<i>Pinaka</i> (Siva), why shall I not fight with these? Drive thou
+my car speedily, and let thy heart's fever be dispelled.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLVI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Making Uttara his charioteer, and
+circumambulating the <i>Sami</i> tree, the son of Pandu set out
+taking all his weapons with him. And that mighty car-warrior set
+out with Uttara as the driver of his car, having taken down that
+banner with the lion's figure and deposited it at the foot of the
+<i>Sami</i> tree. And he hoisted on that car his own golden banner
+bearing the figure of an ape with a lion's tail, which was a
+celestial illusion contrived by Viswakarman himself. For, as soon,
+indeed, as he had thought of that gift of Agni, than the latter,
+knowing his wish, ordered those superhuman creatures (that usually
+sat there) to take their place in that banner. And furnished with a
+beautiful flag of handsome make, with quivers attached to it, and
+adorned with gold, that excellent flag-staff of celestial beauty
+then quickly fell from the firmament on his car.<a id=
+"footnotetag52" name="footnotetag52"></a><a href=
+"#footnote52"><sup>52</sup></a> And beholding that banner arrived
+on his car, the hero circumambulated it (respectively). And then
+the ape-bannered Vibhatsu, the son of Kunti, called also
+Swetavahana, with fingers cased in leathern fences of the
+<i>Iguana</i> skin, and taking up his bow and arrows set out in a
+northernly direction. And that grinder of foes, possessed of great
+strength, then forcibly blew his large conch-shell, of thundering
+sound, capable of making the bristles of foes to stand on their
+ends. And at the sound of that conch, those steeds endued with
+swiftness dropped down on the ground on their knees. And Uttara
+also, greatly affrighted, sat down on the car. And thereupon the
+son of Kunti took the reins himself and raising the steeds, placed
+them in their proper positions. And embracing Uttara, he encouraged
+him also, saying, 'Fear not, O foremost of princes, thou art, O
+chastiser of foes, a <i>Kshatriya</i> by birth. Why, O tiger among
+men, dost thou become so dispirited in the midst of foes? Thou must
+have heard before the blare of many conchs and the note of many
+trumpets, and the roar also of many elephants in the midst of ranks
+arrayed for battled. Why art thou, therefore, so dispirited and
+agitated and terrified by the blare of this conch, as if thou wert
+an ordinary person?'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Heard have I the blare of many a conch and many a
+trumpet and the roar of many an elephant stationed in the
+battle-array, but never have I heard before the blare of such
+conch. Nor have I ever seen a banner like this. Never before have I
+heard also the twang of a bow such as this. Truly, sir, with the
+blare of this conch, the twang of this bow, the superhuman cries of
+the creatures stationed on this banner, and the battle of this car,
+my mind is greatly bewildered. My perception of the directions also
+is confused, and my heart is painfully afflicted. The whole
+firmament seemeth to me to have been covered by this banner, and
+everything seemeth to be hidden from my view! My ears also have
+been deafened by the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i>!'<a id=
+"footnotetag53" name="footnotetag53"></a><a href=
+"#footnote53"><sup>53</sup></a></p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'Firmly stand thou on the car, pressing thy feet
+on it, and tightly catch hold of the bridles, for I will blow the
+conch again.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Arjuna then blew his conch again, that conch
+which filled foes with grief and enhanced the joy of friends. And
+the sound was so loud that it seemed to split hills and mountains,
+and pierce mountain-caves and the cardinal points. And Uttara once
+again sat down on the car, clinging to it in fear. And with the
+blare of the conch and the rattle of the car-wheels, and the twang
+of the Gandiva, the earth itself seemed to tremble. And beholding
+Uttara's fight, Dhananjaya began to comfort him again.'</p>
+<p>"Meanwhile, Drona said, 'From the rattle of the car, and from
+the manner in which the clouds have enveloped the sky and the earth
+itself trembles, this warrior can be none else than
+<i>Savyasachin</i>. Our weapons do not shine, our steeds are
+dispirited, and our fires, though fed with fuel, do not blare up.
+All this is ominous. All our animals are setting up a frightful
+howl, gazing towards the sun. The crows are perching on our
+banners. All this is ominous. Yon vultures and kites on our right
+portend a great danger. That jackal also, running through our
+ranks, waileth dismally. Lo, it hath escaped unstruck. All this
+portends a heavy calamity. The bristles also of ye all are on their
+ends. Surely, this forebodes a great destruction of Kshatriyas in
+battle. Things endued with light are all pale; beasts and birds
+look fierce; and there are to be witnessed many terrific portents
+indicative of the destruction of Kshatriyas. And these omens
+forebode great havoc among ourselves. O king, thy ranks seem to be
+confounded by these blazing meteors, and thy animals look
+dispirited and seem to be weeping. Vultures and kites are wheeling
+all around thy troops. Thou shalt have to repent upon beholding thy
+army afflicted by Partha's arrows. Indeed, our ranks seem to have
+been already vanquished, for none is eager to go to fight. All our
+warriors are of pale face, and almost deprived of their senses.
+Sending the kine ahead we should stand here, ready to strike, with
+all our warriors arrayed in order of battle.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "King Duryodhana then, on the field of battle
+said unto Bhishma, and unto Drona&mdash;that tiger among warriors,
+and unto Kripa&mdash;that mighty car-warrior, these words, 'Both
+myself and Karna had said this unto the preceptors.<a id=
+"footnotetag54" name="footnotetag54"></a><a href=
+"#footnote54"><sup>54</sup></a> I refer to the subject again, for I
+am not satisfied with having said it once. Even this was the pledge
+of the sons of Pandu that if defeated (at dice) they would reside
+to our knowledge in countries and woods for twelve years, and one
+more year unknown to us. That thirteenth year, instead of being
+over, is yet running. Vibhatsu, therefore, who is still to live
+undiscovered hath appeared before us. And if Vibhatsu hath come
+before the term of exile is at end, the Pandavas shall have to pass
+another twelve years in the woods. Whether it is due to
+forgetfulness (on their part) induced by desire of dominion, or
+whether it is a mistake of ours, it behoveth Bhishma to calculate
+the shortness or excess (of the promised period). When an object of
+desire may or may not be attained, a doubt necessarily attaches to
+one of the alternatives, and what is decided in one way often ends
+differently.<a id="footnotetag55" name="footnotetag55"></a><a href=
+"#footnote55"><sup>55</sup></a> Even moralists are puzzled in
+judging of their own acts.<a id="footnotetag56" name=
+"footnotetag56"></a><a href="#footnote56"><sup>56</sup></a> As
+regards ourselves, we have come hither to fight with the Matsyas
+and to seize their kine stationed towards the north. If, meanwhile,
+it is Arjuna that hath come, what fault can attach to us? We have
+come hither to fight against the Matsyas on behalf of the
+Trigartas; and as numerous were the acts represented unto us of the
+oppressions committed by the Matsyas, it was for this that we
+promised aid to the Trigartas who were overcome with fear. And it
+was agreed between us that they should first seize, on the
+afternoon of the seventh lunar day, the enormous wealth of kine
+that the Matsyas have, and that we should, at sunrise of the
+eighteen day of the moon, seize these kine when the king of the
+Matsyas would be pursuing those first seized. It may be that the
+Trigartas are now bringing away the kine, or being defeated, are
+coming towards us for negotiating with the king of the Matsyas. Or,
+it may be, that having driven the Trigartas off, the king of the
+Matsyas, at the head of this people and his whole army of fierce
+warriors, appeareth on the scene and advanceth to make
+night-attacks upon us. It may be that some one leader among them,
+endued with mighty energy, is advancing for vanquishing us, or, it
+may be that the king himself of the Matsyas is come. But be it the
+king of the Matsyas or Vibhatsu, we must all fight him. Even this
+hath been our pledge. Why are all these of foremost
+car-warriors,&mdash;Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Vikarna and
+Drona's son,&mdash;now sitting on their cars, panic-stricken? At
+present there is nothing better than fighting. Therefore, make up
+your minds. If, for the cattle we have seized, an encounter takes
+place with the divine wielder himself of the thunderbolt or even
+with Yama, who is there that will be liable to reach Hastinapura?
+Pierced by the shafts (of the foe), how will the foot-soldiers, in
+flying through the deep forest with their backs on the field,
+escape with life, when escape for the cavalry is doubtful?' Hearing
+these words of Duryodhana, Karna said, 'Disregarding the preceptor,
+make all arrangements. He knoweth well the intentions of the
+Pandavas and striketh terror in our hearts. I see that his
+affection for Arjuna is very great. Seeing him only coming, he
+chanteth his praises. Make ye such arrangements that our troops may
+not break. Everything is in confusion for Drona's having only heard
+the neigh of (Arjuna's) steeds. Make ye such arrangements that
+these troops, come to a distant land in this hot season and in the
+midst of this mighty forest, may not fall into confusion and be
+subjugated by the foe. The Pandavas are always the special
+favourites of the preceptor. The selfish Pandavas have stationed
+Drona amongst us. Indeed, he betrayeth himself by his speech. Who
+would ever extol a person upon hearing the neigh only of his
+steeds? Horses always neigh, whether walking or standing, the winds
+blow at all times; and Indra also always showereth rain. The roar
+of the clouds may frequently be heard. What hath Partha to do with
+these, and why is he to be praised for these? All this (on Drona's
+part), therefore, is due only to either the desire of doing good to
+Arjuna or to his wrath and hatred towards us. Preceptors are wise,
+and sinless, and very kind to all creatures. They, however, should
+never be consulted at times of peril. It is in luxurious palaces,
+and assemblies and pleasure-gardens, that learned men, capable of
+making speeches, seem to be in their place. Performing many
+wonderful things, in the assembly, it is there that learned men
+find their place, or even there where sacrificial utensils and
+their proper placing and washing are needed. In a knowledge of the
+lapses of others, in studying the characters of men, in the science
+of horses and elephants and cars, in treating the diseases of asses
+and camels and goats and sheeps and kine, in planning buildings and
+gateways, and in pointing out the defects of food and drink, the
+learned are truly in their own sphere. Disregarding learned men
+that extol the heroism of the foe, make ye such arrangements that
+the foe may be destroyed. Placing the kine securely, array the
+troops in order of battle. Place guards in proper places so that we
+may fight the foe.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLVIII</h2>
+<p>"Karna said, 'I behold all these blessed ones, looking as if
+alarmed and panic-struck and unresolved and unwilling to fight. If
+he that is come is the king of the Matsyas or Vibhatsu, even I will
+resist him as the banks resist the swelling sea. Shot from my bow
+these straight and flying arrows, like gliding snakes, are all sure
+of aim. Discharged by my light hands, these keen-edged arrows
+furnished with golden wings shall cover Partha all over, like
+locusts shrouding a tree. Strongly pressed by these winged arrows,
+the bow-string will cause these my leathern fences to produce
+sounds that will be heard to resemble those of a couple of
+kettle-drums. Having been engaged in ascetic austerities for the
+(last) eight and five years, Vibhatsu will strike me but mildly in
+this conflict, and the son of Kunti having become a Brahmana endued
+with good qualities, hath thus become a fit person to quietly
+receive shafts by thousands shot by me. This mighty bowman is
+indeed, celebrated over the three worlds. I, too, am, by no means,
+inferior to Arjuna, that foremost of human beings. With golden
+arrows furnished with vulturine wings shot on all sides, let the
+firmament seem today to swarm with fire-flies. Slaying Arjuna in
+battle, I will discharge today that debt, difficult of repayments,
+but promised of old by me unto Dhritarashtra's son. When man is
+there, even amongst all the gods and the <i>Asuras</i>, that will
+endure to stand in the teeth of the straight arrows shot from my
+bow? Let my flying arrows, winged and depressed at the middle,
+present the spectacle of the coursing of the fire-flies through the
+welkin. Hard though he be as Indra's thunderbolt and possessed of
+the energy of the chief of the celestials, I will surely grind
+Partha, even as one afflicts an elephant by means of burning
+brands. A heroic and mighty car-warrior as he is, and the foremost
+of all wielders of weapons I shall seize the unresisting Partha,
+even like Garuda seizing a snake. Irresistible like fire, and fed
+by the fuel of swords, darts, and arrows, the blazing Pandava-fire
+that consumeth foes, will be extinguished even by myself who am
+like unto a mighty cloud incessantly dropping an arrowy
+shower,&mdash;the multitude of cars (I will lead) constituting its
+thunder, and the speed of my horses, the wind in advance.
+Discharged from my bow, my arrows like venomous snakes will pierce
+Partha's body, like serpent penetrating through an ant-hill.
+Pierced with well-tempered and straight shafts endued with golden
+wings and great energy, behold ye today the son of Kunti decked
+like a hill covered with <i>Karnikara</i> flowers. Having obtained
+weapons from that best of ascetics&mdash;the son of Jamadagni, I
+would, relying on their energy, fight with even the celestials.
+Struck with my javelin, the ape stationed on his banner-top shall
+fall down today on the ground, uttering terrible cries. The
+firmament will today be filled with the cries of the (super-human)
+creatures stationed in the flagstaff of the foe, and afflicted by
+me, they will fly away in all directions. I shall today pluck up by
+the roots the long-existing dart in Duryodhana's heart by throwing
+Arjuna down from his car. The Kauravas will today behold Partha
+with his car broken, his horses killed, his valour gone, and
+himself sighing like a snake. Let the Kauravas, following their own
+will go away taking this wealth of kine, or, if they wish, let them
+stay on their cars and witness my combat.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION XLIX</h2>
+<p>"Kripa said, 'O Radheya, thy crooked heart always inclineth to
+war. Thou knowest not the true nature of things; nor dost thou take
+into account their after-consequences. There are various kinds of
+expedients inferrable from the scriptures. Of these, a battle hath
+been regarded by those acquainted with the past, as the most
+sinful. It is only when time and place are favourable that military
+operations can lead to success. In the present instance, however,
+the time being unfavourable, no good results will be deprived. A
+display of prowess in proper time and place becometh beneficial. It
+is by the favourableness or otherwise (of time and place) that the
+opportuneness of an act is determined. Learned men can never act
+according to the ideas of a car-maker. Considering all this, an
+encounter with Partha is not advisible for us. Alone he saved the
+Kurus (from the <i>Gandharvas</i>), and alone he satiated Agni.
+Alone he led the life of a <i>Brahmacharin</i> for five years (on
+the breast of Himavat). Taking up Subhadra on his car, alone he
+challenged Krishna to single combat. Alone he fought with Rudra who
+stood before him as a forester. It was in this very forest that
+Partha rescued Krishna while she was being taken away (by
+Jayadratha). It is he alone that hath, for five years, studied the
+science of weapons under Indra. 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 <i>Gandharvas</i>
+and in a moment his invincible troops also. Alone he overthrew in
+battle the fierce <i>Nivatakavachas</i> and the
+<i>Kalakhanchas</i>, that were both incapable of being slain by the
+gods themselves. What, however, O Karna, hath been achieved by thee
+single-handed like any of the sons of Pandu, each of whom had alone
+subjugated many lords of earth? Even Indra himself is unfit to
+encounter Partha in battle. He, therefore, that desireth to fight
+with Arjuna should take a sedative. As to thyself, thou desirest to
+take out the fangs of an angry snake of virulent poison by
+stretching forth thy right hand and extending thy forefinger. Or,
+wandering alone in the forest thou desirest to ride an infuriate
+elephant and go to a boar without a hook in hand. Or, rubbed over
+with clarified butter and dressed in silken robes, thou desirest to
+pass through the midst of a blazing fire fed with fat and tallow
+and clarified butter. Who is there that would, binding his own
+hands and feet and tying a huge stone unto his neck, cross the
+ocean swimming with his bare arms? What manliness is there in such
+an act? O Karna, he is a fool that would, without skill in weapons
+and without strength, desire to fight with Partha who is so mighty
+and skilled in weapons. Dishonestly deceived by us and liberated
+from thirteen years' exile, will not the illustrious hero
+annihilate us? Having ignorantly come to a place where Partha lay
+concealed like fire hidden in a well, we have, indeed, exposed to a
+great danger. But irresistible though he be in battle, we should
+fight against him. Let, therefore, our troops, clad in mail, stand
+here arrayed in ranks and ready to strike. Let Drona and Duryodhana
+and Bhishma and thyself and Drona's son and ourselves, all fight
+with the son of Pritha. Do not, O Karna, act so rashly as to fight
+alone. If we six car-warriors be united, we can then be a match for
+and fight with that son of Pritha who is resolved to fight and who
+is as fierce as the wielder of the thunderbolt. Aided by our troops
+arrayed in ranks, ourselves&mdash;great bowmen&mdash;standing
+carefully will fight with Arjuna even as the <i>Danavas</i>
+encounter Vasava in battle.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION L</h2>
+<p>"Aswatthaman said, 'The kine, O Karna, have not yet been won,
+nor have they yet crossed the boundary (of their owner's
+dominions), nor have they yet reached Hastinapura. Why dost thou,
+therefore, boast of thyself? Having won numerous battles, and
+acquired enormous wealth, and vanquished hostile hosts, men of true
+heroism speak not a word of their prowess. Fire burneth mutely and
+mutely doth the sun shine. Mutely also doth the Earth bear
+creatures, both mobile and immobile. The Self-existent hath
+sanctioned such offices for the four orders that having recourse to
+them each may acquire wealth without being censurable. A Brahmana,
+having studied the <i>Vedas</i>, should perform sacrifices himself,
+and officiate at the sacrifices of others. And a Kshatriya,
+depending upon the bow, should perform sacrifices himself but
+should never officiate at the sacrifices of others. And a Vaisya,
+having earned wealth, should cause the rites enjoined in the
+<i>Vedas</i> to be performed for himself. A Sudra should always
+wait upon and serve the other three orders. As regards those that
+live by practising the profession of flowers and vendors of meat,
+they may earn wealth by expedients fraught with deceit and fraud.
+Always acting according to the dictates of the scriptures, the
+exalted sons of Pandu acquired the sovereignty of the whole earth,
+and they always act respectfully towards their superiors, even if
+the latter prove hostile to them. What Kshatriya is there that
+expressed delight at having obtained a kingdom by means of dice,
+like this wicked and shameless son of Dhritarashtra? Having
+acquired wealth in this way by deceit and fraud like a vendor of
+meat, who that is wise boast of it? In what single combat didst
+thou vanquish Dhananjaya, or Nakula, or Sahadeva, although thou
+hast robbed them of their wealth? In what battle didst thou defeat
+Yudhishthira, or Bhima that foremost of strong men? In what battle
+was Indraprastha conquered by thee? What thou hast done, however, O
+thou of wicked deeds, is to drag that princess to court while she
+was ill and had but one raiment on? Thou hast cut the mighty root,
+delicate as the sandal, of the Pandava tree. Actuated by desire of
+wealth, when thou madest the Pandavas act as slaves, rememberest
+thou what Vidura said! We see that men and others, even insects and
+ants, show forgiveness according to their power of endurance. The
+son of Pandu, however, is incapable of forgiving the sufferings of
+Draupadi. Surely, Dhananjaya cometh here for the destruction of the
+sons of Dhritarashtra. It is true, affecting great wisdom, thou art
+for making speeches but will not Vibhatsu, that slayer of foes,
+exterminate us all! If it be gods, or <i>Gandharvas</i> or
+<i>Asuras</i>, or <i>Rakshasas</i>, will Dhananjaya the son of
+Kunti, desist to fight from panic? Inflamed with wrath upon
+whomsoever he will fall, even him he will overthrow like a tree
+under the weight of Garuda! Superior to thee in prowess, in
+bowmanship equal unto the lord himself of the celestials, and in
+battle equal unto Vasudeva himself, who is there that would not
+praise Partha? Counteracting celestial weapons with celestial, and
+human weapons with human, what man is a match for Arjuna? Those
+acquainted with the scriptures declare that a disciple is no way
+inferior to a son, and it is for this that the son of Pandu is a
+favourite of Drona. Employ thou the means now which thou hadst
+adopted in the match at dice,&mdash;the same means, viz., by which
+thou hadst subjugated Indraprastha, and the same means by which
+thou hadst dragged Krishna to the assembly! This thy wise uncle,
+fully conversant with the duties of the <i>Kshatriya</i>
+order&mdash;this deceitful gambler Sakuni, the prince of Gandhara,
+let <i>him</i> fight now! The <i>Gandiva</i>, however, doth not
+cast dice such as the <i>Krita</i> or the <i>Dwapara</i>, but it
+shooteth upon foes blazing and keen-edged shafts by myriads. The
+fierce arrows shot from the <i>Gandiva</i>, endued with great
+energy and furnished with vulturine wings, car, pierce even
+mountains. The destroyer of all, named Yama, and Vayu, and the
+horse-faced Agni, leave some remnant behind, but Dhananjaya
+inflamed with wrath never doth so. As thou hadst, aided by thy
+uncle, played at dice in the assembly so do fight in this battle
+protected by Suvala's son. Let the preceptor, if he chooses fight;
+I shall not, however, fight with Dhananjaya. We are to fight with
+the king of the Matsyas, if indeed, he cometh in the track of the
+kine.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LI</h2>
+<p>"Bhishma said, 'Drona's son observeth well, and Kripa too
+observeth rightly. As for Karna, it is only out of regard for the
+duties of the Kshatriya order that he desireth to fight. No man of
+wisdom can blame the preceptor. I, however, am of opinion that
+fight we must, considering both the time and the place. Why should
+not that man be bewildered who hath five adversaries effulgent as
+five suns, who are heroic combatants and who have just emerged from
+adversity? Even those conversant with morality are bewildered in
+respect of their own interests. It is for this, O king, that I tell
+thee this, whether my words be acceptable to you or not. What Karna
+said unto thee was only for raising our (drooping) courage. As
+regards thyself, O preceptor's son, forgive everything. The
+business at hand is very grave. When the son of Kunti hath come,
+this is not the time for quarrel. Everything should now be forgiven
+by thyself and the preceptor Kripa. Like light in the sun, the
+mastery of all weapons doth reside in you. As beauty is never
+separated from <i>Chandramas</i>, so are the <i>Vedas</i> and the
+<i>Brahma</i> weapon both established in you. It is often seen that
+the four <i>Vedas</i> dwell in one object and <i>Kshatriya</i>
+attributes in another. We have never heard of these two dwelling
+together in any other person than the preceptor of the Bharata race
+and his son. Even this is what I think. In the <i>Vedantas</i>, in
+the <i>Puranas</i>, and in old histories, who save Jamadagni, O
+king, would be Drona's superior? A combination of the <i>Brahma</i>
+weapon with the <i>Vedas</i>,&mdash;this is never to be seen
+anywhere else. O preceptor's son, do thou forgive. This is not the
+time for disunion. Let all of us, uniting, fight with Indra's son
+who hath come. Of all the calamities that may befall an army that
+have been enumerated by men of wisdom, the worst is disunion among
+the leaders.' Aswatthaman said, 'O bull among men, these thy just
+observations, need not be uttered in our presence; the preceptor,
+however, filled with wrath, had spoken of Arjuna's virtues. The
+virtues of even an enemy should be admitted, while the faults of
+even one's preceptor may be pointed out; therefore one should, to
+the best of his power, declare the merits of a son or a
+disciple.'</p>
+<p>"Duryodhana said, 'Let the preceptor grant his forgiveness and
+let peace be restored. If the preceptor be at one with us, whatever
+should be done (in view of the present emergency) would seem to
+have been already done.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O Bharata, Duryodhana assisted by
+Karna and Kripa, and the high-souled Bhishma pacified Drona.</p>
+<p>"Drona said, 'Appeased I have already been at the words first
+spoken by Bhishma, the son of Santanu. Let such arrangements be
+made that Partha may not be able to approach Duryodhana in battle.
+And let such arrangements be made that king Duryodhana may not be
+captured by the foe, in consequence either of his rashness or want
+of judgment. Arjuna hath not, to be sure, revealed himself before
+the expiry of the term of exile. Nor will he pardon this act (of
+ours) today, having only recovered the kine. Let such arrangements,
+therefore, be made that he may not succeed in attacking
+Dhritarashtra's son and defeating our troops. Like myself (who am
+doubtful of the completion of period of exile) Duryodhana also had
+said so before. Bearing it in mind, it behoveth the son of Ganga to
+say what is true.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LII</h2>
+<p>"Bhishma said, 'The wheel of time revolves with its divisions,
+viz., with <i>Kalas</i> and <i>Kasthas</i> and <i>Muhurtas</i> and
+days and fortnights and months and constellations and planets and
+seasons and years. In consequence of their fractional excesses and
+the deviations of also of the heavenly bodies, there is an increase
+of two months in every five years. It seems to me that calculating
+this wise, there would be an excess of five months and twelve
+nights in thirteen years. Everything, therefore, that the sons of
+Pandu had promised, hath been exactly fulfilled by them. Knowing
+this to be certain, Vibhatsu hath made his appearance. All of them
+are high-souled and fully conversant with the meanings of the
+scriptures. How would they deviate from virtue that have
+Yudhishthira for their guide? The sons of Kunti do not yield to
+temptation. They have achieved a difficult feat. If they had
+coveted the possession of their kingdom by unfair means, then those
+descendants of the Kuru race would have sought to display their
+prowess at the time of the match at dice. Bound in bonds of virtue,
+they did not deviate from the duties of the Kshatriya order. He
+that will regard them to have behaved falsely will surely meet with
+defeat. The sons of Pritha would prefer death to falsehood. When
+the time, however, comes, those bulls among men&mdash;the
+Pandavas&mdash;endued with energy like that of Sakra, would not
+give up what is theirs even if it is defended by the wielder
+himself of the thunderbolt. We shall have to oppose in battle the
+foremost of all wielders of weapons. Therefore, let such
+advantageous arrangements as have the sanction of the good and the
+honest be now made without loss of time so that our possessions may
+not be appropriated by the foe. O king of kings, O Kaurava, I have
+never seen a battle in which one of the parties could
+say,&mdash;<i>we are sure to win</i>. When a battle occurs, there
+must be victory or defeat, prosperity or adversity. Without doubt,
+a party to a battle must have either of the two. Therefore, O king
+of kings, whether a battle be now proper or not consistent with
+virtue or not, make thy arrangements soon, for Dhananjaya is at
+hand.'</p>
+<p>"Duryodhana said, 'I will not, O grandsire, give back the
+Pandavas their kingdom. Let every preparation, therefore, for
+battle be made without delay.'</p>
+<p>"Bhishma said, 'Listen to what I regard as proper, if it pleases
+thee. I should always say what is for thy good, O Kaurava. Proceed
+thou towards the capital, without loss of time, taking with thee a
+fourth part of the army. And let another fourth march, escorting
+the kine. With half the troops we will fight the Pandava. Myself
+and Drona, and Karna and Aswatthaman and Kripa will resolutely
+withstand Vibhatsu, or the king of the Matsyas, or Indra himself,
+if he approaches. Indeed, we will withstand any of these like the
+bank withstanding the surging sea.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "These words spoken by the high-souled
+Bhishma were acceptable to them, and the king of the Kauravas acted
+accordingly without delay. And having sent away the king and then
+the kine, Bhishma began to array the soldiers in order of battle.
+And addressing the preceptor, he said, 'O preceptor, stand thou in
+the centre, and let Aswatthaman stand on the left, and let the wise
+Kripa, son of Saradwata, defend the right wing, and let Karna of
+the <i>Suta</i> caste, clad in mail, stand in the van. I will stand
+in the rear of the whole army, protecting it from that point.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "After the Kauravas, O Bharata, had taken
+their stand in this order, Arjuna, filling the air with the rattle
+and din of his car, advanced quickly towards them. And the Kurus
+beheld his banner-top and heard the rattle and din of his car as
+also the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i> stretched repeatedly by him.
+And noting all this, and seeing that great car-warrior&mdash;the
+wielder of the <i>Gandiva</i>&mdash;come, Drona spoke thus, 'That
+is the banner-top of Partha which shineth at a distance, and this
+is the noise of his car, and that is the ape that roareth
+frightfully. Indeed, the ape striketh terror in the troops. And
+there stationed on that excellent car, the foremost of car-warriors
+draweth that best of bows, the <i>Gandiva</i>, whose twang is as
+loud as the thunder. Behold, these two shafts coming together fall
+at my feet, and two others pass off barely touching my ears.
+Completing the period of exile and having achieved many wonderful
+feats, Partha saluteth me and whispereth in my ears. Endued with
+wisdom and beloved of his relatives, this Dhananjaya, the son of
+Pandu, is, indeed, beheld by us after a long time, blazing with
+beauty and grace. Possessed of car and arrows, furnished with
+handsome fences and quiver and conch and banner and coat of mail,
+decked with diadem and scimitar and bow, the son of Pritha shineth
+like the blazing (<i>Homa</i>) fire surrounded with sacrificial
+ladles and fed with sacrificial butter.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding the Kurus ready for battle,
+Arjuna addressing Matsya's son in words suitable to the occasion,
+said, 'O charioteer, restrain thou the steeds at such a point
+whence my arrows may reach the enemy. Meanwhile, let me see, where,
+in the midst of this army, is that vile wretch of the Kuru race.
+Disregarding all these, and singling out that vainest of princes I
+will fall upon his head, for upon the defeat of that wretch the
+others will regard themselves as defeated. There standeth Drona,
+and thereafter him his son. And there are those great
+bowmen&mdash;Bhishma and Kripa and Karna. I do not see, however,
+the king there. I suspect that anxious to save his life, he
+retreateth by the southern road, taking away with him the kine.
+Leaving this array of car-warriors, proceed to the spot where
+Suyodhana is. There will I fight, O son of Virata, for there the
+battle will not be fruitless, Defeating him I will come back,
+taking away the kine.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, the son of Virata
+restrained the steeds with an effort and turned them by a pull at
+the bridle from the spot where those bulls of the Kuru race were,
+and urged them on towards the place where Duryodhana was. And as
+Arjuna went away leaving that thick array of cars, Kripa, guessing
+his intention, addressed his own comrades, saying, 'This Vibhatsu
+desireth not to take up his stand at a spot remote from the king.
+Let us quickly fall upon the flanks of the advancing hero. When
+inflamed with wrath, none else, unassisted, can encounter him in
+battle save the deity of a thousand eyes, or Krishna the son of
+Devaki. Of what use to us would the kine be or this vast wealth
+also, if Duryodhana were to sink, like a boat, in the ocean of
+<i>Partha</i>?' Meanwhile, Vibhatsu, having proceeded towards that
+division of the army, announced himself speedily by name, and
+covered the troops with his arrows thick as locusts. And covered
+with those countless shafts shot by Partha, the hostile warriors
+could not see anything, the earth itself and the sky becoming
+overwhelmed therewith. And the soldiers who had been ready for the
+fight were so confounded that none could even the flee from the
+field. And beholding the light-handedness of Partha they all
+applauded it mentally. And Arjuna then blew his conch which always
+made the bristles of the foe stand erect. And twanging his best of
+bows, he urged the creatures on his flagstaff to roar more
+frightfully. And at the blare of his conch and the rattle of his
+car-wheels, and the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i>, and the roar of
+the superhuman creatures stationed on his flagstaff, the earth
+itself began to tremble. And shaking their upraised tails and
+lowing together, the kine turned back, proceeding along the
+southern road.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LIV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having disorganised the hostile host by
+force and having recovered the kine, that foremost of bowmen,
+desirous of fighting again, proceeded towards Duryodhana. And
+beholding the kine running wild towards the city of the Matsyas,
+the foremost warriors of the Kurus regarded Kiritin to have already
+achieved success. And all of a sudden they fell upon Arjuna who was
+advancing towards Duryodhana. And beholding their countless
+divisions firmly arrayed in order of battle with countless banners
+waving over them, that slayer of foes, addressing the son of the
+king of the Matsyas, said, 'Urge on, to the best of their speed by
+this road, these white steeds decked with golden bridles. Strive
+thou well, for I would approach this crowd of Kuru lions. Like an
+elephant desiring an encounter with another, the <i>Suta's</i> son
+of wicked soul eagerly desireth a battle with me. Take me, O
+prince, to him who hath grown so proud under the patronage of
+Duryodhana.' Thus addressed, the son of Virata by means of those
+large steeds endued with the speed of the wind and furnished with
+golden armour, broke that array of cars and took the Pandava into
+the midst of the battle-field. And seeing this those mighty
+car-warriors, Chitrasena and Sangramajit and Satrusaha and Jaya,
+desirous of aiding Karna, rushed with arrows and long shafts,
+towards the advancing hero of Bharata's race. Then that foremost of
+men, inflamed with wrath, began to consume by means of fiery arrows
+shot from his bow, that array of cars belonging to those bulls
+among the Kurus, like a tremendous conflagration consuming a
+forest. Then, when the battle began to rage furiously, the Kuru
+hero, Vikarna, mounted on his car, approached that foremost of
+car-warriors, Partha, the younger brother of Bhima,&mdash;showering
+upon him terrible shafts thick and long. Then cutting Vikarna's bow
+furnished with a tough string and horns overlaid with gold, Arjuna
+cut off his flagstaff. And Vikarna, beholding his flagstaff cut
+off, speedily took to flight. And after Vikarna's flight,
+Satruntapa, unable to repress his ire, began to afflict Partha,
+that obstructer of foes and achiever of super-human feats, by means
+of a perfect shower of arrows. And drowned, as it were, in the
+midst of the Kuru-array, Arjuna, pierced by that mighty
+car-warrior,&mdash;king Satruntapa&mdash;pierced the latter in
+return with five and then slew his car-driver with ten shafts, and
+pierced by that bull of the Bharata race with an arrow capable of
+cleaving the thickest coat of mail, Satruntapa fell dead on the
+field of battle, like a tree from a mountain-top torn up by the
+wind. And those brave bulls among men, mangled in battle by that
+braver bull among men, began to waver and tremble like mighty
+forests shaken by the violence of the wind that blows at the time
+of the universal dissolution. And struck in battle by Partha, the
+son of Vasava, those well-dressed heroes among men&mdash;those
+givers of wealth endued with the energy of Vasava&mdash;defeated
+and deprived of life, began to measure their lengths on the ground,
+like full-grown Himalayan elephants clad in mails of black steel
+decked with gold. And like unto a raging fire consuming a forest at
+the close of summer, that foremost of men, wielding the
+<i>Gandiva</i>, ranged the field in all directions, slaying his
+foes in battle thus. And as the wind rangeth at will, scattering
+masses of clouds and fallen leaves in the season of spring, so did
+that foremost of car-warriors&mdash;Kiritin&mdash;ranged in that
+battle, scattering all his foes before him. And soon slaying the
+red steeds yoked unto the car of Sangramajit, the brother of
+Vikartana's son, that hero decked in diadem and endued with great
+vigour then cut off his antagonist's head by a crescent-shaped
+arrow. And when his brother was slain, Vikartana's son of the
+<i>Suta</i> caste, mustering all his prowess, rushed at Arjuna,
+like a huge elephant with out-stretched tusks, or like a tiger at a
+mighty bull. And the son of Vikarna quickly pierced the son of
+Pandu with twelve shafts and all his steeds also in every part of
+their bodies and Virata's son too in his hand. And rushing
+impetuously against Vikarna's son who was suddenly advancing
+against him, Kiritin attacked him fiercely like Garuda of
+variegated plumage swooping down upon a snake. And both of them
+were foremost of bowmen, and both were endued with great strength,
+and both were capable of slaying foes. And seeing that an encounter
+was imminent between them, the Kauravas, anxious to witness it,
+stood aloof as lookers on. And beholding the offender Karna, the
+son of Pandu, excited to fury, and glad also at having him, soon
+made him, his horses, his car, and car-driver invisible by means of
+a frightful shower of countless arrows. And the warriors of the
+Bharatas headed by Bhishma, with their horses, elephants, and cars,
+pierced by Kiritin and rendered invisible by means of his shafts,
+their ranks also scattered and broken, began to wail aloud in
+grief. The illustrious and heroic Karna, however counteracting with
+numberless arrows of his own those shafts by Arjuna's hand, soon
+burst forth in view with bow and arrows like a blazing fire. And
+then there arose the sound of loud clapping of hands, with the
+blare of conchs and trumpets and kettle-drums made by the Kurus
+while they applauded Vikartana's son who filled the atmosphere with
+the sound of his bow-string flapping against his fence. And
+beholding Kiritin filling the air with the twang of <i>Gandiva</i>,
+and the upraised tail of the monkey that constituted his flag and
+that terrible creature yelling furiously from the top of his
+flagstaff, Karna sent forth a loud roar. And afflicting by means of
+his shafts, Vikartana's son along with his steeds, car and
+car-driver, Kiritin impetuously poured an arrowy shower on him,
+casting his eyes on the grandsire and Drona and Kripa. And
+Vikartana's son also poured upon Partha a heavy shower of arrows
+like a rain-charged cloud. And the diadem-decked Arjuna also
+covered Karna with a thick down-pour of keen-edged shafts. And the
+two heroes stationed on their cars, creating clouds of keen-edged
+arrows in a combat carried on by means of countless shafts and
+weapons, appeared to the spectators like the sun and the moon
+covered by clouds, and the light-handed Karna, unable to bear the
+sight of the foe, pierced the four horses of the diadem-decked hero
+with whetted arrows, and then struck his car-driver with three
+shafts, and his flagstaff also with three. Thus struck, that
+grinder of all adversaries in battle, that bull of the Kuru race,
+Jishnu wielding the <i>Gandiva</i>, like a lion awaked from
+slumber, furiously attacked Karna by means of straight-going
+arrows. And afflicted by the arrowy shower (of Karna), that
+illustrious achiever of super-human deeds soon displayed a thick
+shower of arrows in return. And he covered Karna's car with
+countless shafts like the sun covering the different worlds with
+rays. And like a lion attacked by an elephant, Arjuna, taking some
+keen crescent-shaped arrows from out of his quiver and drawing his
+bow to his ear, pierced the <i>Suta's</i> son on every part of his
+body. And that grinder of foes pierced Karna's arms and thighs and
+head and forehead and neck and other principal parts of his body
+with whetted shafts endued with the impetuosity of the thunderbolt
+and shot from the <i>Gandiva</i> in battle. And mangled and
+afflicted by the arrows shot by Partha the son of Pandu,
+Vikartana's son, quitted the van of battle, and quickly took to
+flight, like one elephant vanquished by another.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "After the son of Radha had fled from the
+field, other warriors headed by Duryodhana, one after another, fell
+upon the son of Pandu with their respective divisions. And like the
+shore withstanding the fury of the surging sea, that warrior
+withstood the rage of that countless host rushing towards him,
+arrayed in order of battle and showering clouds of arrows. And that
+foremost of car-warriors, Kunti's son Vibhatsu of white steeds,
+rushed towards the foe, discharging celestial weapons all the
+while. Partha soon covered all the points of the horizon with
+countless arrows shot from the <i>Gandiva</i>, like the sun
+covering the whole earth with his rays. And amongst those that
+fought on cars and horses and elephants, and amongst the mail-clad
+foot-soldiers, there was none that had on his body a space of even
+two finger's breadth unwounded with sharp arrows. And for his
+dexterity in applying celestial weapons, and for the training of
+the steeds and the skill of Uttara, and for the coursing of his
+weapons, and his prowess and light-handedness, people began to
+regard Arjuna as the fire that blazeth forth during the time of the
+universal dissolution for consuming all created things. And none
+amongst the foe could cast his eyes on Arjuna who shone like a
+blazing fire of great effulgence. And mangled by the arrows of
+Arjuna, the hostile ranks looked like newly-risen clouds on the
+breast of a hill reflecting the solar rays, or like groves of
+<i>Asoka</i> trees resplendent with clusters of flowers. Indeed,
+afflicted by the arrows of Partha, the soldiers looked like these,
+or like a beautiful garland whose flowers gradually wither and drop
+away: And the all-pervading wind bore on its wings in the sky the
+torn flags and umbrellas of the hostile host. And affrighted at the
+havoc amongst their own ranks, the steeds fled in all directions,
+freed from their yokes by means of Partha's arrows and dragging
+after them broken portions of cars and elephants, struck on their
+ears and ribs and tusks and nether lips and other delicate parts of
+the body, began to drop down on the battle-field. And the earth,
+bestrewn in a short time with the corpses of elephants belonging to
+the Kauravas, looked like the sky overcast with masses of black
+clouds. And as that fire of blazing flames at the end of the
+<i>yuga</i> consumeth all perishable things of the world, both
+mobile and immobile, so did Partha, O king, consumeth all foes in
+battle. And by the energy of his weapons and the twang of his bow,
+and the preter-natural yells of the creatures stationed on his
+flagstaff, and the terrible roar of the monkey, and by the blast of
+his conch, that mighty grinder of foes, Vibhatsu, struck terror
+into the hearts of all the troops of Duryodhana. And the strength
+of every hostile warrior seemed, as it were, to be levelled to the
+dust at the very sight of Arjuna. And unwilling to commit the
+daring act of sin of slaying them that were defenceless, Arjuna
+suddenly fell back and attacked the army from behind by means of
+clouds of keen-edged arrows proceeding towards their aims like
+hawks let off by fowlers. And he soon covered the entire welkin
+with clusters of blood-drinking arrows. And as the (infinite) rays
+of the powerful sun, entering a small vessel, are contracted within
+it for want of space, so the countless shafts of Arjuna could not
+find space for their expansion even within the vast welkin. Foes
+were able to behold Arjuna's car, when near, only once, for
+immediately after, they were with their horses, sent to the other
+world. And as his arrows unobstructed by the bodies of foes always
+passed through them, so his car, unimpeded by hostile ranks, always
+passed through the latter. And, indeed, he began to toss about and
+agitate the hostile troops with great violence like the
+thousand-headed Vasuki sporting in the great ocean. And as Kiritin
+incessantly shot his shafts, the noise of the bow-string,
+transcending every sound, was so loud that the like of it had never
+been heard before by created beings. And the elephants crowding the
+field, their bodies pierced with (blazing) arrows with small
+intervals between looked like black clouds coruscated with solar
+rays. And ranging in all directions and shooting (arrows) right and
+left, Arjuna's bow was always to be seen drawn to a perfect circle.
+And the arrows of the wielder of the <i>Gandiva</i> never fell upon
+anything except the aim, even as the eye never dwelleth on anything
+that is not beautiful. And as the track of a herd of elephants
+marching through the forest is made of itself, so was the track was
+made of itself for the car of Kiritin. And struck and mangled by
+Partha, the hostile warriors thought that,&mdash;<i>Verily, Indra
+himself, desirous of Partha's victory, accompanied by all the
+immortals is slaying us</i>! And they also regarded Vijaya, who was
+making a terrible slaughter around, to be none else than Death
+himself who having assumed the form of Arjuna, was slaying all
+creatures. And the troops of the Kurus, struck by Partha, were so
+mangled and shattered that the scene looked like the achievement of
+Partha himself and could be compared with nothing else save what
+was observable in Partha's combats. And he severed the heads of
+foes, even as reapers cut off the tops of deciduous herbs. And the
+Kurus all lost their energy owing to the terror begot of Arjuna.
+And tossed and mangled by the Arjuna-gale, the forest of Arjuna's
+foes reddened the earth with purple secretions. And the dust mixed
+with blood, uplifted by the wind, made the very rays of the sun
+redder still. And soon the sun-decked sky became so red that it
+looked very much like the evening. Indeed, the sun ceaseth to shed
+his rays as soon as he sets, but the son of Pandu ceased not to
+shoot his shafts. And that hero of inconceivable energy
+overwhelmed, by means of all celestial weapons, all the great
+bowmen of the enemy, although they were possessed of great prowess.
+And Arjuna then shot three and seventy arrows of sharp points at
+Drona, and ten at Dussaha and eight at Drona's son, and twelve at
+Duhsasana, and three at Kripa, the son of Saradwat. And that slayer
+of foes pierced Bhishma, the son of Santanu, with arrows, and king
+Duryodhana with a hundred. And, lastly, he pierced Karna in the ear
+with a bearded shaft. And when that great bowmen Karna, skilled in
+all weapons, was thus pierced, and his horses and car and
+car-driver were all destroyed, the troops that supported him began
+to break. And beholding those soldiers break and give way the son
+of Virata desirous of knowing Partha's purpose, addressed him on
+the field of battle, and said, 'O Partha, standing on this
+beautiful car, with myself as charioteer, towards which division
+shall I go? For, commanded by thee, I would soon take thee
+thither.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna replied, 'O Uttara, yonder auspicious warrior whom thou
+seest cased in coat of tiger-skin and stationed on his car
+furnished with a blue-flag and drawn by red steeds, is Kripa. There
+is to be seen the van of Kripa's division. Take me thither. I shall
+show that great bowman my swift-handedness in archery. And that
+warrior whose flag beareth the device of an elegant water-pot
+worked in gold, is the preceptor Drona&mdash;that foremost of all
+wielders of weapons. He is always an object of regard with me, as
+also with all bearers of arms. Do thou, therefore, circumambulate
+that great hero cheerfully. Let us bend our heads there, for that
+is the eternal virtue. If Drona strikes my body first, then I shall
+strike him, for then he will not be able to resent it. There, close
+to Drona, that warrior whose flag beareth the device of a bow, is
+the preceptor's son, the great car-warrior Aswatthaman, who is
+always an object of regard with me as also with every bearer of
+arms. Do thou, therefore, stop again and again, while thou comest
+by his car. There, that warrior who stayeth on his car, cased in
+golden mail and surrounded by a third part of the army consisting
+of the most efficient troops, and whose flag beareth the device of
+an elephant in a ground of gold, is the illustrious king
+Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra. O hero, take before him this
+thy car that is capable of grinding hostile cars. This king is
+difficult of being vanquished in battle and is capable of grinding
+all foes. He is regarded as the first of all Drona's disciples in
+lightness of hand. I shall, in battle, show him my superior
+swiftness in archery. There, that warrior whose flag beareth the
+device of a stout chord for binding elephants, is Karna, the son of
+Vikartana, already known to thee. When thou comest before that
+wicked son of Radha, be thou very careful, for he always
+challengeth me to an encounter. And that warrior whose flag is blue
+and beareth the device of five stars with a sun (in the centre),
+and who endued with great energy stayeth on his car holding a huge
+bow in hand and wearing excellent fences, and over whose head is an
+umbrella of pure white, who standeth at the head of a multitudinous
+array of cars with various flags and banners like the sun in
+advance of masses of black clouds, and whose mail of gold looks
+bright as the sun or the moon, and who with his helmet of gold
+striketh terror into my heart, is Bhishma, the son of Santanu and
+the grandsire of us all. Entertained with regal splendour by
+Duryodhana, he is very partial and well-affected towards that
+prince. Let him be approached last of all, for he may, even now, be
+an obstacle to me. While fighting with me, do thou carefully guide
+the steeds.' Thus addressed by him, Virata's son, O king, guided
+Savyasachin's car with great alacrity towards the spot where Kripa
+stood anxious to fight."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LVI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "And the ranks of those fierce bowmen, the
+Kurus, looked like masses of clouds in the rainy season drifting
+before a gentle wind. And close (to those ranks of foot-soldiers)
+stood the enemy's horses ridden by terrible warriors. And there
+were also elephants of terrible mien, looking resplendent in
+beautiful armour, ridden by skilled combatants and urged on with
+iron crows and hooks. And, O king, mounted on a beautiful car,
+Sakra came there accompanied by the celestials,&mdash;the
+<i>Viswas</i> and <i>Maruts</i>. And crowded with gods, <i>Yakshas,
+Gandharvas</i> and <i>Nagas</i>, the firmament looked as
+resplendent as it does when bespangled with the planetary
+constellation in a cloudless night. And the celestials came there,
+each on his own car, desirous of beholding the efficacy of their
+weapons in human warfare, and for witnessing also the fierce and
+mighty combat that would take place when Bhishma and Arjuna would
+meet. And embellished with gems of every kind and capable of going
+everywhere at the will of the rider, the heavenly car of the lord
+of the celestials, whose roof was upheld by a hundred thousand
+pillars of gold with (a central) one made entirely of jewels and
+gems, was conspicuous in the clear sky. And there appeared on the
+scene three and thirty gods with Vasava (at their head)&mdash;and
+(many) <i>Gandharvas</i> and <i>Rakshasas</i> and <i>Nagas</i> and
+<i>Pitris</i>, together with the great <i>Rishis</i>. And seated on
+the car of the lord of the celestials, appeared the effulgent
+persons of kings, Vasumanas and Valakshas and Supratarddana, and
+Ashtaka and Sivi and Yayati and Nahusha and Gaya and Manu and Puru
+and Raghu and Bhanu and Krisaswa and Sagara and Nala. And there
+shone in a splendid array, each in its proper place the cars of
+Agni and Isa and Soma and Varuna and Prajapati and Dhatri and
+Vidhatri and Kuvera and Yama, and Alamvusha and Ugrasena and
+others, and of the <i>Gandharva</i> Tumburu. And all the celestials
+and the <i>Siddhas</i>, and all the foremost of sages came there to
+behold that encounter between Arjuna and the Kurus. And the sacred
+fragrance of celestial garlands filled the air like that of
+blossoming woods at the advent of spring. And the red and reddish
+umbrellas and robes and garlands and <i>chamaras</i> of the gods,
+as they were stationed there, looked exceedingly beautiful. And the
+dust of the earth soon disappeared and (celestial) effulgence lit
+up everything. And redolent of divine perfumes, the breeze began to
+soothe the combatants. And the firmament seemed ablaze and
+exceedingly beautiful, decked with already arrived and arriving
+cars of handsome and various make, all illumined with diverse sorts
+of jewels, and brought thither by the foremost of the celestials.
+And surrounded by the celestials, and wearing a garland of lotuses
+and lilies the powerful wielder of the thunderbolt looked
+exceedingly beautiful on his car. And the slayer of Vala, although
+he steadfastly gazed at his son on the field of battle, was not
+satiated with such gazing."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Beholding the army of the Kurus arrayed in
+order of battle, that descendant of the Kuru race, Partha,
+addressing Virata's son, said, 'Do thou proceed to the spot where
+Kripa, the son of Saradwat, is going by the southern side of that
+car whose flag is seen to bear the device of a golden altar.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Dhananjaya, the
+son of Virata urged, without a moment's delay, those steeds of
+silvery hue decked in golden armour. And making them adopt, one
+after another, every kind of the swifter paces, he urged those
+fiery steeds resembling the moon in colour. And versed in
+horse-lore, Uttara, having approached the Kuru host, turned back
+those steeds endued with the speed of the wind. And skilled in
+guiding vehicles, the prince of Matsya, sometimes wheeling about,
+and sometimes proceeding in circular mazes, and sometimes turning
+to the left, began to be wilder than the Kurus. And wheeling round,
+the intrepid and mighty son of Virata at last approached the car of
+Kripa, and stood confronting him. Then announcing his own name,
+Arjuna powerfully blew that best of conchs called <i>Devadatta</i>,
+of loud blare. And blown on the field of battle by the mighty
+Jishnu, the blare of that conch was heard like the splitting of a
+mountain. And seeing that the conch did not break into a hundred
+fragments when blown by Arjuna, the Kurus with all their warriors
+began to applaud it highly. And having reached the very heavens,
+that sound coming back was heard even like the crash of the
+thunderbolt hurled by Maghavat on the mountain breast. Thereupon
+that heroic and intrepid and mighty car-warrior, Saradwat's son
+Kripa, endued with strength and prowess, waxing wroth at Arjuna,
+and unable to bear that sound and eager for fight, took up his own
+sea-begotten conch and blew it vehemently. And filling the three
+worlds with that sound, that foremost of car-warriors took up a
+large bow and twanged the bow-string powerfully. And those mighty
+car-warriors, equal unto two suns, standing opposed to each other,
+shone like two masses of autumnal clouds. Then Saradwat's son
+quickly pierced Partha, that slayer of hostile heroes, with ten
+swift and whetted arrows capable of entering into the very vitals.
+And Pritha's son also, on his part, drawing that foremost of
+weapons, the <i>Gandiva</i>, celebrated over the world, shot
+innumerable iron-arrows, all capable of penetrating into the very
+core of the body. Thereupon Kripa, by means of whetted shafts, cut
+into hundreds and thousands of fragments, those blood-drinking
+arrows of Partha before they could come up. Then that mighty
+car-warrior, Partha also, in wrath displaying various manoeuvres,
+covered all sides with a shower of arrows. And covering the entire
+welkin with his shafts, that mighty warrior of immeasurable soul,
+the son of Pritha, enveloped Kripa with hundreds of shafts. And
+sorely afflicted by those whetted arrows resembling flames of fire,
+Kripa waxed wroth and quickly afflicting the high-souled Partha of
+immeasurable prowess with ten thousand shafts, set up on the field
+of battle a loud roar. Then the heroic Arjuna quickly pierced the
+four steeds of his adversary with four fatal arrows shot from the
+<i>Gandiva</i>, sharp and straight, and furnished with golden
+wings. And pierced by means of those whetted arrows resembling
+flames of fire those steeds suddenly reared themselves, and in
+consequence Kripa reeled off his place. And seeing Gautama thrown
+off his place, the slayer of hostile heroes, the descendant of the
+Kuru race, out of regard for his opponent's dignity, ceased to
+discharge his shafts at him. Then regaining his proper place,
+Gautama quickly pierced Savyasachin with ten arrows furnished with
+feathers of the <i>Kanka</i> bird. Then with a crescent-shaped
+arrow of keen edge, Partha cut off Kripa's bow and leathern fences.
+And soon Partha cut off Kripa's coat of mail also by means of
+arrows capable of penetrating the very vitals, but he did not wound
+his person. And divested of his coat of mail, his body resembled
+that of a serpent which hath in season cast off its slough. And as
+soon as his bow had been cut off by Partha, Gautama took up another
+and stringed it in a trice. And strange to say, that bow of him was
+also cut off by Kunti's son, by means of straight shafts. And in
+this way that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Pandu, cut off
+other bows as soon as they were taken up, one after another, by
+Saradwat's son. And when all his bows were thus cut off, that
+mighty hero hurled, from his car, at Pandu's son, a javelin like
+unto the blazing thunderbolt. Thereupon, as the gold-decked javelin
+came whizzing through the air with the flash of a meteor, Arjuna
+cut it off by means of ten arrows. And beholding his dart thus cut
+off by the intelligent Arjuna, Kripa quickly took up another bow
+and almost simultaneously shot a number of crescent-shaped arrows.
+Partha, however, quickly cut them into fragments by means of ten
+keen-edged shafts, and endued with great energy, the son of Pritha
+then, inflamed with wrath on the field of battle, discharged three
+and ten arrows whetted on stone and resembling flames of fire. And
+with one of these he cut off the yoke of his adversary's car, and
+with four pierced his four steeds, and with the sixth he severed
+the head of his antagonist's car-driver from off his body. And with
+three that mighty car-warrior pierced, in that encounter, the
+triple bamboo-pole of Kripa's car and with two, its wheels. And
+with the twelfth arrow he cut off Kripa's flagstaff. And with the
+thirteenth Phalguna, who was like Indra himself as if smiling in
+derision, pierced Kripa in the breast. Then with his bow cut off,
+his car broken, his steeds slain, his car-driver killed, Kripa
+leapt down and taking up a mace quickly hurled it at Arjuna. But
+that heavy and polished mace hurled by Kripa was sent back along
+its course, struck by means of Arjuna's arrows. And then the
+warriors (of Kripa's division), desirous of rescuing the wrathful
+son of Saradwat encountered Partha from all sides and covered him
+with their arrows. Then the son of Virata, turning the steed to the
+left began to perform circuitous evolution called <i>Yamaka</i> and
+thus withstood all those warriors. And those illustrious bulls
+among men, taking Kripa with them who had been deprived of his car,
+led him away from the vicinity of Dhananjaya, the son of
+Kunti."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LVIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "After Kripa had thus been taken away, the
+invincible Drona of red steeds, taking up his bow to which he had
+already stringed an arrow, rushed towards Arjuna of white steeds.
+And beholding at no great distance from him the preceptor advancing
+on his golden car, Arjuna that foremost of victorious warriors,
+addressing Uttara, said, 'Blessed be thou, O friend, carry me
+before that warrior on whose high banner-top is seen a golden altar
+resembling a long flame of fire and decked with numerous flags
+placed around, and whose car is drawn by steeds that are red and
+large, exceedingly handsome and highly-trained, of face pleasant
+and of quiet mien, and like unto corals in colour and with faces of
+coppery hue, for that warrior is Drona with whom I desire to fight.
+Of long arms and endued with mighty energy possessed of strength
+and beauty of person, celebrated over all the worlds for his
+prowess, resembling Usanas himself in intelligence and Vrihaspati
+in knowledge of morality, he is conversant with the four
+<i>Vedas</i> and devoted to the practice of <i>Brahmacharya</i>
+virtues. O friend, the use of the celestial weapons together with
+the mysteries of their withdrawal and the entire science of
+weapons, always reside in him. Forgiveness, self-control, truth,
+abstention from injury, rectitude of conduct,&mdash;these and
+countless other virtues always dwell in that regenerate one. I
+desire to fight with that highly-blessed one on the field.
+Therefore, take me before the preceptor and carry me thither, O
+Uttara.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Arjuna, Virata's son
+urged his steeds decked with gold towards the car of Bharadwaja's
+son. And Drona also rushed towards the impetuously advancing
+Partha, the son of Pandu,&mdash;that foremost of
+car-warriors,&mdash;like an infuriate elephant rushing towards an
+infuriate compeer. And the son of Bharadwaja then blew his conch
+whose blare resembled that of a hundred trumpets. And at that sound
+the whole army become agitated like the sea in a tempest. And
+beholding those excellent steeds red in hue mingling in battle with
+Arjuna's steeds of swan-like whiteness endued with the speed of the
+mind, all the spectators were filled with wonder. And seeing on the
+field of battle those car-warriors&mdash;the preceptor Drona and
+his disciple Partha&mdash;both endued with prowess, both
+invincible, both well-trained, both possessed of great energy and
+great strength, engaged with each other, that mighty host of the
+Bharatas began to tremble frequently. And that mighty car-warrior
+Partha, possessed of great prowess and filled with joy upon
+reaching Drona's car on his own, saluted the preceptor. And that
+slayer of hostile heroes, the mighty armed son of Kunti, then
+addressed Drona in an humble and sweet tone, saying, 'Having
+completed our exile in the woods, we are now desirous of avenging
+our wrongs. Even invincible in battle, it doth not behove thee to
+be angry with us. O sinless one, I will not strike thee unless thou
+strikest me first. Even this is my intention. It behoveth thee to
+act as thou choosest.' Thus addressed Drona discharged at him more
+than twenty arrows. But the light-handed Partha cut them off before
+they could reach him. And at this, the mighty Drona, displaying his
+lightness of hand in the use of weapons, covered Partha's car with
+a thousand arrows. And desirous of angering, Partha, that hero of
+immeasurable soul, then covered his steeds of silvery whiteness
+with arrows whetted on stone and winged with the feathers of the
+<i>Kanka</i> bird. And when the battle between Drona and Kiritin
+thus commenced, both of them discharging in the encounter arrows of
+blazing splendour, both well-known for their achievements, both
+equal to the wind itself in speed, both conversant with celestial
+weapons, and both endued with mighty energy, began shooting clouds
+of arrows to bewilder the royal Kshatriyas. And all the warriors
+that were assembled there were filled with wonder at sight of all
+this. And they all admired Drona who quickly shot clouds of arrows
+exclaiming,&mdash;<i>Well done! Well done</i>! Indeed, <i>who else
+save Phalguna, is worthy of fighting with Drona in battle? Surely
+the duties of a Kshatriya are stern, for Arjuna fighteth with even
+his own preceptor</i>!&mdash;And it was thus that they who stood on
+the field of battle said unto one another. And inflamed with fire,
+those mighty-armed heroes standing before other, and each incapable
+of overcoming the other, covered each other with arrowy showers.
+And Bharadwaja's son, waxing wroth, drew his large and
+unconquerable bow plated on the back with gold, and pierced
+Phalguna with his arrows. And discharging at Arjuna's car
+innumerable whetted arrows possessed of solar effulgence, he
+entirely shrouded the light of the sun. And that great car-warrior
+of mighty arms, violently pierced Pritha's son with keen-edged
+shafts even as the clouds shower upon a mountain. Then taking up
+that foremost of bows, the <i>Gandiva</i>, destructive of foes and
+capable of withstanding the greatest strain, the impetuous son of
+Pandu cheerfully discharged countless shafts of various kinds
+adorned with gold, and that powerful warrior also baffled in a
+moment Drona's arrowy shower by means of those shafts shot from his
+own bow. And at this the spectators wondered greatly. And the
+handsome Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, ranging on his car,
+displayed his weapons on all sides at the same time. And the entire
+welkin covered with his arrows, became one wide expanse of shade.
+And at this Drona become invisible like the sun enveloped in mist.
+And shrouded by those excellent arrows on all sides, Drona looked
+like a mountain on fire. And beholding his own car completely
+enveloped by the arrows of Pritha's son, Drona that ornament of
+battle, bent his terrible and foremost of bows whose noise was as
+loud as that of the clouds. And drawing that first of weapons,
+which was like unto a circle of fire, he discharged a cloud of
+keen-edged shafts. And then there were heard on the field loud
+sounds like the splitting of bamboos set on fire. And that warrior
+of immeasurable soul, shooting from his bow arrows furnished with
+golden wings, covered all sides, shrouding the very light of the
+sun. And those arrows with knots well-peeled off, and furnished
+with golden wings, looked like flocks of birds in the sky. And the
+arrows discharged by Drona from his bow, touching one another at
+the wings, appeared like one endless line in the sky. And those
+heroes, thus discharging their arrows decked with gold, seemed to
+cover the sky with showers of meteors. And furnished with feathers
+of the <i>Kanka</i> bird, those arrows looked like rows of cranes
+ranging in the autumnal sky. And the fierce and terrible encounter
+that took place between the illustrious Drona and Arjuna resembled
+that between Virata and Vasava of old. And discharging arrows at
+each other from bows drawn at their fullest stretch, they resembled
+two elephants assailing each other with their tusks. And those
+wrathful warriors&mdash;those ornaments of battle&mdash;fighting
+strictly according to established usage, displayed in that conflict
+various celestial weapons in due order. Then that foremost of
+victorious men, Arjuna, by means of his keen shafts resisted the
+whetted arrows shot by that best of preceptors. And displaying
+before the spectators various weapons, that hero of terrible
+prowess covered the sky with various kinds of arrows. And beholding
+that tiger among men, Arjuna, endued with fierce energy and intent
+upon striking him, that foremost of warriors and best of preceptors
+(from affection) began to fight with him playfully by means of
+smooth and straight arrows. And Bharadwaja's son fought on with
+Phalguna, resisting with his own the celestial weapons shot by the
+former. And the fight that took place between those enraged lions
+among men, incapable of bearing each other, was like unto encounter
+between the gods and the <i>Danavas</i>. And the son of Pandu
+repeatedly baffled with his own, the <i>Aindra</i>, the
+<i>Vayavya</i>, and the <i>Agneya</i> weapons that were shot by
+Drona. And discharging keen shafts, those mighty bowmen, by their
+arrowy showers completely covered the sky and made a wide expanse
+of shade. And then the arrows shot by Arjuna, falling on the bodies
+of hostile warriors, produced the crash of thunderbolt. O king,
+elephants, cars, and horses, bathed in blood, looked like
+<i>Kinsuka</i> trees crowned with flowers. And in that encounter
+between Drona and Arjuna, beholding the field covered with arms
+decked with bangles, and gorgeously-attired car-warriors, and coats
+of mail variegated with gold, and with banners lying scattered all
+about, and with warriors slain by means of Partha's arrows, the
+Kuru host became panic-stricken. And shaking their bows capable of
+bearing much strain, those combatants began to shroud and weaken
+each other with their shafts. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the
+encounter that took place between Drona and Kunti's son was
+dreadful in the extreme and resembled that between Vali and Vasava.
+And staking their very lives, they began to pierce each other
+straight arrows shot from their fully-stretched bow-strings. And a
+voice was heard in the sky applauding Drona, and saying, 'Difficult
+is the feat performed by Drona, inasmuch as he fighteth with
+Arjuna,&mdash;that grinder of foes, that warrior endued with mighty
+energy, of firm grasp, and invincible in battle,&mdash;that
+conqueror of both celestials and <i>Daityas</i>, that foremost of
+all car-warriors.' And beholding Partha's infallibility, training,
+fleetness of hand, and the range also of Arjuna's, arrows, Drona
+became amazed. And, O bull of the Bharata race, lifting up his
+excellent bow, the <i>Gandiva</i>, the unforbearing Partha drew it
+now with one hand and now with another shot an arrowy shower. And
+beholding that shower resembling a flight of locusts, the
+spectators wondering applauded him exclaiming, 'Excellent!
+Excellent!' And so ceaselessly did he shoot his arrows that the
+very air was unable to penetrate the thick array. And the
+spectators could not perceive any interval between the taking up of
+the arrows and letting them off. And in that fierce encounter
+characterised by lightness of hand in the discharge of weapons,
+Partha began to shoot his arrows more quickly than before. And then
+all at once hundreds and thousands of straight arrows fell upon
+Drona's car. And, O bull of the Bharata race, beholding Drona
+completely covered by the wielder of the <i>Gandiva</i> with his
+arrows, the Kuru army set up exclamation of '<i>Oh'!</i> and
+'<i>Alas'!</i> And Maghavat, together with those <i>Gandharvas</i>
+and <i>Apsaras</i> that have come there, applauded the fleetness of
+Partha's hand. And that mighty car-warrior, the preceptor's son,
+then resisted the Pandva with a mighty array of cars. And although
+enraged with Arjuna, yet Aswatthaman mentally admired that feat of
+the high-souled son of Pritha. And waxing wroth, he rushed towards
+Partha, and discharged at him an arrowy shower like a heavy
+down-pour by the cloud. And turning his steeds towards Drona's son,
+Partha gave Drona an opportunity to leave the field. And thereupon
+the latter, wounded in that terrible encounter, and his mail and
+banner gone sped away by the aid of swift horses."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LIX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then, O mighty king, Drona's son rushed to
+an encounter with Arjuna in battle. And beholding his rush to the
+conflict like a hurricane, showering shafts like a rain charged
+cloud Pritha's son received him with a cloud of arrows. And
+terrible was the encounter between them, like that between the gods
+and the <i>Danavas</i>. And they shot arrows at each other like
+Virata and Vasava. And the welkin being enveloped on all sides with
+arrows, the sun was completely hidden, and the air itself was
+hushed. And, O conqueror of hostile cities, as they assailed and
+struck each other, loud sounds arose as of bamboos on fire. And, O
+king, Aswatthaman's horses being sorely afflicted by Arjuna, they
+became bewildered and could not ascertain which way to go. And as
+Pritha's son ranged on the field, the powerful son of Drona finding
+an opportunity, cut off the string of the <i>Gandiva</i> with an
+arrow furnished with a horse-shoe head. And beholding that
+extraordinary feat of his, the celestials applauded him highly. And
+exclaiming&mdash;'Well done!'&mdash;'Well done!' Drona and Bhishma,
+and Karna, and the mighty warrior Kripa, all applauded that feat of
+his greatly. And the son of Drona, drawing his excellent bow,
+pierced with his shafts, furnished with the feathers of the
+<i>Kanka</i> bird, the breast of Partha, that bull among warriors.
+Thereupon, with a loud laughter, the mighty-armed son of Pritha
+attached a strong and fresh string to <i>Gandiva</i>. And
+moistening his bow-string with the sweat that stood on his forehead
+resembling the crescent moon, Pritha's son advanced towards his
+adversary, even as an infuriated leader of a herd of elephants
+rusheth at another elephant. And the encounter that took place
+between those two matchless heroes on the field of battle was
+exceedingly fierce and made the bristles of the spectators stand on
+their ends. And as those heroes endued with mighty energy fought
+on, the two mighty elephants, the Kurus beheld them with wonder.
+And those brave bulls among men assailed each other with arrows of
+snaky forms and resembling blazing fires. And as the couple of
+quivers belonging to the Pandava was inexhaustible, that hero was
+able to remain on the field immovable as a mountain. And as
+Aswatthaman's arrows, in consequence of his ceaseless discharge in
+that conflict, were quickly exhausted, it was for this that Arjuna
+prevailed over his adversary. Then Karna, drawing his large bow
+with great force twanged the bow-string. And thereupon arose loud
+exclamation of '<i>Oh!</i>' and '<i>Alas!</i>' And Pritha's son,
+casting his eyes towards the spot where that bow was twanged,
+beheld before him the son of Radha. And at that sight his wrath was
+greatly excited. And inflamed with ire and desirous of slaying
+Karna, that bull of the Kuru race stared at him with rolling eyes.
+And, O king, beholding Partha turn away from Aswatthaman's side,
+the Kuru warriors discharged thousands of arrows on Arjuna. And the
+mighty-armed Dhananjaya, that conqueror of foes, leaving Drona's
+son, all on a sudden rushed towards Karna. And rushing towards
+Karna, with eyes reddened in anger the son of Kunti, desirous of a
+single combat with him, said these words."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LX</h2>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'The time, O Karna, hath now come for making good
+thy loquacious boast in the midst of the assembly, viz., that there
+is none equal to thee in fight. Today, O Karna, contending with me
+in terrible conflict, thou shalt know thy own strength, and shalt
+no longer disregard others. Abandoning good breeding, thou hadst
+uttered many harsh words, but this that thou endeavourest to do,
+is, I think, exceedingly difficult. Do thou now, O Radha's son,
+contending with me in the sight of the Kurus, make good what thou
+hadst said before in disregard of myself. Thou who hadst witnessed
+Panchala's princess outraged by villains in the midst of the court,
+do thou now reap the fruit of that act of thine. Fettered by the
+bonds of morality before, I desisted from vengeance then. Behold
+now, O son of Radha, the fruit of that wrath in conflict at hand. O
+wicked wight, we have suffered much misery in that forest for full
+twelve years. Reap thou today the fruits of our concentrated
+vengeance. Come, O Karna, cope with me in battle. Let these thy
+Kaurava warriors witness the conflict.' Hearing these words, Karna
+replied, 'Do thou, O Partha, accomplish in deed what thou sayst in
+words. The world knows that thy words verily exceed thy deed. That
+thou hadst foreborne formerly was owing to thy inability to do
+anything. If we witness thy prowess even now, we may acknowledge
+its truth. If thy past forbearance was due to thy having been bound
+by the bonds of morality, truly thou art equally bound now although
+thou regardest thyself free. Having as thou sayst, passed thy exile
+in the woods in strict accordance with thy pledge and being
+therefore weakened by practising an ascetic course of life, how
+canst thou desire a combat with me now! O Pritha's son, if Sakra
+himself fight on thy side, still I would feel no anxiety in putting
+forth my prowess. Thy wish, O son of Kunti, is about to be
+gratified. Do thou fight with me now, and behold my strength.'
+Hearing this, Arjuna said, 'Even now, O Radha's son, thou hadst
+fled from battle with me, and it is for this that thou livest
+although thy younger brother hath been slain. What other person,
+save thee, having beheld his younger brother slain in battle would
+himself fly from the field, and boast as thou dost, amid good and
+true men?'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said these words unto Karna, the
+invincible Vibhatsu rushed at him and charged a volley of shafts
+capable of penetrating through a coat of mail. But that mighty
+car-warrior, Karna, received with great alacrity that discharge
+with an arrowy shower of his own, heavy as the downpour of the
+clouds. And that fierce volley of arrows covered all sides and
+severally pierced the steeds and arms and leathern fences of the
+combatants. And incapable of putting up with that assault, Arjuna
+cut off the strings of Karna's quiver by means of a straight and
+sharp arrow. Thereupon, taking out from his quiver another arrow,
+Karna pierced the Pandava in the hand at which the latter's hold of
+the bow was loosened. And then the mighty-armed Partha cut off
+Karna's bow into fragments. And Karna replied by hurling a dart at
+his adversary, but Arjuna cut it off by means of his arrows. And
+then the warriors that followed the son of Radha rushed in crowds
+at Arjuna, but Partha sent them all to the abode of Yama by means
+of arrows shot from the <i>Gandiva</i>. And Vibhatsu slew the
+steeds of Karna by means of sharp and tough arrows shot from the
+bow-string drawn to the ear, and deprived of life they dropped down
+on the ground. And taking another sharp and blazing arrow endued
+with great energy, the mighty son of Kunti pierced the breast of
+Karna. And that arrow, cleaving through his mail, penetrated into
+his body. And at this, Karna's vision was obscured and his senses
+left him. And regaining consciousness, he felt a great pain, and
+leaving the combat fled in a northernly direction. And at this, the
+mighty car-warrior Arjuna and Uttara, both began to address him
+contumely."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having defeated Vikartana's son, Arjuna said
+unto the son of Virata, 'Take me towards that division where yonder
+device of a golden palmyra is seen. There our grandfather,
+Santanu's son, like unto a celestial, waiteth, desirous of an
+encounter with me.' Thereupon, beholding that mighty host thronged
+with cars and horses and elephants, Uttara, sorely pierced with
+arrows, said, 'O hero, I am no longer able to guide thy excellent
+steeds. My spirits droop and my mind is exceedingly bewildered. All
+the directions seem to be whirling before my eyes in consequence of
+the energy of the celestial weapons used by thee and the Kurus. I
+have been deprived of my senses by the stench of fat and blood and
+flesh. Beholding all this, from terror my mind is, as it were,
+cleft in twain. Never before had I beheld such a muster of horses
+in battle. And at the flapping of fences, and the blare of conchs,
+the leonine roars made by the warriors and the shrieks of
+elephants, and the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i> resembling the
+thunder, I have, O hero, been so stupefied that I have been
+deprived of both hearing and memory. And, O hero, beholding thee
+incessantly drawing to a circle, in course of the conflict, the
+<i>Gandiva</i> which resembleth a circle of fire, my sight faileth
+me and my heart is rent asunder. And seeing thy fierce form in
+battle, like that of the wielder of the <i>Pinaka</i> while
+inflamed with wrath, and looking also at the terrible arrows shot
+by thee, I am filled with fear. I fail to see when thou takest up
+thy excellent arrows, when thou fixest them on the bow-string, and
+when thou lettest them off. And though all this is done before my
+eyes, yet, deprived of my senses, I do not see it. My spirits are
+drooping and earth itself seems to be swimming before me. I have no
+strength to hold the whip and the reins.' Hearing these words,
+Arjuna said, 'Do thou not fear. Assure thyself. Thou also hast, on
+the field of battle performed, O bull among men, wonderful feats.
+Blessed be thou, thou art a prince and born in the illustrious line
+of Matsyas. It behoveth thee not to feel dispirited in chastising
+thy foes. Therefore, O prince, stationed on my car, muster all thy
+fortitude and hold the reins of my steeds, O slayer of foes, when I
+once more become engaged in battle.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this unto Virata's son,
+that best of men and foremost of car-warriors, the mighty-armed
+Arjuna, again addressed the son of Virata, saying. 'Take me without
+delay to the van of Bhishma's division. I will cut off his very
+bow-string in the battle. Thou shalt behold today the celestial
+weapons of blazing beauty, shot by me, look like flashes of
+lightning disporting amid the clouds in the sky. The Kauravas shall
+behold the gold decked back of my <i>Gandiva</i> today, and
+assembled together the foe shall dispute, saying,&mdash;<i>By which
+hand of his, the right or the left, doth he shoot</i>? And I shall
+cause a dreadful river (of death) to flow today towards the other
+world with blood for its waters and cars for its eddies, and
+elephants for its crocodiles. I shall today, with my straight
+arrows, extirpate the <i>Kuru</i> forest having hands and feet and
+heads and backs and arms for the branches of its trees. Alone, bow
+in hand, vanquishing the Kuru host, a hundred paths shall open
+before me like those of a forest in conflagration. Struck by me
+thou shalt today behold the Kuru army moving round and round like a
+wheel (unable to fly off the field). I shall show thee today my
+excellent training in arrows and weapons. Stay thou on my car
+firmly, whether the ground be smooth or uneven. I can pierce with
+my winged arrows even the mountain of <i>Sumeru</i> that stands
+touching the very heavens. I slew of old, at Indra's command,
+hundreds and thousands of <i>Paulomas</i> and <i>Kalakhanjas</i> in
+battle. I have obtained my firmness of grasp from Indra, and my
+lightness of hand from <i>Brahman</i>, and I have learnt various
+modes of fierce attack and defence amid crowds of foes from
+<i>Prajapati</i>. I vanquished, on the other side of the great
+ocean, sixty thousands of car-warriors&mdash;all fierce
+archers&mdash;residing in <i>Hiranyapura</i>. Behold, now I defeat
+the multitudinous host of the Kurus like a tempest scattering a
+heap of cotton. With my fiery arrows I shall today set the
+<i>Kuru</i>-forest to fire, having banners for its trees, the
+foot-soldiers for its shrubs, and the car-warriors for its beasts
+of prey. Like unto the wielder of the thunderbolt overthrowing the
+Danavas, alone I shall, with my straight arrows, bring down from
+the chambers of their cars the mighty warrior of the Kuru army
+stationed therein and struggling in the conflict to the best of
+their power. I have obtained from <i>Rudra</i> the <i>Raudra</i>,
+from <i>Varuna</i> the <i>Varuna</i>, from <i>Agni</i> the
+<i>Agneya</i>, from the god of Wind the <i>Vayava</i>, and from
+Sakra the thunderbolt and other weapons. I shall certainly
+exterminate the fierce <i>Dhartarashtra-forest</i> though protected
+by many leonine warriors. Therefore, O Virata's son, let thy fears
+be dispelled.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus assured by Savyasachin, the son of
+Virata penetrated into that fierce array of cars protected by
+Bhishma. The son of Ganga, however, of fierce deeds, cheerfully
+withstood the mighty-armed hero advancing from desire of
+vanquishing the heroes in battle. Jishnu, then, confronting
+Bhishma, cut off his standard clean off at the roots by shooting a
+gold-decked arrow pierced by which it fell to the ground. And at
+this, four mighty warriors, Duhsasana and Vikarna and Dussaha and
+Vivingsati, skilled in weapons and endued with great energy, and
+all decked with handsome garlands and ornaments, rushed towards
+that terrible bowman. And advancing towards Vibhatsu&mdash;that
+fierce archer, these all encompassed him around. Then the heroic
+Duhsasana pierced the son of Virata with a crescent-shaped arrow
+and he pierced Arjuna with another arrow in the breast. And Jishnu,
+confronting Duhsasana, cut off by means of a sharp-edged arrow
+furnished with vulturine wings his adversary's bow plaited with
+gold, and then pierced his person in the breast by means of five
+arrows. And afflicted by the arrows of Partha, Duhsasana fled,
+leaving the combat. Then Vikarna, the son of Dhritarashtra, pierced
+Arjuna&mdash;that slayer of hostile heroes, by means of sharp and
+straight arrows furnished with vulturine wings. But the son of
+Kunti within a moment hit him also in the forehead with straight
+shafts. And pierced by Arjuna, he fell down from his car. And at
+this, Dussaha, supported by Vivingsati, covered Arjuna with a cloud
+of sharp arrows, impelled by the desire of rescuing his brother.
+Dhananjaya, however, without the least anxiety, pierced both of
+them almost at the same instant by means of couple of keen-edged
+arrows and then slew the steeds of both. And there upon, both those
+sons of Dhritarashtra, deprived of their steeds and their bodies
+mangled were taken away by the warrior behind them who had rushed
+forward with other cars. Then the unvanquished Vibhatsu, the mighty
+son of Kunti, decked with diadem and sure of aim, simultaneously
+attacked all sides with his arrows."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then, O thou of the Bharata race, all the
+great car-warriors of the Kurus, united together, began to assail
+Arjuna to the best of their might from all sides. But that hero of
+immeasurable soul completely covered all those mighty car-warriors
+with clouds of arrows, even as the mist covereth the mountains. And
+the roars of huge elephants and conchs, mingling together, produced
+a loud up roar. And penetrating through the bodies of elephants and
+horses as also through steel coats of mail, the arrows shot by
+Partha fell by thousands. And shooting shafts with the utmost
+celerity, the son of Pandu seemed in that contest to resemble the
+blazing sun of an autumnal midday. And afflicted with fear, the
+car-warriors began to leap down from their cars and the
+horse-soldiers from horse-back, while the foot-soldiers began to
+fly in all directions. And loud was the clatter made by Arjuna's
+shafts as they cleft the coats of mail belonging to mighty
+warriors, made of steel, silver, and copper. And the field was soon
+covered with the corpses of warriors mounted on elephants and
+horses, all mangled by the shafts of Partha of great impetuosity
+like unto sighing snakes. And then it seemed as if Dhananjaya, bow
+in hand, was dancing on the field of battle. And sorely affrighted
+at the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i> resembling the noise of the
+thunder, many were the combatants that fled from that terrible
+conflict. And the field of battle was bestrewn with severed heads
+decked with turbans, ear-rings and necklaces of gold, and the earth
+looked beautiful by being scattered all over with human trunks
+mangled by shafts, and arms having bows in their grasp and hands
+decked with ornaments. And, O bull of the Bharata race, in
+consequence of heads cut off by whetted shafts ceaselessly falling
+on the ground, it seemed as if a shower of stones fell from the
+sky. And that Partha of formidable prowess, displaying his
+fierceness, now ranged the field of battle, pouring the terrible
+fire of his wrath upon the sons of Dhritarashtra. And beholding the
+fierce prowess of Arjuna who thus scorched the hostile host, the
+Kuru warriors, in the very presence of Duryodhana, became
+dispirited and ceased to fight. And, O Bharata, having struck
+terror into that host and routed those mighty car-warriors, that
+fore-most of victors, ranged on the field. And the son of Pandu
+then created on the field of battle a dreadful river of blood, with
+waving billows, like unto the river of death that is created by
+Time at the end of the <i>Yuga</i>, having the dishevelled hair of
+the dead and the dying for its floating moss and straw, with bows
+and arrows for its boats, fierce in the extreme and having flesh
+and animal juices for its mire. And coats of mail and turbans
+floated thick on its surface. And elephants constituted its
+alligators and the cars its rafts. And marrow and fat and blood
+constituted its currents. And it was calculated to strike terror
+into the hearts of the spectators. And dreadful to behold, and
+fearful in the extreme, and resounding with the yells of ferocious
+beasts, keen edged weapons constituted its crocodiles. And
+<i>Rakshasas</i> and other cannibals haunted it from one end to the
+other. And strings of pearls constituted its ripples, and various
+excellent ornaments, its bubbles. And having swarms of arrows for
+its fierce eddies and steeds for its tortoises, it was incapable of
+being crossed. And the mighty car warrior constituted its large
+island, and it resounded with the blare of conchs and the sound of
+drums. And the river of blood that Partha created was incapable of
+being crossed. Indeed, so swift-handed was Arjuna that the
+spectators could not perceive any interval between his taking up an
+arrow, and fixing it on the bow-string, and letting it off by a
+stretch of the <i>Gandiva</i>."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then while a great havoc was being made
+among the Kurus, Santanu's son, Bhishma, and grandsire of the
+Bharatas rushed at Arjuna, taking up an excellent bow adorned with
+gold, and many arrows also of keen points and capable of piercing
+into the very vitals of the foe and afflicting him sorely. And in
+consequence of a white umbrella being held over his head, that
+tiger among men looked beautiful like unto a hill at sunrise. And
+the son of Ganga, blowing his conch cheered the sons of
+Dhritarashtra, and wheeling along his right came upon Vibhatsu and
+impeded his course. And that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of
+Kunti, beholding him approach, received him with a glad heart, like
+a hill receiving a rain-charged cloud. And Bhishma, endued with
+great energy, pierced Partha's flag-staff with eight arrows. The
+arrows reaching the flag-staff of Pandu's son, struck the blazing
+ape and those creatures also stationed in the banner-top. And then
+the son of Pandu, with a mighty javelin of sharp edge cut of
+Bhishma's umbrella which instantly fell on the ground. And then the
+light-handed son of Kunti struck his adversary's flag-staff also
+with many shafts, and then his steeds and then the couple of
+drivers that protected Bhishma's flanks. And unable to bear this,
+Bhishma though cognisant of the Pandava's might, covered Dhananjaya
+with a powerful celestial weapon. And the son of Pandu, of
+immeasurable soul, hurling in return a celestial weapon at Bhishma,
+received that from Bhishma like a hill receiving a deep mass of
+clouds. And the encounter that took place between Partha and
+Bhishma, was fierce and the Kaurava warriors with their troops
+stood as lookers on. And in the conflict between Bhishma and the
+son of Pandu, shafts striking against shafts shone in the air like
+fireflies in the season of rains. And, O king, in consequence of
+Partha's shooting arrows with both his right and left hands, the
+bent <i>Gandiva</i> seemed like a continuous circle of fire. And
+the son of Kunti then covered Bhishma with hundreds of sharp and
+keen-edged arrows, like a cloud covering the mountain-breast with
+its heavy downpour. And Bhishma baffled with his own arrows that
+arrowy shower, like the bank resisting the swelling sea, and
+covered the son of Pandu in return. And those warriors, cut into a
+thousand pieces in battle, fell fast in the vicinity of Phalguna's
+car. And then there was a downpour, from the car of Pandu's son, of
+arrows furnished with golden wing, and raining through the sky like
+a flight of locusts. And Bhishma again repelled that arrowy shower
+with hundreds of whetted shafts shot by him. And then the Kauravas
+exclaimed.&mdash;'Excellent! Excellent!&mdash;Indeed, Bhishma hath
+performed an exceedingly difficult feat inasmuch as he hath fought
+with Arjuna. Dhananjaya is mighty and youthful, and dexterous and
+swift of hand. Who else, save Bhishma, the son of Santanu, or
+Krishna, the son of Devaki, or the mighty son of Bharadwaja, the
+foremost of preceptors, is able to bear the impetus of Partha in
+battle?' And repelling weapons with weapons, those two bulls of the
+Bharata race, both endued with great might, fought on playfully and
+infatuated the eyes of all created beings. And those illustrious
+warriors ranged on the field of battle, using the celestials
+weapons obtained from <i>Prajapati</i> and <i>Indra</i>, and
+<i>Agni</i> and the fierce <i>Rudra</i>, and <i>Kuvera</i>, and
+<i>Varuna</i>, and <i>Yama</i>, and <i>Vayu</i>. And all beings
+were greatly surprised, upon beholding those warriors engaged in
+combat. And they all exclaimed,&mdash;<i>Bravo Partha of long arms!
+Bravo Bhishma! Indeed, this application of celestial weapons that
+is being witnessed in the combat between Bhishma and Partha</i> is
+rare among human beings."</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Thus raged that conflict with weapons
+between those warriors conversant with all weapons. And when that
+conflict of celestial weapons ceased, then commenced a conflict
+with arrows. And Jishnu approaching his opponent, cut off with an
+arrow sharp like a razor the gold-decked bow of Bhishma. Within the
+twinkling of the eye, however, Bhishma, that mighty-armed and great
+car-warrior, took up another bow and stringed it. And inflamed with
+wrath, he showered upon Dhananjaya a cloud of arrows. And Arjuna,
+too, endued with great energy, rained upon Bhishma innumerable
+sharp-pointed and keen-edged arrows. And Bhishma also shot clouds
+of arrows upon Pandu's son. And conversant with celestial weapons
+and engaged in shooting and each other, arrows of keen points, no
+distinction, O king, could then be perceived between those
+illustrious warriors. And that mighty car-warrior, Kunti's son,
+covered with a diadem, and the heroic son of Santanu, obscured the
+ten directions with their arrows. And the Pandava covered Bhishma,
+and Bhishma also covered the Pandava, with clouds of shafts. And, O
+king, wonderful was this combat that took place in this world of
+men. And the heroic warriors that protected Bhishma's car, slain by
+the son of Pandu, fell prostrate, O monarch, beside the car of
+Kunti's son. And the feathery arrows of Swetavahana, shot from the
+<i>Gandiva</i>, fell in all directions as if with the object of
+making a wholesale slaughter of the foe. And issuing forth from his
+car those blazing arrows furnished with golden wings looked like
+rows of swans in the sky. And all the celestials with Indra,
+stationed in the firmament, gazed with wonder upon another
+celestial weapon hurled with great force by that wonderful archer
+Arjuna. And beholding that wonderful weapon of great beauty, the
+mighty <i>Gandiva</i>, Chitrasena, highly pleased, addressed the
+lord of celestials, saying, 'Behold these arrows shot by Partha
+coursing through the sky in one continuous line. Wonderful is the
+dexterity of Jishnu in evolving this celestial weapon! Human beings
+are incapable of shooting such a weapon, for it does not exist
+among men. How wonderful again is this concourse of mighty weapons
+existing from days of old! No interval can be perceived between his
+taking up the arrows, fixing them on the bow-string, and letting
+them off by stretching the <i>Gandiva</i>. The soldiers are
+incapable of even looking at the son of Pandu, who is like unto the
+midday sun blazing in the sky. So also none ventures to look at
+Bhishma, the son of Ganga. Both are famous for their achievements,
+and both are of fierce prowess. Both are equal in feats of heroism,
+and both are difficult of being vanquished in battle.'</p>
+<p>"Thus addressed by the <i>Gandharva</i> about that combat
+between Partha and Bhishma, the lord of the celestials, O Bharata,
+paid proper respect unto both by a shower of celestial flowers.
+Meanwhile, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, assailed Arjuna on the left
+side, while that drawer of the bow with either hands was on the
+point of piercing him. And at this, Vibhatsu, laughing aloud, cut
+off with an arrow of keen edge and furnished with vulturine wings,
+the bow of Bhishma, that hero of solar effulgence. And then
+Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, pierced Bhishma in the breast with
+ten shafts although the latter was contending with all his prowess.
+And sorely afflicted with pain Ganga's son of mighty arms and
+irresistible in battle, stood for a long time leaning on the pole
+of his car. And beholding him deprived of consciousness the driver
+of his car-steeds, calling to mind the instructions about
+protecting the warriors when in a swoon, led him away for
+safety."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXIV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "After Bhishma had fled, leaving the van of
+battle, the illustrious son of Dhritarashtra hoisting high flag
+approached Arjuna, bow in hand and setting up a loud roar. And with
+a spear-headed shaft shot from his bow stretched to the ear, he
+pierced on the forehead of that terrible bowman of fierce prowess,
+Dhananjaya, ranging amidst the foes. And pierced with that keen
+shaft of golden point on the forehead, that hero of famous deeds
+looked resplendent, O king, like unto a beautiful hill with a
+single peak. And cut by that arrow, the warm life-blood gushed out
+profusely from the wound. And the blood trickling down his body
+shone beautifully like a wreath of golden flowers. And struck by
+Duryodhana with the shaft, the swift-handed Arjuna of unfailing
+strength, swelling with rage, pierced the king in return, taking up
+arrows that were endued with the energy of snakes of virulent
+poison. And Duryodhana of formidable energy attacked Partha, and
+Partha also, that foremost of heroes, attacked Duryodhana. And it
+was that those foremost of men, both born in the race of Ajamida,
+struck each other alike in the combat. And then (seated) on an
+infuriate elephant huge as a mountain and supported by four cars,
+Vikarna rushed against Jishnu, the son of Kunti. And beholding that
+huge elephant, advancing with speed, Dhananjaya struck him on the
+head between the temples with an iron arrow of great impetus shot
+from the bow-string stretched to the ear. And like the thunderbolt
+hurled by Indra splitting a mountain, that arrow furnished with
+vulturine wings, shot by Partha, penetrated, up to the very
+feathers, into the body of that elephant huge as hill. And sorely
+afflicted by the shaft, that lord of the elephant species began to
+tremble, and deprived of strength fell down on the ground in
+intense anguish, like the peak of mountain riven by thunder. And
+that best of elephants falling down on the earth, Vikarna suddenly
+alighting in great terror, ran back full eight hundred paces and
+ascended on the car of Vivingsati. And having slain with that
+thunder-like arrow that elephant huge as a mighty hill and looking
+like a mass of clouds, the son of Pritha smote Duryodhana in the
+breast with another arrow of the same kind. And both the elephant
+and the king having thus been wounded, and Vikarna having broken
+and fled along with the supporters of the king's car, the other
+warriors, smitten with the arrows shot from the <i>Gandiva</i>,
+fled from the field in panic. And beholding the elephant slain by
+Partha, and all the other warriors running away, Duryodhana, the
+foremost of the Kurus, turning away his car precipitately fled in
+that direction where Partha was not. And when Duryodhana was fast
+running away in alarm, pierced by that arrow and vomitting forth
+blood, Kiritin, still eager for battle and capable of enduring
+every enemy, thus censured him from wrath, 'Sacrificing thy great
+fame and glory, why dost thou fly away, turning thy back? Why are
+not those trumpets sounded now, as they were when thou hadst set
+out from thy kingdom? Lo, I am an obedient servant of Yudhishthira,
+myself being the third son of Pritha, standing here for battle.
+Turn back, show me thy face, O son of Dhritarashtra, and bear in
+thy mind the behaviour of kings. The name <i>Duryodhana</i>
+bestowed on thee before is hereby rendered meaningless. When thou
+runnest away, leaving the battle, where is thy persistence in
+battle? Neither do I behold thy body-guards, O Duryodhana, before
+nor behind. O foremost of men, fly thou away and save thy life
+which is dear from the hands of Pandu's son.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXV</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Thus summoned to battle by the illustrious
+hero, Dhritarashtra's son turned back stung by those censures, like
+an infuriate and mighty elephant pricked by a hook. And stung by
+those reproaches and unable to bear them, that mighty and brave
+car-warrior endued with great swiftness, turned back on his car,
+like a snake that is trampled under foot. And beholding Duryodhana
+turn back with his wounds, Karna, that hero among men, decked with
+a golden necklace, stopped the king on the way and soothing him,
+himself proceeded along the north of Duryodhana's car to meet
+Partha in battle. And the mighty-armed Bhishma also, the son of
+Santanu, turning back his steeds decked with gold, enormous in
+size, and of tawny hue, rushed bow in hand, for protecting
+Duryodhana from Partha's hand. And Drona and Kripa and Vivingsati
+and Duhsasana and others also, quickly turning back, rushed forward
+with speed with drawn bows and arrows fixed on the bow-strings, for
+protecting Duryodhana. And beholding those divisions advance
+towards him like the swelling surges of the ocean, Dhananjaya, the
+son of Pritha, quickly rushed at them like a crane rushing at a
+descending cloud. And with celestial weapons in their hands, they
+completely surrounded the son of Pritha and rained on him from all
+sides a perfect shower of shafts, like clouds showering on the
+mountain breast a heavy downpour of rain. And warding off with
+weapons, all the weapons of those bulls among the Kurus, the
+wielder of the <i>Gandiva</i> who was capable of enduring all foes,
+evolved another irresistible weapon obtained from Indra, called
+<i>Sanmohana</i>. And entirely covering the cardinal and other
+directions with sharp and keen-edged arrows furnished with
+beautiful feathers, that mighty hero stupefied their senses with
+the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i>. And once more, taking up with both
+his hands that large conch of loud blare, Partha, that slayer of
+foes, blew it with force and filled the cardinal and other points,
+the whole earth, and sky, with that noise. And those foremost of
+the Kuru heroes were all deprived of their senses by the sound of
+that conch blown by Partha. And all of them stood still, their
+bows, from which they were never separated, dropping down from
+their hands. And when the Kuru army became insensible, Partha
+calling to mind the words of Uttara, addressed the son of the
+Matsya king, saying, 'O best of men, go thou among the Kurus, so
+long as they remain insensible, and bring away the white garments
+of Drona and Kripa, and the yellow and handsome ones of Karna, as
+also the blue ones of the king and Drona's son. Methinks, Bhishma
+is not stupefied, for he knoweth how to counteract this weapon of
+mine. So, pass thou on, keeping his steeds to thy left; for those
+that are sensible should thus be avoided.' Hearing these words, the
+illustrious son of Matsya, giving up the reins of the steeds,
+jumped down from the car and taking off the garments of the
+warriors, came back to his place. And the son of Virata then urged
+the four handsome steeds with flanks adorned with golden armours.
+And those white steeds, urged on, took Arjuna away from the midst
+of battle-field and beyond the array of the infantry bearing
+standards in their hands. And, Bhishma, beholding that best of men
+thus going away, struck him with arrows. And Partha, too, having
+slain Bhishma's steeds, pierced him with ten shafts. And abandoning
+Bhishma on the field of battle, having first slain his car-driver,
+Arjuna with a good-looking bow in hand came out of that multitude
+of cars, like the sun emerging from the clouds. And Dhritarashtra's
+son, that foremost of heroes among the Kurus, recovering his
+senses, saw the son of Pritha standing like the lord of the
+celestials, alone on the battle-field. And he said in hurry (unto
+Bhishma), 'How hath this one escape from thee? Do thou afflict him
+in such a way that he may not escape.' And at this, Santanu's son,
+smiling, said unto him, 'Where had been this sense of thine, and
+where had been thy prowess too, when thou hadst been in a state of
+unconsciousness renouncing thy arrows and handsome bow? Vibhatsu is
+not addicted to the commission of atrocious deeds; nor is his soul
+inclined to sin. He renounceth not his principles even for the sake
+of the three worlds. It is for this only that all of us have not
+been slain in this battle. O thou foremost of Kuru heroes, go back
+to the city of the Kurus, and let Partha also go away, having
+conquered the kine. Do thou never foolishly throw away thy own
+good. Indeed, that which leadeth to one's welfare ought to be
+accomplished.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having listened to the words of the
+grandsire that tended to his own welfare, the wrathful king
+Duryodhana no longer eager for battle, drew a deep sigh and became
+silent. And reflecting that the advice of Bhishma was beneficial
+and seeing that the Pandavas gaining in strength, the other
+warriors also, desirous of protecting Duryodhana, resolved to
+return. And beholding those foremost of Kuru heroes departing for
+their city, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, with a cheerful heart
+followed them for a while, desirous of addressing and worshipping
+them. And having worshipped the aged grandsire&mdash;the son of
+Santanu, as also the preceptor Drona, and having saluted with
+beautiful arrows Drona's son and Kripa and other venerable ones
+among the Kurus, the son of Pritha broke into fragments
+Duryodhana's crown decked with precious gems, with another arrow.
+And having saluted all the venerable and brave warriors thus, he
+filled the three worlds with the twang of the <i>Gandiva</i>. And
+suddenly blowing his conch called <i>Devadatta</i>, the hero
+pierced the hearts of all his foes. And having humbled the hostile,
+he looked resplendent on his car decked with a handsome flag. And
+beholding the Kurus depart, Kiritin cheerfully said unto Matsya's
+son, 'Turn back thy steeds; thy kine have been recovered; the foe
+is going away and do thou also return to thy city with a cheerful
+heart.' And the celestials also, having witnessed that most
+wonderful encounter between Phalguna and the Kurus, were highly
+delighted, and went to their respective abodes, reflecting upon
+Partha's feats."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXVI</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having vanquished the Kurus in battle, that
+one with eyes like those of a bull brought back that profuse cattle
+wealth of Virata. And while the Dhritarashtra, after their rout,
+were going away, a large number of Kuru-soldiers issuing out of the
+deep forest appeared with slow steps before Partha, their hearts
+afflicted with fear. And they stood before him with joined palms
+and with hair dishevelled. And fatigued with hunger and thirst,
+arrived in a foreign land, insensible with terror, and confused in
+mind, they all bowed down unto the son of Pritha and
+said,&mdash;<i>We are thy slaves</i>.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'Welcome, blessed be ye. Go ye away. Ye have no
+cause of fear. I will not take the lives of them that are
+afflicted. Ye have my assurance of protection.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of assurance, the
+assembled warriors greeted him with benedictions in praise of his
+achievements and fame and wishing him long life. And the Kauravas
+were unable to confront Arjuna while after routing the foe he
+proceeded towards the city of Virata, like an elephant with rent
+temples. And having routed the whole army of the Kuru like a
+violent wind scattering the clouds, that slayer of foes, Partha,
+regardfully addressing the prince of Matsya, said, 'It is known to
+thee alone, O child, that the sons of Pritha are all living with
+thy father. Do not eulogise them upon entering the city, for then
+the king of the Matsyas may hide himself in fear. On the other
+hand, entering the city, do thou proclaim in the presence of thy
+father that the deed is thy own, saying,&mdash;<i>By me hath the
+army of the Kurus been vanquished and by me have the kine been
+recovered from the foe!</i>'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'The feat thou hast achieved is beyond my power. I
+do not possess the ability to achieve it. I shall not, however, O
+Savyasachin, discover thee to my father, as long as thou wilt not
+tell me to do it.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having vanquished the hostile army and
+wrested the whole of the cattle wealth from the Kurus, Jishnu
+returned again to the cemetery and having approached the same
+<i>Sami</i> tree stood there with body mangled by the arrows of the
+enemy. Then that terrible monkey blazing like fire ascended into
+the sky with those other creatures in the flag-staff. And the
+illusion created (by Viswakarma) melted away and Uttara's own
+banner bearing the device of a lion was set up on the car again.
+And having replaced the arrows and quivers of those foremost of the
+Kuru princes, and also that other weapon the <i>(Gandiva)</i> which
+enhances the fierceness of a battle, the illustrious prince of
+Matsya set out for the city with a glad heart, having Kiritin as
+his charioteer. And having achieved an exceedingly mighty feat and
+slain the foe, Partha also, that slayer of foes, binding his hair
+into a braid as before, took the reins from Uttara's hands. And
+that illustrious hero entered the city of Virata, with a cheerful
+heart rehabilitating himself as Vrihannala, the car-driver of
+Uttara.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "When all the Kauravas utterly routed
+and vanquished, set out in a dejected mood for Hastinapura,
+Phalguna, on his way back, addressed Uttara, saying, 'O prince, O
+hero of mighty arms, seeing the kine escorted in advance of us by
+the cowherds, we shall enter Virata's metropolis in the afternoon,
+having tended the steeds with drink and a bath. Let the cowherds,
+despatched by thee, speedily repair to the city with the good news
+and proclaim thy victory.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Agreeable to Arjuna's words, Uttara
+speedily ordered the messengers, saying, 'Go ye and proclaim the
+king's victory. The foe hath been routed, and the kine have been
+recovered.' And the Matsya and the Bharata princes having thus
+consulted together re-approached the same <i>Sami</i> tree. And
+gratified with the victory they had won, and arrived at the foot of
+the <i>Sami</i> tree, they wore on their persons and took up on
+their car the ornaments and robes they had left there. And having
+vanquished the whole hostile army and recovered the whole of the
+wealth from the Kurus, the heroic son of Virata returned to the
+city with Vrihannala as his car-driver."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXVII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Having speedily recovered his wealth Virata
+owning a large army entered his city with a cheerful heart,
+accompanied by the four Pandavas. And having vanquished the
+<i>Trigartas</i> in battle and recovered all the kine, that mighty
+monarch, along with the sons of Pritha, looked resplendent and
+blazed forth in beauty. And as the brave king, that enhancer of the
+joys of friends, was seated on his throne, all his subjects headed
+by the Brahmanas stood before him. And worshipped by them, the king
+of the Matsyas, at the head of his army, saluted the Brahmanas and
+his subjects in return and dismissed them cheerfully. And Virata,
+the king of the Matsyas owning a large army, enquired after Uttara,
+saying, 'Where hath Uttara gone?' And the women and the maidens of
+the palace and the other females living in the inner apartments
+joyfully said unto him, 'Our kine having been seized by the Kurus,
+Bhuminjaya incensed at this and from excess of bravery hath issued
+forth alone with only Vrihannala as his second, for vanquishing the
+six mighty car-warriors, Bhishma the son of Santanu, and Kripa, and
+Karna, and Duryodhana, and Drona, and Drona's son who have all come
+with the Kuru army.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then king Virata, hearing that his
+brave son had gone forth with only one car and with Vrihannala as
+his car-driver, became filled with grief, and addressing his chief
+counsellors, said, 'Without doubt, the Kauravas and other lords of
+earth, learning the defeat of the Trigartas, will never keep their
+ground. Therefore, let those of my warriors that have not been
+wounded by the <i>Trigartas</i> go out, accompanied by a mighty
+force, for the protection of Uttara.' And saying this, the king
+speedily despatched, for the sake of his son, horses and elephants
+and cars and a large number of foot-soldiers, equipped and decked
+with various kinds of weapons and ornaments. And it was thus that
+Virata, the king of the Matsyas, owning a large army, quickly
+ordered out a large division consisting of four kinds of troops.
+And having done this, he said, 'Learn ye, without loss of time
+whether the prince liveth still or not! I myself think that he who
+hath got a person of the neuter sex for his car-driver is not
+alive.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then king Yudhishthira the just,
+smilingly said unto the afflicted king Virata, 'If, O monarch,
+Vrihannala hath been his charioteer, the foe will never be able to
+take away thy kine today. Protected by that charioteer, thy son
+will be able to vanquish in battle all the lords of earth allied
+with the Kurus, indeed, even the gods and the <i>Asuras</i> and the
+<i>Siddhas</i> and the <i>Yakshas</i> together.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Meanwhile, the swift-footed messengers
+despatched by Uttara, having reached Virata's city, gave tidings of
+the victory. And the minister-in-chief then informed the king of
+everything, viz., the great victory that had been won, the defeat
+of the Kurus, and the expected arrival of Uttara. And he said, 'All
+the kine have been brought back, the Kurus have been defeated, and
+Uttara, that slayer of foes, is well with his car-driver.' Then
+Yudhishthira said, 'By good luck it is that the kine have been
+recovered and the Kurus routed. I do not, however, regard it
+strange that thy son should have vanquished the Kurus, for his
+victory is assured that hath Vrihannala for his charioteer.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing of the victory of his son
+possessed of immeasurable might, king Virata became so glad that
+the bristles of his body stood erect. And having made presents of
+raiments unto the messengers, he ordered his ministers, saying,
+'Let the highways be decorated with flags, and let all the gods and
+goddesses be worshipped with flowery offerings. And let princes and
+brave warriors, and musicians and harlots decked in ornaments,
+march out to receive my son. And let the bellman, speedily riding
+an intoxicated elephant, proclaim my victory at places where four
+roads meet. And let Uttara, too, in gorgeous attire and surrounded
+by virgins and chanters of eulogies, go forth to receive my
+son.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having listened to these words of the
+king, all the citizens with auspicious things in hand, and many
+amongst them with cymbals and trumpets and conchs, and beautiful
+women attired in gorgeous robes, and reciters of auspicious and
+sacred hymns, accompanied by encomiasts and minstrels, and drummers
+and other kinds of musicians issued forth from the city of the
+mighty Virata to welcome Uttara of immeasurable prowess. And having
+despatched troops and maidens and courtesans decked in ornaments,
+the wise king of the Matsyas cheerfully said these words, '<i>O
+Sairindhri</i>, fetch the dice. And, O Kanka, let the play
+commence.' The son of Pandu replied, saying, 'We have heard it said
+that one whose heart is filled with joy should not play with a
+cunning gambler. I do not therefore, dare gamble with thee that are
+so transported with joy. I am ever desirous of doing what is for
+thy good. Let the play, however, commence if it pleases thee.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'My female slaves and kine, my gold and whatsoever
+other wealth I have, nothing of all this shall thou be able to
+protect today even if I do not gamble.' Kanka said in reply, 'O
+monarch, O bestower of honours, what business hast thou with gamble
+which is attended with numerous evils? Gambling is fraught with
+many evils; it should, therefore, be shunned. Thou mayst have seen
+or at least heard of Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu. He lost his
+extensive and prosperous kingdom and his god-like brothers at dice.
+For this, I am averse to gambling. But if thou likest, O king, I
+will play.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "While the play was going on, Matsya
+said unto the son of Pandu, 'Lo, the Kauravas that are so
+formidable have been vanquished in battle by my son.' Upon this,
+the illustrious king Yudhishthira said, 'Why should not he conquer
+that hath Vrihannala for his charioteer?'</p>
+<p>"Thus addressed, King Matsya became angry and said unto Pandu's
+son, 'Thou wretch of a Brahmana, dost thou compare one of the
+neuter sex with my son! Hast thou no knowledge of what is proper
+and what improper for one to say? Without doubt, thou disregardest
+me. Why should not my son vanquish all those with Bhishma and Drona
+as their leaders? O Brahmana, for friendship only I pardon thee
+this thy offence. Thou must not, however, say so again if thou
+wishest to live.'</p>
+<p>"Yudhishthira said, 'There where Bhishma and Drona and Drona's
+son and the son of Vikartana and Kripa and king Duryodhana and
+other royal and mighty car-warriors are assembled or there where
+Indra himself is surrounded by the Maruts, what other person than
+Vrihannala can fight, encountering them all! None hath been, none
+will be, his equal in strength of arms! Indeed, it is Vrihannala
+only whose heart is filled with joy at sight of a terrible
+conflict. It is he who had vanquished the celestials and the
+<i>Asuras</i> and human beings fighting together. With such a one
+for his ally, why should not thy son conquer the foe?' Virata said,
+'Repeatedly forbidden by me, thou dost not yet restrain thy tongue.
+If there is none to punish, no one would practise virtue.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, the king inflamed with
+anger forcibly struck Yudhishthira in the face with a dice, and
+reproached him angrily, saying, 'Let it not occur again!' And
+having been violently struck, blood began to flow from his nose.
+But the son of Pritha held it in his hands before it fell on the
+ground. And the virtuous Yudhishthira then glanced at Draupadi who
+was standing by his side. Ever obedient to the wishes of her lord,
+the faultless Draupadi, understanding his meaning, and bringing a
+golden vessel filled with water, received the blood that flowed
+from his nose. Meanwhile, Uttara, entertained with sweet perfumes
+of diverse kinds and decked with floral chaplets, slowly entered
+the city, received with respect by the citizens, the women, and the
+people of the provinces. And approaching the gate of the palace he
+sent the news of his arrival to his father. And the porter then,
+approaching the king, said, 'Thy son Uttara, waiteth at the gate
+with Vrihannala as his companion.' And the Matsya king, with a
+cheerful heart, said unto him, 'Do thou usher both, as I am very
+anxious to see them.' Then Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus,
+gently whispered unto the ears of the warder, 'Let Uttara enter
+alone; Vrihannala must not come in. Such is the vow of that hero of
+mighty arms that whoever causeth a wound on my person or sheddeth
+my blood except in battle, shall not live. Inflamed with rage he
+will never bear patiently to see me bleeding, but will slay Virata
+even now with his counsellors and troops and steeds.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXVIII</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then Bhuminjaya, the eldest son of the king,
+entered, and having worshipped the feet of his father approached
+Kanka. And he beheld Kanka covered with blood, and seated on the
+ground at one end of the court, and waited upon by the
+<i>Sairindhri</i>. And seeing this, Uttara asked his father in a
+hurry, saying, 'By whom, O king, hath this one been struck? By whom
+hath this sinful act been perpetrated?'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'This crooked Brahmana hath been struck by me. He
+deserveth even more than this. When I was praising thee, he praised
+that person of the third sex.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Thou hast, O king, committed an improper act. Do
+thou speedily propitiate him so that the virulent poison of a
+Brahmana's curse may not consume thee to thy roots!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Having heard the words of his son,
+Virata, that enhancer of the limits of his kingdom, began to soothe
+Kunti's son, who was like unto a fire hid in ashes, for obtaining
+his forgiveness. And unto the king desirous of obtaining his pardon
+the Pandava replied, 'O king, I have long ago forgiven it. Anger I
+have none. Had this blood from my nostrils fallen on the ground,
+then, without doubt, thou, O monarch, wouldst have been destroyed
+with thy kingdom. I do not, however, blame thee, O king, for having
+struck an innocent person. For, O king, they that are powerful
+generally act with unreasoning severity.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "When the bleeding had stopped,
+Vrihannala entered (the council-room) and having saluted both
+Virata and Kanka, stood silent. And the king, having appeased the
+chief of the Kurus, began to praise, in Savyasachin's hearing,
+Uttara who had returned from the battle. And the king said, 'O
+enhancer of the joys of Kekaya's princess, in thee have I truly a
+son! I never had nor shall have, a son that is equal to thee! How,
+indeed, couldst thou, O child, encounter that Karna who leaveth not
+a single mark unhit amongst even a thousand that he may aim at all
+at once? How couldst thou, O child, encounter that Bhishma who hath
+no equal in the whole world of men? How also couldst thou, O child,
+encounter Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, that
+preceptor of the Vrishnis and Kauravas, twice-born one who may be
+regarded as the preceptor of all the Kshatriyas? How couldst thou
+meet in battle the celebrated Aswatthaman? How couldst thou, O
+child, encounter that Duryodhana, the prince who is capable of
+piercing even a mountain with his mighty arrows? My foes have all
+been thrashed. A delicious breeze seems to blow around me. And
+since thou hast recovered in battle the whole of my wealth that had
+been seized by the Kurus, it seems that all those mighty warriors
+were struck with panic. Without doubt, thou, O bull amongst men,
+has routed the foe and snatched away from them my wealth of kine,
+like his prey from a tiger.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXIX</h2>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'The kine have not been recovered by me, nor have
+the foe been vanquished by me. All that hath been accomplished by
+the son of a deity. Capable of striking like a thunderbolt, that
+youth of celestial origin, beholding me running away in fear,
+stopped me and himself mounted on my car. It was by him that the
+kine have been recovered and the Kauravas vanquished. The deed, O
+father, is that hero's and not mine. It was he that repulsed with
+arrows Kripa and Drona and Drona's son of powerful energy, and the
+<i>Suta's</i> son and Bhishma. That mighty hero then spoke unto the
+affrighted prince Duryodhana who was running away like the leader
+of a head of elephants, these words, "O prince of the Kuru race, I
+do not see that thou art safe by any means even at Hastinapura.
+Protect thy life by putting forth thy might. Thou shalt not escape
+me by flight. Therefore, make up thy mind for fight. If victorious,
+the sovereignty of the earth will be thine, or if slain, heaven
+itself will be thine."</p>
+<p>"'Thus addressed, king Duryodhana&mdash;that tiger among men
+surrounded by his counsellors,&mdash;sighing on his car like a
+snake turned back, showered arrows endued with the speed and force
+of thunderbolts. Beholding all this, venerable sire, my thighs
+began to quake. Then that celestial youth pierced with arrows the
+Kuru army consisting of leonine warriors. And having pierced and
+afflicted that crowd of cars, that youth, stout as the lion,
+laughed at them and robbed them of their clothes and attires.
+Indeed, the six great car-warriors of the Kurus were vanquished by
+that hero alone, even like herds of animals ranging in the forest
+by a single tiger in rage.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'Where is that mighty-armed and famous youth of
+celestial origin, that hero who recovered in battle my wealth that
+had been seized by the Kurus? I am anxious to behold and worship
+that mighty warrior of celestial origin who hath saved thee and my
+kine also.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara replied, 'The mighty son of a deity disappeared there
+and then. I think, however, that he will show himself either
+tomorrow or the day after.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Virata, that owner of a large army,
+remained ignorant of the son of Pandu who was thus described unto
+him by Uttara, and who was living in the palace in disguise. And
+permitted by the high-souled Virata, Partha presented with his own
+hands the garments he had brought, unto Virata's daughter. And the
+beautiful Uttara, obtaining those new and costly clothes of diverse
+kinds, became highly glad, along with the son of the Matsya
+king."</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXX</h2>
+<p>Vaisampayana said, "Then, on the third day, attired in white
+robes after a bath, and decked in ornaments of all kinds, those
+great car-warriors, the five Pandava brothers, having accomplished
+their vow, and with Yudhishthira at their head, looked resplendent
+as they entered the palace-gate like five intoxicated elephants.
+And having entered the council-hall of Virata, they took their
+seats on the thrones reserved for kings, and shone brilliantly like
+fires on the sacrificial altar. And after Pandavas had taken their
+seats, Virata, that lord of earth, came there for holding his
+council and discharging other royal offices. And beholding the
+illustrious Pandavas blazing like fires, the king reflected for a
+moment. And then, filled with wrath, the Matsya king spoke unto
+Kanka seated there like a celestial and looking like the lord of
+celestials surrounded by the Martus. And he said, 'A player at dice
+thou wert employed by me as a courtier! How couldst thou occupy the
+royal seat thus attired in handsome robes and ornaments?'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Virata, O king,
+and desirous of jesting with him, Arjuna smilingly said in reply,
+'This person, O king, deserveth to occupy the same seat with Indra
+himself. Devoted to the Brahmanas, acquainted with the
+<i>Vedas</i>, indifferent to luxury and carnal enjoyments,
+habitually performing sacrifices, steady in vows, this one, indeed,
+is the very embodiment of virtue. The foremost of all Persons
+endued with energy and superior to every body on earth in
+intelligence, devoted to asceticism, he is conversant with various
+weapons. No other person among the mobile and immobile creatures of
+the three worlds possesseth or will ever possess such knowledge of
+weapons. And there is none even amongst the gods, or <i>Asuras</i>,
+or men, or <i>Rakshasas</i>, or <i>Gandharvas</i>, or <i>Yaksha</i>
+chiefs, or <i>Kinnaras</i>&mdash;or mighty <i>Uragas</i>, who is
+like him. Endued with great foresight and energy, beloved by the
+citizens and inhabitants of the provinces, he is the mightiest of
+car-warriors amongst the sons of Pandu. A performer of sacrifices,
+devoted to morality, and of subdued passions, like unto a great
+<i>Rishi</i>, this royal sage is celebrated over all the worlds.
+Possessed of great strength and great intelligence, able and
+truthful, he hath all his senses under complete control. Equal unto
+Indra in wealth and Kuvera in hoarding, he is the protector of the
+worlds like unto <i>Manu</i> himself of mighty prowess. Endued with
+great might, he is even such. Kind unto all creatures he is no
+other than the bull of the Kuru race, king Yudhishthira the just.
+The achievements of this king resemble the sun himself of blazing
+effulgence. And his fame hath travelled in all directions like the
+rays of that luminary. And like the rays following the risen sun of
+blazing effulgence, ten thousand swift elephants followed him, O
+king, when he dwelt among the Kurus. And, O king, thirty thousand
+cars decked in gold and drawn by the best steeds, also used to
+follow him then. And full eight hundred bards adorned with
+ear-rings set with shining gems, and accompanied by minstrels,
+recited his praises in those days, like the <i>Rishis</i> adorning
+Indra. And, O king, the Kauravas and other lords of earth always
+waited upon him like slaves, as the celestials upon Kuvera. This
+eminent king, resembling the bright-rayed sun, made all lords of
+earth pay tribute unto him like persons of the agricultural class.
+And eighty-eight thousands of high-souled <i>Snatakas</i> depended
+for their subsistence upon this king practising excellent vows.
+This illustrious lord protected the aged and the helpless, the
+maimed and the blind, as his sons, and he ruled over his subjects
+virtuously. Steady in morality and self-control, capable of
+restraining his anger, bountiful, devoted to the Brahmanas, and
+truthful, this one is the son of Pandu. The prosperity and prowess
+of this one afflict king Suyodhana with his followers including
+Karna and Suvala's son. And, O lord of men, the virtues of this one
+are incapable of being enumerated. This son of Pandu is devoted to
+morality and always abstains from injury. Possessed of such
+attributes, doth not this bull among kings, this son of Pandu,
+deserve, O monarch, to occupy a royal seat?'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXXI</h2>
+<p>"Virata said, 'If this one, indeed, be the Kuru king
+Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, which amongst these is his brother
+Arjuna, and which, the mighty Bhima. Which of these is Nakula, and
+which Sahadeva and where is the celebrated Draupadi? After their
+defeat at dice, the sons of Pritha have not been heard of by any
+one.'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'Even this one, O king, who is called Vallava and
+is thy cook, is that Bhima of mighty arms and terrible prowess and
+furious impetus. It was he who slew the furious <i>Rakshasas</i> on
+the mountains of <i>Gandhamadana</i>, and procured for Krishna
+celestial flowers of great fragrance. Even he is that
+<i>Gandharva</i>, who slew the Kichaka of wicked soul and it was he
+who killed tigers and bears and boars in the inner apartment of thy
+palace. He who had been the keeper of thy horse is that slayer of
+foes called Nakula, and this one is Sahadeva, the keeper of thy
+kine. Both these sons of Madri are great car-warriors, possessed of
+great fame and beauty of person. These two bulls of the Bharata
+race, attired in handsome robes and decked in excellent ornaments,
+are a match for a thousand great car-warriors. And even this lady
+of eyes like lotus-petals and slender waist and sweet smiles is
+Drupada's daughter, thy wife's <i>Sairindhri</i>, for whose sake, O
+king, the Kichakas were slain. I am, O king, Arjuna who, it is
+evident, thou hast heard, is that son of Pritha, who is Bhima's
+junior and the senior of the twins! We have, O king, happily passed
+in thy abode the period of non-discovery, like infants in the
+womb!'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "After Arjuna had pointed out those
+heroes&mdash;the five Pandavas, the son of Virata then spoke of
+Arjuna's prowess. And Uttara once again identified the sons of
+Pritha. And the prince said, 'That one whose complexion is bright
+like that of pure gold, who is stout like a full-grown lion, whose
+nose is so prominent, whose eyes are large and expansive, and whose
+face is broad and of coppery hue, is the king of the Kurus. And
+behold, that one whose tread is like that of an infuriate elephant,
+whose complexion is like that of heated gold, whose shoulders are
+broad and expanded, and whose arms are long and thick, is
+Vrikodara. And he who stands by his side, that youth of darkish
+hue, who is like unto a leader of a herd of elephants, whose
+shoulders are broad like those of a lion, whose tread is like that
+of a mighty elephant, and whose eyes are large and expansive like
+lotus-leaves, is Arjuna that foremost of bowmen. All lo, close to
+the king, are those foremost of men, the twins, like unto Vishnu
+and Indra, and who have no equals, in the world of men, in beauty,
+might, and behaviour. And close by them, behold, standeth Krishna,
+beautiful as gold, like unto the very embodiment of light,
+possessing the complexion of the blue lotus, like unto a celestial
+damsel, and resembling the living embodiment of <i>Lakshmi</i>
+herself.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then Virata's son began to describe the
+prowess of Arjuna, saying, 'Even this one is he that slew the foe,
+like unto a lion devastating a flock of deer. Even he ranged
+through crowds of hostile cars, slaying their best of car-warriors.
+By him was slain a huge, infuriate elephant by means of a single
+arrow. Pierced by him, that huge beast having its flanks adorned
+with an armour of gold, fell down piercing the earth with his
+tusks. By him have the kine been recovered and the Kauravas
+vanquished in battle. My ears have been deafened by the blare of
+his conch. It was by this hero of fierce deeds that Bhishma and
+Drona, along with Duryodhana, were vanquished. That achievement is
+his and not mine.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of his, the mighty
+king of the Matsyas, considering himself guilty of having offended
+Yudhishthira, said unto Uttara in reply, 'I think the time hath
+come for me to propitiate the sons of Pandu. And, if thou likest, I
+shall bestow my daughter Uttara upon Arjuna.'</p>
+<p>"Uttara said, 'Worthy of our adorations and worship and respect,
+the time hath come for worshipping the illustrious sons of Pandu
+who deserve to be worshipped by us.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'When brought under the foe's subjection in
+battle, it was Bhimasena that rescued me. My kine also have been
+recovered by Arjuna. It is through the might of their arms that we
+have obtained victory in battle. Such being the case, all of us,
+with our counsellors, shall propitiate Yudhishthira the son of
+Kunti. Blessed be thou, with all thy brothers, O bull among the
+sons of Pandu. If, O king, we have ever said or done anything in
+ignorance to offend thee, it behoveth thee to forgive us. The son
+of Pandu is virtuous.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "Then the high-souled Virata, delighted
+greatly, approached king Yudhishthira and made an alliance with
+him, and offered him his whole kingdom together with the sceptre
+and treasury and metropolis. And addressing all the Pandavas, and
+especially Dhananjaya, the mighty king of the Matsyas repeatedly
+said, 'By good luck it is that I see you.' And having again and
+again embraced Yudhishthira and Bhima and the sons of Madri, and
+smelt their heads, Virata, that owner of a large army, was not
+satiated with gazing at them. And being highly pleased, he said
+unto king Yudhishthira, 'By good luck it is that I see you safe
+from woods. By good luck it is that ye have accomplished with
+difficulty the period of exile, undiscovered by those wicked
+wights. I make over my entire kingdom to the sons of Pritha, and
+what else I have. Let the sons of Pandu accept these without the
+slightest hesitation. And let Dhananjaya, called also Savyasachin,
+accept the hand of Uttara: for that best of men is fit to be her
+lord.' Thus addressed, king Yudhishthira the just cast a look upon
+Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha. And looked at by his brother, Arjuna
+said unto the Matsya king, 'O monarch, I accept thy daughter as my
+daughter-in-law. And alliance of this kind between the Matsya and
+the Bharatas is, indeed, desirable.'"</p>
+<h2>SECTION LXXII</h2>
+<p>"Virata said, 'Why, O best among the Pandavas, dost thou not
+wish to accept as wife this my daughter that I bestow upon
+thee?'</p>
+<p>"Arjuna said, 'Residing in thy inner apartments, I had occasion
+always to behold thy daughter, and she too, alone or in company
+trusted me as her father. Well-versed in singing and dancing, I was
+liked and regarded by her, and, indeed, thy daughter always
+regardeth me as her protector. O king, I lived for one whole year
+with her though she had attained the age of puberty. Under these
+circumstances, thyself or other men may not without reason,
+entertain suspicions against her or me. Therefore, O king, myself
+who am pure, and have my senses under control, beg to thee, O
+monarch, thy daughter as my daughter-in-law. Thus do I attest her
+purity. There is no difference between a daughter-in-law and a
+daughter, as also between a son and son's own-self. By adopting
+this course, therefore, her purity will be proved. I am afraid of
+slanderous and false accusations. I accept, therefore, O king, thy
+daughter Uttara as my daughter-in-law. Surpassing all in knowledge
+of weapons, resembling a celestial youth in beauty, my son, the
+mighty-armed Abhimanyu is the favourite nephew of Vasudeva, the
+wielder of the discus. He, O king, is fit to be thy son-in-law and
+the husband of thy daughter.'</p>
+<p>"Virata said, 'It behoveth the best of the Kurus, Dhananjaya,
+the son of Kunti, who is so virtuous and wise, to say this. O son
+of Pritha, do thou carry out what thou thinkest should be done
+after this. He that hath Arjuna for the father of his son-in-law,
+hath all his desires gratified.'"</p>
+<p>Vaisampayana continued, "The monarch having said this,
+Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, gave his assent to what was thus
+agreed upon between the Matsya king and Arjuna. And, O Bharata, the
+son of Kunti sent invitations to Vasudeva and to all his friends
+and relatives, and Virata also did the same. And then, after the
+expiry of the thirteenth year, the five Pandavas took up their
+abode in one of Virata's towns called <i>Upaplavya</i>, and
+Vibhatsu, the son of Pandu, brought over Abhimanyu and Janardana,
+and also many people of the Dasarha race from the Anarta country.
+And the king of Kasi, and also Saivya, being very friendly to
+Yudhishthira, arrived there, each accompanied by an
+<i>Akshauhini</i> of troops. And the mighty Drupada, also with the
+heroic sons of Draupadi and the unvanquished Sikhandin, and that
+foremost of wielder of weapons, the invincible Dhrishtadyumna came
+there with another <i>Akshauhini</i> of troops. And all the kings
+that came were not only lords of <i>Akshauhini</i>, but performers
+of sacrifices with gifts in profusion to Brahmanas, conversant with
+the <i>Vedas</i> endued with heroism, and ready to die in battle.
+And beholding them arrived, that foremost of virtuous men, the king
+of the Matsyas, adored them duly, and entertained their troops and
+servants and carriers of burdens. And he was highly pleased to
+bestow his daughter upon Abhimanyu. And after the kings had come
+there from different parts of the country, there came Vasudeva
+decked in floral garlands, and Halayudha, and Kritavarman, the son
+of Hridika, and Yuyudhana, the son of Satyaki, and Anadhristi and
+Akrura, and Samva and Nisatha. And these repressers of foes came
+there bringing with them Abhimanyu and his mother. And Indrasena
+and others, having lived at Dwaraka for one whole year, came there,
+bringing with them the well adorned cars of the Pandavas. And there
+came also ten thousand elephants and ten thousand cars, and hundred
+millions of horses and hundred billions of foot-soldiers, and
+innumerable Vrishni and Andhaka and Bhoja warriors of great energy,
+in the train of that tiger among the Vrishnis, Vasudeva of great
+effulgence. And Krishna gave unto each of the illustrious sons of
+Pandu numerous female slaves, and gems and robes. And then the
+nuptial festival set in between the families of the Matsya king and
+the Pandavas. And then conchs and cymbals and horns and drums and
+other musical instruments appointed by the Pandavas, began to play
+in the palace of Virata. And deer of various kinds and clean
+animals by hundreds were slain. And wines of various kinds and
+intoxicating juices of trees were profusely collected. And mimes
+and bards and encomiasts, versed in singing and legendary lore,
+waited upon the kings, and chanted their praises and genealogies.
+And the matrons of the Matsyas of symmetrical bodies and limbs, and
+wearing ear-rings of pearls and gems, headed by Sudeshna, came to
+the place where the marriage knot was to be tied. And amongst those
+beautiful females of fair complexion and excellent ornaments,
+Krishna was the foremost in beauty and fame and splendour. And they
+all came there, leading forth the princess Uttara decked in every
+ornament and resembling the daughter of the great Indra himself.
+And then Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, accepted Virata's daughter
+of faultless limbs on behalf of his son by Subhadra. And that great
+king, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, who stood there like Indra,
+also accepted her as his daughter-in-law. And having accepted her,
+the son of Pritha, with Janardana before him, caused the nuptial
+ceremonies to be performed of the illustrious son of Subhadra. And
+Virata then gave him (as dowry) seven thousand steeds endued with
+the speed of the wind and two hundred elephants of the best kind
+and much wealth also. And having duly poured libations of clarified
+butter on the blazing fire, and paid homage unto the twice-born
+ones, Virata offered to the Pandavas his kingdom, army, treasury,
+and his own self. And after the marriage had taken place,
+Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, gave away unto the Brahmanas all
+the wealth that had been brought by Krishna of unfading glory. And
+he also gave away thousands of kine, and diverse kinds of robes,
+and various excellent ornaments, and vehicles, and beds, delicious
+viands of various kinds, and cardinal drinks of diverse species.
+And the king also made gifts of land unto the Brahmanas with due
+rites, and also cattle by thousands. And he also gave away
+thousands of steeds and much gold and much wealth of other kinds,
+unto persons of all ages. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the city
+of the Matsya king, thronged with men cheerful and well-fed, shone
+brightly like a great festival."</p>
+<p><i>The end of Virata Parva.</i></p>
+<hr>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote1" name=
+"footnote1"></a> <b>Footnote 1</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag1">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Brahma Vadini</i>&mdash;Nilakantha explains this as
+<i>Krishna-kirtanasila.</i></p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote2" name=
+"footnote2"></a> <b>Footnote 2</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag2">(return)</a>
+<p>This speech of Vaisampayana is not included in some texts within
+the second section. To include it, however, in the third, is
+evidently a mistake.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote3" name=
+"footnote3"></a> <b>Footnote 3</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag3">(return)</a>
+<p>The sloka commencing with <i>Adushta</i> and ending <i>ratheshu
+cha</i> does not occur in texts except those in Bengal.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote4" name=
+"footnote4"></a> <b>Footnote 4</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag4">(return)</a>
+<p>A difference reading is observable here. The sense, however, is
+the same.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote5" name=
+"footnote5"></a> <b>Footnote 5</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag5">(return)</a>
+<p>An independent female artisan working in another person's
+house.&mdash;Wilson.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote6" name=
+"footnote6"></a> <b>Footnote 6</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag6">(return)</a>
+<p>Some of the Bengal text and <i>Sarvatramaya</i> for
+<i>Sarvamantramaya</i>. The former is evidently incorrect.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote7" name=
+"footnote7"></a> <b>Footnote 7</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag7">(return)</a>
+<p>This is a very difficult <i>sloka</i>. Nilakantha adopts the
+reading <i>Sanjayet</i>. The Bengal editions read <i>Sanjapet</i>.
+If the latter be the correct reading, the meaning then would
+be,&mdash;'Let none talk about what transpires in the presence of
+the king. For those even that are poor, regard it as a grave
+fault.' The sense evidently is that the occurrences in respect of a
+king which one witnesses should not be divulged. Even they that are
+powerless regard such divulgence of what occurs in respect of them
+as an insult to them, and, therefore, inexcusable.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote8" name=
+"footnote8"></a> <b>Footnote 8</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag8">(return)</a>
+<p>The Bengal editions read <i>Rajna</i> in the instrumental case.
+Following a manuscript text of a Pandit of my acquaintance I read
+<i>Rajnas</i> in the genitive.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote9" name=
+"footnote9"></a> <b>Footnote 9</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag9">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Mahishasura</i>, the son of Rambhasura. Durga had to fight
+for many years before she could slay this formidable <i>Asura</i>.
+The story occurs in the <i>Markandeya Purana</i>. To this day,
+Bengal during the great Durga Puja festival in autumn, worships the
+goddess with great veneration.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote10" name=
+"footnote10"></a> <b>Footnote 10</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag10">(return)</a>
+<p>Literally, one that rescues from difficulty.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote11" name=
+"footnote11"></a> <b>Footnote 11</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag11">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Kamachara</i> is explained by Nilakantha thus, although in
+other places it bears a quite different meaning.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote12" name=
+"footnote12"></a> <b>Footnote 12</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag12">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Krita</i>&mdash;attack; <i>Pratikrita</i>&mdash;warding it
+off; <i>Sankata</i>&mdash;clenched. <i>Some</i> texts read
+<i>Sankatakais</i>. The meaning then would be 'cased in
+gauntlets.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote13" name=
+"footnote13"></a> <b>Footnote 13</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag13">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Bhuti, Hri, Sri, Kirti</i> and <i>Kanti</i> are respectively
+the feminine embodiments of Prosperity, Modesty, Beauty, Fame and
+Loveliness.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote14" name=
+"footnote14"></a> <b>Footnote 14</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag14">(return)</a>
+<p>What Draupadi means is that instead of passing her days in joy
+and happiness, instead of being able to wish time to be stationary
+with her, she is obliged in consequence of her misery, to wish time
+to pass off quickly.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote15" name=
+"footnote15"></a> <b>Footnote 15</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag15">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Jayate asyas</i>&mdash;i.e., she from whom one is born.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote16" name=
+"footnote16"></a> <b>Footnote 16</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag16">(return)</a>
+<p>Some texts read, <i>Vilwam nagaviodhara&mdash;i.e.,</i> 'As an
+elephant lifts up a vela fruit.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote17" name=
+"footnote17"></a> <b>Footnote 17</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag17">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Weri</i> means both a kettle-drum and a trumpet. The latter
+however conveys a better meaning here.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote18" name=
+"footnote18"></a> <b>Footnote 18</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag18">(return)</a>
+<p>Literature, force of his thighs.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote19" name=
+"footnote19"></a> <b>Footnote 19</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag19">(return)</a>
+<p>What Bhima says is this.&mdash;The Gandharvas, your husbands,
+are always obedient to thee! If they have been able to do thee a
+service, they have only repaid a debt.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote20" name=
+"footnote20"></a> <b>Footnote 20</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag20">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Krita-krita</i>&mdash;Nilakantha explains this to mean
+'imagining themselves to have achieved success in their mission'
+for having learnt of Kichaka's death, they could readily guess the
+presence of the Pandavas there. This is too far-fetched and does
+not at all agree with the spirit of their report to Duryodhana
+below. And then the same word occurs in the very last line of the
+Section. I take it that in both places the word has been used in
+the same sense.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote21" name=
+"footnote21"></a> <b>Footnote 21</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag21">(return)</a>
+<p>This is a very difficult sloka. I am not sure that I have
+understood it alright. Both Nilakantha and Arjuna Misra are silent.
+Instead of depending, however, on my own intelligence, I have
+consulted several friends who have read the <i>Mahabharata</i>
+thoroughly. The grammatical structure is easy. The only difficulty
+consists in the second half of the sloka. The meaning, however, I
+have given is consistent with the tenor of Bhishma's advice.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote22" name=
+"footnote22"></a> <b>Footnote 22</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag22">(return)</a>
+<p>Indicating the unobstructed completion of the sacrifice.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote23" name=
+"footnote23"></a> <b>Footnote 23</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag23">(return)</a>
+<p>The word <i>tirtha</i> here means, as Nilakantha rightly
+explains spies and not holy spots.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote24" name=
+"footnote24"></a> <b>Footnote 24</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag24">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Satram</i> is explained by Nilakantha to mean here 'false
+disguise.' I think, however, such an interpretation to be
+far-fetched. It evidently means 'forest',&mdash;the use of
+'pravisteshu' in connection with it almost settles the point.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote25" name=
+"footnote25"></a> <b>Footnote 25</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag25">(return)</a>
+<p>This sloka is not correctly printed in any of the texts that I
+have seen. The reading that I adopt is that the second word is the
+participle of the root <i>budh</i> and not the instrumental of
+<i>budhi</i>; the last word again of the second line is a compound
+of <i>valavatsu</i> and <i>avaleshu</i> instead of (as printed in
+many books) <i>valavatswavaleshu</i>. Any other reading would
+certainly be incorrect. I have not consulted the Bombay text.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote26" name=
+"footnote26"></a> <b>Footnote 26</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag26">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Bhagasas</i> lit., each in its proper place. It may also
+mean, 'according to their respective division.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote27" name=
+"footnote27"></a> <b>Footnote 27</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag27">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Kalyana-patalam</i> is explained by Nilakantha to mean
+<i>suvarna pattachchaditam</i>.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote28" name=
+"footnote28"></a> <b>Footnote 28</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag28">(return)</a>
+<p>One of the generals of Virata.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote29" name=
+"footnote29"></a> <b>Footnote 29</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag29">(return)</a>
+<p>Some differences of reading are noticeable here, for
+<i>Yasaswinau</i> some texts read <i>Manaswinau</i>, and for
+Vahusamravdhau-Vahusanrambhat; and for
+Nakha-naki&mdash;Ratha-rathi.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote30" name=
+"footnote30"></a> <b>Footnote 30</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag30">(return)</a>
+<p>Some texts read Ghanabiva for Ghanarva. The latter is
+unquestionably better in form.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote31" name=
+"footnote31"></a> <b>Footnote 31</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag31">(return)</a>
+<p>The word in the original is Muhurta equal to 48 minutes.
+Nilakantha points out very ingeniously that the night being the
+seventh of the dark fortnight, the moon would not rise till after
+14 Dandas from the hour of sunset, a Danda being equal to 24
+minutes. A Muhurta, therefore implies not 48 minutes exactly, but
+some time.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote32" name=
+"footnote32"></a> <b>Footnote 32</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag32">(return)</a>
+<p>Some Vikshyainam, Nilakantha explains Sama as a word spoken by
+Bhima for assuring the captive Virata, and Vikshya as 'assuring' or
+'consoling by a glance.' Perhaps this is right.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote33" name=
+"footnote33"></a> <b>Footnote 33</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag33">(return)</a>
+<p>The adjective Bhima-sankasas as explained by Nilakantha is in
+this sense, quoting the celebrated simile of Valmiki.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote34" name=
+"footnote34"></a> <b>Footnote 34</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag34">(return)</a>
+<p>To understand the comparison would require in the reader a
+knowledge of the mechanism of the Indian Vina. Briefly, the Vina
+consists of a bamboo of about two cubits attached to two gourds
+towards its ends. Along the bamboo which serves the purpose of a
+finger-board, is the main chord and several thinner wires. All
+these pass over a number of frets, two and a half heptachords,
+representing the total compass of the instrument. The wires rest
+towards their ends on two pieces of ivory called Upadhanas in
+Sanskrit or Swaris in Urdu.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote35" name=
+"footnote35"></a> <b>Footnote 35</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag35">(return)</a>
+<p>Some read <i>kaniasi</i> for <i>vaviasi</i>. Both words are the
+same, and mean the same thing.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote36" name=
+"footnote36"></a> <b>Footnote 36</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag36">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Vedi-Vilagnamadhya</i>&mdash;Vedi in this connection means a
+wasp and not, as explained by Mallinatha in his commentary of the
+<i>Kumarasambhava</i>, a sacrificial platform. I would remark in
+passing that many of the most poetic and striking adjectives in
+both the Raghu and the <i>Kumarasambhava</i> of Kalidasa are
+borrowed unblushingly from the <i>Ramayana</i> and the
+<i>Mahabharata</i>.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote37" name=
+"footnote37"></a> <b>Footnote 37</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag37">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Padma patrabha-nibha</i> may also mean 'of the splendour of
+the gem called Marakata.' Nilakantha, however, shows that this
+would militate against the adjective <i>Kankojwalatwacham</i>
+below.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote38" name=
+"footnote38"></a> <b>Footnote 38</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag38">(return)</a>
+<p>The princess being of the complexion of burnished gold and
+Arjuna dark as a mass of clouds, the comparison is exceedingly
+appropriate. The Vaishnava poets of Bengal never tire of this
+simile in speaking of Radha and Krishna in the groves of
+Vrindavana.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote39" name=
+"footnote39"></a> <b>Footnote 39</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag39">(return)</a>
+<p>The words in the original is <i>pranayam</i>, lit., love.
+Nilakantha, however, explains it as meaning modesty, humility. I
+think, Nilakantha is right. The relations between Arjuna and the
+princess were like those between father and daughter.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote40" name=
+"footnote40"></a> <b>Footnote 40</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag40">(return)</a>
+<p>This sloka is not correctly printed in any of the texts that I
+have seen. The Burdwan Pandits read <i>tat-samim</i>. This I think,
+is correct, but then <i>asasada</i> in the singular when the other
+verbs are all dual seems to be correct. The poet must have used
+some other verb in the dual for <i>asasada</i>.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote41" name=
+"footnote41"></a> <b>Footnote 41</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag41">(return)</a>
+<p>Some texts read <i>Diptasya</i> for <i>Diptayam</i>.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote42" name=
+"footnote42"></a> <b>Footnote 42</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag42">(return)</a>
+<p>This sloka does not occur in every text. This is a typical
+illustration of the round about way, frequently adopted by Sanskrit
+writers, of expressing a simple truth. The excuse in the present
+instance consists in Drona's unwillingness to identify the solitary
+hero with Arjuna, in the midst of all his hearers. Nadiji is an
+exclamation referring to Bhishma, the son of the river Ganga.
+<i>Lankesa-vanari-ketu</i> is simply 'ape-bannered,' or as rendered
+in the text, having the devastator of the gardens of Lanka's lord
+for the sign of his banner. Nagahvaya is 'named after tree' for
+Arjuna is the name of an Indian tree. Nagri-sunu is 'Indra's
+son',&mdash;Indra being the foe of mountain, for formerly it was he
+who cut off the wings of all mountains and compelled them to be
+stationary. He failed only in the case of Mainaka, the son of
+Himavat.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote43" name=
+"footnote43"></a> <b>Footnote 43</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag43">(return)</a>
+<p>Indian insects of a particular kind.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote44" name=
+"footnote44"></a> <b>Footnote 44</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag44">(return)</a>
+<p>Most editions read <i>chapas</i> which is evidently wrong. The
+correct reading is <i>avapas</i>, meaning quiver. The Burdwan
+Pandits give this latter reading.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote45" name=
+"footnote45"></a> <b>Footnote 45</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag45">(return)</a>
+<p>Some read <i>chandrargha-darsanas</i>. The correct reading is
+<i>chandrardha-darsanas</i>.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote46" name=
+"footnote46"></a> <b>Footnote 46</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag46">(return)</a>
+<p>Most editions read <i>hema-punkha</i> and <i>silasita</i> in the
+instrumental plural; the correct reading is their nominative plural
+forms.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote47" name=
+"footnote47"></a> <b>Footnote 47</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag47">(return)</a>
+<p><i>Sayaka</i> means here, as explained by Nilakantha, a sword,
+and not a shaft.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote48" name=
+"footnote48"></a> <b>Footnote 48</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag48">(return)</a>
+<p>From the colour of his steeds.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote49" name=
+"footnote49"></a> <b>Footnote 49</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag49">(return)</a>
+<p>Nilakantha spends much learning and ingenuity in making out that
+sixty-five years in this connection means thirty-two years of
+ordinary human computation.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote50" name=
+"footnote50"></a> <b>Footnote 50</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag50">(return)</a>
+<p>Some texts read,&mdash;'One large meteor fell.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote51" name=
+"footnote51"></a> <b>Footnote 51</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag51">(return)</a>
+<p>In some editions read,&mdash;<i>Bharata dwijam</i>, and
+<i>Maha-hardam</i> for <i>maha-drumam</i>. The meaning would then
+be,&mdash;'The banners (of the hostile army) began to tremble in
+the sky, and large lakes were agitated.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote52" name=
+"footnote52"></a> <b>Footnote 52</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag52">(return)</a>
+<p>Some texts read <i>Maharatham</i> (incorrectly) for
+<i>hiranmayan</i>. Indeed, <i>Maharatham</i> would give no meaning
+in this connection. The incomplete edition of the Roy Press under
+the auspices of the Principal of the Calcutta Sanskrit College
+abounds with such incorrect readings and misprints.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote53" name=
+"footnote53"></a> <b>Footnote 53</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag53">(return)</a>
+<p>The Roy Press edition adds here a line which looks very much
+like an interpolation.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote54" name=
+"footnote54"></a> <b>Footnote 54</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag54">(return)</a>
+<p>The true reading is <i>Acharya</i> in the dual number, meaning
+Drona and Kripa. Some texts read the word in the singular form.
+Nilakantha notices both these reading, but prefers the dual to the
+singular.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote55" name=
+"footnote55"></a> <b>Footnote 55</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag55">(return)</a>
+<p>The meaning is rather doubtful. Duryodhana seems to say that
+'the hostile appearance of Arjuna has been an act of imprudence on
+his part. The Pandavas, after the expiry of the thirteenth year,
+would claim their kingdom. I, Duryodhana, may or may not accede to
+their demand. When, therefore, it was not certain that Arjuna would
+be refused by me, his hostile appearance is unwise. He has come
+sure of victory, but he may yet be defeated.'</p>
+</blockquote>
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote56" name=
+"footnote56"></a> <b>Footnote 56</b>:<a href=
+"#footnotetag56">(return)</a>
+<p>The sense seems to be that when moralists even are puzzled in
+judging of the propriety or otherwise of their acts, it can easily
+be imagined that the Pandavas, however virtuous, have, in the
+matter of this their appearance, acted wrongly, for, after all, the
+thirteenth year may not have really been over as believed by them.
+Or, it may mean, that as regards our presence here, we have not
+acted imprudently when even moralists cannot always arrive at right
+conclusion. It seems that for this Duryodhana proceeds to justify
+that presence in the following sentences.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<hr>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
+Bk. 4, by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 4
+
+Author: Kisari Mohan Ganguli
+
+Release Date: April 16, 2004 [EBook #12058]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAHABHARATAM, BK. 4 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by John B. Hare, Juliet Sutherland, David King, and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+
+The Mahabharata of
+
+Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
+
+BOOK 4
+
+VIRATA PARVA
+
+Translated into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text
+
+by
+
+Kisari Mohan Ganguli
+
+[1883-1896]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MAHABHARATA
+
+
+VIRATA PARVA
+
+SECTION I
+
+(_Pandava-Pravesa Parva_)
+
+OM! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted of male
+beings, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word _Jaya_ be
+uttered.
+
+Janamejaya said, "How did my great-grandfathers, afflicted with the fear
+of Duryodhana, pass their days undiscovered in the city of Virata? And,
+O Brahman, how did the highly blessed Draupadi, stricken with woe,
+devoted to her lords, and ever adoring the Deity[1], spend her days
+unrecognised?"
+
+    [1] _Brahma Vadini_--Nilakantha explains this as
+    _Krishna-kirtanasila._
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Listen, O lord of men, how thy great grandfathers
+passed the period of unrecognition in the city of Virata. Having in this
+way obtained boons from the god of Justice, that best of virtuous men,
+Yudhishthira, returned to the asylum and related unto the Brahmanas all
+that had happened. And having related everything unto them, Yudhishthira
+restored to that regenerate Brahmana who had followed him the churning
+staff and the fire-sticks he had lost. And, O Bharata, the son of the
+god of Justice, the royal Yudhishthira of high soul then called together
+all his younger brothers and addressed them, saying, 'Exiled from our
+kingdom, we have passed twelve years. The thirteenth year, hard to
+spend, hath now come. Do thou therefore, O Arjuna, the son of Kunti,
+select some spot where we may pass our days undiscovered by our
+enemies.'
+
+"Arjuna replied, "Even by virtue of Dharma's boon, we shall, O lord of
+men, range about undiscovered by men. Still, for purposes of residence,
+I shall mention some spots that are both delightful and secluded. Do
+thou select some one of them. Surrounding the kingdom of the Kurus, are,
+many countries beautiful and abounding in corn, such as Panchala, Chedi,
+Matsya, Surasena, Pattachchara, Dasarna, Navarashtra, Malla, Salva,
+Yugandhara, Saurashtra, Avanti, and the spacious Kuntirashtra. Which of
+these, O king, wouldst thou choose, and where, O foremost of monarchs,
+shall we spend this year?'
+
+"Yudhishthira said 'O thou of mighty arms, it is even so. What that
+adorable Lord of all creatures hath said must become true. Surely, after
+consulting together, we must select some delightful, auspicious, and
+agreeable region for our abode, where we may live free from fear. The
+aged Virata, king of the Matsyas, is virtuous and powerful and
+charitable, and is liked by all. And he is also attached to the
+Pandavas. Even in the city of Virata, O child, we shall, O Bharata,
+spend this year, entering his service. Tell me, ye sons of the Kuru
+race, in what capacities ye will severally present yourselves before the
+king of the Matsyas!'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'O god among men, what service wilt thou take in Virata's
+kingdom? O righteous one, in what capacity wilt thou reside in the city
+of Virata? Thou art mild, and charitable, and modest, and virtuous, and
+firm in promise. What wilt thou, O king, afflicted as thou art with
+calamity, do? A king is qualified to bear trouble like an ordinary
+person. How wilt thou overcome this great calamity that has overtaken
+thee?'
+
+"Yudhishthira replied, 'Ye sons of the Kuru race, ye bulls among men,
+hear what I shall do on appearing before king Virata. Presenting myself
+as a Brahmana, Kanka by name, skilled in dice and fond of play, I shall
+become a courtier of that high-souled king. And moving upon chess-boards
+beautiful pawns made of ivory, of blue and yellow and red and white hue,
+by throws of black and red dice, I shall entertain the king with his
+courtiers and friends. And while I shall continue to thus delight the
+king, nobody will succeed in discovering me. And should the monarch ask
+me, I shall say, _Formerly I was the bosom friend of Yudhishthira_. I
+tell you that it is thus that I shall pass my days (in the city of
+Virata). What office wilt thou, O Vrikodara, fill in the city of
+Virata?'"
+
+
+SECTION II
+
+"Bhima said, 'I intend to present myself before the lord of Virata as a
+cook bearing the name of Vallava. I am skilled in culinary art, and I
+shall prepare curries for the king, and excelling all those skilful
+cooks that had hitherto dressed his food I shall gratify the monarch.
+And I shall carry mighty loads of wood. And witnessing that mighty feat,
+the monarch will be pleased. And, O Bharata, beholding such superhuman
+feats of mine, the servants of the royal household will honour me as a
+king. And I shall have entire control over all kinds of viands and
+drinks. And commanded to subdue powerful elephants and mighty bulls, I
+will do as bidden. And if any combatants will fight with me in the
+lists, then will I vanquish them, and thereby entertain the monarch. But
+I shall not take the life of any of them. I shall only bring them down
+in such way that they may not be killed. And on being asked as regards
+my antecedent I shall say that--_Formerly I was the wrestler and cook of
+Yudhishthira._ Thus shall I, O king, maintain myself.'
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'And what office will be performed by that mighty
+descendant of the Kurus, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, that foremost of
+men possessed of long arms, invincible in fight, and before whom, while
+he was staying with Krishna, the divine Agni himself desirous of
+consuming the forest of Khandava had formerly appeared in the guise of a
+Brahmana? What office will be performed by that best of warriors,
+Arjuna, who proceeded to that forest and gratified Agni, vanquishing on
+a single car and slaying huge _Nagas_ and _Rakshasas_, and who married
+the sister of Vasuki himself, the king of the _Nagas_? Even as the sun
+is the foremost of all heat-giving bodies, as the Brahmana is the best
+of all bipeds, as the cobra is the foremost of all serpents, as Fire is
+the first of all things possessed of energy, as the thunderbolt is the
+foremost of all weapons, as the humped bull is the foremost of all
+animals of the bovine breed, as the ocean is the foremost of all watery
+expanses, as clouds charged with rain are the foremost of all clouds, as
+Ananta is the first of all _Nagas_, as Airavata is the foremost of all
+elephants, as the son is the foremost of all beloved objects, and
+lastly, as the wife is the best of all friends, so, O Vrikodara, is the
+youthful Gudakesa, the foremost of all bowmen. And O Bharata, what
+office will be performed by Vibhatsu, the wielder of _Gandiva_, whose
+car is drawn by white horses, and who is not inferior to Indra or
+Vasudeva Himself? What office will be performed by Arjuna who, dwelling
+for five years in the abode of the thousand-eyed Deity (Indra) shining
+in celestial lustre, acquired by his own energy the science of
+superhuman arms with all celestial weapons, and whom I regard as the
+tenth _Rudra_, the thirteenth _Aditya_, the ninth _Vasu_, and the tenth
+_Graha_, whose arms, symmetrical and long, have the skin hardened by
+constant strokes of the bowstring and cicatrices which resemble those on
+the humps of bulls,--that foremost of warriors who is as Himavat among
+mountains, the ocean among expanses of water, Sakra among the celestial,
+Havyavaha (fire) among the Vasus, the tiger among beasts, and Garuda
+among feathery tribes!'
+
+"Arjuna replied, 'O lord of the Earth, I will declare myself as one of
+the neuter sex. O monarch, it is, indeed difficult to hide the marks of
+the bowstring on my arms. I will, however, cover both my cicatrized arms
+with bangles. Wearing brilliant rings on my ears and conch-bangles on my
+wrists and causing a braid to hang down from my head, I shall, O king,
+appear as one of the third sex, Vrihannala by name. And living as a
+female I shall (always) entertain the king and the inmates of the inner
+apartments by reciting stories. And, O king, I shall also instruct the
+women of Virata's palace in singing and delightful modes of dancing and
+in musical instruments of diverse kinds. And I shall also recite the
+various excellent acts of men and thus conceal myself, O son of Kunti,
+by feigning disguise. And, O Bharata should the king enquire, I will say
+that, _I lived as a waiting maid of Draupadi in Yudhishthira's palace_.
+And, O foremost of kings, concealing myself by this means, as fire is
+concealed by ashes, I shall pass my days agreeably in the palace of
+Virata.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, Arjuna, that best of men and
+foremost of virtuous persons, became silent. Then the king addressed
+another brother of his."[2]
+
+    [2] This speech of Vaisampayana is not included in some texts
+    within the second section. To include it, however, in the third,
+    is evidently a mistake.
+
+
+SECTION III
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'Tender, possessed of a graceful presence, and
+deserving of every luxury as thou art, what office wilt thou, O heroic
+Nakula, discharge while living in the dominions of that king? Tell me
+all about it!'
+
+"Nakula said, 'Under the name of Granthika, I shall become the keeper of
+the horses of king Virata. I have a thorough knowledge (of this work)
+and am skilful in tending horses. Besides, the task is agreeable to me,
+and I possess great skill in training and treating horses; and horses
+are ever dear to me as they are to thee, O king of the Kurus. At my
+hands even colts and mares become docile; these never become vicious in
+bearing a rider or drawing a car.[3] And those persons in the city of
+Virata that may enquire of me, I shall, O bull of the Bharata race,
+say,--_Formerly I was employed by Yudhishthira in the charge of his
+horses_. Thus disguised, O king, I shall spend my days delightfully in
+the city of Virata. No one will be able to discover me as I will gratify
+the monarch thus!'[4]
+
+    [3] The sloka commencing with _Adushta_ and ending _ratheshu
+    cha_ does not occur in texts except those in Bengal.
+
+    [4] A difference reading is observable here. The sense, however,
+    is the same.
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'How wilt thou, O Sahadeva, bear thyself before that
+king? And what, O child, is that which thou wilt do in order to live in
+disguise.'
+
+"Sahadeva replied, 'I will become a keeper of the king of Virata's kine.
+I am skilled in milking kine and taking their history as well as in
+taming their fierceness. Passing under the name of Tantripala, I shall
+perform my duties deftly. Let thy heart's fever be dispelled. Formerly I
+was frequently employed to look after thy kine, and, O Lord of earth, I
+have a particular knowledge of that work. And, O monarch, I am
+well-acquainted with the nature of kine, as also with their auspicious
+marks and other matters relating to them. I can also discriminate bulls
+with auspicious marks, the scent of whose urine may make even the barren
+being forth child. Even thus will I live, and I always take delight in
+work of this kind. Indeed, no one will then be able to recognise me, and
+I will moreover gratify the monarch.'
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'This is our beloved wife dearer to us than our
+lives. Verily, she deserveth to be cherished by us like a mother, and
+regarded like an elder sister. Unacquainted as she is with any kind of
+womanly work, what office will Krishna, the daughter of Drupada,
+perform? Delicate and young, she is a princess of great repute. Devoted
+to her lords, and eminently virtuous, also, how will she live? Since her
+birth, she hath enjoyed only garlands and perfumes and ornaments and
+costly robes.'
+
+"Draupadi replied, 'There is a class of persons called _Sairindhris_,[5]
+who enter the services of other. Other females, however (that are
+respectable) do not do so. Of this class there are some. I shall give
+myself out as a _Sairindhri_, skilled in dressing hair. And, O Bharata,
+on being questioned by the king, I shall say that I served as a waiting
+woman of Draupadi in Yudhishthira's household. I shall thus pass my days
+in disguise. And I shall serve the famous Sudeshna, the wife of the
+king. Surely, obtaining me she will cherish me (duly). Do not grieve so,
+O king.'
+
+    [5] An independent female artisan working in another person's
+    house.--Wilson.
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'O Krishna, thou speakest well. But O fair girl,
+thou wert born in a respectable family. Chaste as thou art, and always
+engaged in observing virtuous vows, thou knowest not what is sin. Do
+thou, therefore, conduct thyself in such a way that sinful men of evil
+hearts may not be gladdened by gazing at thee.'"
+
+
+SECTION IV
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'Ye have already said what offices ye will
+respectively perform. I also, according to the measure of my sense, have
+said what office I will perform. Let our priest, accompanied by
+charioteers and cooks, repair to the abode of Drupada, and there
+maintain our _Agnihotra_ fires. And let Indrasena and the others, taking
+with them the empty cars, speedily proceeded to Dwaravati. Even this is
+my wish. And let all these maid-servants of Draupadi go to the
+Panchalas, with our charioteers and cooks. And let all of them say,--_We
+do not know where the Pandavas have gone leaving us at the lake of
+Dwaitavana_.'"
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having thus taken counsel of one another and told
+one another the offices they would discharge, the Pandavas sought
+Dhaumya's advice. And Dhaumya also gave them advice in the following
+words, saying, 'Ye sons of Pandu, the arrangements ye have made
+regarding the Brahmanas, your friends, cars, weapons, and the (sacred)
+fires, are excellent. But it behoveth thee, O Yudhishthira, and Arjuna
+specially, to make provision for the protection of Draupadi. Ye king, ye
+are well-acquainted with the characters of men. Yet whatever may be your
+knowledge, friends may from affection be permitted to repeat what is
+already known. Even this is subservient to the eternal interests of
+virtue, pleasure, and profit. I shall, therefore speak to you something.
+Mark ye. To dwell with a king is, alas, difficult. I shall tell you, ye
+princes, how ye may reside in the royal household, avoiding every fault.
+Ye Kauravas, honourably or otherwise, ye will have to pass this year in
+the king's palace, undiscovered by those that know you. Then in the
+fourteenth year, ye will live happy. O son of Pandu, in this world, that
+cherisher and protector of all beings, the king, who is a deity in an
+embodied form, is as a great fire sanctified with all the _mantras_.[6]
+One should present himself before the king, after having obtained his
+permission at the gate. No one should keep contact with royal secrets.
+Nor should one desire a seat which another may covet. He who doth not,
+regarding himself to be a favourite, occupy (the king's) car, or coach,
+or seat, or vehicle, or elephant, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal
+household. He that sits not upon a seat the occupation of which is
+calculated raise alarm in the minds of malicious people, is alone worthy
+of dwelling in a royal household. No one should, unasked offer counsel
+(to a king). Paying homage in season unto the king, one should silently
+and respectfully sit beside the king, for kings take umbrage at
+babblers, and disgrace lying counsellors. A wise person should not
+contact friendship with the king's wife, nor with the inmates of the
+inner apartments, nor with those that are objects of royal displeasure.
+One about the king should do even the most unimportant acts and with the
+king's knowledge. Behaving thus with a sovereign, one doth not come by
+harm. Even if an individual attain the highest office, he should, as
+long as he is not asked or commanded, consider himself as born-blind,
+having regard to the king's dignity, for O repressers of foes, the
+rulers of men do not forgive even their sons and grandsons and brothers
+when they happen to tamper with their dignity. Kings should be served
+with regardful care, even as Agni and other gods; and he that is
+disloyal to his sovereign, is certainly destroyed by him. Renouncing
+anger, and pride, and negligence, it behoveth a man to follow the course
+directed by the monarch. After carefully deliberating on all things, a
+person should set forth before the king those topics that are both
+profitable and pleasant; but should a subject be profitable without
+being pleasant, he should still communicate it, despite its
+disagreeableness. It behoveth a man to be well-disposed towards the king
+in all his interests, and not to indulge in speech that is alike
+unpleasant and profitless. Always thinking--_I am not liked by the
+king_--one should banish negligence, and be intent on bringing about
+what is agreeable and advantageous to him. He that swerveth not from his
+place, he that is not friendly to those that are hostile to the king, he
+that striveth not to do wrong to the king, is alone worthy to dwell in a
+royal household. A learned man should sit either on the king's right or
+the left; he should not sit behind him for that is the place appointed
+for armed guards, and to sit before him is always interdicted. Let none,
+when the king is engaged in doing anything (in respect of his servants)
+come forward pressing himself zealously before others, for even if the
+aggrieved be very poor, such conduct would still be inexcusable.[7] It
+behoveth no man to reveal to others any lie the king may have told
+inasmuch as the king bears ill will to those that report his falsehoods.
+Kings also always disregard persons that regard themselves as learned.
+No man should be proud thinking--_I am brave, or, I am intelligent_, but
+a person obtains the good graces of a king and enjoys the good things of
+life, by behaving agreeably to the wishes of the king. And, O Bharata,
+obtaining things agreeable, and wealth also which is so hard to acquire,
+a person should always do what is profitable as well as pleasant to the
+king. What man that is respected by the wise can even think of doing
+mischief to one whose ire is great impediment and whose favour is
+productive of mighty fruits? No one should move his lips, arms and
+thighs, before the king. A person should speak and spit before the king
+only mildly. In the presence of even laughable objects, a man should not
+break out into loud laughter, like a maniac; nor should one show
+(unreasonable) gravity by containing himself, to the utmost. One should
+smile modestly, to show his interest (in what is before him). He that is
+ever mindful of the king's welfare, and is neither exhilarated by reward
+nor depressed by disgrace, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal
+household. That learned courtier who always pleaseth the king and his
+son with agreeable speeches, succeedeth in dwelling in a royal household
+as a favourite. The favourite courtier who, having lost the royal favour
+for just reason, does not speak evil of the king, regains prosperity.
+The man who serveth the king or liveth in his domains, if sagacious,
+should speak in praise of the king, both in his presence and absence.
+The courtier who attempts to obtain his end by employing force on the
+king, cannot keep his place long and incurs also the risk of death. None
+should, for the purpose of self-interest, open communications with the
+king's enemies.[8] Nor should one distinguish himself above the king in
+matters requiring ability and talents. He that is always cheerful and
+strong, brave and truthful and mild, and of subdued senses, and who
+followeth his master like his shadow, is alone worthy to dwell in a
+royal household. He that on being entrusted with a work, cometh forward,
+saying,--_I will do this_--is alone worthy of living in a royal
+household. He that on being entrusted with a task, either within the
+king's dominion or out of it, never feareth to undertake it, is alone
+fit to reside in a royal household. He that living away from his home,
+doth no remember his dear ones, and who undergoeth (present) misery in
+expectation of (future) happiness, is alone worthy of dwelling in a
+royal household. One should not dress like the king, nor should one
+indulge in laughter in the king's presence nor should one disclose royal
+secrets. By acting thus one may win royal favour. Commissioned to a
+task, one should not touch bribes for by such appropriation one becometh
+liable to fetters or death. The robes, ornaments, cars, and other things
+which the king may be pleased to bestow should always be used, for by
+this, one winneth the royal favour. Ye children, controlling your minds,
+do ye spend this year, ye sons of Pandu, behaving in this way. Regaining
+your own kingdom, ye may live as ye please.'
+
+    [6] Some of the Bengal text and _Sarvatramaya_ for
+    _Sarvamantramaya_. The former is evidently incorrect.
+
+    [7] This is a very difficult _sloka_. Nilakantha adopts the
+    reading _Sanjayet_. The Bengal editions read _Sanjapet_. If the
+    latter be the correct reading, the meaning then would be,--'Let
+    none talk about what transpires in the presence of the king. For
+    those even that are poor, regard it as a grave fault.' The sense
+    evidently is that the occurrences in respect of a king which one
+    witnesses should not be divulged. Even they that are powerless
+    regard such divulgence of what occurs in respect of them as an
+    insult to them, and, therefore, inexcusable.
+
+    [8] The Bengal editions read _Rajna_ in the instrumental case.
+    Following a manuscript text of a Pandit of my acquaintance I
+    read _Rajnas_ in the genitive.
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'We have been well taught by thee. Blessed be thou.
+There is none that could say so to us, save our mother Kunti and Vidura
+of great wisdom. It behoveth thee to do all that is necessary now for
+our departure, and for enabling us to come safely through this woe, as
+well as for our victory over the foe.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, Dhaumya, that
+best of Brahmanas, performed according to the ordinance the rites
+ordained in respect of departure. And lighting up their fires, he
+offered, with _mantras_, oblations on them for the prosperity and
+success of the Pandavas, as for their reconquest of the whole world. And
+walking round those fires and round the Brahmanas of ascetic wealth, the
+six set out, placing Yajnaseni in their front. And when those heroes had
+departed, Dhaumya, that best of ascetics, taking their sacred fires, set
+out for the Panchalas. And Indrasena, and others already mentioned, went
+to the Yadavas, and looking after the horses and the cars of the
+Pandavas passed their time happily and in privacy."
+
+
+SECTION V
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Girding their waists with swords, and equipped with
+finger-protectors made of iguana skins and with various weapons, those
+heroes proceeded in the direction of the river Yamuna. And those bowmen
+desirous of (speedily) recovering their kingdom, hitherto living in
+inaccessible hills and forest fastnesses, now terminated their
+forest-life and proceeded to the southern bank of that river. And those
+mighty warriors endued with great strength and hitherto leading the
+lives of hunters by killing the deer of the forest, passed through
+_Yakrilloma_ and Surasena, leaving behind, on their right, the country
+of the Panchalas, and on their left, that of the Dasarnas. And those
+bowmen, looking wan and wearing beards and equipped with swords, entered
+Matsya's dominions leaving the forest, giving themselves out as hunters.
+And on arriving at that country, Krishna addressed Yudhishthira, saying,
+'We see footpaths here, and various fields. From this it appears that
+Virata's metropolis is still at a distance. Pass we here what part of
+the night is still left, for great is my fatigue.'
+
+"Yudhishthira answered, 'O Dhananjaya of Bharata's race, do thou take up
+Panchali and carry her. Just on emerging from this forest, we arrive at
+the city.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thereupon like the leader of a herd of
+elephants, Arjuna speedily took up Draupadi, and on coming to the
+vicinity of the city, let her down. And on reaching the city, Ruru's son
+(Yudhishthira), addressed Arjuna, saying, 'Where shall we deposit our
+weapons, before entering the city? If, O child, we enter it with our
+weapons about us, we shall thereby surely excite the alarm of the
+citizens. Further, the tremendous bow, the _Gandiva_, is known to all
+men, so that people will, without doubt, recognise us soon. And if even
+one of us is discovered, we shall, according to promise, have to pass
+another twelve years in the forest.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'Hard by yon cemetery and near that inaccessible peak is a
+mighty _Sami_ tree, throwing-about its gigantic branches and difficult
+to ascend. Nor is there any human being, who, I think, O Pandu's son,
+will espy us depositing our arms at that place. That tree is in the
+midst of an out-of-the way forest abounding in beasts and snakes, and is
+in the vicinity of a dreary cemetery. Stowing away our weapons on the
+_Sami_ tree, let us, O Bharata, go to the city, and live there, free
+from anxiety!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having O bull of the Bharata race spoken thus
+to king Yudhishthira the just, Arjuna prepared to deposit the weapons
+(on the tree). And that bull among the Kurus, then loosened the string
+of the large and dreadful _Gandiva_, ever producing thundering twang and
+always destructive of hostile hosts, and with which he had conquered, on
+a single car, gods and men and _Nagas_ and swelling provinces. And the
+warlike Yudhishthira, that represser of foes, unfastened the undecaying
+string of that bow with which he had defended the field of Kurukshetra.
+And the illustrious Bhimasena unstrung that bow by means of which that
+sinless one had vanquished in fight the Panchalas and the lord of
+Sindhu, and with which, during his career of conquest, he had,
+single-handed, opposed innumerable foes, and hearing whose twang which
+was like unto the roar of the thunder or the splitting of a mountain,
+enemies always fly (in panic) from the field of battle. And that son of
+Pandu of coppery complexion and mild speech who is endued with great
+prowess in the field, and is called Nakula in consequence of his
+unexampled beauty in the family, then unfastened the string of that bow
+with which he had conquered all the regions of the west. And the heroic
+Sahadeva also, possessed of a mild disposition, then untied the string
+of that bow with which he had subjugated the countries of the south. And
+with their bows, they put together their long and flashing swords, their
+precious quivers, and their arrows sharp as razors. And Nakula ascended
+the tree, and deposited on it the bows and the other weapons. And he
+tied them fast on those parts of the tree which he thought would not
+break, and where the rain would not penetrate. And the Pandavas hung up
+a corpse (on the tree), knowing that people smelling the stench of the
+corpse would say--_here sure, is a dead body_, and avoid the tree from a
+distance. And on being asked by the shepherds and cowherds regarding the
+corpse, those repressers of foes said unto them, 'This is our mother,
+aged one hundred and eighty years. We have hung up her dead body, in
+accordance with the custom observed by our forefathers.' And then those
+resisters of foes approached the city. And for purposes of non-discovery
+Yudhishthira kept these (five) names for himself and his brothers
+respectively, viz., Jaya, Jayanta, Vijaya, Jayatsena, and Jayadvala.
+Then they entered the great city, with the view to passing the
+thirteenth year undiscovered in that kingdom, agreeably to the promise
+(to Duryodhana)."
+
+
+SECTION VI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "And while Yudhishthira was on his way to the
+delightful city of Virata, he began to praise mentally the Divine Durga,
+the Supreme Goddess of the Universe, born on the womb of Yasoda, and
+fond of the boons bestowed on her by Narayana, sprung from the race of
+cowherd Nanda, and the giver of prosperity, the enhancer (of the glory)
+of (the worshipper's) family, the terrifier of Kansa, and the destroyer
+of _Asuras_,--and saluted the Goddess--her who ascended the skies when
+dashed (by Kansa) on a stony platform, who is the sister of Vasudeva,
+one who is always decked in celestial garlands and attired in celestial
+robes,--who is armed with scimitar and shield, and always rescues the
+worshipper sunk in sin, like a cow in the mire, who in the hours of
+distress calls upon that eternal giver of blessings for relieving him of
+their burdens. And the king, desirous with his brothers of obtaining a
+sight of the Goddess, invoked her and began to praise her by reciting
+various names derived from (approved) hymns. And Yudhishthira said,
+'Salutations to thee, O giver of boons. O thou that art identical with
+Krishna, O maiden, O thou that hast observed the vow of _Brahmacharya_,
+O thou of body bright as the newly-risen Sun, O thou of face beautiful
+as the full moon. Salutations to thee, O thou of four hands and four
+faces, O thou of fair round hips and deep bosom, O thou that wearest
+bangles made of emeralds and sapphires, O thou that bearest excellent
+bracelets on thy upper arm. Thou shinest, O Goddess, as Padma, the
+consort of Narayana. O thou that rangest the etherial regions, thy true
+form and thy _Brahmacharya_ are both of the purest kind. Sable as the
+black clouds, thy face is beautiful as that of _Sankarshana_. Thou
+bearest two large arms long as a couple of poles raised in honour of
+Indra. In thy (six) other arms thou bearest a vessel, a lotus, a bell, a
+noose, a bow, a large discus, and various other weapons. Thou art the
+only female in the universe that possessest the attribute of purity.
+Thou art decked with a pair of well-made ears graced with excellent
+rings. O Goddess, thou shinest with a face that challengeth the moon in
+beauty. With an excellent diadem and beautiful braid with robes made of
+the bodies of snakes, and with also the brilliant girdle round thy hips,
+thou shinest like the Mandara mountain encircled with snakes. Thou
+shinest also with peacock-plumes standing erect on thy head, and thou
+hast sanctified the celestial regions by adopting the vow of perpetual
+maiden-hood. It is for this, O thou that hast slain the
+_Mahishasura_,[9] that thou art praised and worshipped by the gods for
+the protection of the three worlds. O thou foremost of all deities,
+extend to me thy grace, show me thy mercy, and be thou the source of
+blessings to me. Thou art _Jaya_ and _Vijaya_, and it is thou that
+givest victory in battle. Grant me victory, O Goddess, and give me boons
+also at this hour of distress. Thy eternal abode is on Vindhya--that
+foremost of mountains. O _Kali_, O _Kali_, thou art the great _Kali_,
+ever fond of wine and meat and animal sacrifice. Capable of going
+everywhere at will, and bestowing boons on thy devotees, thou art ever
+followed in thy journeys by Brahma and the other gods. By them that call
+upon thee for the relief of their burdens, and by them also that bow to
+thee at daybreak on Earth, there is nothing that cannot be attained in
+respect either of offspring or wealth. And because thou rescuest people
+from difficulties whether when they are afflicted in the wilderness or
+sinking in the great ocean, it is for this that thou art called
+_Durga_[10] by all. Thou art the sole refuge of men when attacked by
+robbers or while afflicted in crossing streams and seas or in wilderness
+and forests. Those men that remember thee are never prostrated, O great
+Goddess. Thou art Fame, thou art Prosperity, thou art Steadiness, thou
+art Success; thou art the Wife, thou art men's Offspring, thou art
+Knowledge, and thou art the Intellect. Thou art the two Twilights, the
+Night Sleep, Light--both solar and lunar, Beauty, Forgiveness, Mercy,
+and every other thing. Thou dispellest, worshipped by the devotees their
+fetters, ignorance, loss of children and loss of wealth, disease, death,
+and fear. I, who have been deprived of my kingdom, seek thy protection.
+And as I bow to thee with bended head, O Supreme Goddess, grant me
+protection, O thou of eyes like lotus leaves. And be thou as boon-giving
+Truth unto us that are acting according to Truth. And, O Durga, kind as
+thou art unto all that seek thy protection, and affectionate unto all
+thy devotees, grant me protection!'"
+
+    [9] _Mahishasura_, the son of Rambhasura. Durga had to fight for
+    many years before she could slay this formidable _Asura_.
+    The story occurs in the _Markandeya Purana_. To this day, Bengal
+    during the great Durga Puja festival in autumn, worships the
+    goddess with great veneration.
+
+    [10] Literally, one that rescues from difficulty.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus praised by the son of Pandu, the Goddess
+showed herself unto him. And approaching the king, she addressed him in
+these words, 'O mighty armed king, listen, O Lord, to these words of
+mine. Having vanquished and slain the ranks of the Kauravas through my
+grace, victory in battle will soon be thine. Thou shalt again lord it
+over the entire Earth, having made thy dominions destitute of thorns.
+And, O king, thou shalt also, with thy brothers, obtain great happiness.
+And through my grace, joy and health will be thine. And they also in the
+world who will recite my attributes and achievements will be freed from
+their sins, and gratified. I will bestow upon them kingdom, long life,
+beauty of person, and offspring. And they, O king, who will invoke me,
+after thy manner, in exile or in the city, in the midst of battle or of
+dangers from foes, in forests or in inaccessible deserts, in seas or
+mountain fastnesses, there is nothing that they will not obtain in this
+world. And ye sons of Pandu, he will achieve success in every business
+of his that will listen to, or himself recite with devotion, this
+excellent hymn. And through my grace neither the Kuru's spies, nor those
+that dwell in the country of the Matsyas, will succeed in recognising
+you all as long as ye reside in Virata's city!' And having said these
+words unto Yudhishthira, that chastiser of foes, and having arranged for
+the protection of the sons of Pandu, the Goddess disappeared there and
+then."
+
+
+SECTION VII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then tying up in his cloth dice made of gold and set
+with _lapis lazuli_, and holding them below his arm-pit, king
+Yudhishthira,--that illustrious lord of men--that high-souled
+perpetuator of the Kuru race, regarded by kings, irrepressible in might,
+and like unto a snake of virulent poison,--that bull among men, endued
+with strength and beauty and prowess, and possessed of greatness, and
+resembling in form a celestial though now like unto the sun enveloped in
+dense clouds, or fire covered with ashes, first made his appearance when
+the famous king Virata was seated in his court. And beholding with his
+followers that son of Pandu in his court, looking like the moon hid in
+clouds and possessed of a face beautiful as the full moon, king Virata
+addressed his counsellors and the twice-born ones and the charioteers
+and the Vaisyas and others, saying, 'Enquire ye who it is, so like a
+king that looketh on my court for the first time. He cannot be a
+Brahmana. Methinks he is a man of men, and a lord of earth. He hath
+neither slaves, nor cars, nor elephants with him, yet he shineth like
+the very Indra. The marks on his person indicate him to be one whose
+coronal locks have undergone the sacred investiture. Even this is my
+belief. He approacheth me without any hesitation, even as an elephant in
+rut approacheth an assemblage of lotuses!'
+
+"And as the king was indulging in these thoughts, that bull among men,
+Yudhishthira, came before Virata and addressed him, saying, 'O great
+king, know me for a Brahmana who, having lost his all hath come to thee
+for the means of subsistence. I desire, O sinless one, to live here
+beside thee acting under thy commands,[11] O lord.' The king then,
+well-pleased, replied unto him saying, 'Thou art welcome. Do thou then
+accept the appointment thou seekest!' And having appointed the lion
+among kings in the post he had prayed for, king Virata addressed him
+with a glad heart, saying, 'O child, I ask thee from affection, from the
+dominions of what king dost thou come hither? Tell me also truly what is
+thy name and family, and what thou hast a knowledge of.'
+
+    [11] _Kamachara_ is explained by Nilakantha thus, although in
+    other places it bears a quite different meaning.
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'My name is Kanka, and I am a Brahmana belonging to
+the family known by the name of _Vaiyaghra_. I am skilled in casting
+dice, and formerly I was a friend of Yudhishthira.'
+
+"Virata replied, 'I will grant thee whatever boon thou mayst desire. Do
+thou rule the Matsyas.--I shall remain in submission to thee. Even
+cunning gamblers are liked by me. Thou, on the other hand, art like a
+god, and deservest a kingdom.'
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'My first prayer, O lord of earth, is that I may not
+be involved in any dispute (on account of dice) with low people.
+Further, a person defeated by me (at dice) shall not be permitted to
+retain the wealth (won by me). Let this boon be granted to me through
+thy grace.'
+
+"Virata replied, 'I shall certainly slay him who may happen to displease
+thee, and should he be one of the twice-born ones, I shall banish him
+from my dominions. Let the assembled subjects listen! Kanka is as much
+lord of this realm as I myself. Thou (Kanka) shalt be my friend and
+shalt ride the same vehicles as I. And there shall also be at thy
+disposal apparel in plenty, and various kinds of viands and drinks. And
+thou shalt look into my affairs, both internal and external. And for
+thee all my doors shall be open. When men out of employ or of strained
+circumstances will apply to thee, do thou at all hours bring their words
+unto me, and I will surely give them whatever they desire. No fear shall
+be thine as long as thou residest with me.'"
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having thus obtained an interview with Virata's
+king, and received from him boons, that heroic bull among men, began to
+live happily, highly regarded by all. Nor could any one discover him as
+he lived there."
+
+
+SECTION VIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then another endued with the dreadful strength and
+blazing in beauty, approached king Virata, with the playful gait of the
+lion. And holding in hand a cooking ladle and a spoon, as also an
+unsheathed sword of sable hue and without a spot on the blade, he came
+in the guise of a cook illumining all around him by his splendour like
+the sun discovering the whole world. And attired in black and possessed
+of the strength of the king of mountains, he approached the king of the
+Matsyas and stood before him. And beholding that king-like person before
+him, Virata addressed his assembled subjects saying, 'Who is that youth,
+that bull among men, with shoulders broad like those of a lion, and so
+exceedingly beautiful? That person, never seen before, is like the sun.
+Revolving the matter in my mind, I cannot ascertain who he is, nor can I
+with even serious thoughts guess the intention of that bull among men
+(in coming here). Beholding him, it seems to me that he is either the
+king of the Gandharvas, or Purandara himself. Do ye ascertain who it is
+that standeth before my eyes. Let him have quickly what he seeks.' Thus
+commanded by king Virata, his swift-footed messengers went up to the son
+of Kunti and informed that younger brother of Yudhishthira of everything
+the king had said. Then the high-souled son of Pandu, approaching
+Virata, addressed him in words that were not unsuited to his object,
+saying, 'O foremost of kings, I am a cook, Vallava by name. I am skilled
+in dressing dishes. Do thou employ me in the kitchen!'
+
+"Virata said, 'I do not believe, O Vallava, that cooking is thy office.
+Thou resemblest the deity of a thousand eyes; and in grace and beauty
+and prowess, thou shinest among these all as a king!'
+
+"Bhima replied, 'O king of kings, I am thy cook and servant in the first
+place. It is not curries only of which I have knowledge, O monarch,
+although king Yudhishthira always used in days gone by to taste my
+dishes. O lord of earth, I am also a wrestler. Nor is there one that is
+equal to me in strength. And engaging in fight with lions and elephants,
+I shall, O sinless one, always contribute to thy entertainment.'
+
+"Virata said, 'I will even grant thee boons. Thou wilt do what thou
+wishest, as thou describest thyself skilled in it. I do not, however,
+think, that this office is worthy of thee, for thou deservest this
+(entire) earth girt round by the sea. But do as thou likest. Be thou the
+superintendent of my kitchen, and thou art placed at the head of those
+who have been appointed there before by me.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus appointed in the kitchen, Bhima soon
+became the favourite of king Virata. And, O king, he continued to live
+there unrecognised by the other servants of Virata as also by other
+people!"
+
+
+SECTION IX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Binding her black, soft, fine, long and faultless
+tresses with crisped ends into a knotted braid, Draupadi of black eyes
+and sweet smiles, throwing it upon her right shoulders, concealed it by
+her cloth. And she wore a single piece of a black and dirty though
+costly cloth. And dressing herself as a _Sairindhri_, she began to
+wander hither and thither in seeming affliction. And beholding her
+wandering, men and women came to her hastily and addressed her, saying,
+'Who are you? And what do you seek?' And she replied, 'I am a king's
+_Sairindhri_. I desire to serve any one that will maintain me.' But
+beholding her beauty and dress, and hearing also her speech that was so
+sweet, the people could not take her for a maid-servant in search of
+subsistence. And it came to pass that while looking this way and that
+from the terrace, Virata's beloved queen, daughter of the king of
+Kekaya, saw Draupadi. And beholding her forlorn and clad in a single
+piece of cloth, the queen addressed her saying, 'O beautiful one, who
+are you, and what do you seek?' Thereupon, Draupadi answered her,
+saying, 'O foremost of queens, I am _Sairindhri_. I will serve anybody
+that will maintain me.' Then Sudeshna said, 'What you say (regarding
+your profession) can never be compatible with so much beauty. (On the
+contrary) you might well be the mistress of servants both, male and
+female. Your heels are not prominent, and your thighs touch each other.
+And your intelligence is great, and your navel deep, and your words
+solemn. And your great toes, and bust and hips, and back and sides, and
+toe-nails, and palms are all well-developed. And your palms, soles, and
+face are ruddy. And your speech is sweet even as the voice of the swan.
+And your hair is beautiful, and your bust shapely, and you are possessed
+of the highest grace. And your hips and bust are plump. And like a
+Kashmerean mare you are furnished with every auspicious mark. And your
+eye-lashes are (beautiful) bent, and your nether-lip is like the ruddy
+ground. And your waist is slender, and your neck bears lines that
+resemble those of the conch. And your veins are scarcely visible.
+Indeed, your countenance is like the full moon, and your eyes resemble
+the leaves of the autumnal lotus, and your body is fragrant as the lotus
+itself. Verily, in beauty you resemble _Sri_ herself, whose seat is the
+autumnal lotus. Tell me, O beautiful damsel, who thou art. Thou canst
+never be a maidservant. Art thou a _Yakshi_, a Goddess, a _Gandharvi_,
+or an _Apsara_? Art thou the daughter of a celestial, or art thou a
+female _Naga_? Art thou the guardian goddess of some city, a
+_Vidyadhari_, or a _Kinnari_,--or art thou _Rohini_ herself? Or art thou
+Alamvusha, or Misrakesi, Pundarika, or Malini, or the queen of Indra, or
+of Varuna? Or, art thou the spouse of Viswakarma, or of the creative
+Lord himself? Of these goddesses who art renowned in the celestial
+regions, who art thou, O graceful one?'
+
+"Draupadi replied, 'O auspicious lady, I am neither a goddess nor a
+_Gandharvi_, nor a _Yakshi_, nor a _Rakshasi_. I am a maid-servant of
+the _Sairindhri_ class. I tell thee this truly. I know to dress the
+hair, to pound (fragrant substances) for preparing unguents, and also to
+make beautiful and variegated garlands, O beauteous lady, of jasmines
+and lotuses and blue lilies and _Champakas_. Formerly I served Krishna's
+favourite queen Satyabhama, and also Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas
+and the foremost beauty of the Kuru race. I wander about alone, earning
+good food and dress; and as long as I get these, I continue to live in
+the place where they are obtainable. Draupadi herself called me Malini
+(maker of garlands).'
+
+"Hearing this, Sudeshna said, 'I would keep thee upon my head itself, if
+the doubt did not cross my mind that the king himself would be attracted
+towards thee with his whole heart. Attracted by thy beauty, the females
+of the royal household and my maids are looking at thee. What male
+person then is there that can resist thy attraction? Surely, O thou of
+well-rounded hips, O damsel of exquisite charms, beholding thy form of
+superhuman beauty, king Virata is sure to forsake me, and will turn to
+thee with his whole heart. O thou of faultless limbs, O thou that art
+endued with large eyes casting quick glances, he upon whom thou wilt
+look with desire is sure to be stricken. O thou of sweet smiles, O thou
+that possessest a faultless form, he that will behold thee constantly,
+will surely catch the flame. Even as a person that climbs up a tree for
+compassing his own destruction, even as the crab conceives for her own
+ruin, I may, O thou of sweet smiles, bring destruction upon myself by
+harbouring thee.'
+
+"Draupadi replied, 'O fair lady, neither Virata nor any other person
+will be able to have me, for my five youthful husbands, who are
+_Gandharvas_ and sons of a _Gandharva_ king of exceeding power, always
+protect me. None can do me a wrong. It is the wish of my _Gandharva_
+husbands that I should serve only such persons as will not give me to
+touch food already partaken of by another, or tell me to wash their
+feet. Any man that attempts to have me like any common woman, meeteth
+with death that very night. No one can succeed in having me, for, O
+beautiful lady, O thou of sweet smiles, those beloved _Gandharvas_,
+possessed of great energy and mighty strength always protect me
+secretly.'
+
+"Sudeshna said, 'O thou that bringest delight to the heart, if it is as
+thou sayest, I will take thee into my household. Thou shalt not have to
+touch food that hath been partaken of by another, or to wash another's
+feet.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Virata's wife, O Janamejaya,
+Krishna (Draupadi) ever devoted to her lords, began to live in that
+city. Nor could anyone ascertain who in reality she was!"
+
+
+SECTION X
+
+"Vaisampayana said, 'Then clad in a cowherd's dress, and speaking the
+dialect of cowherds, Sahadeva came to the cowpen of Virata's city. And
+beholding that bull among men, who was shining in splendour, the king
+was struck with amazement. And he directed his men to summon Sahadeva.
+And when the latter came, the king addressed him, saying, 'To whom dost
+thou belong? And whence dost thou come? And what work dost thou seek? I
+have never seen thee before. O bull among men, tell me truly about
+thee.'
+
+"Having come before the king that afflicter of foes, Sahadeva answered
+in accents deep as the roar of the cloud, 'I am a Vaisya, Arishtanemi by
+name. I was employed as a cowherd in the service of those bulls of the
+Kuru race, the sons of Pandu. O foremost of men, I intend now to live
+beside thee, for I do not know where those lions among kings, the sons
+of Pritha, are. I cannot live without service, and, O king, I do not
+like to enter into the service of anyone else save thee.'
+
+"Hearing these words, Virata said, 'Thou must either be a Brahmana or a
+Kshatriya. Thou lookest as if thou wert the lord of the entire earth
+surrounded by the sea. Tell me truly, O thou that mowest down thy foes.
+The office of a Vaisya is not fit for thee. Tell me from the dominions
+of what king thou comest, and what thou knowest, and in what capacity
+thou wouldst remain with us, and also what pay thou wouldst accept.'
+
+"Sahadeva answered, 'Yudhishthira, the eldest of the five sons of Pandu,
+had one division of kine numbering eight hundred and ten thousand, and
+another, ten thousand, and another, again, twenty thousand, and so on. I
+was employed in keeping those cattle. People used to call me Tantripala.
+I know the present, the past, and the future of all kine living within
+ten _Yojanas_, and whose _tale_ has been taken. My merits were known to
+that illustrious one, and the Kuru king Yudhishthira was well-pleased
+with me. I am also acquainted with the means which aid kine in
+multiplying within a short time, and by which they may enjoy immunity
+from disease. Also these arts are known to me. I can also single out
+bulls having auspicious marks for which they are worshipped by men, and
+by smelling whose urine, the barren may conceive.'
+
+"Virata said, 'I have a hundred thousand kine divided into distinct
+herds. All those together with their keepers, I place in thy charge.
+Henceforth my beasts will be in thy keep.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O king, undiscovered by that monarch,
+that lord of men, Sahadeva, maintained by Virata, began to live happily.
+Nor did anyone else (besides his brothers) recognise him."
+
+
+SECTION XI
+
+"Vaisampayana said, 'Next appeared at the gate of the ramparts another
+person of enormous size and exquisite beauty decked in the ornaments of
+women, and wearing large ear-rings and beautiful conch-bracelets
+overlaid with gold. And that mighty-armed individual with long and
+abundant hair floating about his neck, resembled an elephant in gait.
+And shaking the very earth with his tread, he approached Virata and
+stood in his court. And beholding the son of the great Indra, shining
+with exquisite lustre and having the gait of a mighty elephant,--that
+grinder of foes having his true form concealed in disguise, entering the
+council-hall and advancing towards the monarch, the king addressed all
+his courtiers, saying, 'Whence doth this person come? I have never heard
+of him before.' And when the men present spoke of the newcomer as one
+unknown to them, the king wonderingly said, 'Possessed of great
+strength, thou art like unto a celestial, and young and of darkish hue,
+thou resemblest the leader of a herd of elephants. Wearing
+conch-bracelets overlaid with gold, a braid, and ear-rings, thou shinest
+yet like one amongst those that riding on chariots wander about equipped
+with mail and bow and arrows and decked with garlands and fine hair. I
+am old and desirous of relinquishing my burden. Be thou like my son, or
+rule thou like myself all the Matsyas. It seemeth to me that such a
+person as thou can never be of the neuter sex.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'I sing, dance, and play on instruments. I am proficient
+in dance and skilled in song. O lord of men, assign me unto (the
+princess) Uttara. I shall be dancing-master to the royal maiden. As to
+how I have come by this form, what will it avail thee to hear the
+account which will only augment my pain? Know me, O king of men, to be
+Vrihannala, a son or daughter without father or mother.'
+
+"Virata said, 'O Vrihannala, I give thee what thou desirest. Instruct my
+daughter, and those like her, in dancing. To me, however, this office
+seemeth unworthy of thee. Thou deservest (the dominion of) the entire
+earth girt round by the ocean.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "The king of the Matsyas then tested Vrihannala
+in dancing, music, and other fine arts, and consulting with his various
+ministers forthwith caused him to be examined by women. And learning
+that this impotency was of a permanent nature, he sent him to the
+maiden's apartments. And there the mighty Arjuna began giving lessons in
+singing and instrumental music to the daughter of Virata, her friends,
+and her waiting-maids, and soon won their good graces. And in this
+manner the self-possessed Arjuna lived there in disguise, partaking of
+pleasures in their company, and unknown to the people within or without
+the palace."
+
+
+SECTION XII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "After a while, another powerful son of Pandu was
+seen making towards king Virata in haste. And as he advanced, he seemed
+to everyone like solar orb emerged from the clouds. And he began to
+observe the horses around. And seeing this, the king of the Matsyas said
+to his followers, 'I wonder whence this man, possessed of the effulgence
+of a celestial, cometh. He looks intently at my steeds. Verily, he must
+be proficient in horse-lore. Let him be ushered into my presence
+quickly. He is a warrior and looks like a god!' And that destroyer of
+foes then went up to the king and accosted him, saying, 'Victory to
+thee, O king, and blest be ye. As a trainer of horses, I have always
+been highly esteemed by kings. I will be a clever keeper of thy horses.'
+
+"Virata said, 'I will give thee vehicles, wealth, and spacious quarters.
+Thou shalt be the manager of my horses. But first tell me whence thou
+comest, who thou art, and how also thou happenest to come here. Tell us
+also all the arts thou art master of.' Nakula replied, 'O mower of
+enemies, know that Yudhishthira is the eldest brother of the five sons
+of Pandu. I was formerly employed by him to keep his horses. I am
+acquainted with the temper of steeds, and know perfectly the art of
+breaking them. I know also how to correct vicious horses, and all the
+methods of treating their diseases. No animal in my hands becometh weak
+or ill. Not to speak of horses, even mares in my hands will never be
+found to be vicious. People called me Granthika by name and so did
+Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu.'
+
+"Virata said, 'Whatever horses I have, I consign to thy care even from
+today. And all the keepers of my horses and all my charioteers will from
+today be subordinate to thee. If this suits thee, say what remuneration
+is desired by thee. But, O thou that resemblest a celestial, the office
+of equerry is not worthy of thee. For thou lookest like a king and I
+esteem thee much. The appearance here hath pleased me as much as if
+Yudhishthira himself were here. Oh, how does that blameless son of Pandu
+dwell and divert himself in the forest, now destitute of servants as he
+is.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "That youth, like unto a chief of the
+_Gandharvas_, was treated thus respectfully by the delighted king
+Virata. And he conducted himself there in such a manner as to make
+himself dear and agreeable to all in the palace. And no one recognised
+him while living under Virata's protection. And it was in this manner
+then the sons of Pandu, the very sight of whom had never been fruitless,
+continued to live in the country of the Matsyas. And true to their
+pledge those lords of the earth bounded by her belt of seas passed their
+days of _incognito_ with great composure notwithstanding their poignant
+sufferings."
+
+
+SECTION XIII
+
+(_Samayapalana Parva_)
+
+Janamejaya said, "While living thus disguised in the city of the
+Matsyas, what did those descendants of the Kuru race endued with great
+prowess, do, O regenerate one!"
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Hear, O king, what those descendants of Kuru did
+while they dwelt thus in disguise in the city of the Matsyas,
+worshipping the king thereof. By the grace of the sage Trinavindu and of
+the high-souled lord of justice, the Pandavas continued to live
+unrecognised by others in the city of Virata. O lord of men,
+Yudhishthira, as courtier made himself agreeable to Virata and his sons
+as also to all the Matsyas. An adept in the mysteries of dice, the son
+of Pandu caused them to play at dice according to his pleasure and made
+them sit together in the dice-hall like a row of birds bound in a
+string. And that tiger among men, king Yudhishthira the Just, unknown to
+the monarch, distributed among his brothers, in due proportion, the
+wealth he won from Virata. And Bhimasena on his part, sold to
+Yudhishthira for price, meat and viands of various kinds which he
+obtained from the king. And Arjuna distributed among all his brothers
+the proceeds of worn-out cloths which he earned in the inner apartments
+of the palace. And Sahadeva, too, who was disguised as a cowherd gave
+milk, curds and clarified butter to his brothers. And Nakula also shared
+with his brothers the wealth the king gave him, satisfied with his
+management of the horses. And Draupadi, herself in a pitiable condition,
+looked after all those brothers and behaved in such a way as to remain
+unrecognized. And thus ministering unto one another's wants, those
+mighty warriors lived in the capital of Virata as hidden from view, as
+if they were once more in their mother's womb. And those lords of men,
+the sons of Pandu, apprehensive of danger from the son of Dhritarashtra,
+continued to dwell there in concealment, watching over their wife
+Draupadi. And after three months had passed away, in the fourth, the
+grand festival in honour of the divine Brahma which was celebrated with
+pomp in the country of the Matsyas, came off. And there came athletes
+from all quarters by thousands, like hosts of celestials to the abode of
+Brahma or of Siva to witness that festival. And they were endued with
+huge bodies and great prowess, like the demons called _Kalakhanjas_. And
+elated with their prowess and proud of their strength, they were highly
+honoured by the king. And their shoulders and waists and necks were like
+those of lions, and their bodies were very clean, and their hearts were
+quite at ease. And they had many a time won success in the lists in the
+presence of kings. And amongst them there was one who towered above the
+rest and challenged them all to a combat. And there was none that dared
+to approach him as he proudly stalked in the arena. And when all the
+athletes stood sad and dispirited, the king of the Matsyas made him
+fight with his cook. And urged by the king, Bhima made up his mind
+reluctantly, for he could not openly disobey the royal behest. And that
+tiger among men then having worshipped the king, entered the spacious
+arena, pacing with the careless steps of a tiger. And the son of Kunti
+then girded up his loins to the great delight of the spectators. And
+Bhima then summoned to the combat that athlete known by the name of
+Jimuta who was like unto the Asura Vritra whose prowess was widely
+known. And both of them were possessed of great courage, and both were
+endued with terrible prowess. And they were like a couple of infuriate
+and huge-bodied elephants, each sixty years old. And those brave tigers
+among men then cheerfully engaged in a wrestling combat, desirous of
+vanquishing each other. And terrible was the encounter that took place
+between them, like the clash of the thunderbolt against the stony
+mountain-breast. And both of them were exceedingly powerful and
+extremely delighted at each other's strength. And desirous of
+vanquishing each other, each stood eager to take advantage of his
+adversary's lapse. And both were greatly delighted and both looked like
+infuriate elephants of prodigious size. And various were the modes of
+attack and defence that they exhibited with their clenched fists.[12]
+And each dashed against the other and flung his adversary to a distance.
+And each cast the other down and pressed him close to the ground. And
+each got up again and squeezed the other in his arms. And each threw the
+other violently off his place by boxing him on the breast. And each
+caught the other by the legs and whirling him round threw him down on
+the ground. And they slapped each other with their palms that struck as
+hard as the thunderbolt. And they also struck each other with their
+outstretched fingers, and stretching them out like spears thrust the
+nails into each other's body. And they gave each other violent kicks.
+And they struck knee and head against head, producing the crash of one
+stone against another. And in this manner that furious combat between
+those warriors raged on without weapons, sustained mainly by the power
+of their arms and their physical and mental energy, to the infinite
+delight of the concourse of spectators. And all people, O king, took
+deep interest in that encounter of those powerful wrestlers who fought
+like Indra and the Asura Vritra. And they cheered both of them with loud
+acclamations of applause. And the broad-chested and long-armed experts
+in wrestling then pulled and pressed and whirled and hurled down each
+other and struck each other with their knees, expressing all the while
+their scorn for each other in loud voices. And they began to fight with
+their bare arms in this way, which were like spiked maces of iron. And
+at last the powerful and mighty-armed Bhima, the slayer of his foes,
+shouting aloud seized the vociferous athlete by the arms even as the
+lion seizes the elephant, and taking him up from the ground and holding
+him aloft, began to whirl him round, to the great astonishment of the
+assembled athletes and the people of Matsya. And having whirled him
+round and round a hundred times till he was insensible, the strong-armed
+Vrikodara dashed him to death on the ground. And when the brave and
+renowned Jimuta was thus killed, Virata and his friends were filled with
+great delight. And in the exuberance of his joy, the noble-minded king
+rewarded Vallava then and there with the liberality of Kuvera. And
+killing numerous athletes and many other men possessed of great bodily
+strength, he pleased the king very much. And when no one could be found
+there to encounter him in the lists, the king made him fight with tigers
+and lions and elephants. And the king also made him battle with furious
+and powerful lions in the harem for the pleasure of the ladies. And
+Arjuna, too, pleased the king and all the ladies of the inner apartments
+by singing and dancing. And Nakula pleased Virata, that best of kings,
+by showing him fleet and well-trained steeds that followed him wherever
+he went. And the king, gratified with him, rewarded him with ample
+presents. And beholding around Sahadeva a herd of well-trained bullocks,
+Virata that bull among men, bestowed upon him also wealth of diverse
+kinds. And, O king, Draupadi distressed to see all those warriors suffer
+pain, sighed incessantly. And it was in this way that those eminent
+persons lived there in disguise, rendering services unto king Virata."
+
+    [12] _Krita_--attack; _Pratikrita_--warding it off;
+    _Sankata_--clenched. _Some_ texts read _Sankatakais_. The
+    meaning then would be 'cased in gauntlets.'
+
+
+SECTION XIV
+
+(_Kichaka-badha Parva_)
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Living in such disguise, those mighty warriors, the
+sons of Pritha, passed ten months in Matsya's city. And, O monarch,
+although herself deserving to be waited upon by others, the daughter of
+Yajnasena, O Janamejaya, passed her days in extreme misery, waiting upon
+Sudeshna. And residing thus in Sudeshna's apartments, the princess of
+Panchala pleased that lady as also the other females of the inner
+apartments. And it came to pass that as the year was about to expire,
+the redoubtable Kichaka, the Commander of Virata's forces, chanced to
+behold the daughter of Drupada. And beholding that lady endued with the
+splendour of a daughter of the celestials, treading the earth like a
+goddess, Kichaka, afflicted with the shafts of Kama, desired to possess
+her. And burning with desire's flame, Virata's general came to Sudeshna
+(his sister) and smilingly addressed her in these words, 'This beauteous
+lady had never before been seen by me in king Virata's abode. This
+damsel maddens me with her beauty, even as a new wine maddens one with
+its fragrance. Tell me, who is this graceful and captivating lady
+possessed of the beauty of a goddess, and whose she is, and whence she
+hath come. Surely, grinding my heart she hath reduced me to subjection.
+It seems to me that (save her) there is no other medicine for my
+illness. O, this fair hand-maid of thine seemeth to me to be possessed
+of the beauty of a goddess. Surely, one like her is ill suited to serve
+thee. Let her rule over me and whatever is mine. O, let her grace my
+spacious and beautiful palace, decked with various ornaments of gold,
+full of viands and drinks in profusion, with excellent plates, and
+containing every kind of plenty, besides elephants and horses and cars
+in myriads.' And having consulted with Sudeshna thus, Kichaka went to
+princess Draupadi, and like a jackal in the forest accosting a lioness,
+spoke unto Krishna these words in a winning voice, 'Who and whose art
+thou, O beautiful one? And O thou of beautiful face, whence hast thou
+come to the city of Virata? Tell me all this, O fair lady. Thy beauty
+and gracefulness are of the very first order and the comeliness of thy
+features is unparalleled. With its loveliness thy face shineth ever like
+the resplendent moon. O thou of fair eye-brows, thy eyes are beautiful
+and large like lotus-petals. Thy speech also, O thou of beautiful limbs,
+resembles the notes of the _cuckoo_. O thou of fair hips, never before
+in this world have I beheld a woman possessed of beauty like thine, O
+thou of faultless features. Art thou Lakshmi herself having her abode in
+the midst of lotuses or, art thou, O slender-waisted one, she who is
+called _Bhuti_[13]. Or, which amongst these--_Hri, Sri, Kirti_ and
+_Kanti_,--art thou, O thou of beautiful face? Or possessed of beauty
+like Rati's, art thou, she who sporteth in the embraces of the God of
+love? O thou that possessest the fairest of eye-brows, thou shinest
+beautifully even like the lovely light of the moon. Who is there in the
+whole world that will not succumb to the influence of desire beholding
+thy face? Endued with unrivalled beauty and celestial grace of the most
+attractive kind, that face of thine is even like the full moon, its
+celestial effulgence resembling his radiant face, its smile resembling
+his soft-light, and its eye-lashes looking like the spokes on his disc.
+Both thy bosoms, so beautiful and well-developed and endued with
+unrivalled gracefulness and deep and well-rounded and without any space
+between them, are certainly worthy of being decked with garlands of
+gold. Resembling in shape the beautiful buds of the lotus, these thy
+breasts, O thou of fair eye-brows, are even as the whips of Kama that
+are urging me forward, O thou of sweet smiles. O damsel of slender
+waist, beholding that waist of thine marked with four wrinkles and
+measuring but a span, and slightly stooping forward because of the
+weight of thy breasts, and also looking on those graceful hips of thine
+broad as the banks of a river, the incurable fever of desire, O
+beauteous lady, afflicteth me sore. The flaming fire of desire, fierce
+as a forest conflagration, and fanned by the hope my heart cherisheth of
+a union with thee is consuming me intensely. O thou of exceeding beauty
+quench thou that flaming fire kindled by Manmatha. Union with thee is a
+rain-charged cloud, and the surrender of thy person is the shower that
+the cloud may drop. O thou of face resembling the moon, the fierce and
+maddening shafts of Manmatha whetted and sharpened by the desire of a
+union with thee, piercing this heart of mine in their impetuous course,
+have penetrated into its core. O black-eyed lady, those impetuous and
+cruel shafts are maddening me beyond endurance. It behoveth thee to
+relieve me from this plight by surrendering thyself to me and favouring
+me with thy embraces. Decked in beautiful garlands and robes and adorned
+with every ornament, sport thou, O sweet damsel, with me to thy fill. O
+thou of the gait of an elephant in rut, deserving as thou art of
+happiness though deprived of it now, it behoveth thee not to dwell here
+in misery. Let unrivalled weal be thine. Drinking various kinds of
+charming and delicious and ambrosial wines, and sporting at thy pleasure
+in the enjoyment of diverse objects of delight, do thou, O blessed lady,
+attain auspicious prosperity. This beauty of thine and this prime of thy
+youth, O sweet lady, are now without their use. For, O beauteous and
+chaste damsel, endued with such loveliness, thou dost not shine, like a
+graceful garland lying unused and unworn. I will forsake all my old
+wives. Let them, O thou of sweet smiles, become thy slaves. And I also,
+O fair damsel, will stay by thee as thy slave, ever obedient to thee, O
+thou of the most handsome face.' Hearing these words of his, Draupadi
+replied, 'In desiring me, a female servant of low extraction, employed
+in the despicable office of dressing hair, O _Suta's_ son, thou desirest
+one that deserves not that honour. Then, again, I am the wife of others.
+Therefore, good betide thee, this conduct of thine is not proper. Do
+thou remember the precept of morality, viz., that persons should take
+delight only in their wedded wives. Thou shouldst not, therefore, by any
+means bend thy heart to adultery. Surely abstaining from improper acts
+is ever the study of those that are good. Overcome by ignorance sinful
+men under the influence of desire come by either extreme infamy or
+dreadful calamity.'"
+
+    [13] _Bhuti, Hri, Sri, Kirti_ and _Kanti_ are respectively the
+    feminine embodiments of Prosperity, Modesty, Beauty, Fame and
+    Loveliness.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by the _Sairindhri_, the wicked
+Kichaka losing control over his senses and overcome by lust, although
+aware of the numerous evils of fornication, evils condemned by everybody
+and sometimes leading to the destruction of life itself,--then spoke
+unto Draupadi, 'It behoveth thee not, O beauteous lady, O thou of
+graceful features, thus to disregard me who am, O thou of sweet smiles,
+under the power of Manmatha on thy account. If now, O timid one, thou
+disregardest me who am under thy influence and who speak to thee so
+fair, thou wilt, O black-eyed damsel, have to repent for it afterwards.
+O thou of graceful eye-brows, the real lord of this entire kingdom, O
+slender-waisted lady, is myself. It is me depending upon whom the people
+of this realm live. In energy and prowess I am unrivalled on earth.
+There is no other man on earth who rivals me in beauty of person, in
+youth, in prosperity, and in the possession of excellent objects of
+enjoyment. Why it is, O auspicious lady, that having it in thy power to
+enjoy here every object of desire and every luxury and comfort without
+its equal, thou preferest servitude. Becoming the mistress of this
+kingdom which I shall confer on thee, O thou of fair face, accept me,
+and enjoy, O beauteous one, all excellent objects of desire.' Addressed
+in these accursed words by Kichaka, that chaste daughter of Drupada
+answered him thus reprovingly, 'Do not, O son of a _Suta_, act so
+foolishly and do not throw away thy life. Know that I am protected by my
+five husbands. Thou canst not have me. I have Gandharvas for my
+husbands. Enraged they will slay thee. Therefore, do thou not bring
+destruction on thyself. Thou intendest to tread along a path that is
+incapable of being trod by men. Thou, O wicked one, art even like a
+foolish child that standing on one shore of the ocean intends to cross
+over to the other. Even if thou enterest into the interior of the earth,
+or soarest into the sky, or rushest to the other shore of the ocean,
+still thou wilt have no escape from the hands of those sky-ranging
+offspring of gods, capable of grinding all foes. Why dost thou today, O
+Kichaka, solicit me so persistently even as a sick person wisheth for
+the night that will put a stop to his existence? Why dost thou desire
+me, even like an infant lying on its mother's lap wishing to catch the
+moon? For thee that thus solicitest their beloved wife, there is no
+refuge either on earth or in sky. O Kichaka, hast thou no sense which
+leads thee to seek thy good and by which thy life may be saved?'"
+
+
+SECTION XV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Rejected thus by the princess, Kichaka, afflicted
+with maddening lust and forgetting all sense of propriety, addressed
+Sudeshna saying, 'Do thou, Kekaya's daughter, so act that thy
+_Sairindhri_ may come into my arms. Do thou, O Sudeshna, adopt the means
+by which the damsel of the gait of an elephant may accept me; I am dying
+of absorbing desire.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing his profuse lamentations, that gentle
+lady, the intelligent queen of Virata, was touched with pity. And having
+taken counsel with her own self and reflected on Kichaka's purpose and
+on the anxiety of Krishna, Sudeshna addressed the _Suta's_ son in these
+words, 'Do thou, on the occasion of some festival, procure viands and
+wines for me. I shall then send my _Sairindhri_ to thee on the pretence
+of bringing wine. And when she will repair thither do thou in solitude,
+free from interruption, humour her as thou likest. Thus soothed, she may
+incline her mind to thee.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, he went out of his sister's
+apartments. And he soon procured wines well-filtered and worthy of a
+king. And employing skilled cooks, he prepared many and various kinds of
+choice viands and delicious drinks and many and various kinds of meat of
+different degrees of excellence. And when all this had been done, that
+gentle lady Sudeshna, as previously counselled by Kichaka, desired her
+_Sairindhri_ to repair to Kichaka's abode, saying, 'Get up, O
+_Sairindhri_ and repair to Kichaka's abode to bring wine, for, O
+beauteous lady, I am afflicted with thirst.' Thereupon the _Sairindhri_
+replied, 'O princess, I shall not be able to repair to Kichaka's
+apartments. Thou thyself knowest, O queen, how shameless he is. O thou
+of faultless limbs, O beauteous lady, in thy palace I shall not be able
+to lead a lustful life, becoming faithless to my husbands. Thou
+rememberest, O gentle lady, O beautiful one, the conditions I had set
+down before entering thy house. O thou of tresses ending in graceful
+curls, the foolish Kichaka afflicted by the god of desire, will, on
+seeing me, offer me insult. Therefore, I will not go to his quarters.
+Thou hast, O princess, many maids under thee. Do thou, good betide thee,
+send one of them. For, surely, Kichaka will insult me.' Sudeshna said,
+'Sent by me, from my abode, surely he will not harm thee.' And having
+said this, she handed over a golden vessel furnished with a cover. And
+filled with apprehension, and weeping, Draupadi mentally prayed for the
+protection of the gods, and set out for Kichaka's abode for fetching
+wine. And she said, 'As I do not know another person save my husbands,
+by virtue of that Truth let Kichaka not be able to overpower me although
+I may approach his presence.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "And that helpless damsel then adored Surya for
+a moment. And Surya, having considered all that she urged, commanded a
+_Rakshasa_ to protect her invisibly. And from that time the _Rakshasa_
+began to attend upon that blameless lady under any circumstances. And
+beholding Krishna in his presence like a frightened doe, the _Suta_ rose
+up from his seat, and felt the joy that is felt by a person wishing to
+cross to the other shore, when he obtains a boat."
+
+
+SECTION XVI
+
+"Kichaka said, 'O thou of tresses ending in beautiful curls, thou art
+welcome. Surely, the night that is gone hath brought me an auspicious
+day, for I have got thee today as the mistress of my house. Do what is
+agreeable to me. Let golden chains, and conchs and bright ear-rings made
+of gold, manufactured in various countries, and beautiful rubies and
+gems, and silken robes and deer-skins, be brought for thee. I have also
+an excellent bed prepared for thee. Come, sitting upon it do thou drink
+with me the wine prepared from the honey flower.' Hearing these words,
+Draupadi said, 'I have been sent to thee by the princess for taking away
+wine. Do thou speedily bring me wine, for she told me that she is
+exceedingly thirsty.' At this, Kichaka said, 'O gentle lady, others will
+carry what the princess wants.' And saying this, the _Suta's_ son caught
+hold of Draupadi's right arm. And at this, Draupadi exclaimed, 'As I
+have never, from intoxication of the senses, been unfaithful to my
+husbands even at heart, by that Truth, O wretch, I shall behold thee
+dragged and lying powerless on the ground.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Seeing that large-eyed lady reproving him in
+that strain, Kichaka suddenly seized her by the end of her upper garment
+as she attempted to run away. And seized with violence by Kichaka, the
+beautiful princess, unable to tolerate it, and with frame trembling with
+wrath, and breathing quickly, dashed him to the ground. And dashed to
+the ground thus, the sinful wretch tumbled down like a tree whose roots
+had been cut. And having thrown Kichaka down on the ground when the
+latter had seized her, she, trembling all over rushed to the court,
+where king Yudhishthira was, for protection. And while she was running
+with all her speed, Kichaka (who followed her), seizing her by the hair,
+and bringing her down on the ground, kicked her in the very presence of
+the king. Thereupon, O Bharata, the _Rakshasa_ that had been appointed
+by Surya to protect Draupadi, gave Kichaka a shove with a force mighty
+as that of the wind. And overpowered by the force of _Rakshasa_, Kichaka
+reeled and fell down senseless on the ground, even like an uprooted
+tree. And both Yudhishthira and Bhimasena who were seated there, beheld
+with wrathful eyes that outrage on Krishna by Kichaka. And desirous of
+compassing the destruction of the wicked Kichaka, the illustrious Bhima
+gnashed his teeth in rage. And his forehead was covered with sweat, and
+terrible wrinkles appeared thereon. And a smoky exhalation shot forth
+from his eyes, and his eye-lashes stood on end. And that slayer of
+hostile heroes pressed his forehead with his hands. And impelled by
+rage, he was on the point of starting up with speed. Thereat king
+Yudhishthira, apprehensive of discovery, squeezed his thumbs and
+commanded Bhima to forbear. And Bhima who then looked like an infuriate
+elephant eyeing a large tree, was thus forbidden by his elder brother.
+And the latter said, 'Lookest thou, O cook, for trees for fuel. If thou
+art in need of faggots, then go out and fell trees.' And the weeping
+Draupadi of fair hips, approaching the entrance of the court, and seeing
+her melancholy lords, desirous yet of keeping up the disguise duty-bound
+by their pledge, with eyes burning in fire, spoke these words unto the
+king of the Matsyas, 'Alas, the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked today the
+proud and beloved wife of those whose foe can never sleep in peace even
+if four kingdoms intervene between him and them. Alas, the son of a
+_Suta_ hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those truthful
+personages, who are devoted to Brahmanas and who always give away
+without asking any thing in gift. Alas! the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked
+today the proud and beloved wife of those, the sounds of whose
+kettle-drums and the twangs of whose bow-strings are ceaselessly heard.
+Alas, the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife
+of those who are possessed of abundant energy and might, and who are
+liberal in gifts and proud of their dignity. Alas, the son of a _Suta_
+hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those who, if they had
+not been fettered by the ties of duty, could destroy this entire world.
+Where, alas, are those mighty warriors today who, though living in
+disguise, have always granted protection unto those that solicit it? Oh,
+why do those heroes today, endued as they are with strength and
+possessed of immeasurable energy, quietly suffer, like eunuchs, their
+dear and chaste wife to be thus insulted by a _Suta's_ son? Oh, where is
+that wrath of theirs, that prowess, and that energy, when they quietly
+bear their wife to be thus insulted by a wicked wretch? What can I (a
+weak woman) do when Virata, deficient in virtue, coolly suffereth my
+innocent self to be thus wronged by a wretch? Thou dost not, O king, act
+like a king towards this Kichaka. Thy behaviour is like that of a
+robber, and doth not shine in a court. That I should thus be insulted in
+thy very presence, O Matsya, is highly improper. Oh, let all the
+courtiers here look at this violence of Kichaka. Kichaka is ignorant of
+duty and morality, and Matsya also is equally so. These courtiers also
+that wait upon such a king are destitute of virtue.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "With these and other words of the same kind the
+beautiful Krishna with tearful eyes rebuked the king of the Matsyas. And
+hearing her, Virata said, 'I do not know what your dispute has been out
+of our sight. Not knowing the true cause how can I show my
+discrimination?' Then the courtiers, having learnt every thing,
+applauded Krishna, and they all exclaimed, 'Well done!' 'Well done!' and
+censured Kichaka. And the courtiers said, 'That person who owneth this
+large-eyed lady having every limb of hers endued with beauty for his
+wife, possesseth what is of exceeding value and hath no occasion to
+indulge in any grief. Surely, such a damsel of transcendent beauty and
+limbs perfectly faultless is rare among men. Indeed, it seems to us that
+she is a goddess.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "And while the courtiers, having beheld Krishna
+(under such circumstances), were applauding her thus, Yudhishthira's
+forehead, from ire, became covered with sweat. And that bull of the Kuru
+race then addressed that princess, his beloved spouse, saying, 'Stay not
+here, O Sairindhri; but retire to the apartments of Sudeshna. The wives
+of heroes bear affliction for the sake of their husbands, and undergoing
+toil in ministering unto their lords, they at last attain to region
+where their husbands may go. Thy Gandharva husbands, effulgent as the
+sun, do not, I imagine, consider this as an occasion for manifesting
+their wrath, inasmuch as they do not rush to thy aid. O _Sairindhri_,
+thou art ignorant of the timeliness of things, and it is for this that
+thou weepest as an actress, besides interrupting the play of dice in
+Matsya's court. Retire, O _Sairindhri_; the Gandharvas will do what is
+agreeable to thee. And they will surely display thy woe and take the
+life of him that hath wronged thee.' Hearing these words the
+_Sairindhri_ replied, 'They of whom I am the wedded wife are, I ween,
+extremely kind. And as the eldest of them all is addicted to dice, they
+are liable to be oppressed by all.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "And having said this, the fair-hipped Krishna
+with dishevelled hair and eyes red in anger, ran towards the apartments
+of Sudeshna. And in consequence of having wept long her face looked
+beautiful like the lunar disc in the firmament, emerged from the clouds.
+And beholding her in that condition, Sudeshna asked, 'Who, O beauteous
+lady, hath insulted thee? Why, O amiable damsel, dost thou weep? Who,
+gentle one, hath done thee wrong? Whence is this thy grief?' Thus
+addressed, Draupadi said, 'As I went to bring wine for thee, Kichaka
+struck me in the court in the very presence of the king, as if in the
+midst of a solitary wood.' Hearing this, Sudeshna said, 'O thou of
+tresses ending in beautiful curls, as Kichaka, maddened by lust hath
+insulted thee that art incapable of being possessed by him, I shall
+cause him to be slain if thou wishest it.' Thereupon Draupadi answered,
+'Even others will slay him,--even they whom he hath wronged. I think it
+is clear that he will have to go to the abode of Yama this very day!'"
+
+
+SECTION XVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Thus insulted by the _Suta's_ son, that illustrious
+princess, the beautiful Krishna, eagerly wishing for the destruction of
+Virata's general, went to her quarters. And Drupada's daughter of dark
+hue and slender waist then performed her ablutions. And washing her body
+and cloths with water Krishna began to ponder weepingly on the means of
+dispelling her grief. And she reflected, saying, 'What am I to do?
+Whither shall I go? How can my purpose be effected?' And while she was
+thinking thus, she remembered Bhima and said to herself, 'There is none
+else, save Bhima, that can today accomplish the purpose on which my
+heart is set!' And afflicted with great grief, the large-eyed and
+intelligent Krishna possessed of powerful protectors then rose up at
+night, and leaving her bed speedily proceeded towards the quarters of
+Bhimasena, desirous of beholding her lord. And possessed of great
+intelligence, the daughter of Drupada entered her husband's quarters,
+saying, 'How canst thou sleep while that wretched commander of Virata's
+forces, who is my foe, yet liveth, having perpetrated today _that_ (foul
+act)?'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then the chamber where Bhima slept, breathing
+hard like a lion, being filled with the beauty of Drupada's daughter and
+of the high-souled Bhima, blazed forth in splendour. And Krishna of
+sweet smiles, finding Bhimasena in the cooking apartments, approached
+him with the eagerness of a three-year old cow brought up in the woods,
+approaching a powerful bull, in her first season, or of a she-crane
+living by the water-side approaching her mate in the pairing season. And
+the Princess of Panchala then embraced the second son of Pandu, even as
+a creeper embraces a huge and mighty _Sala_ on the banks of the Gomati.
+And embracing him with her arms, Krishna of faultless features awaked
+him as a lioness awaketh a sleeping lion in a trackless forest. And
+embracing Bhimasena even as a she-elephant embraceth her mighty mate,
+the faultless Panchali addressed him in voice sweet as the sound of a
+stringed instrument emitting _Gandhara_ note. And she said, 'Arise,
+arise! Why dost thou, O Bhimasena, lie down as one dead? Surely, he that
+is not dead, never suffereth a wicked wretch that hath disgraced his
+wife, to live.' And awakened by the princess, Bhima of mighty arms, then
+rose up, and sat upon his couch overlaid with a rich bed. And he of the
+Kuru race then addressed the princess--his beloved wife, saying, 'For
+what purpose hast thou come hither in such a hurry? Thy colour is gone
+and thou lookest lean and pale. Tell me everything in detail. I must
+know the truth. Whether it be pleasurable or painful, agreeable, or
+disagreeable, tell me all. Having heard everything, I shall apply the
+remedy. I alone, O Krishna, am entitled to thy confidence in all things,
+for it is I who deliver thee from perils again and again! Tell me
+quickly what is thy wish, and what is the purpose that is in thy view,
+and return thou to thy bed before others awake.'"
+
+
+SECTION XVIII
+
+"Draupadi said, 'What grief hath she not who hath Yudhishthira for her
+husband? Knowing all my griefs, why dost thou ask me? The _Pratikamin_
+dragged me to the court in the midst of an assembly of courtiers,
+calling me a slave. That grief, O Bharata, consumeth me. What other
+princess, save Draupadi, would live having suffered such intense misery?
+Who else, save myself, could bear such second insult as the wicked
+Saindhava offered me while residing in the forest? Who else of my
+position, save myself, could live, having been kicked by Kichaka in the
+very sight of the wicked king of the Matsyas? Of what value is life, O
+Bharata, when thou, O son of Kunti, dost not think me miserable,
+although I am afflicted with such woes? That vile and wicked wretch, O
+Bharata, known by the name of Kichaka, who is the brother-in-law of king
+Virata and the commander of his forces, every day, O tiger among men,
+addresses me who am residing in the palace as a _Sairindhri_, saying,
+_Do thou become my wife_.--Thus solicited, O slayer of foes, by that
+wretch deserving to be slain, my heart is bursting like a fruit ripened
+in season. Censure thou that elder brother of thine addicted to
+execrable dice, through whose act alone I have been afflicted with such
+woe. Who else, save him that is a desperate gambler, would play, giving
+up kingdom and everything including even myself, in order to lead a life
+in the woods? If he had gambled morning and evening for many years
+together, staking _nishkas_ by thousand and other kinds of substantial
+wealth, still his silver, and gold, and robes, and vehicles, and teams,
+and goats, and sheep, and multitudes of steeds and mares and mules would
+not have sustained any diminution. But now deprived of prosperity by the
+rivalry of dice, he sits dumb like a fool, reflecting on his own
+misdeeds. Alas, he who, while sojourning, was followed by ten thousand
+elephants adorned with golden garlands now supports himself by casting
+dice. That Yudhishthira who at Indraprastha was adored by kings of
+incomparable prowess by hundreds of thousands, that mighty monarch in
+whose kitchen a hundred thousand maid-servants, plate in hand, used
+every day to feed numerous guests day and night, that best of liberal
+men, who gave (every day) a thousand _nishkas_, alas, even he
+overwhelmed with woe in consequence of gambling which is the root of all
+evil, now supporteth himself by casting dice. Bards and encomiasts by
+thousands decked with ear-rings set with brilliant gems, and gifted with
+melodious voice, used to pay him homage morning and evening. Alas, that
+Yudhishthira, who was daily waited upon by a thousand sages of ascetic
+merit, versed in the _Vedas_ and having every desire gratified, as his
+courtiers,--that Yudhishthira who maintained eighty-eight thousands of
+domestic _Snatakas_ with thirty maid-servants assigned unto each, as
+also ten thousand _yatis_ not accepting anything in gift and with vital
+seed drawn up,--alas, even that mighty king now liveth in such guise.
+That Yudhishthira who is without malice, who is full of kindness, and
+who giveth every creature his due, who hath all these excellent
+attributes, alas--even he now liveth in such guise. Possessed of
+firmness and unbaffled prowess, with heart disposed to give every
+creature his due, king Yudhishthira, moved by compassion, constantly
+maintained in his kingdom the blind, the old, the helpless, the
+parentless and all others in his dominions in such distress. Alas, that
+Yudhishthira becoming a dependant and a servant of Matsya, a caster of
+dice in his court, now calls himself Kanka. He unto whom while residing
+at Indraprastha, all the rulers of earth used to pay timely
+tribute,--alas, even he now begs for subsistence at another's hands. He
+to whom the kings of the earth were in subjection,--alas, even that king
+having lost his liberty, liveth in subjection to others. Having dazzled
+the entire earth like the sun by his energy, that Yudhishthira, alas, is
+now a courtier of king Virata. O Pandu's son, that Pandava who was
+respectfully waited upon in court by kings and sages, behold him now
+waiting upon another. Alas, beholding Yudhishthira a courtier sitting
+beside another and breathing adulatory speeches to the other, who can
+help being afflicted with grief? And beholding the highly wise and
+virtuous Yudhishthira, undeserving as he is of serving others, actually
+serving another for sustenance, who can help being afflicted with grief?
+And, O hero, that Bharata who was worshipped in court by the entire
+earth, do thou now behold him worshipping another. Why then, O Bharata,
+dost thou not regard me as one afflicted with diverse miseries, like one
+forlorn and immersed in a sea of sorrow?'"
+
+
+SECTION XIX
+
+"Draupadi said, 'This O Bharata, that I am going to tell thee is another
+great grief of mine. Thou shouldst not blame me, for I tell thee this
+from sadness of heart. Who is there whose grief is not enhanced at sight
+of thee, O bull of the Bharata race, engaged in the ignoble office of a
+cook, so entirely beneath thee and calling thyself as one _of Vallava_
+caste? What can be sadder than this, that people should know thee as
+Virata's cook, Vallava by name, and therefore one that is sunk in
+servitude? Alas, when thy work of the kitchen is over, thou humbly
+sittest beside Virata, calling thyself as Vallava the cook, then
+despondency seizeth my heart. When the king of kings in joy maketh thee
+fight with elephants, and the women of the inner apartments (of the
+palace) laugh all the while, then I am sorely distressed. When thou
+fightest in the inner apartments with lions, tigers, and buffaloes, the
+princess Kaikeyi looking on, then I almost swoon away. And when Kaikeyi
+and those maidservants, leaving their seats, come to assist me and find
+that instead of suffering any injury in limbs mine is only a swoon, the
+princess speaks unto her women, saying, 'Surely, it is from affection
+and the duty begot of intercourse that this lady of sweet smiles
+grieveth for the exceedingly powerful cook when he fights with the
+beasts. Sairindhri is possessed of great beauty and Vallava also is
+eminently handsome. The heart of woman is hard to know, and they, I
+fancy, are deserving of each other. It is, therefore, likely that the
+Sairindhri invariably weepeth (at such times) on account of her
+connection with her lover. And then, they both have entered this royal
+family at the same time. And speaking such words she always upbraideth
+me. And beholding me wroth at this, she suspects me to be attached to
+thee.' When she speaketh thus, great is the grief that I feel. Indeed,
+on beholding thee, O Bhima of terrible prowess, afflicted with such
+calamity, sunk as I already am in grief on account of Yudhishthira, I do
+not desire to live. That youth who on a single car had vanquished all
+celestials and men, is now, alas, the dancing master of king Virata's
+daughter. That Pritha's son of immeasurable soul, who had gratified Agni
+in the forest of Khandava, is now living in the inner apartments (of a
+palace) like fire hid in a well. Alas, the bull among men, Dhananjaya,
+who was ever the terror of foes, is now living in a guise that is
+despaired by all. Alas, he whose mace-like arms have been cicatrized in
+consequence of the strokes of his bow-string, alas that Dhananjaya is
+passing the days in grief covering his wrists with bracelets of conchs.
+Alas, that Dhananjaya the twang of whose bow-string and the sound of
+whose leathern fences made every foe tremble, now entertains only
+gladdened women with his songs. Oh, that Dhananjaya whose head was
+formerly decked with a diadem of solar splendour, is now wearing braids
+ending in unsightly curls. O Bhima, beholding that terrible bowman,
+Arjuna, now wearing braids and in the midst of women, my heart is
+stricken with woe. That high-souled hero who is master of all the
+celestial weapons, and who is the repository of all the sciences, now
+weareth ear-rings (like one of the fair sex). That youth whom kings of
+incomparable prowess could not overpower in fight, even as the waters of
+the mighty ocean cannot overleap the continents, is now the
+dancing-master of king Virata's daughters and waits upon them in
+disguise. O Bhima, that Arjuna the clatter of whose car-wheels caused
+the entire earth with her mountains and forests, her mobile and immobile
+things to tremble, and whose birth dispelled all the sorrows of Kunti,
+that exalted hero, that younger brother of thine, O Bhimasena, now
+maketh me weep for him. Beholding him coming towards me, decked in
+golden ear-rings and other ornaments, and wearing on the wrists
+bracelets of conchs, my heart is afflicted with despondency. And
+Dhananjaya who hath not a bowman equal unto him on earth in prowess, now
+passeth his days in singing, surrounded by women. Beholding that son of
+Pritha who in virtue, heroism and truth, was the most admired in the
+world, now living in the guise of a woman, my heart is afflicted with
+sorrow. When I behold, the godlike Partha in the music-hall like an
+elephant with rent temples surrounded by she-elephants in the midst of
+females, waiting before Virata the king of the Matsyas, then I lose all
+sense of directions. Surely, my mother-in-law doth not know Dhananjaya
+to be afflicted with such extreme distress. Nor doth she know that
+descendant of the Kuru race, Ajatasatru, addicted to disastrous dice, to
+be sunk in misery. O Bharata, beholding the youngest of you all,
+Sahadeva, superintending the kine, in the guise of a cowherd, I grow
+pale. Always thinking of Sahadeva's plight, I cannot, O Bhimasena,
+obtain sleep,--what to speak you of the rest? I do not know, O
+mighty-armed one, what sin Sahadeva may have committed for which that
+hero of unbaffled prowess suffereth such misery. O foremost of the
+Bharatas, beholding that beloved brother of thine, that bull among men,
+employed by Matsya in looking after his kine, I am filled with woe.
+Seeing that hero of proud disposition gratifying Virata, by living at
+the head of his cowherds, attired in robes dyed in red, I am attacked
+with fever. My mother-in-law always applauds the heroic Sahadeva as one
+possessed of nobility, excellent behaviour, and rectitude of conduct.
+Ardently attached to her sons, the weeping Kunti stood, embracing
+Sahadeva while he was about to set out (with us) for the great forest.
+And she addressed me saying, "Sahadeva is bashful and sweet-speeched,
+and virtuous. He is also my favourite child. Therefore, O Yajnaseni,
+tend him in the forest day and night. Delicate and brave, devoted to the
+king, and always worshipping his elder brother, do thou, O Panchali,
+feed him thyself." O Pandava, beholding that foremost of warriors,
+Sahadeva, engaged in tending kine, and sleeping at night on calf-skins,
+how can I bear to live? He again who is crowned with the three
+attributes of beauty, arms, and intelligence, is now the superintendent
+of Virata's steeds. Behold the change brought on by time. Granthika
+(Nakula), at sight of whom hostile hosts fled from the field of battle,
+now traineth horses in the presence of the king, driving them with the
+speed. Alas, I now see that handsome youth wait upon the gorgeously
+decked and excellent Virata, the king of the Matsyas, and display horses
+before him. O son of Pritha, afflicted as I am with all these hundred
+kinds of misery on account of Yudhishthira, why dost thou, O chastiser
+of foes, yet deem me happy? Listen now to me, O son of Kunti, as I tell
+thee of other woes far surpassing these. What can be sadder to me than
+miseries so various as these should emaciate me while ye are alive.'"
+
+
+SECTION XX
+
+"Draupadi said, 'Alas, on account of that desperate gambler, I am now
+under Sudeshna's command, living in the palace in the guise of a
+_Sairindhri_. And, O chastiser of foes, behold the plight of poignant
+woe which I, a princess, am now in. I am living in expectation of the
+close of this stated period.[14] The extreme of misery, therefore, is
+mine. Success of purpose, victory, and defeat, as regards mortals, are
+transitory. It is in this belief that I am living in expectation of the
+return of prosperity to my husbands. Prosperity and adversity revolve
+like a wheel. It is in this belief that I am living in expectation of
+the return of prosperity to my husbands. That cause which bringeth on
+victory, may bring defeat as well. I live in this hope. Why dost thou
+not, O Bhimasena, regard me as one dead? I have heard that persons that
+give may beg: that they who slay may be slain; and that they who
+over-throw others may themselves be overthrown by foes. Nothing is
+difficult for Destiny and none can over-ride Destiny. It is for this
+that I am awaiting the return of favourable fortune. As a tank once
+dried, is filled up once again, so hoping for a change for the better, I
+await the return of prosperity. When one's business that hath been
+well-provided for is seen to be frustrated, a truly wise person should
+never strive for bringing back good fortune. Plunged as I am an sorrow,
+asked or unasked by thee to explain the purpose of these words spoken by
+me, I shall tell thee everything. Queen of the sons of Pandu and
+daughter of Drupada, who else, save myself, would wish to live, having
+fallen into such a plight? O represser of foes, the misery, therefore,
+that hath overtaken me, hath really humiliated the entire _Kuru_ race,
+the Panchalas, and the sons of Pandu. Surrounded by numerous brothers
+and father-in-law and sons, what other woman having such cause for joy,
+save myself, would be afflicted with such woe? Surely, I must, in my
+childhood, have committed act highly offensive to _Dhatri_ through whose
+displeasure, O bull of the Bharata race, I have been visited with such
+consequences. Mark, O son of Pandu, the pallour that hath come over my
+complexion which not even a life in the woods fraught as it was with
+extreme misery, could bring about. Thou, O Pritha's son, knowest what
+happiness, O Bhima, was formerly mine. Even I, who was such have now
+sunk into servitude. Sorely distressed, I can find no rest. That the
+mighty-armed and terrible bowman, Dhananjaya the son of Pritha, should
+now live like a fire that hath been put out, maketh me think of all this
+as attributable to Destiny. Surely, O son of Pritha, it is impossible
+for men to understand the destinies of creatures (in this world). I,
+therefore, think this downfall of yours as something that could not be
+averted by forethought. Alas, she who hath you all, that resemble Indra
+himself to attend to her comforts--even she, so chaste and exalted, hath
+now to attend to the comforts of others, that are to her far inferior in
+rank. Behold, O Pandava, my plight. It is what I do not deserve. You are
+alive, yet behold this inversion of order that time hath brought. She
+who had the whole Earth to the verge of the sea under her control, is
+now under the control of Sudeshna and living in fear of her. She who had
+dependants to walk both before and behind her, alas, now herself walketh
+before and behind Sudeshna. This, O Kaunteya, is another grief of mine
+that is intolerable. O, listen to it. She who had never, save for Kunti,
+pounded unguents even for her own use, now, good betide thee, poundeth
+sandal (for others). O Kaunteya, behold these hands of mine which were
+not so before.' Saying this she showed him her hands marked with corns.
+And she continued, 'she who had never feared Kunti herself nor thee and
+thy brothers, now standeth in fear before Virata as a slave, anxious of
+what that king of kings may say unto her regarding the proper
+preparation of the unguents, for Matsya liketh not sandal pounded by
+others.'"
+
+    [14] What Draupadi means is that instead of passing her days in
+    joy and happiness, instead of being able to wish time to be
+    stationary with her, she is obliged in consequence of her
+    misery, to wish time to pass off quickly.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Relating her woes thus, O Bharata, unto
+Bhimasena, Krishna began to weep silently, casting her eyes on Bhima.
+And then, with words choked in tears, and sighing repeatedly, she
+addressed Bhima in these words, powerfully stirring his heart, 'Signal,
+O Bhima, must have been my offence of old unto the gods, for,
+unfortunate as I am. I am yet alive, when, O Pandava, I should die.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then that slayer of hostile heroes, Vrikodara,
+covering his face with those delicate hands of his wife marked with
+corns, began to weep. And that mighty son of Kunti, holding the hands of
+Draupadi in his, shed copious tears. And afflicted with great woe, he
+spoke these words."
+
+
+SECTION XXI
+
+"Bhima said, 'Fie on the might of my arms and fie on the _Gandiva_ of
+Phalguna, inasmuch as thy hands, red before, now become covered with
+corns. I would have caused a carnage in Virata's court but for the fact
+that Kunti's son eyed me (by way of forbidding it), or like a mighty
+elephant, I would, without ado, have crushed the head of Kichaka
+intoxicated with the pride of sovereignty. When, O Krishna, I beheld
+thee kicked by Kichaka, I conceived at that instant a wholesale
+slaughter of the Matsyas. Yudhishthira, however, forbade me by a glance,
+and, O beauteous lady, understanding his intention I have kept quiet.
+That we have been deprived of our kingdom, that I have not yet slain the
+Kurus, that I have not yet taken the heads of Suyodhana and Karna, and
+Suvala's son Sakuni, and the wicked Duhsasana, these acts and omissions,
+O lady, are consuming every limb of mine. The thought of those abides in
+my heart like a javelin implanted in it. O thou of graceful hips, do not
+sacrifice virtue, and, O noble-hearted lady, subdue thy wrath. If king
+Yudhishthira hear from thee such rebukes, he will surely put an end to
+his life. If also Dhananjaya and the twins hear thee speak thus, even
+they will renounce life. And if these, O slender-waisted maiden, give up
+life, I also shall not be able to bear my own. In olden days Sarjati's
+daughter, the beautiful Sukanya, followed into the forest Chyavana of
+Bhrigu's race, whose mind was under complete control, and over whom,
+while engaged in ascetic meditation, the ants had built a hill. Thou
+mayst have heard that Indrasena also who in beauty was like unto
+_Narayani_ herself, followed her husband aged a thousand years. Thou
+mayst have heard that Janaka's daughter Sita, the princess of Videha,
+followed her lord while living in dense woods. And that lady of graceful
+hips, Rama's beloved wife, afflicted with calamities and persecuted by
+the Rakshasas, at length regained the company of Rama. Lopamudra also, O
+timid one, endued with youth and beauty, followed Agastya, renouncing
+all the objects of enjoyment unattainable by men. And the intelligent
+and faultless Savitri also followed the heroic Satyavan, the son of
+Dyumatsena, alone into the world of Yama. Even like these chaste and
+beautiful ladies that I have named, thou, O blessed girl, bloomest with
+every virtue. Do thou spend a short while more that is measured by even
+a half month. And when the thirteenth year is complete, thou wilt
+(again) become the Queen regnant of a king.' Hearing these words,
+Draupadi said, 'Unable, O Bhima, to bear my griefs, it is from grief
+alone that I have shed these tears. I do not censure Yudhishthira. Nor
+is there any use in dwelling on the past. O Bhima of mighty strength,
+come quickly forward to the work of the hour. O Bhima, Kaikeyi, jealous
+of my beauty, always pains me by her endeavours to prevent the king from
+taking a fancy to me. And understanding this disposition of hers, the
+wicked-souled Kichaka of immoral ways constantly solicits me himself.
+Angry with him for this, but then suppressing my wrath I answer that
+wretch deprived of sense by lust, saying, "O Kichaka, protect thyself. I
+am the beloved queen and wife of five Gandharvas. Those heroes in wrath
+will slay thee that art so rash." Thus addressed, Kichaka of wicked soul
+replied unto me, saying, "I have not the least fear of the Gandharvas, O
+Sairindhri of sweet smiles. I will slay hundred thousand Gandharvas,
+encountering them in battle. Therefore, O timid one, do thou consent."
+Hearing all this, I again addressed the lust-afflicted Suta, saying,
+"Thou art no match for those illustrious Gandharvas. Of respectable
+percentage and good disposition, I ever adhere to virtue and never wish
+for the death of any one. It is for this that thou I vest, O Kichaka!"
+At this, that wight of wicked soul burst out into a loud laughter. And
+it came to pass that Kaikeyi previously urged by Kichaka, and moved by
+affection for her brother, and desirous of doing him a good turn,
+despatched me to him, saying "Do thou, O Sairindhri, fetch wine from
+Kichaka's quarters!" On beholding me the Suta's son at first addressed
+me in sweet words, and when that failed, he became exceedingly enraged,
+and intended to use violence. Understanding the purpose of the wicked
+Kichaka, I speedily rushed towards the place where the king was. Felling
+me on the ground the wretch then kicked me in the very presence of the
+king himself and before the eyes of Kanka and many others, including
+charioteers, and royal favourites, and elephant-riders, and citizens. I
+rebuked the king and Kanka again and again. The king, however, neither
+prevented Kichaka, nor inflicted any chastisement on him. The principal
+ally of king Virata in war, the cruel Kichaka reft of virtue is loved by
+both the king and the queen. O exalted one, brave, proud, sinful,
+adulterous, and engrossed in all objects of enjoyment, he earneth
+immense wealth (from the king), and robs the possessions of others even
+if they cry in distress. And he never walketh in the path of virtue, nor
+doth he any virtuous act. Of wicked soul, and vicious disposition,
+haughty and villainous, and always afflicted by the shafts of Kama,
+though repulsed repeatedly, if he sees me again, he will outrage me. I
+shall then surely renounce my life. Although striving to acquire virtue
+(on my death) your highly meritorious acts will come to naught. Ye that
+are now obeying your pledge, ye will lose your wife. By protecting one's
+wife one's offspring are protected, and by protecting one's offspring,
+one's own self is protected. And it is because one begets one's own self
+in one's wife that the wife is called _Jaya_[15] by the wise. The
+husband also should be protected by the wife, thinking,--_How else will
+he take his birth in my womb_?--I have heard it from Brahmanas
+expounding the duties of the several orders that a Kshatriya hath no
+other duty than subduing enemies. Alas, Kichaka kicked me in the very
+presence of Yudhishthira the Just, and also of thyself, O Bhimasena of
+mighty strength. It was thou, O Bhima, that didst deliver me from the
+terrible Jatasura. It was thou also that with thy brothers didst
+vanquish Jayadratha. Do thou now slay this wretch also who hath insulted
+me. Presuming upon his being a favourite of the king, Kichaka, O
+Bharata, hath enhanced my woe. Do thou, therefore, smash this lustful
+wight even like an earthen pot dashed upon a stone. If, O Bharata,
+tomorrow's sun sheds his rays upon him who is the source of many griefs
+of mine, I shall, surely, mixing poison (with some drink), drink it
+up,--for I never shall yield to Kichaka. Far better it were, O Bhima,
+that I should die before thee.'"
+
+    [15] _Jayate asyas_--i.e., she from whom one is born.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, Krishna, hiding her face in
+Bhima's breast began to weep. And Bhima, embracing her, consoled her to
+the best of his power. And having abundantly consoled that
+slender-waisted daughter of Drupada by means of words fraught with grave
+reason and sense, he wiped with his hands her face flooded with tears.
+And thinking of Kichaka and licking with his tongue the corners of his
+mouth, Bhima, filled with wrath thus spake to that distressed lady."
+
+
+SECTION XXII
+
+"Bhima said, 'I will, O timid one, do even as thou sayest. I will
+presently slay Kichaka with all his friends. O Yajnaseni of sweet
+smiles, tomorrow evening, renouncing sorrow and grief, manage to have a
+meeting with Kichaka. The dancing-hall that the king of the Matsya hath
+caused to be erected is used by the girls for dancing during the day.
+They repair, however, to their homes at night. There in that hall, is an
+excellent and well-placed wooden bed-stead. Even there I will make him
+see the spirits of his deceased grandsires. But, O beautiful one, when
+thou holdest converse with him, thou must manage it so that others may
+not espy thee.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having thus conversed with others, and shed
+tears in grief, they waited for the dawn of that night with painful
+impatience. And when the night had passed away, Kichaka, rising in the
+morning, went to the palace, and accosted Draupadi saying, 'Throwing
+thee down in the court I kicked thee in the presence of the king.
+Attacked by mighty self, thou couldst not obtain protection. This Virata
+is in name only the king of the Matsyas. Commanding the forces of this
+realm it is I, who am the real lord of the Matsyas. Do thou, O timid
+one, accept me cheerfully. I shall become thy slave. And, O thou of
+graceful hips, I will immediately give thee a hundred _nishkas_, and
+engage a hundred male and a hundred female servants (to tend thee), and
+will also bestow on thee cars yoked with she-mules. O timid lady, let
+our union take place.' Draupadi replied, 'O Kichaka, know even this is
+my condition. Neither thy friends nor thy brothers should know thy union
+with me. I am a terror of detection by those illustrious Gandharvas.
+Promise me this, and I yield to thee.' Hearing this Kichaka said, 'I
+will, O thou of graceful hips, do even as thou sayest. Afflicted by the
+god of love, I will, O beauteous damsel, alone repair to thy abode for
+union with thee, O thou of thighs round and tapering like the trunks of
+the plantain,--so that those Gandharvas, effulgent as the sun, may not
+come to know of this act of thine.' Draupadi said, 'Do thou, when it is
+dark, go to the dancing-hall erected by the king of the Matsyas where
+the girls dance during the day, repairing to their respective homes at
+night. The Gandharvas do not know that place. We shall then without
+doubt, escape all censure.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Reflecting on the subject of her conversation
+with Kichaka, that half a day seemed to Krishna as long as a whole
+month. And the stupid Kichaka also, not knowing that it was Death that
+had assumed the form of a _Sairindhri_, returning home experienced the
+greatest delight. And deprived of sense by lust, Kichaka became speedily
+engaged in embellishing his person with unguents and garlands and
+ornaments. And while he was doing all this, thinking of that damsel of
+large eyes, the day seemed to him to be without an end. And the beauty
+of Kichaka, who was about to forsake his beauty for ever, seemed to
+heighten, like the wick of a burning lamp about to expire. And reposing
+the fullest confidence in Draupadi, Kichaka, deprived of his senses by
+lust and absorbed in the contemplation of expected meeting, did not even
+perceive that the day had departed. Meanwhile, the beautiful Draupadi
+approaching her husband Bhima of the Kuru race, stood before him in the
+kitchen. And that lady with tresses ending in beautiful curls then spake
+unto him, saying, 'O chastiser of foes, even as thou hadst directed, I
+have given Kichaka to understand that our meeting will take place in the
+dancing-hall. Alone will he come at night to the empty hall. Slay him
+there, O thou of mighty arms. Do thou, O son of Kunti, repair to that
+dancing-hall, and take the life, O Pandava, of Kichaka, that son of a
+_Suta_ intoxicated with vanity. From vanity alone, that son of a _Suta_
+slights the Gandharvas. O best of smiters, lift him up from the earth
+even as Krishna had lifted up the _Naga_ (Kaliya) from the Yamuna. O
+Pandava, afflicted as I am with grief, wipe thou my tears, and blessed
+be thou, protect thy own honour and that of thy race.'
+
+"Bhima said, 'Welcome, O beauteous lady. Except the glad tidings thou
+bringest me, I need, O thou of exceeding beauty, no other aid whatever.
+The delight that I feel, O thou of great beauty, on hearing from thee
+about my coming encounter with Kichaka, is equal to what I felt in
+slaying Hidimva. I swear unto thee by Truth, by my brothers, and by
+morality, that I will slay Kichaka even as the lord of the celestials
+slew Vritra. Whether secretly or openly, I will crush Kichaka, and if
+the Matsyas fight for him, then I will slay them too. And slaying
+Duryodhana afterwards, I shall win back the earth. Let Yudhishthira, the
+son of Kunti, continue to pay homage unto the king of Matsya.' Hearing
+these words of Bhima, Draupadi said, 'In order that, O lord, thou mayst
+not have to renounce the truth already pledged to me, do thou, O hero,
+slay Kichaka in secret.' Bhima assuring her said, 'Even today I shall
+slay Kichaka together with his friends unknown to others during the
+darkness of the night. I shall, O faultless lady, crush, even as an
+elephant crusheth a _vela_ fruit,[16] the head of the wicked Kichaka who
+wisheth for what is unattainable by him!'"
+
+    [16] Some texts read, _Vilwam nagaviodhara--i.e.,_ 'As an
+    elephant lifts up a vela fruit.'
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Repairing first to the place of assignation at
+night, Bhima sat down, disguising himself. And he waited there in
+expectation of Kichaka, like a lion lying in wait for a deer. And
+Kichaka, having embellished his person as he chose, came to the
+dancing-hall at the appointed time in the hope of meeting Panchali. And
+thinking of the assignation, he entered the chamber. And having entered
+that hall enveloped in deep gloom, that wretch of wicked soul came upon
+Bhima of incomparable prowess, who had come a little before and who was
+waiting in a corner. And as an insect approacheth towards a flaming
+fire, or a puny animal towards a lion, Kichaka approached Bhima, lying
+down in a bed and burning in anger at the thought of the insult offered
+to Krishna, as if he were the Suta's Death. And having approached Bhima,
+Kichaka possessed by lust, and his heart and soul filled with ecstacy
+smilingly said, 'O thou of pencilled eye-brows, to thee I have already
+given many and various kinds of wealth from the stores earned by me, as
+well as hundred maids and many fine robes, and also a mansion with an
+inner apartment adorned with beauteous and lovely and youthful maid
+servants and embellished by every kind of sports and amusements. And
+having set all those apart for thee, I have speedily come hither. And
+all on a sudden, women have begun to praise me, saying, _There is not in
+this world any other person like unto thee in beauty and dress_!'
+Hearing this, Bhima said, 'It is well that thou art handsome, and it is
+well thou praisest thyself. I think, however, that thou hadst never
+before this such pleasurable touch! Thou hast an acute touch, and
+knowest the ways of gallantry. Skilled in the art of love-making, thou
+art a favourite with women. There is none like thee in this world!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, that son of Kunti, the
+mighty-armed Bhima of terrible prowess, suddenly rose up, and laughingly
+said, 'Thy sister, O wretch, shall today behold thee dragged by me to
+the ground, like a mighty elephant, huge as a mountain, dragged to the
+ground by a lion. Thyself slain _Sairindhri_ will live in peace, and we,
+her husbands, will also live in peace.' Saying this, the mighty Bhima
+seized Kichaka by the hairs of his head, which were adorned with
+garlands. And thus seized with force by the hair, that foremost of
+mighty persons, Kichaka, quickly freed his hair and grasped the arms of
+Bhima. And then between those lions among men, fired with wrath, between
+that chief of the Kichaka clan, and that best of men, there ensued a
+hand-to-hand encounter, like that between two powerful elephants for a
+female elephant in the season of spring, or like that which happened in
+days of yore between those lions among monkeys, the brothers Vali and
+Sugriva. And both equally infuriate and both eager for victory, both
+those combatants raised their arms resembling snakes furnished with five
+hoods, and attacked each other with their nails and teeth, wrought up to
+frenzy of wrath. Impetuously assailed by the powerful Kichaka in that
+encounter, the resolute Bhima did not waver a single step. And locked in
+each other's embraces and dragging each other, they fought on like two
+mighty bulls. And having nails and teeth for their weapons, the
+encounter between them was fierce and terrible like that of two furious
+tigers. And felling each other in fury, they encountered each other like
+a couple of elephants with rent temples. And the mighty Bhima then
+seized Kichaka, and Kichaka, that foremost of strong persons threw Bhima
+down with violence. And as those mighty combatants fought on, the crash
+of their arms produced a loud noise that resembled the clatter of
+splitting bamboos. Then Vrikodara throwing Kichaka down by main force
+within the room, began to toss him about furiously even as a hurricane
+tosseth a tree. And attacked thus in battle by the powerful Bhima,
+Kichaka grew weak and began to tremble. For all that, however, he tugged
+at the Pandava to the best of his power. And attacking Bhima, and making
+him wave a little, the mighty Kichaka struck him with his knees and
+brought him down to the ground. And overthrown by the powerful Kichaka,
+Bhima quickly rose up like Yama himself with mace in hand. And thus that
+powerful _Suta_ and the Pandava, intoxicated with strength and
+challenging each other, grappled with each other at midnight in that
+solitary place. And as they roared at each other in wrath, that
+excellent and strong edifice began to shake every moment. And slapped on
+the chest by the mighty Bhima, Kichaka fired with wrath moved not a
+single pace. And bearing for a moment only that onslaught incapable of
+being born on earth, the _Suta_, overpowered by Bhima's might, became
+enfeebled. And seeing him waning weak, Bhima endued with great strength
+forcibly drew Kichaka towards his breast, and began to press hard. And
+breathing hard again and again in wrath, that best of victors,
+Vrikodara, forcibly seized Kichaka by the hair. And having seized
+Kichaka, the mighty Bhima began to roar like a hungry tiger that hath
+killed a large animal. And finding him exceedingly exhausted, Vrikodara
+bound him fast with his arms, as one binds a beast with a cord. And then
+Bhima began for a long while, to whirl the senseless Kichaka, who began
+to roar frightfully like a broken trumpet.[17] And in order to pacify
+Krishna's wrath Vrikodara grasped Kichaka's throat with his arms and
+began to squeeze it. And assailing with his knees the waist of that
+worst of the Kichakas, all the limbs of whose body had been broken into
+fragments and whose eye-lids were closed, Vrikodara slew him, as one
+would slay a beast. And beholding Kichaka entirely motionless, the son
+of Pandu began to roll him about on the ground. And Bhima then said,
+'Slaying this wretch who intended to violate our wife,--this thorn in
+the side of _Sairindhri_, I am freed from the debt I owed to my
+brothers, and have attained perfect peace.' And having said this, that
+foremost of men, with eyes red in wrath, relinquished his hold of
+Kichaka, whose dress and ornaments had been thrown off his person, whose
+eyes were rolling, and whose body was yet trembling. And that foremost
+of mighty persons, squeezing his own hands, and biting his lips in rage,
+again attacked his adversary and thrust his arms and legs and neck and
+head into his body like the wielder of the _Pinaka_ reducing into
+shapeless mass the deer, which form sacrifice had assumed in order to
+escape his ire. And having crushed all his limbs, and reduced him into a
+ball of flesh, the mighty Bhimasena showed him unto Krishna. And endued
+with mighty energy that hero then addressed Draupadi, that foremost of
+all women, saying, 'Come princess of Panchala, and see what hath become
+of that lustful wretch!' And saying this, Bhima of terrible prowess
+began to press with his feet the body of that wicked wight. And lighting
+a torch then and showing Draupadi the body of Kichaka, that hero
+addressed her, saying, 'O thou of tresses ending in beautiful curls,
+those that solicit thee, endued as thou art with an excellent
+disposition and every virtue, will be slain by me even as this Kichaka
+hath been, O timid one.' And having accomplished that difficult task so
+highly agreeable to Krishna--having indeed slain Kichaka and thereby
+pacified his wrath, Bhima bade farewell to Krishna, the daughter of
+Drupada, and quickly went back to the kitchen. And Draupadi also, that
+best of women, having caused Kichaka to be slain had her grief removed
+and experienced the greatest delight. And addressing the keepers of the
+dancing-hall, she said, 'Come ye and behold Kichaka who had violated
+after other people's wives lieth down here, slain by my Gandharva
+husbands.' And hearing these words the guards of the dancing hall soon
+came by thousands to that spot, torches in hand. And repairing to that
+room, they beheld the lifeless Kichaka thrown on the ground, drenched
+with blood. And beholding him without arms and legs, they were filled
+with grief. And as they gazed at Kichaka, they were struck with
+amazement. And seeing that superhuman act, viz., the overthrow of
+Kichaka, they said, 'Where is his neck, and where are his legs?' And
+beholding him in this plight they all concluded that he had been killed
+by a Gandharva."
+
+    [17] _Weri_ means both a kettle-drum and a trumpet. The latter
+    however conveys a better meaning here.
+
+
+SECTION XXII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then all the relatives of Kichaka, arriving at that
+place, beheld him there and began to wail aloud, surrounding him on all
+sides. And beholding Kichaka with every limb mangled, and lying like a
+tortoise dragged to dry ground from the water, all of them were overcome
+with exceeding fright, and the bristles of their bodies stood on end.
+And seeing him crushed all over by Bhima, like a Danava by Indra, they
+proceeded to take him outside, for performing his funeral obsequies. And
+then those persons of the _Suta_ clan thus assembled together espied
+Krishna of faultless limbs hard by, who stood reclining on a pillar. And
+all the Kichakas assembled there, exclaimed, 'Let this unchaste woman be
+slain for whom Kichaka hath himself lost his life. Or, without slaying
+her here, let us cremate her with him that had lusted after her,--for it
+behoveth us to accomplish in every way what is agreeable to that
+deceased son of _Suta_.' And then they addressed Virata, saying, 'It is
+for her sake that Kichaka hath lost his life. Let him, therefore, be
+cremated along with her. It behoveth thee to grant this permission.'
+Thus addressed by them, king Virata, O monarch, knowing fully well the
+prowess of the _Suta_ gave his assent to _Sairindhri_ being burnt along
+with the _Suta's_ son. And at this, the Kichakas approaching the
+frightened and stupefied Krishna of lotus-like eyes, seized her with
+violence. And binding that damsel of slender waist and placing her upon
+the bier, they set out with great energy towards the cemetery. And, O
+king, while thus forcibly carried towards the cemetery by those sons of
+the _Suta_ tribe, the blameless and chaste Krishna living under the
+protections of her lords, then wailed aloud for the help of her
+husbands, saying, 'Oh, let Jaya, and Jayanta, and Vijaya and Jayatsena,
+and Jayadvala listen to my words. The _Sutas_ are taking me away. Let
+those illustrious Gandharvas endued with speed of hand, the clatter of
+whose cars is loud and the twang of whose bowstrings in the midst of the
+mighty conflict are heard like the roar of thunder, listen to my
+words,--the _Sutas_ are taking me away!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing those sorrowful words and lamentations
+of Krishna, Bhima, without a moment's reflection started up from his bed
+and said, 'I have heard, O _Sairindhri_ the words thou hast spoken. Thou
+hast, therefore, O timid lady, no more fear at the hands of the
+_Sutas._'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, the mighty-armed Bhima
+desirous of slaying the Kichakas, began to swell his body. And carefully
+changing his attire, he went out of the palace by a wrong egress. And
+climbing over a wall by the aid of a tree, he proceeded towards the
+cemetery whither the Kichakas had gone. And having leapt over the wall,
+and gone out of the excellent city, Bhima impetuously rushed to where
+the _Sutas_ were. And, O monarch, proceeding towards the funeral pyre he
+beheld a large tree, tall as palmyra-palm, with gigantic shoulders and
+withered top. And that slayer of foes grasping with his arms that tree
+measuring ten _Vyamas_, uprooted it, even like an elephant, and placed
+it upon his shoulders. And taking up that tree with trunk and branches
+and measuring ten _Vyamas_, that mighty hero rushed towards the _Sutas_,
+like Yama himself, mace in hand. And by the impetus of his rush[18]
+banians and peepals and _Kinsukas_ falling down on the earth lay in
+clusters. And beholding that Gandharva approach them like a lion in
+fury, all the _Sutas_ trembling with fear and greatly distressed, became
+panic-struck. And they addressed each other, saying, 'Lo, the powerful
+Gandharva cometh hither, filled with rage, and with an upraised tree in
+hand. Let _Sairindhri_, therefore, from whom this danger of ours hath
+arisen, be set free.' And beholding the tree that had been uprooted by
+Bhimasena, they set Draupadi free and ran breathlessly towards the city.
+And seeing them run away, Bhima, that mighty son of the Wind-god,
+despatched, O foremost of kings, by means of that tree, a hundred and
+five of them unto the abode of Yama, like the wielder of the thunderbolt
+slaying the Danavas. And setting Draupadi free from her bonds, he then,
+O king, comforted her. And that mighty-armed and irrepressible
+Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, then addressed the distressed princess of
+Panchala with face bathed in tears, saying, 'Thus, O timid one, are they
+slain that wrong thee without cause. Return, O Krishna, to the city.
+Thou hast no longer any fear; I myself will go to the Virata's kitchen
+by another route.'"
+
+    [18] Literature, force of his thighs.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "It was thus, O Bharata, that a hundred and five
+of those Kichakas were slain. And their corpses lay on the ground,
+making the place look like a great forest overspread with uprooted trees
+after a hurricane. Thus fell those hundred and five Kichakas. And
+including Virata's general slain before, the slaughtered Sutas numbered
+one hundred and six. And beholding that exceedingly wonderful feat, men
+and women that assembled together, were filled with astonishment. And
+the power of speech, O Bharata, was suspended in every one."
+
+
+SECTION XXIV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "And beholding the Sutas slain, the citizens went to
+the king, and represented unto him what had happened, saying, 'O king,
+those mighty sons of the Sutas have all been slain by the Gandharvas.
+Indeed, they lie scattered on the earth like huge peaks of mountains
+riven by thunder. _Sairindhri_ also, having been set free, returneth to
+thy palace in the city. Alas, O king, if _Sairindhri_ cometh, thy entire
+kingdom will be endangered. _Sairindhri_ is endued with great beauty;
+the Gandharvas also are exceedingly powerful. Men again, without doubt,
+are naturally sexual. Devise, therefore, O king, without delay, such
+means that in consequence of wrongs done to _Sairindhri_, thy kingdom
+may not meet with destruction.' Hearing those words of theirs, Virata,
+that lord of hosts, said unto them, 'Do ye perform the last rites of the
+Sutas. Let all the Kichakas be burnt, in one blazing pyre with gems and
+fragrant unguents in profusion.' And filled with fear, the king then
+addressed his queen Sudeshna, saying, 'When _Sairindhri_ comes back, do
+thou tell her these words from me, "Blessed be thou, O fair-faced
+_Sairindhri_. Go thou whithersoever thou likest. The king hath been
+alarmed, O thou of graceful hips, at the defeat already experienced at
+the hands of the Gandharvas. Protected as thou art by the Gandharvas, I
+dare not personally say all this to thee. A woman, however, cannot
+offend, and it is for this that I tell thee all this through a woman."'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus delivered by Bhimasena after the slaughter
+of the Sutas, the intelligent and youthful Krishna relieved from all her
+fears, washed her limbs and clothes in water, and proceeded towards the
+city, like a doe frightened by a tiger. And beholding her, the citizens,
+O king, afflicted with the fear of the Gandharvas fled in all
+directions. And some of them went so far as to shut their eyes. And
+then, O king, at the gate of the kitchen, the princess of Panchala saw
+Bhimasena staying, like an infuriate elephant of gigantic proportions.
+And looking upon him with wonder-expanded eyes, Draupadi, by means of
+words intelligible to them alone, said, 'I bow unto that prince of the
+Gandharvas, who hath rescued me.' At these words of her, Bhima said,
+'Hearing these words of hers in obedience to whom those persons were
+hitherto living in the city, they will henceforth range here, regarding
+themselves as freed from the debt.'"[19]
+
+    [19] What Bhima says is this.--The Gandharvas, your husbands,
+    are always obedient to thee! If they have been able to do thee a
+    service, they have only repaid a debt.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then she beheld the mighty-armed Dhananjaya, in
+the dancing-hall instructing king Virata's daughters in dancing. And
+issuing with Arjuna from the dancing-hall, all those damsels came to
+Krishna who had arrived there, and who had been persecuted so sorely,
+all innocent though she was. And they said, 'By good luck also it is, O
+_Sairindhri_, that thou hast been delivered from thy dangers. By good
+luck it is that thou hast returned safe. And by good luck also it is
+that those Sutas have been slain that had wronged thee, innocent though
+thou art.' Hearing this, Vrihannala said, 'How hast thou, O
+_Sairindhri_, been delivered? And how have those sinful wretches been
+slain? I wish to learn all this from thee exactly as it occurred.'
+_Sairindhri_ replied, 'O blessed Vrihannala, always passing thy days
+happily in the apartments of the girls, what concern hast thou with
+_Sairindhri's_ fate to say? Thou hast no grief to bear that _Sairindhri_
+hath to bear! It is for this, that thou askest me thus, distressed as I
+am in ridicule.' Thereat Vrihannala said, 'O blessed one, Vrihannala
+also hath unparalleled sorrows of her own. She hath become as low as a
+brute. Thou dost not, O girl, understand this. I have lived with thee,
+and thou too hast lived with us. When, therefore, thou art afflicted
+with misery, who is it that will not, O thou of beautiful hips, feel it?
+But no one can completely read another's heart. Therefore it is, O
+amiable one, that thou knowest not my heart!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then Draupadi, accompanied by those girls
+entered the royal abode, desirous of appearing before Sudeshna. And when
+she came before the queen, Virata's wife addressed her at the command of
+the king, saying, 'Do thou, O _Sairindhri_, speedily go whithersoever
+thou likest. The king, good betide thee, hath been filled with fear at
+this discomfiture at the hands of the Gandharvas. Thou art, O thou of
+graceful eye-brows, young and unparalleled on earth in beauty. Thou art,
+besides, an object of desire with men. The Gandharvas again, are
+exceedingly wrathful.' Thereat _Sairindhri_ said, 'O beauteous lady, let
+the king suffer me to live here for only thirteen days more. Without
+doubt, the Gandharvas also will be highly obliged at this. They will
+then convey me hence and do what would be agreeable to Virata. Without
+doubt, the king, by doing this, with his friends, will reap great
+benefit.'"
+
+
+SECTION XXV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "At the slaughter of Kichaka and brothers, people, O
+king, thinking of this terrible feat, were filled with surprise. And in
+the city and the provinces it was generally bruited about that for
+bravery the king's Vallava and Kichaka were both mighty warriors. The
+wicked Kichaka, however, had been an oppressor of men and a dishonourer
+of other people's wives. And it was for this that wicked of sinful soul
+had been slain by the Gandharvas. And it was thus, O king, that people
+began to speak, from province to province of the invincible Kichaka,
+that slayer of hostile ranks.
+
+"Meanwhile, the spies employed by Dhritarashtra's son, having searched
+various villages and towns and kingdoms and done all that they had been
+commanded to do and completed their examination, in the manner directed,
+of the countries indicated in their orders, returned to Nagarupa,
+gratified with at least one thing that they had learnt.[20] And seeing
+Dhritarashtra's son king Duryodhana of the Kuru race seated in his court
+with Drona and Karna and Kripa, with the high-souled Bhishma, his own
+brothers, and those great warriors--the Trigartas, they addressed him,
+saying, 'O lord of men, great hath been the care always bestowed by us
+in the search after the sons of Pandu in that mighty forest. Searched
+have we through the solitary wilderness abounding with deer and other
+animals and overgrown with trees and creepers of diverse kind. Searched
+have we also in arbours of matted woods and plants and creepers of every
+species, but we have failed in discovering that track by which Pritha's
+son of irrepressible energy may have gone. Searched have we in these and
+other places for their foot-prints. Searched have we closely, O king, on
+mountain tops and in inaccessible fastnesses, in various kingdoms and
+provinces teeming with people, in encampments and cities. No trace have
+yet been found of the sons of Pandu. Good betide thee, O bull among men,
+it seems that they have perished without leaving a mark behind. O
+foremost of warriors, although we followed in the track of those
+warriors, yet, O best of men, we soon lost their footprints and do not
+know their present residence. O lord of men, for some time we followed
+in the wake of their charioteers. And making our inquiries duly, we
+truly ascertained what we desired to know. O slayer of foes, the
+charioteers reached Dwaravati without the sons of Pritha among them. O
+king, neither the sons of Pandu, nor the chaste Krishna, are in that
+city of Yadavas. O bull of the Bharata race, we have not been able to
+discover either their track or their present abode. Salutations to thee,
+they are gone for good. We are acquainted with the disposition of the
+sons of Pandu and know something of the feats achieved by them. It
+behoveth thee, therefore, O lord of men, to give us instructions, O
+monarch, as to what we should next do in the search after the sons of
+Pandu. O hero, listen also to these agreeable words of ours, promising
+great good to thee. King Matsya's commander, Kichaka of wicked soul, by
+whom the Trigartas, O monarch, were repeatedly vanquished and slain with
+mighty force, now lieth low on the ground with all his brothers, slain,
+O monarch, by invisible Gandharvas during the hours of darkness, O thou
+of unfading glory. Having heard this delightful news about the
+discomfiture of our enemies, we have been exceedingly gratified, O
+Kauravya. Do thou now ordain what should next be done.'"
+
+    [20] _Krita-krita_--Nilakantha explains this to mean 'imagining
+    themselves to have achieved success in their mission' for having
+    learnt of Kichaka's death, they could readily guess the presence
+    of the Pandavas there. This is too far-fetched and does not at
+    all agree with the spirit of their report to Duryodhana below.
+    And then the same word occurs in the very last line of the
+    Section. I take it that in both places the word has been used in
+    the same sense.
+
+
+SECTION XXVI
+
+(_Go-harana Parva_)
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having listened to these words of his spies, king
+Duryodhana reflected inwardly for some time and then addressed his
+courtiers, saying, 'It is difficult to ascertain the course of events
+definitely. Discern ye all, therefore, whither the sons of Pandu have
+gone, of this thirteenth year which they are to pass undiscovered by us
+all, the greater part hath already expired. What remains is by much the
+smaller. If, indeed, the sons of Pandu can pass undiscovered what
+remains of this year, devoted to the vow of truth as they are, they will
+then have fulfilled their pledge. They will then return like mighty
+elephants with temporal juice trickling down, or like snakes of virulent
+poison. Filled with wrath, they will, without doubt, be inflicters of
+terrible chastisement on the Kurus. It behoveth ye, therefore, to make
+such efforts without loss of time as may induce the sons of Pandu,
+acquainted as they are with the proprieties of time, and staying as they
+now are in painful disguise, to re-enter the woods suppressing their
+rage. Indeed, adopt ye such means as may remove all causes of quarrel
+and anxiety from the kingdom, making it tranquil and foeless and
+incapable of sustaining a diminution of territory.' Hearing these words
+of Duryodhana, Karna said, 'Let other spies, abler and more cunning, and
+capable of accomplishing their object, quickly go hence, O Bharata. Let
+them, well-disguised, wander through swelling kingdoms and populous
+provinces, prying into assemblies of the learned and delightful retreats
+of provinces. In the inner apartments of palaces, in shrines and holy
+spots, in mines and diverse other regions, the sons of Pandu should be
+searched after with well-directed eagerness. Let the sons of Pandu who
+are living in disguise be searched after by well-skilled spies in large
+numbers, devoted to their work, themselves well-disguised, and all
+well-acquainted with the objects of their search. Let the search be made
+on the banks of rivers, in holy regions, in villages and towns, in
+retreats of ascetics, in delightful mountains and mountain-caves.' When
+Karna ceased, Duryodhana's second brother Duhsasana, wedded to a sinful
+disposition, then addressed his eldest brother and said, 'O monarch, O
+lord of men, let those spies only in whom we have confidence, receiving
+their rewards in advance, once more go after the search. This and what
+else hath been said by Karna have our fullest approval. Let all the
+spies engage themselves in the search according to the directions
+already given. Let these and others engage in the search from province
+to province according to approved rules. It is my belief, however, that
+the track the Pandavas have followed or their present abode or
+occupation will not be discovered. Perhaps, they are closely concealed;
+perhaps, they have gone to the other side of the ocean. Or, perhaps,
+proud as they are of their strength and courage, they have been devoured
+by wild beasts; or perhaps, having been overtaken by some unusual
+danger, they have perished for eternity. Therefore, O prince of the Kuru
+race, dispelling all anxieties from thy heart, achieve what thou wilt,
+always acting according to thy energy.'"
+
+
+SECTION XXVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Endued with mighty energy and possessed of great
+discernment, Drona then said, 'Persons like the sons of Pandu never
+perish nor undergo discomfiture. Brave and skilled in every science,
+intelligent and with senses under control, virtuous and grateful and
+obedient to the virtuous Yudhishthira, ever following in the wake of
+their eldest brother who is conversant with the conclusions of policy
+and virtue and profit, who is attached to them as a father, and who
+strictly adhereth to virtue and is firm in truth,--persons like them
+that are thus devoted to their illustrious and royal brother, who gifted
+with great intelligence, never injureth any body and who in his turn
+himself obeyeth his younger brothers, never perish in this way. Why,
+then, should not (Yudhishthira) the son of Pritha possessing a knowledge
+of policy, be able to restore the prosperity of his brothers who are so
+obedient and devoted and high-souled? It is for this that they are
+carefully waiting for the arrival of their opportunity. Men such as
+these never perish. This is what I see by my intellect. Do, therefore,
+quickly and without loss of time, what should now be done, after proper
+reflection. And let also the abode which the sons of Pandu with souls
+under control as regards every purpose of life, are to occupy, be now
+settled. Heroic and sinless and possessed of ascetic merit, the Pandavas
+are difficult to be discovered (within the period of non-discovery).
+Intelligent and possessed of every virtue, devoted to truth and versed
+in the principles of policy, endued with purity and holiness, and the
+embodiment of immeasurable energy, the son of Pritha is capable of
+consuming (his foes) by a glance alone of his eyes. Knowing all this, do
+what is proper. Let us, therefore, once more search after them, sending
+Brahmanas and _Charanas_, ascetics crowned with success, and others of
+this kind who may have a knowledge of those heroes!'"
+
+
+SECTION XXVIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then that grandsire of the Bharatas, Bhishma the son
+of Santanu, conversant with the _Vedas_, acquainted with the
+proprieties of time and place, and possessing a knowledge of every duty
+of morality, after the conclusion of Drona's speech, applauded the words
+of the preceptor and spake unto the Bharatas for their benefit these
+words consistent with virtue, expressive of his attachment to the
+virtuous Yudhishthira, rarely spoken by men that are dishonest, and
+always meeting with the approbation of the honest. And the words that
+Bhishma spake were thoroughly impartial and worshipped by the wise. And
+the grandsire of the Kurus said, 'The words that the regenerate Drona
+acquainted with the truth of every affair hath uttered, are approved by
+me. I have no hesitation in saying so. Endued with every auspicious
+mark, observant of virtuous vows, possessed of Vedic lore, devoted to
+religious observances, conversant with various sciences, obedient to the
+counsels of the aged, adhering to the vow of truth, acquainted with the
+proprieties of time, observant of the pledge they have given (in respect
+of their exile), pure in their behaviour, ever adhering to the duties of
+the Kshatriya order, always obedient to Kesava, high-souled, possessed
+of great strength, and ever-bearing the burthens of the wise, those
+heroic ones can never wither under misfortune. Aided by their own
+energy, sons of Pandu who are now leading a life of concealment in
+obedience to virtue, will surely never perish. It is even this that my
+mind surmiseth. Therefore, O Bharata, I am for employing the aid of
+honest counsel in our behaviour towards the sons of Pandu. It would not
+be the policy of any wise man to cause them to be discovered now by
+means of spies,[21] what we should do unto the sons of Pandu, I shall
+say, reflecting with the aid of the intellect. Know that I shall say
+nothing from ill will to thee. People like me should never give such
+counsels to him that is dishonest, for only counsels (like those I would
+give) should be offered unto them that are honest. Counsels, however,
+that are evil, should under no circumstances be offered. He, O child,
+that is devoted to truth and obedient to the aged, he, indeed, that is
+wise, while speaking in the midst of an assembly, should under all
+circumstances speak the truth, if the acquisition of virtue be an object
+with him. I should, therefore, say that I think differently from all
+those people here, in respect of the abode of Yudhishthira the just in
+this the thirteenth year of his exile. The ruler, O child, of the city
+or the province where king Yudhishthira resides cannot have any
+misfortune. Charitable and liberal and humble and modest must the people
+be of the country where king Yudhishthira resides. Agreeable in speech,
+with passions under control, observant of truth, cheerful, healthy, pure
+in conduct, and skilful in work must the people be of the country where
+king Yudhishthira resides. The people of the place, where Yudhishthira
+is, cannot be envious or malicious, or vain, or proud, but must all
+adhere to their respective duties. Indeed, in the place where
+Yudhishthira resides, Vedic hymns will be chanted all around, sacrifices
+will be performed, the last full libations will always be poured,[22]
+and gifts to Brahmanas will always be in profusion. There the clouds,
+without doubt, pour abundant rain, and furnished with good harvest the
+country will ever be without fear. There the paddy will not be without
+grain, fruits will not be bereft of juice, floral garlands will not be
+without fragrance, and the conversation of men will always be full of
+agreeable words. There where king Yudhishthira resides, the breezes will
+be delicious, the meetings of men will always be friendly, and cause of
+fear there will be none. There kine will be plentiful, without any of
+them being lean-fleshed or weak, and milk and curds and butter will all
+be savoury and nutritious. There where king Yudhishthira resides, every
+kind of corn will be full of nutrition and every edible full of flavour.
+There where king Yudhishthira resides, the objects of all the senses,
+viz.,--taste, touch, smell, and hearing, will be endued with excellent
+attributes. There where king Yudhishthira resides, the sights and scenes
+will be gladdening. And the regenerate ones of that place will be
+virtuous and steady in observing their respective duties. Indeed, in the
+country where the sons of Pandu may have taken up their abode during
+this thirteenth year of their exile, the people will be contented and
+cheerful, pure in conduct and without misery of any kind. Devoted to
+gods and guests and the worship of these with their whole soul, they
+will be fond of giving away, and filled with great energy, they will all
+be observant of eternal virtue. There where king Yudhishthira resides,
+the people, eschewing all that is evil, will be desirous of achieving
+only what is good. Always observant of sacrifices and pure vows, and
+hating untruth in speech, the people of the place where king
+Yudhishthira may reside will always be desirous of obtaining what is
+good, auspicious and beneficial. There where Yudhishthira resides, the
+people will certainly be desirous of achieving what is good, and their
+hearts will always incline towards virtue, and their vows being
+agreeable they themselves are ever-engaged in the acquisition of
+religious merit. O child, that son of Pritha in whom are intelligence
+and charity, the highest tranquillity and undoubted forgiveness, modesty
+and prosperity, and fame and great energy and a love for all creatures,
+is incapable of being found out (now that he hath concealed himself)
+even by Brahmanas, let alone ordinary persons. The wise Yudhishthira is
+living in close disguise in regions whose characteristics I have
+described. Regarding his excellent mode of life, I dare not say anything
+more. Reflecting well upon all this, do without loss of time what thou
+mayst think to be beneficial, O prince of the Kuru race, if indeed, thou
+hast any faith in me.'"
+
+    [21] This is a very difficult sloka. I am not sure that I have
+    understood it alright. Both Nilakantha and Arjuna Misra are
+    silent. Instead of depending, however, on my own intelligence, I
+    have consulted several friends who have read the _Mahabharata_
+    thoroughly. The grammatical structure is easy. The only
+    difficulty consists in the second half of the sloka. The
+    meaning, however, I have given is consistent with the tenor of
+    Bhishma's advice.
+
+    [22] Indicating the unobstructed completion of the sacrifice.
+
+
+SECTION XXIX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then Saradwata's son, Kripa said, 'What the aged
+Bhishma hath said concerning the Pandavas is reasonable, suited to the
+occasion, consistent with virtue and profit, agreeable to the ear,
+fraught with sound reason, and worthy of him. Listen also to what I
+would say on this subject. It behoveth thee to ascertain the track they
+have followed and their abode also by means of spies,[23] and to adopt
+that policy which may bring about thy welfare. O child, he that is
+solicitous of his welfare should not disregard even an ordinary foe.
+What shall I say, then, O child, of the Pandavas who are thorough
+masters of all weapons in battle. When, therefore, the time cometh for
+the reappearance of the high-souled Pandavas, who, having entered the
+forest,[24] are now passing their days in close disguise, thou shouldst
+ascertain thy strength both in thy own kingdom and in those of other
+kings. Without doubt, the return of the Pandavas is at hand. When their
+promised term of exile is over, the illustrious and mighty sons of
+Pritha, endued with immeasurable prowess, will come hither bursting with
+energy. Do thou, therefore, in order to conclude an advantageous treaty
+with them, have recourse to sound policy and address thyself to increase
+thy forces and improve thy treasury. O child, ascertaining all these,
+reckon thou thy own strength in respect of all thy allies weak and
+strong.[25] Ascertaining the efficiency, and weakness, and indifference
+of thy forces, as also who amongst them are well-affected and who are
+disaffected, we should either fight the foe or make treaty with him.
+Having recourse to the arts of conciliation, disunion, chastisement,
+bribery, presents and fair behaviour, attack thy foes and subdue the
+weak by might, and win over thy allies and troops and by soft speeches.
+When thou hast (by these means) strengthened thy army and filled thy
+treasury, entire success will be thine. When thou hast done all this,
+thou wilt be able to fight with powerful enemies that may present
+themselves, let alone the sons of Pandu deficient in troops and animals
+of their own. By adopting all these expedients according to the customs
+of thy order, thou wilt, O foremost of men, attain enduring happiness in
+due time!'"
+
+    [23] The word _tirtha_ here means, as Nilakantha rightly
+    explains spies and not holy spots.
+
+    [24] _Satram_ is explained by Nilakantha to mean here 'false
+    disguise.' I think, however, such an interpretation to be
+    far-fetched. It evidently means 'forest',--the use of
+    'pravisteshu' in connection with it almost settles the point.
+
+    [25] This sloka is not correctly printed in any of the texts
+    that I have seen. The reading that I adopt is that the second
+    word is the participle of the root _budh_ and not the
+    instrumental of _budhi_; the last word again of the second line
+    is a compound of _valavatsu_ and _avaleshu_ instead of (as
+    printed in many books) _valavatswavaleshu_. Any other reading
+    would certainly be incorrect. I have not consulted the Bombay
+    text.
+
+
+SECTION XXX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Discomfited before, O monarch, many a time and oft
+by Matsya's _Suta_ Kichaka aided by the Matsyas and the Salyas, the
+mighty king of the Trigartas, Susarman, who owned innumerable cars,
+regarding the opportunity to be a favourable one, then spoke the
+following words without losing a moment. And, O monarch, forcibly
+vanquished along with his relatives by the mighty Kichaka, king
+Susarman, eyeing Karna in askance, spoke these words unto Duryodhana,
+'My kingdom hath many a time been forcibly invaded by the king of the
+Matsyas. The mighty Kichaka was that king's generalissimo. Crooked and
+wrathful and of wicked soul, of prowess famed over all the world, sinful
+in deeds and highly cruel, that wretch, however, hath been slain by the
+Gandharvas. Kichaka being dead, king Virata, shorn of pride and his
+refuge gone, will, I imagine, lose all courage. I think we ought now to
+invade that kingdom, if it pleases thee, O sinless one, as also the
+illustrious Karna and all the Kauravas. The accident that hath happened
+is, I imagine, a favourable one for us. Let us, therefore, repair to
+Virata's kingdom abounding in corn. We will appropriate his gems and
+other wealth of diverse kinds, and let us go to share with each other as
+regards his villages and kingdom. Or, invading his city by force, let us
+carry off by thousands his excellent kine of various species. Uniting, O
+king, the forces of the Kauravas and the Trigartas, let us lift his
+cattle in droves. Or, uniting our forces well, we will check his power
+by forcing him to sue for peace. Or, destroying his entire host, we will
+bring Matsya under subjection. Having brought him under subjection by
+just means, we will live in our kingdom happily, while thy power also
+will, without doubt, be enhanced.' Hearing these words of Susarman,
+Karna addressed the king, saying, 'Susarman hath spoken well; the
+opportunity is favourable and promises to be profitable to us.
+Therefore, if it pleases thee, O sinless one, let us, drawing up our
+forces in battle array and marshalling them in divisions, speedily set
+out. Or, let the expedition be managed as Saradwata's son Kripa, the
+preceptor Drona, and the wise and aged grandsire of the Kurus may think.
+Consulting with each other, let us, O lord of earth, speedily set out to
+attain our end. What business have we with the sons of Pandu, destitute
+as they are of wealth, might, and prowess? They have either disappeared
+for good or have gone to the abode of _Yama_. We will, O king, repair
+without anxiety to Virata's city, and plunder his cattle and other
+wealth of diverse kinds.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Accepting these words of Karna, the son of
+Surya, king Duryodhana speedily commanded his brother Duhsasana, born
+immediately after him and always obedient to his wishes, saying,
+'Consulting with the elders, array without delay, our forces. We will
+with all the Kauravas go to the appointed place. Let also the mighty
+warrior, king Susarman, accompanied by a sufficient force with vehicles
+and animals, set out with the Trigartas for the dominions of Matsyas.
+And let Susarman proceed first, carefully concealing his intention.
+Following in their wake, we will set out the day after in close array,
+for the prosperous dominions of king Matsya. Let the Trigartas, however,
+suddenly repair to the city of Virata, and coming upon the cowherds,
+seize that immense wealth (of kine). We also marching in two divisions,
+will seize thousands of excellent kine furnished with auspicious
+marks.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O Lord of earth, those warriors, the
+Trigartas, accompanied by their infantry of terrible prowess, marched
+towards the south-eastern direction, intending to wage hostilities with
+Virata from the desire of seizing his kine. And Susarman set out on the
+seventh day of the dark fortnight for seizing the kine. And then, O
+king, on the eighth day following of the dark fortnight, the Kauravas
+also accompanied by all their troops, began to seize the kine by
+thousands."
+
+
+SECTION XXXI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "O mighty king, entering into king Virata's service,
+and dwelling in disguise in his excellent city, the high-souled Pandavas
+of immeasurable prowess, completed the promised period of non-discovery.
+And after Kichaka had been slain, that slayer of hostile heroes, the
+mighty king Virata began to rest his hopes on the sons of Kunti. And it
+was on the expiry of the thirteenth year of their exile, O Bharata, that
+Susarman seized Virata's cattle by thousands. And when the cattle had
+been seized, the herdsman of Virata came with great speed to the city,
+and saw his sovereign, the king of Matsyas, seated on the throne in the
+midst of wise councillors, and those bulls among men, the sons of Pandu,
+and surrounded by brave warriors decked with ear-rings and bracelets.
+And appearing before that enhancer of his dominion--King Virata seated
+in court--the herdsman bowed down unto him, and addressed him, saying,
+'O foremost of kings, defeating and humiliating us in battle along with
+our friends the Trigartas are seizing thy cattle by hundreds and by
+thousands. Do thou, therefore, speedily rescue them. Oh, see that they
+are not lost to thee.' Hearing these words, the king arrayed for battle
+the Matsya force abounding in cars and elephants and horses and infantry
+and standards. And kings and princes speedily put on, each in its proper
+place,[26] their shining and beautiful armour worthy of being worn by
+heroes. And Virata's beloved brother, Satanika, put on a coat of mail
+made of adamantine steel, adorned with burnished gold. And Madiraksha,
+next in birth to Satanika, put on a strong coat of mail plated with
+gold[27] and capable of resisting every weapon. And the coat of mail
+that the king himself of the Matsyas put on was invulnerable and decked
+with a hundred suns, a hundred circles, a hundred spots, and a hundred
+eyes. And the coat of mail that Suryadatta[28] put on was bright as the
+sun, plated with gold, and broad as a hundred lotuses of the fragrant
+(_Kahlara_) species. And the coat of mail that Virata's eldest son, the
+heroic Sanksha, put on was impenetrable and made of burnished steel, and
+decked with a hundred eyes of gold. And it was thus that those god-like
+and mighty warriors by hundreds, furnished with weapons, and eager for
+battle, each donned his corselet. And then they yoked unto their
+excellent cars of white-hue steeds equipped in mail. And then was
+hoisted--Matsya's glorious standard on his excellent car decked with
+gold and resembling the sun or the moon in its effulgence. And other
+Kshatriya warriors also raised on their respective cars gold-decked
+standards of various shapes and devices. And king Matsya then addressed
+his brother Satanika born immediately after him, saying, 'Kanka and
+Vallava and Tantripala and Damagranthi of great energy will, as it
+appears to me fight, without doubt. Give thou unto them cars furnished
+with banners and let them case their persons in beautiful coats of mail
+that should be both invulnerable and easy to wear. And let them also
+have weapons. Bearing such martial forms and possessed of arms
+resembling the trunk of mighty elephants, I can never persuade myself
+that they cannot fight.' Hearing these words of the king, Satanika, O
+monarch, immediately ordered cars for those sons of Pritha, viz., the
+royal Yudhishthira, and Bhima, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, and commanded
+by the king, the charioteers, with cheerful hearts and keeping loyalty
+in view, very soon got cars ready (for the Pandavas). And those
+repressers of foes then donned those beautiful coats of mail,
+invulnerable and easy to wear, that Virata had ordered for those heroes
+of spotless fame. And mounted on cars yoked with good steeds, those
+smiters of hostile ranks, those foremost of men, the sons of Pritha, set
+out with cheerful hearts. Indeed, those mighty warriors skilled in
+fight, those bulls of the Kuru race and sons of Pandu, those four heroic
+brothers possessed of prowess incapable of being baffled, mounting on
+cars decked with gold, together set out, following Virata's wake. And
+infuriate elephants of terrible mien, full sixty years of age, with
+shapely tusks and rent temples and juice trickling down and looking (on
+that account) like cloud pouring rain and mounted by trained warriors
+skilled in fight, followed the king like unto moving hills. And the
+principal warriors of Matsya who cheerfully followed the king had eight
+thousand cars, a thousand elephants and sixty thousand horses. And, O
+bull among the Bharatas, that force of Virata, O king, as it marched
+forth marking the footprints of the cattle looked exceedingly beautiful.
+And on its march that foremost of armies owned by Virata, crowded with
+soldiers armed with strong weapons, and abounding in elephants, horses
+and cars, looked really splendid."
+
+    [26] _Bhagasas_ lit., each in its proper place. It may also
+    mean, 'according to their respective division.'
+
+    [27] _Kalyana-patalam_ is explained by Nilakantha to mean
+    _suvarna pattachchaditam_.
+
+    [28] One of the generals of Virata.
+
+
+SECTION XXXII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Marching out of the city, those heroic smiters the
+Matsyas, arrayed in order of battle, overtook the Trigartas when the sun
+had passed the meridian. And both excited to fury and both desirous of
+having the king, the mighty Trigartas and the Matsyas, irrepressible in
+battle, sent up loud roars. And then the terrible and infuriate
+elephants ridden over by the skilful combatants of both sides were urged
+on with spiked clubs and hooks. And the encounter, O king, that took
+place when the sun was low in the horizon, between the infantry and
+cavalry and chariots and elephants of both parties, was like unto that
+of old between the gods and the _Asuras_, terrible and fierce and
+sufficient for making one's hair stand on end and calculated to increase
+the population of Yama's kingdom. And as the combatants rushed against
+one another, smiting and slashing, thick clouds of dust began to rise,
+so that nothing could be discovered. And covered with the dust raised by
+the contending armies, birds began to drop down on the earth. And the
+sun himself disappeared behind the thick cloud of arrows shot, and the
+firmament looked bright as if with myriads of the fireflies. And
+shifting their bows, the staves of which were decked with gold, from one
+hand to another, those heroes began to strike each other down,
+discharging their arrows right and left. And cars encountered cars, and
+foot-soldiers fought with foot-soldiers, and horse-men with horsemen,
+and elephants with mighty elephants. And they furiously encountered one
+another with swords and axes, bearded darts and javelins, and iron
+clubs. And although, O king, those mighty-armed warriors furiously
+assailed one another in that conflict, yet neither party succeeded in
+prevailing over the other. And severed heads, some with beautiful noses,
+some with upper lips deeply gashed, some decked with ear-rings, and some
+divided with wounds about the well-trimmed hair were seen rolling on the
+ground covered with dust. And soon the field of battle was overspread
+with the limbs of Kshatriya warriors, cut off by means of arrows and
+lying like trunks of _Sala_ trees. And scattered over with heads decked
+in ear-rings, and sandal-besmeared arms looking like the bodies of
+snakes, the field of battle became exceedingly beautiful. And as cars
+encountered cars, and horsemen encountered horsemen, and foot-soldiers
+fought with foot-soldiers, and elephants met with elephants, the
+frightful dust soon became drenched with torrents of blood. And some
+amongst the combatants began to swoon away, and the warriors began to
+fight reckless of consideration of humanity, friendship and
+relationship. And both their course and sight obstructed by the arrowy
+shower, vultures began to alight on the ground. But although those
+strong-armed combatants furiously fought with one another, yet the
+heroes of neither party succeeded in routing their antagonists. And
+Satanika having slain a full hundred of the enemy and Visalaksha full
+four hundred, both those mighty warriors penetrated into the heart of
+the great Trigarta host. And having entered into the thick of the
+Trigarta host, those famous and mighty heroes began to deprive their
+antagonists of their senses by causing a closer conflict to set in--a
+conflict, in which the combatants seized one another by the hair and
+tore one another with their nails.[29] And eyeing the point where the
+cars of the Trigartas had been mustered in strong numbers, those heroes
+at last directed their attack towards it. And that foremost of
+car-warriors, king Virata also, with Suryadatta in his van and
+Madiraksha in his rear, having destroyed in that conflict five hundred
+cars, eight hundred horses, and five warriors on great cars, displayed
+various skilful manoeuvres on his car on that field of battle. And at
+last the king came upon the ruler of the Trigartas mounted on a golden
+chariot. And those high-souled and powerful warriors, desirous of
+fighting, rushed roaring against each like two bulls in a cow-pen. Then
+that bull among men, irrepressible in battle, Susarman, the king of the
+Trigartas, challenged Matsya to a single combat on car. Then those
+warriors excited to fury rushed against each other on their cars and
+began to shower their arrows upon each other like clouds pouring
+torrents of rain.[30] And enraged with each other, those fierce
+warriors, both skilled in weapons, both wielding swords and darts and
+maces, then moved about (on the field of battle) assailing each other
+with whetted arrows. Then king Virata pierced Susarman with ten shafts
+and each of his four horses also with five shafts. And Susarman also,
+irresistible in battle and conversant with fatal weapons, pierced king
+of Matsya with fifty whetted shafts. And then, O mighty monarch, in
+consequence of the dust on the field of battle, the soldiers of both
+Susarman and Matsya's king could not distinguish one another."
+
+    [29] Some differences of reading are noticeable here, for
+    _Yasaswinau_ some texts read _Manaswinau_, and for
+    Vahusamravdhau-Vahusanrambhat; and for Nakha-naki--Ratha-rathi.
+
+    [30] Some texts read Ghanabiva for Ghanarva. The latter is
+    unquestionably better in form.
+
+
+SECTION XXXIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then, O Bharata, when the world was enveloped in
+dust and the gloom of night, the warriors of both sides, without
+breaking the order of battle, desisted for a while.[31] And then,
+dispelling the darkness the moon arose illumining the night and
+gladdening the hearts of the Kshatriya warriors. And when everything
+became visible, the battle once more began. And it raged on so furiously
+that the combatants could not distinguish one another. And then
+Trigarta's lord, Susarman with his younger brother, and accompanied by
+all his cars, rushed towards the king of Matsya. And descending from
+their cars, those bulls among Kshatriyas, the (royal) brothers, mace in
+hand, rushed furiously towards the cars of the foe. And the hostile
+hosts fiercely assailed each other with maces and swords and scimitars,
+battle-axes and bearded darts with keen edges and points of excellent
+temper. And king Susarman, the lord of the Trigartas having by his
+energy oppressed and defeated the whole army of the Matsyas, impetuously
+rushed towards Virata himself endued with great energy. And the two
+brothers having severally slain Virata's two steeds and his charioteer,
+as also those soldiers that protected his rear, took him captive alive,
+when deprived of his car. Then afflicting him sorely, like a lustful man
+afflicting a defenceless damsel, Susarman placed Virata on his own car,
+and speedily rushed out of the field. And when the powerful Virata,
+deprived of his car, was taken captive, the Matsyas, harrassed solely by
+the Trigartas, began to flee in fear in all directions. And beholding
+them panic-stricken, Kunti's son, Yudhishthira, addressed that subduer
+of foes, the mighty-armed Bhima, saying, 'The king of the Matsyas hath
+been taken by the Trigartas. Do thou, O mighty-armed one, rescue him, so
+that he may not fall under the power of the enemy. As we have lived
+happily in Virata's city, having every desire of ours gratified, it
+behoveth thee, O Bhimasena, to discharge that debt (by liberating the
+king).' Thereat Bhimasena replied, 'I will liberate him, O king, at thy
+command. Mark the feat I achieve (today) in battling with the foe,
+relying solely on the might of my arms. Do thou, O king, stay aside,
+along with our brothers and witness my prowess today. Uprooting this
+mighty tree of huge trunk looking like a mace, I will rout the enemy.'"
+
+    [31] The word in the original is Muhurta equal to 48 minutes.
+    Nilakantha points out very ingeniously that the night being the
+    seventh of the dark fortnight, the moon would not rise till
+    after 14 Dandas from the hour of sunset, a Danda being equal to
+    24 minutes. A Muhurta, therefore implies not 48 minutes exactly,
+    but some time.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding Bhima casting his eyes on that tree
+like a mad elephant, the heroic king Yudhishthira the just spake unto
+his brother, saying, 'Do not, O Bhima, commit such a rash act. Let the
+tree stand there. Thou must not achieve such feats in a super-human
+manner by means of that tree, for if thou dost, the people, O Bharata,
+will recognise thee and say, _This is Bhima_. Take thou, therefore, some
+human weapon such as a bow (and arrows), or a dart, or a sword, or a
+battle-axe. And taking therefore, O Bhima, some weapon that is human,
+liberate thou the king without giving anybody the means of knowing thee
+truly. The twins endued with great strength will defend thy wheels.
+Fighting together, O child, liberate the king of the Matsyas!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, the mighty Bhimasena endued
+with great speed, quickly took up an excellent bow and impetuously shot
+from it a shower of arrows, thick as the downpour of a rain-charged
+cloud. And Bhima then rushed furiously towards Susarman of terrible
+deeds, and assuring Virata with the words--_O good king!_[32] said unto
+the lord of the Trigartas,--_Stay! Stay!_ Seeing Bhima like unto Yama
+himself in his rear, saying, _Stay! Stay! Do thou witness this mighty
+feat,--this combat that is at hand!_--the bull among warriors, Susarman,
+seriously considered (the situation), and taking up his bow turned back,
+along with his brothers. Within the twinkling of an eye, Bhima destroyed
+those cars that sought to oppose him. And soon again hundreds of
+thousands of cars and elephants and horses and horsemen and brave and
+fierce bowmen were overthrown by Bhima in the very sight of Virata. And
+the hostile infantry also began to be slaughtered by the illustrious
+Bhima, mace in hand. And beholding that terrible onslaught, Susarman,
+irrepressible in fight, thought within himself, 'My brother seems to
+have already succumbed in the midst of his mighty host. Is my army going
+to be annihilated?' And drawing his bow-string to his ear Susarman then
+turned back and began to shoot keen-edged shafts incessantly. And seeing
+the Pandavas return to the charge on their car, the Matsya warriors of
+mighty host, urging on their steeds, shot excellent weapons for grinding
+the Trigarta soldiers. And Virata's son also, exceedingly exasperated
+began to perform prodigious fears of valour. And Kunti's son
+Yudhishthira slew a thousand (of the foe), and Bhima showed the abode of
+Yama unto seven thousand. And Nakula sent seven hundred (to their last
+account) by means of his shafts. And powerful Sahadeva also, commanded
+by Yudhishthira, slew three hundred brave warriors. And having slain
+such numbers, that fierce and mighty warrior, Yudhishthira, with weapons
+upraised, rushed against Susarman. And rushing impetuously at Susarman,
+that foremost of car-warriors, king Yudhishthira, assailed him with
+vollies of shafts. And Susarman also, in great rage, quickly pierced
+Yudhishthira with nine arrows, and each of his four steeds with four
+arrows. Then, O king, Kunti's son Bhima of quick movements, approaching
+Susarman crushed his steeds. And having slain also those soldiers that
+protected his rear, he dragged from the car his antagonist's charioteer
+to the ground. And seeing the king of Trigarta's car without a driver,
+the defender of his car-wheels, the famous and brave Madiraksha speedily
+came to his aid. And thereat, leaping down from Susarman's car, and
+securing the latter's mace the powerful Virata ran in pursuit of him.
+And though old, he moved on the field, mace in hand, even like a lusty
+youth. And beholding Susarman flee Bhima addressed him, saying, 'Desist,
+O Prince! This flight of thine is not proper! With this prowess of
+thine, how couldst thou wish to carry off the cattle by force? How also,
+forsaking thy follower, dost thou droop so amidst foes?' Thus addressed
+by Pritha's son, the mighty Susarman, that lord of countless cars saying
+unto Bhima, _Stay! Stay!_--suddenly turned round and rushed at him. Then
+Bhima, the son of Pandu, leaping down from his car, as he alone could
+do,[33] rushed forward with great coolness, desirous of taking
+Susarman's life. And desirous of seizing Trigarta's king advancing
+towards him, the mighty Bhimasena rushed impetuously towards him, even
+like a lion rushing at a small deer. And advancing impetuously, the
+mighty-armed Bhima seized Susarman by the hair, and lifting him up in
+wrath, dashed him down on the ground. And as he lay crying in agony, the
+mighty-armed Bhima kicked him at the head, and placing his knee on his
+breast dealt him severe blows. And sorely afflicted with that kicking,
+the king of Trigartas became senseless. And when the king of the
+Trigartas deprived of his car, had been seized thus, the whole Trigarta
+army stricken with panic, broke and fled in all directions, and the
+mighty sons of Pandu, endued with modesty and observant of vows and
+relying on the might of their own arms, after having vanquished
+Susarman, and rescued the kine as well as other kinds of wealth and
+having thus dispelled Virata's anxiety, stood together before that
+monarch. And Bhimasena then said, 'This wretch given to wicked deeds
+doth not deserve to escape me with life. But what can I do? The king is
+so lenient!' And then taking Susarman by the neck as he was lying on the
+ground insensible and covered with dust, and binding him fast, Pritha's
+son Vrikodara placed him on his car, and went to where Yudhishthira was
+staying in the midst of the field. And Bhima then showed Susarman unto
+the monarch. And beholding Susarman in that plight, that tiger among men
+king Yudhishthira smilingly addressed Bhima--that ornament of
+battle,--saying, 'Let this worst of men be set free.' Thus addressed,
+Bhima spoke unto the mighty Susarman, saying, 'If, O wretch, thou
+wishest to live, listen to those words of mine. Thou must say in every
+court and assembly of men,--_I am a slave._ On this condition only I
+will grant thee thy life. Verily, this is the law about the vanquished.'
+Thereupon his elder brother affectionately addressed Bhima, saying, 'If
+thou regardest us as an authority, liberate this wicked wight. He hath
+already become king Virata's slave.' And turning then to Susarman, he
+said, 'Thou art freed. Go thou a free man, and never act again in this
+way.'"
+
+    [32] Some Vikshyainam, Nilakantha explains Sama as a word spoken
+    by Bhima for assuring the captive Virata, and Vikshya as
+    'assuring' or 'consoling by a glance.' Perhaps this is right.
+
+    [33] The adjective Bhima-sankasas as explained by Nilakantha is
+    in this sense, quoting the celebrated simile of Valmiki.
+
+
+SECTION XXXIV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Yudhishthira Susarman was
+overwhelmed with shame and hung down his head. And liberated (from
+slavery), he went to king Virata, and having saluted the monarch, took
+his departure. And the Pandavas also relying on the might of their own
+arms, and endued with modesty and observant of vows, having slain their
+enemies and liberated Susarman, passed that night happily on the field
+of battle. And Virata gratified those mighty warriors, the sons of
+Kunti, possessed of super-human prowess with wealth and honour. And
+Virata said, 'All these gems of mine are now as much mine as yours. Do
+ye according to your pleasure live here happily. And ye smiter of foes
+in battle, I will bestow on you damsels decked with ornaments, wealth in
+plenty, and other things that ye may like. Delivered from perils today
+by your prowess, I am now crowned with victory. Do ye all become the
+lords of the Matsyas.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "And when the king of the Matsyas had addressed
+them thus, those descendants of the Kurus with Yudhishthira at their
+head, joining their hands, severally replied unto him saying, 'We are
+well-pleased with all that thou sayest, O monarch. We, however, have
+been much gratified that thou hast today been freed from thy foes.' Thus
+answered, that foremost of kings, Virata the lord of the Matsyas, again
+addressed Yudhishthira, saying, 'Come, we will install thee in
+sovereignty of the Matsyas. And we will also bestow on thee things that
+are rare on earth and are objects of desire, for thou deservest
+everything at our hands. O foremost of Brahmanas of the _Vaiyaghra_
+order I will bestow on thee gems and kine and gold and rubies and
+pearls. I bow unto thee. It is owing to thee that I once more behold
+today my sons and kingdom. Afflicted and threatened as I had been with
+disaster and danger, it is through thy prowess that I have not succumbed
+to the foe.' Then Yudhishthira again addressed the Matsyas, saying,
+'Well-pleased are we with the delightful words that thou hast spoken.
+Mayst thou be ever happy, always practising humanity towards all
+creatures. Let messengers now, at thy command, speedily repair into the
+city, in order to communicate the glad tidings to our friends, and
+proclaim thy victory.' Hearing these words of him, king Matsya ordered
+the messengers, saying, 'Do ye repair to the city and proclaim my
+victory in battle. And let damsels and courtesans, decked in ornaments,
+come out of the city with every kind of musical instruments.' Hearing
+this command uttered by the king of the Matsyas, the men, laying the
+mandate on their head, all departed with cheerful hearts. And having
+repaired to the city that very night, they proclaimed at the hour of
+sunrise the victory of the king about the city-gates."
+
+
+SECTION XXXV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "When the king of the Matsyas, anxious of recovering
+the kine, had set out in pursuit of the Trigartas, Duryodhana with his
+counsellors invaded the dominions of Virata. And Bhishma and Drona, and
+Karna, and Kripa acquainted with the best of weapons, Aswatthaman, and
+Suvala's son, and Duhsasana, O lord of men, and Vivingsati and Vikarna
+and Chitrasena endued with great energy, and Durmukha and
+Dussaha,--these and many other great warriors, coming upon the Matsya
+dominion speedily drove off the cowherds of king Virata and forcibly
+took away the kine. And the Kauravas, surrounding all sides with a
+multitude of cars, seized sixty thousands of kine. And loud was the yell
+of woe set up by the cowherds smitten by those warriors in that terrible
+conflict. And the chief of the cowherds, greatly affrighted speedily
+mounted on a chariot and set out for the city, bewailing in affliction.
+And entering the city of the king, he proceeded to the place, and
+speedily alighting from the chariot, got in for relating (what had
+happened). And beholding the proud son of Matsya, named Bhuminjaya, he
+told him everything about the seizure of the royal kine. And he said,
+'the Kauravas are taking away sixty thousand kine. Rise, therefore, O
+enhancer of the kingdom's glory, for bringing back thy cattle. O prince,
+if thou art desirous of achieving (the kingdom's) good set out thyself
+without loss of time. Indeed, the king of the Matsyas left thee in the
+empty city. The king (thy father) boasteth of thee in court, saying, "My
+son, equal unto me, is a hero and is the supporter of (the glory of) my
+race. My son is a warrior skilled in arrows and weapons and is always
+possessed of great courage."--Oh, let the words of that lord of men be
+true! O chief of herd-owners, bring thou back the kine after vanquishing
+the Kurus, and consume thou their troops with the terrific energy of thy
+arrows. Do thou like a leader of elephants rushing at a herd, pierce the
+ranks of the foe with straight arrows of golden wings, discharged from
+thy bow. Thy bow is even like a _Vina_. Its two ends represent the ivory
+pillows; its string, the main chord; its staff, the finger-board; and
+the arrows shot from it musical notes. Do thou strike in the midst of
+the foe that _Vina_ of musical sound.[34] Let thy steeds, O lord, of
+silvery hue, be yoked unto thy car, and let thy standard be hoisted,
+bearing the emblem of the golden lion. Let thy keen-edged arrows endued
+with wings of gold, shot by thy strong arms, obstruct the path of those
+kings and eclipse the very sun. Vanquishing all the Kurus in battle like
+unto the wielder of the thunderbolt defeating the _Asuras_, return thou
+again to the city having achieved great renown. Son of Matsya's king,
+thou art the sole refuge of this kingdom, as that foremost of virtuous
+warriors, Arjuna is of the sons of Pandu. Even like Arjuna of his
+brothers, thou art, without doubt, the refuge of those dwelling within
+these dominions. Indeed, we, the subject of this realm, have our
+protector in thee.'"
+
+    [34] To understand the comparison would require in the reader a
+    knowledge of the mechanism of the Indian Vina. Briefly, the Vina
+    consists of a bamboo of about two cubits attached to two gourds
+    towards its ends. Along the bamboo which serves the purpose of a
+    finger-board, is the main chord and several thinner wires. All
+    these pass over a number of frets, two and a half heptachords,
+    representing the total compass of the instrument. The wires rest
+    towards their ends on two pieces of ivory called Upadhanas in
+    Sanskrit or Swaris in Urdu.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by the cowherd in the presence
+of the females, in words breathing courage, the prince indulging in
+self-commendation within the female apartments, spoke these words."
+
+
+SECTION XXXVI
+
+"Uttara said, 'Firm as I am in the use of the bow, I would set out this
+very day in the track of the kine if only some one skilled in the
+management of horses becomes my charioteer. I do not, however, know the
+man who may be my charioteer. Look ye, therefore, without delay, for a
+charioteer for me that am prepared for starting. My own charioteer was
+slain in the great battle that was fought from day to day for a whole
+month or at least for eight and twenty nights. As soon as I get another
+person conversant with the management of the steeds, I will immediately
+set out, hoisting high my own standard. Penetrating into the midst of
+the hostile army abounding with elephants and horses and chariots, I
+will bring back the kine, having vanquished the Kurus who are feeble in
+strength and weak in weapons. Like a second wielder of the thunderbolt
+terrifying the Danavas, I will bring back the kine this very moment,
+affrighting in battle Duryodhana and Bhishma and Karna and Kripa and
+Drona with his son, and other mighty bowmen assembled for fight. Finding
+none (to oppose), the Kurus are taking away the kine. What can I do when
+I am not there? The assembled Kurus shall witness my prowess today. And
+they shall say unto one another, "Is it Arjuna himself who is opposing
+us?'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having heard these words spoken by the prince,
+Arjuna fully acquainted with the import of everything, after a little
+while cheerfully spake in private unto his dear wife of faultless
+beauty, Krishna, the princess of Panchala, Drupada's daughter of slender
+make, sprung from the (sacrificial) fire and endued with the virtues of
+truthfulness and honesty and ever attentive to the good of her husbands.
+And the hero said, 'Do thou, O beauteous one, at my request say unto
+Uttara without delay, "This Vrihannala was formerly the accomplished
+resolute charioteer of Pandu's son (Arjuna). Tried in many a great
+battle, even he will be thy charioteer."'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words uttered by the prince over
+and over again in the midst of the women, Panchali could not quietly
+bear those allusions to Vibhatsu. And bashfully stepping out from among
+the women, the poor princess of Panchala gently spake unto him these
+words, 'The handsome youth, looking like a mighty elephant and known by
+the name of Vrihannala, was formerly the charioteer of Arjuna. A
+disciple of that illustrious warrior, and inferior to none in use of the
+bow, he was known to me while I was living with the Pandavas. It was by
+him that the reins were held of Arjuna's excellent steeds when Agni
+consumed the forest of Khandava. It was with him as charioteer that
+Partha conquered all creatures at Khandava-prastha. In fact, there is no
+charioteer equal unto him.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Thou knowest, O _Sairindhri_, this youth. Thou knowest,
+what this one of the neuter sex may or may not be. I cannot, however, O
+blessed one, myself request Vrihannala to hold the reins of my horses.'
+
+"Draupadi said, 'Vrihannala, O hero, will without doubt, obey the words
+of thy younger sister[35]--that damsel of graceful hips. If he consents
+to be thy charioteer, thou wilt, without doubt, return, having
+vanquished the Kurus and rescued thy kine.'
+
+    [35] Some read _kaniasi_ for _vaviasi_. Both words are the same,
+    and mean the same thing.
+
+"Thus addressed by the _Sairindhri_, Uttara spake unto his sister, 'Go
+thyself, O thou of faultless beauty, and bring Vrihannala hither.' And
+despatched by her brother, she hastily repaired to the dancing-hall
+where that strong-armed son of Pandu was staying in disguise."
+
+
+SECTION XXXVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Thus despatched by her elder brother, the far-famed
+daughter of king Matsya, adorned with a golden necklace, ever obedient
+to her brother and possessed of a waist slender as that of the wasp,[36]
+endued with the splendour of Lakshmi herself,[37] decked with the plumes
+of the peacock of slender make and graceful limbs, her hips encircled by
+a zone of pearls, her eye-lashes slightly curved, and her form endued
+with every grace, hastily repaired to the dancing-hall like a flash of
+lightning rushing towards a mass of dark clouds.[38] And the faultless
+and auspicious daughter of Virata, of fine teeth and slender-waist, of
+thighs close unto each other and each like the trunk of an elephant, her
+person embellished with an excellent garland, sought the son of Pritha
+like a she-elephant seeking her mate. And like unto a precious gem or
+the very embodiment of prosperity of Indra, of exceeding beauty and
+large eyes, that charming and adored and celebrated damsel saluted
+Arjuna. And saluted by her, Partha asked that maiden of close thighs and
+golden complexion, saying 'What brings thee hither, a damsel decked in a
+necklace of gold? Why art thou in such a hurry, O gazelle-eyed maiden?
+Why is thy face, O beauteous lady, so cheerless? Tell me all this
+without delay!'"
+
+    [36] _Vedi-Vilagnamadhya_--Vedi in this connection means a wasp
+    and not, as explained by Mallinatha in his commentary of the
+    _Kumarasambhava_, a sacrificial platform. I would remark in
+    passing that many of the most poetic and striking adjectives in
+    both the Raghu and the _Kumarasambhava_ of Kalidasa are borrowed
+    unblushingly from the _Ramayana_ and the _Mahabharata_.
+
+    [37] _Padma patrabha-nibha_ may also mean 'of the splendour of
+    the gem called Marakata.' Nilakantha, however, shows that this
+    would militate against the adjective _Kankojwalatwacham_ below.
+
+    [38] The princess being of the complexion of burnished gold and
+    Arjuna dark as a mass of clouds, the comparison is exceedingly
+    appropriate. The Vaishnava poets of Bengal never tire of this
+    simile in speaking of Radha and Krishna in the groves of
+    Vrindavana.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding, O king, his friend, the princess of
+large-eyes (in that plight), her friend (Arjuna) cheerfully enquired of
+her (in these words) the cause of her arrival there and then. And having
+approached that bull among men, the princess, standing in the midst of
+her female attendants, the displaying proper modesty[39], addressed him,
+saying, 'The kine of this realm, O Vrihannala, are being driven away by
+the Kurus, and it is to conquer them that my brother will set out bow in
+hand. Not long ago his own charioteer was slain in battle, and there is
+none equal unto the one slain that can act as my brother's charioteer.
+And unto him striving to obtain a charioteer, _Sairindhri_, O
+Vrihannala, hath spoken about thy skill in the management of steeds.
+Thou wert formerly the favourite charioteer of Arjuna, and it was with
+thee that that bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the
+whole earth. Do thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, act as the charioteer of
+my brother. (By this time) our kine have surely been driven away by the
+Kurus to a great distance. Requested by me if thou dost not act up to my
+words, I who am asking this service of thee out of affection, will give
+up my life!' Thus addressed by this friend of graceful hips, that
+oppressor of foes, endued with immeasurable prowess, went into the
+prince's presence. And like unto a she-elephant running after her young
+one, the princess possessed of large eyes followed that hero advancing
+with hasty steps like unto an elephant with rent temples. And beholding
+him from a distance, the prince himself said, 'With thee as his
+charioteer, Dhananjaya the son of Kunti had gratified _Agni_ at the
+Khandava forest and subjugated the whole world! The _Sairindhri_ hath
+spoken of thee to me. She knoweth the Pandavas. Do thou, therefore, O
+Vrihannala, hold, as thou didst, the reins of my steeds, desirous as I
+am of righting with the Kurus and rescuing my bovine wealth. Thou wert
+formerly the beloved charioteer of Arjuna and it was with thee that that
+bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the whole earth!' Thus
+addressed, Vrihannala replied unto the prince, saying, 'What ability
+have I to act as a charioteer in the field of battle? If it is song or
+dance or musical instruments or such other things, I can entertain thee
+therewith, but where is my skill for becoming a charioteer?'
+
+    [39] The words in the original is _pranayam_, lit., love.
+    Nilakantha, however, explains it as meaning modesty, humility. I
+    think, Nilakantha is right. The relations between Arjuna and the
+    princess were like those between father and daughter.
+
+"Uttara said, 'O Vrihannala, be thou a singer or a dancer, hold thou
+(for the present), without loss of time, the reins of my excellent
+steeds, mounting upon my car!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Although that oppressor of foes, the son of
+Pandu, was acquainted with everything, yet in the presence of Uttara, he
+began to make many mistakes for the sake of fun. And when he sought to
+put the coat of mail on his body by raising it upwards, the large-eyed
+maidens, beholding it, burst out into a loud laughter. And seeing him
+quite ignorant of putting on armour, Uttara himself equipped Vrihannala
+with a costly coat of mail. And casing his own person in an excellent
+armour of solar effulgence, and hoisting his standard bearing the figure
+of a lion, the prince caused Vrihannala to become his charioteer. And
+with Vrihannala to hold his reins, the hero set out, taking with him
+many costly bows and a large number of beautiful arrows. And his friend,
+Uttara and her maidens then said unto Vrihannala, 'Do thou, O
+Vrihannala, bring for our dolls (when thou comest back) various kinds of
+good and fine cloths after vanquishing the Kurus assembled for battle of
+whom Bhishma and Drona are foremost!' Thus addressed, Partha the son of
+Pandu, in a voice deep as the roar of the clouds, smilingly said unto
+that bevy of fair maidens. 'If thus Uttara can vanquish those mighty
+warriors in battle, I will certainly bring excellent and beautiful
+cloths.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said these words, the heroic Arjuna
+urged the steeds towards the Kuru army over which floated innumerable
+flags. Just, however, as they were starting, elderly dames and maidens,
+and Brahmanas of rigid vows, beholding Uttara seated on his excellent
+car with Vrihannala as charioteer and under that great banner hoisted on
+high, walked round the car to bless the hero. And the women said, 'Let
+the victory that Arjuna treading like a bull had achieved of old on the
+occasion of burning the forest of Khandava, be thine, O Vrihannala, when
+thou encounterest the Kurus today with prince Uttara.'"
+
+
+SECTION XXXVIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having issued forth from the city, the dauntless son
+of Virata addressed his charioteer, saying, 'Proceed whither the Kurus
+are. Defeating the assembled Kurus who have come hither from desire of
+victory, and quickly rescuing my kine from them, I will return to the
+capital.' At these words of the prince, the son of Pandu urged those
+excellent steeds. And endued with the speed of the wind and decked with
+necklaces of gold, those steeds, urged by that lion among men, seemed to
+fly through the air. And they had not proceeded far when those smiters
+of foes, Dhananjaya and the son of Matsya, sighted the army of the
+powerful Kurus. And proceeding towards the cemetery, they came upon the
+Kurus and beheld their army arrayed in order of battle.[40] And that
+large army of theirs looked like the vast sea or a forest of innumerable
+trees moving through the sky. And then was seen, O best among the Kurus,
+the dust raised by that moving army which reached the sky and obstructed
+the sight of all creatures. And beholding that mighty host abounding in
+elephants, horses and chariots, and protected by Karna and Duryodhana
+and Kripa and Santanu's son, and that intelligent and great bowman
+Drona, with his son (Aswatthaman), the son of Virata, agitated with fear
+and the bristles on his body standing on their ends, thus spake unto
+Partha, 'I dare not fight with the Kurus. See, the bristles on my body
+have stood on their ends. I am incapable of battling with this countless
+host of the Kurus, abounding in the heroic warriors, that are extremely
+fierce and difficult of being vanquished even by the celestials. I do
+not venture to penetrate into the army of the Bharatas consisting of
+terrible bowmen and abounding in horses and elephants and cars and
+footsoldiers and banners. My mind is too much perturbed by the very
+sight of the foe on the field of battle on which stand Drona and
+Bhishma, and Kripa, and Karna, and Vivingsati, and Aswatthaman and
+Vikarna, and Saumadatti, and Vahlika, and the heroic king Duryodhana
+also--that foremost of car-warriors, and many other splendid bowmen, all
+skilled in battle. My hairs have stood on their ends, and I am fainting
+with fear at the very sight of these smiters, the Kurus arrayed in order
+of battle.'"
+
+    [40] This sloka is not correctly printed in any of the texts
+    that I have seen. The Burdwan Pandits read _tat-samim_. This I
+    think, is correct, but then _asasada_ in the singular when the
+    other verbs are all dual seems to be correct. The poet must have
+    used some other verb in the dual for _asasada_.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "And the low-minded and foolish Uttara out of
+folly alone, began to bewail (his fate) in the presence of the
+high-spirited (Arjuna) disguised (as his charioteer) in these words, 'My
+father hath gone out to meet the Trigartas taking with him his whole
+army, leaving me in the empty city. There are no troops to assist me.
+Alone and a mere boy who has not undergone much exercise in arms, I am
+unable to encounter these innumerable warriors and all skilled in
+weapons. Do thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, cease to advance!'
+
+"Vrihannala said, 'Why dost thou look so pale through fear and enhance
+the joy of thy foes? As yet thou hast done nothing on the field of
+battle with the enemy. It was thou that hadst ordered me, saying, _Take
+me towards the Kauravas_. I will, therefore, take thee, thither where
+those innumerable flags are. I will certainly take thee, O mighty-armed
+one, into the midst of the hostile Kurus, prepared to fight as they are
+for the kine like hawks for meat. I would do this, even if I regarded
+them to have come hither for battling for a much higher stake such as
+the sovereignty of the earth. Having, at the time of setting out, talked
+before both men and women so highly of thy manliness, why wouldst thou
+desist from the fight? If thou shouldst return home without recapturing
+the kine, brave men and even women, when they meet together, will laugh
+at thee (in derision). As regards myself, I cannot return to the city
+without having rescued the kine, applauded as I have been so highly by
+the _Sairindhri_ in respect of my skill in driving cars. It is for those
+praises by the _Sairindhri_ and for those words of thine also (that I
+have come). Why should I not, therefore, give battle to the Kurus? (As
+regards thyself), be thou still.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Let the Kurus rob the Matsyas of all their wealth. Let
+men and women, O Vrihannala, laugh at me. Let my kine perish, let the
+city be a desert. Let me stand exposed before my father. Still there is
+no need of battle.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, that much affrighted prince decked
+in ear-ring jumped down from his car, and throwing down his bow and
+arrows began to flee, sacrificing honour and pride. Vrihannala, however,
+exclaimed, 'This is not the practice of the brave, this flight of a
+Kshatriya from the field of battle. Even death in battle is better than
+flight from fear.' Having said this, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti,
+coming down from that excellent car ran after that prince thus running
+away, his own long braid and pure red garments fluttering in the air.
+And some soldiers, not knowing that it was Arjuna who was thus running
+with his braid fluttering in the air, burst out into laughter at the
+sight. And beholding him thus running, the Kurus began to argue, 'Who is
+this person, thus disguised like fire concealed in ashes? He is partly a
+man and partly a woman. Although bearing a neuter form, he yet
+resembleth Arjuna. His are the same head and neck, and his the same arms
+like unto a couple of maces. And this one's gait also is like unto his.
+He can be none else than Dhananjaya. As _Indra_ is among the celestials,
+so Dhananjaya is among men. Who else in this world than Dhananjaya,
+would alone come against us? Virata left a single son of his in the
+empty city. He hath come out from childishness and not from true
+heroism. It is Uttara who must have come out of the city, having,
+without doubt, made as a charioteer Arjuna, the son of Pritha, now
+living in disguise. It seems that he is now flying away in panic at
+sight of our army. And without doubt Dhananjaya runneth after him to
+bring him back.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding the disguised son of Pandu, the
+Kauravas, O Bharata, began to indulge in these surmises, but they could
+not come to any definite conclusion. Meanwhile, Dhananjaya, hastily
+pursuing the retreating Uttara, seized him by the hair within a hundred
+steps. And seized by Arjuna, the son of Virata began to lament most
+woefully like one in great affliction, and said, 'Listen, O good
+Vrihannala, O thou of handsome waist. Turn thou quickly the course of
+the car. He that liveth meeteth with prosperity. I will give thee a
+hundred coins of pure gold and eight _lapis lazuli_ of great brightness
+set with gold, and one chariot furnished with a golden flag-staff and
+drawn by excellent steeds, and also ten elephants of infuriate prowess.
+Do thou, O Vrihannala, set me free.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, that tiger among men laughingly
+dragged Uttara who was almost deprived of his senses and who was
+uttering these words of lamentation towards the car. And the son of
+Pritha then addressed the affrighted prince who had nearly lost his
+senses, saying, 'If, O chastiser of foes, thou dost not venture to fight
+with enemy, come thou and hold the reins of the steeds as I fight with
+the foe. Protected by the might of my arms, penetrate thou yon
+formidable and invincible array of cars guarded by heroic and mighty
+warriors. Fear not, O chastiser of foes, thou art a _Kshatriya_ and the
+foremost of royal princes. Why dost thou, O tiger among men, succumb in
+the midst of the foe? I shall surely fight with the Kurus and recover
+the kine, penetrating into this formidable and inaccessible array of
+cars. Be thou my charioteer, O best of men, I will fight with the
+Kurus.' Thus speaking unto Uttara, the son of Virata, Vibhatsu,
+heretofore unconquered in battle, for a while comforted him. And then
+the son of Pritha, that foremost of smiters, raised on the car that
+fainting and reluctant prince stricken with fear!"
+
+
+SECTION XXXIX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Beholding that bull among men seated on the car in
+the habit of a person of the third sex, driving toward the _Sami_ tree,
+having taken (the flying) Uttara up, all the great car-warriors of the
+Kurus with Bhishma and Drona at their head, became affrighted at heart,
+suspecting the comer to be Dhananjaya. And seeing them so dispirited and
+marking also the many wonderful portents, that foremost of all wielders
+of arms, the preceptor Drona, son of Bharadwaja, said, 'Violent and hot
+are the winds that below, showering gravels in profusion. The sky also
+is overcast with a gloom of ashy hue. The clouds present the strange
+sight of being dry and waterless. Our weapons also of various kinds are
+coming out of their cases. The jackals are yelling hideously affrighted
+at the conflagrations on all sides.[41] The horses too are shedding
+tears, and our banners are trembling though moved by none. Such being
+the inauspicious indications seen, a great danger is at hand. Stay ye
+with vigilance. Protect ye your own selves and array the troops in order
+of battle. Stand ye, expecting a terrible slaughter, and guard ye well
+the kine. This mighty bowman, this foremost of all wielders of weapons,
+this hero that hath come in the habit of a person of the third sex, is
+the son of Pritha. There is no doubt of this.' Then addressing Bhishma,
+the preceptor continued, 'O offspring of the Ganges, apparelled as a
+woman, this is _Kiriti_ called after a tree, the son of the enemy of the
+mountains, and having on his banner the sign of devastator of the
+gardens of Lanka's lord. Vanquishing us he will surely take away the
+kine today![42] This chastiser of foes is the valiant son of Pritha
+surnamed _Savyasachin_. He doth not desist from conflict even with the
+gods and demons combined. Put to great hardship in the forest he cometh
+in wrath. Taught by even Indra himself, he is like unto Indra in battle.
+Therefore, ye Kauravas, I do not see any hero who can withstand him. It
+is said that the lord _Mahadeva_ himself, disguised in the attire of a
+hunter, was gratified by this son of Pritha in battle on the mountains
+of Himavat.' Hearing these words, Karna said, 'You always censure us by
+speaking on the virtues of _Phalguna_. Arjuna, however, is not equal to
+even a full sixteenth part of myself or Duryodhana!' And Duryodhana
+said, 'If this be Partha, O Radheya, then my purpose hath already been
+fulfilled, for then, O king, if traced out, the Pandavas shall have to
+wander for twelve years again. Or, if this one be any other person in a
+eunuch's garb, I will soon prostrate him on the earth with keen-edged
+arrows.'"
+
+    [41] Some texts read _Diptasya_ for _Diptayam_.
+
+    [42] This sloka does not occur in every text. This is a typical
+    illustration of the round about way, frequently adopted by
+    Sanskrit writers, of expressing a simple truth. The excuse in
+    the present instance consists in Drona's unwillingness to
+    identify the solitary hero with Arjuna, in the midst of all his
+    hearers. Nadiji is an exclamation referring to Bhishma, the son
+    of the river Ganga. _Lankesa-vanari-ketu_ is simply
+    'ape-bannered,' or as rendered in the text, having the
+    devastator of the gardens of Lanka's lord for the sign of his
+    banner. Nagahvaya is 'named after tree' for Arjuna is the name
+    of an Indian tree. Nagri-sunu is 'Indra's son',--Indra being the
+    foe of mountain, for formerly it was he who cut off the wings of
+    all mountains and compelled them to be stationary. He failed
+    only in the case of Mainaka, the son of Himavat.
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "The son of Dhritarashtra, O chastiser of foes,
+having said this, Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Drona's son all
+applauded his manliness!"
+
+
+SECTION XL
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having reached that _Sami_ tree, and having
+ascertained Virata's son to be exceedingly delicate and inexperienced in
+battle, Partha addressed him, saying, 'Enjoined by me, O Uttara, quickly
+take down (from this tree) some bows that are there. For these bows of
+thine are unable to bear my strength, my heavy weight when I shall grind
+down horses and elephants, and the stretch of my arms when I seek to
+vanquish the foe. Therefore, O Bhuminjaya, climb thou up this tree of
+thick foliage, for in this tree are tied the bows and arrows and banners
+and excellent coats of mail of the heroic sons of Pandu, viz.,
+Yudhishthira and Bhima and Vibhatsu and the twins. There also is that
+bow of great energy, the _Gandiva_ of Arjuna, which singly is equal to
+many thousands of other bows and which is capable of extending the
+limits of a kingdom. Large like a palmyra tree, able to bear the
+greatest stress, the largest of all weapons, capable of obstructing the
+foe, handsome, and smooth, and broad, without a knot, and adorned with
+gold, it is stiff and beautiful in make and beareth the heaviest weight.
+And the other bows also that are there, of Yudhishthira and Bhima and
+Vibhatsu and the twins, are equally mighty and tough.'"
+
+
+SECTION XLI
+
+"Uttara said, 'It hath been heard by us that a corpse is tied in this
+tree. How can I, therefore, being a prince by birth, touch it with my
+hands? Born in the _Kshatriya_ order, and the son of a great king, and
+always observant of _mantras_ and vows, it is not becoming of me to
+touch it. Why shouldst thou, O Vrihannala, make me a polluted and
+unclean bearer of corpses, by compelling me to come in contact with a
+corpse?'
+
+"Vrihannala said, 'Thou shalt, O king of kings, remain clean and
+unpolluted. Do not fear, there are only bows in this tree and not
+corpses. Heir to the king of the Matsyas, and born in a noble family,
+why should I, O prince, make thee do such a reproachable deed?'"
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Partha, Virata's son, decked in
+ear-rings, alighted from the car, and climbed up that _Sami_ tree
+reluctantly. And staying on the car, Dhananjaya, that slayer of enemies,
+said unto him, 'Speedily bring thou down those bows from the top of the
+tree.' And cutting off their wrappings first and then the ropes with
+which they were tied, the prince beheld the _Gandiva_ there along with
+four other bows. And as they were untied, the splendour of those bows
+radiant as the sun, began to shine with great effulgence like unto that
+of the planets about the time of their rising. And beholding the forms
+of those bows, so like unto sighing snakes, he become afflicted with
+fear and in a moment the bristles of his body stood on their ends. And
+touching those large bows of great splendour, Virata's son, O king, thus
+spake unto Arjuna!"
+
+
+SECTION XLII
+
+"Uttara said, 'To what warrior of fame doth this excellent bow belong,
+on which are a hundred golden bosses and which hath such radiant ends?
+Whose is this excellent bow of good sides and easy hold, on the staff of
+which shine golden elephants of such brightness? Whose is this excellent
+bow, adorned with three scores of _Indragopakas_[43] of pure gold,
+placed on the back of the staff at proper intervals? Whose is this
+excellent bow, furnished with three golden suns of great effulgence,
+blazing forth with such brilliancy? Whose is this beautiful bow which is
+variegated with gold and gems, and on which are golden insects set with
+beautiful stones? Whose are these arrows furnished with wing around,
+numbering a thousand, having golden heads, and cased in golden quivers?
+Who owneth these large shafts, so thick, furnished with vulturine wings
+whetted on stone, yellowish in hue, sharp-pointed, well-tempered, and
+entirely made of iron? Whose is this sable quiver,[44] bearing five
+images of tigers, which holdeth shafts intermined with boar-eared arrows
+altogether numbering ten? Whose are these seven hundred arrows, long and
+thick, capable of drinking (the enemy's) blood, and looking like the
+crescent-shaped moon?[45] Whose are these gold-crested arrows whetted on
+stones, the lower halves of which are well-furnished with wings of the
+hue of parrots' feather and the upper halves, of well-tempered
+steels?[46] Whose is this excellent sword irresistible, and terrible to
+adversaries, with the mark of a toad on it, and pointed like a toad's
+head?[47] Cased in variegated sheath of tiger-skin, whose is this large
+sword of excellent blade and variegated with gold and furnished with
+tinkling bells? Whose is this handsome scimitar of polished blade and
+golden hilt? Manufactured in the country of the _Nishadas_,
+irresistible, incapable of being broken, whose is this sword of polished
+blade in a scabbard of cow-skin? Whose is this beautiful and long sword,
+sable in hue as the sky, mounted with gold, well-tempered, and cased in
+a sheath of goat-skin? Who owneth this heavy, well-tempered, and broad
+sword, just longer than the breadth of thirty fingers, polished by
+constant clash with other's weapons and kept in a case of gold, bright
+as fire? Whose is this beautiful scimitar of sable blade covered with
+golden bosses, capable of cutting through the bodies of adversaries,
+whose touch is as fatal as that of a venomous snake which is
+irresistible and exciteth the terror of foes? Asked by me, O Vrihannala,
+do thou answer me truly. Great is my wonder at the sight of all these
+excellent objects.'"
+
+    [43] Indian insects of a particular kind.
+
+    [44] Most editions read _chapas_ which is evidently wrong. The
+    correct reading is _avapas_, meaning quiver. The Burdwan Pandits
+    give this latter reading.
+
+    [45] Some read _chandrargha-darsanas_. The correct reading is
+    _chandrardha-darsanas_.
+
+    [46] Most editions read _hema-punkha_ and _silasita_ in the
+    instrumental plural; the correct reading is their nominative
+    plural forms.
+
+    [47] _Sayaka_ means here, as explained by Nilakantha, a sword,
+    and not a shaft.
+
+
+SECTION XLIII
+
+"Vrihannala said, 'That about which thou hath first enquired is Arjuna's
+bow, of world-wide fame, called _Gandiva_, capable of devastating
+hostile hosts. Embellished with gold, this _Gandiva_, the highest and
+largest of all weapons belonged to Arjuna. Alone equal unto a hundred
+thousand weapons, and always capable of extending the confines of
+kingdoms, it is with this that Partha vanquisheth in battle both men and
+celestials. Worshipped ever by the gods, the _Danavas_ and the
+_Gandharvas_ and variegated with excellent colours, this large and
+smooth bow is without a knot or stain anywhere. Shiva held it first for
+a thousand years. Afterwards Prajapati held it for five hundred and
+three years. After that Sakra, for five and eighty years. And then Soma
+held it for five hundred years. And after that _Varuna_ held it for a
+hundred years. And finally Partha, surnamed _Swetavahana,_[48] hath held
+it for five and sixty years.[49] Endued with great energy and of high
+celestial origin, this is the best of all bows. Adored among gods and
+men, it hath a handsome form. Partha obtained this beautiful bow from
+Varuna. This other bow of handsome sides and golden handle is Bhima's
+with which that son of Pritha, that chastiser of foes, had conquered the
+whole of the eastern regions. This other excellent bow of beautiful
+shape, adorned with images of _Indragopakas_, belongeth, O Virata's son,
+to king Yudhishthira. This other weapon with golden suns of blazing
+splendour shedding a dazzling effulgence around, belongeth to Nakula.
+And this bow adorned with golden images of insects and set also with
+gems and stones, belongeth to that son of Madri who is called Sahadeva.
+These winged arrows, thousand in number, sharp as razors and destructive
+as the poison of snakes, belong, O Virata's son, to Arjuna. When
+shooting them in battle against foes, these swift arrows blaze forth
+more brilliantly and become inexhaustible. And these long and thick
+shafts resembling the lunar crescent in shape, keen-edged and capable of
+thinning the enemy's ranks, belong to Bhima. And this quiver bearing
+five images of tigers, full of yellowish shafts whetted on stone and
+furnished with golden wings belong to Nakula. This is the quiver of the
+intelligent son of Madri, with which he had conquered in battle the
+whole of the western regions. And these arrows, all effulgent as the
+sun, painted all over with various colours, and capable of destroying
+enemies by thousands are those of Sahadeva. And these short and
+well-tempered and thick shafts, furnished with long feathers and golden
+heads, and consisting of three knots, belong to king Yudhishthira. And
+this sword with blade long and carved with the image of a toad and head
+shaped as a toad's mouth, strong and irresistible belongeth to Arjuna.
+Cased in a sheath of tiger-skin, of long blade, handsome and
+irresistible, and terrible to adversaries, this sword belongeth to
+Bhimasena. Of excellent blade and cased in a well-painted sheath, and
+furnished with a golden hilt, this handsome sword belongeth to the wise
+Kaurava--Yudhishthira the just. And this sword of strong blade,
+irresistible and intended for various excellent modes of fight and cased
+in a sheath of goat-skin, belongeth to Nakula. And this huge scimitar,
+cased in a sheath of cow-skin, strong and irresistible belongeth to
+Sahadeva.'"
+
+    [48] From the colour of his steeds.
+
+    [49] Nilakantha spends much learning and ingenuity in making out
+    that sixty-five years in this connection means thirty-two years
+    of ordinary human computation.
+
+
+SECTION XLIV
+
+"Uttara said, 'Indeed, these weapons adorned with gold, belonging to the
+light-handed and high-souled Partha, look exceedingly beautiful. But
+where are that Arjuna, the son of Pritha, and Yudhishthira of the Kuru
+race, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Bhimasena, the sons of Pandu? Having
+lost their kingdom at dice, the high-souled Pandavas, capable of
+destroying all foes, are no longer heard of. Where also is Draupadi, the
+princess of _Panchala_, famed as the gem among women, who followed the
+sons of Pandu after their defeat at dice to the forest?'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'I am Arjuna, called also Partha. Thy father's courtier is
+Yudhishthira and thy father's cook Vallava is Bhimasena, the groom of
+horses is Nakula, and Sahadeva is in the cow-pen. And know thou that the
+_Sairindhri_ is Draupadi, for whose sake the Kichakas have been slain.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'I would believe all this if thou canst enumerate the ten
+names of Partha, previously heard by me!'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'I will, O son of Virata, tell thee my ten names. Listen
+thou and compare them with what thou hadst heard before. Listen to them
+with close attention and concentrated mind. They are _Arjuna, Phalguna,
+Jishnu, Kiritin, Swetavahana, Vibhatsu, Vijaya, Krishna, Savyasachin_
+and _Dhananjaya_.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Tell me truly why art thou called Vijaya, and why
+Swetavahana. Why art thou named Krishna and why Arjuna and Phalguna and
+Jishnu and Kiritin and Vibhatsu, and for what art thou Dhananjaya and
+Savyasachin? I have heard before about the origin of the several names
+of that hero, and can put faith in thy words if thou canst tell me all
+about them.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'They called me Dhananjaya because I lived in the midst of
+wealth, having subjugated all the countries and taking away their
+treasures. They called me Vijaya because when I go out to battle with
+invincible kings, I never return (from the field) without vanquishing
+them. I am called Swetavahana because when battling with the foe, white
+horses decked in golden armour are always yoked unto my car. They call
+me Phalguna because I was born on the breast of the Himavat on a day
+when the constellation _Uttara Phalguna_ was on the ascendent. I am
+named Kiritin from a diadem, resplendent like the sun, having been
+placed of old on my head by Indra during my encounter with the powerful
+_Danavas_. I am known as Vibhatsu among gods and men, for my never
+having committed a detestable deed on the battle-field. And since both
+of my hands are capable of drawing the _Gandiva_, I am known as
+Savyasachin among gods and men. They call me Arjuna because my
+complexion is very rare within the four boundaries of the earth and
+because also my acts are always stainless. I am known among human beings
+and celestials by the name of Jishnu, because I am unapproachable and
+incapable of being kept down, and a tamer of adversaries and son of the
+slayer of Paka. And Krishna, my tenth appellation, was given to me by my
+father out of affection towards his black-skinned boy of great purity.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "The son of Virata then, approaching nearer
+saluted Partha and said, 'My name is Bhuminjaya, and I am also called
+Uttara. It is by good luck, O Partha, that I behold thee. Thou art
+welcome, O Dhananjaya. O thou with red eyes, and arms that are mighty
+and each like unto the trunk of an elephant, it behoveth thee to pardon
+what I said unto thee from ignorance. And as wonderful and difficult
+have been the feats achieved by thee before, my fears have been
+dispelled, and indeed the love I bear to thee is great.'"
+
+
+SECTION XLV
+
+"Uttara said, 'O hero, mounting on this large car with myself as driver,
+which division of the (hostile) army wouldst thou penetrate? Commanded
+by thee, I would drive thee thither.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'I am pleased with thee, O tiger among men. Thou hast no
+cause of fear. I will rout all thy foes in battle, O great warrior, And,
+O thou of mighty arms, be at thy ease. Accomplishing great and terrible
+feats in the melee, I will fight with thy foes. Tie quickly all those
+quivers to my car, and take (from among those) a sword of polished blade
+and adorned with gold.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Arjuna, Uttara cast off
+all inactivity. And he speedily alighted from the tree, bringing with
+him Arjuna's weapons. Then Arjuna addressed him, saying, 'Yes, I will
+fight with the Kurus and recover thy kine. Protected by me, the top of
+this car will be to thee as a citadel. The passages and alleys and other
+divisions of this car will be the streets and edifices of that fortified
+city. These my arms will be its ramparts and gateways. This treble pole
+and my quiver will constitute defensive works inaccessible to the foe.
+This my banner--single and grand--will it not alone be equal unto those
+of thy city? This my bow-string will constitute the catapults and
+cannons for vomiting forth missiles on the besieging host. My excited
+wrath will make that fortress formidable, and the clatter of my
+car-wheels--will it not resemble the kettle-drums of thy capital? Ridden
+by myself wielding the _Gandiva_, this car will be incapable of being
+vanquished by the hostile host, O son of Virata, let thy fear be
+dispelled.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'I am no longer afraid of these. I know thy steadiness in
+battle, which is even like unto that of Kesava or Indra himself. But
+reflecting on this, I am continually bewildered. Foolish as I am, I am
+incapable of arriving at certain conclusion. By what distressful
+circumstances could _a person of such handsome limbs and auspicious
+signs become deprived of manhood_! Indeed, thou seemest to me to be
+Mahadeva, or Indra, or the chief of the Gandharvas, dwelling in the
+guise only of one of the third sex.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'I tell thee truly that I am only observing this vow for a
+whole year agreeable to the behest of my elder brother. O thou of mighty
+arms, I am not truly one of the neuter sex, but I have adopted this vow
+of eunuchism from subservience to another's will and from desire of
+religious merit. O prince, know me now to have completed my vow.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Thou hast conferred a great favour on me today, for I now
+find that my suspicion was not altogether unfounded. Indeed, such a
+person as thou, O best of men, cannot be of the neuter sex. I have now
+an ally in battle. I can now fight with the celestials themselves. My
+fears have been dispelled. What shall I do? Command me now. Trained in
+driving cars by a learned preceptor I will, O bull among men, hold the
+reins of thy horses that are capable of breaking the ranks of hostile
+cars. Know me, O bull among men, to be as competent a charioteer as
+Daruka of Vasudeva, or Matali of Sakra. The horse that is yoked unto the
+right-hand pole (of thy car) and whose hoofs as they light on the ground
+are scarcely visible when running, is like unto _Sugriva_ of Krishna.
+This other handsome horse, the foremost of his race, that is yoked unto
+the left pole, is, I regard, equal in speed to _Meghapushpa_. This
+(third) beautiful horse, clad in golden mail, yoked unto the rear-pole
+on the left, is, I regard, _Sivya_ equal in speed to but superior in
+strength. And this (fourth) horse, yoked to the rear-pole on the right,
+is regarded as superior to _Valahaka_ in speed and strength. This car is
+worthy of bearing on the field of battle a bowman like thee, and thou
+also art worthy of fighting on this car. This is what I think!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then Arjuna, endued with great energy, took off
+the bracelets from his arms and wore on his hands a pair of beautiful
+gloves embroidered with gold. And he then tied his black and curling
+locks with a piece of white cloth. And seated on that excellent car with
+face turned to the east, the mighty-armed hero, purifying his body and
+concentrating his soul, recalled to his mind all his weapons. And all
+the weapons came, and addressing the royal son of Partha, said, 'We are
+here, O illustrious one. We are thy servants, O son of Indra.' And
+bowing unto them, Partha received them unto his hands and replied unto
+them, saying, 'Dwell ye all in my memory.' And obtaining all his
+weapons, the hero looked cheerful. And quickly stringing his bow, the
+_Gandiva_, he twanged it. And the twang of that bow was as loud as the
+collision of two mighty bulls. And dreadful was the sound that filled
+the earth, and violent was the wind that blew on all sides. And thick
+was the shower of fallen meteors[50] and all sides were enveloped in
+gloom. And the birds began to totter in the skies and large trees began
+to shake.[51] And loud as the burst of the thunder, the Kurus knew from
+that sound that it was Arjuna that drew with his hands the string of his
+best of bows from his car. And Uttara said, 'Thou, O best of Pandavas,
+art alone. These mighty car-warriors are many. How wilt thou vanquish in
+battle all these that are skilled in every kind of weapon? Thou, O son
+of Kunti, art without a follower, while the Kauravas have many. It is
+for this, O thou of mighty arms, that I stay beside thee, stricken with
+fear.' 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_? Who was my
+ally while engaged in the terrific conflict at _Khandava_ against so
+many celestials and _Danavas_? Who was my ally when I fought, on behalf
+of the lord of the celestials against the mighty _Nivatakavachas_ and
+the _Paulomas_! And who was my ally, O child, while I encountered in
+battle innumerable kings at the _Swayamvara_ to the princess of
+Panchala? Trained in arms by the preceptor Drona, by Sakra, and
+Vaisravana, and Yama, and Varuna, and Agni, and Kripa, and Krishna of
+Madhu's race, and by the wielder of the _Pinaka_ (Siva), why shall I not
+fight with these? Drive thou my car speedily, and let thy heart's fever
+be dispelled.'"
+
+    [50] Some texts read,--'One large meteor fell.'
+
+    [51] In some editions read,--_Bharata dwijam_, and _Maha-hardam_
+    for _maha-drumam_. The meaning would then be,--'The banners (of
+    the hostile army) began to tremble in the sky, and large lakes
+    were agitated.'
+
+
+SECTION XLVI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Making Uttara his charioteer, and circumambulating
+the _Sami_ tree, the son of Pandu set out taking all his weapons with
+him. And that mighty car-warrior set out with Uttara as the driver of
+his car, having taken down that banner with the lion's figure and
+deposited it at the foot of the _Sami_ tree. And he hoisted on that car
+his own golden banner bearing the figure of an ape with a lion's tail,
+which was a celestial illusion contrived by Viswakarman himself. For, as
+soon, indeed, as he had thought of that gift of Agni, than the latter,
+knowing his wish, ordered those superhuman creatures (that usually sat
+there) to take their place in that banner. And furnished with a
+beautiful flag of handsome make, with quivers attached to it, and
+adorned with gold, that excellent flag-staff of celestial beauty then
+quickly fell from the firmament on his car.[52] And beholding that
+banner arrived on his car, the hero circumambulated it (respectively).
+And then the ape-bannered Vibhatsu, the son of Kunti, called also
+Swetavahana, with fingers cased in leathern fences of the _Iguana_ skin,
+and taking up his bow and arrows set out in a northernly direction. And
+that grinder of foes, possessed of great strength, then forcibly blew
+his large conch-shell, of thundering sound, capable of making the
+bristles of foes to stand on their ends. And at the sound of that conch,
+those steeds endued with swiftness dropped down on the ground on their
+knees. And Uttara also, greatly affrighted, sat down on the car. And
+thereupon the son of Kunti took the reins himself and raising the
+steeds, placed them in their proper positions. And embracing Uttara, he
+encouraged him also, saying, 'Fear not, O foremost of princes, thou art,
+O chastiser of foes, a _Kshatriya_ by birth. Why, O tiger among men,
+dost thou become so dispirited in the midst of foes? Thou must have
+heard before the blare of many conchs and the note of many trumpets, and
+the roar also of many elephants in the midst of ranks arrayed for
+battled. Why art thou, therefore, so dispirited and agitated and
+terrified by the blare of this conch, as if thou wert an ordinary
+person?'
+
+    [52] Some texts read _Maharatham_ (incorrectly) for
+    _hiranmayan_. Indeed, _Maharatham_ would give no meaning in this
+    connection. The incomplete edition of the Roy Press under the
+    auspices of the Principal of the Calcutta Sanskrit College
+    abounds with such incorrect readings and misprints.
+
+"Uttara said, 'Heard have I the blare of many a conch and many a trumpet
+and the roar of many an elephant stationed in the battle-array, but
+never have I heard before the blare of such conch. Nor have I ever seen
+a banner like this. Never before have I heard also the twang of a bow
+such as this. Truly, sir, with the blare of this conch, the twang of
+this bow, the superhuman cries of the creatures stationed on this
+banner, and the battle of this car, my mind is greatly bewildered. My
+perception of the directions also is confused, and my heart is painfully
+afflicted. The whole firmament seemeth to me to have been covered by
+this banner, and everything seemeth to be hidden from my view! My ears
+also have been deafened by the twang of the _Gandiva_!'[53]
+
+    [53] The Roy Press edition adds here a line which looks very
+    much like an interpolation.
+
+"Arjuna said, 'Firmly stand thou on the car, pressing thy feet on it,
+and tightly catch hold of the bridles, for I will blow the conch
+again.'"
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Arjuna then blew his conch again, that conch which
+filled foes with grief and enhanced the joy of friends. And the sound
+was so loud that it seemed to split hills and mountains, and pierce
+mountain-caves and the cardinal points. And Uttara once again sat down
+on the car, clinging to it in fear. And with the blare of the conch and
+the rattle of the car-wheels, and the twang of the Gandiva, the earth
+itself seemed to tremble. And beholding Uttara's fight, Dhananjaya began
+to comfort him again.'
+
+"Meanwhile, Drona said, 'From the rattle of the car, and from the manner
+in which the clouds have enveloped the sky and the earth itself
+trembles, this warrior can be none else than _Savyasachin_. Our weapons
+do not shine, our steeds are dispirited, and our fires, though fed with
+fuel, do not blare up. All this is ominous. All our animals are setting
+up a frightful howl, gazing towards the sun. The crows are perching on
+our banners. All this is ominous. Yon vultures and kites on our right
+portend a great danger. That jackal also, running through our ranks,
+waileth dismally. Lo, it hath escaped unstruck. All this portends a
+heavy calamity. The bristles also of ye all are on their ends. Surely,
+this forebodes a great destruction of Kshatriyas in battle. Things
+endued with light are all pale; beasts and birds look fierce; and there
+are to be witnessed many terrific portents indicative of the destruction
+of Kshatriyas. And these omens forebode great havoc among ourselves. O
+king, thy ranks seem to be confounded by these blazing meteors, and thy
+animals look dispirited and seem to be weeping. Vultures and kites are
+wheeling all around thy troops. Thou shalt have to repent upon beholding
+thy army afflicted by Partha's arrows. Indeed, our ranks seem to have
+been already vanquished, for none is eager to go to fight. All our
+warriors are of pale face, and almost deprived of their senses. Sending
+the kine ahead we should stand here, ready to strike, with all our
+warriors arrayed in order of battle.'"
+
+
+SECTION XLVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "King Duryodhana then, on the field of battle said
+unto Bhishma, and unto Drona--that tiger among warriors, and unto
+Kripa--that mighty car-warrior, these words, 'Both myself and Karna had
+said this unto the preceptors.[54] I refer to the subject again, for I
+am not satisfied with having said it once. Even this was the pledge of
+the sons of Pandu that if defeated (at dice) they would reside to our
+knowledge in countries and woods for twelve years, and one more year
+unknown to us. That thirteenth year, instead of being over, is yet
+running. Vibhatsu, therefore, who is still to live undiscovered hath
+appeared before us. And if Vibhatsu hath come before the term of exile
+is at end, the Pandavas shall have to pass another twelve years in the
+woods. Whether it is due to forgetfulness (on their part) induced by
+desire of dominion, or whether it is a mistake of ours, it behoveth
+Bhishma to calculate the shortness or excess (of the promised period).
+When an object of desire may or may not be attained, a doubt necessarily
+attaches to one of the alternatives, and what is decided in one way
+often ends differently.[55] Even moralists are puzzled in judging of
+their own acts.[56] As regards ourselves, we have come hither to fight
+with the Matsyas and to seize their kine stationed towards the north.
+If, meanwhile, it is Arjuna that hath come, what fault can attach to us?
+We have come hither to fight against the Matsyas on behalf of the
+Trigartas; and as numerous were the acts represented unto us of the
+oppressions committed by the Matsyas, it was for this that we promised
+aid to the Trigartas who were overcome with fear. And it was agreed
+between us that they should first seize, on the afternoon of the seventh
+lunar day, the enormous wealth of kine that the Matsyas have, and that
+we should, at sunrise of the eighteen day of the moon, seize these kine
+when the king of the Matsyas would be pursuing those first seized. It
+may be that the Trigartas are now bringing away the kine, or being
+defeated, are coming towards us for negotiating with the king of the
+Matsyas. Or, it may be, that having driven the Trigartas off, the king
+of the Matsyas, at the head of this people and his whole army of fierce
+warriors, appeareth on the scene and advanceth to make night-attacks
+upon us. It may be that some one leader among them, endued with mighty
+energy, is advancing for vanquishing us, or, it may be that the king
+himself of the Matsyas is come. But be it the king of the Matsyas or
+Vibhatsu, we must all fight him. Even this hath been our pledge. Why are
+all these of foremost car-warriors,--Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and
+Vikarna and Drona's son,--now sitting on their cars, panic-stricken? At
+present there is nothing better than fighting. Therefore, make up your
+minds. If, for the cattle we have seized, an encounter takes place with
+the divine wielder himself of the thunderbolt or even with Yama, who is
+there that will be liable to reach Hastinapura? Pierced by the shafts
+(of the foe), how will the foot-soldiers, in flying through the deep
+forest with their backs on the field, escape with life, when escape for
+the cavalry is doubtful?' Hearing these words of Duryodhana, Karna said,
+'Disregarding the preceptor, make all arrangements. He knoweth well the
+intentions of the Pandavas and striketh terror in our hearts. I see that
+his affection for Arjuna is very great. Seeing him only coming, he
+chanteth his praises. Make ye such arrangements that our troops may not
+break. Everything is in confusion for Drona's having only heard the
+neigh of (Arjuna's) steeds. Make ye such arrangements that these troops,
+come to a distant land in this hot season and in the midst of this
+mighty forest, may not fall into confusion and be subjugated by the foe.
+The Pandavas are always the special favourites of the preceptor. The
+selfish Pandavas have stationed Drona amongst us. Indeed, he betrayeth
+himself by his speech. Who would ever extol a person upon hearing the
+neigh only of his steeds? Horses always neigh, whether walking or
+standing, the winds blow at all times; and Indra also always showereth
+rain. The roar of the clouds may frequently be heard. What hath Partha
+to do with these, and why is he to be praised for these? All this (on
+Drona's part), therefore, is due only to either the desire of doing good
+to Arjuna or to his wrath and hatred towards us. Preceptors are wise,
+and sinless, and very kind to all creatures. They, however, should never
+be consulted at times of peril. It is in luxurious palaces, and
+assemblies and pleasure-gardens, that learned men, capable of making
+speeches, seem to be in their place. Performing many wonderful things,
+in the assembly, it is there that learned men find their place, or even
+there where sacrificial utensils and their proper placing and washing
+are needed. In a knowledge of the lapses of others, in studying the
+characters of men, in the science of horses and elephants and cars, in
+treating the diseases of asses and camels and goats and sheeps and kine,
+in planning buildings and gateways, and in pointing out the defects of
+food and drink, the learned are truly in their own sphere. Disregarding
+learned men that extol the heroism of the foe, make ye such arrangements
+that the foe may be destroyed. Placing the kine securely, array the
+troops in order of battle. Place guards in proper places so that we may
+fight the foe.'"
+
+    [54] The true reading is _Acharya_ in the dual number, meaning
+    Drona and Kripa. Some texts read the word in the singular form.
+    Nilakantha notices both these reading, but prefers the dual to
+    the singular.
+
+    [55] The meaning is rather doubtful. Duryodhana seems to say
+    that 'the hostile appearance of Arjuna has been an act of
+    imprudence on his part. The Pandavas, after the expiry of the
+    thirteenth year, would claim their kingdom. I, Duryodhana, may
+    or may not accede to their demand. When, therefore, it was not
+    certain that Arjuna would be refused by me, his hostile
+    appearance is unwise. He has come sure of victory, but he may
+    yet be defeated.'
+
+    [56] The sense seems to be that when moralists even are puzzled
+    in judging of the propriety or otherwise of their acts, it can
+    easily be imagined that the Pandavas, however virtuous, have, in
+    the matter of this their appearance, acted wrongly, for, after
+    all, the thirteenth year may not have really been over as
+    believed by them. Or, it may mean, that as regards our presence
+    here, we have not acted imprudently when even moralists cannot
+    always arrive at right conclusion. It seems that for this
+    Duryodhana proceeds to justify that presence in the following
+    sentences.
+
+
+SECTION XLVIII
+
+"Karna said, 'I behold all these blessed ones, looking as if alarmed and
+panic-struck and unresolved and unwilling to fight. If he that is come
+is the king of the Matsyas or Vibhatsu, even I will resist him as the
+banks resist the swelling sea. Shot from my bow these straight and
+flying arrows, like gliding snakes, are all sure of aim. Discharged by
+my light hands, these keen-edged arrows furnished with golden wings
+shall cover Partha all over, like locusts shrouding a tree. Strongly
+pressed by these winged arrows, the bow-string will cause these my
+leathern fences to produce sounds that will be heard to resemble those
+of a couple of kettle-drums. Having been engaged in ascetic austerities
+for the (last) eight and five years, Vibhatsu will strike me but mildly
+in this conflict, and the son of Kunti having become a Brahmana endued
+with good qualities, hath thus become a fit person to quietly receive
+shafts by thousands shot by me. This mighty bowman is indeed, celebrated
+over the three worlds. I, too, am, by no means, inferior to Arjuna, that
+foremost of human beings. With golden arrows furnished with vulturine
+wings shot on all sides, let the firmament seem today to swarm with
+fire-flies. Slaying Arjuna in battle, I will discharge today that debt,
+difficult of repayments, but promised of old by me unto Dhritarashtra's
+son. When man is there, even amongst all the gods and the _Asuras_, that
+will endure to stand in the teeth of the straight arrows shot from my
+bow? Let my flying arrows, winged and depressed at the middle, present
+the spectacle of the coursing of the fire-flies through the welkin. Hard
+though he be as Indra's thunderbolt and possessed of the energy of the
+chief of the celestials, I will surely grind Partha, even as one
+afflicts an elephant by means of burning brands. A heroic and mighty
+car-warrior as he is, and the foremost of all wielders of weapons I
+shall seize the unresisting Partha, even like Garuda seizing a snake.
+Irresistible like fire, and fed by the fuel of swords, darts, and
+arrows, the blazing Pandava-fire that consumeth foes, will be
+extinguished even by myself who am like unto a mighty cloud incessantly
+dropping an arrowy shower,--the multitude of cars (I will lead)
+constituting its thunder, and the speed of my horses, the wind in
+advance. Discharged from my bow, my arrows like venomous snakes will
+pierce Partha's body, like serpent penetrating through an ant-hill.
+Pierced with well-tempered and straight shafts endued with golden wings
+and great energy, behold ye today the son of Kunti decked like a hill
+covered with _Karnikara_ flowers. Having obtained weapons from that best
+of ascetics--the son of Jamadagni, I would, relying on their energy,
+fight with even the celestials. Struck with my javelin, the ape
+stationed on his banner-top shall fall down today on the ground,
+uttering terrible cries. The firmament will today be filled with the
+cries of the (super-human) creatures stationed in the flagstaff of the
+foe, and afflicted by me, they will fly away in all directions. I shall
+today pluck up by the roots the long-existing dart in Duryodhana's heart
+by throwing Arjuna down from his car. The Kauravas will today behold
+Partha with his car broken, his horses killed, his valour gone, and
+himself sighing like a snake. Let the Kauravas, following their own will
+go away taking this wealth of kine, or, if they wish, let them stay on
+their cars and witness my combat.'"
+
+
+SECTION XLIX
+
+"Kripa said, 'O Radheya, thy crooked heart always inclineth to war. Thou
+knowest not the true nature of things; nor dost thou take into account
+their after-consequences. There are various kinds of expedients
+inferrable from the scriptures. Of these, a battle hath been regarded by
+those acquainted with the past, as the most sinful. It is only when time
+and place are favourable that military operations can lead to success.
+In the present instance, however, the time being unfavourable, no good
+results will be deprived. A display of prowess in proper time and place
+becometh beneficial. It is by the favourableness or otherwise (of time
+and place) that the opportuneness of an act is determined. Learned men
+can never act according to the ideas of a car-maker. Considering all
+this, an encounter with Partha is not advisible for us. Alone he saved
+the Kurus (from the _Gandharvas_), and alone he satiated Agni. Alone he
+led the life of a _Brahmacharin_ for five years (on the breast of
+Himavat). Taking up Subhadra on his car, alone he challenged Krishna to
+single combat. Alone he fought with Rudra who stood before him as a
+forester. It was in this very forest that Partha rescued Krishna while
+she was being taken away (by Jayadratha). It is he alone that hath, for
+five years, studied the science of weapons under Indra. 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. Alone he
+overthrew in battle the fierce _Nivatakavachas_ and the _Kalakhanchas_,
+that were both incapable of being slain by the gods themselves. What,
+however, O Karna, hath been achieved by thee single-handed like any of
+the sons of Pandu, each of whom had alone subjugated many lords of
+earth? Even Indra himself is unfit to encounter Partha in battle. He,
+therefore, that desireth to fight with Arjuna should take a sedative. As
+to thyself, thou desirest to take out the fangs of an angry snake of
+virulent poison by stretching forth thy right hand and extending thy
+forefinger. Or, wandering alone in the forest thou desirest to ride an
+infuriate elephant and go to a boar without a hook in hand. Or, rubbed
+over with clarified butter and dressed in silken robes, thou desirest to
+pass through the midst of a blazing fire fed with fat and tallow and
+clarified butter. Who is there that would, binding his own hands and
+feet and tying a huge stone unto his neck, cross the ocean swimming with
+his bare arms? What manliness is there in such an act? O Karna, he is a
+fool that would, without skill in weapons and without strength, desire
+to fight with Partha who is so mighty and skilled in weapons.
+Dishonestly deceived by us and liberated from thirteen years' exile,
+will not the illustrious hero annihilate us? Having ignorantly come to a
+place where Partha lay concealed like fire hidden in a well, we have,
+indeed, exposed to a great danger. But irresistible though he be in
+battle, we should fight against him. Let, therefore, our troops, clad in
+mail, stand here arrayed in ranks and ready to strike. Let Drona and
+Duryodhana and Bhishma and thyself and Drona's son and ourselves, all
+fight with the son of Pritha. Do not, O Karna, act so rashly as to fight
+alone. If we six car-warriors be united, we can then be a match for and
+fight with that son of Pritha who is resolved to fight and who is as
+fierce as the wielder of the thunderbolt. Aided by our troops arrayed in
+ranks, ourselves--great bowmen--standing carefully will fight with
+Arjuna even as the _Danavas_ encounter Vasava in battle.'"
+
+
+SECTION L
+
+"Aswatthaman said, 'The kine, O Karna, have not yet been won, nor have
+they yet crossed the boundary (of their owner's dominions), nor have
+they yet reached Hastinapura. Why dost thou, therefore, boast of
+thyself? Having won numerous battles, and acquired enormous wealth, and
+vanquished hostile hosts, men of true heroism speak not a word of their
+prowess. Fire burneth mutely and mutely doth the sun shine. Mutely also
+doth the Earth bear creatures, both mobile and immobile. The
+Self-existent hath sanctioned such offices for the four orders that
+having recourse to them each may acquire wealth without being
+censurable. A Brahmana, having studied the _Vedas_, should perform
+sacrifices himself, and officiate at the sacrifices of others. And a
+Kshatriya, depending upon the bow, should perform sacrifices himself but
+should never officiate at the sacrifices of others. And a Vaisya, having
+earned wealth, should cause the rites enjoined in the _Vedas_ to be
+performed for himself. A Sudra should always wait upon and serve the
+other three orders. As regards those that live by practising the
+profession of flowers and vendors of meat, they may earn wealth by
+expedients fraught with deceit and fraud. Always acting according to the
+dictates of the scriptures, the exalted sons of Pandu acquired the
+sovereignty of the whole earth, and they always act respectfully towards
+their superiors, even if the latter prove hostile to them. What
+Kshatriya is there that expressed delight at having obtained a kingdom
+by means of dice, like this wicked and shameless son of Dhritarashtra?
+Having acquired wealth in this way by deceit and fraud like a vendor of
+meat, who that is wise boast of it? In what single combat didst thou
+vanquish Dhananjaya, or Nakula, or Sahadeva, although thou hast robbed
+them of their wealth? In what battle didst thou defeat Yudhishthira, or
+Bhima that foremost of strong men? In what battle was Indraprastha
+conquered by thee? What thou hast done, however, O thou of wicked deeds,
+is to drag that princess to court while she was ill and had but one
+raiment on? Thou hast cut the mighty root, delicate as the sandal, of
+the Pandava tree. Actuated by desire of wealth, when thou madest the
+Pandavas act as slaves, rememberest thou what Vidura said! We see that
+men and others, even insects and ants, show forgiveness according to
+their power of endurance. The son of Pandu, however, is incapable of
+forgiving the sufferings of Draupadi. Surely, Dhananjaya cometh here for
+the destruction of the sons of Dhritarashtra. It is true, affecting
+great wisdom, thou art for making speeches but will not Vibhatsu, that
+slayer of foes, exterminate us all! If it be gods, or _Gandharvas_ or
+_Asuras_, or _Rakshasas_, will Dhananjaya the son of Kunti, desist to
+fight from panic? Inflamed with wrath upon whomsoever he will fall, even
+him he will overthrow like a tree under the weight of Garuda! Superior
+to thee in prowess, in bowmanship equal unto the lord himself of the
+celestials, and in battle equal unto Vasudeva himself, who is there that
+would not praise Partha? Counteracting celestial weapons with celestial,
+and human weapons with human, what man is a match for Arjuna? Those
+acquainted with the scriptures declare that a disciple is no way
+inferior to a son, and it is for this that the son of Pandu is a
+favourite of Drona. Employ thou the means now which thou hadst adopted
+in the match at dice,--the same means, viz., by which thou hadst
+subjugated Indraprastha, and the same means by which thou hadst dragged
+Krishna to the assembly! This thy wise uncle, fully conversant with the
+duties of the _Kshatriya_ order--this deceitful gambler Sakuni, the
+prince of Gandhara, let _him_ fight now! The _Gandiva_, however, doth
+not cast dice such as the _Krita_ or the _Dwapara_, but it shooteth upon
+foes blazing and keen-edged shafts by myriads. The fierce arrows shot
+from the _Gandiva_, endued with great energy and furnished with
+vulturine wings, car, pierce even mountains. The destroyer of all, named
+Yama, and Vayu, and the horse-faced Agni, leave some remnant behind, but
+Dhananjaya inflamed with wrath never doth so. As thou hadst, aided by
+thy uncle, played at dice in the assembly so do fight in this battle
+protected by Suvala's son. Let the preceptor, if he chooses fight; I
+shall not, however, fight with Dhananjaya. We are to fight with the king
+of the Matsyas, if indeed, he cometh in the track of the kine.'"
+
+
+SECTION LI
+
+"Bhishma said, 'Drona's son observeth well, and Kripa too observeth
+rightly. As for Karna, it is only out of regard for the duties of the
+Kshatriya order that he desireth to fight. No man of wisdom can blame
+the preceptor. I, however, am of opinion that fight we must, considering
+both the time and the place. Why should not that man be bewildered who
+hath five adversaries effulgent as five suns, who are heroic combatants
+and who have just emerged from adversity? Even those conversant with
+morality are bewildered in respect of their own interests. It is for
+this, O king, that I tell thee this, whether my words be acceptable to
+you or not. What Karna said unto thee was only for raising our
+(drooping) courage. As regards thyself, O preceptor's son, forgive
+everything. The business at hand is very grave. When the son of Kunti
+hath come, this is not the time for quarrel. Everything should now be
+forgiven by thyself and the preceptor Kripa. Like light in the sun, the
+mastery of all weapons doth reside in you. As beauty is never separated
+from _Chandramas_, so are the _Vedas_ and the _Brahma_ weapon both
+established in you. It is often seen that the four _Vedas_ dwell in one
+object and _Kshatriya_ attributes in another. We have never heard of
+these two dwelling together in any other person than the preceptor of
+the Bharata race and his son. Even this is what I think. In the
+_Vedantas_, in the _Puranas_, and in old histories, who save Jamadagni,
+O king, would be Drona's superior? A combination of the _Brahma_ weapon
+with the _Vedas_,--this is never to be seen anywhere else. O preceptor's
+son, do thou forgive. This is not the time for disunion. Let all of us,
+uniting, fight with Indra's son who hath come. Of all the calamities
+that may befall an army that have been enumerated by men of wisdom, the
+worst is disunion among the leaders.' Aswatthaman said, 'O bull among
+men, these thy just observations, need not be uttered in our presence;
+the preceptor, however, filled with wrath, had spoken of Arjuna's
+virtues. The virtues of even an enemy should be admitted, while the
+faults of even one's preceptor may be pointed out; therefore one should,
+to the best of his power, declare the merits of a son or a disciple.'
+
+"Duryodhana said, 'Let the preceptor grant his forgiveness and let peace
+be restored. If the preceptor be at one with us, whatever should be done
+(in view of the present emergency) would seem to have been already
+done.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O Bharata, Duryodhana assisted by Karna
+and Kripa, and the high-souled Bhishma pacified Drona.
+
+"Drona said, 'Appeased I have already been at the words first spoken by
+Bhishma, the son of Santanu. Let such arrangements be made that Partha
+may not be able to approach Duryodhana in battle. And let such
+arrangements be made that king Duryodhana may not be captured by the
+foe, in consequence either of his rashness or want of judgment. Arjuna
+hath not, to be sure, revealed himself before the expiry of the term of
+exile. Nor will he pardon this act (of ours) today, having only
+recovered the kine. Let such arrangements, therefore, be made that he
+may not succeed in attacking Dhritarashtra's son and defeating our
+troops. Like myself (who am doubtful of the completion of period of
+exile) Duryodhana also had said so before. Bearing it in mind, it
+behoveth the son of Ganga to say what is true.'"
+
+
+SECTION LII
+
+"Bhishma said, 'The wheel of time revolves with its divisions, viz.,
+with _Kalas_ and _Kasthas_ and _Muhurtas_ and days and fortnights and
+months and constellations and planets and seasons and years. In
+consequence of their fractional excesses and the deviations of also of
+the heavenly bodies, there is an increase of two months in every five
+years. It seems to me that calculating this wise, there would be an
+excess of five months and twelve nights in thirteen years. Everything,
+therefore, that the sons of Pandu had promised, hath been exactly
+fulfilled by them. Knowing this to be certain, Vibhatsu hath made his
+appearance. All of them are high-souled and fully conversant with the
+meanings of the scriptures. How would they deviate from virtue that have
+Yudhishthira for their guide? The sons of Kunti do not yield to
+temptation. They have achieved a difficult feat. If they had coveted the
+possession of their kingdom by unfair means, then those descendants of
+the Kuru race would have sought to display their prowess at the time of
+the match at dice. Bound in bonds of virtue, they did not deviate from
+the duties of the Kshatriya order. He that will regard them to have
+behaved falsely will surely meet with defeat. The sons of Pritha would
+prefer death to falsehood. When the time, however, comes, those bulls
+among men--the Pandavas--endued with energy like that of Sakra, would
+not give up what is theirs even if it is defended by the wielder himself
+of the thunderbolt. We shall have to oppose in battle the foremost of
+all wielders of weapons. Therefore, let such advantageous arrangements
+as have the sanction of the good and the honest be now made without loss
+of time so that our possessions may not be appropriated by the foe. O
+king of kings, O Kaurava, I have never seen a battle in which one of the
+parties could say,--_we are sure to win_. When a battle occurs, there
+must be victory or defeat, prosperity or adversity. Without doubt, a
+party to a battle must have either of the two. Therefore, O king of
+kings, whether a battle be now proper or not consistent with virtue or
+not, make thy arrangements soon, for Dhananjaya is at hand.'
+
+"Duryodhana said, 'I will not, O grandsire, give back the Pandavas their
+kingdom. Let every preparation, therefore, for battle be made without
+delay.'
+
+"Bhishma said, 'Listen to what I regard as proper, if it pleases thee. I
+should always say what is for thy good, O Kaurava. Proceed thou towards
+the capital, without loss of time, taking with thee a fourth part of the
+army. And let another fourth march, escorting the kine. With half the
+troops we will fight the Pandava. Myself and Drona, and Karna and
+Aswatthaman and Kripa will resolutely withstand Vibhatsu, or the king of
+the Matsyas, or Indra himself, if he approaches. Indeed, we will
+withstand any of these like the bank withstanding the surging sea.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "These words spoken by the high-souled Bhishma
+were acceptable to them, and the king of the Kauravas acted accordingly
+without delay. And having sent away the king and then the kine, Bhishma
+began to array the soldiers in order of battle. And addressing the
+preceptor, he said, 'O preceptor, stand thou in the centre, and let
+Aswatthaman stand on the left, and let the wise Kripa, son of Saradwata,
+defend the right wing, and let Karna of the _Suta_ caste, clad in mail,
+stand in the van. I will stand in the rear of the whole army, protecting
+it from that point.'"
+
+
+SECTION LIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "After the Kauravas, O Bharata, had taken their stand
+in this order, Arjuna, filling the air with the rattle and din of his
+car, advanced quickly towards them. And the Kurus beheld his banner-top
+and heard the rattle and din of his car as also the twang of the
+_Gandiva_ stretched repeatedly by him. And noting all this, and seeing
+that great car-warrior--the wielder of the _Gandiva_--come, Drona spoke
+thus, 'That is the banner-top of Partha which shineth at a distance, and
+this is the noise of his car, and that is the ape that roareth
+frightfully. Indeed, the ape striketh terror in the troops. And there
+stationed on that excellent car, the foremost of car-warriors draweth
+that best of bows, the _Gandiva_, whose twang is as loud as the thunder.
+Behold, these two shafts coming together fall at my feet, and two others
+pass off barely touching my ears. Completing the period of exile and
+having achieved many wonderful feats, Partha saluteth me and whispereth
+in my ears. Endued with wisdom and beloved of his relatives, this
+Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, is, indeed, beheld by us after a long
+time, blazing with beauty and grace. Possessed of car and arrows,
+furnished with handsome fences and quiver and conch and banner and coat
+of mail, decked with diadem and scimitar and bow, the son of Pritha
+shineth like the blazing (_Homa_) fire surrounded with sacrificial
+ladles and fed with sacrificial butter.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding the Kurus ready for battle, Arjuna
+addressing Matsya's son in words suitable to the occasion, said, 'O
+charioteer, restrain thou the steeds at such a point whence my arrows
+may reach the enemy. Meanwhile, let me see, where, in the midst of this
+army, is that vile wretch of the Kuru race. Disregarding all these, and
+singling out that vainest of princes I will fall upon his head, for upon
+the defeat of that wretch the others will regard themselves as defeated.
+There standeth Drona, and thereafter him his son. And there are those
+great bowmen--Bhishma and Kripa and Karna. I do not see, however, the
+king there. I suspect that anxious to save his life, he retreateth by
+the southern road, taking away with him the kine. Leaving this array of
+car-warriors, proceed to the spot where Suyodhana is. There will I
+fight, O son of Virata, for there the battle will not be fruitless,
+Defeating him I will come back, taking away the kine.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, the son of Virata restrained
+the steeds with an effort and turned them by a pull at the bridle from
+the spot where those bulls of the Kuru race were, and urged them on
+towards the place where Duryodhana was. And as Arjuna went away leaving
+that thick array of cars, Kripa, guessing his intention, addressed his
+own comrades, saying, 'This Vibhatsu desireth not to take up his stand
+at a spot remote from the king. Let us quickly fall upon the flanks of
+the advancing hero. When inflamed with wrath, none else, unassisted, can
+encounter him in battle save the deity of a thousand eyes, or Krishna
+the son of Devaki. Of what use to us would the kine be or this vast
+wealth also, if Duryodhana were to sink, like a boat, in the ocean of
+_Partha_?' Meanwhile, Vibhatsu, having proceeded towards that division
+of the army, announced himself speedily by name, and covered the troops
+with his arrows thick as locusts. And covered with those countless
+shafts shot by Partha, the hostile warriors could not see anything, the
+earth itself and the sky becoming overwhelmed therewith. And the
+soldiers who had been ready for the fight were so confounded that none
+could even the flee from the field. And beholding the light-handedness
+of Partha they all applauded it mentally. And Arjuna then blew his conch
+which always made the bristles of the foe stand erect. And twanging his
+best of bows, he urged the creatures on his flagstaff to roar more
+frightfully. And at the blare of his conch and the rattle of his
+car-wheels, and the twang of the _Gandiva_, and the roar of the
+superhuman creatures stationed on his flagstaff, the earth itself began
+to tremble. And shaking their upraised tails and lowing together, the
+kine turned back, proceeding along the southern road.'"
+
+
+SECTION LIV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having disorganised the hostile host by force and
+having recovered the kine, that foremost of bowmen, desirous of fighting
+again, proceeded towards Duryodhana. And beholding the kine running wild
+towards the city of the Matsyas, the foremost warriors of the Kurus
+regarded Kiritin to have already achieved success. And all of a sudden
+they fell upon Arjuna who was advancing towards Duryodhana. And
+beholding their countless divisions firmly arrayed in order of battle
+with countless banners waving over them, that slayer of foes, addressing
+the son of the king of the Matsyas, said, 'Urge on, to the best of their
+speed by this road, these white steeds decked with golden bridles.
+Strive thou well, for I would approach this crowd of Kuru lions. Like an
+elephant desiring an encounter with another, the _Suta's_ son of wicked
+soul eagerly desireth a battle with me. Take me, O prince, to him who
+hath grown so proud under the patronage of Duryodhana.' Thus addressed,
+the son of Virata by means of those large steeds endued with the speed
+of the wind and furnished with golden armour, broke that array of cars
+and took the Pandava into the midst of the battle-field. And seeing this
+those mighty car-warriors, Chitrasena and Sangramajit and Satrusaha and
+Jaya, desirous of aiding Karna, rushed with arrows and long shafts,
+towards the advancing hero of Bharata's race. Then that foremost of men,
+inflamed with wrath, began to consume by means of fiery arrows shot from
+his bow, that array of cars belonging to those bulls among the Kurus,
+like a tremendous conflagration consuming a forest. Then, when the
+battle began to rage furiously, the Kuru hero, Vikarna, mounted on his
+car, approached that foremost of car-warriors, Partha, the younger
+brother of Bhima,--showering upon him terrible shafts thick and long.
+Then cutting Vikarna's bow furnished with a tough string and horns
+overlaid with gold, Arjuna cut off his flagstaff. And Vikarna, beholding
+his flagstaff cut off, speedily took to flight. And after Vikarna's
+flight, Satruntapa, unable to repress his ire, began to afflict Partha,
+that obstructer of foes and achiever of super-human feats, by means of a
+perfect shower of arrows. And drowned, as it were, in the midst of the
+Kuru-array, Arjuna, pierced by that mighty car-warrior,--king
+Satruntapa--pierced the latter in return with five and then slew his
+car-driver with ten shafts, and pierced by that bull of the Bharata race
+with an arrow capable of cleaving the thickest coat of mail, Satruntapa
+fell dead on the field of battle, like a tree from a mountain-top torn
+up by the wind. And those brave bulls among men, mangled in battle by
+that braver bull among men, began to waver and tremble like mighty
+forests shaken by the violence of the wind that blows at the time of the
+universal dissolution. And struck in battle by Partha, the son of
+Vasava, those well-dressed heroes among men--those givers of wealth
+endued with the energy of Vasava--defeated and deprived of life, began
+to measure their lengths on the ground, like full-grown Himalayan
+elephants clad in mails of black steel decked with gold. And like unto a
+raging fire consuming a forest at the close of summer, that foremost of
+men, wielding the _Gandiva_, ranged the field in all directions, slaying
+his foes in battle thus. And as the wind rangeth at will, scattering
+masses of clouds and fallen leaves in the season of spring, so did that
+foremost of car-warriors--Kiritin--ranged in that battle, scattering all
+his foes before him. And soon slaying the red steeds yoked unto the car
+of Sangramajit, the brother of Vikartana's son, that hero decked in
+diadem and endued with great vigour then cut off his antagonist's head
+by a crescent-shaped arrow. And when his brother was slain, Vikartana's
+son of the _Suta_ caste, mustering all his prowess, rushed at Arjuna,
+like a huge elephant with out-stretched tusks, or like a tiger at a
+mighty bull. And the son of Vikarna quickly pierced the son of Pandu
+with twelve shafts and all his steeds also in every part of their bodies
+and Virata's son too in his hand. And rushing impetuously against
+Vikarna's son who was suddenly advancing against him, Kiritin attacked
+him fiercely like Garuda of variegated plumage swooping down upon a
+snake. And both of them were foremost of bowmen, and both were endued
+with great strength, and both were capable of slaying foes. And seeing
+that an encounter was imminent between them, the Kauravas, anxious to
+witness it, stood aloof as lookers on. And beholding the offender Karna,
+the son of Pandu, excited to fury, and glad also at having him, soon
+made him, his horses, his car, and car-driver invisible by means of a
+frightful shower of countless arrows. And the warriors of the Bharatas
+headed by Bhishma, with their horses, elephants, and cars, pierced by
+Kiritin and rendered invisible by means of his shafts, their ranks also
+scattered and broken, began to wail aloud in grief. The illustrious and
+heroic Karna, however counteracting with numberless arrows of his own
+those shafts by Arjuna's hand, soon burst forth in view with bow and
+arrows like a blazing fire. And then there arose the sound of loud
+clapping of hands, with the blare of conchs and trumpets and
+kettle-drums made by the Kurus while they applauded Vikartana's son who
+filled the atmosphere with the sound of his bow-string flapping against
+his fence. And beholding Kiritin filling the air with the twang of
+_Gandiva_, and the upraised tail of the monkey that constituted his flag
+and that terrible creature yelling furiously from the top of his
+flagstaff, Karna sent forth a loud roar. And afflicting by means of his
+shafts, Vikartana's son along with his steeds, car and car-driver,
+Kiritin impetuously poured an arrowy shower on him, casting his eyes on
+the grandsire and Drona and Kripa. And Vikartana's son also poured upon
+Partha a heavy shower of arrows like a rain-charged cloud. And the
+diadem-decked Arjuna also covered Karna with a thick down-pour of
+keen-edged shafts. And the two heroes stationed on their cars, creating
+clouds of keen-edged arrows in a combat carried on by means of countless
+shafts and weapons, appeared to the spectators like the sun and the moon
+covered by clouds, and the light-handed Karna, unable to bear the sight
+of the foe, pierced the four horses of the diadem-decked hero with
+whetted arrows, and then struck his car-driver with three shafts, and
+his flagstaff also with three. Thus struck, that grinder of all
+adversaries in battle, that bull of the Kuru race, Jishnu wielding the
+_Gandiva_, like a lion awaked from slumber, furiously attacked Karna by
+means of straight-going arrows. And afflicted by the arrowy shower (of
+Karna), that illustrious achiever of super-human deeds soon displayed a
+thick shower of arrows in return. And he covered Karna's car with
+countless shafts like the sun covering the different worlds with rays.
+And like a lion attacked by an elephant, Arjuna, taking some keen
+crescent-shaped arrows from out of his quiver and drawing his bow to his
+ear, pierced the _Suta's_ son on every part of his body. And that
+grinder of foes pierced Karna's arms and thighs and head and forehead
+and neck and other principal parts of his body with whetted shafts
+endued with the impetuosity of the thunderbolt and shot from the
+_Gandiva_ in battle. And mangled and afflicted by the arrows shot by
+Partha the son of Pandu, Vikartana's son, quitted the van of battle, and
+quickly took to flight, like one elephant vanquished by another.'"
+
+
+SECTION LV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "After the son of Radha had fled from the field,
+other warriors headed by Duryodhana, one after another, fell upon the
+son of Pandu with their respective divisions. And like the shore
+withstanding the fury of the surging sea, that warrior withstood the
+rage of that countless host rushing towards him, arrayed in order of
+battle and showering clouds of arrows. And that foremost of
+car-warriors, Kunti's son Vibhatsu of white steeds, rushed towards the
+foe, discharging celestial weapons all the while. Partha soon covered
+all the points of the horizon with countless arrows shot from the
+_Gandiva_, like the sun covering the whole earth with his rays. And
+amongst those that fought on cars and horses and elephants, and amongst
+the mail-clad foot-soldiers, there was none that had on his body a space
+of even two finger's breadth unwounded with sharp arrows. And for his
+dexterity in applying celestial weapons, and for the training of the
+steeds and the skill of Uttara, and for the coursing of his weapons, and
+his prowess and light-handedness, people began to regard Arjuna as the
+fire that blazeth forth during the time of the universal dissolution for
+consuming all created things. And none amongst the foe could cast his
+eyes on Arjuna who shone like a blazing fire of great effulgence. And
+mangled by the arrows of Arjuna, the hostile ranks looked like
+newly-risen clouds on the breast of a hill reflecting the solar rays, or
+like groves of _Asoka_ trees resplendent with clusters of flowers.
+Indeed, afflicted by the arrows of Partha, the soldiers looked like
+these, or like a beautiful garland whose flowers gradually wither and
+drop away: And the all-pervading wind bore on its wings in the sky the
+torn flags and umbrellas of the hostile host. And affrighted at the
+havoc amongst their own ranks, the steeds fled in all directions, freed
+from their yokes by means of Partha's arrows and dragging after them
+broken portions of cars and elephants, struck on their ears and ribs and
+tusks and nether lips and other delicate parts of the body, began to
+drop down on the battle-field. And the earth, bestrewn in a short time
+with the corpses of elephants belonging to the Kauravas, looked like the
+sky overcast with masses of black clouds. And as that fire of blazing
+flames at the end of the _yuga_ consumeth all perishable things of the
+world, both mobile and immobile, so did Partha, O king, consumeth all
+foes in battle. And by the energy of his weapons and the twang of his
+bow, and the preter-natural yells of the creatures stationed on his
+flagstaff, and the terrible roar of the monkey, and by the blast of his
+conch, that mighty grinder of foes, Vibhatsu, struck terror into the
+hearts of all the troops of Duryodhana. And the strength of every
+hostile warrior seemed, as it were, to be levelled to the dust at the
+very sight of Arjuna. And unwilling to commit the daring act of sin of
+slaying them that were defenceless, Arjuna suddenly fell back and
+attacked the army from behind by means of clouds of keen-edged arrows
+proceeding towards their aims like hawks let off by fowlers. And he soon
+covered the entire welkin with clusters of blood-drinking arrows. And as
+the (infinite) rays of the powerful sun, entering a small vessel, are
+contracted within it for want of space, so the countless shafts of
+Arjuna could not find space for their expansion even within the vast
+welkin. Foes were able to behold Arjuna's car, when near, only once, for
+immediately after, they were with their horses, sent to the other world.
+And as his arrows unobstructed by the bodies of foes always passed
+through them, so his car, unimpeded by hostile ranks, always passed
+through the latter. And, indeed, he began to toss about and agitate the
+hostile troops with great violence like the thousand-headed Vasuki
+sporting in the great ocean. And as Kiritin incessantly shot his shafts,
+the noise of the bow-string, transcending every sound, was so loud that
+the like of it had never been heard before by created beings. And the
+elephants crowding the field, their bodies pierced with (blazing) arrows
+with small intervals between looked like black clouds coruscated with
+solar rays. And ranging in all directions and shooting (arrows) right
+and left, Arjuna's bow was always to be seen drawn to a perfect circle.
+And the arrows of the wielder of the _Gandiva_ never fell upon anything
+except the aim, even as the eye never dwelleth on anything that is not
+beautiful. And as the track of a herd of elephants marching through the
+forest is made of itself, so was the track was made of itself for the
+car of Kiritin. And struck and mangled by Partha, the hostile warriors
+thought that,--_Verily, Indra himself, desirous of Partha's victory,
+accompanied by all the immortals is slaying us_! And they also regarded
+Vijaya, who was making a terrible slaughter around, to be none else than
+Death himself who having assumed the form of Arjuna, was slaying all
+creatures. And the troops of the Kurus, struck by Partha, were so
+mangled and shattered that the scene looked like the achievement of
+Partha himself and could be compared with nothing else save what was
+observable in Partha's combats. And he severed the heads of foes, even
+as reapers cut off the tops of deciduous herbs. And the Kurus all lost
+their energy owing to the terror begot of Arjuna. And tossed and mangled
+by the Arjuna-gale, the forest of Arjuna's foes reddened the earth with
+purple secretions. And the dust mixed with blood, uplifted by the wind,
+made the very rays of the sun redder still. And soon the sun-decked sky
+became so red that it looked very much like the evening. Indeed, the sun
+ceaseth to shed his rays as soon as he sets, but the son of Pandu ceased
+not to shoot his shafts. And that hero of inconceivable energy
+overwhelmed, by means of all celestial weapons, all the great bowmen of
+the enemy, although they were possessed of great prowess. And Arjuna
+then shot three and seventy arrows of sharp points at Drona, and ten at
+Dussaha and eight at Drona's son, and twelve at Duhsasana, and three at
+Kripa, the son of Saradwat. And that slayer of foes pierced Bhishma, the
+son of Santanu, with arrows, and king Duryodhana with a hundred. And,
+lastly, he pierced Karna in the ear with a bearded shaft. And when that
+great bowmen Karna, skilled in all weapons, was thus pierced, and his
+horses and car and car-driver were all destroyed, the troops that
+supported him began to break. And beholding those soldiers break and
+give way the son of Virata desirous of knowing Partha's purpose,
+addressed him on the field of battle, and said, 'O Partha, standing on
+this beautiful car, with myself as charioteer, towards which division
+shall I go? For, commanded by thee, I would soon take thee thither.'
+
+"Arjuna replied, 'O Uttara, yonder auspicious warrior whom thou seest
+cased in coat of tiger-skin and stationed on his car furnished with a
+blue-flag and drawn by red steeds, is Kripa. There is to be seen the van
+of Kripa's division. Take me thither. I shall show that great bowman my
+swift-handedness in archery. And that warrior whose flag beareth the
+device of an elegant water-pot worked in gold, is the preceptor
+Drona--that foremost of all wielders of weapons. He is always an object
+of regard with me, as also with all bearers of arms. Do thou, therefore,
+circumambulate that great hero cheerfully. Let us bend our heads there,
+for that is the eternal virtue. If Drona strikes my body first, then I
+shall strike him, for then he will not be able to resent it. There,
+close to Drona, that warrior whose flag beareth the device of a bow, is
+the preceptor's son, the great car-warrior Aswatthaman, who is always an
+object of regard with me as also with every bearer of arms. Do thou,
+therefore, stop again and again, while thou comest by his car. There,
+that warrior who stayeth on his car, cased in golden mail and surrounded
+by a third part of the army consisting of the most efficient troops, and
+whose flag beareth the device of an elephant in a ground of gold, is the
+illustrious king Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra. O hero, take
+before him this thy car that is capable of grinding hostile cars. This
+king is difficult of being vanquished in battle and is capable of
+grinding all foes. He is regarded as the first of all Drona's disciples
+in lightness of hand. I shall, in battle, show him my superior swiftness
+in archery. There, that warrior whose flag beareth the device of a stout
+chord for binding elephants, is Karna, the son of Vikartana, already
+known to thee. When thou comest before that wicked son of Radha, be thou
+very careful, for he always challengeth me to an encounter. And that
+warrior whose flag is blue and beareth the device of five stars with a
+sun (in the centre), and who endued with great energy stayeth on his car
+holding a huge bow in hand and wearing excellent fences, and over whose
+head is an umbrella of pure white, who standeth at the head of a
+multitudinous array of cars with various flags and banners like the sun
+in advance of masses of black clouds, and whose mail of gold looks
+bright as the sun or the moon, and who with his helmet of gold striketh
+terror into my heart, is Bhishma, the son of Santanu and the grandsire
+of us all. Entertained with regal splendour by Duryodhana, he is very
+partial and well-affected towards that prince. Let him be approached
+last of all, for he may, even now, be an obstacle to me. While fighting
+with me, do thou carefully guide the steeds.' Thus addressed by him,
+Virata's son, O king, guided Savyasachin's car with great alacrity
+towards the spot where Kripa stood anxious to fight."
+
+
+SECTION LVI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "And the ranks of those fierce bowmen, the Kurus,
+looked like masses of clouds in the rainy season drifting before a
+gentle wind. And close (to those ranks of foot-soldiers) stood the
+enemy's horses ridden by terrible warriors. And there were also
+elephants of terrible mien, looking resplendent in beautiful armour,
+ridden by skilled combatants and urged on with iron crows and hooks.
+And, O king, mounted on a beautiful car, Sakra came there accompanied by
+the celestials,--the _Viswas_ and _Maruts_. And crowded with gods,
+_Yakshas, Gandharvas_ and _Nagas_, the firmament looked as resplendent
+as it does when bespangled with the planetary constellation in a
+cloudless night. And the celestials came there, each on his own car,
+desirous of beholding the efficacy of their weapons in human warfare,
+and for witnessing also the fierce and mighty combat that would take
+place when Bhishma and Arjuna would meet. And embellished with gems of
+every kind and capable of going everywhere at the will of the rider, the
+heavenly car of the lord of the celestials, whose roof was upheld by a
+hundred thousand pillars of gold with (a central) one made entirely of
+jewels and gems, was conspicuous in the clear sky. And there appeared on
+the scene three and thirty gods with Vasava (at their head)--and (many)
+_Gandharvas_ and _Rakshasas_ and _Nagas_ and _Pitris_, together with the
+great _Rishis_. And seated on the car of the lord of the celestials,
+appeared the effulgent persons of kings, Vasumanas and Valakshas and
+Supratarddana, and Ashtaka and Sivi and Yayati and Nahusha and Gaya and
+Manu and Puru and Raghu and Bhanu and Krisaswa and Sagara and Nala. And
+there shone in a splendid array, each in its proper place the cars of
+Agni and Isa and Soma and Varuna and Prajapati and Dhatri and Vidhatri
+and Kuvera and Yama, and Alamvusha and Ugrasena and others, and of the
+_Gandharva_ Tumburu. And all the celestials and the _Siddhas_, and all
+the foremost of sages came there to behold that encounter between Arjuna
+and the Kurus. And the sacred fragrance of celestial garlands filled the
+air like that of blossoming woods at the advent of spring. And the red
+and reddish umbrellas and robes and garlands and _chamaras_ of the gods,
+as they were stationed there, looked exceedingly beautiful. And the dust
+of the earth soon disappeared and (celestial) effulgence lit up
+everything. And redolent of divine perfumes, the breeze began to soothe
+the combatants. And the firmament seemed ablaze and exceedingly
+beautiful, decked with already arrived and arriving cars of handsome and
+various make, all illumined with diverse sorts of jewels, and brought
+thither by the foremost of the celestials. And surrounded by the
+celestials, and wearing a garland of lotuses and lilies the powerful
+wielder of the thunderbolt looked exceedingly beautiful on his car. And
+the slayer of Vala, although he steadfastly gazed at his son on the
+field of battle, was not satiated with such gazing."
+
+
+SECTION LVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Beholding the army of the Kurus arrayed in order of
+battle, that descendant of the Kuru race, Partha, addressing Virata's
+son, said, 'Do thou proceed to the spot where Kripa, the son of
+Saradwat, is going by the southern side of that car whose flag is seen
+to bear the device of a golden altar.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Dhananjaya, the son of
+Virata urged, without a moment's delay, those steeds of silvery hue
+decked in golden armour. And making them adopt, one after another, every
+kind of the swifter paces, he urged those fiery steeds resembling the
+moon in colour. And versed in horse-lore, Uttara, having approached the
+Kuru host, turned back those steeds endued with the speed of the wind.
+And skilled in guiding vehicles, the prince of Matsya, sometimes
+wheeling about, and sometimes proceeding in circular mazes, and
+sometimes turning to the left, began to be wilder than the Kurus. And
+wheeling round, the intrepid and mighty son of Virata at last approached
+the car of Kripa, and stood confronting him. Then announcing his own
+name, Arjuna powerfully blew that best of conchs called _Devadatta_, of
+loud blare. And blown on the field of battle by the mighty Jishnu, the
+blare of that conch was heard like the splitting of a mountain. And
+seeing that the conch did not break into a hundred fragments when blown
+by Arjuna, the Kurus with all their warriors began to applaud it highly.
+And having reached the very heavens, that sound coming back was heard
+even like the crash of the thunderbolt hurled by Maghavat on the
+mountain breast. Thereupon that heroic and intrepid and mighty
+car-warrior, Saradwat's son Kripa, endued with strength and prowess,
+waxing wroth at Arjuna, and unable to bear that sound and eager for
+fight, took up his own sea-begotten conch and blew it vehemently. And
+filling the three worlds with that sound, that foremost of car-warriors
+took up a large bow and twanged the bow-string powerfully. And those
+mighty car-warriors, equal unto two suns, standing opposed to each
+other, shone like two masses of autumnal clouds. Then Saradwat's son
+quickly pierced Partha, that slayer of hostile heroes, with ten swift
+and whetted arrows capable of entering into the very vitals. And
+Pritha's son also, on his part, drawing that foremost of weapons, the
+_Gandiva_, celebrated over the world, shot innumerable iron-arrows, all
+capable of penetrating into the very core of the body. Thereupon Kripa,
+by means of whetted shafts, cut into hundreds and thousands of
+fragments, those blood-drinking arrows of Partha before they could come
+up. Then that mighty car-warrior, Partha also, in wrath displaying
+various manoeuvres, covered all sides with a shower of arrows. And
+covering the entire welkin with his shafts, that mighty warrior of
+immeasurable soul, the son of Pritha, enveloped Kripa with hundreds of
+shafts. And sorely afflicted by those whetted arrows resembling flames
+of fire, Kripa waxed wroth and quickly afflicting the high-souled Partha
+of immeasurable prowess with ten thousand shafts, set up on the field of
+battle a loud roar. Then the heroic Arjuna quickly pierced the four
+steeds of his adversary with four fatal arrows shot from the _Gandiva_,
+sharp and straight, and furnished with golden wings. And pierced by
+means of those whetted arrows resembling flames of fire those steeds
+suddenly reared themselves, and in consequence Kripa reeled off his
+place. And seeing Gautama thrown off his place, the slayer of hostile
+heroes, the descendant of the Kuru race, out of regard for his
+opponent's dignity, ceased to discharge his shafts at him. Then
+regaining his proper place, Gautama quickly pierced Savyasachin with ten
+arrows furnished with feathers of the _Kanka_ bird. Then with a
+crescent-shaped arrow of keen edge, Partha cut off Kripa's bow and
+leathern fences. And soon Partha cut off Kripa's coat of mail also by
+means of arrows capable of penetrating the very vitals, but he did not
+wound his person. And divested of his coat of mail, his body resembled
+that of a serpent which hath in season cast off its slough. And as soon
+as his bow had been cut off by Partha, Gautama took up another and
+stringed it in a trice. And strange to say, that bow of him was also cut
+off by Kunti's son, by means of straight shafts. And in this way that
+slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Pandu, cut off other bows as soon
+as they were taken up, one after another, by Saradwat's son. And when
+all his bows were thus cut off, that mighty hero hurled, from his car,
+at Pandu's son, a javelin like unto the blazing thunderbolt. Thereupon,
+as the gold-decked javelin came whizzing through the air with the flash
+of a meteor, Arjuna cut it off by means of ten arrows. And beholding his
+dart thus cut off by the intelligent Arjuna, Kripa quickly took up
+another bow and almost simultaneously shot a number of crescent-shaped
+arrows. Partha, however, quickly cut them into fragments by means of ten
+keen-edged shafts, and endued with great energy, the son of Pritha then,
+inflamed with wrath on the field of battle, discharged three and ten
+arrows whetted on stone and resembling flames of fire. And with one of
+these he cut off the yoke of his adversary's car, and with four pierced
+his four steeds, and with the sixth he severed the head of his
+antagonist's car-driver from off his body. And with three that mighty
+car-warrior pierced, in that encounter, the triple bamboo-pole of
+Kripa's car and with two, its wheels. And with the twelfth arrow he cut
+off Kripa's flagstaff. And with the thirteenth Phalguna, who was like
+Indra himself as if smiling in derision, pierced Kripa in the breast.
+Then with his bow cut off, his car broken, his steeds slain, his
+car-driver killed, Kripa leapt down and taking up a mace quickly hurled
+it at Arjuna. But that heavy and polished mace hurled by Kripa was sent
+back along its course, struck by means of Arjuna's arrows. And then the
+warriors (of Kripa's division), desirous of rescuing the wrathful son of
+Saradwat encountered Partha from all sides and covered him with their
+arrows. Then the son of Virata, turning the steed to the left began to
+perform circuitous evolution called _Yamaka_ and thus withstood all
+those warriors. And those illustrious bulls among men, taking Kripa with
+them who had been deprived of his car, led him away from the vicinity of
+Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti."
+
+
+SECTION LVIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "After Kripa had thus been taken away, the invincible
+Drona of red steeds, taking up his bow to which he had already stringed
+an arrow, rushed towards Arjuna of white steeds. And beholding at no
+great distance from him the preceptor advancing on his golden car,
+Arjuna that foremost of victorious warriors, addressing Uttara, said,
+'Blessed be thou, O friend, carry me before that warrior on whose high
+banner-top is seen a golden altar resembling a long flame of fire and
+decked with numerous flags placed around, and whose car is drawn by
+steeds that are red and large, exceedingly handsome and highly-trained,
+of face pleasant and of quiet mien, and like unto corals in colour and
+with faces of coppery hue, for that warrior is Drona with whom I desire
+to fight. Of long arms and endued with mighty energy possessed of
+strength and beauty of person, celebrated over all the worlds for his
+prowess, resembling Usanas himself in intelligence and Vrihaspati in
+knowledge of morality, he is conversant with the four _Vedas_ and
+devoted to the practice of _Brahmacharya_ virtues. O friend, the use of
+the celestial weapons together with the mysteries of their withdrawal
+and the entire science of weapons, always reside in him. Forgiveness,
+self-control, truth, abstention from injury, rectitude of
+conduct,--these and countless other virtues always dwell in that
+regenerate one. I desire to fight with that highly-blessed one on the
+field. Therefore, take me before the preceptor and carry me thither, O
+Uttara.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Arjuna, Virata's son urged
+his steeds decked with gold towards the car of Bharadwaja's son. And
+Drona also rushed towards the impetuously advancing Partha, the son of
+Pandu,--that foremost of car-warriors,--like an infuriate elephant
+rushing towards an infuriate compeer. And the son of Bharadwaja then
+blew his conch whose blare resembled that of a hundred trumpets. And at
+that sound the whole army become agitated like the sea in a tempest. And
+beholding those excellent steeds red in hue mingling in battle with
+Arjuna's steeds of swan-like whiteness endued with the speed of the
+mind, all the spectators were filled with wonder. And seeing on the
+field of battle those car-warriors--the preceptor Drona and his disciple
+Partha--both endued with prowess, both invincible, both well-trained,
+both possessed of great energy and great strength, engaged with each
+other, that mighty host of the Bharatas began to tremble frequently. And
+that mighty car-warrior Partha, possessed of great prowess and filled
+with joy upon reaching Drona's car on his own, saluted the preceptor.
+And that slayer of hostile heroes, the mighty armed son of Kunti, then
+addressed Drona in an humble and sweet tone, saying, 'Having completed
+our exile in the woods, we are now desirous of avenging our wrongs. Even
+invincible in battle, it doth not behove thee to be angry with us. O
+sinless one, I will not strike thee unless thou strikest me first. Even
+this is my intention. It behoveth thee to act as thou choosest.' Thus
+addressed Drona discharged at him more than twenty arrows. But the
+light-handed Partha cut them off before they could reach him. And at
+this, the mighty Drona, displaying his lightness of hand in the use of
+weapons, covered Partha's car with a thousand arrows. And desirous of
+angering, Partha, that hero of immeasurable soul, then covered his
+steeds of silvery whiteness with arrows whetted on stone and winged with
+the feathers of the _Kanka_ bird. And when the battle between Drona and
+Kiritin thus commenced, both of them discharging in the encounter arrows
+of blazing splendour, both well-known for their achievements, both equal
+to the wind itself in speed, both conversant with celestial weapons, and
+both endued with mighty energy, began shooting clouds of arrows to
+bewilder the royal Kshatriyas. And all the warriors that were assembled
+there were filled with wonder at sight of all this. And they all admired
+Drona who quickly shot clouds of arrows exclaiming,--_Well done! Well
+done_! Indeed, _who else save Phalguna, is worthy of fighting with Drona
+in battle? Surely the duties of a Kshatriya are stern, for Arjuna
+fighteth with even his own preceptor_!--And it was thus that they who
+stood on the field of battle said unto one another. And inflamed with
+fire, those mighty-armed heroes standing before other, and each
+incapable of overcoming the other, covered each other with arrowy
+showers. And Bharadwaja's son, waxing wroth, drew his large and
+unconquerable bow plated on the back with gold, and pierced Phalguna
+with his arrows. And discharging at Arjuna's car innumerable whetted
+arrows possessed of solar effulgence, he entirely shrouded the light of
+the sun. And that great car-warrior of mighty arms, violently pierced
+Pritha's son with keen-edged shafts even as the clouds shower upon a
+mountain. Then taking up that foremost of bows, the _Gandiva_,
+destructive of foes and capable of withstanding the greatest strain, the
+impetuous son of Pandu cheerfully discharged countless shafts of various
+kinds adorned with gold, and that powerful warrior also baffled in a
+moment Drona's arrowy shower by means of those shafts shot from his own
+bow. And at this the spectators wondered greatly. And the handsome
+Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, ranging on his car, displayed his weapons
+on all sides at the same time. And the entire welkin covered with his
+arrows, became one wide expanse of shade. And at this Drona become
+invisible like the sun enveloped in mist. And shrouded by those
+excellent arrows on all sides, Drona looked like a mountain on fire. And
+beholding his own car completely enveloped by the arrows of Pritha's
+son, Drona that ornament of battle, bent his terrible and foremost of
+bows whose noise was as loud as that of the clouds. And drawing that
+first of weapons, which was like unto a circle of fire, he discharged a
+cloud of keen-edged shafts. And then there were heard on the field loud
+sounds like the splitting of bamboos set on fire. And that warrior of
+immeasurable soul, shooting from his bow arrows furnished with golden
+wings, covered all sides, shrouding the very light of the sun. And those
+arrows with knots well-peeled off, and furnished with golden wings,
+looked like flocks of birds in the sky. And the arrows discharged by
+Drona from his bow, touching one another at the wings, appeared like one
+endless line in the sky. And those heroes, thus discharging their arrows
+decked with gold, seemed to cover the sky with showers of meteors. And
+furnished with feathers of the _Kanka_ bird, those arrows looked like
+rows of cranes ranging in the autumnal sky. And the fierce and terrible
+encounter that took place between the illustrious Drona and Arjuna
+resembled that between Virata and Vasava of old. And discharging arrows
+at each other from bows drawn at their fullest stretch, they resembled
+two elephants assailing each other with their tusks. And those wrathful
+warriors--those ornaments of battle--fighting strictly according to
+established usage, displayed in that conflict various celestial weapons
+in due order. Then that foremost of victorious men, Arjuna, by means of
+his keen shafts resisted the whetted arrows shot by that best of
+preceptors. And displaying before the spectators various weapons, that
+hero of terrible prowess covered the sky with various kinds of arrows.
+And beholding that tiger among men, Arjuna, endued with fierce energy
+and intent upon striking him, that foremost of warriors and best of
+preceptors (from affection) began to fight with him playfully by means
+of smooth and straight arrows. And Bharadwaja's son fought on with
+Phalguna, resisting with his own the celestial weapons shot by the
+former. And the fight that took place between those enraged lions among
+men, incapable of bearing each other, was like unto encounter between
+the gods and the _Danavas_. And the son of Pandu repeatedly baffled with
+his own, the _Aindra_, the _Vayavya_, and the _Agneya_ weapons that were
+shot by Drona. And discharging keen shafts, those mighty bowmen, by
+their arrowy showers completely covered the sky and made a wide expanse
+of shade. And then the arrows shot by Arjuna, falling on the bodies of
+hostile warriors, produced the crash of thunderbolt. O king, elephants,
+cars, and horses, bathed in blood, looked like _Kinsuka_ trees crowned
+with flowers. And in that encounter between Drona and Arjuna, beholding
+the field covered with arms decked with bangles, and gorgeously-attired
+car-warriors, and coats of mail variegated with gold, and with banners
+lying scattered all about, and with warriors slain by means of Partha's
+arrows, the Kuru host became panic-stricken. And shaking their bows
+capable of bearing much strain, those combatants began to shroud and
+weaken each other with their shafts. And, O bull of the Bharata race,
+the encounter that took place between Drona and Kunti's son was dreadful
+in the extreme and resembled that between Vali and Vasava. And staking
+their very lives, they began to pierce each other straight arrows shot
+from their fully-stretched bow-strings. And a voice was heard in the sky
+applauding Drona, and saying, 'Difficult is the feat performed by Drona,
+inasmuch as he fighteth with Arjuna,--that grinder of foes, that warrior
+endued with mighty energy, of firm grasp, and invincible in
+battle,--that conqueror of both celestials and _Daityas_, that foremost
+of all car-warriors.' And beholding Partha's infallibility, training,
+fleetness of hand, and the range also of Arjuna's, arrows, Drona became
+amazed. And, O bull of the Bharata race, lifting up his excellent bow,
+the _Gandiva_, the unforbearing Partha drew it now with one hand and now
+with another shot an arrowy shower. And beholding that shower resembling
+a flight of locusts, the spectators wondering applauded him exclaiming,
+'Excellent! Excellent!' And so ceaselessly did he shoot his arrows that
+the very air was unable to penetrate the thick array. And the spectators
+could not perceive any interval between the taking up of the arrows and
+letting them off. And in that fierce encounter characterised by
+lightness of hand in the discharge of weapons, Partha began to shoot his
+arrows more quickly than before. And then all at once hundreds and
+thousands of straight arrows fell upon Drona's car. And, O bull of the
+Bharata race, beholding Drona completely covered by the wielder of the
+_Gandiva_ with his arrows, the Kuru army set up exclamation of '_Oh'!_
+and '_Alas'!_ And Maghavat, together with those _Gandharvas_ and
+_Apsaras_ that have come there, applauded the fleetness of Partha's
+hand. And that mighty car-warrior, the preceptor's son, then resisted
+the Pandva with a mighty array of cars. And although enraged with
+Arjuna, yet Aswatthaman mentally admired that feat of the high-souled
+son of Pritha. And waxing wroth, he rushed towards Partha, and
+discharged at him an arrowy shower like a heavy down-pour by the cloud.
+And turning his steeds towards Drona's son, Partha gave Drona an
+opportunity to leave the field. And thereupon the latter, wounded in
+that terrible encounter, and his mail and banner gone sped away by the
+aid of swift horses."
+
+
+SECTION LIX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then, O mighty king, Drona's son rushed to an
+encounter with Arjuna in battle. And beholding his rush to the conflict
+like a hurricane, showering shafts like a rain charged cloud Pritha's
+son received him with a cloud of arrows. And terrible was the encounter
+between them, like that between the gods and the _Danavas_. And they
+shot arrows at each other like Virata and Vasava. And the welkin being
+enveloped on all sides with arrows, the sun was completely hidden, and
+the air itself was hushed. And, O conqueror of hostile cities, as they
+assailed and struck each other, loud sounds arose as of bamboos on fire.
+And, O king, Aswatthaman's horses being sorely afflicted by Arjuna, they
+became bewildered and could not ascertain which way to go. And as
+Pritha's son ranged on the field, the powerful son of Drona finding an
+opportunity, cut off the string of the _Gandiva_ with an arrow furnished
+with a horse-shoe head. And beholding that extraordinary feat of his,
+the celestials applauded him highly. And exclaiming--'Well done!'--'Well
+done!' Drona and Bhishma, and Karna, and the mighty warrior Kripa, all
+applauded that feat of his greatly. And the son of Drona, drawing his
+excellent bow, pierced with his shafts, furnished with the feathers of
+the _Kanka_ bird, the breast of Partha, that bull among warriors.
+Thereupon, with a loud laughter, the mighty-armed son of Pritha attached
+a strong and fresh string to _Gandiva_. And moistening his bow-string
+with the sweat that stood on his forehead resembling the crescent moon,
+Pritha's son advanced towards his adversary, even as an infuriated
+leader of a herd of elephants rusheth at another elephant. And the
+encounter that took place between those two matchless heroes on the
+field of battle was exceedingly fierce and made the bristles of the
+spectators stand on their ends. And as those heroes endued with mighty
+energy fought on, the two mighty elephants, the Kurus beheld them with
+wonder. And those brave bulls among men assailed each other with arrows
+of snaky forms and resembling blazing fires. And as the couple of
+quivers belonging to the Pandava was inexhaustible, that hero was able
+to remain on the field immovable as a mountain. And as Aswatthaman's
+arrows, in consequence of his ceaseless discharge in that conflict, were
+quickly exhausted, it was for this that Arjuna prevailed over his
+adversary. Then Karna, drawing his large bow with great force twanged
+the bow-string. And thereupon arose loud exclamation of '_Oh!_' and
+'_Alas!_' And Pritha's son, casting his eyes towards the spot where that
+bow was twanged, beheld before him the son of Radha. And at that sight
+his wrath was greatly excited. And inflamed with ire and desirous of
+slaying Karna, that bull of the Kuru race stared at him with rolling
+eyes. And, O king, beholding Partha turn away from Aswatthaman's side,
+the Kuru warriors discharged thousands of arrows on Arjuna. And the
+mighty-armed Dhananjaya, that conqueror of foes, leaving Drona's son,
+all on a sudden rushed towards Karna. And rushing towards Karna, with
+eyes reddened in anger the son of Kunti, desirous of a single combat
+with him, said these words."
+
+
+SECTION LX
+
+"Arjuna said, 'The time, O Karna, hath now come for making good thy
+loquacious boast in the midst of the assembly, viz., that there is none
+equal to thee in fight. Today, O Karna, contending with me in terrible
+conflict, thou shalt know thy own strength, and shalt no longer
+disregard others. Abandoning good breeding, thou hadst uttered many
+harsh words, but this that thou endeavourest to do, is, I think,
+exceedingly difficult. Do thou now, O Radha's son, contending with me in
+the sight of the Kurus, make good what thou hadst said before in
+disregard of myself. Thou who hadst witnessed Panchala's princess
+outraged by villains in the midst of the court, do thou now reap the
+fruit of that act of thine. Fettered by the bonds of morality before, I
+desisted from vengeance then. Behold now, O son of Radha, the fruit of
+that wrath in conflict at hand. O wicked wight, we have suffered much
+misery in that forest for full twelve years. Reap thou today the fruits
+of our concentrated vengeance. Come, O Karna, cope with me in battle.
+Let these thy Kaurava warriors witness the conflict.' Hearing these
+words, Karna replied, 'Do thou, O Partha, accomplish in deed what thou
+sayst in words. The world knows that thy words verily exceed thy deed.
+That thou hadst foreborne formerly was owing to thy inability to do
+anything. If we witness thy prowess even now, we may acknowledge its
+truth. If thy past forbearance was due to thy having been bound by the
+bonds of morality, truly thou art equally bound now although thou
+regardest thyself free. Having as thou sayst, passed thy exile in the
+woods in strict accordance with thy pledge and being therefore weakened
+by practising an ascetic course of life, how canst thou desire a combat
+with me now! O Pritha's son, if Sakra himself fight on thy side, still I
+would feel no anxiety in putting forth my prowess. Thy wish, O son of
+Kunti, is about to be gratified. Do thou fight with me now, and behold
+my strength.' Hearing this, Arjuna said, 'Even now, O Radha's son, thou
+hadst fled from battle with me, and it is for this that thou livest
+although thy younger brother hath been slain. What other person, save
+thee, having beheld his younger brother slain in battle would himself
+fly from the field, and boast as thou dost, amid good and true men?'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said these words unto Karna, the
+invincible Vibhatsu rushed at him and charged a volley of shafts capable
+of penetrating through a coat of mail. But that mighty car-warrior,
+Karna, received with great alacrity that discharge with an arrowy shower
+of his own, heavy as the downpour of the clouds. And that fierce volley
+of arrows covered all sides and severally pierced the steeds and arms
+and leathern fences of the combatants. And incapable of putting up with
+that assault, Arjuna cut off the strings of Karna's quiver by means of a
+straight and sharp arrow. Thereupon, taking out from his quiver another
+arrow, Karna pierced the Pandava in the hand at which the latter's hold
+of the bow was loosened. And then the mighty-armed Partha cut off
+Karna's bow into fragments. And Karna replied by hurling a dart at his
+adversary, but Arjuna cut it off by means of his arrows. And then the
+warriors that followed the son of Radha rushed in crowds at Arjuna, but
+Partha sent them all to the abode of Yama by means of arrows shot from
+the _Gandiva_. And Vibhatsu slew the steeds of Karna by means of sharp
+and tough arrows shot from the bow-string drawn to the ear, and deprived
+of life they dropped down on the ground. And taking another sharp and
+blazing arrow endued with great energy, the mighty son of Kunti pierced
+the breast of Karna. And that arrow, cleaving through his mail,
+penetrated into his body. And at this, Karna's vision was obscured and
+his senses left him. And regaining consciousness, he felt a great pain,
+and leaving the combat fled in a northernly direction. And at this, the
+mighty car-warrior Arjuna and Uttara, both began to address him
+contumely."
+
+
+SECTION LXI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having defeated Vikartana's son, Arjuna said unto
+the son of Virata, 'Take me towards that division where yonder device of
+a golden palmyra is seen. There our grandfather, Santanu's son, like
+unto a celestial, waiteth, desirous of an encounter with me.' Thereupon,
+beholding that mighty host thronged with cars and horses and elephants,
+Uttara, sorely pierced with arrows, said, 'O hero, I am no longer able
+to guide thy excellent steeds. My spirits droop and my mind is
+exceedingly bewildered. All the directions seem to be whirling before my
+eyes in consequence of the energy of the celestial weapons used by thee
+and the Kurus. I have been deprived of my senses by the stench of fat
+and blood and flesh. Beholding all this, from terror my mind is, as it
+were, cleft in twain. Never before had I beheld such a muster of horses
+in battle. And at the flapping of fences, and the blare of conchs, the
+leonine roars made by the warriors and the shrieks of elephants, and the
+twang of the _Gandiva_ resembling the thunder, I have, O hero, been so
+stupefied that I have been deprived of both hearing and memory. And, O
+hero, beholding thee incessantly drawing to a circle, in course of the
+conflict, the _Gandiva_ which resembleth a circle of fire, my sight
+faileth me and my heart is rent asunder. And seeing thy fierce form in
+battle, like that of the wielder of the _Pinaka_ while inflamed with
+wrath, and looking also at the terrible arrows shot by thee, I am filled
+with fear. I fail to see when thou takest up thy excellent arrows, when
+thou fixest them on the bow-string, and when thou lettest them off. And
+though all this is done before my eyes, yet, deprived of my senses, I do
+not see it. My spirits are drooping and earth itself seems to be
+swimming before me. I have no strength to hold the whip and the reins.'
+Hearing these words, Arjuna said, 'Do thou not fear. Assure thyself.
+Thou also hast, on the field of battle performed, O bull among men,
+wonderful feats. Blessed be thou, thou art a prince and born in the
+illustrious line of Matsyas. It behoveth thee not to feel dispirited in
+chastising thy foes. Therefore, O prince, stationed on my car, muster
+all thy fortitude and hold the reins of my steeds, O slayer of foes,
+when I once more become engaged in battle.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this unto Virata's son, that best
+of men and foremost of car-warriors, the mighty-armed Arjuna, again
+addressed the son of Virata, saying. 'Take me without delay to the van
+of Bhishma's division. I will cut off his very bow-string in the battle.
+Thou shalt behold today the celestial weapons of blazing beauty, shot by
+me, look like flashes of lightning disporting amid the clouds in the
+sky. The Kauravas shall behold the gold decked back of my _Gandiva_
+today, and assembled together the foe shall dispute, saying,--_By which
+hand of his, the right or the left, doth he shoot_? And I shall cause a
+dreadful river (of death) to flow today towards the other world with
+blood for its waters and cars for its eddies, and elephants for its
+crocodiles. I shall today, with my straight arrows, extirpate the _Kuru_
+forest having hands and feet and heads and backs and arms for the
+branches of its trees. Alone, bow in hand, vanquishing the Kuru host, a
+hundred paths shall open before me like those of a forest in
+conflagration. Struck by me thou shalt today behold the Kuru army moving
+round and round like a wheel (unable to fly off the field). I shall show
+thee today my excellent training in arrows and weapons. Stay thou on my
+car firmly, whether the ground be smooth or uneven. I can pierce with my
+winged arrows even the mountain of _Sumeru_ that stands touching the
+very heavens. I slew of old, at Indra's command, hundreds and thousands
+of _Paulomas_ and _Kalakhanjas_ in battle. I have obtained my firmness
+of grasp from Indra, and my lightness of hand from _Brahman_, and I have
+learnt various modes of fierce attack and defence amid crowds of foes
+from _Prajapati_. I vanquished, on the other side of the great ocean,
+sixty thousands of car-warriors--all fierce archers--residing in
+_Hiranyapura_. Behold, now I defeat the multitudinous host of the Kurus
+like a tempest scattering a heap of cotton. With my fiery arrows I shall
+today set the _Kuru_-forest to fire, having banners for its trees, the
+foot-soldiers for its shrubs, and the car-warriors for its beasts of
+prey. Like unto the wielder of the thunderbolt overthrowing the Danavas,
+alone I shall, with my straight arrows, bring down from the chambers of
+their cars the mighty warrior of the Kuru army stationed therein and
+struggling in the conflict to the best of their power. I have obtained
+from _Rudra_ the _Raudra_, from _Varuna_ the _Varuna_, from _Agni_ the
+_Agneya_, from the god of Wind the _Vayava_, and from Sakra the
+thunderbolt and other weapons. I shall certainly exterminate the fierce
+_Dhartarashtra-forest_ though protected by many leonine warriors.
+Therefore, O Virata's son, let thy fears be dispelled.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus assured by Savyasachin, the son of Virata
+penetrated into that fierce array of cars protected by Bhishma. The son
+of Ganga, however, of fierce deeds, cheerfully withstood the
+mighty-armed hero advancing from desire of vanquishing the heroes in
+battle. Jishnu, then, confronting Bhishma, cut off his standard clean
+off at the roots by shooting a gold-decked arrow pierced by which it
+fell to the ground. And at this, four mighty warriors, Duhsasana and
+Vikarna and Dussaha and Vivingsati, skilled in weapons and endued with
+great energy, and all decked with handsome garlands and ornaments,
+rushed towards that terrible bowman. And advancing towards
+Vibhatsu--that fierce archer, these all encompassed him around. Then the
+heroic Duhsasana pierced the son of Virata with a crescent-shaped arrow
+and he pierced Arjuna with another arrow in the breast. And Jishnu,
+confronting Duhsasana, cut off by means of a sharp-edged arrow furnished
+with vulturine wings his adversary's bow plaited with gold, and then
+pierced his person in the breast by means of five arrows. And afflicted
+by the arrows of Partha, Duhsasana fled, leaving the combat. Then
+Vikarna, the son of Dhritarashtra, pierced Arjuna--that slayer of
+hostile heroes, by means of sharp and straight arrows furnished with
+vulturine wings. But the son of Kunti within a moment hit him also in
+the forehead with straight shafts. And pierced by Arjuna, he fell down
+from his car. And at this, Dussaha, supported by Vivingsati, covered
+Arjuna with a cloud of sharp arrows, impelled by the desire of rescuing
+his brother. Dhananjaya, however, without the least anxiety, pierced
+both of them almost at the same instant by means of couple of keen-edged
+arrows and then slew the steeds of both. And there upon, both those sons
+of Dhritarashtra, deprived of their steeds and their bodies mangled were
+taken away by the warrior behind them who had rushed forward with other
+cars. Then the unvanquished Vibhatsu, the mighty son of Kunti, decked
+with diadem and sure of aim, simultaneously attacked all sides with his
+arrows."
+
+
+SECTION LXII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then, O thou of the Bharata race, all the great
+car-warriors of the Kurus, united together, began to assail Arjuna to
+the best of their might from all sides. But that hero of immeasurable
+soul completely covered all those mighty car-warriors with clouds of
+arrows, even as the mist covereth the mountains. And the roars of huge
+elephants and conchs, mingling together, produced a loud up roar. And
+penetrating through the bodies of elephants and horses as also through
+steel coats of mail, the arrows shot by Partha fell by thousands. And
+shooting shafts with the utmost celerity, the son of Pandu seemed in
+that contest to resemble the blazing sun of an autumnal midday. And
+afflicted with fear, the car-warriors began to leap down from their cars
+and the horse-soldiers from horse-back, while the foot-soldiers began to
+fly in all directions. And loud was the clatter made by Arjuna's shafts
+as they cleft the coats of mail belonging to mighty warriors, made of
+steel, silver, and copper. And the field was soon covered with the
+corpses of warriors mounted on elephants and horses, all mangled by the
+shafts of Partha of great impetuosity like unto sighing snakes. And then
+it seemed as if Dhananjaya, bow in hand, was dancing on the field of
+battle. And sorely affrighted at the twang of the _Gandiva_ resembling
+the noise of the thunder, many were the combatants that fled from that
+terrible conflict. And the field of battle was bestrewn with severed
+heads decked with turbans, ear-rings and necklaces of gold, and the
+earth looked beautiful by being scattered all over with human trunks
+mangled by shafts, and arms having bows in their grasp and hands decked
+with ornaments. And, O bull of the Bharata race, in consequence of heads
+cut off by whetted shafts ceaselessly falling on the ground, it seemed
+as if a shower of stones fell from the sky. And that Partha of
+formidable prowess, displaying his fierceness, now ranged the field of
+battle, pouring the terrible fire of his wrath upon the sons of
+Dhritarashtra. And beholding the fierce prowess of Arjuna who thus
+scorched the hostile host, the Kuru warriors, in the very presence of
+Duryodhana, became dispirited and ceased to fight. And, O Bharata,
+having struck terror into that host and routed those mighty
+car-warriors, that fore-most of victors, ranged on the field. And the
+son of Pandu then created on the field of battle a dreadful river of
+blood, with waving billows, like unto the river of death that is created
+by Time at the end of the _Yuga_, having the dishevelled hair of the
+dead and the dying for its floating moss and straw, with bows and arrows
+for its boats, fierce in the extreme and having flesh and animal juices
+for its mire. And coats of mail and turbans floated thick on its
+surface. And elephants constituted its alligators and the cars its
+rafts. And marrow and fat and blood constituted its currents. And it was
+calculated to strike terror into the hearts of the spectators. And
+dreadful to behold, and fearful in the extreme, and resounding with the
+yells of ferocious beasts, keen edged weapons constituted its
+crocodiles. And _Rakshasas_ and other cannibals haunted it from one end
+to the other. And strings of pearls constituted its ripples, and various
+excellent ornaments, its bubbles. And having swarms of arrows for its
+fierce eddies and steeds for its tortoises, it was incapable of being
+crossed. And the mighty car warrior constituted its large island, and it
+resounded with the blare of conchs and the sound of drums. And the river
+of blood that Partha created was incapable of being crossed. Indeed, so
+swift-handed was Arjuna that the spectators could not perceive any
+interval between his taking up an arrow, and fixing it on the
+bow-string, and letting it off by a stretch of the _Gandiva_."
+
+
+SECTION LXIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then while a great havoc was being made among the
+Kurus, Santanu's son, Bhishma, and grandsire of the Bharatas rushed at
+Arjuna, taking up an excellent bow adorned with gold, and many arrows
+also of keen points and capable of piercing into the very vitals of the
+foe and afflicting him sorely. And in consequence of a white umbrella
+being held over his head, that tiger among men looked beautiful like
+unto a hill at sunrise. And the son of Ganga, blowing his conch cheered
+the sons of Dhritarashtra, and wheeling along his right came upon
+Vibhatsu and impeded his course. And that slayer of hostile heroes, the
+son of Kunti, beholding him approach, received him with a glad heart,
+like a hill receiving a rain-charged cloud. And Bhishma, endued with
+great energy, pierced Partha's flag-staff with eight arrows. The arrows
+reaching the flag-staff of Pandu's son, struck the blazing ape and those
+creatures also stationed in the banner-top. And then the son of Pandu,
+with a mighty javelin of sharp edge cut of Bhishma's umbrella which
+instantly fell on the ground. And then the light-handed son of Kunti
+struck his adversary's flag-staff also with many shafts, and then his
+steeds and then the couple of drivers that protected Bhishma's flanks.
+And unable to bear this, Bhishma though cognisant of the Pandava's
+might, covered Dhananjaya with a powerful celestial weapon. And the son
+of Pandu, of immeasurable soul, hurling in return a celestial weapon at
+Bhishma, received that from Bhishma like a hill receiving a deep mass of
+clouds. And the encounter that took place between Partha and Bhishma,
+was fierce and the Kaurava warriors with their troops stood as lookers
+on. And in the conflict between Bhishma and the son of Pandu, shafts
+striking against shafts shone in the air like fireflies in the season of
+rains. And, O king, in consequence of Partha's shooting arrows with both
+his right and left hands, the bent _Gandiva_ seemed like a continuous
+circle of fire. And the son of Kunti then covered Bhishma with hundreds
+of sharp and keen-edged arrows, like a cloud covering the
+mountain-breast with its heavy downpour. And Bhishma baffled with his
+own arrows that arrowy shower, like the bank resisting the swelling sea,
+and covered the son of Pandu in return. And those warriors, cut into a
+thousand pieces in battle, fell fast in the vicinity of Phalguna's car.
+And then there was a downpour, from the car of Pandu's son, of arrows
+furnished with golden wing, and raining through the sky like a flight of
+locusts. And Bhishma again repelled that arrowy shower with hundreds of
+whetted shafts shot by him. And then the Kauravas exclaimed.--
+'Excellent! Excellent!--Indeed, Bhishma hath performed an exceedingly
+difficult feat inasmuch as he hath fought with Arjuna. Dhananjaya is
+mighty and youthful, and dexterous and swift of hand. Who else, save
+Bhishma, the son of Santanu, or Krishna, the son of Devaki, or the
+mighty son of Bharadwaja, the foremost of preceptors, is able to bear
+the impetus of Partha in battle?' And repelling weapons with weapons,
+those two bulls of the Bharata race, both endued with great might,
+fought on playfully and infatuated the eyes of all created beings. And
+those illustrious warriors ranged on the field of battle, using the
+celestials weapons obtained from _Prajapati_ and _Indra_, and _Agni_ and
+the fierce _Rudra_, and _Kuvera_, and _Varuna_, and _Yama_, and _Vayu_.
+And all beings were greatly surprised, upon beholding those warriors
+engaged in combat. And they all exclaimed,--_Bravo Partha of long arms!
+Bravo Bhishma! Indeed, this application of celestial weapons that is
+being witnessed in the combat between Bhishma and Partha_ is rare among
+human beings."
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Thus raged that conflict with weapons between
+those warriors conversant with all weapons. And when that conflict of
+celestial weapons ceased, then commenced a conflict with arrows. And
+Jishnu approaching his opponent, cut off with an arrow sharp like a
+razor the gold-decked bow of Bhishma. Within the twinkling of the eye,
+however, Bhishma, that mighty-armed and great car-warrior, took up
+another bow and stringed it. And inflamed with wrath, he showered upon
+Dhananjaya a cloud of arrows. And Arjuna, too, endued with great energy,
+rained upon Bhishma innumerable sharp-pointed and keen-edged arrows. And
+Bhishma also shot clouds of arrows upon Pandu's son. And conversant with
+celestial weapons and engaged in shooting and each other, arrows of keen
+points, no distinction, O king, could then be perceived between those
+illustrious warriors. And that mighty car-warrior, Kunti's son, covered
+with a diadem, and the heroic son of Santanu, obscured the ten
+directions with their arrows. And the Pandava covered Bhishma, and
+Bhishma also covered the Pandava, with clouds of shafts. And, O king,
+wonderful was this combat that took place in this world of men. And the
+heroic warriors that protected Bhishma's car, slain by the son of Pandu,
+fell prostrate, O monarch, beside the car of Kunti's son. And the
+feathery arrows of Swetavahana, shot from the _Gandiva_, fell in all
+directions as if with the object of making a wholesale slaughter of the
+foe. And issuing forth from his car those blazing arrows furnished with
+golden wings looked like rows of swans in the sky. And all the
+celestials with Indra, stationed in the firmament, gazed with wonder
+upon another celestial weapon hurled with great force by that wonderful
+archer Arjuna. And beholding that wonderful weapon of great beauty, the
+mighty _Gandiva_, Chitrasena, highly pleased, addressed the lord of
+celestials, saying, 'Behold these arrows shot by Partha coursing through
+the sky in one continuous line. Wonderful is the dexterity of Jishnu in
+evolving this celestial weapon! Human beings are incapable of shooting
+such a weapon, for it does not exist among men. How wonderful again is
+this concourse of mighty weapons existing from days of old! No interval
+can be perceived between his taking up the arrows, fixing them on the
+bow-string, and letting them off by stretching the _Gandiva_. The
+soldiers are incapable of even looking at the son of Pandu, who is like
+unto the midday sun blazing in the sky. So also none ventures to look at
+Bhishma, the son of Ganga. Both are famous for their achievements, and
+both are of fierce prowess. Both are equal in feats of heroism, and both
+are difficult of being vanquished in battle.'
+
+"Thus addressed by the _Gandharva_ about that combat between Partha and
+Bhishma, the lord of the celestials, O Bharata, paid proper respect unto
+both by a shower of celestial flowers. Meanwhile, Bhishma, the son of
+Santanu, assailed Arjuna on the left side, while that drawer of the bow
+with either hands was on the point of piercing him. And at this,
+Vibhatsu, laughing aloud, cut off with an arrow of keen edge and
+furnished with vulturine wings, the bow of Bhishma, that hero of solar
+effulgence. And then Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, pierced Bhishma in
+the breast with ten shafts although the latter was contending with all
+his prowess. And sorely afflicted with pain Ganga's son of mighty arms
+and irresistible in battle, stood for a long time leaning on the pole of
+his car. And beholding him deprived of consciousness the driver of his
+car-steeds, calling to mind the instructions about protecting the
+warriors when in a swoon, led him away for safety."
+
+
+SECTION LXIV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "After Bhishma had fled, leaving the van of battle,
+the illustrious son of Dhritarashtra hoisting high flag approached
+Arjuna, bow in hand and setting up a loud roar. And with a spear-headed
+shaft shot from his bow stretched to the ear, he pierced on the forehead
+of that terrible bowman of fierce prowess, Dhananjaya, ranging amidst the
+foes. And pierced with that keen shaft of golden point on the forehead,
+that hero of famous deeds looked resplendent, O king, like unto a
+beautiful hill with a single peak. And cut by that arrow, the warm
+life-blood gushed out profusely from the wound. And the blood trickling
+down his body shone beautifully like a wreath of golden flowers. And
+struck by Duryodhana with the shaft, the swift-handed Arjuna of
+unfailing strength, swelling with rage, pierced the king in return,
+taking up arrows that were endued with the energy of snakes of virulent
+poison. And Duryodhana of formidable energy attacked Partha, and Partha
+also, that foremost of heroes, attacked Duryodhana. And it was that
+those foremost of men, both born in the race of Ajamida, struck each
+other alike in the combat. And then (seated) on an infuriate elephant
+huge as a mountain and supported by four cars, Vikarna rushed against
+Jishnu, the son of Kunti. And beholding that huge elephant, advancing
+with speed, Dhananjaya struck him on the head between the temples with
+an iron arrow of great impetus shot from the bow-string stretched to the
+ear. And like the thunderbolt hurled by Indra splitting a mountain, that
+arrow furnished with vulturine wings, shot by Partha, penetrated, up to
+the very feathers, into the body of that elephant huge as hill. And
+sorely afflicted by the shaft, that lord of the elephant species began
+to tremble, and deprived of strength fell down on the ground in intense
+anguish, like the peak of mountain riven by thunder. And that best of
+elephants falling down on the earth, Vikarna suddenly alighting in great
+terror, ran back full eight hundred paces and ascended on the car of
+Vivingsati. And having slain with that thunder-like arrow that elephant
+huge as a mighty hill and looking like a mass of clouds, the son of
+Pritha smote Duryodhana in the breast with another arrow of the same
+kind. And both the elephant and the king having thus been wounded, and
+Vikarna having broken and fled along with the supporters of the king's
+car, the other warriors, smitten with the arrows shot from the
+_Gandiva_, fled from the field in panic. And beholding the elephant
+slain by Partha, and all the other warriors running away, Duryodhana,
+the foremost of the Kurus, turning away his car precipitately fled in
+that direction where Partha was not. And when Duryodhana was fast
+running away in alarm, pierced by that arrow and vomitting forth blood,
+Kiritin, still eager for battle and capable of enduring every enemy,
+thus censured him from wrath, 'Sacrificing thy great fame and glory, why
+dost thou fly away, turning thy back? Why are not those trumpets sounded
+now, as they were when thou hadst set out from thy kingdom? Lo, I am an
+obedient servant of Yudhishthira, myself being the third son of Pritha,
+standing here for battle. Turn back, show me thy face, O son of
+Dhritarashtra, and bear in thy mind the behaviour of kings. The name
+_Duryodhana_ bestowed on thee before is hereby rendered meaningless.
+When thou runnest away, leaving the battle, where is thy persistence in
+battle? Neither do I behold thy body-guards, O Duryodhana, before nor
+behind. O foremost of men, fly thou away and save thy life which is dear
+from the hands of Pandu's son.'"
+
+
+SECTION LXV
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Thus summoned to battle by the illustrious hero,
+Dhritarashtra's son turned back stung by those censures, like an
+infuriate and mighty elephant pricked by a hook. And stung by those
+reproaches and unable to bear them, that mighty and brave car-warrior
+endued with great swiftness, turned back on his car, like a snake that
+is trampled under foot. And beholding Duryodhana turn back with his
+wounds, Karna, that hero among men, decked with a golden necklace,
+stopped the king on the way and soothing him, himself proceeded along
+the north of Duryodhana's car to meet Partha in battle. And the
+mighty-armed Bhishma also, the son of Santanu, turning back his steeds
+decked with gold, enormous in size, and of tawny hue, rushed bow in
+hand, for protecting Duryodhana from Partha's hand. And Drona and Kripa
+and Vivingsati and Duhsasana and others also, quickly turning back,
+rushed forward with speed with drawn bows and arrows fixed on the
+bow-strings, for protecting Duryodhana. And beholding those divisions
+advance towards him like the swelling surges of the ocean, Dhananjaya,
+the son of Pritha, quickly rushed at them like a crane rushing at a
+descending cloud. And with celestial weapons in their hands, they
+completely surrounded the son of Pritha and rained on him from all sides
+a perfect shower of shafts, like clouds showering on the mountain breast
+a heavy downpour of rain. And warding off with weapons, all the weapons
+of those bulls among the Kurus, the wielder of the _Gandiva_ who was
+capable of enduring all foes, evolved another irresistible weapon
+obtained from Indra, called _Sanmohana_. And entirely covering the
+cardinal and other directions with sharp and keen-edged arrows furnished
+with beautiful feathers, that mighty hero stupefied their senses with
+the twang of the _Gandiva_. And once more, taking up with both his hands
+that large conch of loud blare, Partha, that slayer of foes, blew it
+with force and filled the cardinal and other points, the whole earth,
+and sky, with that noise. And those foremost of the Kuru heroes were all
+deprived of their senses by the sound of that conch blown by Partha. And
+all of them stood still, their bows, from which they were never
+separated, dropping down from their hands. And when the Kuru army became
+insensible, Partha calling to mind the words of Uttara, addressed the
+son of the Matsya king, saying, 'O best of men, go thou among the Kurus,
+so long as they remain insensible, and bring away the white garments of
+Drona and Kripa, and the yellow and handsome ones of Karna, as also the
+blue ones of the king and Drona's son. Methinks, Bhishma is not
+stupefied, for he knoweth how to counteract this weapon of mine. So,
+pass thou on, keeping his steeds to thy left; for those that are
+sensible should thus be avoided.' Hearing these words, the illustrious
+son of Matsya, giving up the reins of the steeds, jumped down from the
+car and taking off the garments of the warriors, came back to his place.
+And the son of Virata then urged the four handsome steeds with flanks
+adorned with golden armours. And those white steeds, urged on, took
+Arjuna away from the midst of battle-field and beyond the array of the
+infantry bearing standards in their hands. And, Bhishma, beholding that
+best of men thus going away, struck him with arrows. And Partha, too,
+having slain Bhishma's steeds, pierced him with ten shafts. And
+abandoning Bhishma on the field of battle, having first slain his
+car-driver, Arjuna with a good-looking bow in hand came out of that
+multitude of cars, like the sun emerging from the clouds. And
+Dhritarashtra's son, that foremost of heroes among the Kurus, recovering
+his senses, saw the son of Pritha standing like the lord of the
+celestials, alone on the battle-field. And he said in hurry (unto
+Bhishma), 'How hath this one escape from thee? Do thou afflict him in
+such a way that he may not escape.' And at this, Santanu's son, smiling,
+said unto him, 'Where had been this sense of thine, and where had been
+thy prowess too, when thou hadst been in a state of unconsciousness
+renouncing thy arrows and handsome bow? Vibhatsu is not addicted to the
+commission of atrocious deeds; nor is his soul inclined to sin. He
+renounceth not his principles even for the sake of the three worlds. It
+is for this only that all of us have not been slain in this battle. O
+thou foremost of Kuru heroes, go back to the city of the Kurus, and let
+Partha also go away, having conquered the kine. Do thou never foolishly
+throw away thy own good. Indeed, that which leadeth to one's welfare
+ought to be accomplished.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having listened to the words of the grandsire
+that tended to his own welfare, the wrathful king Duryodhana no longer
+eager for battle, drew a deep sigh and became silent. And reflecting
+that the advice of Bhishma was beneficial and seeing that the Pandavas
+gaining in strength, the other warriors also, desirous of protecting
+Duryodhana, resolved to return. And beholding those foremost of Kuru
+heroes departing for their city, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, with a
+cheerful heart followed them for a while, desirous of addressing and
+worshipping them. And having worshipped the aged grandsire--the son of
+Santanu, as also the preceptor Drona, and having saluted with beautiful
+arrows Drona's son and Kripa and other venerable ones among the Kurus,
+the son of Pritha broke into fragments Duryodhana's crown decked with
+precious gems, with another arrow. And having saluted all the venerable
+and brave warriors thus, he filled the three worlds with the twang of
+the _Gandiva_. And suddenly blowing his conch called _Devadatta_, the
+hero pierced the hearts of all his foes. And having humbled the hostile,
+he looked resplendent on his car decked with a handsome flag. And
+beholding the Kurus depart, Kiritin cheerfully said unto Matsya's son,
+'Turn back thy steeds; thy kine have been recovered; the foe is going
+away and do thou also return to thy city with a cheerful heart.' And the
+celestials also, having witnessed that most wonderful encounter between
+Phalguna and the Kurus, were highly delighted, and went to their
+respective abodes, reflecting upon Partha's feats."
+
+
+SECTION LXVI
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having vanquished the Kurus in battle, that one with
+eyes like those of a bull brought back that profuse cattle wealth of
+Virata. And while the Dhritarashtra, after their rout, were going away,
+a large number of Kuru-soldiers issuing out of the deep forest appeared
+with slow steps before Partha, their hearts afflicted with fear. And
+they stood before him with joined palms and with hair dishevelled. And
+fatigued with hunger and thirst, arrived in a foreign land, insensible
+with terror, and confused in mind, they all bowed down unto the son of
+Pritha and said,--_We are thy slaves_.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'Welcome, blessed be ye. Go ye away. Ye have no cause of
+fear. I will not take the lives of them that are afflicted. Ye have my
+assurance of protection.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of assurance, the assembled
+warriors greeted him with benedictions in praise of his achievements and
+fame and wishing him long life. And the Kauravas were unable to confront
+Arjuna while after routing the foe he proceeded towards the city of
+Virata, like an elephant with rent temples. And having routed the whole
+army of the Kuru like a violent wind scattering the clouds, that slayer
+of foes, Partha, regardfully addressing the prince of Matsya, said, 'It
+is known to thee alone, O child, that the sons of Pritha are all living
+with thy father. Do not eulogise them upon entering the city, for then
+the king of the Matsyas may hide himself in fear. On the other hand,
+entering the city, do thou proclaim in the presence of thy father that
+the deed is thy own, saying,--_By me hath the army of the Kurus been
+vanquished and by me have the kine been recovered from the foe!_'
+
+"Uttara said, 'The feat thou hast achieved is beyond my power. I do not
+possess the ability to achieve it. I shall not, however, O Savyasachin,
+discover thee to my father, as long as thou wilt not tell me to do it.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having vanquished the hostile army and wrested
+the whole of the cattle wealth from the Kurus, Jishnu returned again to
+the cemetery and having approached the same _Sami_ tree stood there with
+body mangled by the arrows of the enemy. Then that terrible monkey
+blazing like fire ascended into the sky with those other creatures in
+the flag-staff. And the illusion created (by Viswakarma) melted away and
+Uttara's own banner bearing the device of a lion was set up on the car
+again. And having replaced the arrows and quivers of those foremost of
+the Kuru princes, and also that other weapon the _(Gandiva)_ which
+enhances the fierceness of a battle, the illustrious prince of Matsya
+set out for the city with a glad heart, having Kiritin as his
+charioteer. And having achieved an exceedingly mighty feat and slain the
+foe, Partha also, that slayer of foes, binding his hair into a braid as
+before, took the reins from Uttara's hands. And that illustrious hero
+entered the city of Virata, with a cheerful heart rehabilitating himself
+as Vrihannala, the car-driver of Uttara.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "When all the Kauravas utterly routed and
+vanquished, set out in a dejected mood for Hastinapura, Phalguna, on his
+way back, addressed Uttara, saying, 'O prince, O hero of mighty arms,
+seeing the kine escorted in advance of us by the cowherds, we shall
+enter Virata's metropolis in the afternoon, having tended the steeds
+with drink and a bath. Let the cowherds, despatched by thee, speedily
+repair to the city with the good news and proclaim thy victory.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Agreeable to Arjuna's words, Uttara speedily
+ordered the messengers, saying, 'Go ye and proclaim the king's victory.
+The foe hath been routed, and the kine have been recovered.' And the
+Matsya and the Bharata princes having thus consulted together
+re-approached the same _Sami_ tree. And gratified with the victory they
+had won, and arrived at the foot of the _Sami_ tree, they wore on their
+persons and took up on their car the ornaments and robes they had left
+there. And having vanquished the whole hostile army and recovered the
+whole of the wealth from the Kurus, the heroic son of Virata returned to
+the city with Vrihannala as his car-driver."
+
+
+SECTION LXVII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Having speedily recovered his wealth Virata owning a
+large army entered his city with a cheerful heart, accompanied by the
+four Pandavas. And having vanquished the _Trigartas_ in battle and
+recovered all the kine, that mighty monarch, along with the sons of
+Pritha, looked resplendent and blazed forth in beauty. And as the brave
+king, that enhancer of the joys of friends, was seated on his throne,
+all his subjects headed by the Brahmanas stood before him. And
+worshipped by them, the king of the Matsyas, at the head of his army,
+saluted the Brahmanas and his subjects in return and dismissed them
+cheerfully. And Virata, the king of the Matsyas owning a large army,
+enquired after Uttara, saying, 'Where hath Uttara gone?' And the women
+and the maidens of the palace and the other females living in the inner
+apartments joyfully said unto him, 'Our kine having been seized by the
+Kurus, Bhuminjaya incensed at this and from excess of bravery hath
+issued forth alone with only Vrihannala as his second, for vanquishing
+the six mighty car-warriors, Bhishma the son of Santanu, and Kripa, and
+Karna, and Duryodhana, and Drona, and Drona's son who have all come with
+the Kuru army.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then king Virata, hearing that his brave son
+had gone forth with only one car and with Vrihannala as his car-driver,
+became filled with grief, and addressing his chief counsellors, said,
+'Without doubt, the Kauravas and other lords of earth, learning the
+defeat of the Trigartas, will never keep their ground. Therefore, let
+those of my warriors that have not been wounded by the _Trigartas_ go
+out, accompanied by a mighty force, for the protection of Uttara.' And
+saying this, the king speedily despatched, for the sake of his son,
+horses and elephants and cars and a large number of foot-soldiers,
+equipped and decked with various kinds of weapons and ornaments. And it
+was thus that Virata, the king of the Matsyas, owning a large army,
+quickly ordered out a large division consisting of four kinds of troops.
+And having done this, he said, 'Learn ye, without loss of time whether
+the prince liveth still or not! I myself think that he who hath got a
+person of the neuter sex for his car-driver is not alive.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then king Yudhishthira the just, smilingly said
+unto the afflicted king Virata, 'If, O monarch, Vrihannala hath been his
+charioteer, the foe will never be able to take away thy kine today.
+Protected by that charioteer, thy son will be able to vanquish in battle
+all the lords of earth allied with the Kurus, indeed, even the gods and
+the _Asuras_ and the _Siddhas_ and the _Yakshas_ together.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Meanwhile, the swift-footed messengers
+despatched by Uttara, having reached Virata's city, gave tidings of the
+victory. And the minister-in-chief then informed the king of everything,
+viz., the great victory that had been won, the defeat of the Kurus, and
+the expected arrival of Uttara. And he said, 'All the kine have been
+brought back, the Kurus have been defeated, and Uttara, that slayer of
+foes, is well with his car-driver.' Then Yudhishthira said, 'By good
+luck it is that the kine have been recovered and the Kurus routed. I do
+not, however, regard it strange that thy son should have vanquished the
+Kurus, for his victory is assured that hath Vrihannala for his
+charioteer.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing of the victory of his son possessed of
+immeasurable might, king Virata became so glad that the bristles of his
+body stood erect. And having made presents of raiments unto the
+messengers, he ordered his ministers, saying, 'Let the highways be
+decorated with flags, and let all the gods and goddesses be worshipped
+with flowery offerings. And let princes and brave warriors, and
+musicians and harlots decked in ornaments, march out to receive my son.
+And let the bellman, speedily riding an intoxicated elephant, proclaim
+my victory at places where four roads meet. And let Uttara, too, in
+gorgeous attire and surrounded by virgins and chanters of eulogies, go
+forth to receive my son.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having listened to these words of the king, all
+the citizens with auspicious things in hand, and many amongst them with
+cymbals and trumpets and conchs, and beautiful women attired in gorgeous
+robes, and reciters of auspicious and sacred hymns, accompanied by
+encomiasts and minstrels, and drummers and other kinds of musicians
+issued forth from the city of the mighty Virata to welcome Uttara of
+immeasurable prowess. And having despatched troops and maidens and
+courtesans decked in ornaments, the wise king of the Matsyas cheerfully
+said these words, '_O Sairindhri_, fetch the dice. And, O Kanka, let the
+play commence.' The son of Pandu replied, saying, 'We have heard it said
+that one whose heart is filled with joy should not play with a cunning
+gambler. I do not therefore, dare gamble with thee that are so
+transported with joy. I am ever desirous of doing what is for thy good.
+Let the play, however, commence if it pleases thee.'
+
+"Virata said, 'My female slaves and kine, my gold and whatsoever other
+wealth I have, nothing of all this shall thou be able to protect today
+even if I do not gamble.' Kanka said in reply, 'O monarch, O bestower of
+honours, what business hast thou with gamble which is attended with
+numerous evils? Gambling is fraught with many evils; it should,
+therefore, be shunned. Thou mayst have seen or at least heard of
+Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu. He lost his extensive and prosperous
+kingdom and his god-like brothers at dice. For this, I am averse to
+gambling. But if thou likest, O king, I will play.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "While the play was going on, Matsya said unto
+the son of Pandu, 'Lo, the Kauravas that are so formidable have been
+vanquished in battle by my son.' Upon this, the illustrious king
+Yudhishthira said, 'Why should not he conquer that hath Vrihannala for
+his charioteer?'
+
+"Thus addressed, King Matsya became angry and said unto Pandu's son,
+'Thou wretch of a Brahmana, dost thou compare one of the neuter sex with
+my son! Hast thou no knowledge of what is proper and what improper for
+one to say? Without doubt, thou disregardest me. Why should not my son
+vanquish all those with Bhishma and Drona as their leaders? O Brahmana,
+for friendship only I pardon thee this thy offence. Thou must not,
+however, say so again if thou wishest to live.'
+
+"Yudhishthira said, 'There where Bhishma and Drona and Drona's son and
+the son of Vikartana and Kripa and king Duryodhana and other royal and
+mighty car-warriors are assembled or there where Indra himself is
+surrounded by the Maruts, what other person than Vrihannala can fight,
+encountering them all! None hath been, none will be, his equal in
+strength of arms! Indeed, it is Vrihannala only whose heart is filled
+with joy at sight of a terrible conflict. It is he who had vanquished
+the celestials and the _Asuras_ and human beings fighting together. With
+such a one for his ally, why should not thy son conquer the foe?' Virata
+said, 'Repeatedly forbidden by me, thou dost not yet restrain thy
+tongue. If there is none to punish, no one would practise virtue.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, the king inflamed with anger
+forcibly struck Yudhishthira in the face with a dice, and reproached him
+angrily, saying, 'Let it not occur again!' And having been violently
+struck, blood began to flow from his nose. But the son of Pritha held it
+in his hands before it fell on the ground. And the virtuous Yudhishthira
+then glanced at Draupadi who was standing by his side. Ever obedient to
+the wishes of her lord, the faultless Draupadi, understanding his
+meaning, and bringing a golden vessel filled with water, received the
+blood that flowed from his nose. Meanwhile, Uttara, entertained with
+sweet perfumes of diverse kinds and decked with floral chaplets, slowly
+entered the city, received with respect by the citizens, the women, and
+the people of the provinces. And approaching the gate of the palace he
+sent the news of his arrival to his father. And the porter then,
+approaching the king, said, 'Thy son Uttara, waiteth at the gate with
+Vrihannala as his companion.' And the Matsya king, with a cheerful
+heart, said unto him, 'Do thou usher both, as I am very anxious to see
+them.' Then Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, gently whispered unto
+the ears of the warder, 'Let Uttara enter alone; Vrihannala must not
+come in. Such is the vow of that hero of mighty arms that whoever
+causeth a wound on my person or sheddeth my blood except in battle,
+shall not live. Inflamed with rage he will never bear patiently to see
+me bleeding, but will slay Virata even now with his counsellors and
+troops and steeds.'"
+
+
+SECTION LXVIII
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then Bhuminjaya, the eldest son of the king,
+entered, and having worshipped the feet of his father approached Kanka.
+And he beheld Kanka covered with blood, and seated on the ground at one
+end of the court, and waited upon by the _Sairindhri_. And seeing this,
+Uttara asked his father in a hurry, saying, 'By whom, O king, hath this
+one been struck? By whom hath this sinful act been perpetrated?'
+
+"Virata said, 'This crooked Brahmana hath been struck by me. He
+deserveth even more than this. When I was praising thee, he praised that
+person of the third sex.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Thou hast, O king, committed an improper act. Do thou
+speedily propitiate him so that the virulent poison of a Brahmana's
+curse may not consume thee to thy roots!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Having heard the words of his son, Virata, that
+enhancer of the limits of his kingdom, began to soothe Kunti's son, who
+was like unto a fire hid in ashes, for obtaining his forgiveness. And
+unto the king desirous of obtaining his pardon the Pandava replied, 'O
+king, I have long ago forgiven it. Anger I have none. Had this blood
+from my nostrils fallen on the ground, then, without doubt, thou, O
+monarch, wouldst have been destroyed with thy kingdom. I do not,
+however, blame thee, O king, for having struck an innocent person. For,
+O king, they that are powerful generally act with unreasoning
+severity.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "When the bleeding had stopped, Vrihannala
+entered (the council-room) and having saluted both Virata and Kanka,
+stood silent. And the king, having appeased the chief of the Kurus,
+began to praise, in Savyasachin's hearing, Uttara who had returned from
+the battle. And the king said, 'O enhancer of the joys of Kekaya's
+princess, in thee have I truly a son! I never had nor shall have, a son
+that is equal to thee! How, indeed, couldst thou, O child, encounter
+that Karna who leaveth not a single mark unhit amongst even a thousand
+that he may aim at all at once? How couldst thou, O child, encounter
+that Bhishma who hath no equal in the whole world of men? How also
+couldst thou, O child, encounter Drona, that foremost of all wielders of
+weapons, that preceptor of the Vrishnis and Kauravas, twice-born one who
+may be regarded as the preceptor of all the Kshatriyas? How couldst thou
+meet in battle the celebrated Aswatthaman? How couldst thou, O child,
+encounter that Duryodhana, the prince who is capable of piercing even a
+mountain with his mighty arrows? My foes have all been thrashed. A
+delicious breeze seems to blow around me. And since thou hast recovered
+in battle the whole of my wealth that had been seized by the Kurus, it
+seems that all those mighty warriors were struck with panic. Without
+doubt, thou, O bull amongst men, has routed the foe and snatched away
+from them my wealth of kine, like his prey from a tiger.'"
+
+
+SECTION LXIX
+
+"Uttara said, 'The kine have not been recovered by me, nor have the foe
+been vanquished by me. All that hath been accomplished by the son of a
+deity. Capable of striking like a thunderbolt, that youth of celestial
+origin, beholding me running away in fear, stopped me and himself
+mounted on my car. It was by him that the kine have been recovered and
+the Kauravas vanquished. The deed, O father, is that hero's and not
+mine. It was he that repulsed with arrows Kripa and Drona and Drona's
+son of powerful energy, and the _Suta's_ son and Bhishma. That mighty
+hero then spoke unto the affrighted prince Duryodhana who was running
+away like the leader of a head of elephants, these words, "O prince of
+the Kuru race, I do not see that thou art safe by any means even at
+Hastinapura. Protect thy life by putting forth thy might. Thou shalt not
+escape me by flight. Therefore, make up thy mind for fight. If
+victorious, the sovereignty of the earth will be thine, or if slain,
+heaven itself will be thine."
+
+"'Thus addressed, king Duryodhana--that tiger among men surrounded by
+his counsellors,--sighing on his car like a snake turned back, showered
+arrows endued with the speed and force of thunderbolts. Beholding all
+this, venerable sire, my thighs began to quake. Then that celestial
+youth pierced with arrows the Kuru army consisting of leonine warriors.
+And having pierced and afflicted that crowd of cars, that youth, stout
+as the lion, laughed at them and robbed them of their clothes and
+attires. Indeed, the six great car-warriors of the Kurus were vanquished
+by that hero alone, even like herds of animals ranging in the forest by
+a single tiger in rage.'
+
+"Virata said, 'Where is that mighty-armed and famous youth of celestial
+origin, that hero who recovered in battle my wealth that had been seized
+by the Kurus? I am anxious to behold and worship that mighty warrior of
+celestial origin who hath saved thee and my kine also.'
+
+"Uttara replied, 'The mighty son of a deity disappeared there and then.
+I think, however, that he will show himself either tomorrow or the day
+after.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Virata, that owner of a large army, remained
+ignorant of the son of Pandu who was thus described unto him by Uttara,
+and who was living in the palace in disguise. And permitted by the
+high-souled Virata, Partha presented with his own hands the garments he
+had brought, unto Virata's daughter. And the beautiful Uttara, obtaining
+those new and costly clothes of diverse kinds, became highly glad, along
+with the son of the Matsya king."
+
+
+SECTION LXX
+
+Vaisampayana said, "Then, on the third day, attired in white robes after
+a bath, and decked in ornaments of all kinds, those great car-warriors,
+the five Pandava brothers, having accomplished their vow, and with
+Yudhishthira at their head, looked resplendent as they entered the
+palace-gate like five intoxicated elephants. And having entered the
+council-hall of Virata, they took their seats on the thrones reserved
+for kings, and shone brilliantly like fires on the sacrificial altar.
+And after Pandavas had taken their seats, Virata, that lord of earth,
+came there for holding his council and discharging other royal offices.
+And beholding the illustrious Pandavas blazing like fires, the king
+reflected for a moment. And then, filled with wrath, the Matsya king
+spoke unto Kanka seated there like a celestial and looking like the lord
+of celestials surrounded by the Martus. And he said, 'A player at dice
+thou wert employed by me as a courtier! How couldst thou occupy the
+royal seat thus attired in handsome robes and ornaments?'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Virata, O king, and
+desirous of jesting with him, Arjuna smilingly said in reply, 'This
+person, O king, deserveth to occupy the same seat with Indra himself.
+Devoted to the Brahmanas, acquainted with the _Vedas_, indifferent to
+luxury and carnal enjoyments, habitually performing sacrifices, steady
+in vows, this one, indeed, is the very embodiment of virtue. The
+foremost of all Persons endued with energy and superior to every body on
+earth in intelligence, devoted to asceticism, he is conversant with
+various weapons. No other person among the mobile and immobile creatures
+of the three worlds possesseth or will ever possess such knowledge of
+weapons. And there is none even amongst the gods, or _Asuras_, or men,
+or _Rakshasas_, or _Gandharvas_, or _Yaksha_ chiefs, or _Kinnaras_--or
+mighty _Uragas_, who is like him. Endued with great foresight and
+energy, beloved by the citizens and inhabitants of the provinces, he is
+the mightiest of car-warriors amongst the sons of Pandu. A performer of
+sacrifices, devoted to morality, and of subdued passions, like unto a
+great _Rishi_, this royal sage is celebrated over all the worlds.
+Possessed of great strength and great intelligence, able and truthful,
+he hath all his senses under complete control. Equal unto Indra in
+wealth and Kuvera in hoarding, he is the protector of the worlds like
+unto _Manu_ himself of mighty prowess. Endued with great might, he is
+even such. Kind unto all creatures he is no other than the bull of the
+Kuru race, king Yudhishthira the just. The achievements of this king
+resemble the sun himself of blazing effulgence. And his fame hath
+travelled in all directions like the rays of that luminary. And like the
+rays following the risen sun of blazing effulgence, ten thousand swift
+elephants followed him, O king, when he dwelt among the Kurus. And, O
+king, thirty thousand cars decked in gold and drawn by the best steeds,
+also used to follow him then. And full eight hundred bards adorned with
+ear-rings set with shining gems, and accompanied by minstrels, recited
+his praises in those days, like the _Rishis_ adorning Indra. And, O
+king, the Kauravas and other lords of earth always waited upon him like
+slaves, as the celestials upon Kuvera. This eminent king, resembling the
+bright-rayed sun, made all lords of earth pay tribute unto him like
+persons of the agricultural class. And eighty-eight thousands of
+high-souled _Snatakas_ depended for their subsistence upon this king
+practising excellent vows. This illustrious lord protected the aged and
+the helpless, the maimed and the blind, as his sons, and he ruled over
+his subjects virtuously. Steady in morality and self-control, capable of
+restraining his anger, bountiful, devoted to the Brahmanas, and
+truthful, this one is the son of Pandu. The prosperity and prowess of
+this one afflict king Suyodhana with his followers including Karna and
+Suvala's son. And, O lord of men, the virtues of this one are incapable
+of being enumerated. This son of Pandu is devoted to morality and always
+abstains from injury. Possessed of such attributes, doth not this bull
+among kings, this son of Pandu, deserve, O monarch, to occupy a royal
+seat?'"
+
+
+SECTION LXXI
+
+"Virata said, 'If this one, indeed, be the Kuru king Yudhishthira the son
+of Kunti, which amongst these is his brother Arjuna, and which, the
+mighty Bhima. Which of these is Nakula, and which Sahadeva and where is
+the celebrated Draupadi? After their defeat at dice, the sons of Pritha
+have not been heard of by any one.'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'Even this one, O king, who is called Vallava and is thy
+cook, is that Bhima of mighty arms and terrible prowess and furious
+impetus. It was he who slew the furious _Rakshasas_ on the mountains of
+_Gandhamadana_, and procured for Krishna celestial flowers of great
+fragrance. Even he is that _Gandharva_, who slew the Kichaka of wicked
+soul and it was he who killed tigers and bears and boars in the inner
+apartment of thy palace. He who had been the keeper of thy horse is that
+slayer of foes called Nakula, and this one is Sahadeva, the keeper of
+thy kine. Both these sons of Madri are great car-warriors, possessed of
+great fame and beauty of person. These two bulls of the Bharata race,
+attired in handsome robes and decked in excellent ornaments, are a match
+for a thousand great car-warriors. And even this lady of eyes like
+lotus-petals and slender waist and sweet smiles is Drupada's daughter,
+thy wife's _Sairindhri_, for whose sake, O king, the Kichakas were
+slain. I am, O king, Arjuna who, it is evident, thou hast heard, is that
+son of Pritha, who is Bhima's junior and the senior of the twins! We
+have, O king, happily passed in thy abode the period of non-discovery,
+like infants in the womb!'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "After Arjuna had pointed out those heroes--the
+five Pandavas, the son of Virata then spoke of Arjuna's prowess. And
+Uttara once again identified the sons of Pritha. And the prince said,
+'That one whose complexion is bright like that of pure gold, who is
+stout like a full-grown lion, whose nose is so prominent, whose eyes are
+large and expansive, and whose face is broad and of coppery hue, is the
+king of the Kurus. And behold, that one whose tread is like that of an
+infuriate elephant, whose complexion is like that of heated gold, whose
+shoulders are broad and expanded, and whose arms are long and thick, is
+Vrikodara. And he who stands by his side, that youth of darkish hue, who
+is like unto a leader of a herd of elephants, whose shoulders are broad
+like those of a lion, whose tread is like that of a mighty elephant, and
+whose eyes are large and expansive like lotus-leaves, is Arjuna that
+foremost of bowmen. All lo, close to the king, are those foremost of
+men, the twins, like unto Vishnu and Indra, and who have no equals, in
+the world of men, in beauty, might, and behaviour. And close by them,
+behold, standeth Krishna, beautiful as gold, like unto the very
+embodiment of light, possessing the complexion of the blue lotus, like
+unto a celestial damsel, and resembling the living embodiment of
+_Lakshmi_ herself.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then Virata's son began to describe the prowess
+of Arjuna, saying, 'Even this one is he that slew the foe, like unto a
+lion devastating a flock of deer. Even he ranged through crowds of
+hostile cars, slaying their best of car-warriors. By him was slain a
+huge, infuriate elephant by means of a single arrow. Pierced by him,
+that huge beast having its flanks adorned with an armour of gold, fell
+down piercing the earth with his tusks. By him have the kine been
+recovered and the Kauravas vanquished in battle. My ears have been
+deafened by the blare of his conch. It was by this hero of fierce deeds
+that Bhishma and Drona, along with Duryodhana, were vanquished. That
+achievement is his and not mine.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of his, the mighty king of
+the Matsyas, considering himself guilty of having offended Yudhishthira,
+said unto Uttara in reply, 'I think the time hath come for me to
+propitiate the sons of Pandu. And, if thou likest, I shall bestow my
+daughter Uttara upon Arjuna.'
+
+"Uttara said, 'Worthy of our adorations and worship and respect, the
+time hath come for worshipping the illustrious sons of Pandu who deserve
+to be worshipped by us.'
+
+"Virata said, 'When brought under the foe's subjection in battle, it was
+Bhimasena that rescued me. My kine also have been recovered by Arjuna.
+It is through the might of their arms that we have obtained victory in
+battle. Such being the case, all of us, with our counsellors, shall
+propitiate Yudhishthira the son of Kunti. Blessed be thou, with all thy
+brothers, O bull among the sons of Pandu. If, O king, we have ever said
+or done anything in ignorance to offend thee, it behoveth thee to
+forgive us. The son of Pandu is virtuous.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "Then the high-souled Virata, delighted greatly,
+approached king Yudhishthira and made an alliance with him, and offered
+him his whole kingdom together with the sceptre and treasury and
+metropolis. And addressing all the Pandavas, and especially Dhananjaya,
+the mighty king of the Matsyas repeatedly said, 'By good luck it is that
+I see you.' And having again and again embraced Yudhishthira and Bhima
+and the sons of Madri, and smelt their heads, Virata, that owner of a
+large army, was not satiated with gazing at them. And being highly
+pleased, he said unto king Yudhishthira, 'By good luck it is that I see
+you safe from woods. By good luck it is that ye have accomplished with
+difficulty the period of exile, undiscovered by those wicked wights. I
+make over my entire kingdom to the sons of Pritha, and what else I have.
+Let the sons of Pandu accept these without the slightest hesitation. And
+let Dhananjaya, called also Savyasachin, accept the hand of Uttara:
+for that best of men is fit to be her lord.' Thus addressed, king
+Yudhishthira the just cast a look upon Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha.
+And looked at by his brother, Arjuna said unto the Matsya king, 'O
+monarch, I accept thy daughter as my daughter-in-law. And alliance of
+this kind between the Matsya and the Bharatas is, indeed, desirable.'"
+
+
+SECTION LXXII
+
+"Virata said, 'Why, O best among the Pandavas, dost thou not wish to
+accept as wife this my daughter that I bestow upon thee?'
+
+"Arjuna said, 'Residing in thy inner apartments, I had occasion always
+to behold thy daughter, and she too, alone or in company trusted me as
+her father. Well-versed in singing and dancing, I was liked and regarded
+by her, and, indeed, thy daughter always regardeth me as her protector.
+O king, I lived for one whole year with her though she had attained the
+age of puberty. Under these circumstances, thyself or other men may not
+without reason, entertain suspicions against her or me. Therefore, O
+king, myself who am pure, and have my senses under control, beg to thee,
+O monarch, thy daughter as my daughter-in-law. Thus do I attest her
+purity. There is no difference between a daughter-in-law and a daughter,
+as also between a son and son's own-self. By adopting this course,
+therefore, her purity will be proved. I am afraid of slanderous and
+false accusations. I accept, therefore, O king, thy daughter Uttara as
+my daughter-in-law. Surpassing all in knowledge of weapons, resembling a
+celestial youth in beauty, my son, the mighty-armed Abhimanyu is the
+favourite nephew of Vasudeva, the wielder of the discus. He, O king, is
+fit to be thy son-in-law and the husband of thy daughter.'
+
+"Virata said, 'It behoveth the best of the Kurus, Dhananjaya, the son of
+Kunti, who is so virtuous and wise, to say this. O son of Pritha, do
+thou carry out what thou thinkest should be done after this. He that
+hath Arjuna for the father of his son-in-law, hath all his desires
+gratified.'"
+
+Vaisampayana continued, "The monarch having said this, Yudhishthira, the
+son of Kunti, gave his assent to what was thus agreed upon between the
+Matsya king and Arjuna. And, O Bharata, the son of Kunti sent
+invitations to Vasudeva and to all his friends and relatives, and Virata
+also did the same. And then, after the expiry of the thirteenth year,
+the five Pandavas took up their abode in one of Virata's towns called
+_Upaplavya_, and Vibhatsu, the son of Pandu, brought over Abhimanyu and
+Janardana, and also many people of the Dasarha race from the Anarta
+country. And the king of Kasi, and also Saivya, being very friendly to
+Yudhishthira, arrived there, each accompanied by an _Akshauhini_ of
+troops. And the mighty Drupada, also with the heroic sons of Draupadi
+and the unvanquished Sikhandin, and that foremost of wielder of weapons,
+the invincible Dhrishtadyumna came there with another _Akshauhini_ of
+troops. And all the kings that came were not only lords of _Akshauhini_,
+but performers of sacrifices with gifts in profusion to Brahmanas,
+conversant with the _Vedas_ endued with heroism, and ready to die in
+battle. And beholding them arrived, that foremost of virtuous men, the
+king of the Matsyas, adored them duly, and entertained their troops and
+servants and carriers of burdens. And he was highly pleased to bestow
+his daughter upon Abhimanyu. And after the kings had come there from
+different parts of the country, there came Vasudeva decked in floral
+garlands, and Halayudha, and Kritavarman, the son of Hridika, and
+Yuyudhana, the son of Satyaki, and Anadhristi and Akrura, and Samva and
+Nisatha. And these repressers of foes came there bringing with them
+Abhimanyu and his mother. And Indrasena and others, having lived at
+Dwaraka for one whole year, came there, bringing with them the well
+adorned cars of the Pandavas. And there came also ten thousand elephants
+and ten thousand cars, and hundred millions of horses and hundred
+billions of foot-soldiers, and innumerable Vrishni and Andhaka and Bhoja
+warriors of great energy, in the train of that tiger among the Vrishnis,
+Vasudeva of great effulgence. And Krishna gave unto each of the
+illustrious sons of Pandu numerous female slaves, and gems and robes.
+And then the nuptial festival set in between the families of the Matsya
+king and the Pandavas. And then conchs and cymbals and horns and drums
+and other musical instruments appointed by the Pandavas, began to play
+in the palace of Virata. And deer of various kinds and clean animals by
+hundreds were slain. And wines of various kinds and intoxicating juices
+of trees were profusely collected. And mimes and bards and encomiasts,
+versed in singing and legendary lore, waited upon the kings, and chanted
+their praises and genealogies. And the matrons of the Matsyas of
+symmetrical bodies and limbs, and wearing ear-rings of pearls and gems,
+headed by Sudeshna, came to the place where the marriage knot was to be
+tied. And amongst those beautiful females of fair complexion and
+excellent ornaments, Krishna was the foremost in beauty and fame and
+splendour. And they all came there, leading forth the princess Uttara
+decked in every ornament and resembling the daughter of the great Indra
+himself. And then Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, accepted Virata's
+daughter of faultless limbs on behalf of his son by Subhadra. And that
+great king, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, who stood there like Indra,
+also accepted her as his daughter-in-law. And having accepted her, the
+son of Pritha, with Janardana before him, caused the nuptial ceremonies
+to be performed of the illustrious son of Subhadra. And Virata then gave
+him (as dowry) seven thousand steeds endued with the speed of the wind
+and two hundred elephants of the best kind and much wealth also. And
+having duly poured libations of clarified butter on the blazing fire,
+and paid homage unto the twice-born ones, Virata offered to the Pandavas
+his kingdom, army, treasury, and his own self. And after the marriage
+had taken place, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, gave away unto the
+Brahmanas all the wealth that had been brought by Krishna of unfading
+glory. And he also gave away thousands of kine, and diverse kinds of
+robes, and various excellent ornaments, and vehicles, and beds,
+delicious viands of various kinds, and cardinal drinks of diverse
+species. And the king also made gifts of land unto the Brahmanas with
+due rites, and also cattle by thousands. And he also gave away thousands
+of steeds and much gold and much wealth of other kinds, unto persons of
+all ages. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the city of the Matsya king,
+thronged with men cheerful and well-fed, shone brightly like a great
+festival."
+
+_The end of Virata Parva._
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana
+Vyasa Bk. 4, by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
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