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diff --git a/19630-h/19630-h.htm b/19630-h/19630-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4e9092f --- /dev/null +++ b/19630-h/19630-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7614 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<title>Mahabharata</title> +<style type="text/css"><!-- +body {margin:5%} +.sc {font-variant: small-caps;} +.tdr {text-align: right; padding-right: 1em;} +div#frontespiece, +div#titlepage, +div#dedication {text-align: center; line-height: 2.0; margin-bottom: 4em;} +.sectionheader {text-align: center; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 2em;} +dl {margin: 0.5em 2em 0.5em 0;} +dt {display: list-item; list-style-type: none; font-weight: bold; + float: left; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;} +dd {margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;} +.sourcecite {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right} +--></style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Maha-bharata, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Maha-bharata + The Epic of Ancient India Condensed into English Verse + +Author: Anonymous + +Translator: Romesh Dutt + +Release Date: October 25, 2006 [EBook #19630] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAHA-BHARATA *** + + + + +Produced by Andrew Sly, using a text prepared by John B. +Hare of sacred-texts.com. + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div id="frontespiece"> +<img src="images/frontespiece.jpg" alt="Frontespiece: The Banishment" width="502" height="820"> +</div> +<div id="titlepage"> +<h1>MAHA-BHARATA</h1> +<h2>THE EPIC OF ANCIENT INDIA</h2> +<h2>CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH VERSE</h2> +<h3>By Romesh C. Dutt C.I.E.</h3> +<p>MDCCCXCIX Published by J. M. Dent<BR> +and Co. Aldine House London W. C.</p> +</div> +<div id="dedication"> +<p>To<br> +THE MARQUIS OF RIPON</p> +<p>Ever gratefully remembered by my countrymen for his<br> +just and benevolent administration and for his<br> +generous and helpful measures for the<br> +introduction of self-government<br> +in India</p> +<p>This translation<br> +of the ancient epic of my country<br> +is respectfully dedicated</p> +</div> + +<h3>Contents</h3> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="80%" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> +<th class="tdr"><span style="font-size: 90%;">BOOK</span></th> +<th> </th> +<th class="tdr"><span style="font-size: 90%;">PAGE</span></th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">I.</td> +<td><a href="#s01">Astra Darsana (The Tournament)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">II.</td> +<td><a href="#s02">Swayamvara (The Bride's Choice)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">14</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">III.</td> +<td><a href="#s03">Rajasuya (The Imperial Sacrifice)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">28</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">IV.</td> +<td><a href="#s04">Dyuta (The Fatal Dice)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">42</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">V.</td> +<td><a href="#s05">Pativrata-Mahatmya (Woman's Love)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">55</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VI.</td> +<td><a href="#s06">Go-Harana (Cattle-Lifting)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">73</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VII.</td> +<td><a href="#s07">Udyoga (The Preparation)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">86</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VIII.</td> +<td><a href="#s08">Bhishma-Badha (Fall of Bhishma)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">100</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">IX.</td> +<td><a href="#s09">Drona-Badha (Fall of Drona)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">119</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">X.</td> +<td><a href="#s10">Karna-Badha (Fall of Karna)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">136</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XI.</td> +<td><a href="#s11">Sraddha (Funeral Rites)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">151</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XII.</td> +<td><a href="#s12">Aswa-Medha (Sacrifice of the Horse)</a></td> +<td class="tdr">161</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td><a href="#s13">Conclusion</a></td> +<td class="tdr">171</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td><a href="#s14">Translator's Epilogue</a></td> +<td class="tdr">174</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div id="s01" class="sectionheader"> +<h2>THE EPIC OF ANCIENT INDIA</h2> +<h3>BOOK I</h3> +<h3>ASTRA DARSANA</h3> +<p>(The Tournament)</p> +</div> + +<p>The scene of the Epic is the ancient kingdom of the Kurus which +flourished along the upper course of the Ganges; and the historical +fact on which the Epic is based is a great war which took place +between the Kurus and a neighbouring tribe, the Panchalas, in the +thirteenth or fourteenth century before Christ.</p> + +<p>According to the Epic, Pandu and Dhrita-rashtra, who was born blind, +were brothers. Pandu died early, and Dhrita-rashtra became king of +the Kurus, and brought up the five sons of Pandu along with his +hundred sons.</p> + +<p>Yudhishthir, the eldest son of Pandu, was a man of truth and piety; +Bhima, the second, was a stalwart fighter; and Arjun, the third son, +distinguished himself above all the other princes in arms. The two +youngest brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva, were twins. Duryodhan was +the eldest son of Dhrita-rashtra and was jealous of his cousins, the +sons of Pandu. A tournament was held, and in the course of the day +a warrior named Karna, of unknown origin, appeared on the scene and +proved himself a worthy rival of Arjun. The rivalry between Arjun +and Karna is the leading thought of the Epic, as the rivalry between +Achilles and Hector is the leading thought of the Iliad.</p> + +<p>It is only necessary to add that the sons of Pandu as well as Karna, +were, like the heroes of Homer, god-born chiefs. Some god inspired +the birth of each. Yudhishthir was the son of Dharma or Virtue, Bhima +of Vayu or Wind, Arjun of Indra or Rain-god, the twin youngest were +the sons of the Aswin twins, and Karna was the son of Surya the Sun, +but was believed by himself and by all others to be the son of a +simple chariot-driver.</p> + +<p>The portion translated in this Book forms Sections cxxxiv. to +cxxxvii. of Book i. of the original Epic in Sanscrit (Calcutta +edition of 1834).</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>The Gathering</h4> +<p>Wrathful sons of Dhrita-rashtra, born of Kuru's royal race!<br> +Righteous sons of noble Pandu, god-born men of godlike grace!</p> + +<p>Skill in arms attained these princes from a Brahman warrior bold,<br> +Drona, priest and proud preceptor, peerless chief of days of old!</p> + +<p>Out spake Drona to the monarch in Hastina's royal hall,<br> +Spake to Bhishma and to Kripa, spake to lords and courtiers all:</p> + +<p>“Mark the gallant princes, monarch, trained in arms and warlike art,<br> +Let them prove their skill and valour, rein the steed and throw the dart.”</p> + +<p>Answered then the ancient monarch, joyful was his royal heart,<br> +“Best of Brahmans and of warriors, nobly hast thou done thy part!</p> + +<p>Name the place and fix the moment, hold a royal tournament,<br> +Publish wide the laws of combat, publish far thy king's consent.</p> + +<p>Sightless roll these orbs of vision, dark to me is noonday light,<br> +Happier men will mark the tourney and the peerless princes' fight.</p> + +<p>Let the good and wise Vidura serve thy mandate and behest,<br> +Let a father's pride and gladness fill this old and cheerless breast.”</p> + +<p>Then the good and wise Vidura unto his duties bound,<br> +Drona, blessed with skill and wisdom, measured out the tourney ground,</p> + +<p>Clear of jungle was the meadow, by a crystal fountain graced,<br> +Drona on the lighted altar holy gifts and offerings placed,</p> + +<p>Holy was the star auspicious, and the hour was calm and bright,<br> +Men from distant town and hamlet came to view the sacred rite.</p> + +<p>Then arose white stately mansions, built by architects of fame,<br> +Decked with arms for Kuru's monarch and for every royal dame,</p> + +<p>And the people built their stages circling round the listed green,<br> +And the nobles with their white tents graced the fair and festive scene.</p> + +<p>Brightly dawned the festal morning, and the monarch left his hall,<br> +Bhishma and the pious Kripa with the lords and courtiers all,</p> + +<p>And they came unto the mansions, gay and glittering, gold-encased,<br> +Decked with gems and rich <i>baidurya</i>, and with strings of pearls be-laced.</p> + +<p>Fair Gandhari, queen of Kuru, Pritha, Pandu's widowed dame,<br> +Ladies in their gorgeous garments, maids of beauty and of fame,</p> + +<p>Mounted on their glittering mansions where the tints harmonious blend,<br> +As, on Meru's golden mountain, queens of heavenly gods ascend!</p> + +<p>And the people of the city, Brahmans, Vaisyas, Kshatras bold,<br> +Men from stall and loom and anvil gathered thick, the young and old,</p> + +<p>And arose the sound of trumpet and the surging people's cry,<br> +Like the voice of angry ocean, tempest-lashed, sublime and high!</p> + +<p>Came the saintly white-robed Drona, white his sacrificial thread,<br> +White his sandal-mark and garlands, white the locks that crowned his head,</p> + +<p>With his son renowned for valour walked forth Drona, radiant, high,<br> +So the Moon with Mars conjoinéd walks upon the cloudless sky!</p> + +<p>Offerings to the gods immortal then the priestly warrior made,<br> +Brahmans with their chanted <i>mantra</i> worship and obeisance paid,</p> + +<p>And the festive note of <i>sankha</i> mingled with the trumpet's sound,<br> +Throngs of warriors, various-arméd, came unto the listed ground.</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>The Princes</h4> +<p>Gauntleted and jewel-girdled, now the warlike princes came,<br> +With their stately bows and quivers and their swords like wreaths of flame,</p> + +<p>Each behind his elder stepping, good Yudhishthir first of all,<br> +Each his wondrous skill displaying held the silent crowds in thrall.</p> + +<p>And the men in admiration marked them with a joyful eye,<br> +Or by sudden panic stricken stooped to let the arrow fly!</p> + +<p>Mounted on their rapid coursers oft the princes proved their aim,<br> +Racing, hit the targe with arrows lettered with their royal name,</p> + +<p>With their glinting sunlit weapons shone the youths sublime and high,<br> +More than mortals seemed the princes, like <i>gandharvas</i> of the sky!</p> + +<p>Shouts of joy the people uttered as by sudden impulse driven,<br> +Mingled voice of tens of thousands struck the pealing vault of heaven!</p> + +<p>Still the princes shook their weapons, drove the deep resounding car,<br> +Or on steed or tusker mounted waged the glorious mimic war!</p> + +<p>Mighty sword and ample buckler, ponderous mace the princes wield,<br> +Brightly gleam their lightning rapiers as they range the listed field,</p> + +<p>Brave and fearless is their action, and their movement quick and light,<br> +Skilled and true the thrust and parry of their weapons flaming bright!</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>Bhima and Duryodhan</h4> +<p>Bhima came and proud Duryodhan with their maces held on high,<br> +Like two cliffs with lofty turrets cleaving through the azure sky!</p> + +<p>In their warlike arms accoutred with their girded loins they stood,<br> +Like two untamed jungle tuskers in the deep and echoing wood!</p> + +<p>And as tuskers range the forest, so they range the spacious field,<br> +Right to left and back they wander and their ponderous maces wield!</p> + +<p>Unto Kuru's sightless monarch wise Vidura drew the scene,<br> +Pritha proudly of the princes spake unto the Kuru queen.</p> + +<p>While the stalwart Bhima battled with Duryodhan brave and strong,<br> +Fierce in wrath, for one or other, shouted forth the maddened throng,</p> + +<p>“Hail to Kuru prince Duryodhan!” “Hail to Bhima hero proud!”<br> +Sounds like these from surging myriads rose in tumult deep and loud.</p> + +<p>And with troubled vision Drona marked the heaving restless plain,<br> +Marked the crowd by anger shaken, like the tempest-shaken main,</p> + +<p>To his son then whispered Drona quick the tumult to appease,<br> +Part the armed and angry wrestlers, bid the deadly combat cease,</p> + +<p>With their lifted clubs the princes slow retired on signal given,<br> +Like the parting of the billows, mighty-heaving, tempest-driven!</p> + +<p>Came forth then the ancient Drona on the open battle-ground,<br> +Stopped the drum and lofty trumpet, spake in voice like thunder's sound:</p> + +<p>“Bid him come, the gallant Arjun! pious prince and warrior skilled,<br> +Arjun, born of mighty <span class="sc">Indra</span>, and with <span class="sc">Vishnu's</span> prowess filled.”</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>The Advent of Arjun</h4> +<p>Gauntleted and jewel-girdled, with his bow of ample height,<br> +Archer Arjun pious-hearted to the gods performed a rite,</p> + +<p>Then he stepped forth proud and stately in his golden mail encased,<br> +Like the sunlit cloud of evening with the golden rainbow graced!</p> + +<p>And a gladness stirred the people all around the listed plain,<br> +Voice of drum and blare of trumpet rose with <i>sankha's</i> festive strain!</p> + +<p>“Mark! the gallant son of Pandu, whom the happy Pritha bore,<br> +Mark! the heir of <span class="sc">Indra's</span> valour, matchless in his arms and lore,</p> + +<p>Mark! the warrior young and valiant, peerless in his skill of arms,<br> +Mark! the pure-souled, pious chieftain, decked with grace and varied + charms!”</p> + +<p>Pritha heard such grateful voices borne aloft unto the sky,<br> +Milk of love suffused her bosom, tear of joy was in her eye!</p> + +<p>And where rested Kuru's monarch, joyous accents struck his ear,<br> +And he turned to wise Vidura seeking for the cause to hear:</p> + +<p>“Wherefore like the voice of ocean, when the tempest winds prevail,<br> +Rise these voices of the people and the spacious skies assail?”</p> + +<p>Answered him the wise Vidura, “It is Pritha's gallant boy,<br> +Godlike moves in golden armour, and the people shout for joy!”</p> + +<p>“Pleased am I,” so spake the monarch, “and I bless my happy fate,<br> +Pritha's sons like fires of <i>yajna</i> sanctify this mighty State!”</p> + +<p>Now the voices of the people died away and all was still,<br> +Arjun to his proud preceptor showed his might and matchless skill.</p> + +<p>Towering high or lowly bending, on the turf or on his car,<br> +With his bow and glist'ning arrows Arjun waged the mimic war,</p> + +<p>Targets on the wide arena, mighty tough or wondrous small,<br> +With his arrows bright, unfailing, Arjun pierced them one and all!</p> + +<p>Wild-boar shaped of solid iron coursed the wide-extending field,<br> +In its jaws five glist'ning arrows sent the archer wondrous-skilled,</p> + +<p>Cow-horn by a thread suspended, was by winds unceasing swayed,<br> +One and twenty well-aimed arrows on this moving mark he laid,</p> + +<p>And with equal skill his rapier did the godlike Arjun wield,<br> +Whirling round his mace of battle ranged the spacious tourney field!</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>The Advent of Karna</h4> +<p>Now the feats of arm are ended, and the closing hour draws nigh,<br> +Music's voice is hushed in silence, and dispersing crowds pass by,</p> + +<p>Hark! Like welkin-shaking thunder wakes a deep and deadly sound,<br> +Clank and din of warlike weapons burst upon the tented ground!</p> + +<p>Are the solid mountains splitting, is it bursting of the earth,<br> +Is it tempest's pealing accent whence the lightning takes its birth?</p> + +<p>Thoughts like these alarm the people for the sound is dread and high,<br> +To the gate of the arena turns the crowd with anxious eye!</p> + +<p>Gathered round preceptor Drona, Pandu's sons in armour bright,<br> +Like the five-starred constellation round the radiant Queen of Night,</p> + +<p>Gathered round the proud Duryodhan, dreaded for his exploits done,<br> +All his brave and warlike brothers and preceptor Drona's son,</p> + +<p>So the gods encircled <span class="sc">Indra</span>, thunder-wielding, fierce and bold,<br> +When he scattered Danu's children in the misty days of old!</p> + +<p>Pale, before the unknown warrior, gathered nations part in twain,<br> +Conqueror of hostile cities, lofty Karna treads the plain!</p> + +<p>In his golden mail accoutred and his rings of yellow gold,<br> +Like a moving cliff in stature, arméd comes the chieftain bold!</p> + +<p>Pritha, yet unwedded, bore him, peerless archer on the earth,<br> +Portion of the solar radiance, for the Sun inspired his birth!</p> + +<p>Like a tusker in his fury, like a lion in his ire,<br> +Like the sun in noontide radiance, like the all-consuming fire!</p> + +<p>Lion-like in build and muscle, stately as a golden palm,<br> +Blessed with every very manly virtue, peerless warrior proud and calm!</p> + +<p>With his looks serene and lofty field of war the chief surveyed,<br> +Scarce to Kripa or to Drona honour and obeisance made!</p> + +<p>Still the panic-stricken people viewed him with unmoving gaze,<br> +Who may be this unknown warrior, questioned they in hushed amaze!</p> + +<p>Then in voice of pealing thunder spake fair Pritha's eldest son<br> +Unto Arjun, Pritha's youngest, each, alas! to each unknown!</p> + +<p>“All thy feats of weapons, Arjun, done with vain and needless boast,<br> +These and greater I accomplish—witness be this mighty host!”</p> + +<p>Thus spake proud and peerless Karna in his accents deep and loud,<br> +And as moved by sudden impulse leaped in joy the listening crowd!</p> + +<p>And a gleam of mighty transport glows in proud Duryodhan's heart,<br> +Flames of wrath and jealous anger from the eyes of Arjun start!</p> + +<p>Drona gave the word, and Karna, Pritha's war-beloving son,<br> +With his sword and with his arrows did the feats by Arjun done!</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> +<h4>The Rival Warriors</h4> +<p>Joyful was the proud Duryodhan, gladness gleamed upon his face,<br> +And he spake to gallant Karna with a dear and fond embrace:</p> + +<p>“Welcome, mighty arméd chieftain! thou hast victor's honours won!<br> +Thine is all my wealth and kingdom, name thy wish and it is done!”</p> + +<p>Answered Karna to Duryodhan, “Prince! thy word is good as deed,<br> +But I seek to combat Arjun and to win the victor's meed!”</p> + +<p>“Noble is the boon thou seekest,” answered Kuru's prince of fame,<br> +“Be a joy unto your comrades, let the foeman dread thy name!”</p> + +<p>Anger flamed in Arjun's bosom, and he spake in accents rude<br> +Unto Karna who in triumph calm and proud and fearless stood:</p> + +<p>“Chief! who comest uninvited, pratest in thy lying boast,<br> +Thou shalt die the death of braggarts—witness be this mighty host!”</p> + +<p>Karna answered calm and proudly, “Free this listed field to all,<br> +Warriors enter by their prowess, wait not, Arjun, for thy call!</p> + +<p>Warlike chieftains take their places by their strength of arm and might,<br> +And their warrant is their falchion, valour sanctifies their right!</p> + +<p>Angry word is coward's weapon, Arjun, speak with arrows keen,<br> +Till I lay thee, witness Drona, low upon the listed green!”</p> + +<p>Drona gave the word impartial, wrathful Arjun, dread of foes,<br> +Parted from his loving brothers, with his glist'ning arms arose,</p> + +<p>Karna clasped the Kuru's princes, parted from them one and all,<br> +With his bow and ample quiver proudly stepped the warrior tall.</p> + +<p>Now the clouds with lurid flashes gathered darkling, thick and high,<br> +Lines of cranes like gleams of laughter sailed across the gloomy sky.</p> + +<p>Rain-god <span class="sc">Indra</span> over Arjun watched with father's partial love,<br> +Sun-god <span class="sc">Surya</span> over Karna shed his light from far above,</p> + +<p>Arjun stood in darkening shadow by the inky clouds concealed,<br> +Bold and bright in open sunshine radiant Karna stood revealed!</p> + +<p>Proud Duryodhan and his brothers stood by Karna calm and bold,<br> +Drona stood by gallant Arjun, and brave Bhishma, warrior old,</p> + +<p>Women too with partial glances viewed the one or other chief,<br> +But by equal love divided silent Pritha swooned in grief!</p> + +<p>Wise Vidura, true to duty, with an anxious hurry came,<br> +Sandal-drops and sprinkled waters roused the woe-distracted dame,</p> + +<p>And she saw her sons in combat, words of woe she uttered none,<br> +Speechless wept, for none must fathom Karna was her eldest son!</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> +<h4>The Anointment of Karna</h4> +<p>Crested Karna, helméd Arjun, proudly trod the spacious green,<br> +Kripa, skilled in herald's duties, spake upon the dreadful scene:</p> + +<p><i>“This is helmet-wearing Arjun, sprung of Kuru's mighty race,<br> +Pandu's son and borne by Pritha, prince of worth and warlike grace,</i></p> + +<p><i>Long-armed Chief! declare thy lineage, and the race thou dost adorn,<br> +Name thy mother and thy father, and the house that saw thee born,</i></p> + +<p><i>By the rules of war Prince Arjun claims his rival chief to know,<br> +Princes may not draw their weapon 'gainst a base and nameless foe!”</i></p> + +<p>Karna silent heard this mandate but his birth could not proclaim,<br> +Like a raindrop-pelted lotus bent his humble head in shame!</p> + +<p>“Prince we reckon,” cried Duryodhan, “not the man of birth alone,<br> +Warlike leader of his forces as a prince and chief we own!</p> + +<p>Karna by his warlike valour is of crownéd kings the peer,<br> +Karna shall be crownéd monarch, nations shall his mandate hear!”</p> + +<p>Forth they brought the corn and treasure, golden coin and water jar,<br> +On the throne they seated Karna famed in many a deathful war,</p> + +<p>Brahmans chanted sacred <i>mantra</i> which the holy books ordain,<br> +And anointed Karna monarch, king of Anga's fair domain,</p> + +<p>And they raised the red umbrella, and they waved the <i>chowri</i> fan,<br> +“Blessings on the crownéd monarch! honour to the bravest man!”</p> + +<p>Now the holy rites accomplished, in his kingly robes arrayed<br> +Karna unto prince Duryodhan thus in grateful accents prayed:</p> + +<p>“Gift of kingdom, good Duryodhan, speaketh well thy noble heart,<br> +What return can grateful Karna humbly render on his part?”</p> + +<p>“Grant thy friendship,” cried Duryodhan, “for no other boon I crave,<br> +Be Duryodhan's dearest comrade be his helper true and brave!”</p> + +<p>“Be it so!” responded Karna, with a proud and noble grace,<br> +And he sealed his loyal friendship in a dear and fond embrace!</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> +<h4>The Chariot-driver</h4> +<p>Wet with drops of toil and languor, lo! a chariot-driver came,<br> +Loosely hung his scanty garments, and a staff upheld his frame,</p> + +<p>Karna, now a crownéd monarch, to the humble charioteer,<br> +Bent his head, still moist with water, as unto a parent dear!</p> + +<p>With his scanty cloth the driver sought his dusty feet to hide,<br> +And he hailed the gallant Karna as his son and as his pride,</p> + +<p>And he clasped unto his bosom crownéd Karna's noble head,<br> +And on Karna's dripping forehead, fresh and loving tear-drops shed!</p> + +<p>Is he son of chariot-driver? Doubts arose in Bhima's mind,<br> +And he sought to humble Karna with reproachful words unkind:</p> + +<p>“Wilt thou, high-descended hero, with a Kuru cross thy brand?<br> +But the goad of cattle-drivers better suits, my friend, thy hand!</p> + +<p>Wilt thou as a crownéd monarch rule a mighty nation's weal?<br> +As the jackals of the jungle sacrificial offerings steal!”</p> + +<p>Quivered Karna's lips in anger, word of answer spake he none,<br> +But a deep sigh shook his bosom, and he gazed upon the sun!</p> + +<h4>IX</h4> +<h4>Close of the Day</h4> + +<p>Like a lordly tusker rising from a beauteous lotus lake,<br> +Rose Duryodhan from his brothers, proudly thus to Bhima spake:</p> + +<p>“With such insults seek not, Bhima, thus to cause a warrior grief,<br> +Bitter taunts but ill befit thee, warlike tiger-waisted chief!</p> + +<p>Proudest chief may fight the humblest, for like river's noble course,<br> +Noble deeds proclaim the warrior, and we question not their source!</p> + +<p>Teacher Drona, priest and warrior, owns a poor and humble birth,<br> +Kripa, noblest of Gautamas, springeth from the lowly earth!</p> + +<p>Known to me thy lineage Bhima, thine and of thy brothers four,<br> +Amorous gods your birth inspiréd, so they say, in days of yore!</p> + +<p>Mark the great and gallant Karna decked in rings and weapons fair,<br> +She-deer breeds not lordly tigers in her poor and lowly lair!</p> + +<p>Karna comes to rule the wide earth, not fair Anga's realms alone,<br> +By his valour and his weapons, by the homage which I own!</p> + +<p>And if prince or arméd chieftain doth my word or deed gainsay,<br> +Let him take his bow and quiver, meet me in a deadly fray!”</p> + +<p>Loud applauses greet the challenge and the people's joyful cry,<br> +But the thickening shades of darkness fill the earth and evening sky,</p> + +<p>And the red lamp's fitful lustre shone upon the field around,<br> +Slowly with the peerless Karna proud Duryodhan left the ground.</p> + +<p>Pandu's sons with warlike Drona marked the darksome close of day,<br> +And with Kripa and with Bhishma homeward silent bent their way.</p> + +<p>“Arjun is the gallant victor!” “Valiant Karna's won the day!”<br> +“Prince Duryodhan is the winner!” Various thus the people say.</p> + +<p>By some secret sign appriséd Pritha knew her gallant boy,<br> +Saw him crownéd king of Anga, with a mother's secret joy,</p> + +<p>And with greater joy Duryodhan fastened Karna to his side,<br> +Feared no longer Arjun's prowess, Arjun's skill of arms and pride,</p> + +<p>E'en Yudhishthir reckoned Karna mightiest warrior on the earth,<br> +Half misdoubted Arjun's prowess, Arjun's skill and warlike worth!</p> + +<div id="s02" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK II</h3> +<h3>SWAYAMVARA</h3> +<p>(The Bride's Choice)</p> +</div> + +<p>The mutual jealousies of the princes increased from day to day, and +when Yudhishthir, the eldest of all the princes and the eldest son of +the late Pandu, was recognised heir-apparent, the anger of Duryodhan +and his brothers knew no bounds. And they formed a dark scheme to +kill the sons of Pandu.</p> + +<p>The sons of Pandu were induced with their mother to pay a visit to a +distant town called Varanavata. A house had been built there for +their residence, constructed of inflammable materials. At the +appointed time fire was set to the house; but the five brothers +and their mother escaped the conflagration through a subterranean +passage, retired into forests, and lived in the disguise of Brahmans.</p> + +<p>In course of time they heard of the approaching celebrations of the +marriage of the princess of Panchala, an ancient kingdom in the +vicinity of modern Kanouj. All the monarchs of Northern India were +invited, and the bride would choose her husband from among the +assembled kings according to the ancient <i>Swayamvara</i> custom. The +five sons of Pandu decided to go and witness the ceremony.</p> + +<p>The portion translated in this Book formed Sections clxxxiv. to +cxxxix. of Book i. of the original text.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>Journey to Panchala</h4> +<p>Now the righteous sons of Pandu, wand'ring far from day to day,<br> +Unto South Panchala's country glad and joyful held their way,</p> + +<p>For when travelling with their mother, so it chanced by will of fate,<br> +They were met by pious Brahmans bound for South Panchala's State,</p> + +<p>And the pure and holy Brahmans hailed the youths of noble fame,<br> +Asked them whither they would journey, from what distant land they came.</p> + +<p>“From the land of Ekachakra,” good Yudhishthir answered so,<br> +“With our ancient mother travelling unto distant lands we go.”</p> + +<p>“Heard ye not,” the Brahmans questioned, “in Panchala's fair domain,<br> +Drupad, good and gracious monarch, doth a mighty feast ordain?</p> + +<p>To that festive land we journey, Drupad's bounteous gifts to share,<br> +And to see the <i>swayamvara</i> of Panchala's princess fair,—</p> + +<p>Human mother never bore her, human bosom never fed,<br> +From the Altar sprang the maiden who some noble prince will wed!</p> + +<p>Soft her eyes like lotus-petal, sweet her tender jasmine form,<br> +And a maiden's stainless honour doth her gentle soul inform!</p> + +<p>And her brother, mailed and arméd with his bow and arrows dire,<br> +Radiant as the blazing altar, sprang from Sacrificial Fire!</p> + +<p>Fair the sister slender-waisted, dowered with beauty rich and rare,<br> +And like fragrance of blue lotus, perfumes all the sweetened air!</p> + +<p>She will choose from noble suitors gathered from the west and east,<br> +Bright and fair shall be the wedding, rich and bounteous be the feast!</p> + +<p>Kings will come from distant regions sacrificing wealth and gold,<br> +Stainless monarchs versed in <i>sastra</i>, pious-hearted, mighty-souled,</p> + +<p>Handsome youths and noble princes from each near and distant land,<br> +Car-borne chieftains bold and skilful, brave of heart and stout of hand!</p> + +<p>And to win the peerless princess they will scatter presents rare,<br> +Food and milch-kine, wealth and jewels, gold and gifts and garments fair,</p> + +<p>Noble gifts we take as Brahmans, bless the rite with gladsome heart,<br> +Share the feast so rich and bounteous, then with joyful minds depart.</p> + +<p>Actors, mimes, and tuneful minstrels fair Panchala's court will throng,<br> +Famed reciters of <i>puranas</i>, dancers skilled and wrestlers strong,</p> + +<p>Come with us, the wedding witness, share the banquet rich and rare,<br> +Pleased with gifts and noble presents to your distant home repair.</p> + +<p>Dowered ye are with princely beauty, like the radiant gods above,<br> +Even on you the partial princess may surrender heart and love!</p> + +<p>And this youth so tall and stalwart, mighty-arméd, strong and bold,<br> +He may win in feats of valour, and acquire much wealth and gold!”</p> + +<p>“Be it so,” Yudhishthir answered, “to Panchala we repair,<br> +View the wedding of the princess and the royal bounty share.”</p> + +<p>Thus the righteous sons of Pandu with the Brahmans took their way,<br> +Where in South Panchala's kingdom mighty Drupad held his sway.</p> + +<p>Now the sinless saintly <i>rishi</i>, deathless bard of deathless lay,<br> +Herald of the holy Vedas, Vyasa stood before their way!</p> + +<p>And the princes bowed unto him and received his blessings kind,<br> +By his mandate to Panchala went with pleased and joyful mind!</p> + +<p>Jungle woods and silver waters round their sylvan pathway lay,<br> +Halting at each wayside station marched the princes day by day,</p> + +<p>Stainless and intent on <i>sastra</i>, fair in speech and pure in heart,<br> +Travelling slow they reached Panchala, saw its spacious town and mart,</p> + +<p>Saw the fort, bazaar and city, saw the spire and shining dome,<br> +In a potter's distant cottage made their humble unknown home,</p> + +<p>And disguised as pious Brahmans sons of Pandu begged their food,<br> +People knew not Kuru's princes in that dwelling poor and rude.</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>The Wedding Assembly</h4> +<p>To the helméd son of Pandu, Arjun pride of Kuru's race,<br> +Drupad longed to give his daughter peerless in her maiden grace,</p> + +<p>And of massive wood unbending, Drupad made a stubborn bow,<br> +Saving Arjun prince or chieftain might not bend the weapon low,</p> + +<p>And he made a whirling discus, hung it 'neath the open sky,<br> +And beyond the whirling discus placed a target far and high,</p> + +<p>“Whose strings this bow,” said Drupad, “hits the target in his pride<br> +Through the high and circling discus, wins Panchala's princely bride!”</p> + +<p>And they spake the monarch's mandate in the kingdoms near and far,<br> +And from every town and country princes came and chiefs of war,</p> + +<p>Came the pure and saintly <i>rishis</i> for to bless the holy rite,<br> +Came the Kurus with brave Karna in their pride and matchless might,</p> + +<p>Brahmans came from distant regions with their sacred learning blest,<br> +Drupad with a royal welcome greeted every honoured guest.</p> + +<p>Now the festal day approacheth! Gathering men with ocean's voice,<br> +Filled the wide and circling stages to behold the maiden's choice,</p> + +<p>Royal guests and princely suitors came in pomp of wealth and pride,<br> +Car-borne chiefs and mailéd warriors came to win the beauteous bride!</p> + +<p>North-east of the festive city they enclosed a level ground,<br> +Many a dome and stately palace cunning builders built around,</p> + +<p>And by moat and wall surrounded, pierced by gate and archéd door,<br> +By a canopy of splendour was the red field covered o'er!</p> + +<p>Now the festive trumpets sounded and the censer fragrance lent,<br> +Sprinkled <i>chandan</i> spread its coolness, wreaths were hung of sweetest + scent,</p> + +<p>All around were swan-white mansions, lofty domes and turrets high,<br> +Like the peaks of white Kailasa cleaving through the azure sky!</p> + +<p>Sparkling gems the chambers lighted, golden nets the windows laced,<br> +Spacious stairs so wide and lofty were with beauteous carpets graced,</p> + +<p>Rich festoons and graceful garlands gently waved like streamers gay,<br> +And the swan-like silver mansions glinted in the light of day,</p> + +<p>Gates below were thronged with people, far above the chambers lay,<br> +With their lofty gilded turrets like the peaks of Himalay!</p> + +<p>In these halls in pride and splendour dwelt each rich and royal guest,<br> +Fired by mutual emulation, and in costly jewels drest,</p> + +<p>Decked and perfumed sat these rulers, mighty-arméd, rich in fame,<br> +Lion-monarchs, noble-destined, chiefs of pure and spotless name,</p> + +<p>Pious to the mighty <span class="sc">Brahma</span>, and their subjects' hope and stay,<br> +Loved of all for noble actions, kind and virtuous in their sway.</p> + +<p>Now the festal day approacheth! like the heaving of the main,<br> +Surge the ranks of gathered nations o'er the wide and spacious plain,</p> + +<p>Pandu's sons in guise of Brahmans mix with Brahmans versed in lore,<br> +Mark proud Drupad's wealth and splendour, gazing, wondering evermore,</p> + +<p>Dancers charm the gathered people, singers sing and actors play,<br> +Fifteen days of festive splendour greet the concourse rich and gay.</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>The Bride</h4> +<p>Sound the drum and voice the <i>sankha!</i> Brightly dawns the bridal day,<br> +Fresh from morning's pure ablutions comes the bride in garments gay!</p> + +<p>And her golden bridal garland carries on her graceful arm,<br> +Softly, sweetly, steps Draupadi, queen of every winning charm!</p> + +<p>Then a Brahman versed in <i>mantra</i>, ancient priest of lunar race,<br> +Lights the Fire, with pious offerings seeks its blessings and its grace,</p> + +<p>Whispered words of benediction saints and holy men repeat,<br> +Conch and trumpet's voice is silent, hushed the lofty war-drum's beat,</p> + +<p>And there reigns a solemn silence, and in stately pomp and pride,<br> +Drupad's son leads forth his sister, fair Panchala's beauteous bride!</p> + +<p>In his loud and lofty accents like the distant thunder's sound,<br> +Drupad's son his father's wishes thus proclaims to all around:</p> + +<p><i>“Mark this bow, assembled monarchs, and the target hung an high,<br> +Through yon whirling piercéd discus let five glist'ning arrows fly!</i></p> + +<p><i>Whoso born of noble lineage, hits the far suspended aim,<br> +Let him stand and as his guerdon Drupad's beauteous maiden claim!”</i></p> + +<p>Then he turns unto Draupadi, tells each prince and suitor's name,<br> +Tells his race and lofty lineage, and his warlike deeds of fame.</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>The Suitors</h4> +<p>“Brave Duryodhan and his brothers, princes of the Kuruland,<br> +Karna proud and peerless archer, sister! seek thy noble hand,</p> + +<p>And Gandhara's warlike princes, Bhoja's monarch true and bold,<br> +And the son of mighty Drona, all bedecked in gems and gold!</p> + +<p>King and prince from Matsya kingdom grace this noble wedding-feast,<br> +Monarchs from more distant regions north and south and west and east,</p> + +<p>Tamralipta and Kalinga on the eastern ocean wave,<br> +Pattan's port whose hardy children western ocean's dangers brave!</p> + +<p>From the distant land of Madra car-borne monarch Salya came,<br> +And from Dwarka's sea-girt regions Valadeva known to fame,</p> + +<p>Valadeva and his brother Krishna sprung from Yadu's race,<br> +Of the Vrishni clan descended, soul of truth and righteous grace!</p> + +<p>This is mighty Jayadratha come from Sindhu's sounding shore,<br> +Famed for warlike feats of valour, famed alike for sacred lore,</p> + +<p>This is fair Kosala's monarch whose bright deeds our heralds sing,<br> +From the sturdy soil of Chedi, Sisupala peerless king,</p> + +<p>This is mighty Jarasandha, come from far Magadha's land,<br> +These are other princely suitors, sister! eager for thy hand!</p> + +<p>All the wide earth's warlike rulers seek to shoot the distant aim,<br> +Princess, whoso hits the target, choose as thine that prince of fame!”</p> + +<p>Decked with jewels, young and valiant, all aflame with soft desire,<br> +Conscious of their worth and valour, all the suitors rose in ire,</p> + +<p>Nobly born, of lofty presence, full of young unyielding pride,<br> +Like the tuskers wild and lordly on Himalay's wooded side!</p> + +<p>Each his rival marks as foeman as in field of deadly strife,<br> +Each regards the fair Draupadi as his own his queenly wife,</p> + +<p>On the gorgeous field they gather by a maddening passion fired,<br> +And they strive as strove the bright gods, when by Uma's love inspired!</p> + +<p>And the gods in cloud-borne chariots came to view the scene so fair,<br> +Bright <span class="sc">Adityas</span> in their splendour, <span class="sc">Maruts</span> in the moving air,</p> + +<p>Winged <i>suparnas</i>, scaly <i>nagas</i>, <i>deva-rishis</i> pure and high,<br> +For their music famed, <i>gandharvas</i>, fair <i>apsaras</i> of the sky!</p> + +<p>Valadeva armed with ploughshare, Krishna chief of righteous fame,<br> +With the other Yadu chieftains to that wondrous bridal came,</p> + +<p>Krishna marked the sons of Pandu eager for the queenly bride,<br> +Like wild tuskers for a lotus, like the fire that ashes hide,</p> + +<p>And he knew the warlike brothers in their holy Brahman guise,<br> +Pointed them to Valadeva, gazing with a glad surprise!</p> + +<p>But the other chiefs and monarchs with their eyes upon the bride,<br> +Marked nor knew the sons of Pandu sitting speechless by their side,</p> + +<p>And the long-armed sons of Pandu smitten by <span class="sc">Kandarpa's</span> dart,<br> +Looked on her with longing languor and with love-impassioned heart!</p> + +<p>Bright immortals gaily crowding viewed the scene surpassing fair,<br> +Heavenly blossoms soft descending with a perfume filled the air,</p> + +<p>Bright celestial cars in concourse sailed upon the cloudless sky,<br> +Drum and flute and harp and tabor sounded deep and sounded high!</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>Trial of Skill</h4> +<p>Uprose one by one the suitors, marking still the distant aim,<br> +Mighty monarchs, gallant princes, chiefs of proud and warlike fame,</p> + +<p>Decked in golden crown and necklace, and inflamed by pride and love,<br> +Stoutly strove the eager suitors viewing well the target above,</p> + +<p>Strove to string the weapon vainly, tough unbending was the bow,<br> +Slightly bent, rebounding quickly, laid the gallant princes low!</p> + +<p>Strove the handsome suitors vainly, decked in gem and burnished gold,<br> +Reft of diadem and necklace, fell each chief and warrior bold,</p> + +<p>Reft of golden crown and garland, shamed and humbled in their pride,<br> +Groaned the suitors in their anguish, sought no more Panchala's bride!</p> + +<p>Uprose Karna, peerless archer, proudest of the archers he,<br> +And he went and strung the weapon, fixed the arrows gallantly,</p> + +<p>Stood like <span class="sc">Surya</span> in his splendour and like <span class="sc">Agni</span> in his flame,—<br> +Pandu's sons in terror whispered, Karna sure must hit the aim!</p> + +<p>But in proud and queenly accents Drupad's queenly daughter said:<br> +“Monarch's daughter, born a Kshatra, Suta's son I will not wed!”</p> + +<p>Karna heard with crimsoned forehead, left the emprise almost done,<br> +Left the bow already circled, silent gazed upon the Sun!</p> + +<p>Uprose Chedi's haughty monarch, mightiest of the monarchs he,<br> +Other kings had failed inglorious, Sisupala stood forth free,</p> + +<p>Firm in heart and fixed in purpose, bent the tough unbending bow,<br> +Vainly! for the bow rebounding laid the haughty monarch low!</p> + +<p>Uprose sturdy Jarasandha, far Magadha's mighty chief,<br> +Held the bow and stood undaunted, tall and stately as a cliff,</p> + +<p>But once more the bow rebounded, fell the monarch in his shame,<br> +Left in haste Panchala's mansions for the region whence he came!</p> + +<p>Uprose Salya, king of Madra, with his wondrous skill and might,<br> +Faltering, on his knees descending, fell in sad inglorious plight,</p> + +<p>Thus each monarch fell and faltered, merry whispers went around,<br> +And the sound of stifled laughter circled round the festive ground!</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> +<h4>The Disguised Arjun</h4> +<p>Hushed the merry sound of laughter, hushed each suitor in his shame,<br> +Arjun, godlike son of Pritha, from the ranks of Brahmans came,</p> + +<p>Guised as priest serene and holy, fair as <span class="sc">Indra's</span> rainbow bright,<br> +All the Brahmans shook their deerskins, cheered him in their hearts' + delight!</p> + +<p>Some there were with sad misgivings heard the sound of joyous cheer<br> +And their minds were strangely anxious, whispered murmurs spake their fear:</p> + +<p>“Wondrous bow which Sisupala, mighty Salya could not strain,<br> +Jarasandha famed for prowess strove to bend the string in vain,</p> + +<p>Can a Brahman weak by nature, and in warlike arms untrained,<br> +Wield the bow which crownéd monarchs, long-armed chieftains have + not strained?</p> + +<p>Sure the Brahman boy in folly dares a foolish thoughtless deed,<br> +Shame amidst this throng of monarchs, shall it be the Brahman's meed?</p> + +<p>Youth in youthful pride or madness will a foolish emprise dare,<br> +Sager men should stop his rashness and the Brahman's honour spare!”</p> + +<p>“Shame he will not bring unto us,” other Brahmans made reply,<br> +“Rather, in this throng of monarchs, rich renown and honour high,</p> + +<p>Like a tusker strong and stately, like Himalay's towering crest,<br> +Stands unmoved the youthful Brahman, ample-shouldered, deep in chest,</p> + +<p>Lion-like his gait is agile, and determined is his air,<br> +Trust me he can do an emprise who hath lofty will to dare!</p> + +<p>He will do the feat of valour, will not bring disgrace and stain,<br> +Nor is task in all this wide earth which a Brahman tries in vain,</p> + +<p>Holy men subsist on wild fruits, in the strength of penance strong,<br> +Spare in form, in spirit mightier than the mightiest warlike throng!</p> + +<p>Ask not if 'tis right or foolish when a Brahman tries his fate,<br> +If it leads to woe or glory, fatal fall or fortune great,</p> + +<p>Son of <i>rishi</i> Jamadagni baffled kings and chieftains high,<br> +And Agastya stainless <i>rishi</i> drained the boundless ocean dry,</p> + +<p>Let this young and daring Brahman undertake the warlike deed,<br> +Let him try and by his prowess win the victor's noble meed!”</p> + +<p>While the Brahmans deep revolving hopes and timid fears expressed,<br> +By the bow the youthful Arjun stood unmoved like mountain crest,</p> + +<p>Silent round the wondrous weapon thrice the mighty warrior went,<br> +To the Lord of Gods, <span class="sc">Isana</span>, in a silent prayer he bent!</p> + +<p>Then the bow which gathered warriors vainly tried to bend and strain,<br> +And the monarchs of the wide earth sought to string and wield in vain,</p> + +<p>Godlike Arjun born of <span class="sc">Indra</span>, filled with <span class="sc">Vishnu's</span> matchless might,<br> +Bent the wondrous bow of Drupad, fixed the shining darts aright,</p> + +<p>Through the disc the shining arrows fly with strange and hissing sound,<br> +Hit and pierce the distant target, bring it thundering on the ground!</p> + +<p>Shouts of joy and loud applauses did the mighty feat declare,<br> +Heavenly blossoms soft descended, heavenly music thrilled the air,</p> + +<p>And the Brahmans shook their deerskins, but each irritated chief<br> +In a lowly muttered whisper spake his rising rage and grief,</p> + +<p><i>Sankha's</i> note and voice of trumpet Arjun's glorious deed prolong,<br> +Bards and heralds chant his praises in a proud and deathless song!</p> + +<p>Drupad in the Brahman's mantle knew the hero proud and brave,<br> +'Gainst the rage of baffled suitors sought the gallant prince to save,</p> + +<p>With his twin-born youngest brothers left Yudhishthir, peaceful, good,<br> +Bhima marked the gathering tempest and by gallant Arjun stood!</p> + +<p>Like a queen the beauteous maiden smiled upon the archer brave,<br> +Flung on him the bridal garland and the bridal robe she gave,</p> + +<p>Arjun by his skill and prowess won Panchala's princess-bride,<br> +People's shouts and Brahmans' blessings sounded joyful far and wide!</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> +<h4>The Tumult</h4> +<p>Spake the suitors, anger-shaken, like a forest tempest-torn,<br> +As Panchala's courteous monarch came to greet a Brahman-born:</p> + +<p>“Shall he like the grass of jungle trample us in haughty pride,<br> +To a prating priest and Brahman wed the proud and peerless bride?</p> + +<p>To our hopes like nourished saplings shall he now the fruit deny,<br> +Monarch proud who insults monarchs sure a traitor's death shall die,</p> + +<p>Honour for his rank we know not, have no mercy for his age,<br> +Perish foe of crownéd monarchs, victim to our righteous rage!</p> + +<p>Hath he asked us to his palace, favoured us with royal grace,<br> +Feasted us with princely bounty, but to compass our disgrace,</p> + +<p>In this concourse of great monarchs, glorious like a heavenly band,<br> +Doth he find no likely suitor for his beauteous daughter's hand?</p> + +<p>And this rite of <i>swayamvara</i>, so our sacred laws ordain,<br> +Is for warlike Kshatras only, priests that custom shall not stain,</p> + +<p>If this maiden on a Brahman casts her eye, devoid of shame,<br> +Let her expiate her folly in a pyre of blazing flame!</p> + +<p>Leave the priestling in his folly sinning through a Brahman's greed,<br> +For we wage no war with Brahmans and forgive a foolish deed,</p> + +<p>Much we owe to holy Brahmans for our realm and wealth and life,<br> +Blood of priest or wise preceptor shall not stain our noble strife,</p> + +<p>In the blood of sinful Drupad we the righteous laws maintain,<br> +Such disgrace in future ages monarchs shall not meet again!”</p> + +<p>Spake the suitors, tiger-hearted, iron-handed, bold and strong'<br> +Fiercely bent on blood and vengeance blindly rose the maddened throng,</p> + +<p>On they came, the angry monarchs, armed for cruel vengeful strife,<br> +Drupad midst the holy Brahmans trembling fled for fear of life,</p> + +<p>Like wild elephants of jungle rushed the kings upon their foes,<br> +Calm and stately, stalwart Bhima and the gallant Arjun rose!</p> + +<p>With a wilder rage the monarchs viewed these brothers cross their path,<br> +Rushed upon the daring warriors for to slay them in their wrath,</p> + +<p>Weaponless was noble Bhima, but in strength like lightning's brand,<br> +Tore a tree with peerless prowess, shook it as a mighty wand!</p> + +<p>And the foe-compelling warrior held that mace of living wood,<br> +Strong as death with deadly weapon, facing all his foes he stood,</p> + +<p>Arjun too with godlike valour stood unmoved, his bow in hand,<br> +Side by side the dauntless brothers faced the fierce and fiery band!</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> +<h4>Krishna to the Rescue</h4> +<p>Krishna knew the sons of Pandu though in robes of Brahmans dressed,<br> +To his elder, Valadeva, thus his inner thoughts expressed:</p> + +<p>“Mark that youth with bow and arrow and with lion's lordly gait,<br> +He is helmet-wearing Arjun! greatest warrior midst the great,</p> + +<p>Mark his mate, with tree uprooted how he meets the suitor band,<br> +Save the tiger-waisted Bhima none can claim such strength of hand!</p> + +<p>And the youth with eyes like lotus, he who left the court erewhile,<br> +He is pious-souled Yudhishthir, man without a sin or guile,</p> + +<p>And the others by Yudhishthir, Pandu's twin-born sons are they,<br> +With these sons the righteous Pritha 'scaped where death and danger lay,</p> + +<p>For the jealous, fierce Duryodhan darkly schemed their death by fire,<br> +But the righteous sons of Pandu 'scaped his unrelenting ire!”</p> + +<p>Krishna rose amidst the monarchs, strove the tumult to appease,<br> +And unto the angry suitors spake in words of righteous peace,</p> + +<p>Monarchs bowed to Krishna's mandate, left Panchala's festive land,<br> +Arjun took the beauteous princess, gently led her by the hand.</p> + +<div id="s03" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK III</h3> +<h3>RAJASUYA</h3> +<p>(The Imperial Sacrifice)</p> +</div> + +<p>A curious incident followed the bridal of Draupadi. The five sons of +Pandu returned with her to the potter's house, where they were +living on alms according to the custom of Brahmans, and the brothers +reported to their mother that they had received a great gift on that +day. “Enjoy ye the gift in common,” replied their mother, not knowing +what it was. And as a mother's mandate cannot be disregarded, +Draupadi became the common wife of the five brothers.</p> + +<p>The real significance of this strange legend is unknown. The custom +of brothers marrying a common wife prevails to this day in Thibet and +among the hill-tribes of the Himalayas, but it never prevailed among +the Aryan Hindus of India. It is distinctly prohibited in their laws +and institutes, and finds no sanction in their literature, ancient or +modern. The legend in the <i>Maha-bharata</i>, of brothers marrying a wife +in common, stands alone and without a parallel in Hindu traditions +and literature.</p> + +<p>Judging from the main incidents of the Epic, Draupadi might rather be +regarded as the wife of the eldest brother Yudhishthir. Bhima had +already mated himself to a female in a forest, by whom he had a son, +Ghatotkacha, who distinguished himself in war later on. Arjun too +married the sister of Krishna, shortly after Draupadi's bridal, and +had by her a son, Abhimanyu, who was one of the heroes of the war. On +the other hand, Yudhishthir took to him self no wife save Draupadi, +and she was crowned with Yudhishthir in the Rajasuya or Imperial +Sacrifice. Notwithstanding the legend, therefore, Draupadi might be +regarded as wedded to Yudhishthir, though won by the skill of Arjun, +and this assumption would be in keeping with Hindu customs and laws, +ancient and modern.</p> + +<p>The jealous Duryodhan heard that his contrivance to kill his cousins +at Varanavata had failed. He also heard that they had found a +powerful friend in Drupad, and had formed an alliance with him. It +was no longer possible to keep them from their rightful inheritance. +The Kuru kingdom was accordingly parcelled; Duryodhan retained the +eastern and richer portion with its ancient capital <i>Hastina-pura</i> on +the Ganges; and the sons of Pandu were given the western portion on +the Jumna, which was then a forest and a wilderness. The sons of +Pandu cleared the forest and built a new capital <i>Indra-prastha</i>, the +supposed ruins of which, near modern Delhi, are still pointed out to +the curious traveller.</p> + +<p>Yudhishthir, the eldest of the five sons of Pandu, and now king of +Indra-prastha, resolved to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice, which +was a formal assumption of the Imperial title over all the kings of +ancient India. His brothers went out with troops in all directions +to proclaim his supremacy over all surrounding kings. Jarasandha, +the powerful and semi-civilised king of Magadha or South Behar, +opposed and was killed; but other monarchs recognised the supremacy +of Yudhishthir and came to the sacrifice with tributes. King +Dhrita-rashtra and his sons, now reigning at Hastina-pura, were +politely invited to take a share in the performance of the sacrifice.</p> + +<p>The portion translated in this Book forms Sections xxxiii. To xxxvi. +and Section xliv. of Book ii. of the original.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>The Assemblage of Kings</h4> +<p>Ancient halls of proud Hastina mirrored bright on Ganga's wave!<br> +Thither came the son of Pandu, young Nakula true and brave,</p> + +<p>Came to ask Hastina's monarch, chief of Kuru's royal race,<br> +To partake Yudhishthir's banquet and his sacrifice to grace.</p> + +<p>Dhrita-rashtra came in gladness unto Indra-prastha's town,<br> +Marked its new-built tower and turret on the azure Jumna frown,</p> + +<p>With him came preceptor Kripa, and the ancient Bhishma came,<br> +Elders of the race of Kuru, chiefs and Brahmans known to fame.</p> + +<p>Monarchs came from distant regions to partake the holy rite,<br> +Warlike chiefs from court and castle in their arms accoutred bright,</p> + +<p>Kshatras came with ample tribute for the holy sacrifice,<br> +Precious gems and costly jewels, gold and gifts of untold price.</p> + +<p>Proud Duryodhan and his brothers came in fair and friendly guise,<br> +With the ancient Kuru monarch and Vidura, good and wise,</p> + +<p>With his son came brave Suvala from Gandhara's distant land,<br> +Car-borne Salya, peerless Karna, came with bow and spear and brand.</p> + +<p>Came the priest and proud preceptor Drona skilled in arms and lore,<br> +Jayadratha famed for valour came from Sindhu's sounding shore,</p> + +<p>Drupad came with gallant princes from Panchala's land of fame,<br> +Salwa lord of outer nations to the mighty gathering came.</p> + +<p>Bhagadatta came in chariot from the land of nations brave,<br> +Prag-jyotisha, where the red sun wakes on Brahma-putra's wave,</p> + +<p>With him came untutored <i>mlechchas</i> who beside the ocean dwell,<br> +Uncouth chiefs of dusky nations from the lands where mountains swell,</p> + +<p>Came Virata, Matsya's monarch, and his warlike sons and bold,<br> +Sisupala, king of Chedi, with his son bedecked in gold.</p> + +<p>Came the warlike chiefs of Vrishni from the shores of Western Sea,<br> +And the lords of Madhya-desa, ever warlike ever free!</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>Feast and Sacrifice</h4> +<p>Jumna's dark and limpid waters laved Yudhishthir's palace walls<br> +And to hail him <i>Dharma-raja</i>, monarchs thronged his royal halls,</p> + +<p>He to honoured kings and chieftains with a royal grace assigned<br> +Palaces with sparkling waters and with trees umbrageous lined,</p> + +<p>Honoured thus, the mighty monarchs lived in mansions milky white,<br> +Like the peaks of famed Kailasa lifting proud their snowy height!</p> + +<p>Graceful walls that swept the meadows circled round the royal halls,<br> +Nets of gold belaced the casements, gems bedecked the shining walls,</p> + +<p>Flights of steps led up to chambers many-tinted-carpet-graced,<br> +And festooning fragrant garlands were harmonious interlaced!</p> + +<p>Far below from spacious gateways rose the people's gathering cry,<br> +And from far the swan-white mansions caught the ravished gazer's eye,</p> + +<p>Richly graced with precious metals shone the turrets bright and gay,<br> +Like the rich-ored shining turrets of the lofty Himalay.</p> + +<p>And the scene bedecked by <i>rishis</i> and by priests and kings of might,<br> +Shone like azure sky in splendour, graced by deathless Sons of Light!</p> + +<p>Spake Yudhishthir unto Bhishma, elder of the Kuru race,<br> +Unto Drona proud preceptor, rich in lore and warlike grace,</p> + +<p>Spake to wise preceptor Kripa, versed in sacred rites of old,<br> +To Duryodhan and his brothers, honoured guests and kinsmen bold:</p> + +<p>“Friends and kinsmen, grant your favour and your sweet affection lend,<br> +May your kindness ever helpful poor Yudhishthir's rite attend,</p> + +<p>As your own, command my treasure, costly gifts and wealth untold,<br> +To the poor and to the worthy scatter free my gems and gold!”</p> + +<p>Speaking thus he made his <i>diksha</i>, and to holy work inclined,<br> +To his friends and to his kinsmen all their various tasks assigned:</p> + +<p>Proud Duhsasan in his bounty spread the rich and sumptuous feast,<br> +Drona's son with due devotion greeted saint and holy priest,</p> + +<p>Sanjay with a regal honour welcomed king and chief of might,<br> +Bhishma and the pious Drona watched the sacrificial rite,</p> + +<p>Kripa guarded wealth and treasure, gold and gems of untold price,<br> +And with presents unto Brahmans sanctified the sacrifice,</p> + +<p>Dhrita-rashtra, old and sightless, through the scene of gladness strayed,<br> +With a careful hand Vidura all the mighty cost defrayed,</p> + +<p>Proud Duryodhan took the tribute which the chiefs and monarchs paid,<br> +Pious Krishna unto Brahmans honour and obeisance made.</p> + +<p>'Twas a gathering fair and wondrous on fair Jumna's sacred shore,<br> +Tributes in a thousand <i>nishkas</i> every willing monarch bore,</p> + +<p>Costly gifts proclaimed the homage of each prince of warlike might,<br> +Chieftains vied with rival chieftains to assist the holy rite.</p> + +<p>Bright Immortals, robed in sunlight, sailed across the liquid sky,<br> +And their gleaming cloud-borne chariots rested on the turrets high!</p> + +<p>Hero-monarchs, holy Brahmans, filled the halls bedecked in gold,<br> +White-robed priests adept in <i>mantra</i> mingled with the chieftains bold.</p> + +<p>And amidst this scene of splendour, pious-hearted, pure and good,<br> +Like the sinless god <span class="sc">Varuna</span>, gentle-souled Yudhishthir stood,</p> + +<p>Six bright fires Yudhishthir lighted, offerings made to gods above,<br> +Gifts unto the poor and lowly spake the monarch's boundless love.</p> + +<p>Hungry men were fed and feasted with an ample feast of rice,<br> +Costly gifts to holy Brahmans graced the noble sacrifice,</p> + +<p><i>Ida, ajya, homa</i> offerings, pleased the “Shining Ones” on high,<br> +Brahmans pleased with costly presents with their blessings filled the sky!</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>Glimpses of the Truth</h4> +<p>Dawned the day of <i>abhisheka</i>, proud anointment, sacred bath,<br> +Crownéd kings and learnéd Brahmans crowded on Yudhishthir's path,</p> + +<p>And as gods and heavenly <i>rishis</i> throng in <span class="sc">Brahma's</span> mansions bright,<br> +Holy priests and noble monarchs graced the inner sacred site!</p> + +<p>Measureless their fame and virtue, great their penance and their power,<br> +And in converse deep and learned Brahmans passed the radiant hour,</p> + +<p>And on subjects great and sacred, oft divided in their thought,<br> +Various sages in their wisdom various diverse maxims taught,</p> + +<p>Weaker reasons seemed the stronger, faultless reasons often failed,<br> +Keen disputants like the falcon fell on views their rivals held!</p> + +<p>Some were versed in Laws of Duty, some the Holy Vows professed,<br> +Some with gloss and varied comment still his learned rival pressed,</p> + +<p>Bright the concourse of the Brahmans unto sacred learning given,<br> +Like the concourse of the bright stars in the glorious vault of heaven,</p> + +<p>None of impure caste and conduct trespassed on the holy site,<br> +None of impure life and manners stained Yudhishthir's sacred rite!</p> + +<p><i>Deva-rishi</i>, saintly Narad, marked the sacrificial rite,<br> +Sanctifying by its lustre good Yudhishthir's royal might,</p> + +<p>And a ray of heavenly wisdom lit the <i>rishi's</i> inner eye,<br> +As he saw the gathered monarchs in the concourse proud and high!</p> + +<p>He had heard from lips celestial in the heavenly mansions bright,<br> +All these kings were god incarnate, portions of Celestial Light,</p> + +<p>And he saw in them embodied beings of the upper sky,<br> +And in lotus-eyéd Krishna saw the Highest of the High!</p> + +<p>Saw the ancient <span class="sc">Narayana</span>, great Creation's Primal Cause,<br> +Who had sent the gods as monarchs to uphold his righteous laws,</p> + +<p>Battle for the cause of virtue, perish in a deadly war,<br> +Then to seek their upper mansions in the radiant realms afar!</p> + +<p>“<span class="sc">Narayana</span>, World's Preserver, sent immortal gods on earth,<br> +He himself in race of Yadu hath assumed his mortal birth,</p> + +<p>Like the moon among the planets born in Vrishni's noble clan,—<br> +He whom bright gods render worship,—<span class="sc">Narayana</span>, Son of Man,</p> + +<p>Primal Cause and Self-created! when is done his purpose high,<br> +<span class="sc">Narayana</span> leads Immortals to their dwelling in the sky.”</p> + +<p>Such bright glimpses of the Secret flashed upon his inner sight,<br> +As in lofty contemplation Narad gazed upon the rite.</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>The Arghya</h4> +<p>Outspake Bhishma to Yudhishthir: “Monarch of this wide domain,<br> +Honour due to crowned monarchs doth our sacred law ordain,</p> + +<p>Arghya to the wise Preceptor, to the Kinsman and to Priest,<br> +To the Friend and to the Scholar, to the King as lord of feast,</p> + +<p>Unto these is due the <i>arghya</i>, so our holy writs have said,<br> +Therefore to these kings assembled be the highest honour paid,</p> + +<p>Noble are these crownéd monarchs, radiant like the noonday sun,<br> +To the noblest, first in virtue, be the foremost honour done!”</p> + +<p>“Who is noblest,” quoth Yudhishthir, “in this galaxy of fame,<br> +Who of chiefs and crownéd monarchs doth our foremost honour claim?”</p> + +<p>Pond'ring spake the ancient Bhishma in his accents deep and clear:<br> +“Greatest midst the great is Krishna! chief of men without a peer!</p> + +<p>Midst these monarchs pure in lustre, purest-hearted and most high<br> +Like the radiant sun is Krishna midst the planets of the sky,</p> + +<p>Sunless climes are warmed to verdure by the sun's returning ray,<br> +Windless wastes are waked to gladness when reviving breezes play,</p> + +<p>Even so this <i>rajasuya</i>, this thy sacrificial rite,<br> +Owes its sanctity and splendour unto Krishna's holy might!”</p> + +<p>Bhishma spake and Sahadeva served his mandate quick as thought,<br> +And the <i>arghya</i> duly flavoured unto peerless Krishna brought,</p> + +<p>Krishna trained in rules of virtue then the offered <i>arghya</i> took,<br> +Darkened Sisupala's forehead and his frame in tremor shook,</p> + +<p>To Yudhishthir and to Bhishma turns the chief his flaming eyes,<br> +To the great and honoured Krishna, Sisupala wrathful cries.</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>Sisupala's Pride</h4> +<p>“Not to Vrishni's uncrowned hero should this reverence be paid,<br> +Midst these mighty crownéd monarchs in their kingly pomp arrayed,</p> + +<p>Ill beseems the good Yudhishthir, royal Pandu's righteous son,<br> +Homage to an uncrowned chieftain, to the lowly honour done!</p> + +<p>Pandu's sons are yet untutored, and with knowledge yet unblessed,<br> +Knowing Bhishma blessed with wisdom hath the rules of courts transgressed,</p> + +<p>Learnéd in the Laws of Duty he hath sinned from partial love,<br> +Conscious breach of rules of honour doth our deeper hatred move!</p> + +<p>In this throng of crownéd monarchs, ruling kings of righteous fame,<br> +Can this uncrowned Vrishni chieftain foremost rank and honour claim?</p> + +<p>Doth he as a sage and elder claim the homage to him done?<br> +Sure his father Vasudeva hath his claims before his son!</p> + +<p>Doth he as Yudhishthir's kinsman count as foremost and the best?<br> +Royal Drupad by alliance surely might the claim contest!</p> + +<p>Doth he as a wise preceptor claim the highest, foremost place,<br> +When the great preceptor Drona doth his royal mansion grace?</p> + +<p>Unto Krishna as a <i>rishi</i> should the foremost rank be given?<br> +Saintly Vyasa claims the honour, Vedic bard inspired by Heaven!</p> + +<p>Unto Krishna should we render honour for his warlike fame?<br> +Thou, O Bhishma! Death's Subduer, surely might precedence claim!</p> + +<p>Unto Krishna for his knowledge should the noble prize we yield?<br> +Drona's son unmatched in learning surely might contest the field!</p> + +<p>Great Duryodhan midst the princes stands alone without a peer,<br> +Kripa priest of royal Kurus, holiest of all priests is here!</p> + +<p>Archer Karna—braver archer none there is of mortal birth—<br> +Karna learnt his arms from Rama, he who slew the kings of earth!</p> + +<p>Wherefore then to unknown Krishna render we this homage free!<br> +Saintly priest, nor wise preceptor, king nor foremost chief is he!”</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> +<h4>Sisupala's Fall</h4> +<p>Tiger-hearted Sisupala spake in anger stem and high,<br> +Calm unto him Krishna answered, but a light was in his eye:</p> + +<p>“List, O chiefs and righteous monarchs! from a daughter of our race<br> +Evil-destined Sisupala doth his noble lineage trace,</p> + +<p>Spite of wrong and frequent outrage, spite of insult often flung,<br> +Never in his heart hath Krishna sought to do his kinsman wrong!</p> + +<p>Once I went to eastern regions, Sisupala like a foe<br> +Burnt my far-famed seaport Dwarka, laid the mart and temple low!</p> + +<p>Once on Bhoja's trusting monarch faithless Sisupala fell,<br> +Slew his men and threw him captive in his castle's dungeon cell!</p> + +<p>Once for holy <i>aswamedha</i> Vasudeva sent his steed,<br> +Sisupala stole the charger, sought to stop the righteous deed,</p> + +<p>Once on saintly Babhru's consort, pious-hearted, pure and just,<br> +Sisupala fell in madness, forced the lady to his lust,</p> + +<p>Once Visala's beauteous princess went to seek her husband's side,<br> +In her husband's garb disguiséd Sisupala clasped the bride!</p> + +<p>This and more hath Krishna suffered, for his mother is our kin,<br> +But the sickening tale appalleth, and he addeth sin to sin!</p> + +<p>One more tale of sin I mention: by his impious passion fired,<br> +To my saintly wife, Rukmini, Sisupala hath aspired,</p> + +<p>As the low-born seeks the <i>Veda</i>, soiling it with impure breath,<br> +Sisupala sought my consort, and his righteous doom is Death!”</p> + +<p>Krishna spake; the rising red blood speaks each angry hero's shame,<br> +Shame for Chedi's impious actions, grief for Sisupala's fame!</p> + +<p>Loudly laughed proud Sisupala, spake with bitter taunt and jeer,<br> +Answered Krishna's lofty menace with disdain and cruel sneer:</p> + +<p>“Wherefore in this vast assembly thus proclaim thy tale of shame,<br> +If thy wedded wife and consort did inspire my youthful flame?</p> + +<p>Doth a man of sense and honour, blest with wisdom and with pride,<br> +Thus proclaim his wedded consort was another's loving bride?</p> + +<p>Do thy worst! Or if by anger or by weak forbearance led,<br> +Sisupala seeks no mercy, nor doth Krishna's anger dread!”</p> + +<p>Lowered Krishna's eye and forehead, and unto his hands there came<br> +Fatal disc, the dread of sinners, disc that never missed its aim,</p> + +<p>“Monarchs in this hall assembled!” Krishna in his anger cried,<br> +“Oft hath Chedi's impious monarch Krishna's noble rage defied,</p> + +<p>For unto his pious mother plighted word and troth was given,<br> +Sisupala's hundred follies would by Krishna be forgiven,</p> + +<p>I have kept the plighted promise, but his crimes exceed the tale,<br> +And beneath this vengeful weapon Sisupala now shall quail!”</p> + +<p>Then the bright and whirling discus, as this mandate Krishna said,<br> +Fell on impious Sisupala, from his body smote his head,</p> + +<p>Fell the mighty-arméd monarch like a thunder-riven rock,<br> +Severed from the parent mountain by the bolt's resistless shook!</p> + +<p>And his soul be-cleansed of passions came forth from its mortal shroud,<br> +Like the radiant sun in splendour from a dark and mantling cloud,</p> + +<p>Unto Krishna good and gracious, like a lurid spark aflame,<br> +Chastened of its sin and anger, Sisupala's spirit came!</p> + +<p>Rain descends in copious torrents, quick the lurid lightnings fly,<br> +And the wide earth feels a tremor, restless thunders shake the sky,</p> + +<p>Various feelings away the monarchs as they stand in hushed amaze,<br> +Mutely in those speechless moments on the lifeless warrior gaze!</p> + +<p>Some there are who seek their weapons, and their nervous fingers shake,<br> +And their lips they bite in anger, and their frames in tremor quake,</p> + +<p>Others in their inmost bosom welcome Krishna's righteous deed,<br> +Look on death of Sisupala as a sinner's proper meed,</p> + +<p><i>Rishis</i> bless the deed of Krishna as they wend their various ways,<br> +Brahmans pure and pious-hearted chant the righteous Krishna's praise!</p> + +<p>Sad Yudhishthir, gentle-hearted, thus unto his brothers said:<br> +“Funeral rites and regal honours be performed unto the dead,”</p> + +<p>Duteously his faithful brothers then performed each pious rite,<br> +Honours due to Chedi's monarch, to his rank and peerless might,</p> + +<p>Sisupala's son they seated in his mighty father's place,<br> +And with holy <i>abhisheka</i> hailed him king of Chedi's race!</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> +<h4>Yudhishthir Emperor</h4> +<p>Thus removed the hapless hindrance, now the holy sacrifice<br> +Was performed with joy and splendour and with gifts of gold and rice,</p> + +<p>Godlike Krishna watched benignly with his bow and disc and mace,<br> +And Yudhishthir closed the feasting with his kindliness and grace.</p> + +<p>Brahmans sprinkled holy water on the empire's righteous lord,<br> +All the monarchs made obeisance, spake in sweet and graceful word:</p> + +<p>“Born of race of Ajamidha! thou hast spread thy father's fame,<br> +Rising by thy native virtue thou hast won a mightier name,</p> + +<p>And this rite unto thy station doth a holier grace instil,<br> +And thy royal grace and kindness all our hope and wish fulfil,</p> + +<p>Grant us, king of mighty monarchs, now unto our realms we go,<br> +Emperor o'er earthly rulers, blessings and thy grace bestow!”</p> + +<p>Good Yudhishthir to the monarchs parting grace and honours paid,<br> +And unto his duteous brothers thus in loving-kindness said:</p> + +<p>“To our feast these noble monarchs came from loyal love they bear,<br> +Far as confines of their kingdoms, with them let our friends repair.”</p> + +<p>And his brothers and his kinsmen duteously his hest obey,<br> +With each parting guest and monarch journey on the home ward way.</p> + +<p>Arjun wends with high-souled Drupad, famed for lofty warlike grace,<br> +Dhrishta-dyumna with Virata, monarch of the Matsya race,</p> + +<p>Bhima on the ancient Bhishma and on Kuru's king doth wait,<br> +Sahadeva waits on Drona, great in arms, in virtue great,</p> + +<p>With Gandhara's warlike monarch brave Nakula holds his way,<br> +Other chiefs with other monarchs where their distant kingdoms lay.</p> + +<p>Last of all Yudhishthir's kinsman, righteous Krishna fain would part,<br> +And unto the good Yudhishthir opens thus his joyful heart:</p> + +<p>“Done this glorious <i>rajasuya</i>, joy and pride of Kuru's race,<br> +Grant, O friend! to sea-girt Dwarka, Krishna now his steps must trace.”</p> + +<p>“By thy grace and by thy valour,” sad Yudhishthir thus replies,<br> +“By thy presence, noble Krishna, I performed this high emprise,</p> + +<p>By thy all-subduing glory monarchs bore Yudhishthir's sway,<br> +Came with gifts and costly presents, came their tributes rich to pay,</p> + +<p>Must thou part? my uttered accents may not bid thee, friend, to go,<br> +In thy absence vain were empire, and this life were full of woe,</p> + +<p>Yet thou partest, sinless Krishna, dearest, best belovéd friend,<br> +And to Dwarka's sea-washed mansions Krishna must his footsteps bend!”</p> + +<p>Then unto Yudhishthir's mother, pious-hearted Krishna hies,<br> +And in accents love-inspiring thus to ancient Pritha cries:</p> + +<p>“Regal fame and righteous glory crown thy sons, reveréd dame,<br> +Joy thee in their peerless prowess, in their holy spotless fame,</p> + +<p>May thy sons' success and triumph cheer a widowed mother's heart,<br> +Grant me leave, O noble lady! for to Dwarka I depart.”</p> + +<p>From Yudhishthir's queen Draupadi parts the chief with many a tear,<br> +And from Arjun's wife Subhadra, Krishna's sister ever dear,</p> + +<p>Then with rites and due ablutions to the gods are offerings made,<br> +Priests repeat their benedictions, for the righteous Krishna said,</p> + +<p>And his faithful chariot-driver brings his falcon-bannered car,<br> +Like the clouds in massive splendour and resistless in the war,</p> + +<p>Pious Krishna mounts the chariot, fondly greets his friends once more,<br> +Leaves blue Jumna's sacred waters for his Dwarka's dear-loved shore,</p> + +<p>Still Yudhishthir and his brothers, sad and sore and grieved at heart,<br> +Followed Krishna's moving chariot, for they could not see him part,</p> + +<p>Krishna stopped once more his chariot, and his parting blessing gave,<br> +Thus the chief with eyes of lotus spake in accents calm and brave:</p> + +<p><i>“King of men! with sleepless watching ever guard thy kingdom flair,<br> +Like a father tend thy subjects with a father's love and care,</i></p> + +<p><i>Be unto them like the rain-drop nourishing the thirsty ground,<br> +Be unto them tree of shelter shading them from heat around,</i></p> + +<p><i>Like the blue sky ever bending be unto them ever kind,<br> +Free from pride and free from passion rule them with a virtuous mind!”</i></p> + +<p>Spake and left the saintly Krishna, pure and pious-hearted chief,<br> +Sad Yudhishthir wended homeward and his heart was filled with grief.</p> + +<div id="s04" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK IV</h3> +<h3>DYUTA</h3> +<p>(The Fatal Dice)</p> +</div> + +<p>Duryodhan came back from the Imperial Sacrifice filled with jealousy +against Yudhishthir, and devised plans to effect his fall. Sakuni, +prince of Gandhara, shared Duryodhan's hatred towards the sons of +Pandu, and helped him in his dark scheme. Yudhishthir with all his +piety and righteousness had one weakness, the love of gambling, which +was one of the besetting sins of the monarchs of the day. Sakuni was +an expert at false dice, and challenged Yudhishthir, and Yudhishthir +held it a point of honour not to decline such a challenge.</p> + +<p>He came from his new capital, Indra-prastha, to Hastina-pura the +capital of Duryodhan, with his mother and brothers and Draupadi. And +as Yudhishthir lost game after game, he was stung with his losses, +and with the recklessness of a gambler still went on with the fatal +game. His wealth and hoarded gold and jewels, his steeds, elephants +and cars, his slaves male and female, his empire and possessions, +were all staked and lost!</p> + +<p>The madness increased, and Yudhishthir staked his brothers, and then +himself, and then the fair Draupadi, and lost! And thus the Emperor +of Indra-prastha and his family were deprived of every possession +on earth, and became the bond-slaves of Duryodhan. The old king +Dhrita-rashtra released them from actual slavery, but the five +brothers retired to forests as homeless exiles.</p> + +<p>Portions of Section lxv. and the whole of Sections lxix., lxxvi., and +lxxvii. of Book ii. of the original text have been translated in this +Book.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>Draupadi in the Council Hall</h4> +<p>Glassed on Ganga's limpid waters brightly shine Hastina's walls<br> +Queen Draupadi duly honoured lives within the palace halls,</p> + +<p>But as steals a lowly jackal in a lordly lion's den,<br> +Base Duryodhan's humble menial came to proud Draupadi's ken.</p> + +<p>“Pardon, Empress,” quoth the menial, “royal Pandu's righteous son,<br> +Lost his game and lost his reason, Empress, thou art staked and won,</p> + +<p>Prince Duryodhan claims thee, lady, and the victor bids me say,<br> +Thou shalt serve him as his vassal, as his slave in palace stay!”</p> + +<p>“Have I heard thee, menial, rightly?” questioned she in anguish keen,<br> +“Doth a crownéd king and husband stake his wife and lose his queen,</p> + +<p>Did my noble lord and monarch sense and reason lose at dice,<br> +Other stake he did not wager, wedded wife to sacrifice!”</p> + +<p>“Other stakes were duly wagered,” so he spake with bitter groan,<br> +“Wealth and empire, every object which Yudhishthir called his own,</p> + +<p>Lost himself and all his brothers, bondsmen are those princes brave,<br> +Then he staked his wife and empress, thou art prince Duryodhan's slave!”</p> + +<p>Rose the queen in queenly anger, and with woman's pride she spake<br> +“Hie thee, menial, to thy master, Queen Draupadi's answer take,</p> + +<p>If my lord, himself a bondsman, then hath staked his queen and wife,<br> +False the stake, for owns a bondsman neither wealth nor other's life,</p> + +<p>Slave can wager wife nor children, and such action is undone,<br> +Take my word to prince Duryodhan, Queen Draupadi is unwon!”</p> + +<p>Wrathful was the proud Duryodhan when he heard the answer bold,<br> +To his younger, wild Duhsasan, this his angry mandate told:</p> + +<p>“Little-minded is the menial, and his heart in terror fails,<br> +For the fear of wrathful Bhima, lo! his coward-bosom quails,</p> + +<p>Thou Duhsasan, bid the princess as our humble slave appear,<br> +Pandu's sons are humble bondsmen, and thy heart it owns no fear!”</p> + +<p>Fierce Duhsasan heard the mandate, blood-shot was his flaming eye,<br> +Forthwith to the inner chambers did with eager footsteps hie,</p> + +<p>Proudly sat the fair Draupadi, monarch's daughter, monarch's wife,<br> +Unto her the base Duhsasan spake the message, insult-rife:</p> + +<p>“Lotus-eyed Panchala-princess! fairly staked and won at game,<br> +Come and meet thy lord Duryodhan, chase that mantling blush of shame!</p> + +<p>Serve us as thy lords and masters, be our beauteous bright-eyed slave,<br> +Come unto the Council Chamber, wait upon the young and brave!”</p> + +<p>Proud Draupadi shakes with tremor at Duhsasan's hateful sight,<br> +And she shades her eye and forehead, and her bloodless cheeks are white,</p> + +<p>At his words her chaste heart sickens, and with wild averted eye,<br> +Unto rooms where dwelt the women, Queen Draupadi seeks to fly.</p> + +<p>Vainly sped the trembling princess in her fear and in her shame,<br> +By her streaming wavy tresses fierce Duhsasan held the dame!</p> + +<p>Sacred looks! with holy water dewed at <i>rajasuya</i> rite,<br> +And by <i>mantra</i> consecrated, fragrant, flowing, raven-bright,</p> + +<p>Base Duhsasan by those tresses held the faint and flying queen,<br> +Feared no more the sons of Pandu, nor their vengeance fierce and keen,</p> + +<p>Dragged her in her slipping garments by her long and trailing hair,<br> +And like sapling tempest-shaken, wept and shook the trembling fair!</p> + +<p>Stooping in her shame and anguish, pale with wrath and woman's fear,<br> +Trembling and in stifled accents, thus she spake with streaming tear:</p> + +<p>“Leave me, shameless prince Duhsasan! elders, noble lords are here,<br> +Can a modest wedded woman thus in loose attire appear?”</p> + +<p>Vain the words and soft entreaty which the weeping princess made,<br> +Vainly to the gods and mortals she in bitter anguish prayed,</p> + +<p>For with cruel words of insult still Duhsasan mocked her woo:<br> +“Loosely clad or void of clothing,—to the council hall you go,</p> + +<p>Slave-wench fairly staked and conquered, wait upon thy masters brave,<br> +Live among our household menials, serve us as our willing slave!”</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>Draupadi's Plaint</h4> +<p>Loose-attired, with trailing tresses, came Draupadi weak and faint,<br> +Stood within the Council Chamber, tearful made her piteous plaint:</p> + +<p>“Elders! versed in holy <i>sastra</i>, and in every holy rite,<br> +Pardon if Draupadi cometh in this sad unseemly plight,</p> + +<p>Stay thy sinful deed, Duhsasan, nameless wrongs and insults spare,<br> +Touch me not with hands uncleanly, sacred is a woman's hair,</p> + +<p>Honoured elders, righteous nobles, have on me protection given,<br> +Tremble sinner, seek no mercy from the wrathful gods in heaven!</p> + +<p>Here in glory, son of <span class="sc">Dharma</span>, sits my noble righteous lord,<br> +Sin nor shame nor human frailty stains Yudhishthir's deed or word,</p> + +<p>Silent all? and will no chieftain rise to save a woman's life,<br> +Not a hand or voice is lifted to defend a virtuous wife?</p> + +<p>Lost is Kuru's righteous glory, lost is Bharat's ancient name,<br> +Lost is Kshatra's kingly prowess, warlike worth and knightly fame,</p> + +<p>Wherefore else do Kuru warriors tamely view this impious scene,<br> +Wherefore gleam not righteous weapons to protect an outraged queen?</p> + +<p>Bhishma, hath he lost his virtue, Drona, hath he lost his might,<br> +Hath the monarch of the Kurus ceased to battle for the right,</p> + +<p>Wherefore are ye mute and voiceless, councillors of mighty fame?<br> +Vacant eye and palsied right arm watch this deed of Kuru's shame!”</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>Insult and Vow of Revenge</h4> +<p>Spake Draupadi slender-waisted, and her words were stern and high,<br> +Anger flamed within her bosom and the tear was in her eye!</p> + +<p>And her sparkling, speaking glances fell on Pandu's sons like fire,<br> +Stirred in them a mighty passion and a thirst for vengeance dire!</p> + +<p>Lost their empire, wealth and fortune, little recked they for the fall,<br> +But Draupadi's pleading glances like a poniard smote them all!</p> + +<p>Darkly frowned the ancient Bhishma, wrathful Drona bit his tongue,<br> +Pale Vidura marked with anger insults on Draupadi flung!</p> + +<p>Fulsome word nor foul dishonour could their truthful utterance taint,<br> +And they cursed Duhsasan's action, when they heard Draupadi's plaint!</p> + +<p>But brave Karna, though a warrior,—Arjun's deadly foe was he,—<br> +'Gainst the humbled sons of Pandu spake his scorn thus bitterly:</p> + +<p>“'Tis no fault of thine, fair princess! fallen to this servile state,<br> +Wife and son rule not their actions, others rule their hapless fate!</p> + +<p>Thy Yudhishthir sold his birthright, sold thee at the impious play,<br> +And the wife falls with the husband, and her duty—to obey!</p> + +<p>Live thou in this Kuru household, do the Kuru princes' will,<br> +Serve them as thy lords and masters, with thy beauty please them still!</p> + +<p>Fair One! seek another husband who in foolish reckless game<br> +Will not stake a loving woman, will not cast her forth in shame!</p> + +<p>For they censure not a woman, when she is a menial slave,<br> +If her woman's fancy wanders to the young and to the brave!</p> + +<p>For thy lord is not thy husband, as a slave he hath no wife,<br> +Thou art free with truer lover to enjoy a wedded life!</p> + +<p>They whom at the <i>swayamvara</i>, chose ye, fair Panchala's bride,<br> +They have lost thee, sweet Draupadi, lost their empire and their pride!”</p> + +<p>Bhima heard, and quick and fiercely heaved his bosom in his shame,<br> +And his red glance fell on Karna like a tongue of withering flame!</p> + +<p>Bound by elder's plighted promise Bhima could not smite in ire,<br> +Looked a painted form of Anger flaming with an anguish dire!</p> + +<p>“King and elder!” uttered Bhima, and his words were few and brave,<br> +“Vain were wrath and righteous passion in the sold and bounden slave!</p> + +<p>Would that son of chariot-driver fling on us this insult keen,<br> +Hadst thou, noble king and elder, staked nor freedom nor our queen?”</p> + +<p>Sad Yudhishthir heard in anguish, bent in shame his lowly head,<br> +Proud Duryodhan laughed in triumph, and in scornful accents said:</p> + +<p>“Speak, Yudhishthir, for thy brothers own their elder's righteous sway,<br> +Speak, for truth in thee abideth, virtue ever marks thy way,</p> + +<p>Hast thou lost thy new-built empire, and thy brothers proud and brave?<br> +Hast thou lost thy fair Draupadi, is thy wedded wife our slave?”</p> + +<p>Lip nor eye did move Yudhishthir, hateful truth would not deny,<br> +Karna laughed, but saintly Bhishma wiped his old and manly eye!</p> + +<p>Madness seized the proud Duryodhan, and inflamed by passion base,<br> +Sought the prince to stain Draupadi with a deep and foul disgrace!</p> + +<p>On the proud and peerless woman cast his loving, lustful eye,<br> +Sought to hold the high-born princess as his slave upon his knee!</p> + +<p>Bhima penned his wrath no longer, lightning-like his glance he flung,<br> +And the ancient hall of Kurus with his thunder accents rung:</p> + +<p><i>“May I never reach those mansions where my fathers live on high,<br> +May I never meet ancestors in the bright and happy sky,</i></p> + +<p><i>If that knee, by which thou sinnest, Bhima breaks not in his ire,<br> +In the battle's red arena with his weapon, deathful, dire!”</i></p> + +<p>Red fire flamed on Bhima's forehead, sparkled from his angry eye,<br> +As from tough and gnarléd branches fast the crackling red sparks fly!</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>Dhrita-rastra's Kindness</h4> +<p>Hark! within the sacred chamber, where the priests in white attire<br> +With libations morn and evening feed the sacrificial fire,</p> + +<p>And o'er sacred rights of <i>homa</i> Brahmans chant their <i>mantra</i> high,<br> +There is heard the jackal's wailing and the raven's ominous cry!</p> + +<p>Wise Vidura knew that omen, and the Queen Gandhari knew,<br> +Bhishma muttered “<i>svasti! svasti!</i>” at this portent strange and new,</p> + +<p>Drona and preceptor Kripa uttered too that holy word,<br> +Spake her fears the Queen Gandhari to her spouse and royal lord.</p> + +<p>Dhrita-rashtra heard and trembled with a sudden holy fear,<br> +And his feeble accents quavered, and his eyes were dimmed by tear:</p> + +<p>“Son Duryodhan, ever luckless, godless, graceless, witless child,<br> +Hast thou Drupad's virtuous daughter thus insulted and reviled,</p> + +<p>Hast thou courted death and danger, for destruction clouds our path?<br> +May an old man's soft entreaties still avert this sign of wrath!”</p> + +<p>Slow and gently to Draupadi was the sightless monarch led,<br> +And in kind and gentle accents unto her the old man said:</p> + +<p>“Noblest empress, dearest daughter, good Yudhishthir's stainless wife,<br> +Purest of the Kuru ladies, nearest to my heart and life,</p> + +<p>Pardon wrong and cruel insult and avert the wrath of Heaven,<br> +Voice thy wish and ask for blessing, be my son's misdeed forgiven!”</p> + +<p>Answered him the fair Draupadi: “Monarch of the Kuru's line,<br> +For thy grace and for thy mercy every joy on earth be thine!</p> + +<p>Since thou bid'st me name my wishes, this the boon I ask of thee,<br> +That my gracious lord Yudhishthir once again be bondage-free!</p> + +<p>I have borne a child unto him, noble boy and fair and brave,<br> +Be he prince of royal station, not the son of bounden slave!</p> + +<p>Let not light unthinking children point to him in utter scorn,<br> +Call him slave and <i>dasaputra</i>, of a slave and bondsman born!”</p> + +<p>“Virtuous daughter, have thy wishes,” thus the ancient monarch cried,<br> +“Name a second boon and blessing, and it shall be gratified.”</p> + +<p>“Grant me then, O gracious father! mighty Bhima, Arjun brave,<br> +And the youngest twin-born brothers,—none of them may be a slave!</p> + +<p>With their arms and with their chariots let the noble princes part,<br> +Freemen let them range the country, strong of hand and stout of heart!”</p> + +<p>“Be it so, high-destined princess!” ancient Dhrita-rashtra cried,<br> +“Name another boon and blessing, and it shall be gratified,</p> + +<p>Foremost of my queenly daughters, dearest-cherished and the best,<br> +Meeting thus thy gentle wishes now I feel my house is blest!”</p> + +<p>“Not so,” answered him the princess, “other boon I may not seek,<br> +Thou art bounteous, and Draupadi should be modest, wise and meek,</p> + +<p>Twice I asked, and twice you granted, and a Kshatra asks no more,<br> +Unto Brahmans it is given, asking favours evermore!</p> + +<p>Now my lord and warlike brothers, from their hateful bondage freed,<br> +Seek their fortune by their prowess and by brave and virtuous deed!”</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>The Banishment</h4> +<p>Now Yudhishthir 'reft of empire, far from kinsmen, hearth and home,<br> +With his wife and faithful brothers must as houseless exiles roam.</p> + +<p>Parting blessings spake Yudhishthir, “Elder of the Kuru line,<br> +Noble grandsire stainless Bhishma, may thy glories ever shine!</p> + +<p>Drona priest and great preceptor, saintly Kripa true and brave,<br> +Kuru's monarch Dhrita-rashtra, may the gods thy empire save!</p> + +<p>Good Vidura true and faithful, may thy virtue serve thee well!<br> +Warlike sons of Dhrita-rashtra, let me bid you all farewell!”</p> + +<p>So he spake unto his kinsmen, wishing good for evil done,<br> +And in silent shame they listened, parting words they uttered none!</p> + +<p>Pained at heart was good Vidura, and he asked in sore distress:<br> +“<i>Arya</i> Pritha, will she wander in the pathless wilderness?</p> + +<p>Royal-born, unused to hardship, weak and long unused to roam,<br> +Agéd is thy saintly mother, let fair Pritha stay at home.</p> + +<p>And by all beloved, respected, in my house shall Pritha dwell,<br> +Till your years of exile over, ye shall greet her safe and well.”</p> + +<p>Answered him the sons of Pandu: “Be it even as you say,<br> +Unto us thou art a father, we thy sacred will obey,</p> + +<p>Give us then thy holy blessings, friend and father, ere we part,<br> +Blessings from the true and righteous brace the feeble, fainting heart.”</p> + +<p>Spake Vidura, pious-hearted: “Best of Bharat's ancient race,<br> +Let me bless thee and thy brothers, souls of truth and righteous grace!</p> + +<p>Fortune brings no weal to mortals who may win by wicked wile,<br> +Sorrow brings no shame to mortals who are free from sin and guile!</p> + +<p>Thou art trained in laws of duty, Arjun is unmatched in war,<br> +And on Bhima in the battle kindly shines his faithful star,</p> + +<p>And the Twins excel in wisdom, born to rule a mighty State,<br> +Fair Draupadi, ever faithful, wins the smiles of fickle Fate!</p> + +<p>Each with varied gifts endowéd, each beloved of one and all,<br> +Ye shall win a spacious empire, greater, mightier, after fall.</p> + +<p>This your exile, good Yudhishthir, is ordained to serve your weal,<br> +Is a trial and <i>samadhi</i>, for it chastens but to heal!</p> + +<p>Meru taught thee righteous maxims where Himalay soars above,<br> +And in Varnavata's forest Vyasa taught thee holy love,</p> + +<p>Rama preached the laws of duty far on Bhrigu's lofty hill,<br> +Sambhu showed the ‘way’ where floweth Drisad-vati's limpid rill,</p> + +<p>Fell from lips of saint Asita, words of wisdom deep and grave,<br> +Bhrigu touched with fire thy bosom by the dark Kalmashi's wave,</p> + +<p>Now once more the teaching cometh, purer, brighter, oftener taught,<br> +Learn the truth from heavenly Narad, happy is thy mortal lot!</p> + +<p>Greater than the son of Ila, than the kings of earth in might,<br> +Holier than the holy <i>rishis</i>, be thou in thy virtue bright!</p> + +<p><span class="sc">Indra</span> help thee in thy battles, proud subduer of mankind,<br> +<span class="sc">Yama</span> in the mightier duty, in the conquest of thy mind!</p> + +<p>Good <span class="sc">Kuvera</span> teach thee kindness, hungry and the poor to feed,<br> +King <span class="sc">Varnua</span> quell thy passions, free thy heart from sin and greed!</p> + +<p>Like the Moon in holy lustre, like the Earth in patience deep,<br> +Like the Sun be full of radiance, strong like wind's resistless sweep!</p> + +<p>In thy sorrow, in affliction, ever deeper lessons learn,<br> +Righteous be your life in exile, happy be your safe return!</p> + +<p>May these eyes again behold thee in Hastina's ancient town,<br> +Conqueror of earthly trials, crowned with virtue's heavenly crown!”</p> + +<p>Spake Vidura to the brothers, and they felt their might increase,<br> +Bowed to him in salutation, filled with deeper, holier peace,</p> + +<p>Bowed to Bhishma and to Drona, and to chiefs and elders all,<br> +Exiles to the pathless jungle left their father's ancient hall!</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> +<h4>Pritha's Lament</h4> +<p>In the inner palace chambers where the royal ladies dwell,<br> +Unto Pritha, came Draupadi, came to speak her sad farewell,</p> + +<p>Monarch's daughter, monarch's consort, as an exile she must go,<br> +Pritha wept and in the chambers rose the wailing voice of woe!</p> + +<p>Heaving sobs convulsed her bosom as a silent prayer she prayed,<br> +And in accents choked by anguish thus her parting words she said:</p> + +<p>“Grieve not, child, if bitter fortune so ordains that we must part,<br> +Virtue hath her consolations for the true and loving heart!</p> + +<p>And I need not tell thee, daughter, duties of a faithful wife,<br> +Drupad's and thy husband's mansions thou hast brightened by thy life!</p> + +<p>Nobly from the sinning Kurus thou hast turned thy righteous wrath,<br> +Safely, with a mother's blessing, tread the trackless jungle path!</p> + +<p>Dangers bring no woe or sorrow to the true and faithful wife,<br> +Sinless deed and holy conduct ever guard her charméd life!</p> + +<p>Nurse thy lord with woman's kindness, and his brothers, where ye go,<br> +Young in years in Sahadeva, gentle and unused to woe!”</p> + +<p>“Thy fond blessings help me, mother,” so the fair Draupadi said,<br> +“Safe in righteous truth and virtue, forest paths we fearless tread!”</p> + +<p>Wet her eyes and loose her tresses, fair Draupadi bowed and left,<br> +Ancient Pritha weeping followed of all earthly joy bereft,</p> + +<p>As she went, her duteous children now before their mother came,<br> +Clad in garments of the deer-skin, and their heads were bent in shame!</p> + +<p>Sorrow welling in her bosom choked her voice and filled her eye,<br> +Till in broken stifled accents faintly thus did Pritha cry:</p> + +<p>“Ever true to path of duty, noble children void of stain,<br> +True to gods, to mortals faithful, why this unmerited pain,</p> + +<p>Wherefore hath untimely sorrow like a darksome cloud above,<br> +Cast its pale and deathful shadow on the children of my love?</p> + +<p>Woe to me, your wretched mother, woe to her who gave you birth,<br> +Stainless sons, for sins of Pritha have ye suffered on this earth!</p> + +<p>Shall ye range the pathless forest dreary day and darksome night,<br> +Reft of all save native virtue, clad in native, inborn might?</p> + +<p>Woe to me, from rocky mountains where I dwelt by Pandu's side,<br> +When I lost him, to Hastina wherefore came I in my pride?</p> + +<p>Happy is your sainted father; dwells in regions of the sky,<br> +Sees nor feels these earthly sorrows gathering on us thick and high!</p> + +<p>Happy too is faithful Madri; for she trod the virtuous way,<br> +Followed Pandu to the bright sky, and is now his joy and stay!</p> + +<p>Ye alone are left to Pritha, dear unto her joyless heart,<br> +Mother's hope and widow's treasure, and ye may not, shall not part!</p> + +<p>Leave me not alone on wide earth, loving sons, your virtues prove,<br> +Dear Draupadi, loving daughter, let a mother's tear-drops move!</p> + +<p>Grant me mercy, kind Creator, and my days in mercy close,<br> +End my sorrows, kind <span class="sc">Vidhata</span>, end my life with all my woes!</p> + +<p>Help me, pious-hearted Krishna, friend of friendless, wipe my pain,<br> +All who suffer pray unto thee and they never pray in vain!</p> + +<p>Help me, Bhishma, warlike Drona, Kripa ever good and wise,<br> +Ye are friends of truth and virtue, righteous truth ye ever prize!</p> + +<p>Help me from thy starry mansions, husband, wherefore dost thou wait,<br> +Seest thou not thy godlike children exiled by a bitter fate!</p> + +<p>Part not, leave me not, my children, seek ye not the trackless way,<br> +Stay but one, if one child only, as your mother's hope and stay!</p> + +<p>Youngest, gentlest Sahadeva, dearest to this widowed heart,<br> +Wilt thou watch beside thy mother, while thy cruel brothers part?”</p> + +<p>Whispering words of consolation, Pritha's children wiped her eye,<br> +Then unto the pathless jungle turned their steps with bitter sigh!</p> + +<p>Kuru dames with fainting Pritha to Vidura's palace hie,<br> +Kuru queens for weeping Pritha raise their voice in answering cry,</p> + +<p>Kuru maids for fair Draupadi fortune's fitful will upbraid,<br> +And their tear-dewed lotus-faces with their streaming fingers shade!</p> + +<p>Dhrita-rashtra, ancient monarch, is by sad misgivings pained,<br> +Questions oft with anxious bosom what the cruel fates ordained.</p> + +<div id="s05" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK V</h3> +<h3>PATIVRATA-MAHATMYA</h3> +<p>(Woman's Love)</p> +</div> + +<p>True to their word the sons of Pandu went with Draupadi into exile, +and passed twelve years in the wilderness; and many were the +incidents which checkered their forest life. Krishna, who had stood +by Yudhishthir in his prosperity, now came to visit him in his +adversity; he consoled Draupadi in her distress, and gave good advice +to the brothers. Draupadi with a woman's pride and anger still +thought of her wrongs and insults, and urged Yudhishthir to disregard +the conditions of exile and recover his kingdom. Bhima too was of the +same mind, but Yudhishthir would not be moved from his plighted word.</p> + +<p>The great <i>rishi</i> Vyasa came to visit Yudhishthir, and advised Arjun, +great archer as he was, to acquire celestial arms by penance and +worship. Arjun followed the advice, met the god <span class="sc">Siva</span> in the guise +of a hunter, pleased him by his prowess in combat, and obtained his +blessings and the <i>pasupata</i> weapon. Arjun then went to <span class="sc">Indra's</span> +heaven and obtained other celestial arms.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile Duryodhan, not content with sending his cousins to +exile, wished to humiliate them still more by appearing before them +in all his regal power and splendour. Matters how ever turned out +differently from what he expected, and he became involved in a +quarrel with some <i>gandharvas</i>, a class of aerial beings. Duryodhan +was taken captive by them, and it was the Pandav brothers who +released him from his captivity, and allowed him to return to his +kingdom in peace. This act of generosity rankled in his bosom and +deepened his hatred.</p> + +<p>Jayadratha, king of the Sindhu or Indus country, and a friend and +ally of Duryodhan, came to the woods, and in the absence of the +Pandav brothers carried off Draupadi. The Pandavs however pursued the +king, chastised him for his misconduct, and rescued Draupadi.</p> + +<p>Still more interesting than these various incidents are the tales and +legends with which this book is replete. Great saints came to see +Yudhishthir in his exile, and narrated to him legends of ancient +times and of former kings. One of these beautiful episodes, the tale +of Nala and Damayanti, has been translated into graceful English +verse by Dean Milman, and is known to many English readers. The +legend of Agastya who drained the ocean dry; of Parasu-Rama a +Brahman who killed the Kshatriyas of the earth; of Bhagiratha who +brought down the Ganges from the skies to the earth; of Manu and the +universal deluge; of Vishnu and various other gods; of Rama and his +deeds which form the subject of the Epic <i>Ramayana</i>;—these and +various other legends have been inter woven in the account of the +forest-life of the Pandavs, and make it a veritable storehouse of +ancient Hindu tales and traditions.</p> + +<p>Among these various legends and tales I have selected one which is +singular and striking. The great truth proclaimed under the thin +guise of an eastern allegory is that a True Woman's Love is not +conquered by Death. The story is known by Hindu women high and low, +rich and poor, in all parts of India; and on a certain night in the +year millions of Hindu women celebrate a rite in honour of the woman +whose love was not conquered by death. Legends like these, though +they take away from the unity and conciseness of the Epic, impart a +moral instruction to the millions of India the value of which cannot +be overestimated.</p> + +<p>The portion translated in this Book forms Sections ccxcii. And +ccxciii., a part of Section ccxciv. and Sections ccxcv. and ccxcvi. +of Book iii. of the original text.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>Forest Life</h4> +<p>In the dark and pathless forest long the Pandav brothers strayed,<br> +In the bosom of the jungle with the fair Draupadi stayed,</p> + +<p>And they killed the forest red-deer, hewed the gnarléd forest wood,<br> +From the stream she fetched the water, cooked the humble daily food,</p> + +<p>In the morn she swept the cottage, lit the cheerful fire at eve,<br> +But at night in lonesome silence oft her woman's heart would grieve,</p> + +<p>Insults rankled in her bosom and her tresses were unbound,—<br> +So she vowed,—till fitting vengeance had the base insulters found!</p> + +<p>Oft when evening's shades descended, mantling o'er the wood and lea,<br> +When Draupadi by the cottage cooked the food beneath the tree,</p> + +<p><i>Rishis</i> came to good Yudhishthir, sat beside his evening fires,<br> +Many olden tales recited, legends of our ancient sires.</p> + +<p>Markandeya, holy <i>rishi</i>, once unto Yudhishthir came,<br> +When his heart was sorrow-laden with the memories of his shame,</p> + +<p>“Pardon, rishi!” said Yudhishthir, “if unbidden tears will start,<br> +But the woes of fair Draupadi grieve a banished husband's heart,</p> + +<p>By her tears the saintly woman broke my bondage worse than death,<br> +By my sins she suffers exile and misfortune's freezing breath!</p> + +<p>Dost thou, sage and saintly <i>rishi</i>, know of wife or woman born,<br> +By such nameless sorrow smitten, by such strange misfortune torn?</p> + +<p>Hast thou in thy ancient legends heard of true and faithful wife,<br> +With a stronger wife's affection, with a sadder woman's life?”</p> + +<p>“Listen, monarch!” said the <i>rishi</i>, “to a tale of ancient date,<br> +How Savitri loved and suffered, how she strove and conquered Fate!”</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>The Tale of Savitri</h4> +<p>In the country of the Madras lived a king in days of old,<br> +Faithful to the holy <span class="sc">Brahma</span>, pure in heart and righteous-souled,</p> + +<p>He was loved in town and country, in the court and hermit's den,<br> +Sacrificer to the bright gods, helper to his brother men,</p> + +<p>But the monarch, Aswapati, son or daughter had he none,<br> +Old in years and sunk in anguish, and his days were almost done!</p> + +<p>Vows he took and holy penance, and with pious rules conformed,<br> +Spare in diet as <i>brahmachari</i> many sacred rites performed,</p> + +<p>Sang the sacred hymn, <i>savitri</i>, to the gods oblations gave,<br> +Through the lifelong day he fasted, uncomplaining, meek and brave!</p> + +<p>Year by year he gathered virtue, rose in merit and in might,<br> +Till the goddess of <i>savitri</i> smiled upon his sacred rite,</p> + +<p>From the fire upon the altar, which a holy radiance flung,<br> +In the form of beauteous maiden, goddess of <i>savitri</i> sprung!</p> + +<p>And she spake in gentle accents, blessed the monarch good and brave,<br> +Blessed his rites and holy penance and a boon unto him gave:</p> + +<p>“Penance and thy sacrifices can the powers immortal move,<br> +And the pureness of thy conduct doth thy heart's affection prove,</p> + +<p>Ask thy boon, king Aswapati, from creation's Ancient Sire,<br> +True to virtue's sacred mandate speak thy inmost heart's desire.”</p> + +<p>“For an offspring brave and kingly,” so the saintly king replied,<br> +“Holy rites and sacrifices and this penance I have tried,</p> + +<p>If these rites and sacrifices move thy favour and thy grace,<br> +Grant me offspring, Prayer-Maiden, worthy of my noble race!”</p> + +<p>“Have thy object,” spake the maiden, “Madra's pious-hearted king,<br> +From <span class="sc">Swaymbhu</span>, Self-created, blessings unto thee I bring!</p> + +<p>For <span class="sc">He</span> lists to mortal's prayer springing from a heart like thine,<br> +And <span class="sc">He</span> wills,—a noble daughter grace thy famed and royal line!</p> + +<p>Aswapati, glad and grateful, take the blessing which I bring,<br> +Part in joy and part in silence, bow unto Creation's King!”</p> + +<p>Vanished then the Prayer-Maiden, and the king of noble fame,<br> +Aswapati, Lord of coursers, to his royal city came,</p> + +<p>Days of hope and nights of gladness Madra's happy monarch passed,<br> +Till his queen of noble offspring gladsome promise gave at last!</p> + +<p>As the moon each night increaseth, chasing darksome nightly gloom,<br> +Grew the unborn babe in splendour in its happy mother's womb,</p> + +<p>And in fulness of the season came a girl with lotus-eye,<br> +Father's hope and joy of mother, gift of kindly gods on high!</p> + +<p>And the king performed its birth-rites with a glad and grateful mind,<br> +And the people blessed the dear one with their wishes good and kind,</p> + +<p>As <i>Savitri</i>, Prayer-Maiden, had the beauteous offspring given,<br> +Brahmans named the child <i>Savitri</i>, holy gift of bounteous Heaven!</p> + +<p>Grew the child in brighter beauty like a goddess from above,<br> +And each passing season added fresher sweetness, deeper love,</p> + +<p>Came with youth its lovelier graces, as the buds their leaves unfold,<br> +Slender waist and rounded bosom, image as of burnished gold,</p> + +<p><i>Deva-Kanya!</i> born a goddess, so they said in all the land,<br> +Princely suitors struck with splendour ventured not to seek her hand!</p> + +<p>Once upon a time it happened on a bright and festive day,<br> +Fresh from bath the beauteous maiden to the altar came to pray,</p> + +<p>And with cakes and pure libations duly fed the Sacred Flame,<br> +Then like <span class="sc">Sri</span> in heavenly radiance to her royal father came,</p> + +<p>Bowed unto his feet in silence, sacred flowers beside him laid,<br> +And her hands she folded meekly, sweetly her obeisance made,</p> + +<p>With a father's pride, upon her gazed the ruler of the land,<br> +But a strain of sadness lingered, for no suitor claimed her hand.</p> + +<p>“Daughter,” whispered Aswapati, “now, methinks, the time is come,<br> +Thou shouldst choose a princely suitor, grace a royal husband's home,</p> + +<p>Choose thyself a noble husband worthy of thy noble hand,<br> +Choose a true and upright monarch, pride and glory of his land,</p> + +<p>As thou choosest, gentle daughter, in thy loving heart's desire,<br> +Blessing and his free permission will bestow thy happy sire!</p> + +<p>For our sacred <i>sastras</i> sanction, holy Brahmans oft relate,<br> +That the duty-loving father sees his girl in wedded state,</p> + +<p>That the duty-loving husband watches o'er his consort's ways,<br> +That the duty-loving offspring tends his mother's widowed days,</p> + +<p>Therefore choose a loving husband, daughter of my house and love,<br> +So thy father earn no censure or from men or gods above!”</p> + +<p>Fair Savitri bowed unto him, and for parting blessings prayed,<br> +Then she left her father's palace, and in distant regions strayed,</p> + +<p>With her guard and aged courtiers whom her watchful father sent,<br> +Mounted on her golden chariot unto sylvan woodlands went.</p> + +<p>Then in pleasant woods and jungle wandered she from day to day,<br> +Unto <i>asrams</i>, hermitages, pious-hearted held her way,</p> + +<p>Oft she stayed in holy <i>tirthas</i> washed by sacred limpid streams,<br> +Food she gave unto the hungry, wealth beyond their fondest dreams!</p> + +<p>Many days and months are over, and it once did so befall,<br> +When the king and <i>rishi</i> Narad sat within the royal hall,</p> + +<p>From her journeys near and distant and from places known to fame,<br> +Fair Savitri with the courtiers to her father's palace came,</p> + +<p>Came and saw her royal father, <i>rishi</i> Narad by his seat,<br> +Bent her head in salutation, bowed unto their holy feet.</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>The Fated Bridegroom</h4> +<p>“Whence comes she,” so Narad questioned, “whither was Savitri led,<br> +Wherefore to a happy husband hath Savitri not been wed?”</p> + +<p>“Nay! to choose her lord and husband,” so the virtuous monarch said,<br> +“Fair Savitri long hath wandered and in holy <i>tirthas</i> stayed,</p> + +<p>Maiden! speak unto the <i>rishi</i>, and thy choice and secret tell!”<br> +Then a blush suffused her forehead, soft and slow her accents fell!</p> + +<p>“Listen, father! Salwa's monarch was of old a king of might,<br> +Righteous-hearted Dyumat-sena, feeble now and void of sight,</p> + +<p>Foemen robbed him of his kingdom when in age he lost his sight,<br> +And from town and spacious empire was the monarch forced to flight,</p> + +<p>With his queen and with his infant did the feeble monarch stray,<br> +And the jungle was his palace, darksome was his weary way.</p> + +<p>Holy vows assumed the monarch and in penance passed his life,<br> +In the wild woods nursed his infant and with wild fruits fed his wife,</p> + +<p>Years have gone in rigid penance, and that child is now a youth,<br> +Him I choose my lord and husband, Satyavan, Soul of Truth!”</p> + +<p>Thoughtful was the <i>rishi</i> Narad, doleful were the words he said:<br> +“Sad disaster waits Savitri if this royal youth she wed!</p> + +<p>Truth-beloving is his father, truthful is the royal dame,<br> +Truth and virtue rule his actions, Satyavan is his name,</p> + +<p>Steeds he loved in days of boyhood and to paint them was his joy,<br> +Hence they called him young Chitraswa, art-beloving gallant boy!</p> + +<p>But O pious-hearted monarch! fair Savitri hath in sooth<br> +Courted Fate and sad disaster in that noble gallant youth!”</p> + +<p>“Tell me,” questioned Aswapati, “for I may not guess thy thought,<br> +Wherefore is my daughter's action with a sad disaster fraught?</p> + +<p>Is the youth of noble lustre, gifted in the gifts of art,<br> +Blest with wisdom, prowess, patience daring, dauntless in his heart?”</p> + +<p>“<span class="sc">Surya's</span> lustre in him shineth,” so the <i>rishi</i> Narad said,<br> +“<span class="sc">Brihaspati's</span> wisdom dwelleth in the young Satyavan's head,</p> + +<p>Like <span class="sc">Mahendra</span> in his prowess, and in patience like the Earth,<br> +Yet O king! a sad disaster marks the gentle youth from birth!”</p> + +<p>“Tell me, <i>rishi</i>, then thy reason,” so the anxious monarch cried,<br> +“Why to youth so great and gifted may this maid be not allied?</p> + +<p>Is Satyavan free in bounty, gentle-hearted, full of grace,<br> +Duly versed in sacred knowledge, fair in mind and fair in face?”</p> + +<p>“Free in gifts like Rantideva,” so the holy <i>rishi</i> said,<br> +“Versed in lore like monarch Sivi, who all ancient monarchs led,</p> + +<p>Like Yayati open-hearted and like <span class="sc">Chandra</span> in his grace,<br> +Like the handsome heavenly <span class="sc">Asvins</span> fair and radiant in his face,</p> + +<p>Meek and graced with patient virtue he controls his noble mind,<br> +Modest in his kindly actions, true to friends and ever kind,</p> + +<p>And the hermits of the forest praise him for his righteous truth,<br> +Nathless, king, thy daughter may not wed this noble-hearted youth!”</p> + +<p>“Tell me, <i>rishi</i>,” said the monarch, “for thy sense from me is hid,<br> +Has this prince some fatal blemish, wherefore is this match forbid?”</p> + +<p>“Fatal fault!” exclaimed the <i>rishi</i>, “fault that wipeth all his grace,<br> +Fault, that human power nor effort, rite nor penance can efface!</p> + +<p>Fatal fault or destined sorrow! for it is decreed on high,<br> +On this day, a twelve-month later, this ill-fated prince will die!”</p> + +<p>Shook the startled king in terror, and in fear and trembling cried:<br> +“Unto short-lived, fated bridegroom ne'er my child shall be allied!</p> + +<p>Come, Savitri, dear-loved maiden! choose another happier lord,<br> +<i>Rishi</i> Narad speaketh wisdom, list unto his holy word!</p> + +<p>Every grace and every virtue is effaced by cruel Fate,<br> +On this day, a twelve-month later, leaves the prince his mortal state!”</p> + +<p>“Father!” answered thus the maiden, soft and sad her accents fell,<br> +“I have heard thy honoured mandate, holy Narad counsels well,</p> + +<p><i>Pardon witless maiden's feelings! but beneath the eye of Heaven,<br> +Only once a maiden chooseth, twice her troth may not be given!</i></p> + +<p><i>Long his life or be it narrow, and his virtues great or none,<br> +Brave Satyavan is my husband, he my heart and troth hath won!</i></p> + +<p><i>What a maiden's heart hath chosen that a maiden's lips confess,<br> +True to him, thy poor Savitri goes into the wilderness!”</i></p> + +<p>“Monarch!” uttered then the <i>rishi</i>, “fixed is she in mind and heart,<br> +From her troth the true Savitri never, never will depart!</p> + +<p>More than mortal's share of virtue unto Satyavan is given,<br> +Let the true maid wed her chosen, leave the rest to gracious Heaven!”</p> + +<p>“<i>Rishi</i> and preceptor holy!” so the weeping monarch prayed,<br> +“Heaven avert all future evils, and thy mandate is obeyed!”</p> + +<p>Narad wished him joy and gladness, blessed the loving youth and maid,<br> +Forest hermits on their wedding every fervent blessing laid.</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>Overtaken by Fate</h4> +<p>Twelve-month in the darksome forest by her true and chosen lord,<br> +Lived Savitri, served his parents by her thought and deed and word,</p> + +<p>Bark of tree supplied her garments draped upon her bosom fair,<br> +Or the red cloth as in <i>asrams</i> holy women love to wear,</p> + +<p>And the aged queen she tended with a fond and filial pride,<br> +Served the old and sightless monarch like a daughter by his side,</p> + +<p>And with love and gentle sweetness pleased her husband and her lord,<br> +But in secret, night and morning, pondered still on Narad's word!</p> + +<p>Nearer came the fatal morning by the holy Narad told,<br> +Fair Savitri reckoned daily and her heart was still and cold,</p> + +<p>Three short days remaining only! and she took a vow severe<br> +Of <i>triratra</i>, three nights' penance, holy fasts and vigils drear!</p> + +<p>Of Savitri's rigid penance heard the king with anxious woe,<br> +Spake to her in loving accents, so the vow she might forgo:</p> + +<p>“Hard the penance, gentle daughter, and thy woman's limbs are frail,<br> +After three nights' fasts and vigils sure thy tender health may fail!”</p> + +<p>“Be not anxious, loving father,” meekly thus Savitri prayed,<br> +“Penance I have undertaken, will unto the gods be made.”</p> + +<p>Much misdoubting then the monarch gave his sad and slow assent,<br> +Pale with fast and unseen tear-drops, lonesome nights Savitri spent.</p> + +<p>Nearer came the fatal morning, and to-morrow he shall die,<br> +Dark, dark hours of nightly silence! Tearless, sleepless is her eye!</p> + +<p>“Dawns that dread and fated morning!” said Savitri, bloodless, brave,<br> +Prayed her fervent prayers in silence, to the Fire oblations gave,</p> + +<p>Bowed unto the forest Brahmans, to the parents kind and good,<br> +Joined her hands in salutation and in reverent silence stood.</p> + +<p>With the usual morning blessing, “<i>Widow may'st thou never be</i>,”<br> +Anchorites and agéd Brahmans blessed Savitri fervently,</p> + +<p>O! that blessing fell upon her like the rain on thirsty air,<br> +Struggling hope inspired her bosom as she drank those accents fair!</p> + +<p>But returned the dark remembrance of the <i>rishi</i> Narad's word,<br> +Pale she watched the creeping sunbeams, mused upon her fated lord!</p> + +<p>“Daughter, now thy fast is over,” so the loving parents said,<br> +“Take thy diet after penance, for thy morning prayers are prayed,”</p> + +<p>“Pardon, father,” said Savitri, “let this other day be done,”<br> +Unshed tear-drops filled her eyelids, glistened in the morning sun!</p> + +<p>Young Satyavan, tall and stately, ponderous axe on shoulder hung,<br> +For the distant darksome jungle issued forth serene and strong,</p> + +<p>But unto him came Savitri and in sweetest accents prayed,<br> +As upon his manly bosom gently she her forehead laid:</p> + +<p>“Long I wished to see the jungle where steals not the solar ray,<br> +Take me to the darksome forest, husband, let me go to-day!”</p> + +<p>“Come not, love,” he sweetly answered with a loving husband's care,<br> +“Thou art all unused to labour, forest paths thou may'st not dare,</p> + +<p>And with recent fasts and vigils pale and bloodless is thy face,<br> +And thy steps are weak and feeble, jungle paths thou may'st not trace.”</p> + +<p>“Fasts and vigils make me stronger,” said the wife with wifely pride,<br> +“Toil I shall not feel nor languor when my lord is by my side,</p> + +<p>For I feel a woman's longing with my lord to trace the way,<br> +Grant me, husband ever gracious, with thee let me go to-day!”</p> + +<p>Answered then the loving husband, as his hands in hers he wove,<br> +“Ask permission from my parents in the trackless woods to rove.”</p> + +<p>Then Savitri to the monarch urged her longing strange request,<br> +After duteous salutation thus her humble prayer addrest:</p> + +<p>“To the jungle goes my husband, fuel and the fruit to seek,<br> +I would follow if my mother and my loving father speak,</p> + +<p>Twelve-month from this narrow <i>asram</i> hath Savitri stepped nor strayed,<br> +In this cottage true and faithful ever hath Savitri stayed,</p> + +<p>For the sacrificial fuel wends my lord his lonesome way,<br> +Please my kind and loving parents, I would follow him to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Never since her wedding morning,” so the loving king replied,<br> +“Wish or thought Savitri whispered, for a boon or object sighed,</p> + +<p>Daughter, thy request is granted, safely in the forest roam,<br> +Safely with thy lord and husband, seek again thy cottage home.”</p> + +<p>Bowing to her loving parents did the fair Savitri part,<br> +Smile upon her pallid features, anguish in her inmost heart!</p> + +<p>Round her sylvan green woods blossomed 'neath a cloudless Indian sky,<br> +Flocks of pea-fowls gorgeous plumaged flew before her wondering eye,</p> + +<p>Woodland rills and crystal nullahs gently roll'd o'er rocky bed,<br> +Flower-decked hills in dewy brightness towering glittered overhead,</p> + +<p>Birds of song and beauteous feather trilled a note in every grove,<br> +Sweeter accents fell upon her, from her husband's lips of love!</p> + +<p>Still with thoughtful eye Savitri watched her dear and fated lord,<br> +Flail of grief was in her bosom but her pale lips shaped no word,</p> + +<p>And she listened to her husband, still on anxious thought intent,<br> +Cleft in two her throbbing bosom, as in silence still she went!</p> + +<p>Gaily with the gathered wild-fruits did the prince his basket fill,<br> +Hewed the interlacéd branches with his might and practised skill,</p> + +<p>Till the drops stood on his forehead, weary was his aching head,<br> +Faint he came unto Savitri and in faltering accents said:</p> + +<p>“Cruel ache is on my forehead, fond and ever faithful wife,<br> +And I feel a hundred needles pierce me and torment my life,</p> + +<p>And my feeble footsteps falter, and my senses seem to reel,<br> +Fain would I beside thee linger, for a sleep doth o'er me steal.”</p> + +<p>With a wild and speechless terror pale Savitri held her lord,<br> +On her lap his head she rested as she laid him on the sward,</p> + +<p>Narad's fatal words remembered as she watched her husband's head,<br> +Burning lip and pallid forehead, and the dark and creeping shade,</p> + +<p>Clasped him in her beating bosom, kissed his lips with panting breath,<br> +Darker grew the lonesome forest, and he slept the sleep of death!</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>Triumph over Fate</h4> +<p>In the bosom of the shadows rose a Vision dark and dread,<br> +Shape of gloom in inky garment, and a crown was on his head!</p> + +<p>Gleaming form of sable splendour, blood-red was his sparkling eye,<br> +And a fatal noose he carried, grim and godlike, dark and high!</p> + +<p>And he stood in solemn silence, looked in silence on the dead,<br> +And Savitri on the greensward gently placed her husband's head,</p> + +<p>And a tremor shook Savitri, but a woman's love is strong,<br> +With her hands upon her bosom thus she spake with quivering tongue:</p> + +<p>“More than mortal is thy glory, and a radiant god thou be,<br> +Tell me what bright name thou bearest, and thy message unto me.”</p> + +<p>“Know me,” thus responded <span class="sc">Yama</span>, “mighty monarch of the dead,<br> +Mortals leaving earthly mansion to my darksome realms are led,</p> + +<p>Since with woman's full affection thou hast loved thy husband dear,<br> +Hence before thee, faithful woman, <span class="sc">Yama</span> doth in form appear,</p> + +<p>But his days and loves are ended, and he leaves his faithful wife,<br> +In this noose I bind and carry spark of his immortal life,</p> + +<p>Virtue graced his life and action, spotless was his princely heart,<br> +Hence for him I came in person, princess, let thy husband part.”</p> + +<p><span class="sc">Yama</span> from Satyavan's body, pale and bloodless, cold and dumb,<br> +Drew the vital spark, <i>purusha</i>, smaller than the human thumb,</p> + +<p>In his noose the spark he fastened, silent went his darksome way,<br> +Left the body shorn of lustre to its rigid cold decay.</p> + +<p>Southward went the dark-hued <span class="sc">Yama</span> with the youth's immortal life,<br> +And, for woman's love abideth, followed still the faithful wife.</p> + +<p>“Turn, Savitri,” outspake <span class="sc">Yama</span>, “for thy husband loved and lost,<br> +Do the rites due unto mortals by their Fate predestined crost,</p> + +<p>For thy wifely duty ceases, follow not in fruitless woe,<br> +And no farther living creature may with monarch <span class="sc">Yama</span> go!”</p> + +<p>“But I may not choose but follow where thou takest my husband's life,<br> +For Eternal Law divides not loving man and faithful wife!</p> + +<p>For my love and my affection, for a woman's sacred woe,<br> +Grant me in thy godlike mercy farther still with him I go!</p> + +<p>Fourfold are our human duties: first, to study holy lore;<br> +Then to live as good householders, feed the hungry at our door;</p> + +<p>Then to pass our days in penance; last to fix our thoughts above;<br> +But the final goal of virtue, it is Truth and deathless Love!”</p> + +<p>“True and holy are thy precepts,” listening <span class="sc">Yama</span> made reply,<br> +“And they fill my heart with gladness and with pious purpose high,</p> + +<p>I would bless thee, fair Savitri, but the dead come not to life,<br> +Ask for other boon and blessing, faithful, true and virtuous wife!”</p> + +<p>“Since you so permit me, <span class="sc">Yama</span>,” so the good Savitri said,<br> +“For my husband's banished father let my dearest suit be made,</p> + +<p>Sightless in the darksome forest dwells the monarch faint and weak,<br> +Grant him sight and grant him vigour, <span class="sc">Yama</span>, in thy mercy speak!”</p> + +<p>“Duteous daughter,” <span class="sc">Yama</span> answered, “be thy pious wishes given,<br> +And his eyes shall be restoréd to the cheerful light of heaven,</p> + +<p>Turn, Savitri, faint and weary, follow not in fruitless woe,<br> +And no farther living creature may with monarch <span class="sc">Yama</span> go!”</p> + +<p>“Faint nor weary is Savitri,” so the noble princess said,<br> +“Since she waits upon her husband, gracious Monarch of the dead,</p> + +<p>What befalls the wedded husband still befalls the faithful wife,<br> +Where he leads she ever follows, be it death or be it life!</p> + +<p>And our sacred writ ordaineth and our pious <i>rishis</i> sing,<br> +Transient meeting with the holy doth its countless blessings bring,</p> + +<p>Longer friendship with the holy purifies the mortal birth,<br> +Lasting union with the holy is the bright sky on the earth!</p> + +<p>Union with the pure and holy is immortal heavenly life,<br> +For Eternal Law divides not loving man and faithful wife!”</p> + +<p>“Blesséd are thy words,” said <span class="sc">Yama</span>, “blesséd is thy pious thought,<br> +With a higher purer wisdom are thy holy lessons fraught,</p> + +<p>I would bless thee, fair Savitri, but the dead come not to life,<br> +Ask for other boon and blessing, faithful, true and virtuous wife!”</p> + +<p>“Since you so permit me, <span class="sc">Yama</span>,” so the good Savitri said,<br> +“Once more for my husband's father be my supplication made,</p> + +<p>Lost his kingdom, in the forest dwells the monarch faint and weak,<br> +Grant him back his wealth and kingdom, <span class="sc">Yama</span>, in thy mercy speak!”</p> + +<p>“Loving daughter!” <span class="sc">Yama</span> answered, “wealth and kingdom I bestow,<br> +Turn, Savitri, living mortal may not with King <span class="sc">Yama</span> go!”</p> + +<p>Still Savitri, meek and faithful, followed her departed lord,<br> +<span class="sc">Yama</span> still with higher wisdom listened to her saintly word,</p> + +<p>And the Sable King was vanquished, and he turned on her again,<br> +And his words fell on Savitri like the cooling summer rain,</p> + +<p>“Noble woman, speak thy wishes, name thy boon and purpose high,<br> +What the pious mortal asketh gods in heaven may not deny!”</p> + +<p>“Thou hast,” so Savitri answered, “granted father's realm and might,<br> +To his vain and sightless eyeballs hast restored their blesséd sight,</p> + +<p>Grant him that the line of monarchs may not all untimely end,<br> +That his kingdom to Satyavan's and Savitri's sons descend!”</p> + +<p>“Have thy object,” answered <span class="sc">Yama</span>, “and thy lord shall live again,<br> +He shall live to be a father, and your children too shall reign,</p> + +<p>For a woman's troth abideth longer than the fleeting breath,<br> +And a woman's love abideth higher than the doom of Death!”</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> +<h4>Return Home</h4> +<p>Vanished then the Sable Monarch, and Savitri held her way<br> +Where in dense and darksome forest still her husband lifeless lay,</p> + +<p>And she sat upon the greensward by the cold unconscious dead,<br> +On her lap with deeper kindness placed her consort's lifeless head,</p> + +<p>And that touch of true affection thrilled him back to waking life,<br> +As returned from distant regions gazed the prince upon his wife!</p> + +<p>“Have I lain too long and slumbered, sweet Savitri, faithful spouse?<br> +But I dreamt a Sable Person, in a noose took forth my life!”</p> + +<p>“Pillowed on this lap,” she answered, “long upon the earth you lay,<br> +And the Sable Person, husband, he hath come and passed away,</p> + +<p>Rise and leave this darksome forest if thou feelest light and strong,<br> +For the night is on the jungle and our way is dark and long.”</p> + +<p>Rising as from happy slumber looked the young prince on all around,<br> +Saw the wide-extending jungle mantling all the darksome ground,</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he said, “I now remember, ever loving faithful dame,<br> +We in search of fruit and fuel to this lonesome forest came,</p> + +<p>As I hewed the gnarléd branches, cruel anguish filled my brain,<br> +And I laid me on the greensward with a throbbing piercing pain,</p> + +<p>Pillowed on thy gentle bosom, solaced by thy gentle love,<br> +I was soothed, and drowsy slumber fell on me from skies above.</p> + +<p>All was dark and then I witnessed, was it but a fleeting dream,<br> +God or Vision, dark and dreadful, in the deepening shadows gleam!</p> + +<p>Was this dream my fair Savitri, dost thou of this Vision know?<br> +Tell me, for before my eyesight still the Vision seems to glow!”</p> + +<p>“Darkness thickens,” said Savitri, “and the evening waxeth late,<br> +When the morrow's light returneth I shall all these scenes narrate,</p> + +<p>Now arise, for darkness gathers, deeper grows the gloomy night,<br> +And thy loving anxious parents trembling wait thy welcome sight,</p> + +<p>Hark the rangers of the forest! how their voices strike the ear!<br> +Prowlers of the darksome jungle! how they fill my breast with fear!</p> + +<p>Forest-fire is raging yonder, for I see a distant gleam,<br> +And the rising evening breezes help the red and radiant beam,</p> + +<p>Let me fetch a burning faggot and prepare a friendly light,<br> +With these fallen withered branches chase the shadows of the night,</p> + +<p>And if feeble still thy footsteps,—long and weary is our way,—<br> +By the fire repose, my husband, and return by light of day.”</p> + +<p>“For my parents, fondly anxious,” Satyavan thus made reply,<br> +“Pains my heart and yearns my bosom, let us to their cottage hie,</p> + +<p>When I tarried in the jungle or by day or dewy eve,<br> +Searching in the hermitages often did my parents grieve,</p> + +<p>And with father's soft reproaches and with mother's loving fears,<br> +Chid me for my tardy footsteps, dewed me with their gentle tears!</p> + +<p>Think then of my father's sorrow, of my mother's woeful plight,<br> +If afar in wood and jungle pass we now the livelong night,</p> + +<p>Wife beloved, I may not fathom what mishap or load of care,<br> +Unknown dangers, unseen sorrows, even now my parents share!”</p> + +<p>Gentle drops of filial sorrow trickled down his manly eye,<br> +Pond Savitri sweetly speaking softly wiped the tear-drops dry:</p> + +<p>“Trust me, husband, if Savitri hath been faithful in her love,<br> +If she hath with pious offerings served the righteous gods above,</p> + +<p>If she hath a sister's kindness unto brother men performed,<br> +If she hath in speech and action unto holy truth conformed,</p> + +<p>Unknown blessings, mighty gladness, trust thy ever faithful wife,<br> +And not sorrows or disasters wait this eve our parents' life!”</p> + +<p>Then she rose and tied her tresses, gently helped her lord to rise,<br> +Walked with him the pathless jungle, looked with love into his eyes,</p> + +<p>On her neck his clasping left arm sweetly winds in soft embrace,<br> +Round his waist Savitri's right arm doth sweetly interlace,</p> + +<p>Thus they walked the darksome jungle, silent stars looked from above,<br> +And the hushed and throbbing midnight watched Savitri's deathless love.</p> + +<div id="s06" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK VI</h3> +<h3>GO-HARANA</h3> +<p>(Cattle-Lifting)</p> +</div> + +<p>The conditions of the banishment of the sons of Pandu were hard. They +must pass twelve years in exile, and then they must remain a year in +concealment. If they were discovered within this last year, they must +go into exile for another twelve years.</p> + +<p>Having passed the twelve years of exile in forests, the Pandav +brothers disguised themselves and entered into the menial service +of Virata, king of the Matsyas, to pass the year of concealment. +Yudhishthir presented himself as a Brahman, skilled in dice, and +became a courtier of the king. Bhima entered the king's service +as cook. For Arjun, who was so well known, a stricter concealment +was necessary. He wore conch bangles and earrings and braided +his hair, like those unfortunate beings whom nature has debarred +from the privileges of men and women, and he lived in the inner +apartments of the king. He assumed the name of <i>Brihannala</i>, and +taught the inmates of the royal household in music and dancing. +Nakula became a keeper of the king's horses, and Sahadeva took +charge of the king's cows. Draupadi too disguised herself as a +waiting-woman, and served the princess of the Matsya house in that +humble capacity.</p> + +<p>In these disguises the Pandav brothers safely passed a year in +concealment in spite of all search which Duryodhan made after them. +At last an incident happened which led to their discovery when the +year was out.</p> + +<p>Cattle-lifting was a common practice with the kings of ancient India, +as with the chiefs of ancient Greece. The king of the Trigartas and +the king of the Kurus combined and fell on the king of the Matsyas +in order to drive off the numerous herd of fine cattle for which his +kingdom was famed. The Trigartas entered the Matsya kingdom from +the south-east, and while Virata went out with his troops to meet +the foe, Duryodhan with his Kuru forces fell on the kingdom from +the north.</p> + +<p>When news came that the Kurus had invaded the kingdom, there was +no army in the capital to defend it. King Virata had gone out with +most of his troops to face the Trigartas in the south-east, and the +prince Uttara had no inclination to face the Kurus in the north. The +disguised Arjun now came to the rescue in the manner described in +this Book. The description of the bows, arrows, and swords of the +Pandav brothers which they had concealed in a tree, wrapped like +human corpses to frighten away inquisitive travellers, throws some +light on the arts and manufacture of ancient times. The portions +translated in this Book form Sections xxxv., xxxvi., xl. to xliii., +a portion of Section xliv., and Sections liii. and lxxii. of Book iv. +of the original text.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>Complaint of the Cowherd</h4> +<p>Monarch of the mighty Matsyas, brave Virata known to fame,<br> +Marched against Trigarta chieftains who from southward regions came,</p> + +<p>From the north the proud Duryodhan, stealing onwards day by day,<br> +Swooped on Matsya's fattened cattle like the hawk upon its prey!</p> + +<p>Bhishma, Drona, peerless Karna, led the Kuru warriors brave,<br> +Swept the kingdom of Virata like the ocean's surging wave,</p> + +<p>Fell upon the trembling cowherds, chased them from the pasture-field,<br> +Sixty thousand head of cattle was the Matsya country's yield!</p> + +<p>And the wailing chief of cowherds fled forlorn, fatigued and spent,<br> +Speeding on his rapid chariot to the royal city went,</p> + +<p>Came inside the city portals, came within the palace gate,<br> +Struck his forehead in his anguish and bewailed his luckless fate.</p> + +<p>Meeting there the prince Uttara, youth of beauty and of fame,<br> +Told him of the Kurus' outrage and lamented Matsya's shame:</p> + +<p>“Sixty thousand head of cattle, bred of Matsya's finest breed,<br> +To Hastina's distant empire do the Kuru chieftains lead!</p> + +<p>Glory of the Matsya nation! save thy father's valued kine,<br> +Quick thy footsteps, strong thy valour, vengeance deep and dire be thine!</p> + +<p>'Gainst the fierce Trigarta chieftains Matsya's warlike king is gone,<br> +Thee we count our lord and saviour as our monarch's gallant son!</p> + +<p>Rise, Uttara! beat the Kurus, homeward lead the stolen kine,<br> +Like an elephant of jungle, pierce the Kurus' shattered line!</p> + +<p>As the <i>Vina</i> speaketh music, by musicians tuned aright,<br> +Let thy sounding bow and arrows speak thy deeds of matchless might!</p> + +<p>Harness quick thy milk-white coursers to thy sounding battle-car,<br> +Hoist thy golden lion-banner, speed thee, prince, unto the war!</p> + +<p>And as thunder-wielding <span class="sc">Indra</span> smote <i>asuras</i> fierce and bold,<br> +Smite the Kurus with thy arrows winged with plumes of yellow gold!</p> + +<p>As the famed and warlike Arjun is the stay of Kuru's race,<br> +Thou art refuge of the Matsyas and thy kingdom's pride and grace!”</p> + +<p>But the prince went not to battle from the foe to guard the State,<br> +To the cowherd answered gaily, sheltered by the palace gate:</p> + +<p>“Not unknown to me the usage of the bow and wingéd dart,<br> +Not unknown the warrior's duty or the warrior's noble art,</p> + +<p>I would win my father's cattle from the wily foeman's greed,<br> +If a skilful chariot-driver could my fiery coursers lead,</p> + +<p>For my ancient chariot-driver died on battle's gory plain,<br> +Eight and twenty days we wrestled, many warlike chiefs were slain!</p> + +<p>Bring me forth a skilful driver who can urge the battle-steed,<br> +I will hoist my lion-banner, to the dubious battle speed!</p> + +<p>Dashing through the foeman's horses, ranks of elephant and car,<br> +I will win the stolen cattle rescued in the field of war!</p> + +<p>And like thunder-wielding <span class="sc">Indra</span>, smiting Danu's sons of old,<br> +I will smite the Kuru chieftains, drive them to their distant hold!</p> + +<p>Bhishma and the proud Duryodhan, archer Karna known to fame,<br> +Drona too shall quail before me and retreat in bitter shame!</p> + +<p>Do those warriors in my absence Matsya's far-famed cattle steal?<br> +But beneath my countless arrows Matsya's vengeance they shall feel!</p> + +<p>Bring me forth a chariot-driver, let me speed my battle-car,<br> +And in wonder they will question—Is this Arjun famed in war?”</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>The Disguised Charioteer</h4> +<p>Arjun, guised as Brihannala, heard the boast Uttara made,<br> +And to try his skill and valour, thus to fair Draupadi prayed:</p> + +<p>“Say to him that Brihannala will his battle-chariot lead,<br> +That as Arjun's chariot-driver he hath learned to urge the steed,</p> + +<p>Say that faithful Brihannala many a dubious war hath seen,<br> +And will win his father's cattle in this contest fierce and keen.”</p> + +<p>Fair Draupadi, guised as menial, Arjun's secret hest obeyed,<br> +Humbly stepped before Uttara and in gentle accents prayed:</p> + +<p>“Hear me, prince! yon Brihannala will thy battle-chariot lead,<br> +He was Arjun's chariot-driver, skilled to urge the flying steed,</p> + +<p>Trained in war by mighty Arjun, trained to drive the battle-car,<br> +He hath followed helméd Arjun in the glorious field of war,</p> + +<p>And when Arjun conquered Khandav, this, Uttara, I have seen,<br> +Brihannala drove his chariot, for I served Yudhishthir's queen.”</p> + +<p>Heard Uttara hesitating, spake his faint and timid mind,<br> +“I would trust thee, beauteous maiden, lotus-bosomed, ever kind,</p> + +<p>But a poor and sexless creature, can he rein the warlike steed?<br> +Can I ask him, worse than woman, in the battle's ranks to lead?”</p> + +<p>“Need is none,” Draupadi answered, “Brihannala's grace to ask,<br> +He is eager like the war-horse for this great and warlike task!</p> + +<p>And he waits upon thy sister, she will bid the minion speed,<br> +And he wins thy father's cattle, and the victor's glorious meed!”</p> + +<p>Matsya's princess spake to Arjun, Arjun led the battle-car,<br> +Led the doubting prince Uttara to the dread and dubious war!</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>Arms and Weapons</h4> +<p>Arjun drove the prince of Matsya to a darksome <i>sami</i> tree,<br> +Spake unto the timid warrior in his accents bold and free:</p> + +<p>“Prince, thy bow and shining arrows, pretty handsome toys are these,<br> +Scarcely they beseem a warrior, and a warrior cannot please!</p> + +<p>Thou shalt find upon this <i>sami</i>, mark my words which never fail,<br> +Stately bows and wingéd arrows, banners, swords and coats of mail!</p> + +<p>And a bow which strongest warriors scarce can in the battle bend,<br> +And the limits of a kingdom widen when that bow is strained!</p> + +<p>Tall and slender like a palm-tree, worthy of a warrior bold,<br> +Smooth the wood of hardened fibre, and the ends are yellow gold!”</p> + +<p>Doubting still Uttara answered: “In this <i>sami's</i> gloomy shade<br> +Corpses hang since many seasons, in their wrappings duly laid,</p> + +<p>Now I mark them all suspended, horrent, in the open air,<br> +And to touch the unclean objects, friend, is more than I can dare!”</p> + +<p>“Fear not warrior,” Arjun answered, “for the tree conceals no dead,<br> +Warriors' weapons, cased like corpses, lurk within its gloomy shade,</p> + +<p>And I ask thee, prince of Matsya, not to touch an unclean thing,<br> +But unto a chief and warrior weapons and his arms to bring!”</p> + +<p>Prince Uttara gently lighted, climbed the dark and leafy tree,<br> +Arjun from the prince's chariot bade him speed the arms to free,</p> + +<p>Then the young prince cut the wrappings and the shining bows appear<br> +Twisted, voiced like hissing serpents, like the bright stars glistening + clear!</p> + +<p>Seized with wonder prince Uttara silently the weapons eyed,<br> +And unto his chariot-driver thus in trembling accents cried:</p> + +<p>“Whose this bow so tall and stately, speak to me my gentle friend,<br> +On the wood are golden bosses, tipped with gold at either end?</p> + +<p>Whose this second ponderous weapon stout and massive in the hold,<br> +On the staff are worked by artists elephants of burnished gold?</p> + +<p>Sure some great and mighty monarch owns this other bow of might,<br> +Set with golden glittering insects on its ebon back so bright?</p> + +<p>Golden suns of wondrous brightness on this fourth their lustre lend,<br> +Who may be the unknown archer who this stately bow can bend?</p> + +<p>And the fifth is set with jewels, gems and stones of purest ray,<br> +Golden fire-flies glint and sparkle in the yellow light of day!</p> + +<p>Who doth own these shining arrows with their heads in gold encased,<br> +Thousand arrows bright and feathered, in the golden quivers placed?</p> + +<p>Next are these with vulture-feather, golden-yellow in their hue,<br> +Made of iron, keen and whetted, whose may be these arrows true?</p> + +<p>Next upon this sable quiver jungle tigers worked in gold,<br> +And these keen and boar-eared arrows speak some chieftains fierce and bold!</p> + +<p>Fourth are these seven hundred arrows, crescent is their shining blade,<br> +Thirsting for the blood of foemen, and by cunning artists made!</p> + +<p>And the fifth are golden-crested, made of tempered steel and bright,<br> +Parrot feathers wing these arrows, whetted and of wondrous might!</p> + +<p>Who doth own this wondrous sabre, shape of toad is on the hilt,<br> +On the blade a toad is graven, and the scabbard nobly gilt?</p> + +<p>Larger, stouter is this second in its sheath of tiger-skin,<br> +Decked with bells and gold-surmounted, and the blade is bright and keen!</p> + +<p>Next this scimitar so curious by the skilled <i>nishadas</i> made,<br> +Scabbard made of wondrous cowhide sheathes the bright and polished blade!</p> + +<p>Fourth, a long and beauteous weapon glittering sable in its hue,<br> +With its sheath of softer goat-skin worked with gold on azure blue!</p> + +<p>And the fifth is broad and massive over thirty fingers long,<br> +Golden-sheathed and gold embosséd like a snake or fiery tongue!”</p> + +<p>Joyously responded Arjun: “Mark this bow embossed with gold,<br> +'Tis the wondrous bow, <i>gandiva</i>, worthy of a warrior bold!</p> + +<p>Gift of heaven! to archer Arjun kindly gods this weapon sent,<br> +And the confines of a kingdom widen when the bow is bent!</p> + +<p>Next, this mighty ponderous weapon worked with elephants of gold,<br> +With this bow the stalwart Bhima hath the tide of conquests rolled!</p> + +<p>And the third with golden insects by a cunning hand inlaid,<br> +'Tis Yudhishthir's royal weapon by the noblest artists made!</p> + +<p>Next the bow with solar lustre brave Nakula wields in fight,<br> +And the fifth is Sahadeva's, decked with gems and jewels bright!</p> + +<p>Listen, prince! these thousand arrows, unto Arjun they belong,<br> +And the darts whose blades are crescent unto Bhima brave and strong,</p> + +<p>Boar-ear shafts are young Nakula's, in the tiger-quiver cased,<br> +Sahadeva owns the arrows with the parrot's feather graced,</p> + +<p>These three-knotted shining arrows, thick and yellow vulture-plumed,<br> +They belong to King Yudhishthir, with their heads by gold illumed.</p> + +<p>Listen more! if of these sabres, prince of Matsya, thou wouldst know,<br> +Arjun's sword is toad-engraven, ever dreaded by the foe!</p> + +<p>And the sword in tiger-scabbard, massive and of mighty strength,<br> +None save tiger-waisted Bhima wields that sword of wondrous length!</p> + +<p>Next the sabre golden-hilted, sable and with gold embossed,<br> +Brave Yudhishthir kept that sabre when the king his kingdom lost!</p> + +<p>Yonder sword with goat-skin scabbard brave Nakula wields in war,<br> +In the cowhide Sahadeva keeps his shining scimitar!”</p> + +<p>“Strange thy accents,” spake Uttara, “stranger are the weapons bright,<br> +Are they arms of sons of Pandu famed on earth for matchless might?</p> + +<p>Where are now those pious princes by a dire misfortune crossed,<br> +Warlike Arjun, good Yudhishthir, by his subjects loved and lost?</p> + +<p>Where is tiger-waisted Bhima, matchless fighter in the field,<br> +And the brave and twin-born brothers skilled the arms of war to wield?</p> + +<p>O'er a game they lost their empire, and we heard of them no more,<br> +Or perchance they lonesome wander on some wild and distant shore!</p> + +<p>And Draupadi noble princess, purest best of womankind,<br> +Doth she wander with Yudhishthir, changeless in her heart and mind?”</p> + +<p>Proudly answered valiant Arjun, and a smile was on his face,<br> +“Not in distant lands the brothers do their wandering footsteps trace!</p> + +<p>In thy father's court disguiséd lives Yudhishthir just and good,<br> +Bhima in thy father's palace as a cook prepares the food!</p> + +<p>Brave Nakula guards the horses, Sahadeva tends the kine,<br> +As thy sister's waiting-woman doth the fair Draupadi shine!</p> + +<p><i>Pardon, prince, these rings and bangles, pardon strange unmanly guise,<br> +'Tis no poor and sexless creature, Arjun greets thy wondering eyes!”</i></p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>Rescue of the Cattle</h4> +<p>Arjun decked his mighty stature in the gleaming arms of war,<br> +And with voice of distant thunder rolled the mighty battle-car!</p> + +<p>And the Kurus marked with wonder Arjun's standard lifted proud,<br> +Heard with dread the deep <i>gandiva</i> sounding oft and sounding loud!</p> + +<p>And they knew the wondrous bowman wheeling round the battle-car,<br> +And with doubts and grave misgivings whispered Drona skilled in war:</p> + +<p>“That is Arjun's monkey-standard, how it greets my ancient eyes!<br> +Well the Kurus know the standard like a comet in the skies!</p> + +<p>Hear ye not the deep <i>gandiva</i>? How my ear its accents greet!<br> +Mark ye not these pointed arrows falling prone before my feet?</p> + +<p>By these darts his salutation to his teacher loved of old,<br> +Years of exile now completed, Arjun sends with greetings bold!</p> + +<p>How the gallant prince advances! Now I mark his form and face,<br> +Issuing from his dark concealment with a brighter, haughtier grace,</p> + +<p>Well I know his bow and arrows and I know his standard well,<br> +And the deep and echoing accents of his far-resounding shell!</p> + +<p>In his shining arms accoutred, gleaming in his helmet dread,<br> +Shines he like the flame of <i>homa</i> by libations duly fed!”</p> + +<p>Arjun marked the Kuru warriors arming for th' impending war,<br> +Whispered thus to prince Uttara as he drove the battle-car:</p> + +<p>“Stop thy steeds, O prince of Matsya! for too close we may not go,<br> +Stop thy chariot whence my arrows reach and slay the distant foe,</p> + +<p>Seek we out the Kuru monarch, proud Duryodhan let us meet,<br> +If he falls we win the battle, other chieftains will retreat.</p> + +<p>There is Drona my preceptor, Drona's warlike son is there,<br> +Kripa and the mighty Bhishma, archer Karna, tall and fair,</p> + +<p>Them I seek not in this battle, lead, O lead thy chariot far,<br> +Midst the chiefs Duryodhan moves not, moves not in the ranks of war!</p> + +<p>But to save the pilfered cattle speeds he onward in his fear,<br> +While these warriors stay and tarry to defend their monarch's rear,</p> + +<p>But I leave these car-borne warriors, other work to-day is mine,<br> +Meet Duryodhan in the battle, win thy father's stolen kine!”</p> + +<p>Matsya's prince then turned the courses, left behind the war's array,<br> +Where Duryodhan with the cattle quickly held his onward way,</p> + +<p>Kripa marked the course of Arjun, guessed his inmost thought aright,<br> +Thus he spake to brother warriors urging speed and instant fight:</p> + +<p>“Mark ye, chieftains, gallant Arjun wheels his sounding battle-car,<br> +'Gainst our prince and proud Duryodhan seeks to turn the tide of war!</p> + +<p>Let us fall upon our foeman and our prince and leader save,<br> +Few save <span class="sc">Indra</span>, god of battles, conquers Arjun fierce and brave!</p> + +<p>What were Matsya's fattened cattle, many thousands though they be,<br> +If our monarch sinks in battle like a ship in stormy sea!”</p> + +<p>Vain were Kripa's words of wisdom! Arjun drove the chariot fair,<br> +While his shafts like countless locusts whistled through the ambient air!</p> + +<p>Kuru soldiers struck with panic neither stood and fought, nor fled,<br> +Gazed upon the distant Arjun, gazed upon their comrades dead!</p> + +<p>Arjun twanged his mighty weapon, blew his far-resounding shell,<br> +Strangely spake his monkey-standard, Kuru warriors knew it well!</p> + +<p><i>Sankha's</i> voice, <i>gandiva's</i> accents, and the chariot's booming sound,<br> +Filled the air like distant thunder, shook the firm and solid ground!</p> + +<p>Kuru soldiers fled in terror, or they slumbered with the dead,<br> +And the rescued lowing cattle, with their tails uplifted, fled!</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>Warrior's Guerdon</h4> +<p>Now with joy the king Virata to his royal city came,<br> +Saw the rescued herds of cattle, saw Uttara prince of fame,</p> + +<p>Marked the great and gallant Arjun, helmet-wearing, armour-cased,<br> +Knew Yudhishthir and his brothers now as royal princes dressed,</p> + +<p>And he greeted good Yudhishthir, truth-beloving brave and strong,<br> +And to valiant Arjun offered Matsya's princess fair and young!</p> + +<p>“Pardon, monarch,” answered Arjun, “but I may not take as bride,<br> +Matsya's young and beauteous princess whom I love with father's pride,</p> + +<p>She hath often met me trusting in the inner palace hall,<br> +As a daughter on a father waited on my loving call!</p> + +<p>I have trained her <i>kokil</i> accents, taught her maiden steps in dance,<br> +Watched her skill and varied graces all her native charms enhance!</p> + +<p>Pure is she in thought and action, spotless as my hero boy,<br> +Grant her to my son, O monarch, as his wedded wife and joy!</p> + +<p>Abhimanyu trained in battle, handsome youth of godlike face,<br> +Krishna's sister, fair Subhadra, bore the child of princely grace!</p> + +<p>Worthy of thy youthful daughter, pure in heart and undefiled,<br> +Grant it, sire, my Abhimanyu wed thy young and beauteous child!”</p> + +<p>Answered Matsya's noble monarch with a glad and grateful heart:<br> +“Words like these befit thy virtue, nobly hast thou done thy part!</p> + +<p>Be it as thou sayest, Arjun; unto Pandu's race allied,<br> +Matsya's royal line is honoured, Matsya's king is gratified!”</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> +<h4>The Wedding</h4> +<p>Good Yudhishthir heard the tidings, and he gave his free assent,<br> +Unto distant chiefs and monarchs kindly invitations sent,</p> + +<p>In the town of Upa-plavya, of fair Matsya's towns the best,<br> +Made their home the pious brothers to receive each royal guest.</p> + +<p>Came unto them Kasi's monarch and his arméd troopers came,<br> +And the king of fair Panchala with his sons of warlike fame,</p> + +<p>Came the sons of fair Draupadi early trained in art of war,<br> +Other chiefs and sacrifices came from regions near and far.</p> + +<p>Krishna decked in floral garlands with his elder brother came,<br> +And his sister fair Subhadra, Arjun's loved and longing dame,</p> + +<p>Arjun's son brave Abhimanyu came upon his flowery car,<br> +And with elephants and chargers, troopers trained in art of war.</p> + +<p>Vrishnis from the sea-girt Dwarka, bravo Andhakas known to fame,<br> +Bhojas from the mighty Chumbal with the righteous Krishna came,</p> + +<p>He to gallant sons of Pandu made his presents rich and rare,<br> +Gems and gold and costly garments, slaves and damsels passing fair.</p> + +<p>With its quaint and festive greetings came at last the bridal day,<br> +Matsya maids were merry-hearted and the Pandav brothers gay!</p> + +<p>Conch and cymbal, horn and trumpet spake forth music soft and sweet,<br> +In Virata's royal palace, in the peopled mart and street!</p> + +<p>And they slay the jungle red-deer, and they spread the ample board,<br> +And prepare the cooling palm-drink, with the richest viands stored!</p> + +<p>Mimes and actors please the people, bards recite the ancient song,<br> +Glories of heroic houses minstrels by their lays prolong!</p> + +<p>And deep-bosomed dames of Matsya, jasmine-form and lotus-face,<br> +With their pearls and golden garlands joyously the bridal grace!</p> + +<p>Circled by those royal ladies, though they all are bright and fair,<br> +Brightest shines the fair Draupadi with a beauty rich and rare!</p> + +<p>Stately dames and merry maidens lead the young and soft-eyed bride,<br> +As the queens of gods encircle <span class="sc">Indra's</span> daughter in her pride!</p> + +<p>Arjun from the Matsya monarch takes the princess passing fair,<br> +For his son by fair Subhadra, nursed by Krishna's loving care,</p> + +<p>With a godlike grace Yudhishthir stands by faithful Arjun's side,<br> +As a father takes a daughter, takes the young and beauteous bride,</p> + +<p>Joins her hands to Abhimanyu's, and with cake and parchéd rice,<br> +On the altar brightly blazing doth the holy sacrifice.</p> + +<p>Matsya's monarch on the bridegroom rich and costly presents pressed,<br> +Elephants he gave two hundred, steeds seven thousand of the best,</p> + +<p>Poured libations on the altar, on the priests bestowed his gold,<br> +Offered to the sons of Pandu rich domain and wealth untold!</p> + +<p>With a pious hand Yudhishthir, true in heart and pure in mind,<br> +Made his gifts, in gold and garments, kine and wealth of every kind,</p> + +<p>Costly chariots, beds of splendour, robes with thread of gold belaced,<br> +Viands rich and sweet confection, drinks the richest and the best,</p> + +<p>Lands he gave unto the Brahman, bullocks to the labouring swain,<br> +Steeds he gave unto the warrior, to the people gifts and grain,</p> + +<p>And the city of the Matsyas, teeming with a wealth untold,<br> +Shone with festive joy and gladness and with flags and cloth of gold!</p> + +<div id="s07" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK VII</h3> +<h3>UDYOGA</h3> +<p>(The Preparation)</p> +</div> + +<p>The term of banishment having expired, Yudhishthir demanded that +the kingdom of Indra-prastha should be restored to him. The old +Dhrita-rashtra and his queen and the aged and virtuous councillors +advised the restoration, but, the jealous Duryodhan hated his cousins +with a genuine hatred, and would not cement. All negotiations were +therefore futile, and preparations were made on both sides for the +most sanguinary and disastrous battle that bad ever been witnessed in +Northern India.</p> + +<p>The portions translated in this Book are from Sections i., ii. iii., +xciv., cxxiv., and cxxvi. of Book v. of the original text.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>Krishna's Speech</h4> +<p>Mirth and song and nuptial music waked the echoes of the night,<br> +Youthful bosoms throbbed with pleasure, love-lit glances sparkled bright,</p> + +<p>But when young and white-robed <span class="sc">Ushas</span> ope'd the golden gates of day,<br> +To Virata's council chamber chieftains thoughtful held their way.</p> + +<p>Stones inlaid in arch and pillar glinted in the glittering dawn,<br> +Gay festoons and graceful garlands o'er the golden cushions shone!</p> + +<p>Matsya's king, Panchala's monarch, foremost seats of honour claim,<br> +Krishna too and Valadeva, Dwarka's chiefs of righteous fame!</p> + +<p>By them sate the bold Satyaki from the sea-girt western shore,<br> +And the godlike sons of Pandu,—days of dark concealment o'er,</p> + +<p>Youthful princes in their splendour graced Virata's royal hall,<br> +Valiant sons of valiant fathers, brave in war, august and tall!</p> + +<p>In their gem-bespangled garments came the warriors proud and high,<br> +Till the council chamber glittered like the star-bespangled sky!</p> + +<p>Kind the greetings, sweet the converse, soft the golden moments fly,<br> +Till intent on graver questions all on Krishna turn their eye,</p> + +<p>Krishna with his inner vision then the state of things surveyed,<br> +And his thoughts before the monarchs thus in weighty accents laid:</p> + +<p>“Known to all, ye mighty monarchs! May your glory ever last!<br> +True to plighted word Yudhishthir hath his weary exile passed,</p> + +<p>Twelve long years with fair Draupadi in the pathless jungle strayed,<br> +And a year in menial service in Virata's palace stayed,</p> + +<p>He hath kept his plighted promise, braved affliction, woe and shame,<br> +And he begs, assembled monarchs, ye shall now his duty name!</p> + +<p>For he swerveth not from duty kingdom of the sky to win,<br> +Prizeth hamlet more than empire, so his course be free from sin,</p> + +<p>Loss of realm and wealth and glory higher virtues in him prove,<br> +Thoughts of peace and not of anger still the good Yudhishthir move!</p> + +<p>Mark again the sleepless anger and the unrelenting hate<br> +Harboured by the proud Duryodhan driven by his luckless fate,</p> + +<p>From a child, by fire or poison, impious guile or trick of dice,<br> +He hath compassed dark destruction, by deceit and low device!</p> + +<p>Ponder well, ye gracious monarchs, with a just and righteous mind,<br> +Help Yudhishthir with your counsel, with your grace and blessings kind,</p> + +<p>Should the noble son of Pandu seek his right by open war,<br> +Seek the aid of righteous monarchs and of chieftains near and far?</p> + +<p>Should he smite his ancient foemen skilled in each deceitful art,<br> +Unforgiving in their vengeance, unrelenting in their heart?</p> + +<p>Should he rather send a message to the proud unbending foe,<br> +And Duryodhan's haughty purpose seek by messenger to know?</p> + +<p>Should he send a noble envoy, trained in virtue, true and wise,<br> +With his greetings to Duryodhan in a meek and friendly guise?</p> + +<p>Ask him to restore the kingdom on the sacred Jumna's shore?<br> +Either king may rule his empire as in happy days of yore!”</p> + +<p>Krishna uttered words of wisdom pregnant with his peaceful thought,<br> +For in peace and not by bloodshed still Yudhishthir's right he sought.</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>Valadeva's Speech</h4> +<p>Krishna's elder Valadeva, stalwart chief who bore the plough,<br> +Rose and spake, the blood of Vrishnis mantled o'er his lofty brow:</p> + +<p>“Ye have listened, pious monarchs, to my brother's gentle word,<br> +Love he bears to good Yudhishthir and to proud Hastina's lord,</p> + +<p>For his realm by dark blue Jumna good Yudhishthir held of yore,<br> +Brave Duryodhan ruled his kingdom on the ruddy Ganga's shore,</p> + +<p>And once more in love and friendship either prince may rule his share,<br> +For the lands are broad and fertile, and each realm is rich and fair!</p> + +<p>Speed the envoy to Hastina with our love and greetings kind,<br> +Let him speak Yudhishthir's wishes, seek to know Duryodhan's mind,</p> + +<p>Make obeisance unto Bhishma and to Drona true and bold,<br> +Unto Kripa, archer Karna, and to chieftains young and old,</p> + +<p>To the sons of Dhrita-rashtra, rulers of the Kuru land,<br> +Righteous in their kingly duties, stout of heart and strong of hand,</p> + +<p>To the princes and to burghers gathered in the council hall,<br> +Let him speak Yudhishthir's wishes, plead Yudhishthir's cause to all.</p> + +<p>Speak he not in futile anger, for Duryodhan holds the power,<br> +And Yudhishthir's wrath were folly in this sad and luckless hour!</p> + +<p>By his dearest friends dissuaded, but by rage or madness driven,<br> +He hath played and lost his empire, may his folly be forgiven!</p> + +<p>Indra-prastha's spacious empire now Duryodhan deems his own,<br> +By his tears and soft entreaty let Yudhishthir seek the throne,</p> + +<p>Open war I do not counsel, humbly seek Duryodhan's grace,<br> +War will not restore the empire nor the gambler's loss replace!”</p> + +<p>Thus with cold and cruel candour stalwart Valadeva cried,<br> +Wrathful rose the brave Satyaki, fiercely thus to him replied:</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>Satyaki's Speech</h4> +<p>“Shame unto the halting chieftain who thus pleads Duryodhan's part,<br> +Timid counsel, Valadeva, speaks a woman's timid heart!</p> + +<p>Oft from warlike stock ariseth weakling chief who bends the knee,<br> +As a withered fruitless sapling springeth from a fruitful tree!</p> + +<p>From a heart so faint and craven, faint and craven words must flow,<br> +Monarchs in their pride and glory list not to such counsel low!</p> + +<p>Could'st thou, impious Valadeva, midst these potentates of fame,<br> +On Yudhishthir pious-hearted cast this undeservéd blame?</p> + +<p>Challenged by his wily foeman and by dark misfortune crost,<br> +Trusting to their faith Yudhishthir played a righteous game and lost!</p> + +<p>Challenge from a crownéd monarch can a crownéd king decline,<br> +Can a Kshatra warrior fathom fraud in sons of royal line?</p> + +<p>Nathless he surrendered empire true to faith and plighted word,<br> +Lived for years in pathless forests Indra-prastha's mighty lord!</p> + +<p>Past his years of weary exile, now he claims his realm of old,<br> +Claims it, not as humble suppliant, but as king and warrior bold!</p> + +<p>Past his year of dark concealment, bold Yudhishthir claims his own,<br> +Proud Duryodhan now must render Indra-prastha's jewelled throne!</p> + +<p>Bhishma counsels, Drona urges, Kripa pleads for right in vain,<br> +False Duryodhan will not render sinful conquest, fraudful gain!</p> + +<p>Open war I therefore counsel, ruthless and relentless war,<br> +Grace we seek not when we meet them speeding in our battle-car!</p> + +<p>And our weapons, not entreaties, shall our foemen force to yield,<br> +Yield Yudhishthir's rightful kingdom or they perish on the field!</p> + +<p>False Duryodhan and his forces fall beneath our battle's shock,<br> +As beneath the bolt of thunder falls the crushed and riven rock!</p> + +<p>Who shall meet the helméd Arjun in the gory field of war,<br> +Krishna with his fiery discus mounted on his battle-car?</p> + +<p>Who shall face the twin-born brothers by the mighty Bhima led,<br> +And the vengeful chief Satyaki with his bow and arrows dread?</p> + +<p>Ancient Drupad wields his weapon peerless in the field of fight,<br> +And his brave son, born of <span class="sc">Agni</span>, owns an all-consuming might!</p> + +<p>Abhimanyu, son of Arjun, whom the fair Subhadra bore,<br> +And whose happy nuptials brought us from far Dwarka's sea-girt shore,</p> + +<p>Men on earth nor bright immortals can the youthful hero face,<br> +When with more than Arjun's prowess Abhimanyu leads the race!</p> + +<p>Dhrita-rashtra's sons we conquer and Gandhara's wily son,<br> +Vanquish Karna though world-honoured for his deeds of valour done,</p> + +<p>Win the fierce-contested battle and redeem Yudhishthir's own,<br> +Place the exile pious-hearted on his father's ancient throne!</p> + +<p>And no sin Satyaki reckons slaughter of the mortal foe,<br> +But to beg a grace of foemen were a mortal sin and woe!</p> + +<p>Speed we then unto our duty, let our impious foemen yield,<br> +Or the fiery son of Sini meets them on the battle-field!”</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>Drupad's Speech</h4> +<p>Fair Panchala's ancient monarch rose his secret thoughts to tell,<br> +From his lips the words of wisdom with a graceful accent fell:</p> + +<p>“Much I fear thou speakest truly, hard is Kuru's stubborn race,<br> +Vain the hope, the effort futile, to beseech Duryodhan's grace!</p> + +<p>Dhrita-rashtra pleadeth vainly, feeble is his fitful star,<br> +Ancient Bhishma, righteous Drona, cannot stop this fatal war,</p> + +<p>Archer Karna thirsts for battle, moved by jealousy and pride,<br> +Deep Sakuni, false and wily, still supports Duryodhan's side!</p> + +<p>Vain is Valadeva's counsel, vainly shall our envoy plead,<br> +Half his empire proud Duryodhan yields not in his boundless greed,</p> + +<p>In his pride he deems our mildness faint and feeble-hearted fear,<br> +And our suit will fan his glory and his arrogance will cheer!</p> + +<p>Therefore let our many heralds travel near and travel far,<br> +Seek alliance of all monarchs in the great impending war,</p> + +<p>Unto brave and noble chieftains, unto nations east and west,<br> +North and south to warlike races speed our message and request!</p> + +<p>Meanwhile peace and offered friendship we before Duryodhan place,<br> +And my priest will seek Hastina, strive to win Duryodhan's grace,</p> + +<p>If he renders Indra-prastha, peace will crown the happy land,<br> +Or our troops will shake the empire from the east to western strand!”</p> + +<p>Vainly were Panchala's Brahmans sent with messages of peace,<br> +Vainly urged Hastina's elders that the fatal feud should cease,</p> + +<p>Proud Duryodhan to his kinsmen would not yield their proper share,<br> +Pandu's sons would not surrender, for they had the will to dare!</p> + +<p>Fatal war and dire destruction did the mighty gods ordain,<br> +Till the kings and arméd nations strewed the red and reeking plain!</p> + +<p>Krishna in his righteous effort sought for wisdom from above,<br> +Strove to stop the war of nations and to end the feud in love!</p> + +<p>And to far Hastina's palace Krishna went to sue for peace,<br> +Raised his voice against the slaughter, begged that strife and feud + should cease!</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>Krishna's Speech at Hastina</h4> +<p>Silent sat the listening chieftains in Hastina's council hall,<br> +With the voice of rolling thunder Krishna spake unto them all:</p> + +<p>“Listen, mighty Dhrita-rashtra, Kuru's great and ancient king,<br> +Seek not war and death of kinsmen, word of peace and love I bring!</p> + +<p>'Midst the wide earth's many nations Bharats in their worth excel,<br> +Love and kindness, spotless virtue, in the Kuru-elders dwell,</p> + +<p>Father of the noble nation, now retired from life's turmoil,<br> +Ill beseems that sin or untruth should thy ancient bosom soil!</p> + +<p>For thy sons in impious anger seek to do their kinsmen wrong,<br> +And withhold the throne and kingdom which by right to them belong,</p> + +<p>And a danger thus ariseth like the comet's baleful fire,<br> +Slaughtered kinsmen, bleeding nations, soon shall feed its fatal ire!</p> + +<p>Stretch thy hands, O Kuru monarch! prove thy truth and holy grace,<br> +Man of peace! avert the slaughter and preserve thy ancient race.</p> + +<p>Yet restrain thy fiery children, for thy mandates they obey,<br> +I with sweet and soft persuasion Pandu's truthful sons will sway.</p> + +<p>'Tis thy profit, Kuru monarch! that the fatal feud should cease,<br> +Brave Duryodhan, good Yudhishthir, rule in unmolested peace,</p> + +<p>Pandu's sons are strong in valour, mighty in their arméd hand,<br> +<span class="sc">Indra</span> shall not shake thy empire when they guard the Kuru land!</p> + +<p>Bhishma is thy kingdom's bulwark, doughty Drona rules the war,<br> +Karna matchless with his arrows, Kripa peerless in his car,</p> + +<p>Let Yudhishthir and stout Bhima by these noble warriors stand,<br> +And let helmet-wearing Arjun guard the sacred Kuru land,</p> + +<p>Who shall then contest thy prowess from the sea to farthest sea,<br> +Ruler of a world-wide empire, king of kings and nations free?</p> + +<p>Sons and grandsons, friends and kinsmen, will surround thee in a ring,<br> +And a race of loving heroes guard their ancient hero-king!</p> + +<p>Dhrita-rashtra's lofty edicts will proclaim his boundless sway,<br> +Nations work his righteous mandates and the kings his will obey!</p> + +<p>If this concord be rejected and the lust of war prevail,<br> +Soon within these ancient chambers will resound the sound of wail!</p> + +<p>Grant thy children be victorious and the sons of Pandu slain,<br> +Dear to thee are Pandu's children, and their death must cause thee pain!</p> + +<p>But the Pandavs skilled in warfare are renowned both near and far,<br> +And thy race and children's slaughter will methinks pollute this war,</p> + +<p>Sons and grandsons, loving princes, thou shalt never see again,<br> +Kinsmen brave and car-borne chieftains will bedeck the gory plain!</p> + +<p>Ponder yet, O ancient monarch! Rulers of each distant State,<br> +Nations from the farthest regions gather thick to court their fate,</p> + +<p>Father of a righteous nation! Save the princes of the land,<br> +On the armed and fated nations stretch, old man, thy saving hand!</p> + +<p>Say the word, and at thy bidding leaders of each hostile race<br> +Not the gory field of battle, but the festive board will grace,</p> + +<p>Robed in jewels, decked in garlands, they will quaff the ruddy wine,<br> +Greet their foes in mutual kindness, bless thy holy name and thine!</p> + +<p>Think, O man of many seasons! When good Pandu left this throne,<br> +And his helpless loving orphans thou didst cherish as thine own,</p> + +<p>'Twas thy helping steadying fingers taught their infant steps to frame,<br> +'Twas thy loving gentle accents taught their lips to lisp each name,</p> + +<p>As thine own they grew and blossomed, dear to thee they yet remain,<br> +Take them back unto thy bosom, be a father once again!</p> + +<p>Unto thee, O Dhrita-rashtra! Pandu's sons in homage bend,<br> +And a loving peaceful message through my willing lips they send:</p> + +<p>Tell our monarch, more than father, by his sacred stern command<br> +We have lived in pathless jungle, wandered far from land to land,</p> + +<p>True unto our plighted promise, for we ever felt and knew,<br> +To his promise Dhrita-rashtra cannot, will not be untrue!</p> + +<p>Years of anxious toil are over and of woe and bitterness,<br> +Years of waiting and of watching, years of danger and distress.</p> + +<p>Like a dark unending midnight hung on us this age forlorn,<br> +Streaks of hope and dawning brightness usher now the radiant morn!</p> + +<p>Be unto us as a father, loving not inspired by wrath,<br> +Be unto us as preceptor, pointing us the righteous path,</p> + +<p>If perchance astray we wander, thy strong arm shall lead aright,<br> +If our feeble bosom fainteth, help us with a father's might!</p> + +<p>This, O king! the soft entreaty Pandu's sons to thee have made,<br> +These are words the sons of Pandu unto Kuru's king have said,</p> + +<p>Take their love, O gracious monarch! Let thy closing days be fair,<br> +Let Duryodhan keep his kingdom, let the Pandavs have their share.</p> + +<p>Call to mind their noble suffering, for the tale is dark and long<br> +Of the outrage they have suffered, of the insult and the wrong!</p> + +<p>Exiled into Varnavata, destined unto death by flame,<br> +For the gods assist the righteous, they with added prowess came!</p> + +<p>Exiled into Indra-prastha, by their toil and by their might<br> +Cleared a forest, built a city, did the <i>rajasuya</i> rite!</p> + +<p>Cheated of their realm and empire and of all they called their own,<br> +In the jungle they have wandered and in Matsya lived unknown,</p> + +<p>Once more quelling every evil they are stout of heart and hand,<br> +Now redeem thy plighted promise and restore their throne and land!</p> + +<p><i>Trust me, mighty Dhrita-rashtra! trust me, lords who grace this hall,<br> +Krishna pleads for peace and virtue, blessings unto you and all!</i></p> + +<p><i>Slaughter not the arméd nations, slaughter not thy kith and kin,<br> +Mark not, king, thy closing winters with the bloody stain of sin!</i></p> + +<p><i>Let thy sons and Pandu's children stand beside thy ancient throne,<br> +Cherish peace and cherish virtue, for thy days are almost done!”</i></p> + +<h4>VI</h4> +<h4>Bhishma's Speech</h4> +<p>From the monarch's ancient bosom sighs and sobs convulsive broke,<br> +Bhishma wiped his manly eyelids and to proud Duryodhan spoke:</p> + +<p>“Listen, prince! for righteous Krishna counsels love and holy peace,<br> +Listen, youth! and may thy fortune with thy passing years increase!</p> + +<p>Yield to Krishna's words of wisdom, for thy weal he nobly strives,<br> +Yield and save thy friends and kinsmen, save thy cherished subjects' lives!</p> + +<p>Foremost race in all this wide earth is Hastina's royal line,<br> +Bring not on them dire destruction by a sinful act of thine!</p> + +<p>Sons and fathers, friends and brothers, shall in mutual conflict die,<br> +Kinsmen slain by dearest kinsmen shall upon the red field lie!</p> + +<p>Hearken unto Krishna's counsel, unto wise Vidura's word,<br> +Be thy mother's fond entreaty and thy father's mandate heard!</p> + +<p>Tempt not <i>devas'</i> fiery vengeance on thy old heroic race,<br> +Tread not in the path of darkness, seek the path of light and grace!</p> + +<p>Listen to thy king and father, he hath Kuru's empire graced,<br> +Listen to thy queen and mother, she hath nursed thee on her breast!”</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> +<h4>Drona's Speech</h4> +<p>Out spake Drona priest and warrior, and his words were few and high,<br> +Clouded was Duryodhan's forehead, wrathful was Duryodhan's eye:</p> + +<p>“Thou hast heard the holy counsel which the righteous Krishna said,<br> +Ancient Bhishma's voice of warning thou hast in thy bosom weighed,</p> + +<p>Peerless in their godlike wisdom are these chiefs in peace or strife,<br> +Truest friends to thee, Duryodhan, pure and sinless in their life,</p> + +<p>Take their counsel, and thy kinsmen fasten in the bonds of peace,<br> +May the empire of the Kurus and their warlike fame increase!</p> + +<p>List unto thy old preceptor! Faithless is thy fitful star,<br> +False they feed with hopes thy bosom, those who urge and counsel war!</p> + +<p>Crownéd kings and arméd nations, they will strive for thee in vain,<br> +Vainly brothers, sons, and kinsmen will for thee their life-blood drain,</p> + +<p>For the victor's crown and glory never, never can be thine,<br> +Krishna conquers, and brave Arjun! mark these deathless words of mine!</p> + +<p>I have trained the youthful Arjun, seen him bend the warlike bow,<br> +Marked him charge the hostile forces, marked him smite the scattered foe!</p> + +<p>Fiery son of Jamadagni owned no greater, loftier might,<br> +Breathes on earth no mortal warrior conquers Arjun in the fight!</p> + +<p>Krishna too, in war resistless, comes from Dwarka's distant shore,<br> +And the bright-gods quake before him whom the fair Devaki bore!</p> + +<p>These are foes thou may'st not conquer, take an ancient warrior's word,<br> +Act thou as thy heart decideth, thou art Kuru's king and lord!”</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> +<h4>Vidura's Speech</h4> +<p>Then in gentler voice Vidura sought his pensive mind to tell,<br> +From his lips serene and softly words of woe and anguish fell:</p> + +<p>“Not for thee I grieve, Duryodhan, slain by vengeance fierce and keen,<br> +For thy father weeps my bosom and the aged Kuru queen!</p> + +<p>Sons and grandsons, friends and kinsmen slaughtered in this fatal war,<br> +Homeless, cheerless, on this wide earth they shall wander long and far!</p> + +<p>Friendless, kinless, on this wide earth whither shall they turn and fly?<br> +Like some bird bereft of plumage, they shall pine awhile and die!</p> + +<p>Of their race and sad survivors, they shall wander o'er the earth,<br> +Curse the fatal day, Duryodhan, saw thy sad and woeful birth!”</p> + +<h4>IX</h4> +<h4>Dhrita-rashtra's Speech</h4> +<p>Tear-drops filled his sightless eyeballs, anguish shook his agéd frame,<br> +As the monarch soothed Duryodhan by each fond endearing name:</p> + +<p>“Listen, dearest son, Duryodhan, shun this dark and fatal strife,<br> +Cast not grief and death's black shadows on thy parents' closing life!</p> + +<p>Krishna's heart is pure and spotless, true and wise the words he said,<br> +We may win a world-wide empire with the noble Krishna's aid!</p> + +<p>Seek the friendship of Yudhishthir, loved of righteous gods above,<br> +And unite the scattered Kurus by the lasting tie of love!</p> + +<p>Now at full is tide of fortune, never may it come again,<br> +Strive and win! or ever after all repentance may be vain!</p> + +<p>Peace is righteous Krishna's counsel, and he offers loving peace,<br> +Take the offered boon, Duryodhan! Let all strife and hatred cease!”</p> + +<h4>X</h4> +<h4>Duryodhan's Speech</h4> +<p>Silent sat the proud Duryodhan, wrathful in the council hall,<br> +Spake to mighty-arméd Krishna and to Kuru warriors all:</p> + +<p>“Ill becomes thee, Dwarka's chieftain, in the paths of sin to move,<br> +Bear for me a secret hatred, for the Pandavs secret love!</p> + +<p>And my father, wise Vidura, ancient Bhishma, Drona bold,<br> +Join thee in this bitter hatred, turn on me their glances cold!</p> + +<p>What great crime or darkening sorrow shadows o'er my bitter fate,<br> +That ye chiefs and Kuru's monarch mark Duryodhan for your hate?</p> + +<p>Speak, what nameless guilt or folly, secret sin to me unknown,<br> +Turns from me your sweet affection, father's love that was my own?</p> + +<p>If Yudhishthir, fond of gambling, played a heedless, reckless game,<br> +Lost his empire and his freedom, was it then Duryodhan's blame?</p> + +<p>And if freed from shame and bondage in his folly played again,<br> +Lost again and went to exile, wherefore doth he now complain?</p> + +<p>Weak are they in friends and forces, feeble is their fitful star,<br> +Wherefore then in pride and folly seek with us unequal war?</p> + +<p>Shall we, who to mighty <span class="sc">Indra</span> scarce will do the homage due,<br> +Bow to homeless sons of Pandu and their comrades faint and few?</p> + +<p>Bow to them while warlike Drona leads us as in days of old,<br> +Bhishma greater than the bright-gods, archer Karna true and bold?</p> + +<p>If in dubious game of battle we should forfeit fame and life,<br> +Heaven will ope its golden portals for the Kshatra slain in strife!</p> + +<p>If unbending to our foemen we should press the gory plain,<br> +Stingless is the bed of arrows, death for us will have no pain!</p> + +<p>For the Kshatra knows no terror of his foeman in the field,<br> +Breaks like hardened forest timber, bonds not, knows not how to yield!</p> + +<p>So the ancient sage Matanga of the warlike Kshatra said,<br> +Save to priest and sage preceptor unto none he bends his head!</p> + +<p>Indra-prastha which my father weakly to Yudhishthir gave,<br> +Nevermore shall go unto him while I live and brothers brave!</p> + +<p>Kuru's undivided kingdom Dhrita-rashtra rules alone,<br> +Let us sheathe our swords in friendship and the monarch's empire own!</p> + +<p>If in past in thoughtless folly once the realm was broke in twain,<br> +Kuru-land is re-united, never shall be split again!</p> + +<p><i>Take my message to my kinsmen, for Duryodhan's words are plain,<br> +Portion of the Kuru empire sons of Pandu seek in vain!</i></p> + +<p><i>Town nor village, mart nor hamlet, help us righteous gods in heaven,<br> +Spot that needle's point can cover not unto them be given!”</i></p> + +<div id="s08" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK VIII</h3> +<h3>BHISHMA-BADHA</h3> +<p>(Fall of Bhishma)</p> +</div> + +<p>All negotiations for a peaceful partition of the Kuru kingdom having +failed, both parties now prepared for a battle, perhaps the most +sanguinary that was fought on the plains of India in the ancient +times. It was a battle of nations, for all warlike races in Northern +India took a share in it.</p> + +<p>Duryodhan's army consisted of his own division, as well as the +divisions of ten allied kings. Each allied power is said to have +brought one <i>akshauhini</i> troops, and if we reduce this fabulous +number to the moderate figure of ten thousand, including horse and +foot, cars and elephants, Duryodhan's army including his own division +was over a hundred thousand strong.</p> + +<p>Yudhishthir had a smaller army, said to have been seven <i>akshauhinis</i> +in number, which we may by a similar reduction reckon to be seventy +thousand. His father-in-law the king of the Panchalas, and Arjun's +relative the king of the Matsyas, were his principal allies. Krishna +joined him as his friend and adviser, and as the charioteer of Arjun, +but the Vrishnis as a nation had joined Duryodhan.</p> + +<p>When the two armies were drawn up in array and faced each other, and +Arjun saw his revered elders and dear friends and relations among his +foes, he was unwilling to fight. It was on this occasion that Krishna +explained to him the great principles of Duty in that memorable work +called the <i>Bhagavat-gita</i> which has been translated into so many +European languages. Belief in one Supreme Deity is the underlying +thought of this work, and ever and anon, as Professor Garbe remarks, +“does Krishna revert to the doctrine that for every man, no matter to +what caste he may belong, the zealous performance of his duty and the +discharge of his obligations is his most important work.”</p> + +<p>Duryodhan chose the grand old fighter Bhishma as the +commander-in-chief of his army, and for ten days Bhishma held his +own and inflicted serious loss on Yudhishthir's army. The principal +incidents of these ten days, ending with the fall of Bhishma, are +narrated in this Book.</p> + +<p>This Book is an abridgment of Book vi. of the original text.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>Pandavs routed by Bhishma</h4> +<p>Ushas with her crimson fingers oped the portals of the day,<br> +Nations armed for mortal combat in the field of battle lay!</p> + +<p>Beat of drum and blare of trumpet and the <i>sankha's</i> lofty sound,<br> +By the answering cloud repeated, shook the hills and tented ground,</p> + +<p>And the voice of sounding weapons which the warlike archers drew,<br> +And the neigh of battle chargers as the arméd horsemen flew,</p> + +<p>Mingled with the rolling thunder of each swiftly-speeding car,<br> +And with pealing bells proclaiming mighty elephants of war!</p> + +<p>Bhishma led the Kuru forces, strong as Death's resistless flail,<br> +Human chiefs nor bright Immortals could against his might prevail,</p> + +<p>Helmet-wearing, gallant Arjun came in pride and mighty wrath,<br> +Held aloft his famed <i>gandiva</i>, strove to cross the chieftain's path!</p> + +<p>Abhimanyu, son of Arjun, whom the fair Subhadra bore,<br> +Drove against Kosala's monarch famed in arms and holy lore,</p> + +<p>Hurling down Kosala's standard he the dubious combat won,<br> +Barely escaped with life the monarch from the fiery Arjun's son!</p> + +<p>With his fated foe Duryodhan, Bhima strove in deathful war,<br> +And against the proud Duhsasan brave Nakula drove his car,</p> + +<p>Sahadeva, mighty bowman, then the fierce Durmukha sought,<br> +And the righteous king Yudhishthir with the car-borne Salya fought,</p> + +<p>Ancient feud and deathless hatred fired the Brahman warrior bold,<br> +Drona with the proud Panchalas fought once more his feud of old!</p> + +<p>Nations from the Eastern regions 'gainst the bold Virata pressed,<br> +Kripa met the wild Kaikeyas hailing from the furthest West,</p> + +<p>Drupad, proud and peerless monarch, with his cohorts onward bore<br> +'Gainst the warlike Jayadratha, chief of Sindhu's sounding shore,</p> + +<p>Chedis and the valiant Matsyas, nations gathered from afar,<br> +Bhojas and the fierce Kambojas mingled in the dubious war!</p> + +<p>Through the day the battle lasted, and no mortal tongue can tell<br> +What unnumbered chieftains perished and what countless soldiers fell,</p> + +<p>And the son knew not his father, and the sire knew not his son,<br> +Brother fought against his brother, strange the deeds of valour done!</p> + +<p>Horses fell, and shafts of chariots shivered in resistless shock,<br> +Hurled against the foreman's chariots, speeding like the rolling rock,</p> + +<p>Elephants by <i>mahuts</i> driven furiously each other tore,<br> +Trumpeting with trunks uplifted on the serried soldiers bore!</p> + +<p>Ceaseless plied the gallant troopers, with a stern unyielding might,<br> +Pikes and axes, clubs and maces, swords and spears and lances bright,</p> + +<p>Horsemen flew as forkéd lightning, heroes fought in shining mail,<br> +Archers poured their feathered arrows like the bright and glistening hail!</p> + +<p>Bhishma, leader of the Kurus, as declined the dreadful day,<br> +Through the shattered Pandav legions forced his all-resistless way,</p> + +<p>Onward went his palm-tree standard through the hostile ranks of war,<br> +Matsyas, Kasis, nor Panchalas faced the mighty Bhishma's car!</p> + +<p>But the fiery son of Arjun, filled with shame and bitter wrath,<br> +Turned his car and tawny coursers to obstruct the chieftain's path,</p> + +<p>Vainly fought the youthful warrior, though his darts were pointed well,<br> +And dissevered from his chariot Bhishma's palm-tree standard fell,</p> + +<p>Anger stirred the ancient Bhishma, and he rose in all his might,<br> +Abhimanyu, pierced with arrows, fell and fainted in the fight!</p> + +<p>Then to save the son of Arjun, Matsya's gallant princes came,<br> +Brave Uttara, noble Sweta, youthful warriors known to fame,</p> + +<p>Ah! too early fell the warriors in that sad and fatal strife,<br> +Matsya's dames and dark-eyed maidens wept the princes' shortened life!</p> + +<p>Slain by cruel fate, untimely, fell two brothers young and good,<br> +Dauntless still the youngest brother, proud and gallant Sankha stood!</p> + +<p>But the helmet-wearing Arjun came to stop the victor's path,<br> +And to save the fearless Sankha from the ancient Bhishma's wrath,</p> + +<p>Drupad too, Panchala's monarch, swiftly rushed into the fray,<br> +Strove to shield the broken Pandavs and to stop the victor's way,</p> + +<p>But as fire consumes the forest, wrathful Bhishma slew the foe,<br> +None could face his sounding chariot and his ever-circled bow!</p> + +<p>And the fainting Pandav warriors marked the foe, resistless, bold,<br> +Shook like unprotected cattle tethered in the blighting cold!</p> + +<p>Onward came the mighty Bhishma and the slaughter fiercer grew,<br> +From his bow like hissing serpents still the glistening arrows flew!</p> + +<p>Onward came the ancient warrior, and his path was strewn with dead,<br> +And the broken Pandav forces, crushed and driven, scattered fled!</p> + +<p>Friendly night and gathering darkness closed the slaughter of the day,<br> +To their tents the sons of Pandu held their sad and weary way!</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>Kurus routed by Arjun</h4> +<p>Grieved at heart the good Yudhishthir wept the losses of the day,<br> +Sought the aid of gallant Krishna for the morning's fresh array,</p> + +<p>And when from the eastern mountains <span class="sc">Surya</span> drove his fiery car,<br> +Bhishma and the helméd Arjun strove to turn the tide of war!</p> + +<p>Bhishma's glorious palm-tree standard o'er the field of battle rose,<br> +Arjun's monkey-standard glittered cleaving through the serried foes,</p> + +<p><i>Devas</i> from their cloud-borne chariots, and <i>gandharvas</i> from the sky,<br> +Gazed in mute and speechless wonder on the human chiefs from high!</p> + +<p>While with dauntless valour Arjun still the mighty Bhishma sought,<br> +Warlike prince of fair Panchala with the doughty Drona fought,</p> + +<p>Ceaseless 'gainst the proud preceptor sent his darts like summer rain,<br> +Baffled by the skill of Drona, Dhrista-dyumna strove in vain!</p> + +<p>But the fiercer darts of Drona pierced the prince's shattered mail,<br> +Hurtling on his battle chariot like an angry shower of hail,</p> + +<p>And they rent in twain his bowstring, and they cut his pond'rous mace,<br> +Slew his steeds and chariot-driver, streaked with blood his godlike face!</p> + +<p>Dauntless still, Panchala's hero, springing from his shattered car,<br> +Like a hungry desert lion with his sabre rushed to war,</p> + +<p>Dashed aside the darts of Drona with his broad and ample shield,<br> +With his sabre brightly flaming fearless trod the reddened field!</p> + +<p>In his fury and his rashness he had fallen on that day,<br> +But the ever-watchful Bhima stopped the proud preceptor's way!</p> + +<p>Proud Duryodhan marked with anger Bhima rushing in his car,<br> +And he sent Kalinga's forces to the thickening ranks of war,</p> + +<p>Onward came Kalinga warriors with the dark tornado's might,<br> +Dusky chiefs, Nishada warriors, gloomy as the sable night!</p> + +<p>Rose the shout of warring nations surging to the battle's fore,<br> +Like the angry voice of tempest and the ocean's troubled roar!</p> + +<p>And like darkly rolling breakers ranks of serried warriors flew,<br> +Scarcely in the thickening darkness friends and kin from foemen knew!</p> + +<p>Fell the young prince of Kalinga by the wrathful Bhima slain,<br> +But against Kalinga's monarch baffled Bhima fought in vain,</p> + +<p>Safely sat the eastern monarch on his <i>howda's</i> lofty seat,<br> +Till upon the giant tusker Bhima sprang with agile feet,</p> + +<p>Then he struck with fatal fury, brave Kalinga fell in twain,<br> +Scattered fled his countless forces, when they saw their leader slain!</p> + +<p>Darkly rolled the tide of battle where Duryodhan's valiant son<br> +Strove against the son of Arjun famed for deeds of valour done,</p> + +<p>Proud Duryodhan marked the contest with a father's anxious heart,<br> +Came to save his gallant Lakshman from brave Abhimanyu's dart,</p> + +<p>And the helmet-wearing Arjun marked his son among his foes,<br> +Wheeled from far his battle-chariot and in wrath terrific rose!</p> + +<p>“Arjun!” “Arjun!” cried the Kurus, and in panic broke and fled,<br> +Steed and tusker turned from battle, soldiers fell among the dead!</p> + +<p>Godlike Krishna drove the coursers of resistless Arjun's car,<br> +And the sound of Arjun's <i>sankha</i> rose above the cry of war!</p> + +<p>And the voice of his <i>gandiva</i> spread a terror far and near,<br> +Crushed and broken, faint and frightened, fled the Kurus in their fear!</p> + +<p>Onward still through scattered foemen conquering Arjun held his way,<br> +Till the evening's gathering darkness closed the action of the day!</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>Bhishma and Arjun meet</h4> +<p>Anxious was the proud Duryodhan when the golden morning came,<br> +For before the car of Arjun fled each Kuru chief of fame,</p> + +<p>Brave Duryodhan shook in anger and a tremor moved his frame,<br> +As he spake to ancient Bhishma words of wrath in bitter shame:</p> + +<p>“Bhishma! dost thou lead the Kurus in this battle's crimson field?<br> +Warlike Drona, doth he guard us like a broad and ample shield?</p> + +<p>Wherefore then before yon Arjun do the valiant Kurus fly?<br> +Wherefore doth our leader linger when he hears the battle cry?</p> + +<p>Doth a secret love for Pandavs quell our leader's matchless might?<br> +With a halting zeal for Kurus doth the noble Bhishma fight?</p> + +<p>Pardon, chief! if for the Pandavs doth thy partial heart incline,<br> +Yield thy place! let faithful Karna lead my gallant Kuru line!”</p> + +<p>Anger flamed on Bhishma's forehead and the tear was in his eye,<br> +And in accents few and trembling thus the warrior made reply:</p> + +<p>“Vain our toil, unwise Duryodhan! Nor can Bhishma warrior old,<br> +Nor can Drona skilled in weapons, Karna archer proud and bold,</p> + +<p>Wash the stain of deeds unholy and of wrongs and outraged laws,<br> +Conquer with a load of cunning 'gainst a right and righteous cause!</p> + +<p>Deaf to wisdom's voice, Duryodhan! deaf to parents and to kin,<br> +Thou shalt perish in thy folly, in thy unrepented sin!</p> + +<p>For the wrongs and insults offered unto good Yudhishthir's wife,<br> +For the kingdom from him stolen, for the plots against his life,</p> + +<p>For the dreadful oath of Bhima, for the holy counsel given,<br> +Vainly given by saintly Krishna, thou art doomed by righteous Heaven!</p> + +<p>Meanwhile since he leads thy forces, Bhishma still shall meet his foe,<br> +Or to conquer, or to perish, to the battle's front I go.”</p> + +<p>Speaking thus, unto the battle ancient Bhishma held his way,<br> +Sweeping all before his chariot as upon a previous day,</p> + +<p>And the army of Yudhishthir shook from end to farthest end,<br> +Arjun nor the valiant Krishna could against the tide contend!</p> + +<p>Cars were shattered, fled the coursers, elephants were pierced and slain,<br> +Shafts of chariots, broken standards, lifeless soldiers strewed the plain!</p> + +<p>Coats of mail were left by warriors as they ran with streaming hair,<br> +Soldiers fled like herds of cattle stricken by a sudden fear!</p> + +<p>Krishna, Arjun's chariot-driver, and a chief of righteous fame,<br> +Marked the broken Pandav forces, spake in grief and bitter shame:</p> + +<p>“Arjun! not in hour of battle hath it been they wont to fly,<br> +Forward lay thy path of glory, or to conquer or to die!</p> + +<p>If to-day with angry Bhishma Arjun shuns the dubious fight,<br> +Shame on Krishna! if he joins thee in this sad inglorious flight!</p> + +<p>Be it mine alone, O Arjun! warrior's wonted work to know,<br> +Krishna with his fiery discus smites the all-resistless foe!”</p> + +<p>Then he flung the reins to Arjun, left the steeds and sounding car,<br> +Leaped upon the field of battle, rushed into the dreadful war!</p> + +<p>“Shame!” cried Arjun in his anger, “Krishna shall not wage the fight,<br> +Nor shall Arjun like a recreant seek for safety in his flight!”</p> + +<p>And he dashed behind the warrior, and on foot the chief pursued,<br> +Caught him as the angry Krishna still his distant foeman viewed,</p> + +<p>Stalwart Arjun lifted Krishna, as the storm lifts up a tree,<br> +Placed him on his battle-chariot, and he bent to him his knee:</p> + +<p>“Pardon, Krishna, this compulsion! pardon this transgression bold,<br> +But while Arjun lives, O chieftain! weapon of thy wrath withhold!</p> + +<p>By my warlike Abhimanyu, fair Subhadra's darling boy,<br> +By my brothers, dearer, truer, than in hours of pride and joy,</p> + +<p>By my troth I pledge thee, Krishna,—let thy angry discus sleep,—<br> +Archer Arjun meets his foeman, and his plighted word will keep.”</p> + +<p>Forthwith rushed the fiery Arjun in his sounding battle-car,<br> +And like waves before him parted serried ranks of hostile war,</p> + +<p>Vainly hurled his lance Duryodhan 'gainst the valiant warrior's face,<br> +Vainly Salya, king of Madra, threw with skill his pond'rous mace,</p> + +<p>With disdain the godlike Arjun dashed the feeble darts aside,<br> +Hold aloft his famed <i>gandiva</i> as he stood with haughty pride,</p> + +<p>Beat of drum and blare of <i>sankha</i> and the thunder of his car,<br> +And his weapon's fearful accents rose terrific near and far!</p> + +<p>Came resistless Pandav forces, sweeping onward wave on wave,<br> +Chedis, Matsyas, and Panchalas, chieftains true and warriors brave!</p> + +<p>Onward too came forth the Kurus, by the matchless Bhishma led,<br> +Shouts arose and cry of anguish midst the dying and the dead!</p> + +<p>But the evening closed in darkness, and the night-fires fitful flared,<br> +Fainting troops and bleeding chieftains to their various tents repaired!</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>Duryodhan's Brothers slain</h4> +<p>Dawned another day of battle; Kurus knew that day too well,<br> +Widowed queens of fair Hastina wept before the evening fell!</p> + +<p>For as whirlwind of destruction Bhima swept in mighty wrath,<br> +Broke the serried line of tuskers vainly sent to cross his path,</p> + +<p>Smote Duryodhan with his arrows, three terrific darts and five,<br> +Smote proud Salya; from the battle scarce they bore the chiefs alive!</p> + +<p>Then Duryodhan's fourteen brothers rushed into the dreadful fray,<br> +Fatal was the luckless moment, inauspicious was the day!</p> + +<p>Licked his mouth the vengeful Bhima, and he shook his bow and lance,<br> +As the lion lolls his red tongue when he see his prey advance,</p> + +<p>Short and fierce the furious combat; six pale princes turned and fled,<br> +Eight of proud Duryodhan's brothers fell and slumbered with the dead!</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>Satyaki's Sons slain</h4> +<p>Morning with her fiery radiance oped the portals of the day,<br> +Shone once more on Kuru warriors, Pandav chiefs in dread array!</p> + +<p>Bhima and the gallant Arjun led once more the van of war,<br> +But the proud preceptor Drona faced them in his sounding car!</p> + +<p>Still with gallant son of Arjun, Lakshman strove with bow and shield,<br> +Vainly strove; his faithful henchman bore him bleeding from the field!</p> + +<p>Lakshman, son of proud Duryodhan! Abhimanyu, Arjun's son,<br> +Doomed to die in youth and glory 'neath the same revolving sun!</p> + +<p>Sad the day for Vrishni warriors! Brave Satyaki's sons of might,<br> +'Gainst the cruel Bhuri-sravas strove in unrelenting fight,</p> + +<p>Ten brave brothers, pride of Vrishni, fell upon that fatal day,<br> +Slain by mighty Bhuri-sravas, and upon the red field lay!</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> +<h4>Bhima's Danger and Rescue</h4> +<p>Dawned another day of slaughter; heedless Bhima forced his way,<br> +Through Duryodhan's serried legions, where dark death and danger lay,</p> + +<p>And a hundred foemen gathered, and unequal was the strife,<br> +Bhima strove with furious valour, for his forfeit was his life!</p> + +<p>Fair Panchala's watchful monarch saw the danger from afar,<br> +Forced his way where bleeding Bhima fought beside his shattered car,</p> + +<p>And he helped the fainting warrior, placed him on his chariot-seat,<br> +But the Kurus darkly gathered, surging round as waters meet!</p> + +<p>Arjun's son and twelve brave chieftains dashed into the dubious fray,<br> +Rescued Bhima and proud Drupad from the Kurus' grim array,</p> + +<p>Surging still the Kuru forces onward came with ceaseless might,<br> +Drona smote the scattered Pandavs till the darksome hours of night!</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> +<h4>Pandavs routed by Bhishma</h4> +<p>Morning came and angry Arjun rushed into the dreadful war,<br> +Krishna drove his milk-white coursers, onward flew his sounding car,</p> + +<p>And before his monkey banner quailed the faint and frightened foes,<br> +Till like star on billowy ocean Bhishma's palm-tree banner rose!</p> + +<p>Vainly then the good Yudhishthir, stalwart Bhima, Arjun brave,<br> +Strove with useless toil and valour shattered ranks of war to save,</p> + +<p>Vainly too the Pandav brothers on the peerless Bhishma fell,<br> +Gods in sky nor earthly warriors Bhishma's matchless might could quell!</p> + +<p>Fell Yudhishthir's lofty standard, shook his chariot battle-tost,<br> +Fell his proud and fiery coursers, and the dreadful day was lost!</p> + +<p>Sahadeva and Nakula vainly strove with all their might,<br> +Till their broken scattered forces rested in the shades of night!</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> +<h4>Iravat slain: Duryodhan's Brothers slain</h4> +<p>Morning saw the turn of battle; Bhishma's charioteer was slain,<br> +And his coursers uncontrolléd flew across the reddened plain,</p> + +<p>Ill it fared with Kuru forces when their leader went astray,<br> +And their foremost chiefs and warriors with the dead and dying lay.</p> + +<p>But Gandhara's mounted princes rode across the battle-ground,—<br> +For its steeds and matchless chargers is Gandhara's realm renowned,</p> + +<p>And to smite the young Iravat fierce Gandhara's princes swore,—<br> +Brave Iravat, son of Arjun, whom a Naga princess bore!</p> + +<p>Mounted on their milk-white chargers proudly did the princes sweep,<br> +Like the sea-birds skimming gaily o'er the bosom of the deep,</p> + +<p>Five of stout Gandhara's princes in that fatal combat fell,<br> +And a sixth in fear and faintness fled the woeful tale to tell!</p> + +<p>Short, alas, Iravat's triumph, transient was the victor's joy,<br> +Alumbusha dark and dreadful came against the gallant boy,</p> + +<p>Fierce and fateful was the combat, mournful is the tale to tell,<br> +Like a lotus rudely severed, gallant son of Arjun fell!</p> + +<p>Arjun heard the tale of sorrow, and his heart was filled with grief,<br> +Thus he spake a father's anguish, faint his accents, few and brief:</p> + +<p>“Wherefore, Krishna, for a kingdom mingle in this fatal fray,<br> +Kinsmen killed and comrades slaughtered,—dear, alas! the price we pay!</p> + +<p>Woe unto Hastina's empire built upon our children's grave!<br> +Dearer than the throne of monarchs was Iravat young and brave!</p> + +<p>Young in years and rich in beauty, with thy mother's winsome eye!<br> +Art thou slain, my gallant warrior, and thy father was not nigh?</p> + +<p>But thy young blood calls for vengeance! noble Krishna, drive the car,<br> +Let them feel the father's prowess, those who slew the son in war!”</p> + +<p>And he dashed the glistening tear-drop, and his words were few and brief,<br> +Broken ranks and slaughtered chieftains spoke an angry father's grief!</p> + +<p>Bhima too revenged Iravat, and as onward still he flew,<br> +Brothers of the proud Duryodhan in that fatal combat slew!</p> + +<p>Still advanced the fatal carnage till the darksome close of day,<br> +When the wounded and the weary with the dead and lying lay!</p> + +<h4>IX</h4> +<h4>Pandavs routed by Bhishma</h4> +<p>Fell the thickening shades of darkness on the red and ghastly plain,<br> +Torches by the white tents flickered, red fires showed the countless slain,</p> + +<p>With a bosom sorrow-laden proud Duryodhan drew his breath,<br> +Wept the issue of the battle and his warlike brother's death.</p> + +<p>Spent with grief and silent sorrow slow the Kuru monarch went<br> +Where arose in dewy starlight Bhishma's proud and snowy tent,</p> + +<p>And with tears and hands conjoinéd thus the sad Duryodhan spoke,<br> +And his mournful bitter accents oft by heaving sighs were broke:</p> + +<p>“Bhishma! on thy matchless prowess Kuru's hopes and fates depend,<br> +Gods nor men with warlike Bhishma can in field of war contend!</p> + +<p>Brave in war are sons of Pandu, but they face not Bhishma's might,<br> +In their fierce and deathless hatred slay my brothers in the fight!</p> + +<p>Mind thy pledge, O chief of Kurus, save Hastina's royal race,<br> +On the ancient king my father grant thy never-failing grace!</p> + +<p>If within thy noble bosom,—pardon cruel words I say,—<br> +Secret love for sons of Pandu holds a soft and partial sway,</p> + +<p>If thy inner heart's affection unto Pandu's sons incline,<br> +Grant that Karna lead my forces 'gainst the foeman's hostile line!”</p> + +<p>Bhishma's heart was full of sadness and his eyelids dropped a tear,<br> +Soft and mournful were his accents and his vision true and clear:</p> + +<p>“Vain, Duryodhan, is this contest, and thy mighty host is vain,<br> +Why with blood of friendly nations drench this red and reeking plain?</p> + +<p>They must win who, strong in virtue, fight for virtue's stainless laws,<br> +Doubly armed the stalwart warrior who is armed in righteous cause!</p> + +<p>Think, Duryodhan, when <i>gandharvas</i> took thee captive and a slave,<br> +Did not Arjun rend thy fetters, Arjun righteous chief and brave?</p> + +<p>When in Matsya's fields of pasture captured we Virata's kine,<br> +Did not Arjun in his valour beat thy countless force and mine?</p> + +<p>Krishna now hath come to Arjun, Krishna drives his battle-car,<br> +Gods nor men can face these heroes in the field of righteous war!</p> + +<p>Ruin frowns on thee, Duryodhan, and upon thy impious State,<br> +In thy pride and in thy folly thou hast courted cruel fate!</p> + +<p>Bhishma still will do his duty, and his end it is not far,<br> +Then may other chieftains follow,—fatal is this Kuru war!”</p> + +<p>Dawned a day of mighty slaughter and of dread and deathful war,<br> +Ancient Bhishma, in his anger drove once more his sounding car!</p> + +<p>Morn to noon and noon to evening none could face the victor's wrath,<br> +Broke and shattered, faint and frightened, Pandavs fled before his path!</p> + +<p>Still amidst the dead and dying moved his proud resistless car,<br> +Till the gathering night and darkness closed the horrors of the war!</p> + +<h4>X</h4> +<h4>Fall of Bhishma</h4> +<p>Good Yudhishthir gazed with sorrow on the dark and ghastly plain,<br> +Shed his tears on chiefs and warriors by the matchless Bhishma slain!</p> + +<p>“Vain this unavailing battle, vain this woeful loss of life,<br> +'Gainst the death-compelling Bhishma hopeless in this arduous strife!</p> + +<p>As a lordly tusker tramples on a marsh of feeble reeds,<br> +As a forest conflagration on the parchéd woodland feeds,</p> + +<p>Bhishma rides upon my warriors in his mighty battle-car,<br> +God nor mortal chief can face him in the gory field of war!</p> + +<p>Vain our toil, and vain the valour of our kinsmen loved and lost,<br> +Vainly fight my faithful brothers by a luckless fortune crost,</p> + +<p>Nations pour their life-blood vainly, ceaseless wakes the sound of woe,<br> +Krishna, stop this cruel carnage, unto woods once more we go!”</p> + +<p>Sad they hold a midnight council and the chiefs in silence meet,<br> +And they went to ancient Bhishma, love and mercy to entreat,</p> + +<p>Bhishma loved the sons of Pandu with a father's loving heart,<br> +But from troth unto Duryodhan righteous Bhishma would not part!</p> + +<p>“Sons of Pandu!” said the chieftain, “Prince Duryodhan is my lord,<br> +Bhishma is no faithless servant nor will break his plighted word,</p> + +<p>Valiant are ye, noble princes, but the chief is yet unborn,<br> +While I lead the course of battle, who the tide of war can turn!</p> + +<p>Listen more. With vanquished foeman, or who falls or takes to fight,<br> +Casts his weapons, craves for mercy, ancient Bhishma doth not fight,</p> + +<p>Bhishma doth not fight a rival who submits, fatigued and worn,<br> +Bhishma doth not fight the wounded, doth not fight a woman born!”</p> + +<p>Back unto their tents the Pandavs turn with Krishna deep and wise,<br> +He unto the anxious Arjun thus in solemn whisper cries:</p> + +<p>“Arjun, there is hope of triumph! Hath not truthful Bhishma sworn,<br> +He will fight no wounded warrior, he will fight no woman born?</p> + +<p>Female child was brave Sikhandin, Drupad's youngest son of pride,<br> +Gods have turned him to a warrior, placed him by Yudhishthir's side!</p> + +<p>Place him in the van of battle, mighty Bhishma leaves the strife,<br> +Then with ease we fight and conquer, and the forfeit is his life!”</p> + +<p>“Shame!” exclaimed the angry Arjun, “not in secret heroes fight,<br> +Not behind a child or woman screen their valour and their might!</p> + +<p>Krishna, loth is archer Arjun to pursue this hateful strife,<br> +Trick against the sinless Bhishma, fraud upon his spotless life!</p> + +<p>Knowest thou good and noble Krishna; as a child I climbed his knee,<br> +As a boy I called him father, hung upon him lovingly?</p> + +<p>Perish conquest! dearly purchased by a mean deceitful strife!<br> +Perish crown and jewelled sceptre! won with Bhishma's saintly life!”</p> + +<p>Gravely answered noble Krishna: “Bhishma falls by close of day,<br> +Victim to the cause of virtue, he himself hath showed the way!</p> + +<p>Dear or hated be the foeman, Arjun, thou shalt fight and slay,<br> +Wherefore else the blood of nations hast thou poured from day to day?”</p> + +<p>Morning dawned, and mighty Arjun, Abhimanyu young and bold,<br> +Drupad monarch of Panchala, and Virata stern and old,</p> + +<p>Brave Yudhishthir and his brothers clad in arms and shining mail,<br> +Rushed to war where Bhishma's standard gleamed and glittered in the gale!</p> + +<p>Proud Duryodhan marked their onset, and its fatal purpose knew,<br> +And his bravest men and chieftains 'gainst the fiery Pandavs threw,</p> + +<p>With Kamboja's stalwart monarch and with Drona's mighty son,<br> +With the valiant bowman Kripa stemmed the battle still unwon!</p> + +<p>And his younger, fierce Duhsasan, thirsting for the deathful war,<br> +'Gainst the helmet-wearing Arjun drew his mighty battle-car,</p> + +<p>As the high and rugged mountain meets the angry ocean's sway,<br> +Proud Duhsasan warred with Arjun in his wild and onward way,</p> + +<p>And as myriad white-winged sea-birds swoop upon the darksome wave,<br> +Clouds of darts and glistening lances drank the red blood of the brave!</p> + +<p>Other warlike Kuru chieftains came, the bravest and the best,<br> +Drona's self and Bhagadatta, monarch of the farthest East,</p> + +<p>Car-borne Salya, mighty warrior, king of Madra's distant land,<br> +Princes from Avanti's regions, chiefs from Malav's rocky strand,</p> + +<p>Jayadratha, matchless fighter, king of Sindhu's sounding shore,<br> +Chetrasena and Vikarna, countless chiefs and warriors more!</p> + +<p>And they faced the fiery Pandavs, peerless in their warlike might,<br> +Long and dreadful raged the combat, darkly closed the dubious fight,</p> + +<p>Dust arose like clouds of summer, glistening darts like lightning played,<br> +Darksome grew the sky with arrows, thicker grew the gloomy shade,</p> + +<p>Cars went down and mailéd horsemen, soldiers fell in dread array,<br> +Elephants with white tusks broken and with mangled bodies lay!</p> + +<p>Arjun and the stalwart Bhima, piercing through their countless foes,<br> +Side by side impelled their chariots, where the palm-tree standard rose!</p> + +<p>Where the peerless ancient Bhishma on that dark and fatal day,<br> +Warring with the banded nations, still resistless held his way!</p> + +<p>On he came, his palm-tree standard still the front of battle knew,<br> +And like sun from dark clouds parting Bhishma burst on Arjun's view!</p> + +<p>And his eyes brave Arjun shaded at the awe-inspiring sight,<br> +Half he wished to turn for shelter from that chief of godlike might!</p> + +<p>But bold Krishna drove his chariot, whispered unto him his plan,<br> +Arjun placed the young Sikhandin in the deathful battle's van!</p> + +<p>Bhishma viewed the Pandav forces with a calm unmoving face,<br> +Saw not Arjun's fair <i>gandiva</i>, saw not Bhima's mighty mace,</p> + +<p>Smiled to see the young Sikhandin rushing to the battle's fore,<br> +Like the foam upon the billow when the mighty storm-winds roar!</p> + +<p>Bhishma thought of word he plighted and of oath that he had sworn,<br> +Dropped his arms before the warrior who was but a female born!</p> + +<p>And the standard which no warrior ever saw in base retreat,<br> +Idly stood upon the chariot, threw its shade on Bhishma's seat!</p> + +<p>And the flagstaff fell dissevered on the crushed and broken car,<br> +As from azure sky of midnight falls the meteor's flaming star!</p> + +<p>Not by young Sikhandin's arrows Bhishma's palm-tree standard fell,<br> +Not Sikhandin's feeble lances did the peerless Bhishma quell,</p> + +<p>True to oath the bleeding chieftan turned his darkening face away,<br> +Turned and fell; the sun declining marked the closing of the day.</p> + +<p>Ended thus the fatal battle, truce came with the close of day,<br> +Kurus and the silent Pandavs went where Bhishma dying lay,</p> + +<p>Arjun wept as for a father weeps a sad and sorrowing son,<br> +Good Yudhishthir cursed the morning Kuru-kshetra's war begun,</p> + +<p>Stood Duryodhan and his brothers mantled in the gloom of grief,<br> +Foes like loving brothers sorrowed round the great the dying chief!</p> + +<p>Arjun's keen and pointed arrows made the hero's dying bed,<br> +And in soft and gentle accents to Duryodhan thus he said:</p> + +<p>“List unto my words, Duryodhan, uttered with my latest breath,<br> +List to Bhishma's dying counsel and revere the voice of death!</p> + +<p>End this dread and deathful battle if thy stony heart can grieve,<br> +Save the chieftains doomed to slaughter, bid the fated nations live!</p> + +<p>Grant his kingdom to Yudhishthir, righteous man beloved of Heaven,<br> +Keep thy own Hastina's regions, be the hapless past forgiven!”</p> + +<p>Vain, alas! the voice of Bhishma like the voice of angel spoke,<br> +Hatred dearer than his life-blood in the proud Duryodhan woke!</p> + +<p>Darker grew the gloomy midnight, and the princes went their way,<br> +On his bed of pointed arrows Bhishma lone and dying lay,</p> + +<p>Karna, though he loved not Bhishma whilst the chieftain lived in fame,<br> +Gently to the dying Bhishma in the midnight darkness came!</p> + +<p>Bhishma heard the tread of Karna, and he oped his glazing eye,<br> +Spake in love and spake in sadness, and his bosom heaved a sigh:</p> + +<p>“Pride and envy, noble Karna, filled our warlike hearts with strife,<br> +Discord ends with breath departing, envy sinks with fleeting life!</p> + +<p>More I have to tell thee, Karna, but my parting breath may fail,<br> +Feeble are my dying accents, and my parchéd lips are pale!</p> + +<p>Arjun beats not noble Karna in the deeds of valour done,<br> +Nor excels in birth and lineage, Karna, thou art Pritha's son!</p> + +<p>Pritha bore thee, still unwedded, and the Sun inspired thy birth,<br> +God-born man! No mightier archer treads this broad and spacious earth!</p> + +<p>Pritha cast thee in her sorrow, hid thee with a maiden's shame,<br> +And a driver, not thy father, nursed thee, chief of warlike fame!</p> + +<p>Arjun is thy brother, Karna, end this sad fraternal war,<br> +Seek not life-blood of thy brother, nor against him drive thy car!”</p> + +<p>Vain, alas! the voice of Bhishma like a heavenly warning spoke,<br> +Hatred dearer than his life-blood in the vengeful Karna woke!</p> + +<div id="s09" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK IX</h3> +<h3>DRONA-BADHA</h3> +<p>(Fall of Drona)</p> +</div> + +<p>On the fall of Bhishma the Brahman chief Drona, preceptor of the Kuru +and Pandav princes, was appointed the leader of the Kuru forces. For +five days Drona held his own against the Pandavs, and some of the +incidents of these days, like the fall of Abhimanyu and the vengeance +of Arjun, are among the most stirring passages in the Epic. The +description of the different standards of the Pandav and the Kuru +warriors is also interesting. At last Drona slew his ancient foe the +king of the Panchalas, and was then slain by his son the prince of +the Panchalas.</p> + +<p>The Book is an abridgment of Book vii. of the original text.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>Single Combat between Bhima and Salya</h4> +<p>Morning ushered in the battle; Pandav warriors heard with dread<br> +Drona priest and proud preceptor now the Kuru forces led,</p> + +<p>And the foe-compelling Drona pledged his troth and solemn word,<br> +He would take Yudhishthir captive to Hastina's haughty lord!</p> + +<p>But the ever faithful Arjun to his virtuous elder bowed,<br> +And in clear and manful accents spake his warlike thoughts aloud:</p> + +<p>“Sacred is our great preceptor, sacred is <i>acharya's</i> life,<br> +Arjun may not slay his teacher even in this mortal strife!</p> + +<p>Saving this, command, O monarch, Arjun's bow and warlike sword,<br> +For thy safety, honoured elder, Arjun stakes his plighted word!</p> + +<p>Matchless in the art of battle is our teacher fierce and dread,<br> +But he comes not to Yudhishthir save o'er blood of Arjun shed!”</p> + +<p>Morning witnessed doughty Drona foremost in the battle's tide,<br> +But Yudhishthir's warlike chieftains compassed him on every side,</p> + +<p>Foremost of the youthful chieftains came resistless Arjun's son,—<br> +Father's blood and milk of mother fired his deeds of valour done,</p> + +<p>As the lion of the jungle drags the ox into his lair,<br> +Abhimanyu from his chariot dragged Paurava by the hair!</p> + +<p>Jayadratha king of Sindhu marked the faint and bleeding chief,<br> +Leaping from his car of battle, wrathful came to his relief,</p> + +<p>Abhimanyu left his captive, turned upon the mightier foe,<br> +And with sword and hardened buckler gave and parried many a blow,</p> + +<p>Rank to rank from both the forces cry of admiration rose,<br> +Streaming men poured forth in wonder, watched the combat fierce and close!</p> + +<p>Piercing Abhimanyu's buckler Jayadratha sent his stroke,<br> +But the turned and twisted sword-blade snapping in the midway broke,</p> + +<p>Weaponless the king of Sindhu ran into his sheltering car,<br> +Salya came unto his rescue from a battle-field afar,</p> + +<p>Dauntless, on the new assailant, Arjun's son his weapon drew,<br> +Interposing 'twixt the fighters Bhima's self on Salya flew!</p> + +<p>Stoutest wrestlers in the armies, peerless fighters with the mace,<br> +Bhima and the stalwart Salya stood opposéd face to face!</p> + +<p>Hempen fastening bound their maces and the wire of twisted gold,<br> +Whirling bright in circling flashes, shook their staff the warriors bold!</p> + +<p>Oft they struck, and sparks of red fire issued from the seasoned wood,<br> +And like hornéd bulls infuriate Madra's king and Bhima stood!</p> + +<p>Closer still they came like tigers closing with their reddened paws,<br> +Or like tuskers with their red tusks, eagles with their rending claws!</p> + +<p>Loud as <span class="sc">Indra's</span> peals of thunder still their blows were echoed round<br> +Rank to rank the startled soldiers heard the oft-repeated sound!</p> + +<p>But as strikes in vain the lightning on the solid mountain-rock,<br> +Bhima nor the fearless Salya fell or moved beneath the shock!</p> + +<p>Closer drew the watchful heroes, and their clubs were wielded well,<br> +Till by many blows belaboured both the fainting fighters fell!</p> + +<p>Like a drunkard dazed and reeling Bhima rose his staff to wield,<br> +Senseless Salya, heavy-breathing, henchman carried from the field,</p> + +<p>Writhing like a wounded serpent, lifted from the field of war,<br> +He was carried by his soldiers to the shelter of his car!</p> + +<p>Drona still with matchless prowess would redeem his plighted word,<br> +Sought to take Yudhishthir captive to Duryodhan, Kuru's lord,</p> + +<p>Vainly then the twin-born brothers came to cross the conqueror's path,<br> +Matsya's lord, Panchala's monarch, vainly faced him in his wrath,</p> + +<p>Rank to rank the cry resounded circling o'er the battle-field,<br> +“Drona takes Yudhishthir captive with his weapons, sword and shield!”</p> + +<p>Arjun heard the dreadful message and in haste and fury came,<br> +Strove to save his king and elder and redeem his loyal fame,</p> + +<p>Speeding with his milk-white coursers dashed into the thick of war,<br> +Blew his shrill and dreaded <i>sankha</i>, drove his sounding battle-car,</p> + +<p>Fiercer, darker grew the battle, when above the reddened plain,<br> +Evening drew her peaceful mantle o'er the living and the slain!</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>Standards of the Pandavs</h4> +<p>Morning came; still round Yudhishthir Drona led the gathering war,<br> +Arjun fought the Sam-saptakas in the battle-field afar,</p> + +<p>But the prince of fair Panchala marked his father's ancient foe,<br> +And against the doughty Drona, Dhrishta-dyumna bent his bow!</p> + +<p>But as darksome cloudy masses angry gusts of storm divide,<br> +Through the scattered fainting foemen Drona drove his car in pride,</p> + +<p>Steeds went down and riven chariots, young Panchala turned and fled,<br> +Onward drove resistless Drona o'er the dying and the dead!</p> + +<p>One more prince of fair Panchala 'gainst the mighty Drona came,—<br> +Ancient feud ran in the red blood of Panchala's chiefs of fame,—</p> + +<p>Fated youth! with reckless valour still he fought his father's foe,<br> +Fought and fell; relentless Drona laid the brave Satyajit low!</p> + +<p>Surging still like ocean's billows other Pandav warriors came,<br> +To protect their virtuous monarch and redeem their ancient fame,</p> + +<p>Came in various battle-chariots drawn by steeds of every hue,<br> +Various were the chieftains' standards which the warring nations knew!</p> + +<p>Bhima drove his stalwart horses tinted like the dappled deer,<br> +Grey and pigeon-coloured coursers bore Panchala's prince and peer,</p> + +<p>Horses bred in famed Kamboja, fiery, parrot-green in hue,<br> +Brave Nakula's sumptuous chariot in the deathful battle drew,</p> + +<p>Piebald horses trained to battle did young Sahadeva rein,<br> +Ivory-white Yudhishthir's coursers with their flowing ebon mane,</p> + +<p>And by him with gold umbrella valiant monarch Drupad came,<br> +Horses of a bright-bay colour carried Matsya's king of fame.</p> + +<p>Varied as their various coursers gallantly their standards rose,<br> +With their wondrous strange devices, terror of their arméd foes!</p> + +<p>Water-jar on tawny deerskin, such was Drona's sign of war,—<br> +Drona as a tender infant rested in a water-jar,</p> + +<p>Golden moon with stars surrounding was Yudhishthir's sign of yore,<br> +Silver lion was the standard tiger-waisted Bhima bore,</p> + +<p>Brave Nakula's sign was red deer with its back of burnished gold,<br> +Silver swan with bells resounding Sahadeva's onset told,</p> + +<p>Golden peacock rich-emblazoned was young Abhimanyu's joy,<br> +Vulture shone on Ghatotkacha, Bhima's proud and gallant boy.</p> + +<p>Now Duryodhan marked the foemen heaving like the rising tide,<br> +And he faced the wrathful Bhima towering in his tameless pride,</p> + +<p>Short the war, for proud Duryodhan wounded from the battle fled,<br> +And his warriors from fair Anga rested with the countless dead!</p> + +<p>Wild with anger Bhagadatta, monarch of the farthest East,<br> +With his still unconquered forces on the valiant Bhima pressed,</p> + +<p>Came from far the wrathful Arjun and the battle's front he sought,<br> +Where by eastern foes surrounded still the stalwart Bhima fought!</p> + +<p>Fated monarch from the far-east Brahma-putra's sounding shore,<br> +Land of rising sun will hail him and his noble peers no more,</p> + +<p>For his tusker pierced by arrows trumpeted his dying wail,<br> +Like a red and flaming meteor gallant Bhagadatta fell!</p> + +<p>Then with rising wrath and anguish Karna's noble bosom bled,—<br> +Karna, who had stayed from battle while his rival Bhishma led,</p> + +<p>Ancient hate and jealous anger clouded Karna's warlike heart,<br> +And while Bhishma led, all idly slumbered Karna's bow and dart!</p> + +<p>Now he marked with warrior's anguish all his comrades fled afar,<br> +And his foeman Arjun sweeping o'er the red field of the war!</p> + +<p>Hatred like a tongue of red fire shot from Karna's flaming eye,<br> +And he sprang to meet his foeman or to conquer or to die!</p> + +<p>Fierce and dubious was the battle, answering clouds gave back the din,<br> +Karna met his dearest foeman and, alas! his nearest kin!</p> + +<p>Bhima and Panchala's warriors unto Arjun's rescue came,<br> +Proud Duryodhan came to Karna, and fair Sindhu's king of fame!</p> + +<p>Fiercely raged the gory combat, when the night its shadows threw,<br> +Wounded men and blood-stained chieftains to their nightly tents withdrew!</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>Abhimanyu's Death</h4> +<p>Fatal was the blood-red morning purpling o'er the angry east,<br> +Fatal day for Abhimanyu, bravest warrior and the best,</p> + +<p>Countless were the gallant chieftains like the sands beside the sea,<br> +None with braver bosom battled, none with hands more stout and free!</p> + +<p>Brief, alas! thy radiant summers, fair Subhadra's gallant boy,<br> +Loved of Matsya's soft-eyed princess and her young heart's pride and joy!</p> + +<p>Brief, alas! thy sunlit winters, light of war too early quenched,<br> +Peerless son of peerless Arjun, in the blood of foemen drenched!</p> + +<p>Drona on that fatal morning ranged his dreadful battle-line<br> +In a circle darkly spreading where the chiefs with chiefs combine,</p> + +<p>And the Pandavs looked despairing on the battle's dread array,<br> +Vainly strove to force a passage, vainly sought their onward way!</p> + +<p>Abhimanyu, young and fiery, dashed alone into the war,<br> +Reckless through the shattered forces all resistless drove his car,</p> + +<p>Elephants and crashing standards, neighing steeds and warriors slain<br> +Fell before the furious hero as he made a ghastly lane!</p> + +<p>Proud Duryodhan rushed to battle, strove to stop the turning tide,<br> +And his stoutest truest warriors fought by proud Duryodhan's side,</p> + +<p>Onward still went Abhimanyu, Kurus strove and fought in vain,<br> +Backward reeled and fell Duryodhan and his bravest chiefs were slain!</p> + +<p>Next came Salya car-borne monarch 'gainst the young resistless foe,<br> +Urged his fiery battle-coursers, stretched his dread unerring bow,</p> + +<p>Onward still went Abhimanyu, Salya strove and fought in vain,<br> +And his warriors took him bleeding from the reddened battle-plain!</p> + +<p>Next Duhsasan darkly lowering thundered with his bended bow,<br> +Abhimanyu smiled to see him, kinsman and the dearest foe,</p> + +<p>“Art thou he,” said Abhimanyu, “known for cruel word and deed,<br> +Impious in thy heart and purpose, base and ruthless in thy greed?</p> + +<p>Didst thou with the false Sakuni win a realm by low device,<br> +Win his kingdom from Yudhishthir by ignoble trick of dice?</p> + +<p>Didst thou in the council chamber with your insults foul and keen<br> +By her flowing raven tresses drag Yudhishthir's stainless queen?</p> + +<p>Didst thou speak to warlike Bhima as thy serf and bounden slave,<br> +Wrong my father, righteous Arjun, peerless prince and warrior brave?</p> + +<p>Welcome! I have sought thee often, wished to cross thy tainted path,<br> +Welcome! Dearest of all victims to my nursed and cherished wrath!</p> + +<p>Reap the meed of sin and insult, draw on earth thy latest breath,<br> +For I owe to Queen Draupadi, impious prince, thy speedy death!”</p> + +<p>Like a snake upon an ant-hill, on Duhsasan's wicked heart,<br> +Fell with hissing wrath and fury Abhimanyu's fiery dart!</p> + +<p>From the loss of blood Duhsasan fainted on his battle-car,<br> +Kuru chieftains bore him senseless from the blood-stained scene of war!</p> + +<p>Next in gleaming arms accoutred came Duryodhan's gallant son,<br> +Proud and warlike as his father, famed for deeds of valour done,</p> + +<p>Young in years and rich in valour, for alas! he fought too well,<br> +And before his weeping father proud and gallant Lakshman fell!</p> + +<p>Onward still went Abhimanyu midst the dying and the dead,<br> +Shook from rank to rank the Kurus and their shattered army fled!</p> + +<p>Then the impious Jayadratha, king of Sindhu's sounding shore,<br> +Came forth in unrighteous concert with six car-borne warriors more,</p> + +<p>Darkly closed the fatal circle with the gulfing surge's moan,<br> +Dauntless, with the seven brave chieftains Abhimanyu fought alone!</p> + +<p>Fell, alas! his peacock standard and his car was broke in twain,<br> +Bow and sabre rent and shattered and his faithful driver slain,</p> + +<p>Heedless yet of death and danger, misty with the loss of blood,<br> +Abhimanyu wiped his forehead, gazed where dark his foemen stood!</p> + +<p>Then with wild despairing valour, flickering flame and closing life,<br> +Mace in hand the heedless warrior rushed to end the mortal strife,</p> + +<p>Rushed upon his startled foemen, Abhimanyu fought and fell,<br> +And his deeds to distant ages bards and wand'ring minstrels tell!</p> + +<p>Like a tusker of the forest by surrounding hunters slain,<br> +Like a wood-consuming wildfire quenched upon the distant plain,</p> + +<p>Like a mountain-shaking tempest, spent in force and hushed and still,<br> +Like the red resplendent day-god setting on the western hill,</p> + +<p>Like the moon serene and beauteous quenched in eclipse, dark and pale,<br> +Lifeless slumbered Abhimanyu when the softened starlight fell!</p> + +<p>Done the day of death and slaughter, darkening shadows close around,<br> +Wearied warriors seek for shelter on the vast and tented ground,</p> + +<p>Soldiers' camp-fires brightly blazing, tent-lights shining from afar,<br> +Cast their fitful gleam and radiance on the carnage of the war!</p> + +<p>Arjun from a field at distance, where upon that day he fought,<br> +With the ever faithful Krishna now his nightly shelter sought,</p> + +<p>“Wherefore, Krishna,” uttered Arjun, “evil omens strike my eye,<br> +Thoughts of sadness fill my bosom, wake the long-forgotten sigh?</p> + +<p>Wherefore voice of evening bugle speaks not on the battle-field,<br> +Merry conch nor sounding trumpet music to the warriors yield?</p> + +<p>Harp is hushed within the dark tents and the voice of warlike song,<br> +Bards beside the evening camp-fire tales of war do not prolong!</p> + +<p>Good Yudhishthir's tent is voiceless, and my brothers look so pale,<br> +Abhimanyu comes not joyous Krishna and his sire to hail!</p> + +<p>Abhimanyu's love and greeting bless like blessings from above,<br> +Fair Subhadra's joy and treasure, Arjun's pride and hope and love!”</p> + +<p>Softly and with many tear-drops did the sad Yudhishthir tell,<br> +How in dreadful field of battle gallant Abhimanyu fell!</p> + +<p>How the impious Jayadratha fell on Arjun's youthful son,—<br> +He with six proud Kuru chieftains,—Abhimanyu all alone!</p> + +<p>How the young prince, reft of weapon and deprived of steed and car,<br> +Fell as falls a Kshatra warrior fighting on the field of war!</p> + +<p>Arjun heard; the father's bosom felt the cruel cureless wound,<br> +“Brave and gallant boy!” said Arjun;—and he sank upon the ground!</p> + +<p>Moments passed of voiceless sorrow and of speechless bitter tear,<br> +Sobs within his mailéd bosom smote the weeping listener's ear!</p> + +<p>Moments passed; with rising anger quivered Arjun's iron frame,<br> +Abhimanyu's cruel murder smote the father's heart to flame!</p> + +<p>“Didst thou say that Sindhu's monarch on my Abhimanyu bore,—<br> +He alone,—and Jayadratha leagued with six marauders more?</p> + +<p>Didst thou say the impious Kurus stooped unto this deed of shame,<br> +Outrage on the laws of honour, stain upon a warrior's fame?</p> + +<p>Father's curse and warrior's hatred sting them to their dying breath,<br> +For they feared my boy in battle, hunted him to cruel death,</p> + +<p>Hear my vow, benign Yudhishthir, hear me, Krishna righteous lord,<br> +Arjun's hand shall slay the slayer, Arjun plights his solemn word!</p> + +<p>May I never reach the bright sky where the righteous fathers dwell,<br> +May I with the darkest sinners live within the deepest hell,—</p> + +<p>With the men who slay their fathers, shed their loving mothers' blood,<br> +Stain the sacred bed of <i>gurus</i>, steal their gold and holy food,</p> + +<p>Cherish envy, cheat their kinsmen, speak the low and dastard lie,—<br> +If, ere comes to-morrow's sunset, Jayadratha doth not die!</p> + +<p>Jayadratha dies to-morrow, victim to my vengeful ire,<br> +Arjun else shall yield his weapons, perish on the flaming pyre!”</p> + +<p>Softer tear-drops wept the mother, joyless was Subhadra's life,—<br> +Krishna's fair and honoured sister, Arjun's dear and lovéd wife:</p> + +<p>“Dost thou lie on field of battle smeared with dust and foeman's gore,<br> +Child of light and love and sweetness whom thy hapless mother bore?</p> + +<p>Soft thine eye as budding lotus, sweet and gentle was thy face,<br> +Are those soft eyes closed in slumber, faded in that peerless grace?</p> + +<p>And thy limbs so young and tender, on the bare earth do they lie,<br> +Where the hungry jackal prowleth and the vulture flutters nigh?</p> + +<p>Gold and jewels graced thy bosom, gems bedecked thy lofty crest,<br> +Doth the crimson mark of sabre decorate that manly breast?</p> + +<p>Rend Subhadra's stony bosom with a mother's cureless grief,<br> +Let her follow Abhimanyu and in death obtain relief!</p> + +<p>Earth to me is void and cheerless, joyless in my hearth and home,<br> +Dreary without Abhimanyu is this weary world to roam!</p> + +<p>And oh! cheerless is that young heart, Abhimanyu's princess-wife,<br> +What can sad Subhadra offer to her joyless sunless life?</p> + +<p>Close our life in equal darkness, for our day on earth is done,<br> +For our love and light and treasure, Abhimanyu, dead and gone!”</p> + +<p>Long bewailed the anguished mother, fair Draupadi tore her hair,<br> +Matsya's princess, early widowed, shed her young heart's blood in tear!</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>Standards of the Kurus: Arjun's Revenge</h4> +<p>Morning from the face of battle night's depending curtain drew,<br> +Long and shrill his sounding <i>sankha</i> then the wrathful Arjun blew,</p> + +<p>Kurus knew the vow of Arjun, heard the <i>sankha's</i> deathful blare,<br> +As it rose above the red field, thrilled the startled morning air!</p> + +<p>“Speed, my Krishna,” out spake Arjun, as he held aloft his bow,<br> +“For to-day my task is dreadful, cruel is my mighty vow!”</p> + +<p>Fiery coursers urged by Krishna flew with lightning's rapid course,<br> +Dashing through the hostile warriors and the serried Kuru force!</p> + +<p>Brave Durmarsan faced the hero, but he strove and fought in vain,<br> +Onward thundered Arjun's chariot o'er the dying and the slain!</p> + +<p>Fierce Duhsasan with his tuskers rushed into the fine of war,<br> +But the tuskers broke in panic, onward still went Arjun's car!</p> + +<p>Drona then, the proud preceptor, Arjun's furious progress stayed,<br> +Tear-drops filled the eye of Arjun as these gentle words he said:</p> + +<p>“Pardon, father! if thy pupil shuns to-day thy offered war,<br> +'Gainst his Abhimanyu's slayer Arjun speeds his battle-car!</p> + +<p>Not against my great <i>acharya</i> is my wrathful bow-string drawn,<br> +Not against a lovéd father fights a loving duteous son!</p> + +<p>Heavy on this bleeding bosom sits the darkening load of woe,<br> +And an injured father's vengeance seeks the slaughtered hero's foe!</p> + +<p>Pardon then if sorrowing Arjun seeks a far and distant way,<br> +Mighty is the vow of Arjun, cruel is his task to-day!”</p> + +<p>Passing by the doughty Drona onward sped the fiery car,<br> +Through the broken line of warriors, through the shattered ranks of war,</p> + +<p>Angas and the brave Kalingas vainly crossed his wrathful way,<br> +Proud Avantis from the regions where fair Chambal's waters stray!</p> + +<p>Famed Avanti's fated princes vainly led their highland force,<br> +Fell beneath the wrath of Arjun, stayed nor stopped his onward course,</p> + +<p>Onward still with speed of lightning thundered Arjun's battle-car,<br> +To the spot where Jayadratha stood behind the ranks of war!</p> + +<p>Now the sun from highest zenith red and fiery radiance lent,<br> +Long and weary was the passage, Arjun's foaming steeds were spent,</p> + +<p>“Arjun!” said the faithful Krishna, “arduous is thy cruel quest,<br> +But thy foaming coursers falter and they need a moment's rest,”</p> + +<p>“Be it so,” brave Arjun answered, “from our chariot we alight,<br> +Rest awhile the weary horses, Krishna, I will watch the fight!”</p> + +<p>Speaking thus the arméd Arjun lightly leaped upon the lea,<br> +Stood on guard with bow and arrow by the green and shady tree,</p> + +<p>Krishna groomed the jaded horses, faint and feeble, red with gore,<br> +With a healing hand he tended wounds the bleeding coursers bore,</p> + +<p>Watered them beside a river by the zephyrs soft caressed,<br> +Gave unto them welcome fodder, gave unto them needful rest,</p> + +<p>Thus refreshed, the noble coursers Krishna harnessed to the car,<br> +And the gleaming helméd Arjun rushed once more into the war!</p> + +<p>Came on him the Kuru warriors, darksome wave succeeding wave,<br> +Standards decked with strange devices, streaming banners rich and brave,</p> + +<p>Foremost was the glorious standard of preceptor Drona's son,<br> +Lion's tail in golden brilliance on his battle-chariot shone,</p> + +<p>Elephant's rope was Karna's ensign made of rich and burnished gold,<br> +And a bull bedecked the standard of the bowman Kripa bold,</p> + +<p>Peacock made of precious metal, decked with jewels rich and rare,<br> +Vrishasena's noble standard shone aloft serene and fair,</p> + +<p>Ploughshare of a golden lustre shining like the radiant flame,<br> +Spoke the car of mighty Salya, Madra's king of warlike fame,</p> + +<p>Far, and guarded well by chieftains, shone the dazzling silver-boar,<br> +Ensign proud of Jayadratha, brought from Sindhu's sounding shore,</p> + +<p>On the car of Somadatta shone a stake of sacrifice,<br> +Silver-boar and golden parrots, these were Salwa's proud device,</p> + +<p>Last and brightest of the standards, on the prince Duryodhan's car,<br> +Lordly elephant in jewels proudly shone above the war!</p> + +<p>Nine heroic Kuru chieftains, bravest warriors and the best,<br> +Leagued they came to grapple Arjun and on faithful Krishna pressed!</p> + +<p>Arjun swept like sweeping whirlwind, all resistless in his force,<br> +Sought no foe and waged no combat, held his ever onward course!</p> + +<p>For he sighted Jayadratha midst the circling chiefs of war,<br> +'Gainst that warrior, grim and silent, Arjun drove his furious car!</p> + +<p>Now the day-god rolled his chariot on the western clouds aflame,<br> +Karna's self and five great chieftains round brave Jayadratha came,</p> + +<p>Vainly strove the valiant Arjun struggling 'gainst the Kuru line,<br> +Charged upon the peerless Karna as he marked the day's decline,</p> + +<p>Krishna then a prayer whispered; came a friendly sable cloud,<br> +Veiled the red sun's dazzling brilliance in a dark and inky shroud!</p> + +<p>Karna deemed the evening darkness now proclaimed the close of strife,<br> +Failing in his plighted promise Arjun must surrender life,</p> + +<p>And his comrade chiefs rejoicing slackened in their furious fight,<br> +Jayadratha hailed with gladness thickening shades of welcome night!</p> + +<p>In that sad and fatal error did the Kuru chiefs combine,<br> +Arjun quick as bolt of lightning broke their all unguarded line,</p> + +<p>Like an onward sweeping wildfire shooting forth its lolling tongue,<br> +On the startled Jayadratha Arjun in his fury flung!</p> + +<p>Short the strife; as angry falcon swoops upon its helpless prey,<br> +Arjun sped his vengeful arrow and his foeman lifeless lay!</p> + +<p>Friendly winds removed the dark cloud from the reddening western hill,<br> +And the sun in crimson lustre cast its fiery radiance still!</p> + +<p>Ere the evening's mantling darkness fell o'er distant hill and plain,<br> +Proud Duryodhan's many brothers were by vengeful Bhima slain,</p> + +<p>And Duryodhan, stung by sorrow, waged the still unceasing fight,<br> +In the thick and gathering darkness torches lit the gloom of night!</p> + +<p>Karna, furious in his anger for his Jayadratha slain,<br> +And for brothers of Duryodhan sleeping lifeless on the plain,</p> + +<p>'Gainst the gallant son of Bhima drove his deep resounding car,<br> +And in gloom and midnight darkness waked the echoes of the war!</p> + +<p>Bhima's son brave Ghatotkacha twice proud Karna's horses slew,<br> +Twice the humbled steedless Karna from the dubious battle flew,</p> + +<p>Came again the fiery Karna, vengeance flamed within his heart,<br> +Like the midnight's lurid lightning sped his fell and fatal dart,</p> + +<p>Woeful was the hour of darkness, luckless was the starry sway,<br> +Bhima's son in youth and valour lifeless on the red field lay!</p> + +<p>Then was closed the midnight battle, silent shone the starry light,<br> +Bhima knew nor rest nor slumber through the long and woeful night!</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>Fall of Drona</h4> +<p>Ere the crimson morning glittered proud Duryodhan sad at heart,<br> +To the leader of the Kurus did his sorrows thus impart:</p> + +<p>“Sadly speeds the contest, Drona, on the battle's gory plain,<br> +Kuru chiefs are thinned and fallen and my brothers mostly slain!</p> + +<p>Can it be, O beat of Brahmans! peerless in the art of war,<br> +Can it be that we shall falter while thou speed'st the battle-car?</p> + +<p>Pandu's sons are but thy pupils, Arjun meets thee not in fight,<br> +None can face the great <i>acharya</i> in his wrath and warlike might!</p> + +<p>Wherefore then in every battle are the Kuru chieftains slain,<br> +Wherefore lie my warlike brothers lifeless on the ghastly plain?</p> + +<p>Is it that the fates of battle 'gainst the Kuru house combine,<br> +Is it that thy heart's affection unto Panda's sons incline?</p> + +<p>If thy secret love and mercy still the sons of Pandu claim,<br> +Yield thy place to gallant Karna, Anga's prince of warlike fame!”</p> + +<p>Answered Drona brief and wrathful: “Fair Gandhari's royal son,<br> +Reapest thou the gory harvest of thy sinful actions done!</p> + +<p>Cast no blame in youth's presumption on a warrior's fleecy hair,<br> +Faithful unto death is Drona, to his promise plighted fair!</p> + +<p>Ask thyself, O prince Duryodhan! bound by battle's sacred laws,<br> +Wherefore fightest not with Arjun for thy house and for thy cause?</p> + +<p>Ask the dark and deep Sakuni, where is now his low device,<br> +Wherefore wields he not his weapon as he wields the loaded dice?</p> + +<p>Ask the chief who proudly boasted, archer Arjun he would slay,<br> +Helméd Arjun sways the battle, whither now doth Karna stay?</p> + +<p>Know the truth; the gallant Arjun hath no peer on earth below,<br> +And no warrior breathes, Duryodhan, who can face thy helméd foe!</p> + +<p>Drona knows his sacred duty; and 'tis willed by Heaven on high,<br> +Arjun or preceptor Drona shall in this day's battle die!”</p> + +<p>Now the Sun in crimson splendour rolled his car of glistening gold,<br> +Sent his shafts of purple radiance on the plain and mountain bold,</p> + +<p>And from elephant and charger, from each bravely bannered car,<br> +Lighted mailéd kings and chieftains and the leaders of the war,</p> + +<p>Faced the sun with hands conjoinéd and the sacred <i>mantra</i> told,—<br> +Hymns by ancient <i>rishis</i> chanted, sanctified by bards of old!</p> + +<p>Worship done, each silent warrior mounts the car or battle-steed,<br> +Onward to the deathful contest did his gallant forces lead,</p> + +<p>Ill it fared with Pandav forces, doughty Drona took the field,<br> +Peer was none midst living warriors of the Brahman trained and skilled!</p> + +<p>Arjun, faithful to his promise, his preceptor would not fight,<br> +King nor chief nor other archer dared to face his peerless might,</p> + +<p>But old feud like potent poison fires the warrior's heart with strife,<br> +Sire to son still unforgotten leaps the hate from death to life!</p> + +<p>Wrathful princes of Panchala by their deathless hatred stung,<br> +Saw their ancient foe in Drona and on him for vengeance sprung!</p> + +<p>Darkly thought the ancient warrior of the old relentless feud,<br> +Fiercely like a jungle-tiger fell upon the hostile brood,</p> + +<p>Royal Drupad's valiant grandsons in their youth untimely slain,<br> +Victims of a deathless discord, pressed the gory battle-plain!</p> + +<p>Drupad pale with grief and anger marked his gallant grandsons dead<br> +And his army broken, routed, and his bravest chieftains fled,</p> + +<p>Filled with unforgotten hatred and with father's grief and pride,<br> +Rushed the king, and bold Virata charged by doughty Drupad's side!</p> + +<p>Rose a cry of nameless terror o'er the red and ghastly plain,<br> +Noble Drupad, brave Virata, lay among the countless slain!</p> + +<p>Burning tears the proud Draupadi wept for noble father killed,<br> +Maid and matron with their wailing fair Panchala's empire filled!</p> + +<p>Matsya's joyless, widowed princess, for her fate was early crost,<br> +Wept with added tears and anguish for her father loved and lost!</p> + +<p>Waged the war with fearful slaughter, Drona onward urged his way,<br> +Fate alone and battle's chances changed the fortunes of the day,</p> + +<p>Aswa-thaman, son of Drona, was a chief of peerless fame,<br> +And an elephant of battle bore that chieftain's warlike name,</p> + +<p>And that proud and lordly tusker, Bhima in his prowess slew,<br> +Rank to rank, from friend to foeman, then a garbled message flew:</p> + +<p>“Aswa-thaman son of Drona is by mighty Bhima slain!”<br> +Drona heard that fatal message, bent his anguished head in pain!</p> + +<p>“Speak Yudhishthir, soul of virtue!” thus the proud preceptor cried,<br> +“Thou in truth hast never faltered, and thy lips have never lied,</p> + +<p>Speak of valiant Aswa-thaman, Drona's hope and pride and joy,<br> +Hath he fallen in this battle, is he slain, my gallant boy?</p> + +<p>Feeble are the hands of Drona and his prowess quenched and gone,<br> +Fleecy are his ancient tresses and his earthly task is done!”</p> + +<p>Said Yudhishthir: “Lordly tusker, Aswa-thaman named, is dead,”<br> +Drona heard but half the accents, feebly drooped his sinking head!</p> + +<p>Then the prince of fair Panchala swiftly drove across the plain,<br> +Marked his father's cruel slayer, marked his noble father slain!</p> + +<p>Dhrista-dyumna bent his weapon and his shaft was pointed well,<br> +And the priest and proud preceptor, peerless Drona lifeless fell!</p> + +<p>And the fatal day was ended, Kurus fled in abject fear,<br> +Arjun for his ancient teacher dropped a silent filial tear!</p> + +<div id="s10" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK X</h3> +<h3>KARNA-BADHA</h3> +<p>(Fall of Karna)</p> +</div> + +<p>Karna was chosen as the leader of the Kuru forces after the death of +Drona, and held his own for two days. The great contest between Karna +and Arjun, long expected and long deferred, came on at last. It is +the crowning incident of the Indian Epic, as the contest between +Hector and Achilles is the crowning incident of the Iliad. With a +truer artistic skill than that of Homer, the Indian poet represents +Karna as equal to Arjun in strength and skill, and his defeat is only +due to an accident.</p> + +<p>After the death of Karna, Salya led the Kuru troops on the eighteenth +and last day of the war, and fell. A midnight slaughter in the Pandav +camp, perpetrated by the vengeful son of Drona, concludes the war. +Duryodhan, left wounded by Bhima, heard of the slaughter and died +happy.</p> + +<p>Books viii., ix., and x. of the original have been abridged in this +Book.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>Karna and Arjun meet</h4> +<p>Sights of red and ghastly carnage day disclosed upon the plain,<br> +Mighty chiefs and countless warriors round the warlike Drona slain!</p> + +<p>Sad Duryodhan gazed in sorrow and the tear was in his eye,<br> +Till his glances fell on Karna and his warlike heart beat high!</p> + +<p>“Karna!” so exclaimed Duryodhan, “hero of resistless might,<br> +Thou alone canst serve the Kuru in this dread and dubious fight,</p> + +<p>Step forth, Kuru's chief and leader, mount thy sounding battle-car,<br> +Lead the still unconquered Kurus to the trophies of the war!</p> + +<p>Matchless was the ancient Bhishma in this famed and warlike land,<br> +But a weakness for Yudhishthir palsied Bhishma's slaying hand,</p> + +<p>Matchless too was doughty Drona in the warrior's skill and art,<br> +Kindness for his pupil Arjun lurked within the teacher's heart!</p> + +<p>Greater than the ancient grandsire, greater than the Brahman old,<br> +Fiercer in thy deathless hatred, stronger in thy prowess bold,</p> + +<p>Peerless Karna! lead us onward to a brighter, happier fate,<br> +For thy arm is nerved to action by an unforgotten hate!</p> + +<p>Lead us as the martial <span class="sc">Skanda</span> led the conquering gods of old,<br> +Smite the foe as angry <span class="sc">Indra</span> smote the Danavs fierce and bold,</p> + +<p>As before the light of morning flies the baleful gloom of night,<br> +Pandavs and the proud Panchalas fly before thy conquering might!”</p> + +<p>Priests with hymns and chanted <i>mantra</i> and with every sacred rite<br> +Hailed him Leader of the Kurus, chieftain of unconquered might,</p> + +<p>Earthen jars they placed around him with the sacred water full,<br> +Elephant's tusk they laid beside him and the horn of mighty bull,</p> + +<p>Gem and jewel, corn and produce, by the arméd hero laid,<br> +Silken cloth of finest lustre o'er his crested head they spread,</p> + +<p>Brahmans poured the holy water, bards his lofty praises sung,<br> +Kshatras, Vaisyas, purer Sudras hailed him Leader bold and strong!</p> + +<p>“Vanquish warlike sons of Pritha!” thus the holy Brahmans blessed,<br> +Gold and garments, food and cattle, joyous Karna on them pressed!</p> + +<p>Thus the holy rite concluded, Karna ranged his men in war,<br> +To the dreaded front of battle drove his swift and conquering car!</p> + +<p>Morn to noon and noon to evening raged the battle on the plain,<br> +Countless warriors fought and perished, car-borne chiefs were pierced + and slain!</p> + +<p>Helméd Arjun, crested Karna, met at last by will of fate,<br> +Life-long was their mutual anger, deathless was their mutual hate!</p> + +<p>And the firm earth shook and trembled 'neath the furious rush of war,<br> +And the echoing welkin answered shouts that nations heard from far,</p> + +<p>And the thickening cloud of arrows filled the firmament on high,<br> +Darker, deeper, dread and deadlier, grew the angry face of sky,</p> + +<p>Till the evening's sable garment mantled o'er the battle-field,<br> +And the angry rivals parted, neither chief could win or yield!</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>Fall of Karna</h4> +<p>At the break of morning Karna unto Prince Duryodhan went,<br> +Thus in slow and measured accents to his inner thoughts gave vent:</p> + +<p>“Morning dawns, O Kuru's monarch! mighty Arjun shall be slain,<br> +Or fulfilling warrior's duty Karna dyes the gory plain!</p> + +<p>Long through life within our bosoms ever burnt the mutual hate,<br> +Oft we met and often parted, rescued by the will of fate!</p> + +<p>But yon sun with crimson lustre sees us meet to part no more,<br> +Gallant Arjun's course this evening or proud Karna's shall be o'er!</p> + +<p>Room is none for Arjun's glory and for archer Karna's fame,<br> +One must sink and one must sparkle with a brighter, richer flame!</p> + +<p>List yet more; in wealth of arrows and in wondrous strength of bow,<br> +Arjun scarcely me surpasseth, scarcely I excel my foe!</p> + +<p>In the light skill of the archer and in sight and truth of aim,<br> +Arjun beats not, scarcely rivals, Karna's proud and peerless fame!</p> + +<p>If his wondrous bow <i>gandiva</i> is the gift of gods in heaven,<br> +Karna's bow the famed <i>vijaya</i> is by Par'su-Rama given!</p> + +<p>Ay, the son of Jamadagni, kings of earth who proudly slayed,<br> +On the youthful arms of Karna his destructive weapon laid!</p> + +<p>Yet I own, O king of Kuru! Arjun doth his foe excel,—<br> +Matchless are his fiery coursers, peerless Krishna leads them well!</p> + +<p>Krishna holds the reins for Arjun, Krishna speeds his battle-car,<br> +Drives the lightning-wingéd coursers o'er the startled field of war!</p> + +<p>Sweeps in pride his sounding chariot till it almost seems to fly,<br> +Arjun lords it o'er the battle like the comet in the sky!</p> + +<p>Grant me, monarch, mighty Salya drive my swift and warlike steed,<br> +And against the car-borne Arjun, Karna's fiery chariot lead!</p> + +<p>Salya too is skilled, like Krishna, with the steed and battle-car,<br> +Equal thus I meet my foeman in this last and fatal war!”</p> + +<p>Spake Duryodhan; warlike Salya mounted Karna's sounding car,<br> +Karna sought for mighty Arjun in the serried ranks of war:</p> + +<p>“Hundred milch-kine Karna offers, costly garment, yellow gold,<br> +Unto him who in this battle points to me my foeman bold!</p> + +<p>Cars and steeds and fertile acres, peaceful hamlets rich and fair,<br> +Dark-eyed damsels lotus-bosomed, crowned with glossy raven hair,</p> + +<p>These are his who points to Karna, Arjun hiding from this war,<br> +Arjun's snowy steeds and banner and his swift and thund'ring car!”</p> + +<p>Karna spake, but long and loudly laughed the king of Madra's land,<br> +As he reined the fiery coursers with his strong and skilful hand,</p> + +<p>“Of rewards and gifts,” he uttered, “little need is there, I ween,<br> +Arjun is not wont to tarry from the battle's glorious scene!</p> + +<p>Soon will Arjun's snowy coursers shake the battle's startled field,<br> +Helméd Arjun like a comet gleam with bow and sword and shield!</p> + +<p>As the forest-ranging tiger springs upon his fated prey,<br> +As the hornéd bull, infuriate, doth the weakling cattle slay,</p> + +<p>As the fierce and lordly lion smites the timid jungle-deer,<br> +Arjun soon shall spring upon thee, for he knows nor dread nor fear,</p> + +<p>Save thee then, O mighty archer! while I drive my sounding car,<br> +Pandu's son hath met no equal in the valiant art of war!”</p> + +<p>Darkly frowned the angry Karna, Salya held the loosened rein,<br> +Dashing through the hostile forces then the warrior sped amain,</p> + +<p>Through the serried ranks of battle Karna drove in furious mood,<br> +Facing him in royal splendour good Yudhishthir fearless stood!</p> + +<p>Surging ranks of brave Nishadas closed between and fought in vain,<br> +Proud Panchalas, stout and faithful, vainly strove among the slain,</p> + +<p>Onward came the fiery Karna like the ocean's heaving swell,<br> +With the sweeping wrath of tempest on the good Yudhishthir fell!</p> + +<p>Wrathful then the son of Pandu marked his noblest chieftains dead,<br> +And in words of scornful anger thus to archer Karna said:</p> + +<p>“Hast thou, Karna, vowed the slaughter of my younger Arjun brave?<br> +Wilt thou do Duryodhan's mandate, proud Duryodhan's willing slave?</p> + +<p>Unfulfilled thy vow remaineth, for the righteous gods ordain,<br> +By Yudhishthir's hand thou fallest, go and slumber with the slain!”</p> + +<p>Fiercely drew his bow Yudhishthir, fiercely was the arrow driven,<br> +Rocky cliff or solid mountain might the shaft have pierced and riven!</p> + +<p>Lightning-like it came on Karna, struck and pierced him on the left,<br> +And the warrior fell and fainted as of life and sense bereft!</p> + +<p>Soon he rose; the cloud of anger darkened o'er his livid face,<br> +And he drew his godlike weapon with a more than human grace!</p> + +<p>Arrows keen and dark as midnight, gleaming in their lightning flight,<br> +Struck Yudhishthir's royal armour with a fierce resistless might!</p> + +<p>Clanking fell the shattered armour from his person fair and pale,<br> +As from sun's meridian splendour clouds are drifted by the gale!</p> + +<p>Armourless but bright and radiant brave Yudhishthir waged the fight,<br> +Bright as sky with stars bespangled on a clear and cloudless night!</p> + +<p>And he threw his pointed lances like the summer's bursting flood,<br> +Once again Yudhishthir's weapons drank his fiery foeman's blood!</p> + +<p>Pale with anguish, wrathful Karna fiercely turned the tide of war,<br> +Cut Yudhishthir's royal standard, crashed his sumptuous battle-car,</p> + +<p>And he urged his gallant coursers till his chariot bounding flew,<br> +And with more than godlike prowess then his famed <i>vijaya</i> drew!</p> + +<p>Faint Yudhishthir sorely bleeding waged no more the fatal fight,<br> +Carless, steedless, void of armour, sought his safety in his flight!</p> + +<p>“Speed, thou timid man of penance!” proud insulting Karna said,<br> +“Famed for virtue not for valour! blood of thine I will not shed!</p> + +<p>Speed and chant thy wonted <i>mantra</i>, do the rites that sages know,<br> +Bid the helméd warrior Arjun come and meet his warlike foe!”</p> + +<p>To his tent retired Yudhishthir in his wrath and in his shame,<br> +Spake to Arjun who from battle to his angry elder came:</p> + +<p>“Hast thou yet, O tardy Arjun! base, insulting Karna slain,<br> +Karna dealing dire destruction on this battle's reddened plain?</p> + +<p>Like his teacher Par'su-Rama dyes in purple blood his course,<br> +Like a snake of deathful poison Karna guards the Kuru force!</p> + +<p>Karna smote my chariot-driver and my standard rent in twain,<br> +Shattered car and lifeless horses strew the red inglorious plain,</p> + +<p>Scarce with life in speechless anguish from the battle-field I fled,<br> +Scorn of foes and shame of kinsmen! Warrior's fame and honour dead!</p> + +<p>Ten long years and three Yudhishthir joy nor peace nor rest hath seen,<br> +And while Karna lives and glories, all our insults still are green,</p> + +<p>Hast thou, Arjun, slain that chieftain as in swelling pride he stood,<br> +Hast thou wiped our wrongs and insults in that chariot-driver's blood?”</p> + +<p>“At a distance,” Krishna answered, “fiery Arjun fought his way,<br> +Now he meets the archer Karna, and he vows his death to-day.”</p> + +<p>Anger lit Yudhishthir's forehead, and a tremor shook his frame,<br> +As he spake to silent Arjun words of insult and of shame:</p> + +<p>“Wherefore like a painted warrior doth the helméd Arjun stand,<br> +Wherefore useless lies <i>gandiva</i> in his weak and nerveless hand,</p> + +<p>Wherefore hangs yon mighty sabre from his belt of silk and gold,<br> +Wherefore doth the peerless Krishna drive his coursers fleet and bold,</p> + +<p>If afar from war's arena timid Arjun seeks to hide,<br> +If he shuns the mighty Karna battling in unconquered pride?</p> + +<p>Arjun! yield thy famed <i>gandiva</i> unto worthier hands than thine,<br> +On some braver, truer warrior let thy mighty standard shine,</p> + +<p>Yield thy helmet and thy armour, yield thy gleaming sword and shield,<br> +Hide thee from this deathful battle, matchless Karna rules the field!”</p> + +<p>Sparkled Arjun's eye in anger with a red and livid flame,<br> +And the tempest of his passion shook his more than mortal frame,</p> + +<p>Heedless, on the sword-hilt Arjun placed his swift and trembling hand,<br> +Heedless, with a warrior's instinct drew the dark and glistening brand!</p> + +<p>Sacred blood of king and elder would have stained his trenchant steel,<br> +But the wise and noble Krishna strove the fatal feud to heal:</p> + +<p>“Not before thy elder, Arjun, but in yonder purple field,<br> +'Gainst thy rival and thy foeman use thy warlike sword and shield!</p> + +<p>Render honour to thy elder, quench thy hasty, impious wrath,<br> +Sin not 'gainst holy <i>sastra</i>, leave not virtue's sacred path!</p> + +<p>Bow before thy virtuous elder as before the gods in heaven,<br> +Sheathe thy sword and quell thy passion, be thy hasty sin forgiven!”</p> + +<p>Duteous Arjun silent listened and obeyed the mandate high,<br> +Tears of manly sorrow trickled from his soft and altered eye,</p> + +<p>Dear in joy and dear in suffering, calm his righteous elder stood,<br> +Dear in Indra-prastha's mansions, dearer in the jungle wood!</p> + +<p>Arjun sheathed his flashing sabre, joined his hands and hung his head,<br> +Fixed his eye on good Yudhishthir and in humble accents said:</p> + +<p>“Pardon, great and saintly monarch, vassal's disrespectful word,<br> +Pardon, elder, if a younger heedless drew his sinful sword!</p> + +<p>But thy hest to yield my weapon stung my soul to bitter strife,<br> +Dearer is the bow <i>gandiva</i> unto Arjun than his life!</p> + +<p>Pardon if the blood of anger mantled o'er this rugged brow,<br> +Pardon if I drew my sabre 'gainst my duty and my vow!</p> + +<p>For that hasty act repenting Arjun bows unto thy feet,<br> +Grant me, gentle king and elder, brother's love, forgiveness sweet!”</p> + +<p>From Yudhishthir's altered eyelids gentle tears of sorrow start,<br> +And he lifts his younger brother to his ever-loving heart:</p> + +<p>“Arjun, I have wronged thee brother, and no fault or sin is thine,<br> +Hasty words of thoughtless anger 'scaped these sinful lips of mine!</p> + +<p>Bitter was my shame and anguish when from Karna's car I fled,<br> +Redder than my bleeding bosom warrior's fame and honour bled!</p> + +<p>Hasty words I uttered, Arjun, by my pain and anguish driven,<br> +Wipe them with a brother's kindness, be thy elder's sin forgiven!”</p> + +<p>Stronger by his elder's blessing, Arjun mounts the battle-car,<br> +Krishna drives the milk-white coursers to the thickening ranks of war!</p> + +<p>Onward came the fiery Karna with his chiefs and arméd men,<br> +Salya urged his flying coursers with the whip and loosened rein,</p> + +<p>Often met and often parted, life-long rivals in their fame,<br> +Not to part again, the heroes, each unto the other came,</p> + +<p>Not to part until a chieftain by the other chief was slain,<br> +Arjun dead or lifeless Karna, pressed the Kuru-kshetra plain!</p> + +<p>Long they strove, but neither archer could his gallant foeman beat,<br> +Though like surging ocean billows did the angry warriors meet,</p> + +<p>Arjun's arrows fell on Karna like the summer's angry flood,<br> +Karna's shafts like hissing serpents drank the valiant Arjun's blood!</p> + +<p>Fierce and quick from his <i>gandiva</i> angry accents Arjun woke,<br> +Till the bow-string, strained and heated, was by sudden impulse broke!</p> + +<p>“Hold,” cried Arjun to his rival, “mind the honoured rules of war,<br> +Warriors strike not helpless foemen thus disabled on the car,</p> + +<p>Hold, brave Karna, until Arjun mends his over-strainéd bow,<br> +Arjun then will crave for mercy nor from god nor mortal foe!”</p> + +<p>Vain he spake, for wild with anger heedless Karna, fiercely lowered,<br> +Thick and fast on bowless Arjun countless arrows darkly showered,</p> + +<p>Like the cobra, dark and hissing, Karna's gleaming lightning dart,<br> +Struck the helpless archer Arjun on his broad and bleeding heart!</p> + +<p>Furious like a wounded tiger quivering in the darksome wood,<br> +With his mended warlike weapon now the angry Arjun stood,</p> + +<p>Blazing with a mighty radiance like a flame in summer night,<br> +Fierce he fell on archer Karna with his more than mortal might!</p> + +<p>Little recked the dauntless Karna if his foe in anger rose,<br> +Karna feared not face of mortal, dreaded not immortal foes,</p> + +<p>Nor with all his wrath and valour Arjun conquered him in war,<br> +Till within the soft earth sinking stuck the wheel of Karna's car!</p> + +<p>Stood unmoved the tilted chariot, vainly wrathful Salya strove,<br> +Urging still the struggling coursers Karna's heavy car to move,</p> + +<p>Vainly too the gallant Karna leaped upon the humid soil,<br> +Sought to lift the sunken axle with a hard unwonted toil,</p> + +<p>“Hold,” he cried to noble Arjun, “wage no false and impious war<br> +On a foeman, helpless, carless,—thou upon thy lofty car.”</p> + +<p>Loudly laughed the helméd Arjun, answer nor rejoinder gave,<br> +Unto Karna pleading virtue Krishna answered calm and grave:</p> + +<p>“Didst thou seek the path of virtue, mighty Karna, archer bold,<br> +When Sakuni robbed Yudhishthir of his empire and his gold?</p> + +<p>Didst thou tread the path of honour on Yudhishthir's fatal fall,<br> +Heaping insults on Draupadi in Hastina's council hall?</p> + +<p>Didst thou then fulfil thy duty when, Yudhishthir's exile crost,<br> +Krishna asked in right and justice for Yudhishthir's empire lost?</p> + +<p>Didst thou fight a holy battle when with six marauders skilled,<br> +Karna hunted Abhimanyu and the youthful hero killed?</p> + +<p>Speak not then of rules of honour, blackened in your sins you die,<br> +Death is come in shape of Arjun, Karna's fatal hour is nigh!”</p> + +<p>Stung to fury and to madness, faint but frantic Karna fought,<br> +Reckless, ruthless, and relentless, valiant Arjun's life he sought,</p> + +<p>Sent his last resistless arrow on his foeman's mighty chest,<br> +Arjun felt a shock of thunder on his broad and mailéd breast!</p> + +<p>Fainting fell the bleeding Arjun, darkness dimmed his manly eye,<br> +Pale and breathless watched his warriors, anxious watched the gods in sky!</p> + +<p>Then it passed, and helméd Arjun rose like newly lighted fire,<br> +Abhimanyu's sad remembrance kindled fresh a father's ire!</p> + +<p>And he drew his bow <i>gandiva</i>, aimed his dart with stifled breath,<br> +Vengeance for his murdered hero winged the fatal dart of death!</p> + +<p>Like the fiery bolt of lightning Arjun's lurid arrow sped,<br> +Like the red and flaming meteor Karna fell among the dead!</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>Fall of Salya</h4> +<p>Darkly closed the shades of midnight, Karna still and lifeless lay,<br> +Ghast and pale o'er slaughtered thousands fell the morrow's sickly ray,</p> + +<p>Bowman brave and proud preceptor, Kripa to Duryodhan said,<br> +Tear bedimmed the warrior's eyelids and his manly bosom bled:</p> + +<p>“Leaderless the Kuru's forces, by a dire misfortune crost,<br> +Like the moonless shades of midnight in their utter darkness lost!</p> + +<p>Like a summer-driéd river, weary waste of arid sand,<br> +Lost its pride of fresh'ning waters sweeping o'er the grateful land!</p> + +<p>As a spark of fire consumeth summer's parched and sapless wood,<br> +Kuru's lordless, lifeless forces shall be angry Arjun's food!</p> + +<p>Bhima too will seek fulfilment of the dreadful vow he made,<br> +Brave Satyaki wreak his vengeance for his sons untimely slayed!</p> + +<p>Bid this battle cease, Duryodhan, pale and fitful is thy star,<br> +Blood enough of friendly nations soaks this crimson field of war!</p> + +<p>Bid them live,—the few survivors of a vast and countless host,<br> +Let thy few remaining brothers live,—for many are the lost!</p> + +<p>Kindly heart hath good Yudhishthir, still he seeks for rightful peace,<br> +Render back his ancient kingdom, bid this war of kinsmen cease!”</p> + +<p>“Kripa,” so Duryodhan answered, “in this sad and fatal strife,<br> +Ever foremost of our warriors, ever careless of thy life,</p> + +<p>Ever in the council chamber thou hast words of wisdom said,<br> +Needless war and dire destruction by thy peaceful counsel stayed,</p> + +<p>Every word that 'scapes thee, Kripa, is a word of truth and weight,<br> +Nathless thy advice for concord, wise preceptor, comes too late!</p> + +<p>Hope not that the good Yudhishthir will again our friendship own,<br> +Cheated once by deep Sakuni of his kingdom and his throne,</p> + +<p>Rugged Bhima will not palter, fatal is the vow he made,<br> +Vengeful Arjun will not pardon gallant Abhimanyu dead!</p> + +<p>Fair Draupadi doth her penance, so our ancient matrons say,<br> +In our blood to wash her insult and her proud insulters slay,</p> + +<p>Fair Subhadra morn and evening weeps her dear departed son,<br> +Feeds Draupadi's deathless anger for the hero dead and gone,</p> + +<p>Deeply in their bosoms rankle wrongs and insults we have given,<br> +Blood alone can wash it, Kripa, such the cruel will of Heaven!</p> + +<p>And the hour for peace is over, for our best sleep on the plain,<br> +Brothers, kinsmen, friends, and elders slumber with the countless slain,</p> + +<p>Shall Duryodhan like a recreant now avoid the deathful strife,<br> +After all his bravest warriors have in war surrendered life?</p> + +<p>Shall he, sending them to slaughter, now survive and learn to flee,<br> +Shall he, ruler over monarchs, learn to bend the servile knee?</p> + +<p>Proud Duryodhan sues no favour even with his dying breath,<br> +Unsubdued and still unconquered, changeless even unto death!</p> + +<p>Salya, valiant king of Madra, leads our arméd hosts to-day,<br> +Or to perish or to conquer, gallant Kripa, lead the way!”</p> + +<p>Meanwhile round the brave Yudhishthir calmly stood the Pandav force,<br> +As the final day of battle now began its fatal course,</p> + +<p>“Brothers, kinsmen, hero-warriors,” so the good Yudhishthir said,<br> +“Ye have done your share in battle, witness countless foemen dead,</p> + +<p>Sad Yudhishthir is your eldest, let him end this fatal strife,<br> +Slay the last of Kuru chieftains or surrender throne and life!</p> + +<p>Bold Satyaki, ever faithful, with his arms protects my right,<br> +Drupad's son with watchful valour guards my left with wonted might,</p> + +<p>In the front doth Bhima battle, careful Arjun guards the rear,<br> +I will lead the battle's centre which shall know nor flight nor fear!”</p> + +<p>Truly on that fatal morning brave Yudhishthir kept his word,<br> +Long and fiercely waged the combat with fair Madra's valiant lord,</p> + +<p>Thick and fast the arrows whistled and the lances pointed well,<br> +Crashing with the sound of thunder Salya's mighty standard fell!</p> + +<p>Rescued by the son of Drona, Salya rushed again to war,<br> +Slew the noble milk-white coursers of Yudhishthir's royal car,</p> + +<p>And as springs the hungry lion on the spotted jungle-deer,<br> +Salya rushed upon Yudhishthir reckless and unknown to fear!</p> + +<p>Brave Yudhishthir marked him coming and he hurled his fatal dart,<br> +Like the fatal curse of Brahman sank the weapon in his heart,</p> + +<p>Blood suffused his eye and nostril, quivered still his feeble hand,<br> +Like a cliff by thunder riven Salya fell and shook the land!</p> + +<p>Ended was the fatal battle, for the <i>mlechcha</i> king was slain,<br> +Pierced by angry Sahadeva false Sakuni pressed the plain,</p> + +<p>All the brothers of Duryodhan tiger-waisted Bhima slew,<br> +Proud Duryodhan pale and panting from the field of battle flew!</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>Night of Slaughter</h4> +<p>Far from battle's toil and slaughter, by a dark and limpid lake,<br> +Sad and slow and faint Duryodhan did his humble shelter take,</p> + +<p>But the valiant sons of Pandu, with the hunter's watchful care,<br> +Thither tracked their fallen foeman like a wild beast in its lair!</p> + +<p>“Gods be witness,” said Duryodhan, flaming in his shame and wrath,<br> +“Boy to manhood ever hating we have crossed each other's path,</p> + +<p>Now we meet to part no longer, proud Duryodhan fights you all,<br> +Perish he, or sons of Pandu, may this evening see your fall!”</p> + +<p>Bhima answered: “For the insults long enduréd but not forgiven,<br> +Me alone you fight, Duryodhan, witness righteous gods in heaven!</p> + +<p>Call to mind the dark destruction planned of old in fiendish ire,<br> +In the halls of Varnavata to consume us in the fire!</p> + +<p>Call to mind the scheme deceitful, deep Sakuni's dark device,<br> +Cheating us of fame and empire by the trick of loaded dice!</p> + +<p>Call to mind that coward insult and the outrage foul and keen,<br> +Flung on Drupad's saintly daughter and our noble spotless queen!</p> + +<p>Call to mind the stainless Bhishma for thy sins and folly slain,<br> +Lifeless proud preceptor Drona, Karna lifeless on the plain!</p> + +<p>Perish in thy sins, Duryodhan, perish too thy hated name,<br> +And thy dark life crime-polluted ends, Duryodhan, in thy shame!”</p> + +<p>Like two bulls that fight in fury, blind with wounds and oozing blood,<br> +Like two wild and warring tuskers shaking all the echoing wood,</p> + +<p>Like the thunder-wielding <span class="sc">Indra</span>, mighty <span class="sc">Yama</span> dark and dread,<br> +Dauntless Bhima and Duryodhan fiercely strove and fought and bled!</p> + +<p>Sparks of fire shot from their maces and their faces ran with blood,<br> +Neither won and neither yielded, matched in strength the rivals stood,</p> + +<p>Then his vow remembered Bhima, and he raised his weapon high,<br> +With a foul attack but fatal Bhima broke Duryodhan's thigh!</p> + +<p>Through the sky a voice resounded as the great Duryodhan fell,<br> +And the earth the voice re-echoed o'er her distant hill and dale.</p> + +<p>Beasts and birds in consternation flew o'er land and azure sky,<br> +Men below and heavenly <i>Siddhas</i> trembled at the fatal cry!</p> + +<p>Darkness fell upon the battle, proud Duryodhan dying lay,<br> +But the slaughter of the combat closed not with the closing day,</p> + +<p>Ancient feud and hatred linger after battle's sweeping flood,<br> +And the father's deathless anger courseth in the children's blood,</p> + +<p>Drona slept and gallant Drupad, for their earthly task was done,<br> +Vengeance fired the son of Drona 'gainst the royal Drupad's son!</p> + +<p>Sable shadows of the midnight fell o'er battle's silent plain,<br> +Faintly shone the fitful planets on the dying and the slain,</p> + +<p>And the vengeful son of Drona, fired by omens dark and dread,<br> +Stole into the tents of foemen with a soft and noiseless tread!</p> + +<p>Dhrista-dyumna and Sikhandin, princes of Panchala's land,<br> +Fell beneath the proud avenger Aswa-thaman's reeking hand,</p> + +<p>Ay! where Drupad's sleeping grandsons, fair Draupadi's children lay,<br> +Stole the cruel arm of vengeance, smothered them ere dawn of day!</p> + +<p>Done the ghastly work of slaughter, Aswa-thaman bent his way<br> +Where beside the limpid waters lone Duryodhan dying lay,</p> + +<p>And Duryodhan blessed the hero with his feeble fleeting breath,<br> +Joy of vengeance cheered his bosom and he died a happy death!</p> + +<div id="s11" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK XI</h3> +<h3>SRADDHA</h3> +<p>(Funeral Rites)</p> +</div> + +<p>The death of Duryodhan concludes the war, and it is followed by +the lament of women and the funerals of the deceased warriors. +The passages translated in this Book form Section x., portions of +Sections xvi., xvii., and xxvi., and the whole of Section xxvii. +of Book xi. of the original text.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>Kuru Women visit the Battle-field</h4> +<p>Spake the ancient Dhrita-rashtra, father of a hundred sons,<br> +Sonless now and sorrow-stricken, dark his ebbing life-tide runs!</p> + +<p>“Gods fulfil my life's last wishes! Henchmen, yoke my royal car,<br> +Dhrita-rashtra meets his princes in the silent field of war,</p> + +<p>Speed unto the Queen Gandhari, to the dames of Kuru's house,<br> +To each dear departed warrior wends his fair and faithful spouse!”</p> + +<p>Queen Gandhari sorrow-laden with the ancient Pritha came,<br> +And each weeping widowed princess and each wailing childless dame,</p> + +<p>And they saw the hoary monarch, father of a perished race,<br> +Fresh and loud awoke their sorrow, welling tears suffused their face,</p> + +<p>Good Vidura ever gentle whispered comfort unto all,<br> +Placed the dames within their chariots, left Hastina's palace hall!</p> + +<p>Loud the wail of woe and sorrow rose from every Kuru house,<br> +Children wept beside their mothers for each widowed royal spouse,</p> + +<p>Veiléd dwellers of the palace, scarce the gods their face had seen,<br> +Heedless now through mart and city sped each widowed childless queen,</p> + +<p>From their royal brow and bosom gem and jewel cast aside,<br> +Loose their robes and loose their tresses, quenched their haughty queenly + pride!</p> + +<p>So when falls the antlered monarch, struck by woe and sudden fear<br> +Issuing from their snowy mountains listless stray the dappled deer,</p> + +<p>So upon the broad arena milk-white fillies brave the sun,<br> +Wildly toss their flowing tresses and in sad disorder run!</p> + +<p>Clinging to her weeping sister wept each dame in cureless pain,<br> +For the lord, the son or father in the deathful battle slain,</p> + +<p>Wept and smote her throbbing bosom and in bitter anguish wailed,<br> +Till her senses reeled in sorrow, till her woman's reason failed!</p> + +<p>Veiléd queens and bashful maidens, erst they shunned the public eye,<br> +Blush nor shame suffused their faces as they passed the city by,</p> + +<p>Gentle-bosomed, kindly hearted, erst they wiped each other's eye,<br> +Now by common sorrow laden none for sister heaved a sigh!</p> + +<p>With this troop of wailing women, deep in woe, disconsolate,<br> +Slow the monarch of the Kurus passed Hastina's outer gate,</p> + +<p>Men from stall and loom and anvil, men of every guild and trade,<br> +Left the city with the monarch, through the open country strayed,</p> + +<p>And a universal sorrow filled the air and answering sky,<br> +As when ends the mortal's <i>Yuga</i> and the end of world is nigh!</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>Gandhari's Lament for the Slain</h4> +<p>Stainless Queen and stainless woman, ever righteous ever good,<br> +Stately in her mighty sorrow on the field Gandhari stood!</p> + +<p>Strewn with skulls and clotted tresses, darkened by the stream of gore,<br> +With the limbs of countless warriors was the red field covered o'er,</p> + +<p>Elephants and steeds of battle, car-borne chiefs untimely slain,<br> +Headless trunks and heads dissevered fill the red and ghastly plain!</p> + +<p>And the long-drawn howl of jackals o'er the scene of carnage rings,<br> +And the vulture and the raven flap their dark and loathsome wings,</p> + +<p>Feasting on the blood of warriors foul <i>pisachas</i> fill the air,<br> +Viewless forms of hungry <i>rakshas</i> limb from limb the corpses tear!</p> + +<p>Through this scene of death and carnage was the ancient monarch led,<br> +Kuru dames with faltering footsteps stepped amidst the countless dead,</p> + +<p>And a piercing wail of anguish burst upon the echoing plain,<br> +As they saw their sons or fathers, brothers, lords, amidst the slain,</p> + +<p>As they saw the wolves of jungle feed upon the destined prey,<br> +Darksome wanderers of the midnight prowling in the light of day!</p> + +<p>Shriek of pain and wail of anguish o'er the ghastly field resound,<br> +And their feeble footsteps falter and they sink upon the ground,</p> + +<p>Sense and life desert the mourners as they faint in common grief,<br> +Death-like swoon succeeding sorrow yields a moment's short relief!</p> + +<p>Then a mighty sigh of anguish from Gandhari's bosom broke,<br> +Gazing on her anguished daughters unto Krishna thus she spoke:</p> + +<p>“Mark my unconsoléd daughters, widowed queens of Kuru's house,<br> +Wailing for their dear departed, like the osprey for her spouse!</p> + +<p>How each cold and fading feature wakes in them a woman's love,<br> +How amidst the lifeless warriors still with restless steps they rove,</p> + +<p>Mothers hug their slaughtered children all unconscious in their sleep,<br> +Widows bend upon their husbands and in ceaseless sorrow weep!</p> + +<p>Mighty Bhishma, hath he fallen? quenched is archer Karna's pride?<br> +Drupad monarch of Panchala sleeps by foeman Drona's side?</p> + +<p>Shining mail and costly jewels, royal bangles strew the plain,<br> +Golden garlands rich and burnished deck the chiefs untimely slain,</p> + +<p>Lances hurled by stalwart fighters, clubs of mighty wrestlers killed,<br> +Swords and bows of ample measure, quivers still with arrows filled!</p> + +<p>Mark the unforgotten heroes, jungle prowlers 'mid them stray,<br> +On their brow and mailéd bosoms heedless perch the birds of prey!</p> + +<p>Mark they great unconquered heroes famed on earth from west to east,<br> +<i>Kankas</i> perch upon their foreheads, hungry wolves upon them feast!</p> + +<p>Mark the kings, on softest cushion scarce the needed rest they found,<br> +Now they lie in peaceful slumber on the hard and reddened ground!</p> + +<p>Mark the youths who morn and evening listed to the minstrel's song,<br> +In their ear the loathsome jackal doth his doleful wail prolong!</p> + +<p>See the chieftains with their maces and their swords of trusty steel,<br> +Still they grasp their tried weapons,—do they still the life-pulse feel?”</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>Gandhari's Lament for Duryodhan</h4> +<p>Thus to Krishna, Queen Gandhari strove her woeful thoughts to tell,<br> +When alas! her wandering vision on her son Duryodhan fell,</p> + +<p>Sudden anguish smote her bosom and her senses seemed to stray,<br> +Like a tree by tempest shaken senseless on the earth she lay!</p> + +<p>Once again she waked in sorrow, once again she cast her eye<br> +Where her son in blood empurpled slept beneath the open sky,</p> + +<p>And she clasped her dear Duryodhan, held him close unto her breast,<br> +Sobs convulsive shook her bosom as the lifeless form she prest,</p> + +<p>And her tears like rains of summer fell and washed his noble head,<br> +Decked with garlands still untarnished, graced with <i>nishkas</i> bright + and red!</p> + +<p>“‘Mother!’ said my dear Duryodhan when he went unto the war,<br> +‘Wish me joy and wish me triumph as I mount the battle-car!’</p> + +<p>‘Son!’ I said to dear Duryodhan, ‘Heaven avert a cruel fate,<br> +<i>Yato dharma stato jayah!</i> Triumph doth on Virtue wait!’</p> + +<p>But he set his heart on battle, by his valour wiped his sins,<br> +Now he dwells in realms celestial which the faithful warrior wins!</p> + +<p>And I weep not for Duryodhan, like a prince he fought and fell,<br> +But my sorrow-stricken husband, who can his misfortunes tell?</p> + +<p>Ay! my son was brave and princely, all resistless in the war,<br> +Now he sleeps the sleep of warriors, sunk in gloom his glorious star!</p> + +<p>Ay! My son mid crownéd monarchs held the first and foremost way,<br> +Now he rests upon the red earth, quenched his bright effulgent ray!</p> + +<p>Ay! my son the best of heroes, he hath won the warrior's sky,<br> +Kshatras nobly conquer, Krishna, when in war they nobly die!</p> + +<p>Hark the loathsome cry of jackals, how the wolves their vigils keep,<br> +Maidens rich in song and beauty erst were wont to watch his sleep!</p> + +<p>Hark the foul and blood-beaked vultures flap their wings upon the dead,<br> +Maidens waved their feathery <i>pankhas</i> round Duryodhan's royal bed!</p> + +<p>Peerless bowman, mighty monarch! nations still his hests obeyed,<br> +As a lion slays a tiger, Bhima hath Duryodhan slayed!</p> + +<p>Thirteen years o'er Kuru's empire proud Duryodhan held his sway,<br> +Ruled Hastina's ancient city where fair Ganga's waters stray!</p> + +<p>I have seen his regal splendour with these ancient eyes of mine,<br> +Elephants and battle-chariots, steeds of war and herds of kine!</p> + +<p>Kuru owns another master and Duryodhan's day is fled,<br> +And I live to be a witness! Krishna, O that I were dead!</p> + +<p>Mark Duryodhan's noble widow, mother proud of Lakshman bold,<br> +Queenly in her youth and beauty, like an altar of bright gold!</p> + +<p>Torn from husband's sweet embraces, from her son's entwining arms,<br> +Doomed to life-long woe and anguish in her youth and in her charms!</p> + +<p>Rend my hard and stony bosom crushed beneath this cruel pain,<br> +Should Gandhari live to witness noble son and grandson slain?</p> + +<p>Mark again Duryodhan's widow, how she hugs his gory head,<br> +How with gentle hands and tender softly holds him on his bed!</p> + +<p>How from dear departed husband turns she to her dearer son,<br> +And the tear-drops of the mother choke the widow's bitter groan!</p> + +<p>Like the fibre of the lotus tender-golden is her frame,<br> +O my lotus! O my daughter! Bharat's pride and Kuru's fame!</p> + +<p>If the truth resides in <i>Vedas</i>, brave Duryodhan dwells above,<br> +Wherefore linger we in sadness severed from his cherished love?</p> + +<p>If the truth resides in <i>Sastra</i>, dwells in sky my hero son,<br> +For Gandhari and her daughter now their earthly task is done!”</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>Funeral Rite</h4> +<p>Victor of a deathful battle, sad Yudhishthir viewed the plain,<br> +Friends and kinsmen, kings and chieftains, countless troops untimely slain,</p> + +<p>And he spake to wise Sudharman, pious priest of Kuru's race,<br> +Unto Sanjay, unto Dhaumya, to Vidura full of grace,</p> + +<p>Spake unto the brave Yuyutsu, Kuru's last surviving chief,<br> +Spake to faithful Indrasena, and to warriors sunk in grief:</p> + +<p>“Pious rites are due to foemen and to friends and kinsmen slain,<br> +None shall lack a fitting funeral, none shall perish on the plain.”</p> + +<p>Wise Vidura and his comrades sped on sacred duty bound,<br> +Sandalwood and scented aloes, oil and <i>ghee</i> and perfumes found,</p> + +<p>Silken robes of costly splendour, fabrics by the artist wove,<br> +Dry wood from the thorny jungle, perfume from the scented grove,</p> + +<p>Shattered cars and splintered lances, hewed and ready for the fire,<br> +Piled and ranged in perfect order into many a funeral pyre.</p> + +<p>Kings and princes, noble warriors, were in rank and order laid,<br> +And with streams of melted butter were the rich libations made,</p> + +<p>Blazed the fire with wondrous radiance by the rich libations fed,<br> +Sanctifying and consuming mortal remnants of the dead.</p> + +<p>Brave Duryodhan and his brothers, Salya of the mighty car,<br> +Bhurisravas king of nations, Jayadratha famed in war,</p> + +<p>Abhimanyu son of Arjun, Lakshman proud Duryodhan's son,<br> +Somadatta and the Srinjays famed for deeds of valour done,</p> + +<p>Matsya's monarch proud Virata, Drupad fair Panchala's king,<br> +And his sons, Panchala's princes, whose great deeds the minstrels sing,</p> + +<p>Cultured monarch of Kosala and Gandhara's wily lord,<br> +Karna, proud and peerless archer, matchless with his flaming sword,</p> + +<p>Bhagadatta eastern monarch, all resistless in his car,<br> +Ghatotkacha son of Bhima, Alambusha famed in war,</p> + +<p>And a hundred other monarchs all received the pious rite,<br> +Till the radiance of the fire-light chased the shadows of the night!</p> + +<p><i>Pitri-medha</i>, due to fathers, was performed with pious care,<br> +Hymns and wails and lamentations mingled in the midnight air,</p> + +<p>Sacred songs of <i>rik</i> and <i>saman</i> rose with women's piercing wail,<br> +And the creatures of the wide earth heard the sound subdued and pale!</p> + +<p>Smokeless and with radiant lustre shone each red and lighted pyre,<br> +Like the planets of the bright sky throbbing with celestial fire!</p> + +<p>Countless myriads, nameless, friendless, from each court and camp afar,<br> +From the east and west collected, fell in Kuru-Kshetra's war,</p> + +<p>Thousand fires for them were lighted, they received the pious rite,<br> +Such was good Yudhishthir's mandate, such was wise Vidura's might,</p> + +<p>All the dead were burned to ashes and the sacred rite was o'er,<br> +Dhrita-rashtra and Yudhishthir slowly walked to Ganga's shore!</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>Oblation to Karna</h4> +<p>Sacred Ganga, ample-bosomed, sweeps along in regal pride,<br> +Rolling down her limpid waters through high banks on either side,</p> + +<p>Kuru dames and weeping widows thither in their anguish came<br> +Due and holy rites to render to departed chiefs of fame,</p> + +<p>Casting forth their jewelled girdles, gems and scarfs belaced with gold,<br> +Gave oblations of the water to each hero true and bold,</p> + +<p>Unto fathers, unto husbands, unto sons in battle slayed,<br> +Offerings of the sacred water sorrowing wives and mothers made.</p> + +<p>And so great the host of mourners wending to perform the rite,<br> +That their footsteps made a pathway in the sad and sacred site,</p> + +<p>And the shelving banks of Ganga peopled by the sorrowing train,<br> +Wide-expanding, vast and sealike, formed a scene of woe and pain!</p> + +<p>But a wave of keener sorrow swept o'er Pritha's heaving breast,<br> +As unto her weeping children thus her secret she expressed:</p> + +<p><i>“He, my sons, the peerless bowman, mighty in his battle-car,<br> +He who bore the stamp of hero, slain by Arjun in the war,</i></p> + +<p><i>He whom as the son of Radha, chariot-driver, ye have thought,<br> +He who shone with <span class="sc">Surya's</span> lustre as his countless foes he fought,</i></p> + +<p><i>He who faced your stoutest warriors and in battle never failed,<br> +He who led the Kuru forces and in danger never quailed,</i></p> + +<p><i>He who knew no peer in prowess, owned in war no haughtier name,<br> +He who yielded life, not honour, and by death hath conquered fame,</i></p> + +<p><i>He, in truth who never faltered, never left his vow undone,<br> +Offer unto him oblation, Karna was my eldest son!</i></p> + +<p><i>Karna was your honoured elder, and the Sun inspired his birth,<br> +Karna in his rings and armour Sun-like trod the spacious earth!”</i></p> + +<p>Pritha spake, and terror-stricken Pandav brothers groaned in pain,<br> +And they wept in woe and anguish for the brother they had slain.</p> + +<p>Hissing forth his sigh of sorrow like a trodden, hissing snake,<br> +Sad Yudhishthir to his mother thus his inward feelings spake:</p> + +<p>“Didst thou, mother, bear the hero fathomless like ocean dread,<br> +Whose unfailing glistening arrows like its countless billows sped?</p> + +<p>Didst thou bear that peerless archer, all-resistless in his car,<br> +Sweeping with the roar of ocean through the shattered ranks of war?</p> + +<p>Didst thou bear the mighty hero, mortal man of heavenly birth,<br> +Crushing 'neath his arm of valour all his foemen on the earth?</p> + +<p>Didst thou hide the birth and lineage of that chief of deathful ire,<br> +As a man in folds of garments seeks to hide the flaming fire?</p> + +<p>Arjun, wielder of <i>gandiva</i>, was for us no truer stay<br> +Than was Karna for the Kurus in the battle's dread array!</p> + +<p>Monarchs matched not Karna's glory nor his deeds of valour done,<br> +Midst the mighty car-borne warriors mightiest warrior Karna shone!</p> + +<p>Was he then our eldest brother we have in the battle slain,<br> +And our nearest dearest elder fell upon the gory plain?</p> + +<p>Not the death of Abhimanyu from the fair Subhadra torn,<br> +Not the slaughter of the princes by the proud Draupadi borne,</p> + +<p>Not the fall of Kuru warriors, nor Panchala's mighty host,<br> +Like thy death afflicts my bosom, noble Karna! loved and lost!</p> + +<p>Monarch's empire, victor's glory, all the treasures earth can yield,<br> +Righteous bliss and heavenly gladness, harvest of the <i>swarga's</i> field,</p> + +<p>All that wish can shape and utter, all that nourish hope and pride,<br> +All were ours, O noble Karna! with thee by thy brother's side,</p> + +<p>And this carnage of the Kurus these sad eyes had never seen,<br> +Peace had graced our blessed empire, happy would the earth have been!”</p> + +<p>Long bewailed the sad Yudhishthir for his elder loved and dead,<br> +And oblation of the water to the noble Karna made,</p> + +<p>And the royal dames of Kuru viewed the sight with freshening pain,<br> +Wept to see the good Yudhishthir offering to his brother slain,</p> + +<p>And the widowed queen of Karna with the women of his house<br> +Gave oblations to her hero, wept her loved and slaughtered spouse!</p> + +<p>Done the rites to the departed, done oblations to the dead,<br> +Slowly then the sad survivors on the river's margin spread,</p> + +<p>Far along the shore and sandbank of the sacred sealike stream<br> +Maid and matron laved their bodies 'neath the morning's holy beam,</p> + +<p>And ablutions done, the Kurus slow and sad and cheerless part,<br> +Wend their way to far Hastina with a void and vacant heart.</p> + +<div id="s12" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>BOOK XII</h3> +<h3>ASWA-MEDHA</h3> +<p>(Sacrifice of the Horse)</p> +</div> + +<p>The real Epic ends with the war and the funerals of the deceased +warriors. Much of what follows in the original Sanscrit poem is +either episodical or comparatively recent interpolation. The great +and venerable warrior Bhishma, still lying on his death bed, +discourses for the instruction of the newly crowned Yudhishthir on +various subjects like the Duties of Kings, the Duties of the Four +Castes, and the Four Stages of Life. He repeats the discourses of +other saints, of Bhrigu and Bharadwaja, of Manu and Brihaspati, of +Vyasa and Suka, of Yajnavalkya and Janaka, of Narada and Narayana. +He explains <i>Sankhya</i> philosophy and <i>Yoga</i> philosophy, and lays down +the laws of Marriage, the laws of Succession, the rules of Gifts, +and the rules of Funeral Rites. He preaches the cult of Krishna, and +narrates endless legends, tales, traditions, and myths about sages +and saints, gods and mortal kings. All this is told in two Books +containing about twenty-two thousand couplets, and forming nearly +one-fourth of the entire Sanscrit Epic!</p> + +<p>The reason of adding all this episodical and comparatively recent +matter to the ancient Epic is not far to seek. The Epic became +more popular with the nation at large than dry codes of law and +philosophy, and generations of Brahmanical writers laboured therefore +to insert in the Epic itself their rules of caste and moral conduct, +their laws and philosophy. There is no more venerable character in +the Epic than Bhishma, and these rules and laws have therefore been +supposed to come from his lips on the solemn occasion of his death. +As a storehouse of Hindu laws and traditions and moral rules these +episodes are invaluable; but they form no part of the real Epic, they +are not a portion of the leading story of the Epic, and we pass them +by.</p> + +<p>Bhishma dies and is cremated; but the endless exposition of laws, +legends, and moral rules is not yet over. Krishna himself takes +up the task in a new Book, and, as he has done once before in the +<i>Bhagavat-gita</i>, he now once more explains to Arjun in the <i>Anu-gita</i> +the great truths about Soul and Emancipation, Creation and the Wheel +of Life, True Knowledge and Rites and Penance. The adventures of the +sage Utanka, whom Krishna meets, then take up a good many pages. All +this forms no part of the real Epic, and we pass it by.</p> + +<p>Yudhishthir has in the meantime been crowned king of the Kurus +at Hastinapura, and a posthumous child of Abhimanyu is named +Parikshit, and is destined to succeed to the throne of the Kurus. But +Yudhishthir's mind is still troubled with the thoughts of the carnage +of the war, of which he considers himself guilty, and the great saint +Vyasa advises the performance of the <i>aswa-medha</i>, or the Sacrifice +of the Horse, for the expiation of the sin.</p> + +<p>The Sacrifice of the Horse was an ancient Hindu custom practised by +kings exercising suzerain powers over surrounding kings. A horse was +let free, and was allowed to wander from place to place, accompanied +by the king's guard. If any neighbouring king ventured to detain the +animal, it was a signal for war. If no king ventured to restrain the +wanderer, it was considered a tacit mark of submission to the owner +of the animal. And when the horse returned from its peregrinations, +it was sacrificed with great pomp and splendour at a feast to which +all neighbouring kings were invited.</p> + +<p>Yudhishthir allowed the sacrificial horse to wander at will, and +Arjun accompanied it. Wherever the horse was stopped, Arjun fought +and conquered, and thus proclaimed the supremacy of Yudhishthir over +all neighbouring potentates. After various wars and adventures in +various regions, Arjun at last returned victorious with the steed +to Hastinapura, and the sacrifice commenced. The description of the +sacrifice is somewhat artificial, and concerns itself with rites +and ceremonious details and gifts to Brahmans, and altogether bears +unmistakable evidence of the interpolating hand of later priestly +writers. Nevertheless we cannot exclude from this translation of +the leading incidents of the Epic the last great and crowning act +of Yudhishthir, now anointed monarch of Kuru land.</p> + +<p>The portion translated in this Book forms Sections lxxxv. And parts +of Sections lxxxviii. and lxxxix. of Book xiv. of the original +text.</p> + +<h4>I</h4> +<h4>The Gathering</h4> +<p>Victor of a hundred battles, Arjun bent his homeward way,<br> +Following still the sacred charger free to wander as it may,</p> + +<p>Strolling minstrels to Yudhishthir spake of the returning steed,<br> +Spake of Arjun wending homeward with the victor's crown of meed,</p> + +<p>And they sang of Arjun's triumph's in Gandhara's distant vale,<br> +On the banks of Brahmaputra and in Sindhu's rocky dale.</p> + +<p>Twelfth day came of <i>magha's</i> bright moon, and auspicious was the star,<br> +Nigher came the victor Arjun from his conquests near and far,</p> + +<p>Good Yudhishthir called his brothers, faithful twins and Bhima true,<br> +Spake to them in gentle accents, and his words were grave and few:</p> + +<p>“Bhima! Now returneth Arjun with the steed from many a fray,<br> +So they tell me, noble brother, who have met him on the way,</p> + +<p>And the time of <i>aswa-medha</i> day by day is drawing nigh,<br> +<i>Magha's</i> full moon is approaching, and the winter passeth by,</p> + +<p>Let the Brahmans versed in Vedas choose the sacrificial site,<br> +For the feast of many nations and performance of the rite.”</p> + +<p>Bhima heard of Arjun's coming,—hero with the curly hair,—<br> +And to do Yudhishthir's mandate did with gladsome heart repair,</p> + +<p>Brahmans versed in sacrifices, cunning architects of fame,<br> +Builders of each various altar with the son of Pritha came,</p> + +<p>And upon a level greensward measured forth the sacred site,<br> +Laid it out with halls and pathways for the sacrificial rite.</p> + +<p>Mansions graced with gem and jewel round the bright arena shone,<br> +Palaces of golden lustre glinted in the morning sun,</p> + +<p>Gilt and blazoned with devices lofty columns stood around,<br> +Graceful arches gold-surmounted spanned the consecrated ground,</p> + +<p>Gay pavilions rose in beauty round the sacrificial site,<br> +For the queens of crownéd monarchs wending to the holy rite,</p> + +<p>Humbler dwellings rose for Brahmans, priests of learning and of fame,<br> +Come to view Yudhishthir's <i>yajna</i> and to bless Yudhishthir's name.</p> + +<p>Messengers with kindly greetings went to monarchs far-renowned,<br> +Asked them to Hastina's city, to the consecrated ground,</p> + +<p>And to please the great Yudhishthir came each king and chieftain bold,<br> +With their slaves and dark-eye damsels, arms and horses, gems and gold,</p> + +<p>Came and found a royal welcome in pavilions rich and high,<br> +And the sealike voice of nations smote the echoing vault of sky!</p> + +<p>With his greetings doth Yudhishthir, for each chief and king of men,<br> +Cooling drinks and sumptuous viands, beds of regal pride ordain,</p> + +<p>Stables filled with corn and barley and with milk and luscious cane<br> +Greet the monarchs' warlike tuskers and the steeds with flowing mane.</p> + +<p><i>Munis</i> from their hermitages to the sacred <i>yajna</i> came,<br> +<i>Rishis</i> from the grove and forest uttering <span class="sc">Brahma's</span> holy name,</p> + +<p>Famed <i>Acharyas</i> versed in Vedas to the city held their way,<br> +<i>Brahmacharins</i> with grass-girdle, chanting <i>rik</i> or <i>saman</i> lay,</p> + +<p>Welcomed Kuru's pious monarch, saint and sage and man of grace,<br> +And with gentle condescension showed each priest his fitting place.</p> + +<p>Skilled mechanics, cunning artists, raised the structures for the rite,<br> +And with every needful object graced the sacrificial site,</p> + +<p>Every duty thus completed, joyful Yudhishthir's mind,<br> +And he blessed his faithful brothers with an elder's blessings kind.</p> + +<h4>II</h4> +<h4>The Feasting</h4> +<p>Men in nations are assembled, hymns are sung by saint and sage,<br> +And in learnéd disputations keen disputants oft engage,</p> + +<p>And the concourse of the monarchs view the splendour of the rite,<br> +Like the glorious sky of <span class="sc">Indra</span> is the sacrificial site!</p> + +<p>Bright festoons and flaming streamers o'er the golden arches hung,<br> +Groups of men and gay-dressed women form a bright and joyous throng,</p> + +<p>Jars of cool and sparkling waters, vessels rich with gold inlaid,<br> +Costly cups and golden vases Kuru's wealth and pride displayed!</p> + +<p>Sacrificial stakes of timber with their golden fastenings graced,<br> +Consecrated by the <i>mantra</i> are in sumptuous order placed,</p> + +<p>Countless creatures of the wide earth, fishes from the lake and flood,<br> +Buffaloes and bulls from pasture, beasts of prey from jungle wood,</p> + +<p>Birds and every egg-born creature, insects that from moisture spring,<br> +Denizens of cave and mountain for the sacrifice they bring!</p> + +<p>Noble chiefs and mighty monarchs gaze in wonder on the site,<br> +Filled with every living object, corn and cattle for the rite,</p> + +<p>Curd and cake and sweet confection are for feasting Brahmans spread,<br> +And a hundred thousand people are with sumptuous viands fed!</p> + +<p>With the accents of the rain-cloud drum and trumpet raise their voice,<br> +Speak Yudhishthir's noble bounty, bid the sons of men rejoice,</p> + +<p>Day by day the holy <i>yajna</i> grows in splendour and in joy,<br> +Rice in hillocks feeds all comers, maid and matron, man and boy,</p> + +<p>Lakes of curd and lakes of butter speak Yudhishthir's bounteous feast,<br> +Nations of the Jambu-dwipa share it, greatest and the least!</p> + +<p>For a hundred diverse races from a hundred regions came,<br> +Ate of good Yudhishthir's bounty, blessed the good Yudhishthir's name,</p> + +<p>And a thousand proud attendants, gay with earrings, garland-graced,<br> +Carried food unto the feeders and the sweet confections placed,</p> + +<p>Viands fit for crownéd monarchs were unto the Brahmans given,<br> +Drinks of rich and cooling fragrance like the nectar-drink of heaven!</p> + +<h4>III</h4> +<h4>Sacrifice of Animals</h4> +<p>Victor of a hundred battles, Arjun came with conquering steed,<br> +Vyasa, herald of the Vedas, bade the holy rite proceed:</p> + +<p>“For the day is come, Yudhishthir, let the sacrifice be done,<br> +Let the priests repeat the mantra golden as the morning sun!</p> + +<p>Threefold bounteous be thy presents, and a threefold merit gain,<br> +For thy wealth of gold is ample, freely thy <i>dakshina</i> rain!</p> + +<p>May the threefold rich performance purify the darkening stain,<br> +Blood of warriors and of kinsmen slaughtered on the gory plain!</p> + +<p>May the <i>yajna's</i> pure ablution wash thee of the cruel sin,<br> +And the meed of sacrificers may the good Yudhishthir win!”</p> + +<p>Vyasa spake; and good Yudhishthir took the <i>diksha</i> of the rite,<br> +And commenced the <i>aswa-medha</i> gladdening every living wight,</p> + +<p>Round the altar's holy lustre moved the priests with sacred awe,<br> +Swerved not from the rule of duty, failed not in the sacred law.</p> + +<p>Done the rite of pure <i>pravargya</i> with the pious hymn and lay,<br> +To the task of <i>abhishava</i> priests and Brahmans led the way,</p> + +<p>And the holy Soma-drinkers pressed the sacred Soma plant,<br> +And performed the pure <i>savana</i> with the solemn <i>saman</i> chant.</p> + +<p>Bounty waits on squalid hunger, gifts dispel the timid fear,<br> +Gold revives the poor and lowly, mercy wipes the mourner's tear,</p> + +<p>Tender care relieves the stricken by the gracious king's command,<br> +Charity with loving sweetness spreads her smile o'er all the land!</p> + +<p>Day by day the <i>aswa-medha</i> doth with sacred rites proceed,<br> +Day by day on royal bounty poor and grateful myriads feed,</p> + +<p>And adept in six Vedangas, strict in vow and rich in lore,<br> +Sage preceptors, holy teachers, grew in virtue ever more!</p> + +<p>Six good stakes of <i>vilwa</i> timber, six of hard <i>khadira</i> wood,<br> +Six of seasoned <i>sarvavarnin</i>, on the place of <i>yajna</i> stood,</p> + +<p>Two were made of <i>devadaru</i>, pine that on Himalay grows,<br> +One was made of wood of <i>slesha</i> which the sacrificer knows,</p> + +<p>Other stakes of golden lustre quaint with curious carving done,<br> +Draped in silk and gold-brocaded like the <i>ursa major</i> shone!</p> + +<p>And the consecrated altar built and raised of bricks of gold,<br> +Shone in splendour like the altar Daksha built in days of old,</p> + +<p>Eighteen cubits square the structure, four deep layers of brick in height,<br> +With a spacious winged triangle like an eagle in its flight!</p> + +<p>Beasts whose flesh is pure and wholesome, dwellers of the lake or sky,<br> +Priests assigned each varied offering to each heavenly power on high,</p> + +<p>Bulls of various breed and colour, steeds of mettle true and tried,<br> +Other creatures, full three hundred, to the many stakes were tied.</p> + +<p><i>Deva-rishis</i> viewed the feasting, sweet <i>gandharvas</i> woke the song,<br> +<i>Apsaras</i> like gleams of sunlight on the greensward tripped along,</p> + +<p><i>Kinnaras</i> and <i>kim-purushas</i> mingled in the holy rite,<br> +<i>Siddhas</i> of austerest penance stood around the sacred site!</p> + +<p>Vyasa's great and gifted pupils, who the Vedas have compiled,<br> +Gazed upon the <i>aswa-medha</i>, on the wondrous <i>yajna</i> smiled!</p> + +<p>From the bright ethereal mansions heavenly <i>rishi</i> Narad came,<br> +Chetra-sena woke the music, singer of celestial fame,</p> + +<p>Cheered by more than mortal music Brahmans to their task incline,<br> +And Yudhishthir's fame and virtue with a brighter lustre shine!</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> +<h4>Sacrifice of the Horse</h4> +<p>Birds and beasts thus immolated, dressed and cooked, provide the food,<br> +Then before the sacred charger priests in rank and order stood,</p> + +<p>And by rules of Veda guided slew the horse of noble breed,<br> +Placed Draupadi, <i>Queen of yajna</i>, by the slain and lifeless steed,</p> + +<p>Hymns and gifts and pure devotion sanctified the noble Queen,<br> +Woman's worth and stainless virtue, woman's pride and wisdom keen!</p> + +<p>Priests with holy contemplation cooked the horse with pious rite,<br> +And the steam of welcome fragrance sanctified the sacred site,</p> + +<p>Good Yudhishthir and his brothers, by the rules by <i>rishis</i> spoke,<br> +Piously inhaled the fragrance and the sin-destroying smoke,</p> + +<p>Severed limbs and sacred fragments of the courser duly dressed,<br> +Priests upon the blazing altar as a pious offering placed,</p> + +<p>And the ancient bard of Vedas, Vyasa raised his voice in song,<br> +Blessed Yudhishthir, Kuru's monarch, and the many-nationed throng!</p> + +<h4>V</h4> +<h4>Gifts</h4> +<p>Unto Brahmans gave Yudhishthir countless <i>nishkas</i> of bright gold,<br> +Unto sage and saintly Vyasa all his realm and wealth untold,</p> + +<p>But the bard and ancient <i>rishi</i> who the holy Vedas spake,<br> +Rendered back the monarch's present, earthly gift he might not take!</p> + +<p>“Thine is Kuru's ancient empire, rule the nations of the earth,<br> +Gods have destined thee as monarch from the moment of thy birth,</p> + +<p>Gold and wealth and rich <i>dakshina</i> let the priests and Brahmans hoard,<br> +Be it thine to rule thy subjects as their father and their lord!”</p> + +<p>Krishna too in gentle accents to the doubting monarch said:<br> +“Vyasa speaketh word of wisdom and his mandate be obeyed!”</p> + +<p>From the <i>rishi</i> good Yudhishthir then received the Kuru-land,<br> +With a threefold gift of riches gladdened all the priestly band,</p> + +<p>Pious priests and grateful nations to their distant regions went,<br> +And his share of presents Vyasa to the ancient Pritha sent.</p> + +<p>Fame and virtue Kuru's monarch by the <i>aswa-medha</i> wins,<br> +And the rite of pure ablution cleanses all Yudhishthir's sins,</p> + +<p>And he stands amid his brothers, brightly beaming, pure and high,<br> +Even as <span class="sc">Indra</span> stands encircled by the dwellers of the sky,</p> + +<p>And the concourse of the monarchs grace Yudhishthir's regal might,<br> +As the radiant stars and planets grace the stillness of the night!</p> + +<p>Gems and jewels in his bounty, gold and garments rich and rare,<br> +Gave Yudhishthir to each monarch, slaves and damsels passing fair,</p> + +<p>Loving gifts to dear relations gave the king of righteous fame,<br> +And the grateful parting monarchs blessed Yudhishthir's hallowed name!</p> + +<p>Last of all with many tear-drops Krishna mounts his lofty car,<br> +Faithful still in joy or sorrow, faithful still in peace or war,</p> + +<p>Arjun's comrade, Bhima's helper, good Yudhishthir's friend of yore,<br> +Krishna leaves Hastina's mansions for the sea-girt Dwarka's shore!</p> + +<div id="s13" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> +</div> + +<p>The real Epic ends with the war and with the funerals of the deceased +warriors, as we have stated before, and Yudhishthir's Horse-Sacrifice +is rather a crowning ornament than a part of the solid edifice. What +follows the sacrifice is in no sense a part of the real Epic; it +consists merely of concluding personal narratives of the heroes who +have figured in the poem.</p> + +<p>Dhrita-rashtra retires into a forest with his queen Gandhari, and +Pritha, the mother of the Pandav brothers, accompanies them. In the +solitude of the forest the old Dhrita-rashtra sees as in a vision +the spirits of all the slain warriors, his sons and grandsons and +kinsmen, clad and armed as they were in battle. The spirits disappear +in the morning at the bidding of Vyasa, who had called them up. At +last Dhrita-rashtra and Gandhari and Pritha are burnt to death in a +forest conflagration, death by fire being considered holy.</p> + +<p>Krishna at Dwarka meets with strange and tragic adventures. The +Vrishnis and the Andhakas become irreligious and addicted to +drinking, and fall a prey to internal dissensions. Valadeva and +Krishna die shortly after, and the city of the Yadavas is swallowed +up by the ocean.</p> + +<p>Then follow the two concluding Books of the Epic, the <i>Great Journey</i> +and the <i>Ascent to Heaven</i>, so beautifully rendered into English by +Sir Edwin Arnold. On hearing of the death of their friend Krishna, +the Pandav brothers place Prakshit, the grandson of Arjun, on the +throne, and retire to the Himalayas. Draupadi drops down dead on +the way, then Sahadeva, then Nakula, then Arjun, and then Bhima. +Yudhishthir alone proceeds to heaven in person in a celestial car.</p> + +<p>There Yudhishthir undergoes some trial, bathes in the celestial +Ganges, and rises with a celestial body. He then meets Krishna, now +in his heavenly form, blazing in splendour and glory. He meets his +brothers whom he had lost on earth, but who are now Immortals in +the sky, clad in heavenly forms. <span class="sc">Indra</span> himself appears before +Yudhishthir, and introduces him to others who were dear to him on +earth, and are dear to him in heaven. Thus speaks <span class="sc">Indra</span> to +Yudhishthir:</p> + +<p>“This is She, the fair Immortal! Her no human mother bore,<br> +Sprung from altar as Draupadi human shape for thee she wore,</p> + +<p>By the Wielder of the trident she was waked to form and life,<br> +Born in royal Drupad's mansion, righteous man, to be thy wife,</p> + +<p>These are bright aërial beings, went for thee to lower earth,<br> +Borne by Drupad's stainless daughter as thy children took their birth!</p> + +<p>This is monarch Dhrita-rashtra who doth o'er <i>gandharvas</i> reign,<br> +This is brave immortal Karna, erst on earth by Arjun slain,</p> + +<p>Like the fire in ruddy splendour, for the Sun inspired his birth,<br> +As the son of Chariot-driver he was known upon the earth!</p> + +<p>'Midst the <i>Sadhyas</i> and the <i>Maruts</i>, 'midst immortals pure and bright,<br> +Seek thy friends the faithful Vrishnis matchless in their warlike might.</p> + +<p>Seek and find the brave Satyaki who upheld thy cause so well,<br> +Seek the Bhojas and Andhakas who in Kuru-kshetra fell!</p> + +<p>This is gallant Abhimanyu whom the fair Subhadra bore,<br> +Still unconquered in the battle, slain by fraud in yonder shore,</p> + +<p>Abhimanyu, son of Arjun, wielding Arjun's peerless might,<br> +With the Lord of Night he ranges, beauteous as the Lord of Night!</p> + +<p>This, Yudhishthir, is thy father! by thy mother joined in heaven,<br> +Oft he comes into my mansions in his flowery chariot driven,</p> + +<p>This is Bhishma, stainless warrior, by the <i>Vasus</i> is his place,<br> +By the god of heavenly wisdom teacher Drona sits in grace!</p> + +<p><i>These and other mighty warriors, in the earthly battle slain,<br> +By their valour and their virtue walk the bright ethereal plain!</i></p> + +<p><i>They have cast their mortal bodies, crossed the radiant gate of heaven,<br> +For to win celestial mansions unto mortals it is given!</i></p> + +<p><i>Let them strive by kindly action, gentle speech, endurance long,<br> +Brighter life and holier future into sons of men belong!”</i></p> + +<div id="s14" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>TRANSLATOR'S EPILOGUE</h3> +</div> + +<p>Ancient India, like ancient Greece, boasts of two great Epics. One +of them, the <i>Maha-bharata</i>, relates to a great war in which all the +warlike races of Northern India took a share, and may therefore be +compared to the Iliad. The other, the <i>Ramayana</i>, relates mainly to +the adventures of its hero, banished from his country and wandering +for long years in the wildernesses of Southern India, and may +therefore be compared to the Odyssey. It is the first of these +two Epics, the Iliad of Ancient India, which is the subject of +tile foregoing pages.</p> + +<p>The great war which is the subject of this Epic is believed to have +been fought in the thirteenth or fourteenth century before Christ. +For generations and centuries after the war its main incidents must +have been sung by bards and minstrels in the courts of Northern +India. The war thus became the centre of a cycle of legends, songs, +and poems in ancient India, even as Charlemagne and Arthur became the +centres of legends in mediæval Europe. And then, probably under +the direction of some enlightened king, the vast mass of legends and +poetry, accumulated during centuries, was cast in a narrative form +and formed the Epic of the Great Bharata nation, and therefore called +the <i>Maha-bharata</i>. The real facts of the war had been obliterated by +age, legendary heroes had become the principal actors, and, as is +invariably the case in India, the thread of a high moral purpose, of +the triumph of virtue and the subjugation of vice, was woven into the +fabric of the great Epic.</p> + +<p>We should have been thankful if this Epic, as it was thus originally +put together some centuries before the Christian era, had been +preserved to us. But this was not to be. The Epic became so popular +that it went on growing with the growth of centuries. Every +generation of poets had something to add; every distant nation in +Northern India was anxious to interpolate some account of its deeds +in the old record of the international war; every preacher of a new +creed desired to have in the old Epic some sanction for the new +truths he inculcated. Passages from legal and moral codes were +incorporated in the work which appealed to the nation much more +effectively than dry codes; and rules about the different castes and +about the different stages of the human life were included for the +same purpose. All the floating mass of tales, traditions, legends, +and myths, for which ancient India was famous, found a shelter under +the expanding wings of this wonderful Epic; and as Krishna-worship +became the prevailing religion of India after the decay of Buddhism, +the old Epic caught the complexion of the times, and Krishna-cult is +its dominating religious idea in its present shape. It is thus that +the work went on growing for a thousand years after it was first +compiled and put together in the form of an Epic; until the crystal +rill of the Epic itself was all but lost in an unending morass of +religious and didactic episodes, legends, tales, and traditions.</p> + +<p>When the mischief had been done, and the Epic had nearly assumed its +present proportions, a few centuries after Christ according to the +late Dr. Bühler, an attempt was made to prevent the further +expansion of the work. The contents of the Epic were described in +some prefatory verses, and the number of couplets in each Book was +stated. The total number of couplets, according to this metrical +preface, is about eighty-five thousand. But the limit so fixed +has been exceeded in still later centuries; further additions and +interpolations have been made; and the Epic as printed and published +in Calcutta in this century contains over ninety thousand couplets, +excluding the Supplement about the Race of Hari.</p> + +<p>The modern reader will now understand the reason why this great +Epic—the greatest work of imagination that Asia has produced—has +never yet been put before the European reader in a readable form. A +poem of ninety thousand couplets, about seven times the size of the +Iliad and the Odyssey put together, is more than what the average +reader can stand; and the heterogeneous nature of its contents does +not add to the interest of the work. If the religious works of +Hooker and Jeremy Taylor, the philosophy of Hobbes and Locke, the +commentaries of Blackstone and the ballads of Percy, together with +the tractarian writings of Newman, Keble, and Pusey, were all thrown +into blank verse and incorporated with the Paradise Lost, the reader +would scarcely be much to blame if he failed to appreciate that +delectable compound. A complete translation of the <i>Maha-bharata</i> +therefore into English verse is neither possible nor desirable, but +portions of it have now and then been placed before English readers +by distinguished writers. Dean Milman's graceful rendering of the +story of Nala and Damayanti is still read and appreciated by a select +circle of readers; and Sir Edwin Arnold's beautiful translation of +the concluding books of the Epic is familiar to a larger circle of +Englishmen. A complete translation of the Epic into English prose has +also been published in India, and is useful to Sanscrit scholars for +the purpose of reference.</p> + +<p>But although the old Epic had thus been spoilt by unlimited +expansion, yet nevertheless the leading incidents and characters of +the real Epic are still discernible, uninjured by the mass of foreign +substance in which they are embedded—even like those immortal marble +figures which have been recovered from the ruins of an ancient world, +and now beautify the museums of modern Europe. For years past I have +thought that it was perhaps not impossible to exhume this buried Epic +from the superincumbent mass of episodical matter, and to restore +it to the modern world. For years past I have felt a longing to +undertake this work, but the task was by no means an easy one. +Leaving out all episodical matter, the leading narrative of the Epic +forms about one-fourth of the work; and a complete translation even +of this leading story would be unreadable, both from its length and +its prolixness. On the other hand, to condense the story into shorter +limits would be, not to make a translation, but virtually to write a +new poem; and that was not what I desired to undertake, nor what I +was competent to perform.</p> + +<p>There seemed to me only one way out of this difficulty. The +main incidents of the Epic are narrated in the original work in +passages which are neither diffuse nor unduly prolix, and which are +interspersed in the leading narrative of the Epic, at that narrative +itself is interspersed in the midst of more lengthy episodes. The +more carefully I examined the arrangement, the more clearly it +appeared to me that these main incidents of the Epic would bear a +full and unabridged translation into English verse; and that these +translations, linked together by short connecting notes, would +virtually present the entire story of the Epic to the modern reader in +a form and within limits which might be acceptable. It would be, no +doubt, a condensed version of the original Epic, but the condensation +would be effected, not by the translator telling a short story in his +own language, but by linking together those passages of the original +which describe the main and striking incidents, and thus telling +the main story as told in the original work. The advantage of this +arrangement is that, in the passages presented to the reader, it is +the poet who speaks to him, not the translator. Though vast portions +of the original are skipped over, those which are presented are the +portions which narrate the main incidents of the Epic, and they +describe those incidents as told by the poet himself.</p> + +<p>This is the plan I have generally adopted in the present work. Except +in the three books which describe the actual war (Books viii., ix., +and x.), the other nine books of this translation are complete +translations of selected passages of the original work. I have not +attempted to condense these passages nor to expand them; I have +endeavoured to put them before the English reader as they have +been told by the poet in Sanscrit. Occasionally, but rarely, a few +redundant couplets have been left out, or a long list of proper names +or obscure allusions has been shortened; and in one place only, at +the beginning of the Fifth Book, I have added twelve couplets of my +own to explain the circumstances under which the story of Savitri is +told. Generally, therefore, the translation may be accepted as an +unabridged, though necessarily a free translation of the passages +describing the main incidents of the Epic.</p> + +<p>From this method I have been compelled to depart, much against my +wish, in the three books describing the actual war. No translation +of an Epic relating to a great war can be acceptable which does not +narrate the main events of the war. The war of the <i>Maha-bharata</i> +was a series of eighteen battles, fought on eighteen consecutive +days, and I felt it necessary to present the reader with an account +of each day's work. In order to do so, I have been compelled to +condense, and not merely to translate selected passages. For the +transactions of the war, unlike the other incidents of the Epic, have +been narrated in the original with almost inconceivable prolixity and +endless repetition; and the process of condensation in these three +books has therefore been severe and thorough. But, nevertheless, even +in these books I have endeavoured to preserve the character and the +spirit of the original. Not only are the incidents narrated in the +same order as in the original, but they are told in the style of the +poet as far as possible. Even the similes and metaphors and figures +of speech are all or mostly adopted from the original; the translator +has not ventured either to adopt his own distinct style of narration, +or to improve on the style of the original with his own decorations.</p> + +<p>Such is the scheme I have adopted in presenting an Epic of ninety +thousand Sanscrit couplets in about two thousand English couplets.</p> + +<p>The excellent and deservedly popular prose translation of the Odyssey +of Homer by Messrs. Butcher and Lang often led me to think that +perhaps a prose translation of these selected passages from the +<i>Maha-bharata</i> might be more acceptable to the modern reader. But a +more serious consideration of the question dispelled that idea. Homer +has an interest for the European reader which the <i>Maha-bharata</i> +cannot lay claim to; as the father of European poetry he has a claim +on the veneration of modern Europe which an Indian poet can never +pretend to. To thousands of European readers Homer is familiar +in the original, to hundreds of thousands he is known in various +translations in various modern languages. What Homer actually wrote, +a numerous class of students in Europe wish to know; and a literal +prose translation therefore is welcome, after the great Epic has been +so often translated in verse. The case is very different with the +<i>Maha-bharata</i>, practically unknown to European readers. And the +translators of Homer themselves gracefully acknowledge, “We have +tried to transfer, not all the truth about the poem, but the +historical truth into English. In this process Homer must lose at +least half his charm, his bright and equable speed, the musical +current of that narrative, which, like the river of Egypt, flows from +an undiscoverable source, and mirrors the temples and the palaces of +unforgotten gods and kings. Without the music of verse, only a half +truth about Homer can be told.”</p> + +<p>Another earnest worker of the present day, who is endeavouring to +interpret to modern Englishmen the thoughts and sentiments and poetry +of their Anglo-Saxon ancestors, has emphatically declared that “of +all possible translations of poetry, a merely prose translation is +the most inaccurate.” “Prose,” says Mr. Stopford Brooke, further on, +“no more represents poetry than architecture does music. Translations +of poetry are never much good, but at least they should always +endeavour to have the musical movement of poetry, and to obey the +laws of the verse they translate.”</p> + +<p>This appears to me to be a very sound maxim. And one of my greatest +difficulties in the task I have undertaken has been to try and +preserve something of the “musical movement” of the sonorous Sanscrit +poetry in the English translation. Much of tile Sanscrit Epic is +written in the well-known <i>Sloka</i> metre of sixteen syllables in each +line, and I endeavoured to choose some English metre which is +familiar to the English ear, and which would reproduce to some extent +the rhythm, the majesty, and the long and measured sweep of the +Sanscrit verse. It was necessary to adopt such a metre in order to +transfer something of the truth about the <i>Maha-bharata</i> into +English, for without such reproduction or imitation of the musical +movement of the original very much less than a half truth is told. +My kind friend Mr. Edmund Russell, impelled by that enthusiasm for +Indian poetry and Indian art which is a part of him, rendered me +valuable help and assistance in this matter, and I gratefully +acknowledge, the benefit I have derived from his advice and +suggestions. After considerable trouble and anxiety, and after +rendering several books in different English metres, I felt convinced +that the one finally adopted was a nearer approach to the Sanscrit +<i>Sloka</i> than any other familiar English metre known to me.</p> + +<p>I have recited a verse in this English metre and a <i>Sloka</i> in +presence of listeners who have a better ear for music than myself, +and they have marked the close resemblance. I quote a few lines from +the Sanscrit showing varieties of the <i>Sloka</i> metre, and comparing +them with the scheme of the English metre selected.</p> + +<p>Ēshă Kūntīshŭtāh srīmān | ēshă mādhyămă Pāndăvăh<br> +Ēshă pūtrō Măhēndrāsyă | Kŭrūnām ēshă rākshĭtā</p> + +<p class="sourcecite">—Maha-bharata, i. 5357.</p> + +<p>Yēt Ĭ doūbt nŏt thrōugh t̆he āgĕs | ōne ĭncrēasĭng pūrpŏse rūns<br> +An̄d t̆he thōughts ŏf mēn ar̆e wīdenĕd | wīth t̆he prōcĕss ōf thĕ sūns</p> + +<p class="sourcecite">—Locksley Hall.</p> + +<p>Mālānchă sămŭpādāyă | kānchănīm sămălāmkrĭtām<br> +Ăvătīrnā tătō rāngăm | Drāupădī Bhărătārshăbhă</p> + +<p class="sourcecite">—Maha-bharata, i. 6974.</p> + +<p>Vīsiŏns ōf th̆e dāys dĕpārtĕd | shādŏwy phāntŏms fīlled my̆ brāin;<br> +Thōse w̆ho līve ĭn hīstŏry ōnly̆ | sēēmed t̆o wālk th̆e eārth ăgāīn</p> + +<p class="sourcecite">—Belfry of Bruges.</p> + +<p>Ăsūryăm ĭvă sūryēnă | nīrvātăm ĭvă vāyŭnā<br> +Bhāsĭtām hlādĭtānchāivă | Krīshnēnēdām sădō hĭ năh</p> + +<p class="sourcecite">—Maha-bharata, ii. 1334.</p> + +<p>Quāint ŏld tōwn ŏf toīl ănd trāffĭc | quāint ŏld tōwn ŏf ārt ănd sōng,<br> +Mēmoriĕs hāunt thy̆ pōintĕd gāblĕs, | līke th̆e rōōks th̆at roūnd th̆ee th̄rong.</p> + +<p class="sourcecite">—Nüremberg.</p> + +<p>Hā Pāndō hā măhārājă | kvāsĭ kīm sămŭpēkshăsē<br> +Pūtrān vĭvāsyătāh sādhūn | ărĭbhīr dyūtănīrjĭtān</p> + +<p class="sourcecite">—Maha-bharata, ii. 2610.</p> + +<p>Īn hĕr eār hĕ whīspĕrs gāily̆, | Īf my̆ heārt by̆ sīgns căn tēll,<br> +Māidĕn Ī hăve wātched thĕe dāily̆, | Ānd Ĭ thīnk thŏu lōv'st mĕ wēll</p> + +<p class="sourcecite">—Lord of Burleigh.</p> + +<p>It would be too much to assume that even with the help of this +similarity in metres, I have been able to transfer into my English +that sweep and majesty of verse which is the charm of Sanscrit, and +which often sustains and elevates the simplest narration and the +plainest ideas. Without the support of those sustaining wings, my +poor narration must often plod through the dust; and I can only ask +for the indulgence of the reader, which every translator of poetry +from a foreign language can with reason ask, if the story as told +in the translation is sometimes but a plain, simple, and homely +narrative. For any artistic decoration I have neither the inclination +nor the necessary qualification. The crisp and ornate style, the +quaint expression, the chiselled word, the new-coined phrase, +in which modern English poetry is rich, would scarcely suit the +translation of an old Epic whose predominating characteristic is +its simple and easy flow of narrative. Indeed, the <i>Maha-bharata</i> +would lose that unadorned simplicity which is its first and foremost +feature if the translator ventured to decorate it with the art of +the modern day, even if he had been qualified to do so.</p> + +<p>For if there is one characteristic feature which distinguishes the +<i>Maha-bharata</i> (as well as the other Indian Epic, the <i>Ramayana</i>) +from all later Sanscrit literature, it is the grand simplicity of +its narrative, which contrasts with the artificial graces of later +Sanscrit poetry. The poetry of Kalidasa, for instance, is ornate and +beautiful, and almost scintillates with similes in every verse; the +poetry of the <i>Maha-bharara</i> is plain and unpolished, and scarcely +stoops to a simile or a figure of speech unless the simile comes +naturally to the poet. The great deeds of godlike kings sometimes +suggest to the poet the mighty deeds of gods; the rushing of warriors +suggests the rushing of angry elephants in the echoing jungle; the +flight of whistling arrows suggests the flight of sea-birds; the +sound and movement of surging crowds suggest the heaving of billows; +the erect attitude of a warrior suggests a tall cliff; the beauty +of a maiden suggests the soft beauty of the blue lotus. When such +comparisons come naturally to the poet, he accepts them and notes +them down, but he never seems to go in quest of them, he is never +anxious to beautify and decorate. He seems to trust entirely to his +grand narrative, to his heroic characters, to his stirring incidents, +to hold millions of listeners in perpetual thrall. The majestic and +sonorous Sanscrit metre is at his command, and even this he uses, +carelessly, and with frequent slips, known as <i>arsha</i> to later +grammarians. The poet certainly seeks for no art to decorate his +tale, he trusts to the lofty chronicle of bygone heroes to enchain +the listening mankind.</p> + +<p>And what heroes! In the delineation of character the <i>Maha-bharata</i> +is far above anything which we find in later Sanscrit poetry. Indeed, +with much that is fresh and sweet and lovely in later Sanscrit +poetry, there is little or no portraiture of character. All heroes +are cast much in the same heroic mould; all love-sick heroines suffer +in silence and burn with fever, all fools are shrewd and impudent +by turns, all knaves are heartless and cruel and suffer in the end. +There is not much to distinguish between one warrior and another, +between one tender woman and her sister. In the <i>Maha-bharata</i> we +find just the reverse; each hero has a distinct individuality, a +character of his own, clearly discernible from that of other heroes. +No work of the imagination that could be named, always excepting +the Iliad, is so rich and so true as the <i>Maha-bharata</i> in the +portraiture of the human character,—not in torment and suffering as +in Dante, not under overwhelming passions as in Shakespeare,—but +human character in its calm dignity of strength and repose, like +those immortal figures in marble which the ancients turned out, and +which modern sculptors have vainly sought to reproduce. The old Kuru +monarch Dhrita-rashtra, sightless and feeble, but majestic in his +ancient grandeur; the noble grandsire Bhishma, “death's subduer” +and unconquerable in war; the doughty Drona, venerable priest and +vengeful warrior; and the proud and peerless archer Karna—have each a +distinct character of his own which can not be mistaken for a moment. +The good and royal Yudhishthir, (I omit the final <i>a</i> in some long +names which occur frequently), the “tiger-waisted” Bhima, and the +“helmet-wearing” Arjun are the Agamemnon, the Ajax, and the Achilles +of the Indian Epic. The proud and unyielding Duryodhan, and the +fierce and fiery Duhsasan stand out foremost among the wrathful sons +of the feeble old Kuru monarch. And Krishna possesses a character +higher than that of Ulysses; unmatched in human wisdom, ever striving +for righteousness and peace, he is thorough and unrelenting in +war when war has begun. And the women of the Indian Epic possess +characters as marked as those of the men. The stately and majestic +queen Gandhari, the loving and doting mother Pritha, the proud and +scornful Draupadi nursing her wrath till her wrongs are fearfully +revenged, and the bright and brilliant and sunny Subhadra,—these are +distinct images pencilled by the hand of a true master in the realm +of creative imagination.</p> + +<p>And if the characters of the <i>Maha-bharata</i> impress themselves on +the reader, the incidents of the Epic are no less striking. Every +scene on the shifting stage is a perfect and impressive picture. The +tournament of the princes in which Arjun and Karna—the Achilles and +Hector of the Indian Epic—first met and each marked the other for his +foe; the gorgeous bridal of Draupadi; the equally gorgeous coronation +of Yudhishthir and the death of the proud and boisterous Sisupala; +the fatal game of dice and the scornful wrath of Draupadi against her +insulters; the calm beauty of the forest life of the Pandavs; the +cattle-lifting in Matsyaland in which the gallant Arjun threw off his +disguise and stood forth as warrior and conqueror; and the Homeric +speeches of the warriors in the council of war on the eve of the +great contest,—each scene of this venerable old Epic impresses +itself on the mind of the hushed and astonished reader. Then follows +the war of eighteen days. The first few days are more or less +uneventful, and have been condensed in this translation often into +a few couplets; but the interest of the reader increases as he +approaches the final battle and fall of the grand old fighter +Bhishma. Then follows the stirring story of the death of Arjun's +gallant boy, and Arjun's fierce revenge, and the death of the priest +and warrior, doughty Drona. Last comes the crowning event of the +Epic, the final contest between Arjun and Karna, the heroes of the +Epic, and the war ends in a midnight slaughter and the death of +Duryodhan. The rest of the story is told in this translation in +two books describing the funerals of the deceased warriors, and +Yudhishthir's horse-sacrifice.</p> + +<p>“The poems of Homer,” says Mr. Gladstone, “differ from all other +known poetry in this, that they constitute in themselves an +encyclopædia of life and knowledge; at a time when knowledge, +indeed, such as lies beyond the bounds of actual experience, was +extremely limited, and when life was singularly fresh, vivid, and +expansive.” This remark applies with even greater force to the +<i>Maha-bharata</i>; it is an encyclopædia of the life and knowledge +of Ancient India. And it discloses to us an ancient and forgotten +world, a proud and noble civilisation which has passed away. Northern +India was then parcelled among warlike races living side by side +under their warlike kings, speaking the same language, performing +the same religious rites and ceremonies, rejoicing in a common +literature, rivalling each other in their schools of philosophy and +learning as in the arts of peace and civilisation, and forming a +confederation of Hindu nations unknown to and unknowing the outside +world. What this confederation of nations has done for the cause of +human knowledge and human civilisation is a matter of history. Their +inquiries into the hidden truths of religion, embalmed in the ancient +<i>Upanishads</i>, have never been excelled within the last three thousand +years. Their inquiries into philosophy, preserved in the <i>Sankhya</i> +and the <i>Vedanta</i> systems, were the first systems of true philosophy +which the world produced. And their great works of imagination, the +<i>Maha-bharata</i> and the <i>Ramayana</i>, will be placed without hesitation +by the side of Homer by critics who survey the world's literatures +from a lofty standpoint, and judge impartially of the wares turned +out by the hand of man in all parts of the globe. It is scarcely +necessary to add that the discoveries of the ancient Hindus in +science, and specially in mathematics, are the heritage of the modern +world; and that the lofty religion of Buddha, proclaimed in India +five centuries before Christ, is now the religion of a third of the +human race. For the rest, the people of modern India know how to +appreciate their ancient heritage. It is not an exaggeration to +state that the two hundred millions of Hindus of the present day +cherish in their hearts the story of their ancient Epics. The Hindu +scarcely lives, man or woman, high or low, educated or ignorant, +whose earliest recollections do not cling round the story and the +characters of the great Epics. The almost illiterate oil-manufacturer +or confectioner of Bengal spells out some modern translation of the +Maha-bharata to while away his leisure hour. The tall and stalwart +peasantry of the North-West know of the five Pandav brothers, and of +their friend the righteous Krishna. The people of Bombay and Madras +cherish with equal ardour the story of the righteous war. And even +the traditions and tales interspersed in the Epic, and which spoil +the work as an Epic, have themselves a charm and an attraction; +and the morals inculcated in these tales sink into the hearts of +a naturally religious people, and form the basis of their moral +education. Mothers in India know no better theme for imparting wisdom +and instruction to their daughters, and elderly men know no richer +storehouse for narrating tales to children, than these stories +preserved in the Epics. No work in Europe, not Homer in Greece or +Virgil in Italy, not Shakespeare or Milton in English-speaking lands, +is the national property of the nations to the same extent as the +Epics of India are of the Hindus. No single work except the Bible has +such influence in affording moral instruction in Christian lands as +the <i>Maha-bharata</i> and the <i>Ramayana</i> in India. They have been the +cherished heritage of the Hindus for three thousand years; they are +to the present day interwoven with the thoughts and beliefs and moral +ideas of a nation numbering two hundred millions.</p> + +<p class="sourcecite">ROMESH DUTT.</p> + +<p><span class="sc">University College, London</span>,<br> + <i>13th August 1898</i>.</p> + +<div id="s15" class="sectionheader"> +<h3>GLOSSARY OF SANSCRIT WORDS</h3> +</div> +<dl> +<dt>ABHISHAVA,</dt><dd> a religious rite.</dd> +<dt>ABBHISHEKA,</dt><dd> sacred ablution.</dd> +<dt>ACHARYA,</dt><dd> preceptor.</dd> +<dt>AJYA,</dt><dd> a form of sacrificial offering.</dd> +<dt>APRAMATTA,</dt><dd> without pride or passion.</dd> +<dt>APSARAS,</dt><dd> celestial nymphs.</dd> +<dt>ARGHYA,</dt><dd> an offering due to an honoured guest.</dd> +<dt>ARYA,</dt><dd> noble.</dd> +<dt>ASRAM,</dt><dd> hermitage.</dd> +<dt>ASURA,</dt><dd> Titans, enemies of gods.</dd> +<dt>ASWAMEDHA,</dt><dd> sacrifice of the horse.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>BAIDURYA,</dt><dd> lapiz-lazuli.</dd> +<dt>BRAHMACHARIN,</dt><dd> one who has taken vows and lives an austere life.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>CHANDAN,</dt><dd> sandalwood, the paste of which is used for fragrance and coolness.</dd> +<dt>CHOWRI or CHAMARI,</dt><dd> the Himalayan yak, whose bushy tail is used as a fan.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>DAKSHINA,</dt><dd> gifts made at sacrifices.</dd> +<dt>DASAPUTRA,</dt><dd> son of a slave.</dd> +<dt>DEVA,</dt><dd> gods.</dd> +<dt>DEVADARU (<i>lit.</i> heavenly tree),</dt><dd> the Indian pine.</dd> +<dt>DEVA-KANYA,</dt><dd> celestial maid.</dd> +<dt>DEVA-RISHI,</dt><dd> celestial saint.</dd> +<dt>DHARMA-RAJA,</dt><dd> monarch by reason of piety and virtue.</dd> +<dt>DIKSHA,</dt><dd> initiation into a sacred rite.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>GANDHARVA,</dt><dd> a class of aerial beings; celestial singers.</dd> +<dt>GANDIVA,</dt><dd> Arjun's bow.</dd> +<dt>GHEE or GHRITA,</dt><dd> clarified butter.</dd> +<dt>GURU,</dt><dd> preceptor.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>HOMA,</dt><dd> a sacrificial rite or offering.</dd> +<dt>HOWDA,</dt><dd> the seat on an elephant.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>IDA,</dt><dd> a form of sacrificial offering.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>KANKA,</dt><dd> a bird of prey.</dd> +<dt>KHADIRA,</dt><dd> an Indian tree.</dd> +<dt>KIMPURUSHA,</dt><dd> a class of imaginary beings.</dd> +<dt>KINNARA,</dt><dd> a class of imaginary beings with the face of a horse.</dd> +<dt>KOKIL,</dt><dd> an Indian bird answering to the English cuckoo, and prized + for its sweet note.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>MAGHA,</dt><dd> a, winter month.</dd> +<dt>MAHUT or MAHAMATRA,</dt><dd> elephant driver</dd> +<dt>MANTRA,</dt><dd> hymn or incantation.</dd> +<dt>MLECHCHA,</dt><dd> outer barbarian. All who were not Hindus were designated + by this name.</dd> +<dt>MUNI,</dt><dd> saint, anchorite.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>NAGA,</dt><dd> dweller of the snake-world; also a tribe in Eastern India.</dd> +<dt>NISHADA,</dt><dd> an aboriginal race.</dd> +<dt>NISHKA,</dt><dd> gold pieces of specified weight, used as money and also as + ornament.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>PANKHA (from Sanscrit <i>paksha</i>, wing),</dt><dd> a fan.</dd> +<dt>PISHACHA,</dt><dd> ghost or goblin.</dd> +<dt>PITRI-MEDHA,</dt><dd> sacrifice and offering due to departed ancestors.</dd> +<dt>PRAVARGYA,</dt><dd> a religious rite.</dd> +<dt>PURANA,</dt><dd> a class of religious works.</dd> +<dt>PURUSHA,</dt><dd> the soul.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>RAJASUYA,</dt><dd> imperial sacrifice.</dd> +<dt>RAKSHA or RAKSHASA,</dt><dd> monster or goblin.</dd> +<dt>RIK,</dt><dd> hymn recited at sacrifice.</dd> +<dt>RISHI,</dt><dd> saint; a holy man retired from the world and devoting himself + to pious rites and contemplation.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>SAMADHI,</dt><dd> austere religious practice.</dd> +<dt>SAMAN,</dt><dd> hymn chanted at sacrifice.</dd> +<dt>SAMI,</dt><dd> an Indian tree.</dd> +<dt>SANKHA,</dt><dd> sounding conch-shell.</dd> +<dt>SARVAVARNIN,</dt><dd> an Indian tree.</dd> +<dt>SASTRA,</dt><dd> scriptures and religious works.</dd> +<dt>SAVANA,</dt><dd> a religious rite.</dd> +<dt>SAVITRI,</dt><dd> a hymn; also the goddess of the hymn.</dd> +<dt>SIDDHA,</dt><dd> holy celestial beings.</dd> +<dt>SLESHA,</dt><dd> an Indian tree.</dd> +<dt>SUPARNA,</dt><dd> celestial bird.</dd> +<dt>SWARGA,</dt><dd> heaven.</dd> +<dt>SWASTI,</dt><dd> a word uttered to dispel evil.</dd> +<dt>SWAYAMVARA,</dt><dd> a form of bridal, the bride selecting her husband from + among suitors.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>TIRTHA,</dt><dd> holy rites at the crossing of rivers.</dd> +<dt>TRIRATRA,</dt><dd> a three nights' penance and fast.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>VEDA,</dt><dd> the most ancient and holiest scriptures of the Hindus.</dd> +<dt>VIJAYA,</dt><dd> Karna's bow.</dd> +<dt>VINA,</dt><dd> the lyre.</dd> +</dl><dl> +<dt>YAJNA,</dt><dd> sacrifice.</dd> +<dt>YATO DHARMA STATO JAYAH,</dt><dd> where there is virtue there is victory.</dd> +<dt>YUGA,</dt><dd> the period of the world's existence.</dd> +</dl> + +<hr> + +<p>In view of the comprehensive character of the “Temple Classics,” +it has seemed desirable to include Mr. Dutt's version of India's +great Epic—the work of a distinguished soldier and patriot. The +importance of the poem is sufficiently explained in Mr. Dutt's +Note. The translator's high position in Modern Indian Literature is +attested by the following reference in Mr. R. W. Frazer's recent +“Literary History of India” (an excellent survey of the whole +subject, to which the reader should turn, more especially for its +luminous account of the Epics and Dramas of Ancient India):—“A +worthy follower of India's first great novelist (Bankim Chandra +Chatterji) appeared in Romesh Chandra Dutt, the ablest native member +of the Indian Civil Service. His novels have now passed through five +of six editions in the Bengali.... His translation of the ‘Rig Veda +Sanhita’ into Bengali appeared in 1887; his valuable ‘History of +Civilisation of Ancient India,’ in English, in three volumes, from +1889, &c. &c.... A whole library of ‘Sorrow and Song’ was poured +forth by this Dutt family of Rambagan.” Mr. Dutt is at present +resident in London, holding the office of Lecturer in Indian History +at University College, and devoting himself to literary and other +labours.</p> + +<p class="sourcecite">I.G.</p> +<p>Nov. 15th, 1898</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Maha-bharata, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAHA-BHARATA *** + +***** This file should be named 19630-h.htm or 19630-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/6/3/19630/ + +Produced by Andrew Sly, using a text prepared by John B. +Hare of sacred-texts.com. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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