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diff --git a/12058-0.txt b/12058-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b46330 --- /dev/null +++ b/12058-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5945 @@ +*** 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 *** |