Mahabharata, Karna Parva by Krishna Games

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THE MAHABHARATA OF

KRISHNA- DWAIPAYAN A VYASA

TRANSLATED INTO

'I'M

ENGLISH PROSE.

Published aud distributed chiefly gratis

PRATAP CHANDRA ROY,

K ARNA P ARVA.

CALCUTTA

BH1RATA PRESS. No.

Raja Gookoo Dass' Street. 1889.

is reserved. ) ( The rvjht of translation

28 1918

NOTICE By

the

blessing

SREE SRIKRISHNA JEW, the Drona Parva More

of the Mahabharata has been brought to a successful termination.

than half, therefore, of the stupendous work which has been completed.

Santa Parva. incidents,

have undertaken

next canto, I have now commenced with the

This portion of the great epic

replete

and conveys to mankind the lesson that nothing

— the

with stirring impossible

to him who rests his hopes, not on the strength of his own arm3, but on

the goodness

help

and mercy

May SREE SRIKRISHNA JEW

God.

me, the humblest of His servants, and grant

courage, and the means to finish the arduous

work

patience,

my hand, and thus make me the humble instrument for the of

His Name throughout the world

canto9, which are comparatively short, I shall

this

the

next three

and shall take in hand the Santi

indeed feel that Santi— peace— to which

stranger since I embarked on

glorification

When I shall have completed the Kama Parva and

Parva,

and

have put

to which I

enterprise, for

have been a

then the end of

labors will be at an appreciable distance.

And now, praying for blessings from on High, and

soliciting

a con-

tinuance of the kindly help and encouragement from those who have hither to generously assisted me, I beg to place before the Public a further

instalment of the grandest epic which the world ever produced.

Datavva Bharata Karvalava. 1.

PRATAP CHANDRA R07.

Rija Oooroo Dass' Street Calcutta, April 18S9.

THE MAHABIIARATA >•— <-

KARNA l'AliVA

Section

Having bowed down unto Narayana, and unto that most dted of male beings, viz., Nara, and unto the goddess Saraswati also, must the word Jaya be uttered. Vaicampayana said,

—"After Drona had been

warriors

arch, the royal

(of the

slain, O monKaurava army) headed by

Duryodhana, with hearts filled with great anxiety, all repaired Lamenting the loss of Drona, and deprived to Drona's son. 1

energy in consequence of their checrlcssness, they safe afllicted with grief." around the son of Caradwat's daughter, considerations founded upon Comforted for a little while by rulers of Earth proceedscriptures, when night came, those of

the

8 Those lords of Earth, howovor, ed to their respective tents. no happiness in tl nr abodes. thou of Kuru's race, could foci that immense slaughter, they conld not also

Thinking

and king Suyodhana, and could not compose themDuscasana. and Cakuni,, in especial, 5 These four passed that night together in selves to sleep. the woes they had inflicted Duryodhana's tent, reflecting upon they had brought Formerly, upon the high-souled Pandavas.* match at die-, into Draupadi, plunged into woe on account of the sleep.

The Swta's son (Kama),

the assembly. their

Recollecting it they

hearts being

filled

experienced groat regret,

7 with anxiety.

Thinking of those

in con squence of the sufferings inflicted (upon the Pandavas) king, in sorr r, night that gambling match, they passed if it

Then when morning can them duly went dictates of the ordinance, all of

were really a hundrod years.

observing the

through

the

customary

rites.

Having gone through those

VIAHABHAilATA.

customary

ami comforted to some extent,

rites*

they ordered their battle,

troops to be arrayed,

having made

Bharata,

and then came out for

Kama their generalissimo by tying the

auspicious thread round his

wrists,

and having caused many

foremost of Brahmanas, by presents of vessels of curds, clarified

Akshata8,

butter,

of gold, kine, jewels and gems,

coins

and

costly robes, to pray for their victory, and having caused heralds

and musicians, and panegyrists to adore them with hymns about victory.*'

their

" 12

The Paudavas also,

king having eone through ;

m >rning rites, issued from their camp, resolved on battle. 13

Then commenced a fierce battle, making the hair to stand on end, between the Kurus and the Pandavas, each desirous of vanquishing the other. 14 During the commandership of Kama, the battle that took place between the Kuru and

Pandava Then

the

troops was exceedingly fierce and lasted for two days. 15

Vrisha (Kama), having made an immense slaughter of his enemies in battle, was at last slain, in the sight of the Dharfca-

by Arjuna. 16

rashtras,

pura,

told

jangala.'

Then Sanjaya, repairing

Dhritarashtra

Hastina-

had happened at Kuru-

that

all

Janamejaya said,— "Having heard of the fall of Bhishma and that other mighty car-warrior, viz., Drona, the old king Dhritarashtra the great

grief.

son

Amvika had been

How, O

foremost

afflicted

Brahmanas,

with

could

he,

plunged into grief, support his life, having heard of the death of

Kama,

that

well-wisher

could that descendant

Duryodhana I 13

How, indeed, Kuru support his life when he upon of

whom that monarch had rested the hope of his sons' victory had fallen When the king did not lay down his life even 2

after hearing of

men

for

grief! 21 after

Kama's death, I think that it is very

yield

life

O Brahniana, when

hearing of the

fall

difficult

even under circumstances of great the king did not yield up his life

of the venerable son of

Cantanu, of Valhika and Drona and Somadatta and Bhuricravas, as also of * Akshaias were probably Purna-pdtras, to brim with corn and other articles of use.

suspiciousness.

— T.

e.,

certain vessels full

The fulness is indicative

KAKNA PARTA,

other friends ami his sons and grandsons, I think,

ate one, that the act of yielding

exceedingly

happened!

Tell

difficult I"" "

one's

life

regener

these in detail and as they actually

all

am not satiated with hearing the high achieve-

ments of my ancestors !" 2 *

Section II.

Vaicampayana said, — "Upon the the son

of Gavalgana,

with

night for Nagapura, on steeds

fall

Kama,

monarch,

heart, set

out

cheerless

that

that rivalled the wind in speed. 1

Arrived at Hastinapura, with a heart filled with deep anxiety,

he proceeded to Dhritarashtra's abode which no longer teemed with kinsmen and friends. 2

Beholding the king deprived of all

energy

by grief, joining his hands he worshipped, with a bend

of his

head,

monarch's

the

feet.

Having

duly

worshipped

he uttered an exclamation of woe and then

king Dhritarashtra,

—

happy

hope thou art not stupified, having through thy own

faults

fallen

began, 4

Sanjaya,

lord

such distress ? s

into

Earth

Art thou

not

Counsels for thy good had

been uttered by Vidura and Drona and Ganga's son and Ke<;ava. I

hope thou feelest no pain now, remembering thy rejection of

those

counsels ? s

Counsels

for

thy good had also been uttered

Rama and Narada and Kanwa and others.

in the assembly by

now, remembering their rejection

I hope thou feelest no

pain

by thee V

remembering the foe, of Bhishraa and Drona and that were ever engaged in thy good r%

hope thou

slaughter in battle, others, those

foelst

pain,

by the

friends

—

Unto the Satas son who with joined hands was telling him so, the monarch, afflicted with grief and drawing a long and hot breath, said these words.

'Dhritarashtra said,

— 'Hearing,

Sanjaya, of the

the heroic son of Ganga, that warrior in tial

weapons, as also of the

fall

of that

all

celes-

foremost

all

bow-

my heart fceleih

great

endued with great energy and born

of the

men, viz., Drona,

who slew every day ten thousand that high-soulcd one

unto

whom

fall

whom were pain

That

1 1 .

Vasus thcmselvt

car-warriors

Bhrigu'a

10 !

clad

mail,"

son had given tb<

MAHABHAKATA. thai warrior who

highest weapons, trained

the

childhood had been

bow by Rama,

of the

science

his

alas,

even he,

hath been slain by Yajnasena's son Cikhandin protected by 12 " 13 At this my he-art is greatly pained !* the Panda as !

That hero through whose grace those mighty car-warriors, viz., the royal sons of Kunti, as also

that

great

bowman

dyumna, my heart

many

li:

alas,

sure

aim,

have become J\Iahlrathas,f

other

viz.,

not in the world a person equal to them in

of those two, viz.,

Those two had

(knowledge and use

Alas, hearing of the slaughter

Bhishma and Drona, in battle, my heart is 16

exceedingly pained It

worlds a person equal to

That warrior who had not in the three

him

knowledge of weapons, alas,

hearing of the slaughter of that hero, people of my side do? 17 viz.,

of Earth,

Drona, by Dhrishta-

pained! 15

exceedingly

of ) the four kinds of weapons

lords

hearing of the slaughter of

viz.,

Drona, what did the of Pandu,

After the high-souled son

Dhananjaya, exerting himself with prowess, had despatch-

ed unto Yama's abode the strong

Ndvayana weapon

after the

force

of the

Samsaptakas, * 1

son

intelligent

of Drona

had been baffled, and after the (Kaurava) divisions had begun 13 to fly away, what, indeed, did the people of my side do? I think

that, after

sinking in an ocean straggling

Drona's death,

on the bosom

my troops, flying away and

resembled ship wrecked mariners

of grief,

of the

vasty

deep.

What

also,

O Smjaya, became the color of the faces of Duryodhana, and Kama, and Kritavarman the

chief of the Bhojas, and

Calya

the ruler of the Madras, and of my remaining sons, and of the others,

when the Kuru divisions fled away from the field

21 " 22 ?

me all this as it truly happened in battle, O son of Gavalgana, and describe to me the prowess put forth by the Pandavas Tell

and the warriors of my side f 23 * Nilakantha rightly explains that verse 13 alludes to

not to Drona. t

— T.

A Makdratka

sand bowmen. \

Four

one who can fight simultaneously with

ten

thou-

— T.

kinds

Tanlramukta.

Bhishma and

weapons,

viz.,

mukta,

amukta,

mutkamv.lcta and

These terms have been explained in an earlier note,

— T,

KAKNA PARVAi S tnjaya

said,

— 'O

sire,

the Kauravas through

anguish

Destiny

He that

hearing all that has happened unto

thy fault, thou shouldst not wise

bringeth

feel any any pain at what

never feeleth

And since destiny in unconquerable, hu-

man purposes may or may not become attainable.

Hence, he

that is wise never feeleth pain on the acquisition or the

reverse

of the objects cherished by him.'* 1

"Dhritarashtra said,

— do not

I regard all this to be the result of

thou wishest

great pain,

feel

Destiny

Sanjaya

Tell me all

that

" 25

Section III. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Upon the

fall

of the great bowman Drona,

thy sons, those mighty car-warriors, became pale and cheerless

and deprived of their senses. 1

O monarch, hung down

them,

Armed with weapons, all heads.

their

grief and without looking at one another, silent.

they stood perfectly

Beholding them with such afflicted countenances, thy O Bharata, themselves perturbed by grief, vacantly

troops,

gazed upwards. 5 of many

hands. 4

their

with

Afflicted

them,

Seeing Drona slain

in battle, the weapons

O king, dyed with

blood,

Innumerable weapons, again,

dropped from

O Bharata, still

retained in the grasp of the soldiers, seemed, in their attitude,

resemble

falling

meteors in

pendent

the sky.* 5

Then

monarch, beholding that army of thine

king Duryodhana,

thus standing as if paralysed and lifeless, said/ the might of your arms I

— Relying upon

have summoned the Panda vas to

battle and caused this passage-at-arms

commence 7 I

Upon

the fall of Drona, however, the prospect seems to be chccrlc battle. 8

Engaged

battle, a warrior may have either victory or death.

What

can

be strange then in this

Fight ye

"Warriors engaged

battle

(viz.,

all

die

the death of Drona) ?

with faces turned towards every direction. 9 *

Behold now the

think Nihkantha correctly explains this sloka.

Uuless Nafoha-

trani be taken to mean falling meteors, the comparison would be unmeaning and absurd.

—T.

M Ail ABI1 AR ATA.

high-sou led Kama, the son of mighty

strength,

using his celestial

battle,

bowman

great

of Vikartana, that

careering

weapons 10

Through

coward,

Dhananjaya the son of Kunti, always turns back It is he who, by the

viz.,

that

fear

warrior

that

battle,

like a small deer at the sight of a lion !"

ordinary methods of human battle, brought the mighty Bhima-

sena endued with the strength that plight u !

of ten

thousand elephants to

It is he who, uttering a loud roar, slew with his

thousand illusions and well acquainted with celestial weapons ,s Behold today the inexhaustible might of arms of that intelligent warrior of sure invincible dart the brave Ghatotkacha of a

aim and invincible energy

14 !

Let the sons of Pandu behold

today the prowess of both Acwatthaman and Kama resembling that of Vishnu and Vasava '* 15

All

to slay the sons of Pandu with their

you are singly able

troops

battle

How

much more then are you capable, when united together, of that feat

Endued with great energy and accomplished in weapons,

you will today behold one another engaged in the achievement of mighty tasks

"Sanjaya continued, one,

— 'Having said these words, O

sinless

made

Kama

thy son Duryodhana, with

his

brothers,

Kuru army). 17 Obtaining the command, the mighty car-warrior Kama, so fierce in battle, utter-

the

generalissimo (of the

ed loud roars and fought with the foe. 18 a great

carnage

among

the

He caused, the

Srinjayas,

sire,

Panchalas,

the

Kekayas, and the Yidehas. I9 y

From his bow issued innumer-

able lines of arrows, one

behind the wings of another,

like flights of bees.

Having afflicted the Panchalas and the

Pandavas endued with great

activity,

and

warriors, ho was at last slain by Arjuna !'

slain

thousands of

* The second line of 15 is read differently in some texts.

— T.

t M&risha at the end of the first line, and not pa^i/atdm, rect reading.

— T.

the

cor-

Section IV. "Vaiijampayana said,

—"Hearing this intelligence, son of AmvikiL, feeling

arch, Dhritarashtra the

regarded Suyodhana

be already

monacme of

the

dead.

Exceedingly

agitated, the king fell down on the Earth, like an

elephant de-

grief,

prived of its senses.

When that foremost of monarchs, great-

ly agitated, fell down on the Earth, loud wails were

best of the

Bharatas, by

the

ladies (of the

uttered,

royal

household).

That noise was so loud that it seemed to fill the entire Earth. 2 *' Immersed in a deep ocean of woe, the Bharata ladies, with hearts exceedingly agitated and scorched by grief, wept

Approaching the king, Gandhari, deprived of their

and

reft

O bull of Bharata's race, and

all fell down on the Earth, king, began to Then Sanjaya,

of the household,

the other ladies

comfort those

senses.*

ladies

with

stricken

consciousness.

by the wind. 5

Vidura

bathed

grief,

Comforted (by

also,

sprinkling

Kuru with water, began to comfort the 7

tears,

Sanjaya),

those

a plantain grove shaken

ladies began to tremble repeatedly like

descendant of

that

puissant monarch

understanding that the ladies of the

were there, the king,

who

Slowly restored to consci-

had knowledge only for his eye. -f* ousness, and

aloud. 3

household

O monarch, remained perfectly silent for Having

sometime like one reft of reason. 8

reflected

then

for

sometime, and repeatedly drawn long breaths, the king censured his own sons and applauded the Pandavas. 9

own intelligence and that king, having reflected for a

peatedly.

Cakuni the son

long

time, began

Controling his mind once

'Dhritarashtra said,

thou hast said.

—

Tell

have heard,

me truly, O

wilt have to repeat it !'

re-

Sanjaya the son

Sanjaya,

all

that

Yama's abode, despairing

Sanjaya,

all

this,

12_I3

* Both 1 and 2 are triplets in the Bengal text*.— T. t

tremble

Hath my son Duryodhana, O Suta, who is ever

desirous of victory, already gone to of success?

of Suvala, the to

more, the king, with

sufficient fortitude, questioned his charioteer

of Gavalgana.'* 1

Censuring also his

A respectful epithet for a blind man.— T.

even

thou

MAHABHAHATA.

— "Thus addressed by the king, warO Janamejaya, the Suta said unto him, — 'The mighty Vaigampayana continued,

car-

O monarch, hath been slain with his sons and

rior Vaikarbana,

and other Suta warriors, all of whom were mighty bowmen ready to lay down their lives in battle 14 Duscasana brothers,

also hath been slain by

of Pandu.

renowned sen

the

his blood also hath been,

from wrath, drunk by

Indeed,

Bhimasena

battle!'"' 5

Section V. Vaicampiiyana

Amvikas

son Dhritarashtra,

addressed his sire,

slain

said,

— "Hearing these words, with

heart

monarch,

agitated

driver Sanjaya, saying, — "Through the 1

grief,

evil policy,

of my son of little foresight, Vikartana's son hath been

This intelligence is cutting the very core of my heart

1 am desirous of crossing this sea of grief!

therefore,

by telling me who are still

alive

amongst the Kurus and the Pandavas "Sanjaya said, in battle,

!' s

2 !

Remove my doubts, and who are dead

— "Endued with great prowess and invincible

Bhishma the son

of Cantanu,

king, having

slain

numbers of Srinjayas and Panchalas, hath been slain The mighty and invincible bowman Drona of after ten days.* large

the golden car, having slaughtered

the

Panchala divisions in

hath been slain. 8

Having slaughtered the half of what remained after the carnage by Bhishma and the illustrious

battle,

Drona, Vikartana's son Kama hath been great

strength,

slain.

O monarch, prince Vivingcati,

hundreds of Anarta warriors in battle, hath been

Endued with having slain slain.

Thy

Vikama, deprived of steeds and weapons, stood, facing the foe, remembering the duties of Kshatriyas. 8 Remembering the many foul wrongs inflicted upon him by heroic son

Duryodhana, and bearing hath slain him. 9 vinda, the

mind

his

own vow, Bhimasena and Anu-

Possessed of great might, Yin da

two princes of Avanti, after achieving the most

difficult feats,

have gone to Yama's abode. 10

* Some texts read Sroijnyanam for Pdnduvdnnm.

That hero who

— T.

'KARNA PAXVA.

had under his sway ten kingdoms having Sindhu for their chief, him who was ever obedient to thee," viz., Jayadratha king, Arjuna hath slain after vanquishing

of mighty energy,

eleven Akshauhinis of troops with his keen

with great activity and incapable of being easily battle, the son ef

Endued

arrows. *

defeated

Duryodhana, ever obedient to his sire's com-

18 mands, hath been slain by the son of Subhadra.

The brave

son of Duscilsana, possessed of mighty arms and fierce in battlo,

hath been despatched to Yama's abode by Draupadi's son exerting himself with great prov/ess

14 !

other dwellers of the lowlands on

The ruler of the Kiratas and much-res-

the sea-coast, the

pected and dear friend of the chief of the celestials himself, viz..

the virtuous king Bhagadatta, who was ever devoted to triya duties, hath been despatched to

Ksha-

Yama's abode by Dhanan-

jaya exerting himself great with prowess.

16 " 16

The kinsman

the Kauravas, the son of Somadatta, viz., the brave and celebraking, hath been slain by Satyaki in battle.

ted Bhuricravas,

The Aravashtha king Crutayus, th'it foremost

of Kshatriyas,

who used to career in battle most fearlessly, hath been slain by 18 Thy son Duscasana, accomplished in arms and invincible in battle, and who was always wrathful, hath, O mon19 Sudakshina, O king, who arch, been slain by Bhimasena. Arjuna.

-had many thousands of wonderful

in battle by Arjuna.'

elephants, hath

The ruler of the

been slain

Kocalas, having slain

many hundreds of foes, hath himself been despatched to Yama's abode by Subhadra's son exerting himself with prowess.* ing fought

with

Hav-

many thousands of foes and with the mighty

car-warrior Bhimasena himself, thy son Chitrasena hath been slain by

of the

Bhimasena."

The brave younger brother of the ruler

Madras, that enhancer of the fears of foes, that hand-

some warrior armed with sword and shield, hath been Subhadra's son. battle, viz.,

He who was

equal to

slain

Kama himself in

Kama's son Vrishasena, accomplished

of mighty energy and steady prowess, hath, in

arms,

tho very sight

Kama, been despatched to Yama's abodo by Dhananjaya who put forth his prowess remembering the slaughter of his own son Abhimanyu and bearing in mind tho vow he had made."" 28 That lord of Earth, viz., Crutayus, who always displayed of

MAMABHAKATA.

a deep-rooted antipathy towards the Pandavas, hath been slain

by Partha who reminded him of that antipathy before taking 26 sire, viz., Rukmaratha, Calya's son of great prowess, his life. king,

hath,

been slain in battle by Sahadeva although the

former happened to be the hitter's brother, having been the son 7 The old king Bhagiratha, and of the latter's maternal uncle.*

Vrihatkshatra the ruler of the Kaikeyas, both endued with great

prowess and might and energy, have been datta's son,

O king, who was

possessed

slain.

Bhaga-

wisdom and

of great

great strength, hath been slain by Nakula who always careers in battle

hika,

with the activity of the hawk.

Thy grandsire Val-

possessed of great might and prowess, hath,

80 followers, been slain by Bhimasena.

the son of Jarasandha, the

with all his

The mighty Jayatsena

prince of the

Magadhas,

king,

81 hath been slain in battle by the high-souled son of Subhadra.

Thy son Durmukha,

king, as also

thy other son Dussaha,

that mighty car-warrior, both of whom were regarded as heroes,

have been slain by Bhimasena with his mace. 38

Durmarshana

and Durvisaha and the mighty car-warrior Durjaya, having achieved the most difficult feats, have gone to Yama's abode, 8 *

The two brothers Kalinga and Vrishaka, who were in battle,

having achieved very

difficult

feats,

invincible

have gone to

Thy counsellor Vrishavarman of the Suta with endued great energy, hath been despatched to caste, Yama's abode by Bhimasena exerting himself with prowess. 35

Yama's abode. 8 *

So also king Paurava who was endued with the might thousand elephants, hath, 36 Piindu's son Arjuna.

with all

his followers, been slain

The Vacutis, O

king,

thousand, effectual smiters all, as also the

Curasenas endued

The Abhi-

shahas, clad in mail, capable of smiting effectually, and Civis, those

numbering two

with great prowess, have all been slain in battle. 37

in battle, also the

of ten

fierce

foremost of car-warriors, with

the Kalingas, have all been slain. 38 Those other heroes also, (viz., the Ndrdyana Gopas,) who lived and grew in Gokula, who were

exceedingly wrathful in battle, and

who never

the field, have been slain by Savyasachin. 33 * *

Apdvrittakaviras

heroea".— T.

retreated from

Many thousands

explained by Nilakantha as

"uuretreating

KARNA PARV

of Crenis. as also the Sdmsapfakas, approaching

Arjuna, have

Yam a. 40

Thy two brothers-in-law, viz., the princes Vrishaka and Achala, who were endued with all

repaired to the abode of

great prowess, have for thy sake been slain

Savyasachin. 4

King Calwa of mighty arms and fierce deeds, who was a great

bowman both in name and sena.

Oghavat,

feats,

O king,

hath been slain by

Bhinia-

and Vrishanta, fighting together

in battle and exerting themselves with great vigor for the

of their ally, have both repaired that foremost of car-warriors,

viz.,

Yama's abode. 48 Kshemadhurti,

sake

also

monarch,

hath been slain in battle by Bhimasena with his mace. 44 So also that sreat bowman, vis., the mightv king Jalasandha, after caus-

ing an immense carnage, hath been slain by Satyaki in battle. 4 *

That prince of Rakshasas, viz., Alayudha, unto whose vehicle were yoked asses (of monstrous shape) hath been despatched to

Yama's abode by Ghatotkacha exerting himself with great

prowess.

Radha's son of the Sitta caste, and those mighty

car-warriors who were his brothers, and the Kaikeyas. the Malavas, the Madrakas, the Dravidas of fierce prowess, the Yaudhe-

yas, the

Lalittyas, the

Kshudrakas, the Ucinaras, the Mavel-

Tundikeras, the

lakas, the

the

Notherners,

Savitriputras, the

Westerners,

and the

have all been slain by Savyasjichin. soldiers,

myriads upon

47 " 49

Easterners, the

Southerners,

O sire

Large bands of foot

myriads of steeds, large numbers of

and many huge elephants, have been slain/ Many heroes also, with standards and weapons, and with armour

car-warriors,

and

and ornaments, and endued with perseverance and

attire

possessed

of high birth

arid

good conduct, have been

slain

in battle by Partha who is never fatigued with exertion. Others,

endued with immeasurable might, and desirous of slaying their foes, (have met with a similar fate). 51 "* 2

kings,

That which thou askest me I am an-

arch, been slain in battle.

swering now.*

Arjuna and

Kama fought.

and

These and many other

numbering thousands, with their followers, have. O mon-

Even thus did the destruction take place when

Rama slew

Mura in battle

;

Rilvana

Si ;

Even as Mahroidra slew Yritra. Krishna slew Naraka or

even as

even as the mighty

Rama

of Bhrigu's

slew the heroic Kartaviryya, invincible in battle, with

all

MAHABHARATA.

kinsmen and friends, after fighting a terrible battle celebrated through the three worlds 88

" 88

;

even as Skanda slew (the A sura)

Mahisha, and Rudra slew (the Asura) Andhaka, even so hath Arjuna,

O king, in single combat, slain, with all his kinsmen,

foremost of smiters,

that

battle and upon

whom

viz.,

Kama, who was

the Dhartarashtras

invicible

had placed their

hopes of victory, and who was the great cause of the hostility

with the Pandavas

57 " 5i

Pandu's son hath now accomplished!

that which at on<~ time thou couldst not believe him capable of

accomplishing,

monarch,

although.

failed not to apprise thee of

great destruction, hath

it.

well-meaning

friends

That calamity, fraught with

now come !"

Thou,

king, wishing

them well, hast heaped those evils on the heads of thy covetous " 60 sons The fruit of those evils is now manifesting itself !'

Section VI. "Dhritarashtra said,

— 'Thou hast, O son, mentioned the

names of those of my side that have been the Pandavas.

slain

Tell me now, 0' Sanjaya, the

names

battle

of those

amongst the Pandavas that have been slain by the people

side f

sers.

— "The Kuntis, possessed of great prowess in

endued with great energy and great might, have been

slain in fight by 2

"Sanjaya said, battle,

Bhishma, with all their kinsmen and advi-

The Narayanas,

the

and hundreds of

Valabhadras,

devoted (to the Pandavas) have been slain

other heroes,

all

in battle by

the heroic

Bhishma.* 8

Satyajit,

who was

equal

to the diadem-decked Arjuna himself in battle as regards energy

and might, hath been slain in battle by Drona

aim. 4

of sure

ilany mighty bowmen among the Panchalas, all of whom were skilled in battle, encountering Drona,

have repaired to Yama's

abode.*

So the two kings Virata and Drupada, both venerable

in years,

who exerted themselves with great prowess for their

aily,

have, with their sons, been slain in battle by Drona.

invincible

feero, viz.,

Abhimanyu,

adopt the Bombay rea<juig.

— T.

who,

That

though a child in

KARNA PARVI.'

years,

was still equal in battle to Arjuna or Ke^ava or Vala-

deva,

O lord, that warrior who was higly accomplished in

battle, after

making an immense slaughter

at last encompassed by six

Unable to

by them.

of Subhadra,

a Kshatriya. the field. 7

still

foe, was;

foremost of car- warriors and slain

resist

Arjuna himself, they thus slew

Deprived of his

Arjuna's son !

of the

that

car,

hero, viz., the

son

stayed in battle, remembering the duties of

At last, O king, Duscasana's son, slew him on

The slayer

of the

Patachcharas, viz., the

hand-

some son of Amvashtha, surrounded by a large force, had put forth all his prowess for the sake of his allies. 10 Having made a great slaughter among the foe, he was encountered by Duryodhana's son, the brave Lakshmana, in battle and despatched to

Yama's abode. 11

The mighty bowman Vrihanta, accomplish-

ed in arms and invincible in battle, hath been despatched to

Yama's abode by Dus<jasana exerting himself with great prowess.

The two kings Manimat and Dandadhara, both of whom

were invincible in battle and had put

forth

Drona. 18

their allies, have been slain by

their

prowess for

Ancumat

the

ruler

of the Bhojas, that mighty car- warrior at the head of his

own

forces,

hath been despatched to Yama's abode by Drona exert-

ing himself with great prowess. 1 * the sea-coast, with his son,

Chitrasena, the

ruler

Bharata, hath been forcibly des-

patched by Samudrasena to Yama's abode. * 1

a maritime country,

viz.,

Another ruler of Nila, and Vyaghradatta of great

O king, been despatched to Yama's abode

energy, have both,

by AQwatthaman. * Chitrayudha, and Chitrayodhin, after making a great slaughter, have both been slain in battle by 1

Vikarna exerting himself with great prowess and displaying diverse manoevres

of his

car.

The

chief of the

Kaikeyas,

who was equal to Vrikodara himself in battle and surrounded by Kaikeya warriors, has been slain by Kaikeya, the brother by the brother. 18 Janamejaya of the hilly country, endued with great prowess and accomplished in encounters with the mace, hath, O king, been slain by thy son Durmukha." Those

two foremost of men, viz., the brothers Rochamana, brilliant planets,

Drona with hi?

two

have together been despatched to heaven by

shafts.

Many

other

kincs,

monarch, en-

MAHARHARATA.

Hav-

dued with great prowess, had fought (for the Pandavas). ing achieved the most difficult feats,

Yama's abode. 91

Purujit and

all of

them have gone

Drona with

uncles of Savyasachin, have been despatched by shafts to such regions as are attainable

by death

Yudhamanyu

battle.

of his

son to lay down

followers, hath been obliged by Vasudana's battle.

of many

Abhibhu the ruler of the Kacis, at the head his life in

Kuntibhoja, the two maternal

of immeasurable

prowess,

and Uttamaujas of great energy, after slaying hundreds of heroic

warriors,

The Panchala

24 have themselves been slain by our men.

prince

Mitravarman, also Kshatradharman, O

Bharata, those two foremost of bowmen, have been despatched to Yama's abode

by Drona. 8S

Cikhandin's son Kshatradeva,

that foremost of warriors, possessed of great bravery, hath,

Lakshmana, O

king, been slain by thy grandson

sire

The

two heroes Suchitra and Chitravarraan, who were sire and son

and endued with great might, and who careered battle,

have been slain by Drona.

who was like the ocean at full

tide,

fearlesly

Vardhakshemi,

monarch,

having had his weapons

exhausted in battle, hath at last obtained undisturbed peace. 88

That foremost of

Stttas,

viz.,

Senavindu, having consumed

many foes in battle, hath, at last, O king, been slain by Valhika.

Dhrishtaketu,

monarch, that foremost of car-warriors

among the Chedis, after accomplishing the most difficult

feats,

hath repaired to the abode of Yam a. 80

heroic

Similarly, the

Satyadhriti, endued with great prowess, having

made

a great

slaughter in battle for the sake of the Pandavas, has been des-

patched to Yama's abode. 3

That lord of Earth, viz., Suketu

the son of Cicupilla, having slain many foes, hath at last been slain by Drona in battre. 38 Virata's son Cankha, as also Uttara

of great strength, having accomplished the most difficult feats,

have repaired

Yama's abode. 33

Satyadhriti of

Similarly

the Matsyas, and Madiracwa of great energy, and Suryadatta possessed of great prowess, have all been slain his

shafts.

Crenimat

also,

groat prowess and accomplished the repaired to dha-3,

Yama's abode. 35

by Drona with

O monarch, having fought with most

Similarly

difficult

the

that slayer of hostile heroes, endued

feats,

chief the

with

great

hath

Magaenergy

KARNA PARVA.

and acquainted with the highest weapons, sleepeth on the field 36 Vasudana also, having made of battle, slain by Bhishma. an immense carnage in battle, has been despatched to Yama's abode by Bharadwaja's son exerting himself with great proThese and

wess."

many

Pandavas have been great

energy.

asked me.'

slain

by Drona exerting himself with

now

have

mighty car-warriors of the

other

them

told

all

that thou

hadst

of my

war-

" S8

Section VII. "Dhritarashfcra said,

— "When

all

the foremost

Sanjaya, have perished, I do not think that the rem-

riors,

When those two

nant of my army will not perish! 1

those two mighty bowmen, those two foremost viz.,

Bhishma and Drona, have been

any longer have with life ? 8

of the

heroes,

Kurus,

what use can I

slain,

the death

I cannot also brook

Radha's son, that ornament of battle, the might of whose

arms was as great as that of ten thousand elephants

8 !

O fore-

most of speakers, tell me now, O Sitta, who are yet alive in

my army after the death

however, to me that they who

dead

foremost

the

of all

hast told me the names of those

that are

have

still

heroes !*

Thou

seems,

fallen.

alive

are

almost

all

!' 5

"Sanjaya said,

— "That hero,

king, to

whom

Drona, that

foremost of Brahmanas, imparted many blazing, celestial, and

mighty weapons of the four

kinds, that

possessed of skill and lightness grasp, strong

mighty car-warrior,

of hands, that

hero of firm

weapons, and powerful shafts, that high-souled

son of Drona, capable of shooting to a great distance,

on the field, desirous of battling for thy sake. 6 " 7

still

That dweller

of the Anarta country, that son of Hiridika, that mighty warrior, that foremost one among; the

the

Bhojas,

the

field,

viz.,

Satwatas, that chief of

Kritavarman, accomplished in

desirous of battle. 8

car-

Artayana's son,

dauntless

arms,

battle, that first of warriors, that foremost of all yet on thy side,

he, viz., that abandoned his own sister's sons, the Pandavas, for

making

his

own words true, that hero endued with great acti-

MAHABHARATA,

vity who promised in the presence of Yudhishthira that he would in battle depress

Calya,

who

the

equal

proud

spirit

of Kama, that

invincible

unto Cakra himself in energy,

the field, desirous of battling for thy sake.

9 " 10

is still

Accompanied by

his own force consisting of Ajaneyas, Saindhavas. mountaineers,

dwellers

reparian

regions,

Kamvojas, and Vanayus, the

king of the Gandharas stayeth on the ing for thy sake.

field,

desirous of battl-

son called Gautama,

Caradwat's

king,

endued with mighty arms and capable of fighting with diverse weapons in diverse beautiful ways, taking up a beautiful and large bow capable of bearing field,

desirous of battle.

a great strain, stayeth on the

That mighty car-warrior, viz., the

son of the ruler of the Kaikeyas, riding on a goodly car equipti

with standard and goodly steeds, stayeth on the of Kuru's race, for battling for thy sake.

foremost

of heroes

Kuru's

race, viz.,

chief

field,

Thy son also, that Purumitra,

O king,

riding on his car possessed of the effulgence of fire or the Sun,

stayeth on the field, like the Sun himself shining brilliantly in

the cloudless firmament.

Duryodhana also, endued with great

midst of an elephant force and accompanied

energy, in

the

by many

foremost of combatants, stayeth on his car adorned

with gold, desirous of engaging in battle. ** 1

In the midst of

many kings, that foremost of men, possessed of the splendour of a lotus, looked resplendent in his beautiful armour of gold like 16 a fire with little smoke or the Sun emerged from the clouds.

So also thy sons Sushena, armed with sword and

shield,

and

the heroic Satyasena, are staying, with Chitrasena, their hearts full of joy and themselves

modesty, the Bharata princes

Endued with Chitrayudha, Crutavarman, and

desirous

of battle. '

Jaya, and Dala, and Satyavrata, and Duscala,

all

whom are

possessed of great might, stay on the field, desirous of battle.

The ruler of the Kaitavyas, that prince, proud of his courage, and capable of fearlessly careering

* The second half of the first line of 15

Bomay edition.

battle

and slaying his

read differently in the

The Calcutta reading, which I adopt, is unquestionably

better.— T. t

A different reading occurs in the Bombay edition.— T*

foes,

PAEVA.

\i:\a

possessing foot-soldiers and

cavalry, and

elephants

cars, stayeth on the field, desirous of battling

and

sake."

thy

for

The heroic Crutayu and Crutayudha, and Chitrangada and Chitravarman, those foremost of men,

proud

those

warriors

capable of smiting effectually and possessed of sureness of aim,

The high-souled Satya-

stay on the field, desirous of battle."

of Kama, stayeth on the field, desirous Two other sons of Kama, possessing a knowledge

sandha, the son

battle.

high weapons and endued with great lightness of hands, are king, at the head of forces that are

both staying,

and

large

incapable of being pierced by warriors of little energy, desirous of battling for thy sake.*

521

Accompanied by these heroes and

by many other foremost of warriors,

king, that are possessed

Kuru king (Duryodhana) is

of immeasurable might, the

stay-

ing like a second Indra in the midst of his elephant division expectation of victory

"Dhritarashtra said,

— "Thou hast told me duly

alive both amongst us and the foe.

which side the from the facts.'

victory

will

be.

all

that

are

From this I plainly see on Indeed, it may be inferred

" 23

—

Vaicampayana continued, "While saying this, Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika, having learnt that only a small portion of his army was alive, for all his foremost of warriors had died, felt his

heart to be exceedingly

swooned away.

agitated

Partially restored to

grief.

senses, he

his

The king addressed

And the king Sanjaya, saying, — 'Wait a moment — '0 son, having heard of this dire calamity, my heart !'

for

24 " 28

said,

greatly

agitated.

My senses are being stupified, and my limbs

are about to be paralysed rilshtra the son of

26 !

— Having said these words, Dhrita-

Amvika, that lord of Earth,

and fell down on the Earth.'

lost

his

senses

" a7

Section VIII.

Janamejaya said,

— "Having heard of Kama's

slaughter of his sons, what,

* This is a triplet— .T.

foremost

fall

and

of regenerate

the one?,

MAUABHAKATA,

did the king say, after he had been a little comforted ?

Indeed,

poignant was the grief that he experienced, arising from the calamity that befell his

sons

the king .said on that occasion

Vaicampayana said,

me, I ask thee,

Tell

that

all

"* !

— "Hearing of the slaughter of Kama

that was incredible and astounding, that was dreadful and capable of paralysing the senses of all

the downfall of Meru,

creatures, that

looked like

a never-to-be-believed clouding

the intellect of the wise Cukra, or the defeat of Indra of terrible feats at the hands of his foes,

or the

falling

down on

the

Earth of the resplendent Sun from the firmament, or a scarcelyto-be- comprehended drying up of the ocean, that

receptacle

inexhaustible waters, 5 or the annihilation, perfectly astounding, of the Earth, the firmament, the points of the compass, and the

both virtuous and

waters, or the fruitlessness of acts

sinful,

king Dhritarashtra, having earnestly reflected for sometime on it,

thought that his army had been annihilated. 7 Thinking that

other creatures also, as unslayable as Kama, would meet with a similar fate, king Dhritarashtra

with grief and sighing

the son

like a snake,

drawing long breaths, highly

said,

—

Amvika, scorched

with litnbs almost palsied,

cheerless,

choly, began to lament, saying,—

and filled with melan-

and Alas.*' 9

And the king

Sanjaya, the heroic son of Adhiratha was endued with

the prowess of the lion or the elephant

that of a bull, and his eyes, gait,

His neck was as thick as

and voice were like the bull's 10 !

Of limbs as hard as the thunder-bolt, that young man, like a bull never flying away from a bull, never desisted from battle even if his foe happened to be the great Indra himself! 11 the sound of his bowstring and palms and at the whizz

of his

arrowy showers men and steeds and cars and elephants fled away from

battle.

Relying upon that mighty-armed one, that

slayer of large bands of fues, that

warrior of unfading glory,

Ddryodhana had provoked hostilities with those mighty carwarriors, viz., the sons of Pandu! 18 How then could Kama, that foremost

hero of

car warriors,

irresistible

battle ? 14

disregarded

onset,

that

tiger

forcibly

among men, that

slain

by Partha

Relying on the might of his own arms, he always

Keeava of unfading

glory,

and Dhananjaya, and

;

KARNA PATIVA. the Vrishnis, and all other

unto the

and

foolish,

foes

Often did

avaricious,

19 use

say

kingdom-coveting,

crest-fallen,

Duryodhana even such words

afflicted

as these, viz.,

—

I shall, in battle, throw down from their foremost of ears, those two invincible wa united together, viz., the ~ wieldcv of Clrnga and the ivielder of Gandiva ! li xl He had subjugated many invincible and mighty foes, viz., the Alone,

—

Gandharas,

Madrakas,

the

M.itsvas, the

the

Tanganas,

the

Khasas, 18

KulindaSj

the

Kaci-kocalas,

the

Trigartas,

the

Panchalas,

the

Videhas,

the

Suhmas,

the

Angas,

the

Nishadhas, the Pundras, the Kichakas, gas, the

Taralas, the

the Vatsas, the Kalin-

A^makas, and the Rishikas.

ting all these brave races, by means of his

arrows equipt with

Kanka

feathers,

keen and whetted

that foremost

Radha's son, had caused

warriors, viz.,

Subjuga-

all

of them

car-

pay

tribute to us for the aggrandisement of Duryodhana. 50 21

Alas,

how could that warrior acquainted with celestial weapons, that

Kama the son of Vikartana, called

protector of armies, viz.,

also Vrisha, of mighty energy, be slain in

the heroic

and mighty sons of Pandu ? 2a

foremost of gods,

like them.

amongst

Yalcshas, VaiVravana

Indra

As Indra

the foremost."

the foremost

the ;

the

In the

foremost

amongst celes-

Kama was

amongst smiters,

;

foes,

been heard of by us to be

Amongst steeds, Uchchaicravas is is

his

Kama was the foremost of men.

throe worlds no third person has

tials.

battle

Unvanquished by even the most heroic and the

mightiest of monarchs,

he had, for Duryodhana's aggrandise-

ment subjugated the whole Earth. 85 The ruler of Magadha, having by conciliation and honors obtained

Kama fur a friend, had

challenged all the Kshatriyas of the world, except the

vas and the Yadavas, bo battle.

been slain by in

Savyacachin

Hearing that single

Kama hath

combat, I am pluri vasty

deep 97

foremost of men, that best

of car-

an ocean of woe like a wrecked vessel

Indeed, hearing that that

Kaura-

the

warriors, hath been slain in single combat, I am sinking

ocean of grief like a person without a raft in the sea

zi \

When,

O Sanjaya, I do not die of even such grief, I think my heart is

impenetrable and made of something harder than the thunder-

MAHABHAKATA.

Hearing of Ihe defeat and humiliation of kinsmen and

bolt."

relatives and allies,

who else in

O Suta, save my

the world,

wretched self, would not yield up his

life

I desire

poison or fire or a fall from the summit of a mountain

O Sanjaya, to bear this heavy load of grief!'

unable,

have I

" S1

Section IX. ''Sanjaya

said,

— 'Tho world regards thee

equal to

Yayati the son of Nahusha,

in beauty, birth, fame, asceticism,

and learning 1

learning, thou art,

Indeed, in

king, like

great R'tshi, highly accomplished and crowned with success

Summon thy fortitude

Do not yield to grief f 2

"Dhritarashtra said,— 'I think Destiny fruitless, since

Exertion

supreme,

and

gala

even Kama, who was

tree, hath been slain in battle

Having slaughtered Yudhish-

3 !

thira's army and the large throngs of the Panchala car-warriors, having scorched all the points of the compass by means of

arrowy showers, having stupified the Parthas in battle

his

wielder

like the

of the

A suras,

thunder-bolt stupifying the

how could that mighty car-warrior, slain by the foe, fall down on the Earth like a large tree uprooted by the temalas,

pest ? like

4" 5

Indeed,

do not behold the

drowning man unable

My anxieties of

are

see

jaya, dible.

the

regard the slaughter of

Without doubt,

this

victory

sorrows

end of the ocean I 6

increasing, I do not desire to live,

Kama's death and Phalguna's I

end of

hearing

San-

Indeed,

Kama to be highly incre-

hard heart of mine

of the essence of adamant, for it does not burst

into

made

thou-

8 sand fragments upon hearing of the fall of Kama! * Without doubt, the gods ordained, before (my birth), a very long life

for me, since sore distressed on hearing of the death

I do not die

Sanjaya, on this

Fie,

friends

Brought today,

destitute

wretched

plight, miserably

life

shall

have to

of Kama,

of one that

Sanjaya, to this live,

of foolish

The Bombay edition reads this verse with a slight variation.— T.

A triplet in the Bengal texts.— T.

KARNA PARVA.

10 Having formerly understanding that I am, pitied by all shall I, Suta, how world, whole been the honored of the !

11 over-ridden by foes?

live,

From pain

calamity, have I come,

and the high-souled

of Bhishma and Drona

Sanjaya, to my sons

raft,

battle

!* 13

life,

fall

Kama

life

when

He was

the

great

That hero having shot innu-

merable arrows, hath been slain in battle of

and

with

not see that any one (of my army) will escape the Suta'a son hath been slain

pain of the

greater

Sanjaya, in consequence

men ?

without that bull among

son of Adhiratha, afflicted with arrows, like a mountain-peak riven by the fall

What use

have I

Without doubt, the

down from his car, ,s Without of thunder fell

Earth, like

the

doubt, bathed in blood, he lieth, adorning

He who

elephant slain by an infuriate prince of elephants

was the strength of the Dhartarashtras, he who was an object

Kama,

of fear to the sons of Pandu, alas, he, viz., of all bowmen, hath been slain by Arjuna

a mighty bowman,

the

dispeller

17 !

He was a

hero,

sons

the fears

that pride

Alas, that hero, reft of life, lieth (on the Earth), like mountain

struck

down by Indra !f' 8

The

fulfilment

of Duryodhana's

wishes is even like locomotion to one that is lame, or the gratification of the poor man's desire, or stray drops of water to one

that is thirsty

13 !

Planned in one way, our schemes end other-

Alas, Destiny

wise.

being transgressed !" while

flying

powerful, and

Time incapable

Was my son Duscasana, O

away from the

cheerless soul, and

all

humbled

field,

destitute of

all

Suta,

slain,

the

dust),

(to

manliness? 21

O son,

O Sanjaya, I hope he did no dastardly act on that occasion ? Did not that hero meet with his death like the other Kehatriyas that have fallen ?" The foolish Duryodhana did not accept Yudhishthira's constant against the propriety

Partha,

advice,

of battle.

when begged for drink by

wholesome as medicine,

Possessed

of great

arrowy bed, pierced the surface of the Earth

* The Bengal texts have param I

adopt the latter. +

;

renown,

Bhishma then lying on

the

24 !

his

Beholding

Bombay edition reads paryam.

—T.

The Borubav edition reads milrdndm for putr&nam.—T.

MAHABHARATA,

the jet of water caused by the son of Pandu, the mighty-armed

(Bhishma, addressing Duryodhana), said,

Pandavas

with the

—O

sire,

make peace

Hostilities ceasing, peace will be

thine

Let the war between thyself and thy cousins end with

28 26 Enjoy the Earth in brotherliness with the sons of Pandu !

— Having disregarded those counsels, my child

certainly

That has now come to pass which Bhishma of

repenting now.

87 great foresight said.

As regards

destitute of counsellors

and

In consequence of

of sons!

reft

Sanjaya, I

myself,

gambling, I am fallen into great misery like a bird shorn of its

wings 28

As children engaged

and cut

seized a bird

off its

having

Sanjaya,

sport,

wings, merrily

release

but

it,

the creature cannot achieve locomotion in consequence of its winglessness

wings

;

even so have I become,

like a

bird shorn

of its

Weak, destitute of every resource, without kinsmen,

and deprived of relatives and friends, cheerless and overpowered

31 by enemies, to which point of the compass shall I go ?

who vanquished all the Kamvojas and the Amvashthas with the Kaikeyas, that puissant one, who, having for the accomplish-

ment of his purpose vanquished the Gandharas and the Videhas battle,

subjugated the whole Earth for the sake of Duryo-

dhana's aggrandisment, heroic

alas,

he hath been vanquished by the ~

and strong Pandavas endued with mighty arms 32 3S !

Upon the

slaughter, in

battle, of that

mighty bowman, viz.,

Kama, by the diadem-decked (Arjuna), tell me, were these heroes that stayed (on the field) 3t !

Sanjaya,

who

he was

I hope

not alone and abandoned (by friends) when slain in battle by the

Pandavas ?

Thou hast,

our brave warriors have

sire, told

fallen.*

With

me,

before this,

his

powerful

how

shafts

Cikhandin felled in battle that foremost of all wielders of weapons, viz., Bhishma, who did nothing to repel the attack. larly,

Simi-

Sanjaya, Drupada's son Dhrishtadyumna, uplifting his

scimitar, slew the

mighty bowman Drona who, already pierced

with many arrows, had laid aside devoted himself to Yoga.f*

his

weapons in battle and

These two were both

The Beugal texts righty read viras in the second line.

A triplet in the Bengal texts.— T.

slain

—T.

KARNA PARVA. disadvantage and especially by

Even

deceit.

this

Bhishma and Drona,

deed,

contending in

while

what I

have heard about the slaughter of Bhishma and Drona

In-

were

fight,

incapable of being slain in battle by the wielder of the thunder-

This that I tell thee is the truth

bolt himself by fair means.

As regards Kama, how,

indeed, could Death

89 !

him, that

touch

hero equal unto Indra himself, while he was engaged in shooting his manifold celestial weapons ^*° for his

ear-rings,

decked, and celestial dart of the

who

lying

had,

He unto whom, in exchange

Purandara had given that foe-slaying, gold-

(within

snake-mouthed celestial

his

splendour of lightning, 41

amid

quiver)

sandal-dust,

— he that

arrow decked with gold, equipt with

goodly wings, and capable of slaying

all

foes,

regarding those heroic and mighty car-warriors

— he who,

dis-

having Bhish-

ma and Drona at their head, had acquired from Jamadagni's 48 son the terrible Brahma weapon, — that mighty-armed one, who,

having seen the warriors with Drona at

aiHicted with arrows and turn away from the field,

with his keen shafts the bow of Subhadra's son, 44

having in a trice deprived the

invincible

head

their

had cut

off

— he who,

Bhimasena endued

with the might of ten thousand elephants and the speed of the wind, of his car, had laughed at him, 4S

— he who, having van-

means of his straight shafts and made him earless, slew him not from compassion and considerations

quished Sahadeva by

cf virtue,

RciJcshasas,

— he who, with Cakra's viz.,

Ghatotkacha,

dart, slew

that

prince

who, from desire of

had invoked a thousand kinds of illusions, 47 in battle, filling Dhananjaya with fear,

— he whose feats

had made the latter

such a long period avoid a single combat with could that hero be slain in battle ?* 48

victory,

him,

—

How could he

for

alas,

how

slain

by foes unless one of these had happened to him, viz., the destruction of his car, the snapping of his bow, and the exhaustion of his

weapons ? 49

Who could vanquish that tiger among men,

* Three lines occur after this texts omit them rightly, I think.

the

Bombay edition.

The Bengal

In those lines Dhritarashtra

charges

Arjuna with having made his engagement with the Samsaplakas a pretext for avoiding Kama.

Such an accusation would be absurd.— T.

—— —

— MAIIABHARATA.

•2±

like a real

endued with great impetuosity, viz., Kama,

tiger,

while shaking his formidable

bow and shooting therefrom

terrible shafts and

weapons

celestial

bow broke, or his car sank in the indeed,

see

his

Surely, his

Earth, or his weapons became

exhausted, since thou tellest

battle ?

that

slain

any other cause for (explaining)

his

do not,

slaughter

That high-souled one who had made the terrible vow not wash my feet till I slay Phalguna* 2

5t !

I will

— that warrior through

whose fear that bull among men, viz., king Yudhishthira the just,

had not, in the wilderness, for thirteen years continuously,

obtained a wink of sleep, 53

— that high-souled hero of great prow-

ess relying upon whose valour

my son had forcibly dragged the

wife cf the Pandavas to the assembly, 64 and there in the midst of that conclave, in the very sight of the Pandavas

presence of the Kurus, had addressed the princess as the wife of slaves,™

— that hero of the Sata

and

in the

of Panchala

caste,

who

the midst of the assembly had addressed Krishna, saying,

All

Krishna, that are even like sessamum seeds

thy husbands,

without kernel, are no more, therefore, seek some other husband, thou of the fairest complexion

— and in wrath had caused

her to listen to other expressions equally harsh and rude, how was that hero slain by the foe ? S6

dhana even these words,

~ 57

viz.,

He who had said unto Duryo-

— // Bhishma who boasteth of his

prowess in battle, or Drona who is invincible in fight, doth not

Duryodhana, even from partiality, slay the sons of Kunti, 1 will slay them all, let the fever of thy heart be dispelled who also said, What will (Arjuna's) Gdndiva and the tico !

—

inexhaustible quivers do to that shaft of mine, smeared with cool sandal-paste, alas,

when it will course through the welkin ?

how could that

warrior possessed of shoulders

those of the bull, be slain by Arjuna ?

58 " 60

broad as

He who, disregarding

the fierce touch of the arrows shot from Gdnoliva had addressed

Thou hast no husbands now !

Krishna, saying, at the Pandavas,

— he who,

—and glared

Sanjaya, relying on the might a

moment,

— he,

I think,

of his own arms, had entertained no fear, for even of the Parthas with their sons and Janarddana,

could not possibly meet with death at the

hands of the very

gods with Vasava at their head rushing against him

in fury,

— KAUN V PARVA, what then need I say,

sire,

tho bowstring

fences,

his

of Adhi-

son

the

before

could not be seen competent, to stay

The person

Pandavas?"

of the

ratha, while the hitter, putting

med

touch

was possible for the Earth to be destitute of fire, but tha

of the splendour of the Sun, of the Moon, or

death of that foremost of men, that never retreated from battle, That foolish child of mine, of wicked could not be possible."

Kama, as also his brother Duscasaua, for his ally, had made up his mind for the rejection

who having

understanding,

proposals, 65

of Vasudeva's

got

Kama

with

what,

victory,

and of Duscasana,

Savyasachin, and indeed, did

the

Pandavas crowned

Duryodhana say f 68

Durraarshana slain in battle and Vrishasena

holding also the kings (of his army) turn

flight,

and

that son of mine is now indulging in

ing

his

say ? TX

back

did

the

their

faces,

think

fled,

lamentations

host dispirited, what, indeed,

proud, and foolish Duryodhana,

and seeing

also,

already

car-warriors

his

Seeing

mighty car-warriors, 69 be-

his host break when slaughtered by

intent

Seeing Vikartana's son slain

now indulging in lamentations !" in single combat by

wight, beholding the

surely, that

slaughter of the bull-shouldered

79 !

Behold-

ungovernable,

with passions not under control,

Having himself provoked such

fierce

hostility

though

who

dissuaded by all his friends, what, indeed, did Duryodhana,

has suffered a great loss in battle of friends and followors, say ?

Beholding his brother slain in battle by his blood being

Bhimasena, and upon

7S drunk, what, indeed, did Duryodhana say ?

Kama,

My son had, with the ruler

of the

will slay Arjuna in battle !

— When he saw that Kama

what, indeed, did he say ?

What,

Gandharvas, said,

sire,

slain,

did Cakuni the son of

Suvala, who had formerly been filled with joy after going through

the match at dice and cheating the son of Pandu, say when ho

saw Kama slain '.^

What did that mighty

the Satwatas, that great

bowman, viz.,

among

car-warrior

Kritavarman the

son

Endued when he saw Vaikartana slain to the agreeablo with youth, possessed of a handsome form, of Hridika,

sight,

say

and celebrated throughout the world, what,

did Acwatthaman, tho

intelligent

Bra hmanas and Kshatriyas and Vai s-yas that 4

Sanjaya,

son of Drona, upon

whom

are desirous of

T MAHABHARATA*

acquiring the science of arms wait, for protections, say when he "

saw Kama slain ? 77 78

What did Caradwat's son Kripa,

sire,

of Gotama's race, that foremost of car-warriors, that teacher of

the science of arms, say when

Kama slain 79 What

he saw

did the mighty leader of the Madra warriors, that

Madras,

king of the

the great bowman Calya of the Sauvira clan, that

viz.,

ornament of assemblies, that foremost of car-warm rs (temporarily) engaged in driving the car, say slain ?*

when he saw

What also did all the other warriors, difficult of defeat those lords of Earth that came

in battle, viz.,

fight, say,

O Sanjaya, when they beheld Vaikartana slain 80 * ?

of the heroic Drona, that

fall

bull

Kama

among men, who,

several divisions in

that foremost

among

tiger

car-warriors, that

Sanjaya, became

their

order ?

of car-warriors,

Tell

viz.,

After the

the

me,

heads of the Sanjaya,

how

Calya the ruler of the

Madras, became engaged in driving the car of Vaikartana 84 !

Who were they that guarded the right wheel of the Suta's son while the latter was engaged in fight, and who were

they that

guarded his left wheel, and who were they that stood at the rear of that hero ?

Who were those heroes that did

Kama, and who were

those

mean

fellows

that

not desert

ran away ?

How was the mighty car-warrior Kama slain amidst your united selves 86 How also did those mighty car-warriors, viz., ?

the brave Pandavas, advance against him shooting showers of shafts like the clouds also,

Sanjaya,

pouring torrents

how that mighty shaft, celestial and

of its species, and equipt with a head

became futile 38 !

of rain ?-f 87

I do not,

Tell

foremost

that

of a serpent,

Sanjaya, see

the

possibility

even a small remnant of my cheerless host being saved when leaders have been crushed !^ 89

its

* Though a great request,

Arjuna.

—T.

drive

car- warrior,

Kama's

Hearing of the slaughter of Calya consented, at Duryodhana'a

car during

the latter's engagement with

t The Bengal reading Pdndavascha Katham is better than the Bombay reading Pdndavascha Swyam,

—

The Bengal reading Hatotsdhasya is preferable to the Bombay reading Hatotsedhasya. The latter, although accepted by Nilakantha, would involve a pleonasm in view of the allusion to the kukud being %

KARNA PARVA. those two

heroes, those

two mighty bowmen, viz., Bhishma

and Drona, who were ever ready to lay down their lives for my sake, what use have I of life ?* 9 °

Again and again I am unable

Kama, the might of whose arms equalled

to endure that

Tell me,

O Sanjaya,

all

that

occurred in

the brave warriors of the Kauravas

death of Drona

9 !

the battle between

and their

foes,

Tell me also how the sons of

that

Pfmdavas '"

of ten thousand elephants, should be slain by the

the

after

Kunti fought

the battle with Kama, and how that slayer of foes received his

quietus in the fight !'

" 98

Section X.

"Sanjaya said,

— 'After the

fall of the

mighty bowman Drona

on that day, O Bharata, and after the purpose had been baffled of that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son

the vasty army,

O monarch, of the

Partha, having arrayed his

with his brothers. son,

own

of Drona, 1 and after

Kauravas had

troops, stayed

Perceiving him staying

away,

fled

on the

the

field

field,

thy

O bull of Bharata's race, seeing his own army running

away, rallied them with great courage. 3

Having caused

divisions to take up their

O Bharata, relying

stand,

thy

son,

his

on the might of his arms, fought for a long time with his

foes,

the Pandavas, who, having gained their end, were

with

joy and had been struggling for hours together.

filled

the ap-

proach there of the evening twilight, he caused the troops 4

be withdrawn. "'

Having caused the withdrawal of their troops,

and having entered their own encampment, the Kauravas held 6 with one another a consultation about their own welfare, seat

ed like the celestials on costly couches overlaid with rich coverlets,

and on excellent seats and luxurious beds. 7

Duryodhana, addressing those mighty bowmen

Then king in

agreeablo

and highly sweet expressions, spoke the following words suited to the occasion.'

crushed. leader?.

Kid-itd literally means the hump of a bull

;

hence,

a leader of

—T.

* TjiHajivita often implies one ready to lay down his liff, and not one that has laid down his life.

Compare Drona Parvmn, sec. XXVvei

t D.

MAHABHARATA.

"Duryodhana said,

— Ye foremost of intelligent men, declare

Under these circumstances, ye kings, what is necessary and what is still more all

of you, without delay, your opinions

necessary ?

—

"Sanjaya continued,

— 'When that prince of men had spoken

those words, those lions among men, seated

made various

desire

gestures expressive

of their

Observing the indications of those who were pouring their lives as libations on the

thrones,

their

of battle. 10

desirous

all

and behold-

battle-fire,

ing the monarch's face radiant as the morning Sun," the preceptor's

son

endued with intelligence and accomplished

speech,

said

these

and policy,

words

— Enthusiasm, opportunity,

— these are the means declared, by the learned, to

be capable of accomplishing

however,

are,

equal unto the celestials, mighty car-warriors all, possess-

ed of slain.

They

ends.

all

Those foremost of men we had on our

dependent on destiny. * side,

skill,

policy,

devoted,

and

accomplished,

have been

loyal,

For all that we should not despair of victory.

may

these means be properly applied, even Destiny propitious.'*

All of us,

therefore,

If all

mado

Bharata, shall

install

Kama, that foremost of men, endued besides with every accomplishment, in the command of the army 1S Making Kama !

This Kama is endued

our commander, we shall crush our foes.

with great might

;

he is a hero, accomplished in

incapable of defeat in battle. is quite

Irresistible as

weapons, and

Yama himself, he

competent to vanquish our foes in battle

these words from the preceptor's son, thy son, time, built great hopes on Kama. 17

heart that after the fall of

16 !

— Hearing

O king, at that

Cherishing the hope in his

Bhishma and Drona,

vanquish the Pandavas, and comforted (by

Kama would Bharata, 13

it),

Duryodhana then, filled with joy at having heard those words of Acwatthaman, steadying his mind and relying on the might of his arms, said unto Radha's son, O monarch, these words that were fraught with affection and regard, and that wore true, delightful, and beneficial to himself I

know thy

to me

For

thee certain

prowess, and all

that,

the

for

—

Kama,

great friendship thou bearest

mighty-armed

words that are

,3 ~ 20 :

one, I

good !"

shall

address

Having heard

—

KARNA PARVA,

Thou art endued with viz.,

great

appear desirable to

thee

wisdom, and thou art even

Those two Atirathas that were my Gener-

supreme refuge !" als,

may

hero, do that which

them,

Bhishma and Drona, have been

General, thou that art mightier than

great bowmen were

advanced

partial to Dhananjaya.

Still

Both of those

They were, besides,

years.

Be thou my

slain.

they

both those heroes were respected

by me, O son of Radhii, at thy word 3 * !

Viewing his relation-

of Pandu,

ship of grandsire unto them, the sons

sire,

were

spared in dreadful battle by Bhishma for ten successive days

a* !

Thyself also having laid aside thy weapons, the valiant Bhish-

ma was slain in before him !*

great

by Phalguna with Cikhandin

battle

bowman had

After that great

and be-

fallen

O tiger

taken himself to his bed of arrows, it was at thy word,

By him

among men, that Drona was made our leader !** were the sons of Pritha spared,

consequence, as I

their relationsnip unto him of pupils.

That old man

been slain by Dhrishtadyumna more speedily. 88

also

think, of also

I do

even on reflection, another warrior equal to thee in

has

not see, battle,

thee, that is, whose prowess could not be measured by even those

two foremost of warriors that have been slain

the

fight !*'

Without doubt, thou alone today art competent to win victory Before, in the middle, and later on, thou hast accord-

for us!

ingly acted for

hoveth thee, install

our good. 80

Therefore, like

a leader, it be-

in this battle, to bear the burden thyself.

thy own

self in

the

Generalship. 81

Like the

Thyself celestial

generalissimo, the lord Skanda of unfading prowess, (supporting

the celestial army), do thou support this Dhartarashtra, host

Like Mahendra slaying the Ddnavas, destroy thou throngs of our foes

!* sa

Beholding thee staying in

Pandavas, those mighty car warriors, fly away

will,

all

the

battle, the

with the Pa.ncha.las,

from battle, like the Ddnavas at sight of Vishnu.

When thou shalt stand

thou, therefore, lead this vast force !f 88

rosolved on the field, the Pandavas of wicked hearts, the Panchalas,

and the Srinjayas,

will

all

fly

away with their friends."

A triplet in the Bengal texts.— T.

+ Thie is a triplet in the Bengal texts.

— T.

—

MAHABHARATA.

As the risen Sun, scorching everything by his energy, destroy88

eth the thick gloom, even so do thou destroy our foes

"Sanjaya continued, — 'Strong became that hope,

the heart of thy son,

viz.,

—

king, in

that where Bhishma and Drona had

Kama would vanquish the Pandavas. 86 that hope within his heart, he said unto Kama,— been slain,

Cherishing Suta's son,

Partha never wishes to fight, standing before thee 87 !

"Kama said, — I have,

son

—

of Gandhari, said before

I shall vanquish all the Pandavas with their sons and Jandrddana ! n I shall

thy presence, even these

words,

viz.,

—

become thy General. thyself,

O monarch

vanquished 39 !

—

In this there is no doubt.

Tranquillise

Consider the Pandavas to be already

"Sanjaya continued,

— 'Thus addressed,

monarch,

king

Duryodhana then stood up with all the monarchs, like He

of a

hundred sacrifices with the gods, for honoring

Kama with the

command of the army, like the celestials for honoring Skanda.* 40 Then, O monarch, all the kings headed by Duryodhana, desirous of victory, installed Kama in the command, according to the rites enjoined by the ordinance.-]-* 1

With golden and earth-

en jars filled to the brim with water and sanctified with

man-

with tusks of elephants and horns of rhinoceroses and mighty bulls, 43 with other vessels decked with jewels and gems, tras,

with also fragrant herbs and plants, and with other articles

Kama, seated at his ease on a seat made of udumvara wood and overlaid with silken cloth, was invested with the command, according to the rites enjoined in collected in abundance,

Brahmanas, and Kshatrivas, and Vaicyas, and

the scriptures.

respectable Cudras, praised that high-souled one

bathed on that excellent seat. 43 " 44

mand,

king,

that

slayer

after

he was

Thus installed in the com-

of foes, viz., the

son

of Radha,

caused, by presents of Nishas and kine and other wealth, many

foremost of Brahmanas to utter blessings on him. 45 the

Pdrthas

ivith

Govinda and

all

— Vanquish — even

their folloivers,

A triplet in the Bengal texts. — T.

The Akldshnka consisted in pouring sanctified water on the head

the prrsoii requiring the investiture.— T.

— KIRN A PART A, these were the words that

the

46 !

of Radha, for

our

Sun ever destroying Darkness with

his

son

Slay the Parthas and the Panchalas, victory, like the risen fierce

rays

and the Brahmanas (And they also said,)—

eulogists

bull among men

said (unto him),

Kecava are not able

(The sons of Pandu) with

to even look at the shafts

shot

gaze at the burning rays of the Sun

thee, like

owls

unable

The Parthas with the before thee armed with standing incapable of Panchalas are weapons,

the Danavas before Indra in battle

i0 \

— Installed

Radha's son of incomparable splendour looked

in the command,

Sun. 60

Hav-

command

of the

resplendent in beauty and radiance like a second

ing installed the son of Radha (thus) in the

army, thy son, urged on by Death, regarded himself as one

who had his purposes accomplished. 51 That chastiser of foes, king, having obtained the command, orviz., Kama, also, dered the troops to be arrayed, at the rise

rounded by thy sons, like

Bharata,

of the Sun.

Sur-

Kama looked resplendent

Skanda surrounded by the celestials, in the

Taraka for its evil root.*'

battle

having

" 5S

Section XI. "Dhritarashfera said, of the army, self in

—"After having obtained the command

and after he had been addressed by the king him-

those sweet and brotherly words, and after he had order-

ed the troops to be arrayed at the hour of sunrise,

tell

me, O

Sanjaya, what did Vikartana's son Kama do V 1 '*

"Sanjaya said,

— 'Having learnt Kama's wishes, thy sons,

bull of Bharata's race, ordered the troops

joyful music. 3

arrayed with

While it still wanted a long period for the com-

ing of the dawn, a

loud

noise

suddenly arose among thy troops. 4

— Array, —

king,

And the uproar that

arose,

Array,

became tremendous and touched the very heavens, of foremost of elephants and fenced cars while under process of foot-soldiers

and

armour or

course

steeds,

of being

of equipment,

monarch, while putting on their harnessed, and

combatants

* TdrakCanayc means that in which (the Asura) Taraka was the sought to be put down.

It is compounded of

Taraka and dmi/a.—T.

evil

MAHABHARATA.

moving with activity and shouting unto one another !*"*

S ida's

the

field)

son, bearing a

Then

gold-backed bow, appeared (on the

on his car possessed of the splendour of the radiant Sun,

crowned with many banners, epuipt with a white standard, with steeds of the hue of cranes, bearing the device of the a hundred quivers, furnished with

elephant's rope, filled with

mace and wooden

fence, freighted with £ataghnis and rows and darts and lances and spears, and supplied with

of bells

many bows. 7 " * 9

And the

blowing his conch,

and

gold, gold.

shaking

Suta's

decorated

king,

with

his

Sun

amongst the Kauravas,

car, difficult

approach and

the gloom, 11

none

that

destroys

tiger

among men, recked, sire, men ia Speeding the

the loss of Bhishma or Drona or other sire,

field,

net-work of

bow adorned with pure mighty bowman Kama, that foremost

Beholding the

warriors,

on the a

formidable

his

of car-warriors, seated on

resembling the risen

son appeared

with the blasts of his conch,

Kama caused

be drawn out. 18

Hav-

ing arrayed the troops in the Makara array, that mighty

bow-

the

vast

army

of the

Kauravas

man, that scorcher of foes, viz., Kama, proceeded against the

Pandavas from desire of victory. * 1

that Makara,

king, was

In the tip of the beak of

stationed

Kama himself.

In the

two eyes were the brave Cakuni and the mighty car-warrior Uluka. 18

In the head was Drona's son and in the neck were all

the uterine

brothers.

In the

supported by a large force." stationed

middle was king Duryodhana

In the left foot,

O monarch, was

Kritavarman accompanied by the Narayana troops,

and those invincible warriors, viz., the Gopalas. 11 \ In the right foot,

O king, was Gotama's son of prowess incapable of being

baftied, surrounded by those mighty bowmen, viz., the Trigartas

and by the Southerners. 18

In the left hind- foot was stationed

19 Calya with a large force raised in the country of the Madras.

* All the expressions qualify Ruthena, with the exception

of Ilema-

prishtcna Dhaunshd which evidently refers to the verb Adrishyata.

—

To this day there are, in certain districts of Bengal and Bahar, Gopalas, now called Gowdias or Ahirs, who allow themselves to be hired for local fights and brawi3. r

The Gopalas were very probably shepherds.

They are an extremely sturdy clan,

— T.

KARNA PARVA. In the right (hind foot),

O monarch, was Sushcna of true vows,

surrounded by a thousand cars and three hundred elephants. 2 ' In the tail were the two royal brothers of mighty energy, viz., Chitra and Chitrasena surrounded by a large force. 21

O great king, that foremost

" 'When,

men,

Kama,

vis.

thus came out,

king Yudhishthira the just, casting his eyes on Arjnna, said these words :" Behold, O Partha, how the Dharta-

—

O hero, in this battle, protected by heroes and mighty car- warriors, hath been arrayed by Kama 23 This vast

rashtra force,

Dhiirtariishtra force hath lost its bravest warriors.

mighty-armed one, are

remain,

straw

in it '."*

They that

feeble, equal, as I think, to

Only one great bowman, viz., the Suta's son, shincth That foremost of car-warriors is incapable of being

vanquished by the three worlds with their mobile and immobile creatures, including the gods, Asuras, and Gandharvas, and the

Kinnaras and great serpents 25

If thou slayest him

today,

O Phalguna The thorn also which for twelve years hath been planted in my mighty-armed one, the victory

will

heart will then

plucked out

thine,

Knowing

thou of

this,

— Hear-

mighty arms, form thou the array that thou wishest 28 !

ing those

words of his brother, that Pandava of the white

steeds disposed his army in counter array after the form

of the

On the left side was stationed Bhimasena, and on the right was stationed the great bowman Dhrishtadyumna. 28 half moon.

were the king and Dhananjaya the Nakula and Sahadeva were at the rear of king

In the middle of the array son of Pandu.

Yudhishthira the just. 29

The two Panchala

princes, viz.,

Yu-

dhamanyu and Uttamaujas, became the protectors of (Arjuna's) car-wheels.

Protected by

the

diadem-decked Arjuna himself,

they did not quit Arjuna for a moment. 30 possessed of great courage, clad

The remaining kings,

mail, stood in

the

each in the position assigned to him, according to the of his enthusiam and

resolution,

formed their great array,

O Bharata.

array,

measure

Having thus

Bharata, the Pandavas, and

mighty bowmen of thy army set their hearts on

battle.

the

Be-

holding thy army disposed into battle array by the Sulas son in

A triplet in the Bengal texts. — T. 5

MAHABHARATA.

with all his brethren regarded the Pandavas

battle, Duryodhana

to be already slain.

Similarly Yudhishthira,

king, behold-

ing the Pandava army disposed in array, regarded the Dhartarashtras with Kama to be

already slain.

Then

conchs, and

kettle-drums, and tabours, and large drums, and cymbals, and Dindimas, and Jharjharas, were loudly blown and beat on all

Indeed, those loud-sounding instruments were blown

sides

and beat,

king,

among both the

Leonine roars also

armies.

arose, uttered by brave warriors for victory.

king, the noise of neighing

arose,

phants, and the fierce rata, (in the

clatter

steeds

also

of car-wheels.

ele-

None, O Bha-

Kaurava army), at that time, felt the loss of Drona,

Kama clad in mail and stationed afe

seeing the great bowman

the

And there

and grunting

head of the array.

monarch, teeming

Both armies,

with joyous men, stood, eager for battle and (ready) to destroy

each other without delay.

There, the two heroes, viz.,

and the son of Pandu, excited with other,

wrath

at sight of each

king,

and both firmly resolved, stood or careered,

through their

respective divisions.

The two armies, as they

advanced to meet each other, seemed to dance the

Kama

wings and the

battle came forth.

side- wings

41 *

From

desirous

Then commenced the battle,

of men, elephants, steeds, and cars, another.'

(in joy).

of both, warriors

monarchy

engaged in destroying one

" 4i

Section XII. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Then those two vast armies, teeming with

rejoicing men and steeds

and elephants, resembling

splen-

dour the celestial and the Asura hosts, meeting together, began to

strike each other.

Men, cars,

elephants, and

steeds,

made sturdy

foot-

strokes destructive of

soldiers, of fierce

prowess,

bodies and sins.-j**

Lion-like men strewed the Earth

with the

* It would seem that when the actual encounter took place, the order of the array, as regards both armies, + I adopt

was speedily and entirely lost.

—T.

Dekapapmapromaganan.

The

the Bengal reading which

meaning, of course,

that the men were slain so that their bodies were

destroyed a3 also their sins, for death iu battle

rewarded with heaven.

KAKNA PAHVA. heal-;

of lion-like

the full moon or the

men, each resembling,

8 Combatants cutsun in splend >ur and the lotus in fragrance. and broadcrescent-shaped off the heads of combatants, with battleand headed shafts and razor-faced arrows and axes,

The arms of men of long and massive arms, cut off by men of long and massive arms, falling upon the Earth, shone, 5 With those writhing arms decked with weapons and bracelets. axes.

adorned with red fingers and palms, the Earth looked resplendent as if strewn with fierce five-headed snakes slain by Garuda* steeds, brave warriors

From elephants .and cars and struck by foes,

like the denizens of heaven

cars on the exhaustion of their merits.

fell

down,

from their celestial

Other^brave warriors fell

down by hundreds, crushed in that battle by braver combatants with

heavy maces and spiked clubs

and short bludgeons.*

Cars also, in that tumultuous fight, were crushed by cars, and infuriate elephants by infuriate compeers, and horsemen by horsemen. 9

Men destroyed by cars, and cars by elephants, and

horsemen by foot-soldiers, and foot-soldiers by horsemen, dropped down on the field,

as also cars and steeds

and

foot-soldiers

destroyed by elephants, and cars and steeds'and^elephants by foot-soldiers,

and cars and foot-soldiers and elephants by steeds,

and men and elephants by cars. 11

Great was the carnage made

of car- warriors and steeds and elephants and men steeds feet

and elephants

and weapons and cars.

struck

and

slain

by men and

and car-warriors, using their hands and 13

When that host was

being

thus

by heroic warriors, the Parthas, headed by

Vrikodara, advanced against us. 1 *

They consisted of Dhrishta-

dyumna and Cikhandin and the (five) sons of Draupadi and the Prabhadrakas, and Slityaki and Chekitana with the forces, and the Pandyas, the Cholas,

Dravida

and the Keralas, surrounded

by a mighty array, all possessed of broad chests, long arms, tall statures,

and large eyes.'*" *

of red teeth, endued with

Decked with ornaments, possr the prowess

of infuriate

elephants,

attired in robes of diverse colors, smeared with powdered scents.

armed with swords and

nooses, capable

* The Bombay text reada the in

eaiiiiig

Prahitais.

of restraining

Tf this

would be "dropped" by Gadura.— T.

mighty

reading be accent'

MAHABHARATA.

36 elephants, companion's other, locks,

in death,

and never deserting one an-

equipt with quivers, bearing bows, adorned with long

and agreeable in speech, were the combatants of the in-

fantry files

led

endued with

by Satyaki, belonging

Andhra

the

18 forms and great energy.*

fierce

tribe,

Other brave

warriors such as the Chedis, the Panchalas, the Kaikayas, the

Karushas, the Kocalas, the Kanchis, and the Maghadhas, also 19 rushed forward.

Their cars and steeds and elephants,

all

the foremost kind, and their fierce foot-soldiers, gladdened by the notes of diverse instruments, seemed to dance and laugh.f

In the midst of that vast force, came Vrikodara, riding on the neck of an elephant, and surrounded by many foremost of ele phant-soldiers, advancing against thy army.

That fierce and

foremost of elephants, duly equipt, looked resplendent, like the stone-built mansion on the top of the Udaya mountain, crowned

with the risen Sun. kind, studded

Its armour of iron, the

foremost

of its

with costly gems, was as resplendent as the

autumnal firmament bespangled with

stars.

in his outstretched arm, his head decked with a

With

lance

beautiful

dia-

dem, and possessed of the splendour of the meridian Sun at autumn, Bhima began to burn his foes.'* Beholding that elephant from a distance, Kshemadhurti, himself on an elephant, challenging, rushed cheerfuly towards cheerful still.

Bhima who was more

An encounter then took

place

between those

two elephants of fierce forms resembling two huge hills topped with trees, each fighting with the other as

liked.

Those

two heroes then, whose elephants thus encountered each other, forcibly struck each other with lances endued with the splendour 27 of solar rays, and uttered loud roars.

Separating,

careered in circles with their elephants, and each

bow begarf to strike the other. 28 with their loud roars and the

they then

taking up a

Gladdening the people around

slaps

their

armpits and the

whizz of their arrows, they continued to utter leonine shouts. 23

Endued with great

strength,

both of them, accomplished in

— T.

Vd'l'jarov ris of the Bengal texts is preferable

adopt the Bengal reading'

the Bombay edition.

— T.

Vadyadhara's of

KARNA I'AItVA.

with upturned trunks

weapons, fought, using their elephants

and decked with banners

floating on the wind.

Then each

cutting off the other's bow, they roared at each other, and rained

on each other showers of darts and lances like two masses of clouds in the

pouring torrents of rain. 11

reason

rainy

Bhimasena

Kshemadhurti pierced

in the

Then

of the chest

centre

with a lance endued with great impetuosity, and then with

and uttered a loud shout. 82

others,

six

With those

lances

sticking to his body, Bhimasena,

whose form then blazed with

wrath, looked resplendent

the cloud-covered Sun with his

rays issuing through

interstices

the

Bhima carefully hurled the rays of entirely

of that canopy. 33

antagonist

his

Then

a lance bright as

Sun, coursing perfectly straight, and made

the 3

The

of iron. *

ruler

his bow, cut off that lance with

the son of Pandu

with sixty

Kulutas then, drawing

of the

ten

shafts

shafts.

and then pierced

Then Bhima

the son

of Pandu, taking up a bow whose twang resembled the roar of the clouds, uttered a loud his

shafts

elephant of

the

in that battle by

shout and deeply afflicted with his

antagonist. 85

Bhimasena with

his

Thus

afflicted

arrows, that elephant,

though sought to be restrained, staid not on the field like a wind-

blown cloud. 87

The fierce prince of elephants owned by Bhima

then pursued his (flying) compeer, like a wind-blown

mass of

clouds pursuing another mass driven by the tempest. 38 Restrain-

ing his own elephant,the valiant Kshemadhurti pierced with his shafts the

pursuing elephant of Bhimasena. 89

Then with a

well-shot razor-headed arrow that was perfectly straight,

madhurti cut off his antagonist's bow and then hostile

elephant. 49

Filled

with

wrath,

Kshe-

afflicted

that

Kshemadhurti then,

in that battle, piercod Bhima and struck his elephant with many long shafts in overy vital part. That huge elephant of Bhima then fell down, O Bharata!* * Bhima, however, who 1

had jumped down from his elephant and stood on the Earth bofore the fall of the beast, then crushed

antagonist with his mace. 42

madhurti *

also,

the

And Vrikodara

elephant of his

then struck Khc-

who, having jumped down from

A triplet the Bengal texts. —T.

his

crush d

MAHABHARATA.

him with uplifted weapon. 48 Kshemadhurti, thus struck, fell down lifeless, with the sword elephant, was advancing against

in his arm,

by the side of his elephant,

by thunder beside celebrated king

of the

down

like a lion struck

thunder-riven

hill.

Kulutas

thy

slain,

Beholding

troops,

Bharata's race, exceedingly distressed, fled away.'

the

bull

" 45

Section XIII. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Then the mighty and heroic bowman Kama

began to smite the straight shafts.

Pandava army

that battle, with

Similarly, those great

his

car-warriors, viz., the

began to smite the army Kama. 3 Kama also, king, in that battle, slew the Pandava army with his cloth-yard shafts bright as the rays of the Sun and polished by the hands king, filled with wrath,

Pandavas,

of thy son

in the very sight of

There, O Bharata, the elephants, struck by Kama with his shafts, uttered loud cries, lost strength, became smith. 8

of the

faint,

and wandered on all sides. 4

thus destroyed by the Sittas son,

While the army was being sire,

speed against that mighty car-warrior. s

Nakula rushed with

And Bhimasena rushed

against Drona's son who was engaged in the accomplishment of

the most difficult feats.

Satyaki checked the Kaikaya princes

Vinda, and Anuvinda. 6 *

King Chitrasena rushed against the

advancing Crutakarman

and Prativindhya against Chitra own-

;

ing a beautiful standard and a beautiful

bow. 7

Duryodhana

rushed against king Yudhishthira the son of Dharma

;

while

Dhananjaya rushed against the angry throngs of the Samsaptakas.'f

In that slaughter of great heroes, Dhrishtadyumna

proceeded against Kripa.

Kritavarman. 9

The invincible Cikhandin closed with

Crutakirti encountered Calya, and Madri's son,

the valiant Sahadeva,

king, encountered thy son Dus(;asana.

The two Kaikaya princes, in that battle, shrouded Satyaki with a shower of blazing arrows, and

the

latter

also,

* Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti were slain by Arjuna.

Bharata,

The two

warriors here referred to were of the Kaikayas, not of the Avantis. T

The Bengal texts read Kruddhan and not Eruddhas.—T.

— T.

KARNA PARVA,

shrouded the two Kaikaya brothers."

Those two heroic bro-

thers deeply struck Satyaki in striking with their tusks

a hostile compeer in

king, those two brothers, in

Indeed,

two elephants

the chest, like

that

the

forest.*

own

battle, their

vitals pierced with shafts, pierced

Satyaki of true deeds with

their shafts. 13

O great king, covering all

Satyaki, however,

the puints of the compass with a shower of arrows and smiling the while, checked the two brothers,

O Bharata. 14

Checked by

those showers of arrows shot by the grandson of Cini, the

two

brothers speedily shrouded the car of Cini's grandson with their shafts.

Cutting

beautiful

their

off

bows, Caurin of great

fame, checked them both with his keen arrows in that

battle.

1 *

Taking up two other beautiful bows, and a number of powerful shafts, the two beeran to cover

activity and skill.

Satyaki and career with great

Shot by the two brothers, those mighty

shafts equipt with the feathers of the

Kanka and

the peacock

and decked with gold, began to fall, illumining all the points of the compass. 18

In that dreadful battle between them,

king,

Those mighty Then the invincible

the arrows they shot caused a darkness there. car- warriors then cut off each other's bows.

Satwata, battle,

king, filled with rage,

took up another bow in that

and stringing it, cut off Anuvinda's head with a keen

razor-headed shaft. 20

Decked with ear-rings, that

head,

large

O king, fell like the head of Camvara slain in the great battle (of old).

And it reached the Earth in no

Kaikayas with his brother, the

grief.

time, filling

the

all

Beholding that bave warrior

slain,

mighty car-warrior Vinda, stringing another

bow, began to resist the grandson of Cini from every side." Piercing

Satyaki with

sixty

gold and whetted on stone, said,

arrows equipt

with

wings of

he uttered a loud shout

and

— Wait, Wait —Then that mighty car-warrior of the as

Kaikayas speedily struck Satyaki with many thousands of shafts in his arms and

chest.

All

his

limbs

wounded with

arrows, Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being

resplendent in that battle,

baffled,

king, like a flowering

* The Bengal texts read Muhdrane for Mahavanc. t B.jth 20 and 21 are triplets in

— T.

the Bengal texts.— T.

looked

Kinguka. 2 *

MAHABHARATA.

Pierced by the high-souled Kaikaya in that encounter, Satyaki,

with the greatest ease, pierced the five and

Then

twenty arrows/ 6

Kaikaya

those

with

(in return)

two foremost of car-

warriors, having each cut off the other's handsome bow in that

encounter, and having each quickly slain the other's driver and 27 steeds, approached each other on foot for a fight with swords. *

Both endued with massive arms, they looked resplendent on that extensive arena, each having taken

up a shield decked

with a hundred moons, and each armed with an excellent sword, like Jambha

and Cakra, both endued with great might, and the Aswras

battle between the gods

them, in that great

(of old).

Both of

then began to career in

battle,

the

circles.

And then they speedily encountered each other in battle, each And

approachnig the other near.

each

the other.

efforts for the destruction of

made

of them

great

Then Satwata cut in

king, cut in The latter also, Having cut off his antagonist's twain the shield of Satyaki. shield covered with centuries of stars, Kaikeya began to career 31 Then the in circles, advancing and receding (at times). grandson of Cini, endued with great activity, cut off by a side-

twain the shield of Kaikeya.

stroke the prince of the Kaikeyas thus careering in

arena armed with excellent sword.

Cased

that great

armour, that

king, thus cut off bowman, viz., the Kaikeya prince, like down a hill riven with fell battle, that great twain in

great in

thunder. 88 warriors,

Having slain him in

battle, that

of foes, viz., the

scorcher

that

foremost

got upon the car of Yudhamanyu.

Cini, quickly

of car-

brave grandson of 84

Afterwards

riding upon another car duly equipt (with everything), Satyaki 35 began to slay with his shafts the large force of the Kaikeyas.

The vast army

of the

Kaikeyas, thus slaughtered in battle,

leaving that foe of theirs, fled away on all sides.'

" 86

Section XIV. "Sanjaya wrath, *

said,

struck

— 'Crutakarman then,

that

lord

Earth, viz.,

A triplet iu the Bengal texts,— T.

filled

with

Chitrasena, in

that

king,

KARNA PARVA. battle,

with

The

arrows, pierced his driver with

the

Abhisaraa (in

king,

with

nine

ruler

Crutakarman,

striking

return),

shafts.

fifty

five.

Crutakarman then,

with rage, struck Chitrasena at the head

keen arrow in a vital part.

Deeply

that arrow by that high-souled

renown

of great

his insensible antagonist),

forces,

O monarch, with

pierced.

heroic

Chitrasena

that

ninety

of Earth,

lord

(viz.,

The mighty

arrows.*

Chitrasena then, recovering consciousness, cut off

car-warrior

his antagonist's bow with a broad-headed arrow,

antagonist himself with seven arrows.'

and pierced his

Taking up another bow

that was decked with gold and capable of striking

karman then, with his waves

of arrows,

sume a wonderful appearance. 7 the youthful king,

wearing beautiful garlands, looked in that of an

he said unto

him,

assembly.*

the

centre

— Wait, Wait — Crutakarman 9

pierced with that arrow in the battle, began to shed blood,

like a mountain shedding streams of liquid red-chalk.

in blood and dyed therewith, that hero shone

flowering Kincuka. 11

Crutakarman then,

Bathed

battle

rage,

and cut in twain the

The

latter's

off,

Crutakarman then,

king, thus assailed

by the foe, became filled with resisting bow of Chitrasena.

cut

as-

Adorned with those arrows,

Quickly piercing Crutakarman with an arrow in the chest,

hard. Cruta-

made Chitrasena

battle like a well-adorned youth in the midst

also,

filled

with a

During this interval, Cruta-

covered

with

of his

prince, the

felt great pain and swooned away.*

karman

straight

foe-

bow having been king, pierced him with three

hundred arrows equipt with goodly wings, covering him completely therewith. 13

With another broad-headed arrow, sharp-

edged and keen-pointed, he cut

off the

head-gear, of his high-souled antagonist.'*

head,

decked with

That blazing head

of Chitrasena fell down on the ground, like the

moon loosened

from the firmament upon

Beholding the

king

slain,

the

troops

the

Earth at will. 11

of Chitrasena,

ously against (his slayer). 15

O sire, rushed impetu-

That great bowman then,

filled

with rage, rushed, shooting his shafts, against that army, like Yama filled with fury, against all creatures at the time of the universal

dissolution. 17

Slaughtered in that battle by thy grandson armed with the bow, they quickly fled on all sides iika 6

MAHABHARATA,

elephants scorched by a forest-conflagration. flying

away hopeless

of vanquishing

pursuing them with his keen arrows, plendent (on his car).

Beholding them foe,

Crutakarman,

looked exceedingly

res-

Then Prativindhya, piercing Chitra with

five arrows, struck his driver

one.

the

with three, and his standard with

Him Chitra pierced, striking in the arms and the chest,

with nine broad-headed shafts equipt with wings of gold, having

Kanka

keen points, and plumed with

Then Prativindhya,

and peacock

Bhrarata, cutting

the bow of his antagonist, deeply struck

keen arrows. 22

off

the

feathers.

with his shafts latter

with

five

Then Chitra, O monarch, sped at thy grandson adorned with golden

a terrible and irresistible dart,

resembling a flame of fire. battle, cut off,

bells,

and

Prativindhya, however, in that

with the greatest ease, into three fragments,

that dart as it coursed towards him

a flashing

meteor.* 84

Cut off into three fragments, with Prativindhya's shafts, that dart fell down, like the thunderbolt insparing all creatures with fear at the end

of the

Yuga. 2S

Beholding that dart

baffled,

Chitra, taking up a huge mace decked with a net-work of gold,

hurled it at Prativindhya. 26

That mace slew the latter 's steeds

and driver also in that great

battle,

car,

fell

and crushing, besides, his Meanwhile,

27 with great impetuosity on the Earth.

having alighted from his car, O Bharata, Prativindhya hurled at Chitra a dart, well-adorned and equipt with a golden

coursed towards

him, the

high-sou!ed king

O Bharata, hurled the very

weapon

at Prativindhya.

Catching it as Chitra,

staff.

Striking the brave Prativindhya in

that battle, that

291

blazing

dart, piercing through his right arm, fell down on the Earth, and falling, illumined the

s whole region like a blast of lightning. °t

Then Prativindhya, O king,

filled

with

rage,

and desiring to

compass the destruction of Chitra, sped at him a lance decked with gold. 91

That lance, penetrating through

his

armour and

chest, entered the Earth like a mighty snake its hole.

with that lance, the king

fell

and massive arms that resembled a couple of iron * Or, t

'like a blazing brand'.— T.

A triplet iu the Beucral texts,— T, "ji*

Struck

down, stretching out his large clubs.

RARNA TARVA.

Beholding Chitra slain, thy warriors, those ornaments of battle, 54 Shooting rushed impetuously at Prativindhya from all sides. diverse kinds of shafts and Qataghnis decked with rows of bells,

they soon covered Prativindhya like masses of clouds covering the Sun.

The mighty-armed Prativindhya, consuming with

his arrowy showers those assailants of his in that battle, routed thy army like the thunder-wielding Cakra routing the Ashost.

Thus slaughtered

by the Pandavas,

battle

thy

king, suddenly dispersed in all directions like congre-

troops,

gated masses of clouds dispersed by

the

wind. 37

While thy

army, slaughtered on all sides, was thus Hying away, only Drona's son singly rushed with speed against the mighty Bhimasena.

All at once a fierce

them

encounter ensued between

like to what had taken place between Vritra and Vasava in

battle between the gods and the A suras (of old).'

tho

" Z3

Section XV.

—'Endued with the greatest

"Sanjaya said, king,

son,

displaying arrow. 1

Bhima with an

the

lightness

Aiming

all

activity, Drona's

arms, pierced

his

his vital parts, for he

hath a knowledge of all the vital parts of the body, the quick-

handed Acwatthaman again struck him

with

ninety

shafts.

Pierced all over with keen arrows by the son of Drona, Bhima-

sena looked resplendent in that battle like the Sun himself with his rays.

The son of Pandu then, covering the son

with a thousand well-directed

shafts,

uttered

of Drona

leonine

roar.

Baffling with his own shafts the shafts of his foe in that battle.

the son

of Drona,

king,

smiling, then

struck

the

Pandava in the forehead with a clothyard shaft. 1

The

forehead even

as the

proud

The

valiant

Pandu bore rhinoceros,

that

arrow on

his

king, in the forest bears its

horn.

son

Bhima then, in that battle, as if smiling the while, struck struggling son of Drona in the

forehead

the

with three clothyard

With those three arrows sticking on his forehead, that Brahmana looked beautiful like a three-peaked mountain The son of Drona washed with water in the season of rail shafts.

then afflicted the Pandava with hundreds of arroM

but

MAHABHAKATA,

44 to shake him like

wind

the

Similarly the son of Pandu,

failing

filled with

shake

mountain,'

the

joy, could not

that

Drona with his hundreds of keen shafts

battle shake the son of

mountain. 10

like torrents of rain failing to shake a

Shrouding

each other with showers of terrible shafts, those two great carwarriors, those two

heroes,

resplendent on those two

endued with

fierce

foremost of cars

might, shone

of theirs.

They

then looked like two blazing Suns risen for the destruction of the world, and engaged in scorching each other with their constituted by

excellent

rays

Endeavouring with great

arrows. *

care to counteract each other's feats in

that great

and

battle,

by deed with showers of

actually engaged in matching deed

arrows most fearlessly, 18 those two foremost of men careered in

Both invincible and

that combat like a couple of tigers. ble,

arrows constituted their fangs and bows

their

terri-

mouths, * 1

They became invisible under those clouds of arrows on all sides like the San and the Moon in the firmament shrouded by

;

masses of clouds. 15

And then those two chastisers of foes soon

became visible and blazed forth from cloudy screens. 16

Mars and Mercury freed

Then at that instant during the

pro-

gress of that awful battle, Drona's son placed Vrikodara to right,

pouring hundreds of fierce arrows upon him

clouds pouring torrents

rain

upon a mountain.

Bhima,

however, could not brook that indication of his enemy's

umph. 18

The son of Pundit,

king, from that very station

Acwatthilman's right, began to counteract the

his

the

latter's

tri-

feats.

Their cars continuing to wheel around in diverse ways and ad-

vance and retreat (according to the exigencies of the situation),

the battle between those two lions among men

exceedingly furious.

became

Careering in diverse paths, and (execut-

ing) circular mancevres,

they continued to strike each

other

with arrows shot from their bows drawn to their fullest stretch.

And each made the greatest endeavours to compass the destruction of the other. And each of them desired to make the other earless in that battle.

son

of Drona,

Then that great car-warrior, viz., the mighty weapons. The son of

invoked many

A triplet in the Bengal texts —

KARNA PARVA,

teracted

all

took

there

weapons of his

monarch,

place

an awful encounter of weapons,

like to the

Those shafts,

truction."

own weapons, coun-

his

those

encounter of planets

terrible

with

in that battle,

Panda, however,

foe.

Then,

at the time of the universal des-

Bharata,

let

by them, collided

off"

of the compass and thy

together, illuminating

all

the

troops also

Covered with flights of arrows, the

around. *

all

points

welkin assumed a terrible sight, like to what happens,

king,

at the time of the universal dissolution, when it is covered with falling meteors.

81 *

From

the

Bharata,

clash of shafts,

was generated there, with sparks and blazing flames. began

foremost of all

battles

O lord, viz., — This

will

never occur again

battle

the

(fought before) do

the battles

All

not come up to even a sixteenth this

Siddhas moving there, O

consume both armies. 88

monarch, said these words,

fire

That fire

part of this

A battle like

Both these persons, viz., this

Brahmana and this Kshatriya, are endued with knowledge 89 !

Both

and both are fierce in prowess

are possessed of courage,

Bhima, and wonderful is the skill of

Dreadful is the might

the other in weapons

How great is their energy, and how

wonderful the skill possessed by both in this battle like

Yuga

of the

Both

them stand

two universe-destroying Yamas at the end

They

are

born

two Rudras,

or like two

Suns 31 These two tigers among men, both endued with terrible !

forms, are like two Yamas in this battle

of the Sid'lhas heard

there

every

assembled denizens of heaven

— Such were the words

moment.

And among the

arose

a leonine roar. S7 -f"

there

Beholding the amazing and inconceivable feats of the two warriors

that

Charanas were

battle, the

filled

with

throngs of Slddhas and

dense wonder.

And the gods, the Sid-

dhas, and the great Riskis applauded them both, saying, cellent,

mighty-armed son of Drona

— Meanwhile those two heroes, done

injuries to

each

Excellent,

each

other with

* The Bombay reading Yiidham in the second line The Bengal reading Yadvat ia evidently preferable. T.

—

A triolet in the Bengal texts.—

Bhima

s* !

O king, having

that battle,

other, glared

— Ex-

of 25

eyes

vicious.

MAHABHARATA.

With eyes red in rage, their lips also quiver-

rolling in rage."

ed in rage. lips.

And they grinded their teeth in wrath and bit their

And those two great

with showers of arrows, as

car-warriors

covered each

masses of clouds that poured torrents of arrows that gleamed with

other

they were, in that battle, two

weapons

constituting

and

rain

for

lightning. 87

their

Having pierced each other's standards and drivers in that great battle,

and having also pierced each

tinued to strike each

other.

other's

Then,

steeds,

.monarch,

rage, they took up, in that dreadful encounter,

they conwith

rilled

two arrows, and

each desirous of slaying the other shot quickly at his

foe.

Those two blazing arrows, resistless and endued with the force of thunder, coming,

king, to the

two warriors as they stood 'at

the head of their respective divisions, struck them both. 43

The

two mighty combatants then, deeply struck with those arrows, sank, each from the force of the respective car.

other,

on the terrace of his

His driver then, understanding the son of

Drona to be insensible, bore him away from the battle, in the sight of all

the troops.

Similarly,

O king, his driver

bore away from the battle, on his car, the son scorcher of foes,

king,

Pandu, that

who was repeatedly falling into swoon.'

" 4S

Section XVI "Dhritarashtra said,

—

'Tell

me how occurred the

battle

Arjuna with the Samsaptakas, and of the other kings with the

Pandavas !'

Tell me also,

O Sanjaya, how happened the battle

of Arjuna with Acwatthaman, and of the other lords of Earth

with the Parthas "Sanjaya said,

!' 2

— 'Listen,

king, as I speak to thee as to how

occurred the battle of the heroic warriors (of our side) with the foe,

that battle

lives

which was destructive of bodies,

sins,

and

That slayer of foes, viz., Partha, penetrating into tho

Samsaptaka force that resembled the ocean, agitated it exceedingly, like a tempest agitating

the

vasty deep. 4

Cutting

ffo

with broad-headed arrows of keen edges the heads of brave warriors, that were decked with faces possessed of the splendour

of the full moon

and with beautiful eyes and eyebrows and

— 47

KARNA PAKVA. Dhananjaya speedily caused the Earth

teeth,

therewith as if with lotuses plucked off their in that

battle,

the arms

strewn

And

stalks.'*

Arjuna, with his razor-headed shafts, cut off

of his

foes,

that

massive, and smeared with

were

all

well rounded,

sandal-paste

large,

and

and other perfumes,

with weapons in grasp, with leathern fences casing their fingers,

and looking like five-headed snakes.'f repeatedly cut

off,

riders, and drivers,

And the son

with his broad-headed

Pandu

shafts, steeds,

and

and flags, and bows, and arrows, and arms

king, with And Arjuna, in that battle, many thousands of arrows, despatched to Yama's abode, car8 Many forewarriors and elephants and horses and horsemen.

decked with gems. 7

most of warriors, filled with rage, and roaring like bulls, and mad (like them) with excitement for a cow in season, rushed towards Arjuna, with loud

cries. +

All of them then began to

strike Arjuna with their arrows as the latter

was employed

slaying them, like infuriate bulls striking one

with their horns.

of their

species

The battle that took place between him

and them made the hair to stand on end, even

the

battle

beween the Daityas and the wielder of the thunder-bolt on the occasion

of the

conquest of the

three

worlds.

with his own weapons the weapons of his foes on

Resisting all

sides,

Arjuna, piercing them fast with innumerable arrows, took their lives.

Like the wind destroying

vast

masses of

Arjuna, otherwise called Jaya, that enhancer his foes, cutting cars,

—

off into

of the

clouds, fears

minute fragments large throngs of

cars, that is, whose poles, wheels, and ales had previously

been shattered by him, and whose warriors and steeds and

had been slain before, and whose weapons and quivers had been displaced, and standards crushed, and traces and reins

drivers

sundered,

and wooden fences and shafts broken, already,

and filling every body with wonder, achieved feats magnificient to

behold and rivalling those of a thousand great car-warrior3

* A triplet in the Bengal texts.

— T.

T This also is a triplet in the Bengal texts.— T. }

The Bombay texts read this with a slight variation.— T.

1 A triplet in the Bengal texts.— T,

— !

MAHABHARATA,

48 fighting together.

11 " 14 *

Crowds of Siddhas and celestial Ri8his

And

and Chdranas all applauded him.

kettle-drums

celestial

sounded, and floral showers fell upon the heads of Kecava and Arjuna.

And an incorporeal voice said, *

— These,

Kecava

viz.,

and Arjuna, are those two heroes that always possess the beauty of the moon, the splendour

and the radiance of the

Sun !"

the

fire,

force

of the

these two heroes are invincible even like

wind,

same

Stationed on the

Brahman and Icana

These two

heroes, the foremost of all creatures, are Nara

Narayana

17 !

car,

and

— Hearing and beholding these wonderful things,

Bharata,

with great care and resolution,

Ac^vatthaman,

18 rushed against the two Krishnas in that battle.

With his arm that held an arrow in its grasp, the son of Drona hailed the Pandava who was shooting shafts equipt with 19 heads, and smilingly told him these words.

—

foe-slaying hero, thou

If,

regard me a worthy guest arrived (before thee), then today, with thy whole heart, the hospitality of battle

summoned by the preceptor's son from desire

give a0 !

of battle,

— Thus Arjuna

regarded himself highly honored, and addressing Janarddana,

-— The Samsaptakas should be slain by me, but Drona's Tell me, O Madhava, to which of son again is summoning me said,

these duties should hospitality be

first

turn ?

Rising, let

the services

thou thinkest that to be

offered, if

proper !"

Thus addressed, Krishna bore Partha who had been summoned according to the rules of triumphant challenge, to the vicinity of Drona's son, like

Vayu

bearing

Indra to the sacrifice."

whose mind was fixed upon one thing, Acwatthaman, be cool, and withKecava said unto him,

Saluting Drona's son

—

out losing a moment strike and bear

The time has come

for those that are dependent on others to repay their obliga-

tion to their masters !f subtile.

The disputes between Brahmanas are

The consequences, however, of the disputes of Kshatri-

yas are palpable, being victory

and defeat !**

For obtaining

those excellent rites of hospitality that from folly thou solicitest at the hands of Partha, fight coolly now

— T. —T.

* The Bengal texts read Bhaya-varddhanam Literally, 'to pay off their master's cake.'

with the son of

\RNA I'AKVA.

Panda

1 I"

— Thus addressed by Vasudeva, that foremost of

generate ones replied, saying,

—So be

!— and

Kecava

pierced

Arjuna then,

with sixty shafts and Arjuna with three."

re-

filled

with rage, cut off Agwatthaman's bow with three shafts. Drona's

up another bow

son took

more formidable

was

that

still.

within the twinkling of an eye, he pierced Arjuna

Stringing it

and Kecava, the former with

latter

with

thousand.

hundred arrows, and the

three

And then Drona's son, with good

Arjuna in that battle, shot thousands and tens

care, stupifying

and millions <>f arrows. 30

of thousands

From the quivers, the

bow, the bowstring, the fingers, the arms the hands, the chest, ;

the face, the

of the body,

pores

the

nose, the eyes,

thick

the

ears,

the

head,

the

limbs,

the armour on his person, the car, and

O sire, of that utterer of Brahma, arrows began

the standard, to issue.

Madhava and the son of Pandu with that

Piercing

arrowy shower, Drona's son,

with joy,

tilled

uttered a

loud roar resembling that of a vast mass of congregated clouds."

Hearing that roar of his, the son of Pandu said unto Kecava words

unfading glory these

— Behold,

Madhava,

wickedness towards me of the preceptor's son us to

?+ !

this

He regardeth

slain,

having shrouded

I will

presently, however, by my training and might,

shower.*

— Cutting

with

every

this

one

arrowy

dense

bat'rle

his purpose

shot

by Ac.wattha.man into three fragments, that foremost one

thick fog.

with

his

son

After this the fierce

drivers, cars,

shafts

arrows

of those

them all like the Sun destroying a

of Bharata's race destroyed ss

off

the

Pandu once more

SamsaptaJeas

with

pierced

their

steeds,

Every

elephants, standards and foot-soldiers.

one of those that stood there as spectators, every one of those that were stationed

there

foot

or ear or steed or elephant,

regarded himself as shrouded by the arrows of Arjuna. sg

Shot

from Gdndiva, those winged arrows of diverse forme slew thot battle

elephants and steeds and men whether stationed in

his immediate

front

at the

distance

trunks, cut off with broad-headed

two

miles.

shafts, of elephants

whose cheeks and other limbs Ho wed *

The adown

the juice indicative of

Literally, 'having made us the tumatets of thia arrowy maiibiOLi.''— T. •

MAHAEHARATA.

50 excitement,

down like tall trees

A little after fell down elephants, huge as

with the axe.

with their

hillocks,

the forest struck down

fell

with his thunder.* tions well-equipt

riders,

cars

by Indra

like mountains crushed

With his shafts

that looked

cutting into minute pordissolving

edifices

vapour in the evening sky and unto which were yoked welltrained steeds of great speed and which were ridden by warriors invincible in battle, the son of Pandu continued

arrows on his enemies.

And

to shower his

Dhananjaya continued to slay

well-decked horsemen and foot-soldiers of the

foe.

4a~ 4S

Indeed,

Dhananjaya, resembling the very Sun as he rises at the end of the

Yuga, dried up the Samsaplaka ocean incapable of

being dried up easily, by means of keen arrows constituting his rays.

Without losing a moment, the son of Pandu once

more pierced Drona's son resembling a huge hill, with shafts of great impetuosity and the splendour of the Sun, like the piercing

thunderbolt

a mountain

with the

wielder

the

thunder.

Desirous of battle, the preceptor's son then,

filled

with rage, approached Arjuna for piercing him and his steeds

and drivers by means of his swiftly-coursing shafts. Arjuna, however, quickly cut off the shafts shot at him by A^watthaman. 48

The son of Pandu then, filled with great wrath, profferdesirable guest, quivers upon

ed unto Acwatthaman, that

quivers of arrows like a charitable in his house

unto a guest. 47

person

offering

everything

Leaving the SamsaptaJcas then,

the son of Pandu rushed towards Drona's

son

a donor,

abandoning unworthy guests, for proceeding towards one that is worthy.'

" 48 *

The two words used hero, viz., Panktcyam and its negative, have ae

peculiar signification.

He that is worthy of being admitted to the sam

line with honored guests while sitting for a

feed,

the other hand, that is excluded from the line

a pankteya.

He, on

an apunkteya.

To this

day the leaders of all castes in India are busied with questions affecting the inclusion in or the

exclusion from the caste line of

o:cisiot)9 of feed and festivity.

— T.

its

members on

Section XVII. Arjuna "Sanjaya said,—"Then occurred that battle between planets Cukra and Vrihaspati anil Acwatthaman resembling the

and Vrihaspati in in splendour, like the battle between Cukra 1 Afflicting the firmament for entering the same constellation. each other with blazing shafts that constituted their rays, those deviating from terrifiers of the world stood like two planets both their orbits,*

Then Arjuna deeply pierced Acwatthaman with

With that shaft the son 8 rays. of Drona looked resplendent like the Sun with upward The two Krishnas also, deeply afflicted by Acwatthaman with a shaft in the midst of his eye-brows.

hundreds of arrows, looked

Yoga resplendent with

their

deva seemed to be stupified,

own

sides.

son of Drona with innumerable

shafts,

thunder or

fire

the

Then when Vasu-

rays.*

Arjuna shot a weapon from which all

issued torrents of shafts

of the

at the end

two Suns

rod of Death.

energy, that achiever of fierce feats,

And

he struck the

each resembling the

Endued with mighty

Acwatthaman,) then

(viz.,

pierced both Ke^ava and Arjuna with well-shot shafts inspired

with great impetuosity and struck with which Death himself

would feel pain.*

Checking the shafts of Drona's

covered him with twice as wings, and shrouding that

son,

Arjuna

arrows equipt with goodly

many

foremost of heroes and his steeds

and driver and standard, began

the

strike

With his wall-shot shafts Partha began

Samsaptakas. 7

cut

off the

bows

and arrows and quivers and bowstrings and hands and arms

and

tightly

grasped weapons and

umbrellas and standards

and steeds and car-shafts and robes and

floral

garlands and

ornaments and coats of mail and handsome shields and beauti8" 9 Wellful heads, in large numbers, of his unretrcating foes !

equipt cars and steeds and elephants, ridden by heroes fighting

with great care, were destroyed by the hundreds of shafts sped

by Partha and fell down along with the heroes that rode them.

Cut off with broad-headed and crescent-shaped and lotus, the

razor-faced

Sun, or the

human heads, resembling the Moon in beauty and resplendent with diadems and necklaces

arrows, full

and crowns, dropped

ceaselessly

on the Earth."

Then

the

MAHABHARATA.

Kalinga, the Vanga, and the Nishada heroes, riding on elephant'' that resembled in splendour the elephant

of the

great

the Da-it y as, rushed with

speed

that

queller

pride of the Ddnavas,

the

slaying him.

18 *

viz.,

Partha

cut

against

son

of the

Pandu, from desire of

the armour, the

off

foe

limbs,

vital

the trunks, the riders, the standards, and the banners, of those elephants,

upon which those beasts

summits riven with thunder.

down

fell

mountain

When that elephant force was

broken, the diadem-decked Arjuna shrouded the son of his ceptor with

San with masses

risen Sun, like the wind shrouding the risen

of congregated clouds. 14

of Arjuna, Drona's

Checking with his own

the Sun

Moon

the

Deeply afflicted with those arrows, Arjuna,

aiming

his

of his

belonging to thy

ness

"Vasudeva

mass of clouds at

roar, like a

the close of summer after shrouding

the firmament.

shafts those

son, shrouding both Arjuna and

with his arrows, uttered a loud 15

pre-

endued with the splendour of the newly-

shafts

weapons at Ac,watthaman

and at those followers

army, speedily dispelled that dark-

Acwatthaman's arrows,

caused by

them with

shafts

none could

see

and

epuipt with goodly wings. 16

when Savyasachin took up

he aimed them, and when he

let

them

pierced

ail

In that battle his shafts,

All

off.

when

that could

be seen was that elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers and carwarriors, struck with his

arrows,

fell

down, deprived of life. 17

Then Drona's son, without losing a moment, aiming

ten

fore-

most of arrows, sped them quickly as if they formed only one arrow.

Shot with great

and the other

five

force, five

pierced

of these

Vasudeva. 18

pierced

Arjuna'

Struck with those

arrows, those two foremost of men, like Kuvera and Indra, be-

came bathed in blood.

Thus afflicted, all the people there

re-

garded those two heroes slain by Acwatthaman, that warrior who

had completely mastered the science

of arms.

* Daityaripudwipa is explained hy Nilakantha Laving the form

an elephant.

of the compound for following

foe "vata,

of the

the

Dadyas would mean

belonging to Indra.— T.

Then the chief to

mean an Asura

cannot reject the obvious meaning

commentator. the

prince

The elephant

of the

of elephants, called AirS-

KAIiNA TARVA. of the Daearhas addressed

Arjuna and said,— Why errest

(in thus sparing Acwatthaman) ?

Slay this warrior

thou

If treated

with indifference, even this one will bo the cause of great woe, like a disease not sought to be put down by intf

—

unto Kecava of unfading glory

treatment !-^Rcply-

with the words

— So be

it,

Arjuna of unclouded understanding began, witb good care, to

mangle the son of Drona with his shafts.

Now the son of Pansmeared

du, filled with rage, quickly pierced the massive arms, sandal-paste, and the chest, the head,

with

with shafts equipt with

thighs of his antagonist goats' ears,

and the unrivalled heads like

Gandiva. There of Ac watthiiman's steeds, Arjuna began

and shot with great force from

cutting off the traces

to pierce the steeds themselves, whereat the latter bore

thaman away to a great distance from the field. away by those steeds endued with the speed intelligent son

of Drona,

Ac/wat~

Thus borne wind, the

of the

deeply afflicted with the

shaft3

to go back and Knowing that victory is erei*

Partha, reflecting for Some time, wished not

renew the

fight with

Partha."

With the chief of the Vrishnis and with Dhananjaya. that fore-

most one of Angirasa's race, endued with great activity, entered the army of Kama, deprived of hope and with shafts and weapons almost exhausted. 25

Indeed, Drona's

son,

restraining sire,

enter-

ed the force of Kama teeming with cars and steeds and

men. 24

his steeds,

and having comforted himself a little,

After Acwatthaman, that enemy of theirs, had

been

thus

moved from the field by his steeds like a disease removed

re-

from

2 the body by incantations and medicines and means, * Kecava

and Arjuna proceeded towards the Samsaptakas, on their car whose rattle resembled the roar of the clouds and whose banner

waved on the wind.'

"2 *

Section XVIII. ,:

Sanjaya said,

— "Meanwhile, towards the northern part of

the Pandava army, a loud uproar arose

and steeds and Dandadhara.

foot soldiers as these

of cars

and elephants

were being massacred by

Turning the course of the car but without

stopping the steeds "fleet aa

Garuda

the

wind. KLecava, ad

MAHABHAltATA. Arj ana, said,

dressing

(foe-) crushing

— The chief of the Magadhas, with his

elephant,

unrivalled in prowess

In train-

ing and might he is not inferior to Bhagadatta himself.

Hav-

thou wilt then slay the Samsaptakas

ing slain him first,

— At

the conclusion of his words, Kecava bore Partha to the presence

of Dandadhara.*

The

chief of Magadhas, peerless

ling the elephant-hook, even

like a

fierce

the

peerless) among all the planets,

hand-

headless planet

Ketu (is

was destroying the hostile army

cummet destroying

the whole

Riding

Earth.'*

on his foe-slaying and well-equipt elephant which looked like the Dlnava with elephantine face and form,-f* and whose roar

resembled that of a congregated mass of clouds, Dandadhara was destroying with his

elephants and men. 6

thousands of cars and steeds and

shafts

The elephant also, treading with

his feet

upon cars, pressed down into the Earth a large number

of men'

with their steeds and drivers.

Many were the elephants also

that that foremost of elephants crushed and slew

with his two

Indeed, the beast moved like the wheel of

fore-feet

and trunk.

Death. 7

Slaying men adorned with steel coats of mail, along

with their horses and foot-soldiers, the chief of the Maghadhas caused these to be pressed down into the Earth, like thick reeds pressed down

with crackling sounds, by means of that mighty

and foremost of elephants belonging riding on prince

of elephants

him.*

Then Arjuna,

of cars, rushed quickly towards

that foremost

the midst of that

host

that

teeming with

thousands of cars and steeds and elephants, and resounding

with the beat and blare of innumerable cymbals and drums

and conchs, and uproarious with the clatter of car-wheels, the twang of bow-strings, and the sound of palms. 9 Then Dandadhara pierced Arjuna with a dozen foremost of shafts and

Janarddana with sixteen, and each of the steeds with three, and then uttered a loud shout and laughed repeatedly. 10 Then Partha, with a number of broad-headed shafts, cut off the bow

* Anlcuca-ymha means 'in handling the hook.' plained by Nilkantha to

mean

Yikacha-graha

calamitous planet like a fierce coramet.— T. t

ex-

either Ketu, the headless planet, or a

Vide note to verse 12 in the previous Section.— T.

KABNA FARVA. with

of his antagonist

string and arrow

its

thereon, as

fixed

and then the guides of his beast

also his well-decked standard,

and the footmen that protected the animal. At this the lord of 11 Desirous of agitating JaGirivtaja became filled with rage. niirddana with that tusker of his, whose temples had split from

which resembled a mass of clouds and was

excitement, and

endued with the speed of the wind, Dandadhara struck Dhananjaya with many lances." The son of Pandu then, with three ra/,or-headed arrows, cut

off,

almost at the same instant of

time, the two arms, each looking like the trunk of an elephant,

and then the head, resembling the full Moon, of his foe. Then Arjuna struck the elephant of his antagonist with hundreds of arrows.

Covered with the gold-decked arrows of Partha, that

elephant ejuipt with golden armour looked aa resplendent as a

mountain in the night with its herbs and trees blazing conflagration.

Afflicted with pain and roaring like

and exceedingly weakened,

of clouds,

the

and wandering and running with tottering with the guide on its neck, 1

thunder. *

Upon

the

fall

like a mountain summit

of his

brother

a mass

elephant, steps,

in a

crying

fell

down

riven

Danda

battle,

advanced against Indra's younger brother and Dhananjaya, desirous

them, on his tusker white as snow and

of slaying

a Himalayan

adorned with gold and looking

Danda

three

struck Janiirddana with

loud shout.

whetted lances bright

Sun, and Arjuna with

as the rays of the

The son of Pandu

summit. 16

five,

then, uttering

and uttered a a

loud shout,

cut off the two arms of Danda. 17

Cut

headed

smeared with sandal-paste,

shafts, those

two arms,

off

by means of razor-

adorned with ancjadas, and with lances in grasp, as they fell

from the elephant's back at the same instant of time, looked resplendent

a couple

of large

snakes

falling down from a mountain-summit. 18

scent-shaped arrow by also of Danda

fell

the diadem-decked (Partha), the head

the

elephant's

looked resplendent as it

lay

dropped from the Asta mountain towards the

western quarter. 19 arro ws bright

beauty

Cut off with a cre-

down on the Earth from

back, and covered with blood like the Sun

of great

Then Partha pierced with many

as the rays of the Sun

excellent

that elephant of his foe,

MAHABHARATA.

resembling a mass of white clouds, whereupon it fell down with a Himalayan summit riven with thunder.* Then other huge elephants capable of winning victory and re-

a loud noise like

sembling the two already slain, were cut off by Savyasachin,

that battle, even as the

two (belonging to Danda and Danda-

dhara) had been cut off.

At this the vast hostile force broke. 81

Then elephants and cars and steeds and men, in dense throngs, clashed against one another and fell down on the field. Tottering, they violently struck one another and fell down deprived of life.

encompassing Purandara, began to say,

lestials

foe of

Then his soldiers, encompassing Arjuna like the ce-

whom we had been frightened

—

hero, that

like creatures at the sight

!" luck, been slain by thee

of Death himself,

hath, by

good

If thou hadst not

protected

from that fear those people that

were so deeply afflicted by mighty foes

foes,

then by this time our

would have felt that delight which we now feel at their

death,

O slayer of enemies 84— Hearing these and other words !

uttered by friends

and

worshipped those men,

Arjuna,

allies,

each

with a cheerful heart,

according

his

and

deserts,

" 2S

proceeded once more against the Samsaptakas.'

Section XIX. "Sanjaya said,— 'Wheeling round, in the

curvature of its orbit, Jishnu once

numbers of the Samsaptakas. Partha,

like the

Afflicted

planet Mercury

more slew

with

large

the shafts

king, men, steeds, and elephants, O Bharata, waver-

ed and wandered and lost color and fell down and died.*

Many

foremost of animals tied to yokes, and drivers, and standards,

and bows, and shafts, and hands, and weapons

grasp,

and

arms, and heads, of heroic foes fighting with him, the son

Pandu cut off in that battle, with arrows, some of which were broad-headed, some equipt with heads like razors, some crescentshaped, and some furnished with heads iike the calf's

tooth.

8 "4

Like bulls fighting with a bull for the sake of a cow in season* 6 brave warriors, by hundreds and thousands, closed upon Arjuna.

The battle that took place between them and him made tk©

KARNA PARVA.

hair to stand on end, like the encounter between the Daityas and the wielder of the thunder-bolt <>n the occasion of the

conquest of the three

worlds.

pierced Partha with three

Then

son

the

Ugrayudha

resembling throe venomous

shafts

Parfcha, however, cut off from his enemy's trunk the snakes. 7 Then those warriors, filled with rage, covered latter's head.

Arjuna from every side with diverse kinds of weapons, like the clouds urged by the Maruts shrouding Himavat at the close

summer. 3

Checking with

his

of his foes on every side, Arjuna slew a

enemies with well-shot shafts.

own weapons

those

number

of his

large

With his arrows Arjuna then

cut off the Trivenus, the steeds, the drivers, and the Parshni

many cars, and displaced the weapons and quivers of many, and deprived many of their wheels and standards, and

drivers of

broke the chords, the traces, and the axles

and des-

of many,

troyed the bottoms and yokes of others, and caused

equipments of many to

fall

off

from

thus smashed and injured by

cars,

their

Arjuna

places.

the

Those

numbers,

large

all

10 " 11

looked like the luxurious mansions of the rich destroyed by wind, and

fire,

rain.

Elephants, their

vitals

shafts resembling thunder-bolts in impetuosity,

pierced

with

down

fell

mansions on mountain-tops overthrown by blasts of lightning.

Large numbers of steeds with their fell

riders, struck

by Arjuna,

down on the Earth, their tongues and entrails pressed

out,

themselves deprived of strength and bathed in blood, and presenting an awful sight. 14

Men and steeds and elephants, pierced

by Savyasachin with his shafts, wandered and tottered and fell 1S Like sire down and uttered cries of pain and looked pale, large down smote Mahendra smiting down the Ddnavas, Partha !

numbers of his foes, by means of shafts whetted on stone and 18 Brave warin deadliness.

resembling the thunder or poison riors,

cased in costly coats of mail and decked with

ornaments,

and armed with diverse kinds of weapons, lay on the field, with 17 Vanquished (and their cars and standards, slain by Partha. deprived of life), persons of righteous deeds, possessed of noble birth and great knowledge, proceeded to heaven in consequence of those glorious deeds

on Earth."

of theirs, while their

bodies

only

lay

Then the chiefs, belonging to thy army, of various

MAHABHARATA.

5-8

realms,

filled

by their

with wrath and accompanied

rushed against Arjuna,

that,

riors borne on their cars and

foremost steeds

of slaying

soldiers also, all d:sirous

followers,

of car-warriors.

War-

and elephants, and (Arjuna),

foot-

rushed towards

80 him, shooting diverse weapons with great speed.

Then

Arjuna- wind, by means of keen

that thick

shafts, destroyed

the

shower of weapons dropped by those warriors constituting a

mass

congregated clouds. 21

then beheld Arjuna

People

crossing that raftless ocean constituted

by steeds and

foot-sold-

iers and elephants and cars, and having mighty weapons for

its

his own mighty weapons Then Vasudeva, addressing Partha, one, dost thou sport in this way ?

waves, on a bridge constituted by of offence and defence. said,

— Why, O

sinless

Grinding these Samsaptakas, haste thyself for Kama's slaughter I"

— Saying, — So be —unto Krishna. Arjuna then, forcibly it

smiting the remnant of the Samsaptakas with his weapons,

began

destroy them like Irklra destroying the Daityas.™

At that time, with even the closest attention, men could not mark when Arjuna took out his shafts, Avhen he aimed them, 88 Govinda himself, Bhaand when he let them off quickly. rata,

regarded it wonderful.

Like swans diving into a lake,

of Arjuna, white

and active as swans, penetrated

the shafts

into the hostile force.

Then Govinda, beholding the

battle during the progress of that carnage,

Savyasachin alone,

27 :

— Here, O Partha,

occurreth

this

great and

for the sake

terrible

Bharata* and other kings of the Earth

28 !

field

words to

said these

of Duryodhana

destruction of

Behold,

son

the of

Bharata, these bows, with golden backs, of many mighty bow89

men, and these girdles and quivers loosened from their bodies Behold these straight shafts equipt with wings of gold, and !

these long arroAvs

washed with

freed from their sloughs

so !

oil

and looking

snakes

Behold these beautiful lances deck-

ed with gold, lying scattered about, and theso coats of mail, O Bharata, adorned with gold and fallen off from the bodies

Behold these spears embellished with gold, these darts adorned with the same metal, and these huge maces of the warriors

twined round with threads of gold and chords of

hemp 88 !

Behold those swords decked with bright gold and these axes

ftAtlNA PAIlVA.

adorned with the same, and these battle-axes equipt with

gold-

decked handles! 53

Behold also these spiked clubs, these short arrows, these Bhugundis, and these Kanajms these iron ;

Kuntas lying around,

and these heavy Mushalas /'*

victory-longing warriors endued with gr.eat activity

with diverse weapons, though dead, life !

still

These

and armed

seem to be quick with

Behold those thousands of warriors, their limbs crushed

with maces, and heads split with Mushalas or smashed and torn

O slayer of foes, the field

by elephants and steeds and cars ss !

of battle steeds,

with the bodies of men and elephants and

strewn

deprived of

mangled with

dreadfully

life,

and

shafts

darts and swords and lances and scimitars and axes and spears

and Nakharas 37-38

blood

and bludgeons,

and bathed

streams of

Strewn with arms smeared with sandal-paste and

decked with Angadas and graced with auspicious indications

and cased in leathern fences and adorned with Keyuras, the Earth looks resplendent, O Bharata 39

Strewn also with hands

having fingers cased

fences,

lopped off from arms, and

decked with ornaments, and

with severed thighs looking like

the trunks of elephants, of heroes endued with great activity,

and with heads adorned

with ear-rings and headgears set

with gems, (the Earth looks exceedingly beautiful) !* 9 those beautiful cars, diverse ways

decked with golden

bells,

broken

standards and banners, batants, and those

yak

kinds

and those huge conchs of the comtails

perfectly

white,

and those

phants with tongues lolling out and lying on the 4

Behold those numerous steeds bathed in blood,

those bottoms of cars, and long quivers, and diverse

hills, *

Behold

ele-

field

and those beautiful with triumphal banners, and those

slain elephant-warriors, and those rich coverlets, each consisting

of one piece of blanket, fur the backs

huge

of those

and those beautiful and variegated and torn those numerous bells

loosened from

and broken into fragments by those

the

beasts,*'

blankets, and

bodies of elephants

falling

creatures,

those hooks with handles set with stones of lajns lazuli

and

fallen

upon the Earth, and those ornamented yokes of steeds, and th armours, set cloths,

with diamonds, for their breasts, and

those

•

rich

adorned with gold and tied to the ends of the standards

MAHABHARATA.

60 borne by

horsemen, 43 *

and those variegated

and

coverlets

housings and Rank a skins, set with brilliants and inlaid with gold, for the backs of steeds,

and fallen on the ground, 46 and

those large diamonds adorning

headgears of kings, and

the

those beautiful necklaces of gold, and those umbrellas displaced

from their positions, and those yak-tails and fans

Behold

the Earth strewn with faces adorned with ear-rings, bright as the moon or stars, and embellished with

each looking like the those faces looking

full

moon

The

and

well-cut

and

beards,

with

Earth, strewn

lotuses, resembles

lake

adorned with a dense assemblage of lilies and lotuses. 49

Be-

hold, the

and

lilies

Earth, possessing the effulgence of the bright

diversified

with myriads of stars,

moon

looks

like the

autumnal firmament baspangled with stellar lights so

Arjuna,

these feats that have been achieved by thee in great battle day, are, indeed, worthy of thee or of the tials himself in heaven ,S1 field of battle

chief of the

to-

celes-

— Even thus did Krishna show the

unto Arjuna.

And

while returning (from the

field to their camp), they heard a loud noise in the army of Dur-

yodhana."

Indeed, the uproar that was heard consisted of the

blare of conchs and the beat of cymbals and drums and Patahas

and the clatter of car-wheels, the neigh of steeds, the grunt of elephants, and the fierce clash of weapons. 58

Penetrating into

that force by the aid of his steeds possessing

the

the wind, Krishna became filled with

thy army grinded by Pandya. 54 creatures whose lives have run

means

of diverse

Yama

foremost

was destroying crowds

kinds of shafts. 50

bodies of elephants and steeds and

himself slaying

out, Pfindya, that

warriors skilled in shafts and weapons, of foes by

fleetness

wonder upon beholding

Piercing

the

men with sharp shafts, that

foremost of smiters overthrew and deprived them of life. 56

Cut-

ting off with his own shafts the diverse weapons hurled at him

by many foremost of foes, Pandya slew his enemies like Cakra destroying the Danavas.'

" 57

* This is a triplet in the Bengal texts.— T.

Section XX. "Dhritarashtra said,

— 'Thou didst before mention to mc

the name of Pfindya, that hero of world-wide celebrity, but his !" Sanjaya, in battle, have never been narrated by thee feats, Tell mo today in detail of the prowess of that great hero, his skill, !'*

and energy, the measure of his might, and his pride "Sanjaya said, 'Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Drona's

spirit,

—

Arjuna and Janarddana, those thorough masters of the science of weapons, are regarded by thee as the foremost of car-warriors. Know, however, that Pandya

son and

Kama and

regarded himself superior to all these foremost of car-warriors in energy

one amongst the

Indeed, he never regarded any

kings as equal to himself.

He never admitted

5 **

equality

his

with Kama and Bhishma.

Nor did he admit within his

that he was inferior in any

respect

Even such was Pandya, that foremost all

of kings,

that

himself, Pandya, at that time, was slaughtering

first

Destroyer

the

rage like

Filled with

wielders of weapons.

heart

Arjuna. 8

Vasudeva

the

army

That force swelling with cars and steeds and teeming with foremost of foot-soldiers, struck by Pandya, began to 7 Like the wind dispersing turn round like the potter's wheel.

Kama.

a mass of congregated clouds, arrows, began to

Pandya,

disperse that force, destroying its steeds

drivers and standards and cars and

elephants to

fall

with his well-shot

down.

causing

Like the

striking down mountains with his thunder,

elephants with their riders, having

standards and banners and

weapons and

its

splitter

and

mountains

Pandya overthrow cut down the

previously

weapons with which they were

armed, as also the foot-soldiers that protected those beasts.

And

he cut

down

horses,

and lances and quivers. the Khasas, the

their darts

and horsemen with

Mangling with his shafts the Pulindas, the Nishadas, the Andhakas, the

Valhikas,

Tanganas, the Southerners, and the Bhojas,

all

whom, en-

dued with great courage, were unyielding and obstinate in of mail, battle, and divesting them of their weapons and coats l0_u Beholding Pandya Pandya deprived them of their lives. destroying

with

his

shafts;

battle

that

host

ting

Ma.habUara.ta.

of four kinds of forces, the son of Drona fearlessly

towards that fearless warrior.

proceeded

Fearlessly addressing in sweet

words that warrior who then seemed to dance on his

car,

Drona's son, that foremost of smiters, smiling the while, sum-

moned him and

said,

—

thou with eyes

king,

petals of the lotus, thy birth is noble

the

and learning great

celebrated might and prowess, thou resemblest Indra himself !'*

bow held by

Stretching with thy two massive arms the

thee

and whose large string is attached to thy grasp, thou lookest beautiful like a mass of congregated clouds

thou pourest

over thy foes thick showers of impetuous shafts see anybody battle

*" 1 *

A lone thou crushest numerous cars and

and foot-soldiers and steeds,

the

fearless

might crushing herds of deer in the forest.

ing autumnal cloud of loud roars.

loud

kin and the Earth resound with the wheels, thou lookest resplendent,

do not

be a match for thee in

save myself that can

lion

elephants of terrible

Making the

wel-

of thy

car-

clatter

O king, like a crop-destroy18

Taking out of thy quiver

and shooting thy keen shafts resembling snakes- of virulent poison, fight

with myself only,

answered,

—

— So be

it !

(the

Asura) Andhaka

—Thus addressed, Pandya —Then Drona's son, telling him, — Strike,

fighting with the Three-eyed deity

assailed him with

vigor.

return, Malayadhwa-ja pierced

the son of Drona with a barbed arrow.' that best of preceptors, smiling the while,

Then Drona's son, struck Pandya with

some fierce arrows, capable of penetrating into the very and resembiing flames of fire.

vitals

Then Acwatthaman once more

sped at his foe some other large arrows equipt with keen points

and capable of piercing the very vitals, causing them to course through the welkin with the ten different kinds of motion.***

Pandya, however, with nine shafts of his cut

off all

those

arrows of his antagonist. With four other shafts he afflicted the four steeds of his foe,

at which they speedily

expired.

Hav-

ing then, with his sharp shafts, cut off the arrows of Drona's

* These

are,

upwards,

downwards, straight, transverse, etc.

Diff-

erent limbs require to be pierced with arrows inspired with different

kinds of motion.

—T.

KiR.VA PARVA,

Pandya thon cut off the streehod bowstring of Ac.watthfi84 Then Drona's i:iii endued with the splendour of the Sun.

san, i

son, that slayer of foes,

stringing his unstringed bow, and

seo-

ing that his men had meanwhile speedily yoked other excellent) steeds unto his car, this,

sped thousands of arrows (at his foe).

regenerate one filled the

that

points of the compass with

entire welkin and

arrows.

his

the

ten

Although knowing

that those shafts of the high-souled son of Drona employed

shooting

were

really

inexhaustible,

yet

into

among men, cut them Ae,waHhaman,

all

pieces.

The antagonist

carefully cutting off all those shafts shot by the

the latter's car-wheels in that encounter. 23 ness of

Beholding the light-

hand displayed by his foe, Drona's son, drawing his bow

to a circle,

began to shoot his arrows

pouring torrents of rain.* 2 '

bull

that

then slew with his own keen shafts the two protectors of

latter,

sire,

Pandya,

a mass of clouds

liko

During that space

of time,

which consisted only of the eighth part of a day, the son

Drona shot as many arrows as were carried on eight

50 each drawn by eight bullocks.

then beheld Acwatthilman, Destroyer himself

filled

Almost

those

all

carts,

men

that

the

who at that time looked

with rage, or rather the Destroyer

of the Destroyer, lost their senses. 81

Like a mass of clouds at

the close of summer drenching with torrents of rain the Earth

with her mountians and trees, the that

hostile

force

his

son

poured on

Baffling

with the

of arrows

shot by

preceptor's

arrowy shower.

Vayavya weapon that unbearable shower

the Acwatthaman-cloud, the Pandya-wind, filled with joy, utter-

ed loud roars. 33

Then Drona's

son, cutting

off the standard,

smeared with sandal-paste and other perfumed unguents and bearing the device of the Malaya mountain on it, of the roaring

Pandya, slew the four steeds of the latter. 34 foe's driver

Slaying then his

with a single shaft, and cutting off with a crescent-

shaped arrow the bow also of that warrior whose twang

re-

sembled the roar of the clouds, Acwatthaman cut off his enemy's car into minute fragments. 31

Checking with his weapons those

* Puskdnujx, the younger brother clouds or Parjannya.—I.

of Surra,

c, the

deity of the

— MAHABHARATA.

G4 of his enemy,

and cutting

oft'

all

weapons of the

the

Drona's son, although he obtained the

enemy the crowning battling

with

him

evil, still

for

slew

latter,

opportunity to do his

him

sometime more.

from desire of

not,

Kama

Meanwhile

rushed against the large elephant force of the Pandavas and

began to rout and destroy it. 87 cars,

Depriving car- warriors of their

he struck elephants and steeds and

human

Bharata, with innumerable straight shafts. 38

warriors,

That mighty-

bowman, viz., the son of Drona, although he had made Pandya, that slayer

of foes

and foremost of car-warriors,

he did not slay him from desire of fight. 39

earless,

huge riderless elephant, with large tusks, well-equipt with utensils of war, treading with speed,

quick to proceed

against

all

endued with great might,

any enemy, struck with Acwattha-

man's shafts, advanced towards the direction

of Pandya

great impetuosity, roaring against a hostile compeer. ing that prince

yet

At that time a

of elephants, looking

with

Behold-

a cloven mountain-

summit, Pandya, who was well-acquainted with the method of fighting from the neck of an

quickly

ascended that

loud roar to

the top of a

elephant,

beast like a lion springing with

mountain-summit. 41

lord

tains, striking

Then that

of the

prince

of moun-

the elephant with the hook, and inspired

with

rage, and with that cool care (for which he was distinguished) in

hurling weapons with great force, quickly sped a as Surya's

shout. 42

rays,

the

preceptor's

Repeatedly shouting in joy,

art slain !

lance, bright

son and uttered a loud

Thou art slain,

— Thou

— Pandya (with that lance) crushed to pieces the

diadem of Drona's son adorned with foremost of jewels and

diamonds of the first water and the very best kind of gold and excellent cloth and strings of pearls. 43

of the fire,

splendour of the Sun, the

in consequence of the

violence

That diadem, possessed

Moon, the planets, or the of the

stroke, fell

down,

Indra's

thunder, falling down on the Earth with great noise. 44

At this,

split into fragments,

like a mountain summit riven

Aewatthaman blazed up with exceeding rage like

prince

snakes struck with the foot, and took up four and ten shafts capable of inflicting great pain upon foes and each resembling the Destroyer's rod. 48

With five of those shafts he cut ofif the four

KARNA I'ARVA. feet and the

elephant, and with

trunk of his adversary's

three

tho two arms and the head of the king, and with six h^ slow the six mighty car- warriors, endued with great efful ince, Those long and well-rounded that followed king Pandya.**

arms of the king, smeared with excellent sandal-paste, and adorned with gold and pearls and gems and diamonds, falling

npon the Earth, began to writhe like a couple of snakes slain by Garuda.* 7 That head also, graced with a face bright as the full

Mo >n, having a prominent no.se and a pair of large rye: red copper

with

rage,

adorned with ear rings, falling on

tho

ground, looked resplendent like the Moon himself between two bright constellations.

The elephant, thus cut off by that skil-

ful warrior into six pieces

with those five shafts, and the

into four pieces with those three

king

shafts, lay divided, in all, into

ten pieces that looked like the sacrificial butter distributed

ten portions intended for the ten deities.

Having cut

into

off

nu-

merous steeds and men and elephants into pieces and offered

them as food unto the Rakshasas, king Pandya was thus quieted by Drona's son with his shafts like a blazing fire

matorium extinguished with water after bation in the shape of a lifeless body. of the celestials joyfully

50 *

approaching the warrior

great respect that

cre-

Then like

the

li-

chief

worshipping Vishnu after the subjuga-

tion of the Asura Vaii, thy son, the king,

brothers,

has received a

son,

preceptor's

who

accompanied by his worshipped with

complete master of the

science of arms, after, indeed, he had

completed the task

had undertaken.'

Section- XXL

'Dhritarashtra said,

— 'When Pandya had been

slain

and

when that foremost of heroes, viz*, Kama, was employed in routing and destroying the foe, what, O Sanjaya, did Arjuna That son of Pandu is a hero, endued with do in battle 1

great might, attentive to his duties, and a complete *

To tli is day, in India, the custom exists

master of

extinguishing

in the crematorium after it has reduced tu ashes the lifeless boiiv.

the

— T.

fire

SIAHABHARATA.

GG the science

of arms.

The high-souled Cankara himself hath

My greatest fears

made him invincible among all creatures.*

proceed from that Dhananjaya, that slayer of foes Sanjaya,

all

mo,

Tell

that Partha achieved there on that occasion !'

— 'After Pfmdya's Krishna quickly said unto Arjuna these beneficial words: — do not behold the King! "Sanjaya said,

fall,

The other Pandavas also have retreated

If the Parthas

had

returned, the vast force of the enemy would have been broken.

In fulfilment of the purposes entertained by Acwatthaman, Kama is slaying the Srinjayas. 8 A great carnage is being

made (by phants

that

warrior)

and car-warriors and

of steeds

ele-

— Thus the heroic Vasudeva represented everything

unto the diadem-decked (Arjuna).

Hearing of and beholding

that great danger of his brother (Yudhishthira), Partha quickly

addressed Krishna, saying,

— Urge the

steeds,

O Hrishikeca

Then Hrishikeca proceeded on that irresistible car.*

r !

—

The en-

counter then that once more took place became exceedingly fierce.

The Kurus and the Pandavas once more

•closed with

fearlessly

each other, that is, the Parthas headed by Bhima-

sena and ourselves headed by

& ilia's

the

son.

of kings, there once more commenced a battle

Then,

best

between

Kama

and the Pandavas that swelled the population of Yama's kingdom. 10 With bows and arrows and spiked clubs and swords and lances and axes and short clubs and Bhushundis and darts

and rapiers and battle-axes" and maces and spears and polished Kuntas, and short shafts and hooks, the combatants quickly fell

upon one another, desirous of taking one another's

Filling

the

welkin, the

cardinal

of the

points

life.

compass, the

subsidiary ones, the firmament, and the Earth, with the whizz

of arrows,

the twang of bowstrings, the

sound of palms, and 18

the clatter of car-wheels, foes rushed

upon

foes.

by that loud

with

heroes, desirous

noise, heroes

fought

reaching the end of the hostilities.

Gladdened

Loud became the

noise

caused by the sound of bowstrings and fences and bows, the

grunt of elephants, and the shouts of foot-soldiers and falling

men. 15

Hearing the terrible whizz of arrows and the diverse

* literally, 'against which no other car could fight-'

— T.

KARNA rARVA.

€7

shouts of brave warriors, the troops took fright, became

pale,

Large numbers of those foes thus employed

and fell down. * 1

in shouting and shooting weapons,

crushed with his arrows. 17

the heroic son of Adhiratha

With his

Kama then des-

shafts

patched to Yama's abodo twenty car-warriors among the brave

Panchala heroes, with their

Then many foremost

dued with great energy, and quick wheeling round,

speedily

Kama agitated that like the leader of

adorned with

force

an elephantine

Pandava army, enuse

the

with showers of weapons

herd plunging into

and covered with swans. 20

lotuses

of weapons,

Kama on all sides.

encompassed

hostile

and standards."

steeds, drivers,

of warriors, of the

into tho midst of his foes, the son of Radha,

lake

Penetrating

shaking his best

of bows, began to strike off and fell their heads with his sharp shafts." off,

fell

The shields and coats of mail of the warriors, cut down on the Earth. There was none amongst them

that needed the touch of a driver

striking

the

second arrow of Kama's. 28 with

steeds

shafts capable of crushing coats life

Like a

Kama, with

whip,

the

his

and bodies and the

of mail

that quickened them, struck the fences (of his foes) perceiv-

able only by their

bowstrings. 23

deer, Kama speedily grinded

Like a lion grinding herds of

Pandus and Srinjuvas and Panchiilas that came within reach of his arrows. 24 Then all

those

the chief of the Panchiilas, and the

sons

and the twins, and Yuyudhana, uniting against Kama.

of Draupadi,

sire,

together, proceeded

When those Kurus, and Panchalas, and Pan-

dus were thus engaged in battle, the other warriors, reckless of Well cased in their very lives, began to strike at one another.*'

armour and coats of mail, and adorned with head-gears, combatants endued with great

strength rushed at their

foes,

with

maces and short clubs and spiked bludgeons looking like upsire, and challenglifted rods of the Destroyer, and jumping, ing one another, uttered

loud

shouts.

27 " 28

Then they struck

one another, and fell down, assailed by one another, with blood rising from their limbs

weapons.

and deprived

of brains

and eyes and

Covered with weapons, some, as they

with faces beautiful as pomegranates,

having

mouths filled with blood scorned to be alive. " :

there

teeth-adorned

Other-

(shaft

MAHABHARATA.

vast ocean of battle, filled with rage, mangled or cut or pierced or overthrew or lopped off or slew one another with

battle-axes "

51 82 raid short arrows and hooks and spears and lances.

Slain

by one another they fell down, covered with blood and deprived of life, like sandal trees cut down with the axe falling down and ss

Cars destroyed shedding as they fall their cool blood-red juice. by cars, elephants by elephants, men by men, and steeds by steeds, fell

down

thousands. 24

Standards, and

heads, and

umbrellas, and elephants, trunks, and human arms, cut off with razor-faced or broad-headed or crescent-shaped arrows,

on the Earth.

fell

down

Large numbers also of men, and elephants,

and cars with steeds yoked thereto, were crushed in that battle. Many brave warriors, slain by horsemen, fell down, and many and with banners and stan-

tuskers, with their trunks cut off,

dards (on their bodies), fell down like fallen mountains. Assailed

by foot-soldiers, many elephants and cars, destroyed or in course Horsemen, encountering of destruction, fell i\own on all sides. "

foot-soldiers with activity, were slain by the latter. 56 33

Similar-

by horsemen, laid themselves The faces and the limbs of those slain in

ly crowds of foot-soldiers',

down on the field.

slain

that dreadful battle looked like crushed lotuses and faded floral

wreaths.

human dirt,

The

beautiful

forms

beings,

of elephants

resembled

king, then

and steeds and

cloths begrimed with

and became exceedingly repulsive to look at.'

" 22 - 40

Section XXII. "Sanjaya

said.

— "Many elephant-warriors riding on their

beasts, urged by thy son, proceeded filled

with rage

and desirous

against

Dhrishtadyuinna,

compassing his destruction. 1

Many foremost of combatants skilled in elephant-fight, belonging to the Easterners, the Southerners, the Angus, the Yangas, the Pundras, the Maghadhas, the Tamraliptakas, the Mekalas, the Kocalas, the Madras, the Dacarnas, the Nishadhas, uniting

Bharata, and showering shafts and lances and arrows like pouring clouds, drenched the Panchala force

with the Kalingas,

therewith in that battle.*"*

Those (fce)-crushing elephants urg-

ed forward by their riders with heels and toes and

hooks. Fri-

KARNA PARYl.

shata's son covered with his arrows and shafts.

beasts that were huge as hills,

Each of those

the Panchala hero pierced

O Bharata

Ion, eight, or six whetted shafts,

prince of the Panchalas shrouded by those

with

Beholding tho

elephants

the

Sun by the clouds, the Piindus and the Panchalas pruceeded towards him (for his rescue), uttering

with sharp weapons. 7 phants, those

loud

roars

aided

by the music of their bowstrings and

their

palms, and urged

the

sons

endued with great energy,

—

those

all

heroes,

their

showers.

the

and Chekitana

— drenched those

elephants from every side with their weapons, like

with

Then

Draupadi, and

and Satyaki, and Cikhandin,

hills

sound of

the

by heroes beating the time. 8

Nakula, and Sahadeva, and

drenching the

ele-

began to dance the dance of heroes,

warriors

Prabhadrakas,

and armed

Pouring their weapons upon those

the

clouds

Those furious

ele-

phants, urged on by Mleccha warriors, dragging down with their

trunks men and steeds and cars, crushed them with their feet. 10

And some they pierced with the points of their tusks, and some they raised aloft and dashed down on the ground aloft on

the

tusks of those

spectators with fear.

elephant belonging

huge

beasts,

;

others, taken

down, inspiring

fell

Then Satyaki, piercing the vitals of the to

the king of the Vangas staving before

him, with a long shaft

endued with great impetuosity, caused

to fall down on the field

of battle. 12

with another long shaft the chest hitherto touch,

not

just

from the back of his beast.

down on the Earth. 13

the

Then Satyaki pierced

of the

rider

whom he

was about

latter

Thus struck by Satwata, he fell

Meanwhile Sahadeva, with three shafts

shot with great care, struck the elephant of Pundra, as

vanced against him like a moving its

elephant,

that

the

Angas. 1 *

Having thus cut

Sahadeva proceeded against the chief of Sahadeva to desist,

Nakula, however, causing

himself afflicted the ruler of the Angas with three

each resembling the rod of Yama, and his 15 a hundred arrows.

;

ad-

mountain, * depriving

standard and driver and armour and life.

off

could

jump

Then the

ruler

Nakula eight hundred lances bright

foe's

of the as

the

Each of those Nakula cut off into three fragn

long

shafts,

elephant with

Angas hurled rays

of the

Sun;

MAHABHARATA.

Panda then cut off the head of his antagonist with shaped arrow.

At this that Mleechha

crescent-

king, deprived

of life,

down with the animal he rode. 18 Upon the fall of the prince of the Angas who was well-skilled in elephant-lore, the fell

elephant-men of the Angas,

filled

with

rage, proceeded

with

speed against Nakula, on their elephants decked with banners that waved in

the

air,

possessing excellent

with housings of gold, and looking

mouths, adorned

blazing mountains,

And many Mekalas

from desire of crushing him to pieces. 15 20

and Utkalas, and Kalingas, and Nishadhas, and Tamraliptakas, also advanced against ces,

Nakula. showering; their shafts and Ian-

and desirous of slaying him. 21

Panchalas, and the Somakas,

filled

Then the Pandus, the with

rushed with

rage,

speed fur the rescue of Nakula shrouded by those warriors the Sun by the clouds. 22

Then occurred a fierce battle between

those car- warriors and elephant-men, the former shov/ering their

arrows and shafts, the latter their lances by

thousands. 23

frontal globes and other limbs and the tusks

and ad irnments of

the elephants, exceedingly pierced with shafts, were

mangled. 24

Then Sahadeva, with

four

and

split

and sixty impetuous

arrows, quickly slew eight of those huge elephants

down with their riders. 25

The

And Nakula also, that

which

fell

delig-hter

his race, bending his excellent bow with great vigor, with many

straight shafts,

slew

elephants. 26

many

Then the Panchala

prince, and the grandson of Cini, and the sons of Draupadi, and

the Prabhadrakas, and Cikhandin, drenched those huge elephants

with showers of shafts. 27

Then

consequence of those rain-

charged clouds constituted by the Pandava warriors, those hills constituted torrents

by the elephants of the

of rain

foe, fell,

struck down by

formed by their numerous shafts,

mountains struck down with a thunder-storm. 28 of the Pandava car warriors then,

of thine, cast their eyes

real

Those leaders

thus slaying those elephants

on the hostile army, which, as it fled

away at that time, resembled a river whose continents had been washed away. 29

Those warriors of Pandu's son, having thus

agitated that army

of thine,

rushed against Kama.'

" s0

agitated

once more, and then

Section XXIII. 'Sanjaya said,— 'While Sahadeva, blasting thy host, Duscasana,

filled

was thus

with rage,

O great king, proceeded against Beholding those two

1 him, the brother against the brother.

engaged in dreadful combat, all the great car- warriors uttered Then, O Bharata, leonine shouts and waved their garments." arrows by thy angry son armed with deva,

O king, having

seventy

bow. 8

thy son

pierced

first

pierced him again with

the

with

chest

the mighty son of Pandu was struck in the

arrows, and

three

Then Saha-

with an

arrow,

then

driver

his

Then Dusgasana, O monarch, having cut off with Sahadeva's bow in that great battle, pierced Sahadeva himself 5 with three and seventy arrows in the arms and the chest. Then three.*

Sahadeva,

filled

with rage, took up a sword

that

dreadful

and whirling, hurled it quickly towards the car of

conflict,

Cutting off Dus<;asana's bow with string and arrow

thy son.*

fixed on it, that large

sword

snake from the firmament.

down on

fell

Then the

the Earth like a

Sahadeva, tak-

valiant

8 ing up another bow, shot a deadly shaft at Duscasana.

Kuru

warrior, however,

with his keen-edged sword, cut

into two fragments that shaft, bright as it

coursed

towards him. 3

Duscasana quickly hurled while shaft.

valiant

that 10

The

the

off

rod of Death, as

Then whirling that sharp sword, it

warrior

Mean-

that battle at his foe.

bow with a

up another

took

Sahadeva, however, with the greatest

ease, cut

off,

with his keen shafts, that sword as it coursed towards him, and caused it to fall down in that battle. son,

in that dreadful battle, 1

at the car of Sahadeva. *

Then, O Bharata, thy

quickly sped four and sixty shafts

Sahadeva, however,

O king, cut off'

every one of those numerous arrows as they coursed with great shafts of his. 18

impetuosity towards him, with five

then those mighty shafts sped by battle, off

sped a large number

Checking

thy son, Sahadeva, in

of arrows

his

foe.

that

Cutting

each of those shafts with three shafts of his, thy son uttered

a loud shout,

making the whole Earth resound with it. *

Duseiisana,

king, having pierced

struck

the

latter's

driver

with

Sahadeva

nine

Then

that

battle,

arrows. 15

The

valiant

— MAHABHARATA.

Sahadeva then,

bow-string a terrible

monarch,

Forcibly drawing the bow, he great speed

with

Piercing

body, that shaft entered

with rage, fixed

filled

resembling

shaft

sped

on his

the Destroyer

that

shaft

himself.

thy son. 17

through his strong armour and

the

Earth,

O king,

snako

Then thy son, that great car-war13 king. away, Beholding him deprived of his swooned rior, senses, his driver quickly took away the car, himself forcibly 19 Having vanquished struck all the while with keen arrows. penetrating into an anthill.

the Kuru warrior

thus, the

son

of Pandu, beholding

dhana's division, began to crush it

king, as a man excited with wrath

crashes

even so,

sides.

all

Duryo-

Indeed,

swarm

of ants,

O Bharata, did that son of Pandu begin to crush

the

Kaurava host. "" 1

Section XXIV. '

Sanjaya said

— 'While Nakula was employed in destroying

and routing the Kaurava divisions in battle with great force, king. 1 filled with rage, checked him,

Yikartana's son Kama,

Then Nakula, smiling the while, addressed Kama, and

said,

After a long time, through the favor of the gods, I am seen wretch, dost become the object of by thee, 2 and thou also,

my sight tli is

Thou art the root of all these

quarrel

beino-

It is through

thinned, encountering

evils,

thy faults that the

another

one

this

hostility,

Kauravas are

Slaying thee in

battle today, I will regard myself as one that has achieved object,

and the fever of my heart

will

dispelled !*

his

— Thus

addressed by Nakula, the Suta's son said unto him the following

words befiting a prince and a bowman me,

O hero

We desire

witness

thy

particular, 5

manliness

6 !

— Strike Having

O brave warrior, thou O sire, they that are heroes fight in battle to the

shouldst

achieved some feats in battle,

then boast

best of their powers, without indulging

with me to the best of thy might

brag!

Fight now

I will quell thy

pride

7 !

—

Having said these words, the Suta's son quickly struck the son of Panda and pierced him, in that encounter, with three 3 Then Nakula, O Bharata, thus pierced and seventy shafts.

KARNA PARVA, by the Suta* son, pierced the

return

hitter

with

eighty

Then Kama, that bow with a number his antagonist's cutting off o-reat bowman, afflicted him stone, of arrows winged with gold and whetted on

shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison.

10 with thirty arrows.

Those arrows, piercing through his ar-

mour, drank his blood in that buttle, like the Nagas of virulent poison

Earth."

water

drinking

after

having

whose back was decked with arrows and his driver with

three.

slayer of hostile

Nakula,

viz.,

formidable

bow

Kama with twenty Then, O monarch, that

gold, pierced

heroes,

through the

pierced

Then Nakula, taking up another 13

filled

Kama's bow with a razor-headed shaft

with rage, cut off keenness. * 1

of great

Smiling the while, the heroic son of Pandu then struck the bowless

Kama,

dred arrows.

foremost of car-warriors, with three hun-

that

Beholding Kama

son of Pandu,

all

welkin), were

filled

with

great

O sire, by the

thus afflicted,

there, with the gods (in the

the car- warriors

wonder. 15

Then Vikartana'a

son Kama, taking up another bow, struck Nakula with

five

With those arrows sticking to him there, the son of Madri looked resplendent like the Sun

arrows in the shoulder-joint.

with his own rays while shedding his light on

the

Earth. 17

Then Nakula, piercing Kama with seven shafts, once more, O sire, cut off one of the horns of Kama's bow. 18 Then Kama, taking up in that battle a tougher bow,

every side of Nakula with his arrows. rior Nakula,

filled

the

welkin on

The mighty car-war-

however, thus suddenly shrouded with the arrows

shot from Kama's bow, quickly cut off all those shafts with shafts of his own.

Then was seen overspread in the welkin a

vast number of arrows like to the

sky when it

deed, the sky,

filled

with

spectacle

presented

myriads of roving

fireflies.

by the 21

In-

shrouded with those hundreds of arrows shot

(by both the warriors) looked,

with flights of locusts. issuing repeatedly

monarch, as if it was covered

T1im.sc

continuous

arrows, linos,

rows of cranes while flying through the

decked with gold,

looked welkin.

beautiful

the

When

sky was thus covered with showers of arrows and the Sun himself

hid from the view, no creature ranging the air

cend to the Earth.** 10

When all sides were

thus

could des-

covered

with

MA1IABIIARATA,

?T*

showers of arrows, those two high-soulcd warriors looked resplendent like two Suns risen at

end of

the

Yuga. 2S

the

Slaughtered with the shafts issuing from Kama's bow, the

Somakas, O monarch, greatly afflicted and feeling much pain, began to breathe their

last.

Similarly, thy

with the .shafts of Nakula, dispersed on all

warriors, struck

king, like

sides,

clouds tossed by the wind. 27

ed by those two warriors

The txvo armies, thus slaughterwith their mighty celestial shafts,

retreated from the range of those arrows and 28 tors of the encounter. eft'

When both

stood

specta-

were driven

the armies

by means of the shafts of Kama and Nakula, those two other with showers

high-soulcd warriors began to pierce each of shafts. battle,

Displaying their celestial weapons on the

each desirous of

each other,

they quickly shrouded

compassing the destruction of the other.

field

The shafts shot by

Nakula, dressed with Kanka and peacock feathers, shrouding 31 the Suta's son, seemed to stay in the welkin.

shafts sped by the Sttia's son in

that

Similarly, the

dreadful battle, shroud-

ing the son of Pandu, seemed to stay in the welkin.

Shroud-

ed within arrowy chambers, both the warriors became invisible, like the Sun and the

Moon,

king, hid

by the

clouds.

Then Kama, filled with rage and assuming a terrible aspect in that battle, covered the son of Pandu with showers of arrows from every side. 34

Completely covered, O monarch, by

the Suta's son, the son of Pandu felt no pain of day when covered by the

clouds.

that

battle.

With

the

Maker

Adhiratha

O sire, in hundreds

then, smiling the while, sped arrowy lines,

and thousands,

The son those

of the

shafts

high-souled Kama, an extensive shade seemed to rest on the field of battle.

Indeed, with those excellent shafts constantly

issuing out (of his bow), a shade was

formed by the clouds.

Then Kama,

caused there

shafts, next, he quickly

that

monarch, cutting

the bow of the high-souled Nakula, felled the

from the car-niche with the greatest

ease.

With

off

driver

latter's

four

keen

despatched the four steeds of Nakula,

Bharata, to the abode of Yama. 89

With his

shafts,

he also

cut off into minute fragments that excellent car of his

antago-

nist as

also

his standard and

the protectors of his car-whccls,

RARNA TARVA.

and mace, and sword, and shield decked with a hundred moons, 40 Then Nakula, and other utensils and equipments of battle .

O monarch, quickly alighting

atcedlcss and earless and armouries*.

from his car, stood, armed with a spiked bludgeon.

Even that

the son of Pandit, the Suta's

terrible bludgeon, so uplifted

O king, cut off with many keen arrows capable of bearing Beholding his adversary weaponless, Kama a great strain.*

son,

began to strike him with many straight not to afflict him greatly.

but took care

shafts,

Thus struck in that buttle by thai

mighty warrior accomplished in weapons, Nakula, O

away

precipitately, in great affliction.

king-,

fleU

Laughing repeatedly,

the son of Radha pursued him and placed his stringed bow, O 45 around the neck of the retreating Nakula.

B-harata,

that

bow around

large

king, the son

his neck,

With

Pandu

looked resplendent like the Moon in the firmament when within a circular

halo

Indra's bow.

of light, or

white cloud girdled round by

Then Kama, addressing him,

said,

— The words

Canst thou utter them

now

47 once more in joy, reapcatedly struck as thou art by me ?

thou hadst uttered were

son

not,

futile

Pandu, fight again with those amongst the

Kurus that arc possessed of greater might them that are thy equals Do not, 48 shame f.ir it Return home, O son !

child, fight with

son of Pandu,

any

feel

go thither

of Madri, or

— Having addressed him

where Krishna and Phillenina

are

thus, he abandoned him then. 49

Acquainted with- morality as

the brave Kama was, he did not then slay Nakula who was

within

ready

the jaws

Kunti,

king,

Kama

thus

off,

king,

let

Recollecting

of death.

Nakula

let

go.

by that bowman,

The son viz.,

ed by the Suta's son, he then ascended his brother's

burning with grief he continued to sigh

within ajar."

Pandu,

the Suta's

proceeded towards Yudhishthira's car in great shame.

words of

the

son,

Scorchcar,

snake

and kept

Meanwhile Kama, having vanquished Nakula,

quickly proceeded against

the

Panchalas, riding on

that

car

of his which bore many gorgeous pennons and whose steeds wero as white as the

Moon. 53

There,

arose among the Pandavas

monarch, a great uproar

when they saw

the

Kaurava army proceeding towards the Panchala

leader

of the

car throng

MAHABHARATA.

monarch, made a great massacre there s;5 The Suites son, Sun had reached the meridian, that puisthe when that hour sant warrior careering all the while with the activity of & wheel. 55 We beheld many Panchala car-warriors borne away from the battle on their steedless and driverless cars with broken wheels and broken axles, and with standards and pennons also that were broken and

torn,

O sire

were seen to wander there

in all

directions (with limbs scorched

And many elephants

by arrows) like individuals of their species in the wide

forest

with limbs scorched and burnt in a forest conflagration. Others, with their frontal globes split ofen, or bathed in blood, or with " 58 or with their armour cut down, or their trunks lopped off, 86 tails

fell down,

lopped off,

like straggling

clouds.

shafts and lances

Kama,

the high-souled

struck by

Other elephants, frightened by the

Radha's

son, proceeded

son himself like insects towards a blazing

against

fire.

Radha's

Other huge

elephants were seen striking against one another and shedding

blood from various limbs like mountains with rillets running adown their breasts. 61 Steeds of the foremost breed, divested

ornaments of silver and brass and

of breast-plates and their gold,

and

destitute of trappings and bridle-bits and yak-tails

saddle-cloths, with quivers fallen off from their backs, and with

their

heroic

riders,

— ornaments of

wandering here and there on the field.

battle, 63 " 6 *

—

slain,

were seen

Pierced and cut with

lances and scimitars and swords,

Bharata, we beheld many a

horseman adorned with armour

and head-gear,

course of being slain or trembling with

Bharata, of diverse limbs.

65 " 66

fear,

de2~>rived,

slain

and

Cars also, decked with gold, and

unto which were yoked steeds of great

fleetness,

were seen by

us dragged with exceeding speed hither and thither, their riders

having been slain. 67 broken, and some,

some were there,

us,

thoir cars and

And some in their

O Bharata, had their wheels broken

without,

divested of thoir

Some of these had their axles and

;

and

banners and standards, and some were

shafts. 68

Many car-warriors

monarch, wandering scorched

destitute

poles

with

the

of weapons

arms were seen

all

shafts

also

were seen

around, deprived of of the

69 Suta's son.

and some with weapons still

lying lifeless on the

iield

large

—

numbers. 70

And many

KABNA PARVA,

elephants also

were seen by us, wan-

studded with clusters of stars, adorned

dering in all directions,

with rows of beautiful bells, and decked with variegated banners of diverse hues.

Heads and arms and chests and other limbs,

cut off with shafts sped from Kama's bow, were beheld by us lying

around.

warriors

A great

(of the

and

fierce

calamity overtook

the

Pandava army) as they fought with whetted

73 and mangled as they were with the shafts of Kama.

arrows,

The Srinjayas, slaughtered in that blindly proceeded against the

battle

by the Snta's

latter's self like

son,

insects rushing

upon a blazing fire. 74

Indeed, as that mighty car-warrior was

engaged in

the

scorching

Pandava

Kshatriyas

divisions, the

him to be the blazing Tuga

avoided him, regarding

fire.

Those heroic and mighty car-warriors of the Panchalas that survived the slaughter fled away. The brave Kama, however, pursued

broken and retreating warriors from be-

those

Endued with

hind, shooting his shafts at them.

great energy,

he pursued those combatants divested of armour and destitute of standards. 76

Sutas son, possessed of great

Indeed, the

might, continued to scorch

them with

his

the meridian.'

the

shafts,

dispeller of darkness scorching all creatures when

he attains to

" 77

Section XXV. "Sanjaya

said,

— 'Against Yuyutsu who was employed

routing the vast army of thy son, Baying,

Wait, Wait P

(Indra himself striking)

son's

rage

bow with

speed,

— Then Yuyutsu, O king, with a wing-

ed arrow of keen edge, struck

Filled with

Uluka proceeded with

this,

Uluka with great

force,

8 mountain with the thunderbolt.

Uluka, in

that

battle, cut

off

thy

arrow and struck thy son

razor-headed

himself with a barbed shaft. Casting off that broken bow, Yuyutsu, with eyes red in wrath, took up another formidable 3

The prince then,

O bull of

with sixty arrows.

Piercing

bow endued with greater impetus. 4 Bharata's race,

pierced

next the driver of Uluka,

Then Uluka

;

filled

with

Uluka

6 Yuyutsu struck Uluka once more.

rage,

pierced

Yuyutsu with twenty

MAHABHARATA.

shafts adorned with gold, and then cut off his

of gold. 6

That

lofty

king, thus cut off (by Uluka), car.

Beholding

his

made

standard

and gorgeous standard made of gold, O fell

down in front

standard cut

of Yuyutsu's

Yuyutsu, deprived of

off,

his senses by wrath, struck Uluka with five shafts in the centre

of the chest. 8

Then Uluka,

sire,

battle, cut

that

off,

with a broad-headed arrow steeped in oil, the head of his anbest of the Bharatas

tagonist's driver,

four

steeds,

he struck Yuyutsu

Slaying next his

with

himself

arrows.

five

Deeply struck by the strong Uluka, Yuyutsu proceeded to another car.

Having vanquished him in battle,

Uluka

king.

proceeded quickly towards the Panchalas

and the Srinjayas

and began to slaughter them with sharp

shafts u

Crutakarman, O monarch,

by a wink of the

within

made Catanika

eye, fearlessly

and driverless and earless.

thy son.

steedless

The mighty car- warrior Catanika,

however, staying on his steedless car, filled with rage, at

Thy son

time taken up

the

half

car with its steeds and driver

O sire, hurled a mace,

That mace, reducing thy fragments,

into

fell

son's

down upon

the Earth with great speed, and pierced it through. 14 Then those

two heroes, both enhancers of the glory of the Kurus, deprived of their cars, retreated from the encounter, glaring at each other. 18

Then thy son, overcome with fear, mounted upon the

car of Vivingcu, while Catanika quickly got upon

Prativindhya. 16

Cakuni,

with many keen shafts, but failed to make like a torrent of

a mountain. 17

Bharata,

all

latter

tremble

impression

upon

many thousands

with

methods of warfare, actuated by desire of those

shafts

Having checked those in

Beholding that great enemy of his father, Suta-

battle, quickly cut off all

arrows

car

Cakuni, however, that warrior of sure aim and con-

versant with

arrows. 19

the

water failing to produce any

soma covered Cakuni, arrows. 18

the

pierced Sutasoma

with rage,

filled

battle,

with three arrows.

Cakuni, 20

filled

Thy

with his

shafts

own winged

with his own keen

with rage, struck

brother-in-law

then,

Sutasoma

O monarch,

with his arrows cut off into minute fragments the steeds, the standard, and the

driver

spectators uttered a loud

of his

shout.

adversary, at

which

all

the

Deprived of his steed anc

KARNA TARVA, and having his standard cut oft",

tar,

7!J

sire,

the great

(Sutasoma), jumping down from his car, stood on

And he shot

having taken up a good bow."

large

of arrows equipt with golden wings and whetted on

shrouded battle.

therewith

the

car

thy

bowman

the

Earth,

number and

stone,

brother-in-law

that

The son of Suvala, however, beholding those showers

of arrows that resembled a flight of locusts, coming towards his car, did not tremble.

rior crushed all those

On the other hand, that illustrious

war-

24 arrows of his own.

The

arrows with

warriors that were present there,

the

as also

Slddh<is

the

firmament, were highly pleased at sight of that wonderful and incredible feat of

Sutasoma inasmuch

with Cakuni staying on

his

as he contended on

88 *

car.

foot

Then Cakuni, with a

number of broad-headed shafts of great impetuosity, keen and king, the bow of Sutasoma a3 perfectly straight, cut off, also

all

his

quivers. 2 *

Bowless and

uplifting a scimitar of the

with an ivory handle, uttered a

Sutasoma then,

loud

shout. 87

That scimitar

Sutasoma, of the hue of the clear sky, as

of the intelligent it

earless,

hue of the blue lotus and equipt

was whirled by that hero, was regarded by Cakuni to be as

fatal

the

rod of Death. 23

Armed with

suddenly began to career in circles over

monarch, the fourteen different as he was with skill and might. 29

battle all those motions such as

the

kinds

that

scimitar

arena, displaying,

of manoevres,

endued

Indeed, he displayed in that

wheeling

about and whirling

on high, and making side-thrusts and jumping forward and leaping on high and running

above

and rushing forward and

rushing upwards. The valiant son of Suvala then sped a number of arrows at his foe, but the latter quickly cut them off

with that excellent scimitar of his as they coursed towards

him. 31

Filled with rage (at this),

the

son

of Suvala,

king,

once more sped at Sutasoma a number of shafts that resembled

snakes of virulent

poison. 32

Aided by his skill and might, Sutasoma cut uff even these with his scimitar, displaying his great activity,

and possessed as he was of prowess equal to

that of Garuda himself. s?

With a razor-headed arrow

* Both 24 and 25 are triplets in the Bengal texts— T. I

of great

MATIARHARATA.

sharpness, Cakuni then,

king,

cut

that

oft'

of his adversary as the latter careered

bright scimitar

in circles

before

Thus cut off, (half of ) that large scimitar suddenly on the Earth, while half of it, grasp of Sutasoma. 85

down

Bharata, continued in the

Seeing his sword cut

off,

car-warrior Sutasoma retreated six steps and then half which he had in his grasp

his

decked with gold and gems, cutting of the illustrious Cakuni,

him.'*

fell

foe.

mighty-

hurled that

That fragment,

bow, with string,

off the

quickly

the

down on the Earth. 87

fell

Then Sutasoma went to the great car of

Crutakirti. 58

Suvala's

son also, taking up another formidable and invincible bow, army, slaying large numbers

proceeded towards the Pandava of foes (on the way).

fearlessly in battle, a

Beholding the son of Suvala careering loud uproar,

king, arose

among

the

Pandavas in that part of the army.

large and proud divisions bristling

with arms, routed by the

illustrious

son

of Suvala. 41

tials crushed the

People

Even as the

chief of the

celes-

Suvala destroyed

king, resisted

Dhrishtadyumna

Daitya army, the son

that army of the Pandavas.'

witnessed those

" 42

Section XXVI. "Sanjaya

said,

— 'Kripa,

in battle, like a parabha in the forest resisting a

proud

Beholding Gautama's

rata, could not advance even one step.* all

Bha-

Checked by the mighty son of Gotama, Prishata's son,

car in front of Dhrishtadyumna's,

lion.

creatures were

inspired

with fright and regarded the tatter's destruction to be at hand. 8 Car-warriors and

Without doubt,

horsemen, becoming this foremost of

men,

—

very

cheerless, said,

viz.,

Caradwata's son of

mighty energy and great intelligence and versed in celestial weapons, is filled with rage at the death of Drona

Will Dhrishta-

dyumna today escape from the hands of Gautama ? 4 '5 Will this vast army escape today this great danger Will not this BriLkmana slay all of us together ?* The form that he has assumed ?

today, even like that of the Destroyer will

today act after the

manner

preceptor Gautama, endued with great

himself,

shows that he

Drona

himself

lightness

7 !

The

of hands,

VRNA PAIIVA,

Posse-sing a knowledge of weapons,

over victorious in battle.

— Di-

with

rage. 8

verse speeches like these, uttered by the warriors

of both

with groat

he is endued

armies, were,

energy

and

filled

monarch, heard there as

encountered each other.

those

Drawing deep breaths in rage, Cara-

king, begun to afllict the son

dwata's son Kripa,

tho

two heroes

of Prishata

10 in all his vital limbs as the latter stood inactive.

Struck

that battle by the illustrious Gautama, Dhrishtadyumna, greatly stupified,

knew not what to do. 11

ing him, said,

—

V'ver before have battle!

His driver then, addressson of Prishata ?

Is it nut all right with thee,

It is

seen such

lucky chance,

a calamity

overtake thee in

seems, that

these

shafts,

capable of penetrating the very vitals, sped by that foremost of

Brahmanas aiming at thy vital limbs,

are not striking

1 will presently cause the car to turn

back, like the current

a river dashed back by the

sea.

thee

1S !

JJrahmana, by

think that

whom thy prowess hath been annihilated, is incapable of being

— Thus addressed, Dhrishtadyumna, — My mind becomcth stupified,

slain

by thee

slowly

said,

king,

sire,

perspiration covcreth my limbs.

My body trembles and my

Avoiding that Brahmana

hair stands on end.

ceed slowly to where Arjuna is

presence of either

16 !

and a

charioteer,

battle, pro-

arrived at the

Arjuna or Bhimasena, prosperity may be

mine. Even this is my certain conviction

17 !

— Then,

the charioteer, urging the steeds, proceeded

to the

monarch, spot where

the mighty bowman Bhimasena was battling with thy troops.

of Dhrishtadyumna speedily moving

Beholding the car,

sire,

away from that

Gautama

of shafts.

spot,

followed it,

shouting hundreds

And that chastiser of foes also repeatedly blew his

Indeed, he routed the son of Prishata

conch.

Indra ruiit-

ing the Danava Namuchi. 80

'"The invincible Cikhandin, the cause of Bhishma's death, was, in

that battle,

who smiled

resisted by Hridika's sun

peatedly as he fought with the former."

re-

Cikhandin, however,

encountering the mighty car-warrior of the

Bridikas, struck

him with five keen and broad-headed shafts at the shoulderjoint." Then the mighty car-warrior Kritavarman, filled with rage;

pierced his foe with sixU winged arrows. J

With

a single

3IAHAEHAKATA,

V2 arrow

mighty son

Drupada,

with wrath, took

filled

The

while."

bow, laughing the

off his

then, he cut

up another 24

bow, and addressing the son of Hridika,, said,— Wait, Wait / monarch, Cikhandin sped at his foe ninety shafts of Then, great impetuosity,

however,

all

25 from Kritavarman's armour.

recoiled

all

Those shafts,

equipt with golden wings.

Seeing

on the surface of the Earth,

those shafts recoil and scattered

Cikhandin cut off Kritavarman's bow with a keen razor-headed 26 Filled with wrath he struck the bowlegs son of arrow. Hridika,

who then resembled a hornless bull, in the arms and

the chest, with eighty arrows.

mangled with shafts,

Filled with rage but torn and

Kritavarman vomited blood through

limbs like a jar disgorging the water with which

Bathed

blood,

Bhoja

the

king looked

king, streaked with

mountain,

after a shower.

his

filled.

beautiful

streams of liquified red-chalk

The puissant Kritavarman then, taking up

another bow with a string and an 580

Cikhandin in his shoulder-joint.

arrow fixed thereon, struck

With these

shafts

sticking

to his shoulder-joint, Cikhandin looked resplendent like a lordly tree with its spreading branches

and twigs. 31

Having pierced

each other, the two combatants were bathed in blood, and resembled a couple of bulls that have gored each other with their horns.

Carefully exerting themselves to slay each other,

those two mighty car-warriors moved in a thousand circles with their respective cars on

king, in

that

seventy shafts

that

encounter, all

arena.

pierced the

Then Kritavarman, O son

Prishata

with

which were equipt with wings of gold

rnd whetted on stone. 3 *

The

ruler

of the

Bhojas then, that

foremost of smiters, sped with great activity a terrible and 38 Struck therewith, Cikhandin quickly fatal shaft at his foe.

Overcome with stupefaction, ho supported him36 The driver then of that foreself by seizing his flag-staff. him away from the fight. bore most of car- warriors speedily Scorched with the shaft of Hridika's son, he drew breath upon

swooned away.

breath repeatedly. 37

After

the

defeat

of the

heroic son

Drupada, O lord, the Pandava army, slaughtered on fled away

from the field.'

" £s

all

sides,

Section XXVII. "Sanjaya said, arch, routed thy

— 'The white stecded (Arjuna) even as

force

on all

of cotton, scatters it

the 1

Against him rushed the

sides.

Trigartas, the Civis, the Kauravas, the

and that

takas,

mon-

also,

wind, approaching :i heap

P. I

was, the Sarn8ap~

which consisted of the Narayanas."

force

And Satyasena and Chandradeva, and Mdtradeva and Crutan jaya,

and Sucruta's son, and Chitrasena, and Mitravarman, O

Bharata, 3 and the king

of the

surrounded by

Trigartas

brothers and by his sons that were all mighty plished in diverse weapons, scattering

battle, against

that

water towards the

ocean. 5

O monarch,

Satyasena, in

sixty,

not

they did

battle,

like insects,

three

Suearman with

7 a blazing fire.

him with three and And Mitravarman pier-

pierced 8

and seventy arrows, and Sucruta's son

And Catrunjaya

with seven.

Though slaughtson of Pandu

the

encounter, pierced the son of Pandu with

that

and Chandradeva with seven.

ced him with

leave

still

never receding from

and Mitradeva

arrows,

nine.

Arjuna pierced

many,

Arjuna,

Those war-

hundreds of thousands, approaching Arjuna, seemed

to melt away like snakes at sight of Garuda.

ered

his

bowmen accom-

suddenly advanced, shooting and

showers of shafts

like a fierce current of riors in

Thus all

pierced pierced

him with twenty, and in that encounter by

kings

those

return.

Indeed,

piercing the son of Sucruta with seven arrows, he pierced Satya-

sena

with three,

Catrunjaya with twenty, and Chandradeva

with eight, Mitradeva with a hundred, Crutasena with three,"

Mitravarman with slaying

nine,

Then

and Suearman with eight.

king Catrunjaya with a

number

of arrows

whetted

on stone, he smote off, from his trunk, the head, decked

with

ia head-gear, of Sucruta's son.

Without any delay ho then, with a number of other shafts, despatched Chandradeva to As regards the other mighty car warriors the abode of Yama. vigorously

contending

with five arrows. a formidable

13 *

lance

with

him,

he cheeked each of them

Then Satyasena, in

that

battle,

Both 12 ami 13 are triplets.— T.

filled

with

aiming at

rage, hurled

Krishna, and

MAHABHAEATA,

81 uttered a leonine roar. 14

That iron-mouthed lance having a

golden shaft, piercing through the left arm of the high-souled

Mfidhava, penetrated into the Earth. *

Mfidhava being thus

pierced with that lance in great battle, the goad and the

O king, fell down from his hands.

reins,

Beholding Yasudeva's

limb pierced through, Pritha's son Dhananjaya mustered his wrath and addressing one, bear

the

car

Yiisudeva, said, 17

—

mighty-armed

O puissant one, so that I

Satyasena,

— The

may, with keen shafts, despatch him to Yama's abode 18 !

illustrious Kec,ava then, quickly taking up reins,

of Satya-

front

Beholding the ruler of the universe pierced,

son Dhananjaya, that mighty

Pritha's

goad and the

the

caused the steeds to bear the car to the

sena's vehicle.

all

Satyasena with some keen arrows,

car-warrior, checking

number

cut off, with a

broad-headed shafts of great sharpness, the large head of that king, decked with ear-rings, from

trunk, at the

off his

head

Having thus cut off Satyasena's head, he then despatched Chitravarman with a number of keen shafts, and of the army.

then the latter's driver, O sire, with a keen calf- toothed arrow. 22 Filled with rage, the shafts, felled the

Then,

king, with

that

of silver,

mighty Partha then, with hundreds of

Samsaptakas

hundreds and thousands. 23

a razor-headed arrow

mighty car-warrior cut

illustrious Mitrasena.

equipt with

off

the

head of the

Filled with rage he then struck

man in the shoulder joint. 24

all

and began

sides

to afflict him with showers of weapons and make all

of the compass resound with their shouts.

mighty car-warrior Jishnu,

Aindra weapon.

shafts,

From

king, began to issue

that

points

immeasurable himself,

weapon,

continually.

loud din was heard of falling cars with

the

Afflicted by them

endued with prowess resembling that of Cakra ed the

Sucar-

Then all the Samsajrtakas, filled

with wrath, encompassed Dhananjaya on

thus, the

wings

thousands of

Then,

standards

soul,

invok-

king, a

and quivers

and yokes, and axles and wheels and traces with chords, of bottoms of cars and wooden fences around them, of arrows

and steeds and spears clubs and

darts

and swords,

and maces and spiked

and lances and axes, and gatoghnis equipt

with wheels, and arrows and thighs,

and necklaces and Anga-

KARNA FARVA. das and Kcyuras,

sire,

and garlands and cuirasses and

Bharata, and umbrellas and fans and heads docked with diadems. 97"" Heads adorned with ear-rings and

coats of mail,

beautiful eyes, and each resembling the full

they lay on the field, like stars with

garlands

beautiful

moon, looked, as

Adorned

firmament."

the

and excellent robes, and

of flowers

smeared with sandal-paste, many were tho bodies that were seen

lie

warriors. 83

on tho ground, of slain

The

field of

battle, terrible as it was, looked like the clouded welkin teernim'

with vapoury forms. 3

of great might, *

and

With the fallen

and

elephants

became impassable in that battle hills.

princes and

slain

Pandava's

car,

his broad-headed shafts. 6 '

for

the

engaged as he was

slaying his foes and striking

wheels of the in

down elephants and

It seemed,

his car stopped in fright at the sight

Earth

she were strewn with

There was no path on the field

illustrious

Ksbatriyaa

steeds, the

sire,

continually steeds

with

that the wheels of

of his own self careering

in that battle through that bloody mire. 87

His steeds, however, endued with the speed of the mind or the wind, dragged with great efforts and labour those wheels that had refused to move/ 8

Thus slaughtered by Pandu's son armed with the bow, that host fled away almost entirely, without leaving even a remnant,

O Bharata, contending with large

tho

foe.

Having vanquished

numbers of tho Samsaptakas

in battle, Pritha's son Jishnu looked resplendent, like a blazing fire without smoke.' " 40

Section XXVIII. "Sanjaya said,— 'King Duryodhana, fearlessly received Yudhishthira,

shooting

large

numbers

as the

of shafts. 1

the just, speedily piercing thy son,

monarch, latter was

himself

engaged in

The royal Yudhishthira that mighty car-warrior, as

the latter was rushing towards

ed him, saying,— Wait

him with impetuosity, addressWait ! 2 Duryodhana, however, pier-

—

ced Yudhishthira, in return, with nine keen arrows, and filled with great wrath, struck Yudhishthira's driver also with a broad-headed shaft. 3 Then king Yudhishthira sped at Duryo-

d.mu three and

ten

arrows equipt with wings of gold and

MAHABHAEATA,

whetted on stone. 4

With four

mighty car-warrior

shafts, that

then slew the four steeds of his foe, and with the fifth he cut off

from his trunk the head of Duryodhana's driver. 5

sixth arrow he

felled the (Kuril) king's

With the

standard on the Earth,

with the seventh his bow, and with the eighth his scimitar. 6

And then with five more shafts king Yudhishthira the just deeply afflicted the

Kuru monarch.

Thy son then, alighting from

stood on

Earth in imminent danger. 7

that steedless car,

Beholding him

the

that situation

of great

Kama and

peril,

Drona's son and Kripa and others rushed suddenly towards king. 8

the spot, desirous of rescuing the sons

Then the

Panda, surrounding Yudhishthira,

(

other )

proceeded to

all

king, a fierce battle was fought. 9

that encounter, upon which,

Thousands of trumpets then were blown in that great engagement, and a confused din of myriad voices arose there, king.

There where the Panchalas engaged in battle with the

Kauravas, men closed with men, and elephants with foremost of elephants.

And car-warriors closed with car-warriurs, and And the various couples of battling men

horse with horse.

and animals, of great prowess and armed with diverse kinds of

weapons and possessed of great king, over the field.

sight,

great impetuosity and desirous

skill,

presented a beautiful

endued with

All those heroes, of compassing

the

destruction

of one another, fought beautifully and with great activity and skill.

Observing the (sanctioned) practices of warriors, they

None of them fought from behind

slew one another in battle. others.

For only a very short time that

beautiful aspect.

in which the combatants showed no

The car-warrior, approaching the with keen shafts and despatched

means

of straight

dragged down (with

their

arrows.

tusks)

most

fiercely

also,

regard for

presented a

one another. 15

elephant, pierced it

Eelephants,

many of them

numbers of horsemen steeds,

battle

Soon it became an encounter of mad men,

the

Yama's presence by approaching steeds,

that battle, and tore in

latter

diverse

places.

them Large

encompassing many foremost of

made a loud noise with

their

palms, and

closed

with

And those horsemen slew those steeds as they ran hither and thither, as also many huge elephants as these wanthem. 18

KARNA FARVA,

dered over the field, from behind and the

flanks.

Infuriate

king, routing large numbers of steeds, slew

elephants,

with their tusks or crushed them elephants, filled with wrath,

with

pierced

force.

their

them to the ground with

violence.

of the

availing

terrible cries of pain

Many

proper

them

Some

tusks horses

Others, seizing such with great

with horsemen.

by foot-soldiers

with great

force,

hurled

elephants,

struck

opportunities, uttered

and tied away on all

sides.

foot-soldiers that fled away in that great

Among

the

battle throwing down

their ornaments, there were many that were quickly encompass-

riding on

Elephant-warriors,

ed on the field.

huge elephants,

understanding indications of victory, wheeled their beasts and causing them

seize

those

ornaments, made

beautiful

beasts to pierce them with their tusks.

endued with great impetuosity and

23 " 24

fierce

the

Other foot-soldiers might, surrounding

those elephant-warriors thus engaged in those spots, began slay them.

Others in

that great

battle,

thrown

into

aloft

the air by elephants with their trunks, were pierced

by those

trained beasts with the points of their tusks as they fell down."

Others, suddenly seized by other life

with

their

tusks.

elephants, were

Others, borne

deprived of

away from

own

their

king, mangled

by huge elephants which rolled them repeatedly on the ground. 27

divisions into the midst of others,

were,

Others, whirled on high like

were slain in that

fans,

battle.

Others, hither and thither on the field, that stood full in of other elephants, had their bodies torn.

exceedingly

front

pierced

and

Many elephants were deeply wounded with spears and

lances and darts in their cheeks and frontal globes and the parts

between their tusks. 23 riors and

Exceedingly ahHictcd by

fierce car-war-

horsemen stationed on their Hanks, many elephants,

ripped open,

fell

down on the Earth. 30

In that dreadful battle

many horsemen on their steeds, striking foot-soldiers with their lances,

pinned them down to the Earth or crushed them

groat force. 31 riors,

Some elephants, approaching

O sire, raised them

aloft from

their vehicles and

them down with great force upon the Earth

with

mail-clad oar-war-

in that

hurled

fierce

and

awful fight. 8 ' Some huge elephants, slain by means of cloth-yard shafts, fell

down on the Earth like mountain summits riven by

MAHABIIARATA,

thunder. 38

Combatants,

encountering combatants,

strike each other with their fists,

began to

or seizing each

other by the began to drag and throw down and mangle each other. 84 Others, stretching their arms and throwing down their foes on the

hair,

Earth, placed their feet on their chests and with great activity

Some combatant, O

cut off their heads. 85

his feet some foe that was dead,

with his sword,

the head of a

falling

foe,

O Bhiirata, in which the

another with

fists

with one another with bare arms. 87 batants, using

kinds

diverse

off

and some thrust

combatants struck one

one another's

seized

with

A fierce battle took

his weapon into the body of a living foe.

place there,

king, struck

and some, O king, struck

hair

many

of weapons,

wrestled

instances,

took

the

com-

lives

combatants engaged with others and, therefore, unperceived

During the progress of that general engagement

by them. 88

when all the combatants were mangled in battle, hundreds and 89 Weapons thousands of headless trunks stood up on the field. and coats of mail, drenched with gore, looked resplendent, cloths dyed with gorgeous red.* battle marked by the awful

Like the

clash of weapons.

and roaring current of the Ganges it seemed to

fill

41 universe with its uproar.

Afflicted with shafts,

failed to distinguish friends

from

the kings

Even thus occurred that fierce

foes.

the whole

the

Solicitous

mad

warriors

of victory,

fought on because they thought that fight thoy

The warriors slew both friends and foes, with whom they came in contact. The combatants of both the armies were should.

deprived of reason by

ing them with fury.

the

heroes

of both

the armies assail-

With broken cars, O monarch, and fallen

elephants, and steeds lying on the ground,

4 and men laid low, *

the Earth, miry with gore and flesh, and covered with of blood,

soon became impassable.

streams

Kama slaughtered the

Panchalas while Dhananjaya slaughtered the Trigartas. Bhimasena,

divisions of the latter.

of troops of both the

Kurus and the Pandavas, both

Even thus occurred that destruction

having been actuated b;y the desire tlr.it

And

king, slaughtered the Kurus and all the elephant

of winning

great

hour when the Sun had passed the meridian.'

" 47

parties

fame, at

Section XXIX. "Dhritarashtra said,

—

have hoard from

thee,

Sanjaya,

many poignant and unbearable griefs as also of the losses From what thou hast said unto me, sustained by my sons

from the manner in which the battle

has been fought,

it is

Kauravas are no more

Sata, that the

certain conviction,

2 !

How did

Duryodhana was made earless in that dreadful battle.

Dharma's son (then) fight, and how did the royal Duryodhana also fight in return ?

How also

was fought in the afternoon

Tell

all

that

battle

this

which

detail, for

Sanjaya •'*

thou art skilled in narration, "Sanjaya said,

occurred

— YVhcn the troops of both armies were en-

gaged in battle, according to their respective divisions, thy son

Duryodhana, rage

on another car and

king, riding

like a snake of virulent poison,

ver,

— Proceed, Proceed

S"G

with

beholding king Yudhish-

own

thira the just, quickly addressed his

saying,

filled

O Bharata, O dri-

driver,

Quickly take me there,

where the royal son of Pandu, clad in mail, shineth under

yon umbrella held over his head 7 !

that

the driver, in

goodly car towards dhishthira also,

— Thus urged by the king, urged his royal master's

battle, quickly

the

filled

of Yudhishthira. 8

face

where his own driver, saying, — Proceed — Then those two heroes and brothers and

elephant, urged

Suyodhana is

9 !

Yu-

this,

with rage and looking like an infuriate to

fore-

Both endued

most of car-warriors encountered each other.

with great energy, both filled with wrath, both difficult of defeat in battle,

approaching each other, those two great bowmen

began to mangle each other with their arrows

Then king Duryodhana,

that

encounter,

that

battle.

O sire, with a

broad-headed arrow whetted on stone, cut in twain the bow of the virtuous monarch. 11

not brook that insult. red in wrath,

Filled with rage,

Yudhishthira could

Casting aside his broken bow, with eyes

Dharma's son took up another bow at the head and then cut

Duryodhana's standard and

of his

forces,

bow. 15

Duryodhana then, taking up another bow, pierced tho

off

son of Pandu.

Filled with rage, they continued to shoot

ers of shafts at

each

other,

other.

they resembled a pau 12

Desirous of vanquishing each

angry

lion--,

truck

MAHABHAfiATA, of roaring

couple

other in that battle like

bulls.

Those

mighty car-warriors continued to Career, expecting to find each Then, wounded with shafts sped from bows other's laches. drawn

their

stretch,

fullest

looked resplendent

king, repeatedly uttered leonine roars.

They

force.

And

with three

pierced, in

19 " 20

return,

with gold and whetted on

their

each

afflicted

filled

irresistible

with rage, shafts

en-

Him, however, thy royal son

dued with the force of thunder.

five keen

with

shafts

winged

Then king Duryod'hana, O

stone.

21 capable of Bharata, hurled a dart

king Yudhishthira the

everybody,

slaying

blazing

ceedingly keen, and resembling a large

advanced,

they

Then king Yudhishthira,

struck thy son in the chest

quickly

And they blew

palms and caused their bows to twang loudly. other very much.

then,

Those two rulers of

also made loud sounds with

men, in that dreadful battle, their conebs too with great

king,

warriors,

Kincukas.

flowering

two

the

ex-

As it;

brand.

with sharp shafts, 22,

just,

speedily cut it off into three fragments, and then pierced Duryo-

Equipt with a golden

dhana also with five arrows.

staff,

and

producing a loud whizz, that dart then fell down," and while falling,

looked resplendent

flames.

Beholding the dart

brand with blazing-

large

monarch, 24

thy son,

baffled,

struck Yudhishthira with nine sharp and keen-pointed arrows.

deeply

Pierced

by his mighty

quickly took up an arrow for aiming

mighty Yudhishthira then string.

thy

son,

his

dhana, 28

The

valor,

the

That arrow, striking

foe.

— that mighty car-warrior, — stupified him and then 27

(passing through his body) entered the

osity,

on his bow-

placed that arrow

foes

Duryodhana.

and possessed of great

Filled with rage

son of Pandu then shot

that scorcher of

foe,

filled with

wrath,

uplifting

Earth.

mace

rushed at king Yudhishthira the

hostilities (that raged

just,

Then Duryo-

of great for

impetu-

ending the

between the Kurus and the Pandus).

Beholding him armed with that uplifted mace and resembling

Yama himself with his bludgeon, 29 king Yudhishthira the just hurled at thy son a mighty

dart

blazing with splendour, en-

dued with great impetuosity, and looking like a large blazing brand.

Deeply

pierced

in the chest by that dart as he stood

KARNA TARVA.

Kuru prince, deeply pained, fell down and swooned away." Then Bhima, recollecting his own vow,

on his

car,

the

addressed Yudhishfchira, saying,— This one should not be slain

king !— at

thee,

which Yudhishthira abstained (from blow). 32

At that time Kritavarman, quickly advancing, came upon thy royal son then sunk in an ocean of calamity. 83 Bhima then, taking up a mace giving his foe the finishing

adorned with gold and flaxen chords, rushed impetuously

wards Kritavarman in that battle. 9 *

Thus occurred

between thy troops and the foe on that afternoon,

the

battle

O monarch,

every one of the combatants being inspired with the victory."

to-

desire

3S *

Section XXX. "Sanjaya said,— 'Placing Kama at their difficult of defeat in

fight,

returned and

van, thy

warriors,

fought (with the foe)

a battle that resembled that between the gods and the Asuras. 1 Excited by the loud uproar made by elephants cars and steeds and conchs, elephant-men foot-soldiers and horsemen,

in large

numbers,

advanced against the foe and slew the diverse kinds of weapons. 8

men,

and men and

and car-warriors and

latter

filled

with wrath,

with strokes of

Elephants and cars and steeds and were destroyed by brave warriors

in that dreadful battle,

with sharp battle-axes and swords and axes and shafts of di verse kinds and by means also of their animals. 5 Strewn with

human heads that were adorned with white teeth and fair fac< and beautiful eyes and goodly noses, and graced with beautiful diadems and earrings, and every one of which resembled the lotus, the Sun, or the Moon, the Earth looked exceedingly resplendent. 4

Elephants and men

and

steeds,

by thousands,

were slain with hundreds of spiked clubs and short bludgeons

and darts and lances and hooks and Bhugundis and maces. * The numbering of the verses in this section is very unsatisfactory in the Calcutta

which,

I fear,

edition.

have made some correct ions, the resuU

has been that the numbering mil

with that of any of the printed text?.— T.

not be

found

•

,_>•

MAHABHARATA.

The blood that fell formed a

on the

current

river-like

field.

In consequence of those car-warriors and men and steeds and elephants slain by the foe, and lying with ghastly features and gaping wounds, the field of battle looked like the domains of 6 the king of the dead at the time of the universal dissolution.

Then, O god among men, thy troops, and those bulls amongst the Kurus, viz., thy sons resembling the children of the

their

warriors

with a host of

celestials,

van, 7

Thereupon that

Cini's

race.

most

of men

and

with

the

Asuras

beauty.

fierce

the chief of the

teeming with many fore-

host,

Cini's race

with

3 of the Sun.

Then the

deep,* and

the

son

Surya,

struck

that

resembling

shone

celestials,

himself in prowess

Iudra,

resembling

and like unto

foremost

one of

whose splendour resembled the rays

shafts

That

that

celestials

the younger brother

and cars and elephants, producing

steeds

an uproar loud as that of the vasty the army

that bull

Satyaki,

proceeded against

all

immeasurable might

race

of Cini's

bull

also, in

that battle,

then quickly shrouded that furemost of men, with his car and steeds and driver, with diverse kinds

poison of the snake.

of shafts terrible

Then many

the

Atirathas belonging to

thy army, accompanied by elephants and cars and

foot- soldiers,

quickly approached that bull among car-warriors, viz., Vasusena,

when they beheld

the

deeply

latter

shafts of that foremost hero of Cini's race. ever, vast

quickness,

viz.,

the

ocean, assailed

the Pandava warriors

Drupada, fled away from the

afflicted 11

foes

possessed of great

headed by

field.

with the

That force, how-

the

sons of

At that time a great

carnage occurred of men and cars and steeds and elephants. 12 viz.,

Arjuna and Kccava,

having said their daily prayers and duly

worshipped the lord

Then those two foremost

of men,

Bhava, quickly rushed against thy troops, resolved to slay .

those foes of theirs. *

Their foes,

(i. e.,

eyes cheerlessly on that car whose

the Kurus) cast

rattle

their

resembled the roar

of the clouds and whose banners waved beautifully

the

air

and which had white steeds yoked unto it and which was com*

Literally— "of the salt waters."—T.

KARKA PAUVA. Them Arjuna, bending Gdndlva and

ing towards them. * if

dancing on his car,

filled

and

the welkin

the compass, cardinal and subsidiary, with

not

leaving the

destroying the clouds, the son arrows,

many cars

looking

well-adorned, and equipt

with their drivers. guieled them,

points

showers of shafts, Like

Pandu

destroyed,

celestial

vehicles,

the

empty. 15

space

smallest

all

tempest

the

with that

his

were

with weapons and standards, along

Many elephants also, with

the men

that

adorned with trimphal banners and weapons, and

many horsemen with horses, and many foot-soldiers also, Arjuna despatched with his arrows to Yama's abode. 17 Then Duryodhana singly proceeded against that mighty car-warrior who was angry and irresistible and resembled a veritable Yama, striking him

with

his

straight

shafts.

his adversary's bow and driver and

Arjuna, cutting off

steeds

and standard with

seven shafts, next cut off his umbrella with one taining then an opportunity, he sped cellent shaft capable of taking

the

life

arrow. 19

Ob-

Duryodhana an exof the

person

struck.

Drona's son, however, cut off that shaft into seven fragments.*

Cutting off then the bow of Drona's son and slaying the four steeds of the latter with his arrows, the son of Pandu next cut off

the formidable bow of Kripa

too.

Then cutting

off the

bow of Hridikii's son, he felled the latter's standard and steeds. Then cutting off the bow of Duse;asana, he proceeded against the son of Radha." At this, Kama, leaving Satyaki, quickly pierced Arjuna with three arrows and Krishna with twenty, and j

Part ha again repeatedly. 23

Although many were the arrow's

that he shoe while slaying his foes in that battle like Indra him-

self inspired

with wrath, Kama yet felt no fatigue. 24

Meanwhile

Satyaki, coming up, pierced Kama with nine and ninety fierce

arrows,

and once more with a hundred. 25

Then

all

the

most heroes among the Parthas began to aftlict Kama.

manyu and

Cikhandin

and the sons of Draupadi and the

'Prabhadrakas, 28 and Uttamaujas and Yuyutsu

fore-

Yudha-

and the twins

and Dhrishtadyumna, and the divisions of the Chedis and the Karushas and the Matsyas and the Kaikcyas, 27 and the mighty Chekitana, and king Yueihishthira of excellent vows,

|— accompanied by

cars

—

all these,

and steeds and elephants, and

foot

MAHABHARATA,

soldiers of fierce prowess, 28

encompassed Kama on

that battle, and showered upon him diverse addressing him in

sharp shafts,

and resolved to compass

harsh words

Cutting

destruction."

his

shower of weapons with his

off that

his weapons like the wind breaking down the

and elephants with their

that

trees

stand

Kama was seen to destroy

Filled with wrath,

riders,

and horses with

Slaughtered by

horse-men, and large bands of foot-soldiers. the energy

Kama dispersed his assailants by the power of

on its way. so car-warriors,

all sides

kinds of weapons,

Kama's weapons, almost the whole of that force

of the Pandavas, deprived of weapons,

and torn, retired from the field.

and with limbs mangled

Then Arjuna, smiling the

while, baffled with his own weapons the weapons of Kama, and

covered the welkin, the Earth, and all the points of the compass

33 with dense showers of arrows.

them fell bolts.

The

(pataghnis and some

fell

shafts

of Arjuna

And some amongst

heavy clubs and spiked bludgeons.

fell like

thunder-

fierce

Slaughtered therewith, the Kaurava force consisting

of infantry and horse and cars and elephants, shutting its eyes,

loud wails of woe

uttered

Many

and wandered senselessly.* 5

were the steeds and men and elephants that perished on that

Many, again, struck with shafts and deeply

occasion.

fled away in fear. "

thus engaged in battle from

'Whilst thy warriors were

desire of victory, the Sun, approaching the

entered

it.

setting

especially owing to

the

dust,

fearing

we could not

anything

notice

The mighty bowmen (amongst the

night-battle,

from the field, accompanied by

all

the retirement of the Kauravas,

O Bharata, their

then retired

combatants. 39

Upon

the

of the

king, at

day, the Parthas, cheerful at having obtained the retired to their

mountain,

O king, but

In consequence of the darkness,

favorable or unfavorable. 38

Kauravas),

afflicted,

own encampment, 40 jeering

victory, also

their

enemies by

producing diverse kinds of sounds with their musical instruments,

41 and applauding Achyuta and Arjuna.

heroes had thus withdrawn the

army,

all

the

the kings uttered benedictions upon the Pandavas.

drawal having been made, those sinless men,

After

troops 42

viz.,

those

and

all

The withthe

Pan-

KARNA I'ARVA. da

became very glad, and proceeding

a9,

there

for

night.

the

rested

tents

their

Then lldkshasan, and Picachas, and came to that awful field " Kudra himself.' 44

carnivorous beasts, in large numbers,

of battlo resembling the sporting ground of

Section XXXI. ''Dhritarashtra said,

you

escape

his

will

him

— "It seems that Arjuna slew

Indeed, the

he slew

bow,

all

could not l !

Bhadra, and single-handed, ho

Single-handed, he subjugated the whole Earth,

and made all the kings pay tribute celestial

himself

Arjuna took up arms against him

battle, if

Single-handed, Partha ravished gratified Agni

Destroyer

the

Single-handed, with

Nivatakavachas !

his

Single-handed,

he contended in battle with Mahadeva who stood before him in the guise of a hunter ratas,

Single-handed, he protected the

and single-headed, he gratified Bhava

Bhfi-

Single-handed,

were all the kings of the Earth vanquished by him endued with fierce prowess 4 !

The Kurus cannot be blamed.

such a warrior)

Tell me

now what they

Suta, what Duryodhana did after that

"Sanjaya said, j

On the

fought with

other hand, they deserve "praise (for their having

Tell me also,

did.

!' 6

— 'Struck and wounded ami overthrown from

their vehicles and divested of armour and deprived

of weapons

and their beasts slain, with plaintive voices and burning with grief and vanquished by their foes, the vain Kauravas, entering their tents, once more took counsel of one another.

looked others. ||

snakes deprived of fangs and poison trod upon by

like 6 "7

squeezing

They then

Unto them, Kama, sighing his

hands, and eyeing

an angry snake,

thy son,

sakl,

— Arjuna

'always careful, firm, possessed of skill, and endued with intelligence.

Again, when the time comes, Vasudeva awakes him

(to what should be done)

9 !

Today, by that sudden shower of

weapons we were deceived by him

Tomorrow, however, O

lord of Earth, I will frustrate all his purposes

ed by Kama,

Duryodhana said,

— So be

10 !

— and then granted

permission to those foremost of kings to retire. king,

all

those

rulers

proceeded

— Thus address-

their

Bidden by the

r*spcctive

ten'

MAHABHARATA.

Having passed the night happily, they cheerfully went out for battle (the next day).*

They then beheld an invincible array

formed by king Yudhishthira the

that foremost one

just,

Kuru's race, with great care, and according to the sanction of Vrihaspati and Ucanas.' 8

Then that slayer of foes, viz., Duryo-

dhana, called to mind the

heroic

foes, that

counteracter of

warrior with neck like that of a bull, equal to Puran-

himself in battle, the

dara

Kama, that

Maruts

might, Kfirtavirya in

energy. Indeed, the heart of the king turned towards Kama. 14 15

And the hearts of all the troops also turned to that SiUas son, that mighty bowman, as friend, in a situation of great danger.'

"Dhritarashtra said,

heart

one's

hero,

turns

that a

— 'What did Duryodhana next do, \

Sitta, when the hearts of all of you turned towards Vikartana's

son Kama ? 17 Did my troops cast their eyes on Riidha'sson like j

persons afflicted with cold turning their gaze towards the Sun ?

Upon the recommencement of the battle after fight

the withdrawal

Kama How also did all the Pandavas fight with the Suta'a The mighty-armed Kama would, single-handed, slay I

of the troops, 18 ?

how,

Sanjaya, did

Vikartana's son

]

son ?°

the Parthas with the Srinjayas.

The might

Kama's arms j

in battle equals that of

Cakra or Vishnu.

His weapons are ]

and the prowess also of that high-souled one is fierce. Relying upon Kama, king Duryodhana had set his heart on fierce,

battle.

Beholding that Duryodhana deeply

by the

afflicted

son of Pandu, and seeing also the sons of Pandu, displaying

Kama,

great prowess, what did that mighty

car-warrior, viz

do ? 22

relying on Kama, hop-

Alas, the

foolish Duryodhana,

eth to vanquish the Parthas with battle not,

2S !

Alas,

it is

sons

their

and Kecava

a matter of great grief that Kama could

with his strength, overcome the sons of Pandu

Without doubt, Destiny is supreme of that gambling match

24 !

fight

Alas, the terrible

hath now come

end

Alas, these heart-

many

number

and like unto terrible darts, are now being borne by me,

San-

rending sorrows, due to Duryodhana's

* This is a verae in one line. t

A triplet.— T.

— T.

acts,

KARXA PARVA. jaya!"

son

Suvala'a

sire,

used

be then

regarded as a

Kama also is always exceedingly

politic person.

attached to

Alas, when such is the case, O Sanjaya, why have I then to hear of the frequent defeats and deaths of

king Duryodhana."'

my sons 27

There is no one that can

battle

They penetrate into my army

midst of helpless women

'Sanjaya said,

man

Destiny, indeed,

supreme

—'O king, think now of

acts of thine like that,

the Panda vaa

resist

match

all

those

righteous

and the others

dice

the

into

Acta

have passed away form the subjects of thought with !" man Ono should not, however, rellect on by ego no acts. that

One may be ruined by such reflection. That result (which thou hadst expected) is now much removed from the point of although possessed of knowledge,

fruition, since,

not reflect on the propriety

Many a time wert

30 ~ 31

Thou didst not, however,

accept those counsels,

from

folly

nature were perpetrated

grave

Pandu

now come

thou didst

of thy acts then !

O king, counselled against warring

thou,

with the Pandavas

impropriety

Diverse

thee

monarch,

sinful

against

of a

acts

the

sons

For those acts this awful slaughter of kings hath All that, however,

bull of Bharata's race

now

thou

past.

of unfading

not

grieve,

glory, listen

now to the details of the awful carnage that has occurred " 'When the night dawned, Kama repaired to king Duryo!

dhana. 5 *

—

Approaching the king, the mighty-armed hero king, engage in battle today

I shall,

son of Pandu

3S !

with the

said,

illustrious

Either I will slay that hero today, or he will

Inconsequence of the diverse things both myself

slay me!

and Partha had to do, O Bharata, 3 ' an encounter, O king, could not hitherto take place

between

myself and Arjuna

Listen

monarch, to these words of mine, spoken according to

now,

my wisdom M

Without slaying Partha

come back,

Bharata!

battle

.Since this army of ours

not

will

hath been de-

prived of its foremost warriors, and since I will stand in battle, 58

Partha will advance against mo, especially because

titute of the dart that Cakra gave me

ruler

men,

listen

celestial

now to what

Therefore,

beneficial

SD !

The energy

weapons is equal to the energy of Arjun a's l.J

des-

weapi

MAHABHARATA.

9S In eounteracting

the

foes,

arrows shot,

of the

range

hands, in the

of powerful

feats

lightness

in in

O Bharata,

kind).

in aiming,

Vijaya,

bow, called

In physical

knowledge (of weapons), in prowess,

courage, in

strength, in

and in

skill,

hitting the mark, Savyasachin is never ray equal.

Savyasachin is never my equal.

the

foremost of

all

weapons

(of its

Desirous of doing what was agreeable (to Indra),

was made by Vicwakarman (the celestial artificer) for Indra. king, Indra had vanquished the Daityas.** With that bow, had beheld the ten points to be Daityas At its twang the That bow, respected by all, Cakra gave to Bhrigu's 44 That celestial and foremost of bows Bhrigu's son (Rama).

empty.*

son gave to me.

With that bow I will contend in battle with

the mighty-armed Arjuna, that foremost of victorious war45 That like Indra fighting with the assembled Daityas ! riors,

formidable bow, the gift of Rama, Tt was with that bow

superior to

Gcindiva.**

Earth was subjugated thrice

that the 47

With that bow given to seven times (by Bhrigu's son). battle with the son of Pandu in contend will I \>v Rama will,

me I

O Duryodhana, gladden thee today with thy friends, 45 by

slaying

battle

conquerors

that

hero,

viz.,

Arjuna,

that foremost

The whole Earth with her mountains and

forests 43

and islands, without a heroic warrior (to oppose thy wish) king, become thine today, over which thyself with thy will, Today there is nothing sons and grandsons will reign supreme !

that is

incapable

of being

achieved by

me, especially when

50 even as ascetic the object is to do what is agreeable to thee,

success is incapable of being missed by one

zealously

devoted

Arjuna

will

not

be able to bear me in battle even as a tree in contaet

with

fire

to virtue and having his soul under control

incapable

element. 51

of bearing that

I must,

however, de-

dare in what respect I am inferior to Arjuna. The string of his bow is celestial, and the two large quivers of his are inexhaustible.

His is that

His driver is eelestial

Govinda."

I have none like

him.

and foremost of bows, called Gdndiva,

which is irrefragible in

battle.

also

have that excellent,

* The sense of the origmal is that the Dmtyps were stupirled.— T.

KARNA TART A. and formidable bow called

celestial,

09 respect

Vijaya.

king, I am superior to Arjuna.'

our bows, therefore,

Listen

now to those matters in which the heroic son of Pandu is The holder of the reins (of his steeds) is he superior to me S5 Hi« of Dacaraha's race who is adored by all the worlds !

celestial car,

decked with gold, given unto him by Agni,

penetrable in every part, and his steeds also, O hero, are endued

with the speed of the mind. S6 the blazing

Ape,

His celestial standard, bearing

exceedingly

Again, Krishna

wonderful.

who is the Creator of the universe, protects that car !" Though inferior to Arjuna in respect of these

fight

with him.

semblies,

equal

things, I

This Calya, however, the to

Caurin

victory will certainly be

thine

ss !

Let

desire

still

ornament of as-

he becomes

driver,

who

Calya, therefore,

incapable of being resisted by foes, be the driver

car

59 !

Let a large number of carts bear my long shafts and those that are winscedwith vulturine feathers.

monarch,

cars,

always follow me,

Let a number of foremost

with excellent steeds yoked unto them/* bull of Bharata's race

By these arrange-

ments I will, as regards the qualities mentioned, be superior to Arjuna to Arjuna is

C1 !

Calya is superior to Krishna, and I am superior

As that slayer of foes, viz., he of Dacarha's

acquainted with horselore,

rior,

viz.,

Calya

acquainted

with horselore.

There

of arms, 89

equal to the chief of the Madras in might is

race,

even so is that mighty car-war-

none

As there

none equal to myself in weapons, so there is none equal to

Calya in knowledge of steeds.'*

So circumstanced, I

will

Viisava at their head will not dare advance.**

attended to, when I take my stand on

All these

car, I

being

become

will

superior to Arjuna in the attributes of a warrior and will

O best of the Kurus, vanquish Phalguna arch,

all

this to be done by thee,

wishes of mine be accomplished. elapse ;

67 !

If all this be

will be rendered to me

,fi

every

means, vanquish the sons

then,

O monLet these

Let no time be suffered to

accomplished, the

I desire,

scorcher of foes

desirable

most

effectual

aid

point.

Thou

wilt

then see, O Bharata, what I will achieve in jby every

be-

Against my car, the very gods with

come superior to Partha.

Pandu

battle!'

battle

will,

when

—

MAHABIIARATA.

1 00

they will approach me

The very gods and

not able to advance against me in battle

A suras

the

What need

then of the sons of Panda that are of human origin ? 'Sanjaya continued, of battle,

viz.,

said

— 'Thus addressed by that ornament

Kama, thy son, worshipping the son of Radha,

answered him, with a glad heart, saying, 70

O Kama, which thou thinkest and steeds, such cars

many cars as thou

shall

— Accomplish

that,

Equipt with goodly quivers

thee

battle

Let as

thy long shafts and arrows

wishest bear

equipt with vulturine feathers.

Ourselves, as also all the kings,

O Kama, follow thee in battle

will,

—

are

' !

"Sanjaya continued, — 'Having said these words, thy royal

son, endued with great prowess, approached

the

of the

ruler

Madras and addressed him in the following words.' " TS

Section XXXII. "Sanjaya

said,

— 'Thy son then,

monarch, humbly ap-

proaching that mighty car-warrior, viz., the ruler of the Madras, addressed him, from affection, in these words :'

vows,

thou of great good fortune,

of foes,

O ruler of the Madras,

hero in battle,

inspirest hostile troops with fear,

of speakers, how,

for the sake of

3 !

O thou

thou hast heard,

thou that

foremost

Kama who spoke unto me,

I myself am desirous of soliciting thee of kings

— thou of true

enhancer of the sorrows

of incomparable

Madras, for the destruction of the

with humility and bow of the head

among

all

these

prowess,

king of the

foe, !*

truction of Partha and for my good,

solicit

thee

lions

today,

Therefore, for

the

behoveth

O fore-

thee,

des-

most of car- warriors, to accept, from love, the office of chariotWith thee for his driver, the son of Rahda will subjugate eer 5 foes There is none else for holding the reins of Kama's my !

steeds,

except thee,

art the equal of

every

means

O thou of great

Vasudeva in battle!

Brahman

good fortune, thou that Protect

protecting

Kama

then by

Mahecwara 7 !

Even

as he of Vrishni's race protects by every means the son of Pan-

du in all dangers, do thou,

O chief of the, Madras, protect the

KARNA PARVA.

7 (/I

Bhiahma, and Drona, and Kripa, and thyself, and the valiant ruler of the Bhojas, and Cakuni the son son of Rfulha today !'

of Suvala, and Drona's son, and J

Strength of our army

Even thus,

lord

divided amongst ourselves the hostile army for the share of each

chief

of Earth,

we had

nine

portions

into

The share that had been

the

myself, constituted

allotted

Bhishma is now no more, as also that which had been allotted 10 Going even beyond their allotted to the high-souled Drona. Those two tigers among men, shares, those two slew my foes. have been

however, were old, and both of them fully.

achieved the most

Having

them,

O sinless

larly,

many

foes

deceit-

both of

departed hence to heaven

one, have

other

slain

feats,

difficult

Simi-

among men, of our army, slain by

tigers

have ascended to heaven, casting off their lives

battle,

*" 18

and having made great exertions to the best of their powers. king, the greater portion of which This my host, therefore, has been slaughtered, has been

Parthas who were

done

for

present?

the

reduced to this state by the

than

fewer

first

O lord of Earth, by

now,

that

What should be

us.

Kunti,

which the mighty and the high-souled sons of of being baffled, may

prowess incapable

exterminating the remnant of my host

lord,

prevented from

Panda-

the

vas have in battle slain the bravest warriors of this my force !"

Kama alone

The mighty-armed also thyself,

car-warriors

to contend

of the Madras, else in the

of the

among men,

the

whole world 17 today

with

the foremost of

art

for

Arjuna

Kama

holders of reins for

Partha

in battle,

ruler

a holder

the

foremost of all

even so,

king, be thou

As Krishna

Kama's car 19 !

Accom-

O sire, by him in battle, the feats that

Partha achieves are all before thee !*°

Formerly, Arjuna had

never slain his foes in battle in such a way.

prowess has become

him,

There is none

that can make so good

the foremost of all holders of reins on

panied and protected,

Kama wishes

Calya,

my hopes of victory are great 18

world (save thee)

reins

that !

battle

our good, as

devoted to

tiger

great, united

Now, however, his is

J1 with Krishna !

Day after day, O ruler of the Madras, this vast Dhartarashtra force is seen to be

routed bv Fartha because he

united

with

MAHABHAHATA.

102

[

Krishna M

A portion remains of the share allotted to Kama

Bear that share with and thyself, O thou of great splendour i8 Even as Surya, Kama, and destroy it unitedly in battle !

uniting with Aruna, destroys the darkness, do thou, uniting

with Kama, slay the Parthas in battle

Let the mighty

enemy), fly away, beholding in battle endued with the offulgence of the morning those two warriors car-warriors

Sun, ;

the

(of

Kama and Calya, resembling two Suns risen above

viz.,

sire, at the Even as darkness is destroyed, Kaunteyas with sight of Surya and Aruna, even so let the

the horizon

the Panchalas and the Srinjayas perish (beholding thee and

Kama 28 Kama is the formost of car-warriors, and thou art !

In the clash of battle, again, there is

the foremost of drivers

none equal to thee !"

As he

son of Pandu under

all

even

circumstances,

protect Vikartana's son Kama in battle !"

Kama

driver,

will become invincible,

the

protects

race

of Vrishni's

thyself

let-

With thee as

his

with

battle

king, in

What then need be even the gods having Cakra at their head words !— 29 doubt my not ? Do Fandavas said about the !

"Sanjaya continued,

Calya became

filled

— 'Hearing these words of Duryodhana,.

with rage.

three lines, and waving his arms lar~e eyes red in wrath, that

Contracting his brow into repeatedly,

and

of massive

warrior

rolling

his

arms, proud

of hi3 lineage and wealth and knowledge and strength, said

these words.

" 'Calya said,

— Thou insultest me,

son of Gandhari,

or,

without doubt, suspectest me, since thou solicitest me, without hesitation, saying,— Act thou as a driver /"—Regarding

Kama

be suparior to ourselves, thou applaudest him thus

however, do not regard the son battle

Radha

Destroying that in battle, I will return

from

equal

Assign to me a much greater share, O lord of Earth I

38 !

the

place

came

Or, if thou wishest, I will, O delighter of the Kurus,

contend, single-handed, with the

enemy

consuming the foe, behold thou my

While engaged

prowess today

35 !

Brood-

thou of Kuru's race, a person like ourDo not have thy doubts selves never engageth in my task. ing upon an insult,

about me

Never shouldst thou humiliate me

•

battle

KARNA PARVA,

]U.'i

Behold these two massive arms of mine, strong as the thunder

Behold also my excellent bow, and these shafts that resemble Behold my

snakes of virulent poison !"

car,

unto which aro

yoked excellent steeds endued with the speed of the wind Behold also,

son of Gandhiiri,

and twined with hempen chords split the

very Earth, scatter

oceans, with my own energy,

my mace

decked with gold

Filled

with wrath, I can

58 !

up the

the mountains, and dry

O king

Knowing me, O mon-

arch, to be so capable of afflicting the foe, why dost thou appoint

me to the office of driver in battle for such a low-born person as Adhiratha's son ?*°

Being so superior, I cannot make

up my mind to obey the commands of a that causeth a

superior

obedient from love, to

person yield

arrived

to a

currcth the sin of confusing the

Brahman

created

O king of kings, to

It bchoveth thee not,

set me to such mean tasks

will

and

wight, certainly

in-

person

of his

own

sinful

superior

Brahmanas from

the

sinful

with the inferior !** his

mouth, and the

He created the Vaicjas

Kshatriyas from his arms.

thighs and the Cudras from his

feet.

from

his

In consequence of the

union with one another of those four orders, O Bharata, from those four have sprung particular classes, viz., those born of men of superior classes wedding women of classes inferior to

and vice versa}*"

selves,

them-

Protectors (of the other classes), ac-

quirers of wealth, and givers of the same, have the Kshatriyas

Ibeen described to be.

The Brahmanas have been established

on the Earth for the sake of favoring its people by at

sacrifices,

by teaching,

and

acceptance

Agriculture and tending of cattle and gift are of the

Vaicyas according to the scriptures.

o rd lined to be

Similarly, the Sutas arc

the Kshatriyas, and not the latter the servants

Listen to these my words, E

the

pure

gifts.

occupations

Cudras have been

the servants of the Brahmanas, the

and the Vaicyas. 46

assisting

the

Kshatriyas, servants

of the

former.

O sinless one 47 As regards myself, !

am one whose coronal locks have undergone the sacred bath. am born in a race of royal sages. I am reckoned a great car-

ivarrior.

I deserve

the worship and the praises that bards

fulogists render and sing. 43 ,roops, I cannot

and

Being all this, O slayer of hostile

come forward to act as the driver of the Satan

—

MAHABHARATA.

104 son in battle !*

never

will

will return home

so !

—

"Sanjaya continued,

— 'Having said these words, that tiger

among men and ornament with rage,

son of Gandhari, for I

I ask thy permission,

humiliation.

undergoing an act of

fight,

assemblies,

viz.,

Calya,

that concourse of kings. 51

Thy

from affection

son, however,

and great regard, held the king, and addressed him sweet and conciliatory every

plishing

thee, nor

;

ruler

it,

— Without doubt, O Calya,

But I have

do I suspect thee,

king

The

the Madras will never do that which is false. of

royal

chief of

Those foremost

men that were thy ancestors always told the truth.

it is for

this that thou art called Artayani (the

those that had truth for of honors, thou

art

their

refuge). 5s

by the name

fore art thou called

said

of £alya

Radha nor myself am superior to thee in

superior to

sacrifices,

Neither the son of valor that

As, however,

would

foremost of steeds (that are

select thee as the driver of those

car)

on Earth

O virtuous one, thou hadst

thou wouldst accomplish before !"

yoked unto Kama's

O giver

since,

to thy foes, there-

thou that makest large presents (to Briihmanas) at do thou accomplish all that which,

I think

descendant of

And

a barbed arrow

even

it is

purpose in view.

certain

Kama is not superior to

men 53

these

were capable of accom-

words, that

object

so as thou hast said

Listen

filled

stood up quickly and endeavoured to get away from

Dhananjaya in regard

sire,

many

Kama

even so

qualities,

s9 doth the world regard thee to be superior to Vasudeva I

Kama is certainly superior to Partha in the matter of weapons, O bull among men Thou too art superior to Krishna, in knowledge of steeds and might 60 Without doubt, O ruler of !

the Madras,

thy knowledge of horses

that which tho high-souled

Vasudeva hath

" 'Calya said,— Since,

me,

twice greater than

son

61 !

of Gandhari, thou

thou of Kuru's race, in the midst of

to be superior to Devaki's son, I

am gratified

all

describest

these

troops,

with thee

64 !

Radha's son of great fame while he will be engaged in battle with that foremost one of Pandu's

will become the driver of

sons, as thou so-licitest

me 68 !

Let

this,

however, O

hero, be

— KARNA rAUVA.

my understanding

with

101

son

Vikartana's

that

"Sanjaya continued,

will,

hia

,c *

presence, utter whatever speeches I desire

— 'O king, thy son, with Kama then,

O Bharata, answered the prince of the Madras, O best uf Bharata's race, saying,

— So be

—

"6*

Section XXXIII. "

'Duryodhana

said,

— Listen, once more, O ruler of the

Madras, to what I will say unto thee, about what happened, lord, in the battle

A suras

between the gods and the

daya

The great Rishi Markandeya narrated it to my sire.

of yore! 1

I will now recite it

royal sages

without leaving

out

Listen to that account

mistrusting it at all 3

O best of

anything,

and without

confidingly

Between the gods and the Asuras, each

desirous of vanquishing the other, there happened a great battle, king, which had Taraka for its evil (root). It hath been heard

by us that the Daityas were defeated by the gods. 3

Upon

the defeat of the

named

Daityas, the

three

sons

of Taraka,

Tarakaksha, Kamalaksha, and Vidyunmalin. the austerest penances, lived in

the

By those penances they emaciated their In consequence of their

foes.'

king,* practising

observance

of high

bodies,

vows.

scorcher

self-restraint, their

penances,

and contemplation, the boon-giving Grandsire be-

their vows,

came gratified with them and gave them boons. 6 they solicited the Grandsire of all the worlds,

Unitedly

king, for

tho

b ion of immunity from death at the hands of all creatures at times. 7

all

The divine Lord and Master of

unto them, the

—

hands of all creatures!

from such a prayor

Therefore, ye

Solicit some other boon

desirable to you !]*— Then all of them, it

amongst themselves

after

—

the

worlds said

[0 god,

death

Asuras, that

abstain

may seem

king, having

settled

and repeated conferences,

long

bowed to the great Master of all words:

all

[There is nothing like immunity from

the

worlds

Grandsire, give us this boon

and said these 9 !

Residing in

three cities,

we will rove over this Earth, with thy grace ever

After a thousand years then, we will come together,

before us

and our three

cities

also,

sinless

one, will

become

united

— MAHABHABATA.

lOo

That foremost one amongst the gods who will, with

into one !"

one shaft, pierce those three

united into one, will,

cities

— Saying unto them, — that god ascended to heaven. Those Asuras

12 lord, be the cause of our destruction !]

— [Let

be so,]

then, filled with joy at having obtained those boons, and having settled it among themselves cities, selected for the

about the construction of the three

purpose the great Asura Maya, the celes-

tial artificer, knowing no fatigue or decay, and worshipped by all

the Daityas and Banavas. 1 *

by the aid of his own cities,

one

of which

third of black iron. 15

all in

Earth !* 16

merit, constructed

the

The golden city was set and the iron

heaven, the

was

city

on the

set

O lord of

such a way as to revolve in a circle,

Each of those cities measured a hundred Yojanas

in breadth and a hundred in

And

length.

houses and mansions and lofty

they consisted of

and porches. 17

walls

though teeming with lordly palaces

the streets were wide and spacious.

And they were

each

with diverse mansions and gate-ways. 18

Each

monarch, had a separate king. 19

The

again,

three

was of gold, another of silver, and the

silver city in the welkin,

Earth,

Then Maya, of great intelligence,

ascetic

of gold belonged to the illustrious to Kamalaksha,

Tarakaksha

and the iron one

adorned

of those cities,

beautiful ;

[Who is he

called

the

Vidyunmalin. 20

and reign, and began to

Creator ?] 21 22

Those their say,

—Unto those foremost of

Banavas having no heroes equal to them, came millions, from every side,

city

the silver city

three Daitya kings, soon assailing the three worlds with energy, continued to dwell

And

other, yet

millions

upon

of proud and flesh-eating Danavas

who had before been defeated by the

celestials,

and who now

23 settled in the three cities, desirous of great prosperity.

Unto became the supplier of every all of them thus united, Maya thing they wanted.

Relying upon him,

there, in perfect fearlessness.

all of them resided Whoever amongst those resid-

ing in the triple city wished for whatever object in his heart,

had his wish fulfilled by Maya aided by the

latter's

powers of

* C/iakrastAzm is explained by Nilakantha in the sense in which render it here.

— T,

KAKNA I'AuYA. illusion.

the austerest

gratified,

into

means life

Hari

solicited a boon

existence in our

When the god was

— [Let a lake

such that persons, slain by

when thrown into it, come out with

of weapons, may,

and redoubled strength !]"

Hari, son

of him, saying,

city,

upon which

of penances,

the Grandsire became gratified with him.

start

named

Tarakakasha had a heroic and mighty son

He underwent

Hari.

101

— Obtaining this boon, the heroic

of Tarakaksha, created

that was capable of reviving the dead.

In whatever form and

whatever guise a Daitya might be slain, lake,

he came out, restored to life, in

guise.

lord, in his city,

lake, 28

thrown into that

self-same form and

the

Obtaining back their slain, the Daityas began to afflict

Crowned with success by means

the three worlds.

penances, those enhancers of the fears of the

O king, no diminution in battle.

gods

of austere

sustained,

Stupified then by covctous-

ness and folly, and deprived of their senses,

all

of them

began

to shamelessly exterminate the cities and towns established

over the universe. received,

Filled with pride at the

and driving before them, at

places, the gods with

their

all

boons they had

times and from

all

roamed

will

attendants, they

over celestial forests and other realms dear to the

denizens

heaven and the delightful and sacred asylums of Rishis.

And

the wicked Ddnavas ceased to show any respect for anybody. S3-3 i '

While the worlds were thus afflicted, Cakra, surrounded by the Maruts, battled against the three cities by hurling his

upon them from every

side/'

When,

however,

failed to pierce those cities made impenetrable,

Creator with his boons, fear,

thunder

Purandara

O king, by

the chief of the celestials,

the

with

filled

and leaving those cities, repaired with those very gods

that chastiser of foes,

viz.,

him the oppressions committed by the Asuras.' 7 everything and bowing their heads unto divine Grandsire the

be destroyed. 88 Indra, told the

the Grandsire, for representing unto

Representing

him. they

means by which the

triple

asked city

the

could

The illustrious Deity, hearing the words of [He that is an offender against you

gods,

—

offends against mc also

39 !

and always hate the gods gffend against mc !*°

The Asuraa are all of wicked souls They that give pain to you always

am impartial to all creature-

There i;i

MAHABHAEATA,

10S no doubt in this

For

all

three forts are

that

vow 41 !

Those

By no

other

This

righteous should be slain.

means can

that, however, they is

fixed

be pierced with one shaft.

destruction be

their

None

effected.

are

lift-

save

else, 42

Ye Adityas, select Sthanu, otherwise called Ic/ana and Jishnu, who Sthanu

is competent

pierce

them with one

never fatigued with work, as your warrior

shaft.

It is he that will

A suras /] 43 — Hearing these words of

destroy those

his,

the

gods with Cakra at their head, making Brahman take their loader,

his

sought the protection of the Deity having the bull for

Those righteous ones, accompanied by Mishis

mark.**

devoted to the severest penances and uttering the eternal words of the Vedas, sought

their

whole

soul.

O king, in the high words of the

they praised, dispel ler

Bhava with

fears

all

situations

And

Vedas, that

that Universal

fear,

Soul, that Supreme Soul, that one by whom this

All

per-

vaded with his Soul.* 6

Then him who, by

especial penances,

had learnt to

the

of his

Soul and under-

all

still

functions

Matter, — him who had his — that lord of — him, called Uma, that mass of energy, — the gods beheld, — him, that

stood the distinction of Soul from soul always under

control,* 7

Ic/ana,

is,

who hath no equal in the universe, that source (of everything), Though that Deity is one, they had imaginthat sinless Self. 43 Beholding in that high-souled

ed him to be of various forms.

one those diverse forms that each had individually conceived in his own heart,

all

of them became

filled

with wonder.*

Be-

holding that Unborn one, that Lord of the universe, to be the

embodiment Blskis,

all

the gods and the regenerate

creatures,

59 touched the Earth with their heads.

Saluting

them with the word— [Welcome]— and raising them from their bent attitudes, the illustrious Cankara addressed them smilingCommanded [Tell us the object of your visit Q" ly, saying,

—

by the

Three-eyed god,

then said these to thee,

their

hearts became

words unto him

Olord! 52

easy.

They

— Our repeated salutations

Salutations to thee that art

the source of

all tho gods, to thee armed with the bow, to thee that art

of wrath fioe

Salutations to thee that hadst destroyed the

of that lord

creatures

(viz.,

full

sacri-

Daksha), to thee that art

KAILS' A

adored by

all. the

lords

PAKVA.

of creatures

100

Salutations

thee

that art always praised, to thee that deservest to bo praised, to

thee that art Death's self!

Salutations to thee that art red, to

thee that art fierce, to thec that art blue-throated, to art armed with the trident,

that hast eyes

thee

thee that

to thee that art incapable of being

beautiful

those of the

gazelle, to thee that tightest with the foremost

weapons; to

baffled, to

thee that deservest all praise, to thee that art pure, to thee that art destruction's self, to thee that art the destroyer

to thee that

;

art irresistible, to thee that art Brahman, to thee that leadest the

Brahmachcirin

of a

immeasurable, to thee that art the great controller, to thee

that

art robed

to thee that art

Icana; to thee that

life

art

in tatters

to thee that art

;

penances, to

thee that art tawny, to thee

of vows, to

thee

the

art

that art

sire

that

Kumara, to thec that art

to thee

that

three-eyed, to

thee

;

armed with the foremost of weapons, 87 to thee that

destroyest the afflictions of all that seek

thy

shelter,

that

destroyest all haters of Brahmanas, to thee

lord

of all

ever the

observant

art

art robed in animal skins

that

engaged in

ever

trees, the lord of all

lord

sacrifices

ss !

thee

that art the

men, the lord of all kinc, and Salutations

thee

that

art

always at the head of troops, to thee that art three-eyed, to thee that art endued with

fierce

energy

We devote ourselves to

—

Be gracious unto us !] 8D adorations, the holy one, saluting them

thee in thought, word, and deed! Gratified

with

with the word be dispelled

these

— Welcome] — said unto them. — [Let your fears — Say, what we arc you do to

" 60

for

Section XXXIV.

'"Duryodhana said,

— After the fears of those throngs of tho

Pitris, the gods, and the Risltis had thus been dispelled by that

high souled Deity, Brahman, then offered his adorations unto Cankara, and said these words for the benefit of the

— [Through thy favor, tures is mine

poon

the

l :

Lord of all, the Lordship of all crea-

Occupying that rank,

Dinavas !*

universe

behoveth

have given a great

none

else,

save thee,

—

MAHABHARATA.

110

O Lord of the Past and the Future, to destroy those wickeJ wights that show no regard for any one only person competent

Thou, O god, art the

foes of these denizens of

the

slay

heaven that have sought thy protection and that

Lord of all the gods, show favor to these

O wielder of the trident

vas,

thee

solicit

Slay the Dana-

O giver of honors, let the

3 "* I

universe, through thy grace, obtain happiness

Lord of all

the worlds, thou art the one whose shelter should be sought

We all seek thy shelter "

— Sfchanu

said,

—

— [All your foes should be

think

slain, I

them single-handed

1 do not, however, venture to slay

enemies of the gods are possessed of might

Therefore,

The

all

you, united together, consume those enemies of yours in battle,

with half my might "

— The gods

said,

— [Theirs

—

twice the energy and might

we think, for we have already seen

of ourselves,

and might ']

Union is great strength !] 7

their

energy

—

—The holy one

— [Those sinful wights that have With half of my energy offended against ye should be slain — those enemies of yours and might, slay will not be — The gods — [We able, Mahecwara, to *

said,

all

said,

bear half of thy energy

With, on the other hand, half of

our united might, do thou slay those foes !]'° "' to

— The holy one

bear half

said,

of my

—

[If,

united energy, I will slay them !] u " 'Duryodhana

continued,

that god of gods, said,

ye have not the ability

indeed,

might, then, endued with

—

— The —

celestials

[So be

half of your

—

best

it]

then, addressing

of kings

half of their energies from all of them, he became

might. 12

superior in

Indeed, in might that god became superior to

the universe

all

From that time Cankara came to be called And Mah&deva then said, [Armed with bow

Mahxdeva.* * and shaft, I will, from 1

Taking

—

car,

yours, ye denizens of heaven !'*

slay

battle

my car and bow and shaft so that I may, this the Aswras down on the Earth !] 15

foes

very day, throw

— i

* The great god.— T.

those

Therefore, ye gods, see now to

KARXA PARVA, «<

— The gods

said,

— [Gathering

forms that may be found

all

in the three worlds and taking portions of each, we will, of the gods, construct a car of great energy for thee

Lord

It will

be a large car, the handiwork of Vigwakarman, designed with intelligence !]

— Saying

this, those tigers among the gods

17 the construction of that car.

And

began

made Vishnu and S >ini and EEutaca the arrow for Cankara's use. Agni became the staff, and Soma became the head, and Vishnu the point, O king, of that foremost of arrows. 18 The goddess Earth, with her large cities and towns, lands,

that

home

they

her mountains and forests and

of diverse

The Mandara mountain was made its axle

Ganga was made its Jangha

The constellations became its shaft yoke

;

and that best of snakes,

Kuvara of that car. 21

;

the

is-

car.

and the great river

and the points of the compass,

;

became the

cardinal and subsidiary,

made

creatures, Avas

ornaments of that

car.

the Krita age became

its

became the

Vasuki,

viz.,

Himavat and Vindhya mountains be-

came its Apaskara and Adhishthana

;

and the Udaya and the

Asta mountains were made the wheels of that car by those fore-

most ones among the gods. 22

The excellent Ocean, that abode

of the Dctnavas, they made its other axle.

The seven Rishis became the protectors of the wheels of that car. 23 Ganga, and Saraswati and Sindhu and the Sky

became its Dhura

other rivers and all the waters became the chords

the several limbs of that car. 24

became

its

united together, creepers,

The blazing

fence. 26

wooden

became

decked with

its

flowers

Religion,

two) wheels

the

binding other

and the Seasons

planets Profit,

and the

stars

and Pleasure,

Trivenu.

The herbs and the

and

became

Making the Sun and the Moon (other

for

all

Day and Night and the

divisions of time such as Kalas and Kasthas,

became its Anukarsha.

;

fruits,

equal,

these

its

bells.

were made the

Day and Night were made its auspicious wings on the right and the left. 27 of that foremost of cars.

The ten foremost of snakes having Dhritarashtra for their first, all

exceedingly

strong, formed

the (other) shaft

of that car.

The Sky was made its (other) yoke, and the Clouds called SamVartaka and Valdhaka were the leathern strings of the yoke. The two Twilights, and Dhriti, and Medha, and Sthiti, and

112

MAHABHARATA.

Sannati* 2 * and stars,

firmament bespangled with planets and

the

were mado the skins for covering that car. Those Regents

of the

world,

viz.,

lords of the gods

the

of the

waters, of

the dead, and of treasures,-f- were made the steeds of that car. 39

Kalaprishtha, and Nahusha, and Karkotaka, and Dhananjaya,

and the other snakes became the chords fur binding the manes of the

steeds.

The

and the subsidiary directions

cardinal

The Vcdic sound

became the reins of the steeds of that car. VasJtat

became the goad,

attached to that goad. 81 the traces of the steeds,

and Gayatri became the string

The four auspicious days were made and the Pitris presiding over them

were made the hooks and pins4 8a ascetic Penances and Profit, were

and Truth and

Action

made the chords of that car.

The Mind became the ground upon which that Speech the tracks upon which it

Avas

Indra's bow attached to it, that blazing car

stood,

gave fierce

light.

occasion, had, in

Sacrifice of the high-souled Icana, been fixed

and

Beautiful

lightning and

With

banners of various hues waved on the air.

That space of time which, on a former

car

proceed. 33

the

Year, be-

came the bow, and the goddess Savitri became the loud- sounding bowstring. 85

A celestial coat of mail was made, decked

with costly gems, and impenetrable and effulgent, sprung from the wheel of Time. 86

That golden mountain, viz., the beautiful

Meru, became the flagstaff, and the clouds decked with flashes of lightning became its banners.

Thus equipt, that car shone

brilliantly like a blazing fire in the midst of the priests officiat-

ing at a

sacrifice.

Beholding that car properly equipt, the

gods became filled with wonder. 88

Seeing the energies of the

entire universe united together in one place,

sire,

the gods

wondered, and at last represented unto that illustrious Deity

* These are embodiments or personifications of courage, intelligence, gravity, and humility.

t 1. \

— T.

Indra, Varuna,

Yama, and Kuvera.

— T.

The four auspicious days mentioned here are

(1)

the day of

new

moon, with a portion of the previous lunar day running into it, (2) the

day

of full moon,

with a portion of the previous lunar day running

into it, (3) the day of

by itself.— T.

new moon by

itself,

and the day of full moon

KARNA PAKYA. that the car was ready."

monarch, that best of cars

After,

had thus boon constructed by the gods,

among men,

tiger

Cankara placed upon it his own celesMaking the sky its flagstaff, he placed upon it

for grinding their foes, tial

weapons.

his

bovine

Rudra's

bull.

rod,

The Brahmana'a

of Death,

rod

rod, the

and Fever became the protectors of the sides of

48 that car and stood with faces turned towards all sides.

became the protectors

van and Angiras that

car-wheels

of the

The Rigveda, the Sdmaveda, and advance of that car. 43 The histories

the Purdnas, stood in

Yajicrvcda became

sacred Speeches and all

Athar-

warrior.

illustrious

and the

the

protectors of the rear.

All

around it, 44 and

stood

Sciences

the

all

monarch, and the Vedic sound of Vashat also.

hymns,

And the syllable Om,

king, standing in the van of that

car,

made it exceeding beautiful. 45 with the six seasons his

Having made the Year adorned bow, he made his own shadow the

irrefragable string of that bow in that battle.

Rudra is Death's self night, therefore,

string

tructible

became

;

The illustrious

Year became his bow

the

;

the Death-

which is Rudra's shadow, became the indesof that bow,

(as already said)

consist of

the

Agni and Soma.

48 consist of Vishnu.

Vishnu and Agni and Soma

Vishnu

The universe is said to arrow. The universe is similarly said to is,

Bhava of immeasurable energy. bowstring became

For this the touch of that

unbearable to the Asuras.* 3

Cankara cast on that arrow

holy

Soul of the

again, the

his

own

And the lord and fierce

irresistible

wrath, the unbearable fire of anger, viz., that which was born of

wrath of Bhrigu and Angiras. 50 Red, or Smoke,

Then He

— that terrible Deity robed

Blue and

called skins,

— looking

like ten thousand Suns, and shrouded by the fire of superabun-

dant Energy, blazed up

with splendour. 51

of even him that is difficult

that slayer

of all

haters

That discomfittcr

of being discomfittcd, that

of Brahma, called

also

victor,

Hara, that 5

rescuer of the righteous and destroyer of the unrighteous, * viz.,

the illustrious Sthanu, accompanied by

many beings of terrible

might and terrible forms that were endued with the speed of the mind and capable of agitating and crushing (all foes),

with al! the fourteen faculties 15

of the

soul

as if

awake about him

MAirABUARATA.

looked exceedingly resplendent.'

Having his limbs

refuse, this entire universe of mobile

that were present thero,

for

their

and immobile creatures

O king, looked beautiful, presenting a

highly wonderful appearance.*

Beholding that car, duly equipt,

he cased himself in mail and armed himself with the bow, and w took up that celestial shaft born of Soma and Vishnu and Agni. king, then commanded that foremost of celestials,

The o-ods,

Wind, to breathe after that puissant Deity all the frag56 Then Mahadeva, terrifying the very rance that he carries.

viz.,

and making the very Earth tremble, ascended that car 57 Then the great Rishis, the Gandharvas, those resolutely.

gods,

throngs of gods and those diverse tribes of Apsaras, began to praise that Lord of the gods while he was about to ascend that

Adored by the regenerate Rishis, and praised by the eulogists and diverse tribes of dancing Apsaras well- versed in oar.

the art of dancing,

that boon-giving lord, armed with scimitar

and arrow and bow, looked very beautiful. Smiling, he then 60 The gods asked the gods,— [Who will become my driver ?]

—

answered him, saying,— [He whom thou wilt appoint, will, Lord of the gods, without doubt, become thy driver !]"— Unto

them the god replied,— [Reflecting yourselves, without delay

make him my driver who is superior to me !]

— Hearing these

words uttered by that high-souled Deity, the gods repaired unto

—

68 the Grandsire and inclining him to grace, said these words holy one, that thou hadsfc [We have accomplished everything, :

ordered us to do celestials

the

matter of afflicting the foes of the

The Deity having the bull for his mark has been

A car hath been constructed by us, equipt We do not, however, know with many wonderful weapons

^ratified with us

who is to become the driver of that foremost of cars 6S Therefore, let some foremost one among the gods be appointed as the holy one, it behoveth thee to make true those words driver !

that thou,

hadst then said to us

lord,

thou hadst even said It behoveth thee tible

and best

G6 !

Before this,

that thou wouldst do

to accomplish that promise

cars,

that

router

of our

G7 !

us good

That

foes,

god,

irresis-

hath been

constructed out of the component parts of the celestials

The

Deity armed with Finika hath been made the warrior who

EARN A PARVA,

preDdnavas with fear, he The four Vcdas have become the four foremost of steeds. With her mountains, the Earth has become the car of that high souled one. The stars have become

to- stand

pared

on it

Striking the

battle.

for

the adornments

that

69 !

superior to all these

Equal to thee in importance is that

O god, and Hara is the warrior bow,

(As already said) Hara is

vehicle.

We do not, however, see who is to become the A driver should be sought for that car who is

the warrior driver

i.s

car,

Armour, and weapons, and

— these,—we have got already,

Grandsire 7 °

Except

thee, we do not behold any person that can make its driver Thou, O lord, Thou art endued with every accomplishment

art superior to all the gods

Mounting upon that car with

speed, hold the reins of those foremost

tory of the celestials and the

of steeds, for

of their

destruction

the

foes !]

vic-

— It

their

heads unto the

Grandsire, that Lord of the three worlds, the

gods sought to

has been heard by us that bowing with

gratify him for inducing him to accept the drivership.

—The Grandsire

all this

said,

fight !] *

—

nothing of untruth I

hold

will

Kaparddin while he will be engaged

the reins of the steeds for in

— [There

ye denizens of heaven.

that ye have said,

— Then that illustrious god, that Creator of the

worlds,

the

driver

of the

Grandsire.

was appointed by the gods as the

high-souled

Iciina.

And when

he was about

to ascend quickly upon that car worshipped by all, those steeds,

endued with the speed of the wind, bowed themselves with their

heads

the

Earth. 76

illustrious Deity, viz.,

Having ascended the

car,

the

the Grandsire, resplendent with his own

energy, took the reins and

goad. 77

the

Then the

the gods, viz., Sthanu, saying,

— [Ascend

illustrious

foremost one

god, raising those steeds, addressed that

78 !]

among

— Then, taking that

arrow composed of Vishnu and Soma and Agni, Sthanu ascended the car, causing the foe to tremble by

means

of his

The great Rishis, the Gandharvas, the throngs the diverse tribes of Apsaras, then

praised

that

bow. 79

of gods,

and

Lord of the

gods after he had ascended the car. 80

Resplendent with beauty,

the boon-giving

scimitar, shaft,

stayed on

the

Lord, armed

car,

with

causine the

three

worlds

and bow.

blaze

fort!

110

MAHABHA11ATA.

with his own energy. 81

The great Deity once more

the gods headed by Indra,

—

unto

said

[Ye should never grieve, doubting 2

my ability to destroy the Asuras?

Know that the Asuras

—

have already been slain by means of this arrow !] The godg The Asuras have already then answered, saying, [It is true

— —Indeed, the gods, thinking that the words !

83 been slain !]

which the divine Lord had said could not be untrue, became 3 exceedingly gratified. * Then that Lord of the gods proceeded, surrounded by all the gods, upon that large car,

had nothing to compare with it.

And

the

O king, which Deity

illustrious

was adored the while by the attendants that always wait upon him, and by others that subsisted on meat, that were invincible in battle, and that danced in joy on the present occasion,

running wildly on

sides

all

and shouting at one another. 88

Rishis also, of great good fortune, possessed of ascetic merit,

and endued with high qualities, as Mahadeva's success. of the

pel ler

of the

fears

the

gods, wished

worlds, thus

three

for

proceeded, the

O best of men, became ex-

entire universe, with all the gods,

ceedingly gratified.

also

When that boon-giving Lord, that dis-

And the Rishis there adored

Lord

that

of the gods with diverse hymns, and enhancing his energy.

O kino

took up their station

there.

And

upon

millions

millions of Gandharuas played upon diverse kinds of musical 90 instruments at the hour of his setting out.

giving

Brahman, having ascended the

When the

the Daily as are

D1 !

Proceed,

said,

O god, to the spot where

Urge the steeds wakefully

the might of my arms while I slay the foe in addressed,

out for the

car, set

Asuras, the Lord of the universe, smiling the while, [Excellent, Excellent

boon-

Behold today

battle ']

Thus

Dii

Brahman urged those steeds endued with the

Heet-

ness of the wind or thought towards that spot where the

triple

Dana-

city,

king, stood, protected by the Daityas and

the

vas.™

With those steeds worshipped by

worlds,

all

the

and '

which coursed with such speed that they seemed to devour the skies, the illustrious god quickly proceeded for the victory of 94 Indeed, when Bhava, riding on that the denizens of heaven. car, set out

towards the triple city, his bull uttered tremendous

roars, filling all

the

points

of the

compas;.'' 8

Hearing

that.;

KA11NA PAllVA,

followers of Tfiraka, those enemies of the gods, breathed 9

Others amongst them stood, facing the

Then Stimuli,

king,

wrath.

his senses in

many of the descendants and

loud and terrible roar of the bull,

last.

foe, for

their battle.

armed with trident, became deprived of All

when he was on the point

became

creatures

the three worlds began to tremble.

frightened,

and

Frightful portents appeared

of aiming

that

shaft.

In conse-

quence, however, of the pressure caused by the weight of Soma,

Agni, and Vishnu that were in that shaft, as also of the pressure caused by that of Brahman and Rudra and the lattcr'a

bow, that car seemed to sink. 99

Then Niirayana, issuing out

of the point of that shaft, assumed the raised

that large

car.

100

During the time the car had sunk

and the foe had began to

roar, the illustrious

with great might, began, from giver of honors,

standing,

back

utter

rage, to

on the

At that time

of his steeds.

form of a bull and

the

loud shouts, 191

head of his bull and the

While in that pos-

O best of men, Rudra cut oft" the teats

and clove the hoofs

the

bull.

103

Blessed

of the horses

that date, the hoofs of all animals of the bovine to

cloven.

And from

that time,

teats.

10 *

Then

Sarva,

having

thou, from

stringed

his

bow and Pdpupata

aimed that shaft with which he had united the •weapon, waited, thinking

of the

united. 105

their separate characters,

When

with-

103

And,

king,

three

cities,

during

the three

cities,

losing

triple city.

as Rudra thus stood, holding his bow, the

that time, became

came

species

king, horses, afflicted

by the mighty Rudra of wonderful deeds, came out

Rudra was

illustrious

employed in eyeing the Ddnava city. 102 ture,

Deity, endued

became united, tumultous became the

joy of the high-souled gods. 107

Then all the gods, the Siddhas,

and the great Rlshis, uttered the word Jaya, adoring Mahe08 ewara.' The triple city then appeared immediately before that god

of unbearable energy, that the

deity

of fierce

and

indescribable form, that warrior who was desirous of slaying the

Aswaa.109

That illustrious deity, that Lord of the

then, drawing

that 'celestial

universe,:

bow, sped that shaft which re-

presented the might of the whole universe, at the triple city. 110

Upon

that

foremost

of shafts,

thou of great good fortui

MAHABITARATA,

IIS

wails of woe were heard from those cities as"

being: shot, loud

they began to

down towards the Earth.

fall

Burning those

Asuras, he threw them down into the Western ocean. 111

was the

Thus

burnt and thus were the Bdnavas exter-

city

triple

minated by Mahecwara in wrath, from desire of doing good the three worlds.

112

The fire born of his own wrath, the three-

eyed god quenched, worlds to ashes !] three

worlds,

and

gratified

import. 114

to-

9aying,

— After

became

all

— [Do not, 0, reduce the three

this,

the gods, the Rishis, and the

restored to their natural dispositions,

Sthanu of unrivalled energy with words of high

Receiving then the permission of the great god, the

gods with the Creator at their head went away to the places they came from, their object accomplished after such

effort.

11 '

Thus did that illustrious Deity, that Creator of the worlds, that Lord of both the Gods and the Asuras, viz., Mahecwara, did 116 As the illustrithat which was for the good of all the worlds. ous Brahman, the Creator of the

worlds, the Grandsire, the

Supreme Deity ef unfading glory, acted as the driver of Rudra,

of Radha

so do thou restrain the steeds of the high-souled son 118 like the Grandsire restraining those of Rudra I

117

There is not

the slightest doubt, O tiger among kings, that thou art superior

Kama, and to Phalguna u9 In battle, Kama is United, ye like Rudra, and thou art like Brahman in policy.

to Krishna, to

two, therefore, are competent to vanquish my foes that are even> like the Asuras.

120

Calya, that be speedily done today

Let,

by which this Kama, grinding the Pandava troops, may be able to slay Kunti's son owning white steeds and having Krishna for the driver of his

car

Upon

our kingdom, and (our) victory

selves,

reins, therefore, of the

Kama, our-

thee depend in

battle

is another story which I will narrate.

Hold the

steeds (of Kama)

excellent

There

Listen once more to

it I

A virtuous Brahmana had recited it in the presence of my father. " 1

Hearing those delightful words fraught with the Calya, what

reasons and purposes of acts, do, settle,

without entertaining any scruples

124 !

thou mayst

In the race of

the Bhrigus was Jamadagni of severe ascetic penances. He had a son endued with energy and every virtue, who became celebrated by the name

Rama. " 1

Practising

the

austerest

— KARNA I'ARVA, of cheerful

finances,

bound

soul,

l{[)

and vows,

observances

and keeping his senses under control, he gratified the god Bhava for obtaining weapons.

tranquillity

of heart,

In consequence of his

Mahadeva became

devotion and

with

gratified

And Cankara, understanding the desire cherished in his showed himself unto Rama. * 7 And Mahadeva said, 1

known to me all

with thee

gratified

Make thy soul pure!

that you desire

them !] 1S9

Thou

then

have thou

not

deserving

Jamadagni, bending his head

unto that puissant and high-soulod one, it

wilt

— Thus addressed by that god of gods, that deity

bearing the trident, the son

gods,

I will give thee all weapons when

incompetent and that

desire

Those weapons, O son of Bhrigu, burn a

wilt become pure.

person that

l2S !

heart,

— [0 Rama,

Blessed be thou, thy

him.

said,

180

— [0 god of me

behoveth thee to give those weapons unto

that;

am always devoted to thy service, when, indeed, thou wilt regard me fit for holding them !]

'•'Duryodhana continued,

181

—

— With penances then, and

training his senses, and observances of vows, and offerings and with sacrifices and

high-souled

worship and

Homa performed with mantras,

Rama adored Sarva for many long years. 138 pleased with the

res-

son

At last Mahadeva,

of Bhrigu's

race, described

him, in the presence of his divine spouse, as possessed of many

— [This Rama, of firm vows, ever devoted to me — Gratified with him, the Lord Cankara thus repeatedly provirtues

188

claimed his virtues in the presence of the gods and the Risltis, slayer

mighty. df

of foes!

134

Meanwhile, the JDaityas became very

Blinded by pride and folly, they afflicted the denizens

heaven. 13 '

The gods then, uniting

resolved to slay them, strove earnestly those foes.

They, however, failed to

gods then, repairing to to gratify

and firmly

together,

for

the

destruction

vanquish them.

Mahecwara the

lord

13 *

The

Uma, began

him with devotion, saying,— [Slay our foes !]'"

That god, having promised the destruction of their

foes

unto

summoned Rama the descendant of Bhrigu. And Cankara addressed Rama, saying, 3i —[0 descendant of the

celestials,

Bhrigu, slay all the assembled foes of the gods, from desire of doing good unto all the worlds as also for my satisfaction I]"*—

120

MAHABHARATA.

Thus addressed, Rama replied unto that boon-giving Lord of Three-eyes, saying,— [What strength have I, O chief of tho gods, destitute as I am of weapons, to slay in battle the assem-

bled DcLnavas that are accomplished in weapons and invincible in fight?]' 40

—

Mahecwara said,— [Go thou at my command! Thou shalt slay those foes Having vanquished all those ene!

mies, thou shalt acquire numerous

words and accepting them

all,

merits !] 141

to be performed for his success, proceeded wis.

144

— Hearing these

Rama, causing propitiatory rites

Dana-

against the

Addressing those enemies of the gods that were endued

with might and possessed with

Daityas that are fierce in

and

folly

battle, give

pride, he said,

battle

143

been sent by the God of gods to vanquish you !]

— [Ye have

— Thus address-

ed by the descendant of Bhrigu, the Daityas began to

fight.

14 *

The delighter of the Bhargavas, however, slaying the Daityas in battle, with strokes whose touch resembled that of Indra's thunder, 145 came

back to Mahadeva.

Jamadagni's son, that

foremost of Brahmanas, returned with many wounds on his per-

son inflicted by the Danavas. his wounds

that feat

Touched, however, by Sthanu,

were immediately healed. 146 * of

his,

the

illustrious

Gratified also with

god gave diverse kinds of

boons unto the hio;h-souled son of Bhrisru. 147

With satisfaction

— [The pain

his heart, the trident-wielding god of gods said,

thou hast suffered in consequence of the fall of weapoos upon

body

thy

achieved,

evidences

the

superhuman

feat

that

thou

hasfc

Bhrigus

desired

thee,

delighter of the

accept from me these celestial weapons !] 148-49 " 'Duryodhana'continued,

— Having obtained

all

the celestial

weapons and the boons that had been desired by him, Rama

bowed unto Civa with his

head. * 1

Obtaining the leave also This is

of the Lord of the gods, that great ascetic went away.

the old story that the

Rishi had recited. 151

The descendant of

Bhrigu gave the whole science of weapons unto the high-souled

Kama, O

tiger

among

Kama had any fault,

kings,

heart

182 !

lord of Earth, the delighter of Bhrigu s

race would never have given *

with delighted

exn.ind 14G a little.— T.

him

his

celestial

weapons! 158

— KAttNA PA.RVA,

nit

order.

think

Kama

thai

order. 184

think

he was abandoned (in infancy) in order

that

that the race in which he his

and

features

1C urn*

have been fonrn in the Sula

could

think him to bo the son of a god, bem in the Kshatriva

was born

might be ascertained (by

By no moans.

feats).

Calya, could

M5$

have been burn in the Suta order

thii

With his (natural)

and (natural) coat of mail, this mighty car warrior

ear-rings

of long arms, resembling

Surya

himself, could

borne

not be

by a c immon

woman oven

tiger ! lfl

arms are massive, each resembling the trunk

His

as a

t57

and capable of resisting every foe vrith I

king, cannot

aikartana,

great valour, this disciple

igh-souled personage

—

" 'Duryodhana said,

Rama,

worlds,

the

viz.,

Brahman, act as driver

the

superior

warrior.'

The

the

warrior on

Therefore, O tiger among men, do thou hold a !

— Even thus did that illustrious Deity,

hero, should

steeds in this battle

" ,iS

on that occasion and Rudra become of the car,

king of kings,

Section

that Grandsire of all

Kama, otherwise called Endued

so broad

an ordinary person

bear

never

Behold his chest that

of a prince of elephants'

can

she-deer

the

driver it.

of the

reins

As on that occasion the Grandsire had

been selected with care by

all

the

O great

celestials, indeed,

king, as one greater than Cankara was selected by the gods, so

thou that art superior to Kama art now care

selected

with

Like the Grandsire holding the reins of Rudra's steeds,

do thou hold, without delay, the reins of Kama's steeds in thou of great splendour

battle,

'Calya said,

—

foremost

and

heard

this

excellent

those

two

lions among gods !'

Grandsire acted also,

also

the

E"4 !

of men,

celestial

many

havo

tome,

time

history, recited I

have heard how the

driver of Bhava,

and how the Asuraa

Indeed,

Bharata, wore all destroyed

with one shaft !*

had knowledge of all this before, the knowledge,

of yore!

viz.,

become the driver on that Indeed, Krishna knoweth the past and tha

how the illustrious Grand-ire had oceasiou

Krishna

—

— T.I.vHARHA^ATA,

i22 with

future

Bharata, of Partha like the Self-create becoming

the driver driver

the

and the mace, h

That bearer of the conch, the discus,

then consume thy army.-

will

There is no king

in the ranks in front of that illustrious one

that will stay

•)•(•

If the Suta's son, by some means, suc-

the son of Kunti, Kec,ava, beholding Partha

fight himself.

will

slain,

Rudra?

slaying

ceeds in

Knowing tins fact, lie became

details! 7

their

all

° when he will be excited with wrath Unto the ruler of the Madras who was "Sanjaya said, :i

of Vrishni'a race

—

mighty-

speaking in that strain, that chastiser of foes, viz., thy

—

Do not, O armed son of cheerful soul replied; saying,' mighty-armed one, think disparagingly of Kama, otherwise 1

called Vaikartana, in battle,

— that warrior who

wielders of arms and who is acquainted

all

12 ing of the whole body of our scriptures!

ble and loud twang

of his

bow and

with thy own

eyes,

foremost

the

mean-

Hearing the

terri-

with

sound of his palms,

the

13 the Pandava troops fly away on all sides.

e I it

Thou hast witness-

mighty armed one, how Ghatot-

kacha, (screened by) his illusions

hundreds of illusions, was still slain Feeling a great fear all these days,

him, and displaying

before

night (by

that

Kama)! 14

Vibhatsu could never stand,

The mighty Bhimasena also, moved hither fronting Kama and thither by the horn of Kama's bow. was, O king, addressed ls

words such as

in diverse harsh

Fool and Glutton

16 !

— The two

brave sons of Madri also were defeated by Kama in great battle,

though, from slay

tWlm then

the li sroic

s;»inc 17 !

object he had in view,

That foremost one

Satyaki, the chief of the

lie

of Vrishnis

Satwata

quished by Kama and made earless 18

did not,

clan,

sire,

race, viz.,

was van-

Others, such as

all

the

Srinjayas headed by defeated

Dhrishtadyumna, have been repeatedly battle by Kama with the greatest ease 9 How,

indeed, will the

Pandavas vanquish that great car-warrior in

battle

who (has achieved all these feats and who), excited with

wrath,

competent to slay Purandara himself armed with the

bhund/n*-bolt, in fight? 2e

with every weapon ches

might

of learning of

arms !"

Thyself also.

hero, art acquainted

Thou art, again, the master of all bran-

There is none on Earth who is thy equal in Irresistible in prowess,

thou art like a dart

SAUNA f.UlVA. (•Calya

)

unto thy enemies!

It,

for this,

Oslayerof foes, art called Qalya !'" of thy arms, Is

it!

all

O king, that

thon;

Encountering the mi;

the Satwatas were unable to get the better

Krishna superior to thee in might of arms,

king

hear

Pandava

Krishna

Indeed, as

burthen of the

the

troops upon the slaughter of Partha; even so art thou to bear the burthen of this vast (Kaurava) force if Kama lays down 2l

his life

Why should he be able to resist my tro< ps and wh\

shouldst not thou be able to

F >r thv sake,

sire,

sla)

sire? 28

troops

the hostile

would willingly follow the

fool

my (slain) brothers and the other heroic kings of the Earth " 'Calya said, — O son of Gandhari, when thou, giver of honors, describest me before thy troops to be superior to the 17 I acson of Devaki, I am exceedingly gratified with thee I,',

foremost

of the

sons

I have, however,

O hor<>,

will ficrht with that

desiresl

son

cept the drivership of the celebrated

Vaikartana, and

that

this:— [I

will

Radha when

of Pandu,

thou

compact to make with whatever words

utter

— '" tins one's presence may wish, — Sanjaya continued, 'Thy son then. O king, with Kan be answered the ruler of the Madras, saying, — Let O the Kshatriyas. Assurred by 3D — the presence of in

'.]

sire,

it.

Karna.

embraced

around), thy

son

feins

once- more addressed battle,

like the great

— Calya having accepted the

of his

very

filled with

3i !

—

of holding the

heart,

once

— The ruler of the Madras does

what he

cheerfully

once more in sweet words

Karna, saving

Indra slaying the

office

Kama, with a cheerful

steeds,

53 addressed Duryodhana, saying,

n >t say

Duryodhana,

Eulogised (by bards and panegyrists

then

Slav all the Parthas in

jyjnavas / M

drivership,

of the

Calya's acceptance joy,

all

says.

king, solicit

him

— Thus addressed, the mighty king

Duryodhana, possessed of groat, wisdom and accomplished in everything, once more spoke unto that lord of Earth, vi Calya the ruler of the cloud-;

and tiling the

that

voice:**—

with

Arjuna

Madras,

whole

region

Calya, Karna

todai

Kama'- steed--: in battl

tiger

p as that

in a vol

there

with

thinks that

among men

Having

he hold

lain all lb

of the

sound of

the

should

fight

the reins of r

wani

—

WAHABBAKA7A,

Kama desires 60 sTacy Fhalguna. edly, in the

I solicit

ting, repeat-

fch'ee,

7 mailer of holding the reins of his steeds !"

Krishna, that foremost of all drivers,

of Par-

the counsellor

tha, even so do thou protect the- son of Uitdhfj today from every

danger

—

"S.injaya continued, ruler

of the

viz.,

Duryodhana,

saying, 3 "

royal son of Gandhari, for

that,

thee

— Embracing thy

Madras, joyfully

accomplish

then, Calya

the

answered that slayer of

foes r

sron

— If this what tfrou thinkest, Q

O thou of handsome features, I shall, everything

that

may

agreeable

to-

O chief of the Bharatas, for whatever acts I may be

employing myself therein with rwy whole heart, I will bear il Let Kama, however and the burthen of those acts of thine

fit,

thyself pardon

me all those

words, agreeable

disagreeable,

that I may speak unto Kama from desire of his good

"'Kama said. — O ruler graved in our erood as

that of Pftrtha !— " 'Calya

said,

of the Madras, be thou ever en-

Brahman in that of IcF«na, as Kee/ava

— These four kinds of conduct,

are never

That, however,

practised

those

O learned one, which I

listen to it duly f"

that

arc

viz,,

self-

adulation

of 1 "*

respectable.'

shall say, for inspiring

self adulation.

thy confidence, is fraught with

fit to

in?

rebuke and self-praise, speaking ill of others and others,

43 !

For

all

that,

O puissant one, like Matali himself, I am

act a-; the driver of even Indra in watchfulness, in manag-

steeds, in knowledge of coming danger and of the mvvos of avoiding it. and in competence to avoid it in prac-

ing the

!* s

tice

When thou wilt be engage.

w'll ho' 1 the reins of thy steeds

Suta's son !_'

battle

with

Partha, I

Lot thy anxiety be dispelled,

"«

Section XXXVI. '

"Duryodhana said,

— This one,

driver, this ruler of the like

Madras,

Kama, will act as the who is superior to Krishna,

Matali the driver of the chief of the

as Matali takofch the >{'. of

management

celestials !'

of the car

unto

Indra arc attached, even so will Calya be

Indeed,

which the the

driver

—

— 12o

k.VKNA I'AKYAof the steeds of thy car today

With thyself as warrior on

9 !

that vehicle and the ruler of the Madras as its driver, that fore-

—

most of cars will certainly vanquish the Parthas in battle 'Sanjaya continued, 'When the morning came, O monarch, !

ruler

Duryodhana once more addressed the

endued with great activity, saying,*— O ruler hold the reins, in battle, of tected by thee, the son of

Thus addressed, Calya, car,

Kama's foremost

Madras

of the

Madras, Pro-

of steeds!

Radha will vanquish Dhananjaya

answering.

— So be

it,

— ascended the

O Bharata!* When Calya approached that car, Kama,

with a cheerful heart, addressed his teer,

of the

quickly equip the car for

triumphal car, the foremost of its

vapory mansions saying,

—

6 !

driver, saying. — O chario— Having duly equipt that

kind, which

the sky, Calya presented

Blessed be thou, victory to thee !'

resembled the it

foremost of car-warriors, duly worshipping that car in days

of old

been

sanctified

Kami,

— Then Kama, that which had

by a priest conversant with

Bra,hm%,' and circumambulating

and carefully adoring the

go 1 Sury a, addressed the ruler of the Madras standing near, Thereupon Calya of mighty Ascend the vehicle saying. and foremost of cars, invincible, energy ascended that large, 10 belonging to Kama, like a lion ascending a mountain summit.

—

Beholding Calya stationed,

—

Kama ascended

his

excellent

like the Sun riding on a mass of clouds charged with

ning."

car,

light

Mounted on the same car, those two heroes endued Sun or fire, looked resplendent like

with the splendour of the

Surva and Agni

sitting together on a cloud in the

E ilogised then (by bards and panegyrists)

firmament."

those two heroes of

groat effulgence looked like Indra and Agni adored with in a sacrifice by Rit wiks and 8ada8ya8.

car the reins of his

whose steeds were

held

hymns

Kama stood on that

Calya, stretching

formidable bow. like the Sun himself within a halo of cir-

cular light.'*

Stationed on that

foremost,

of cars, that

ti.

among men, viz., Kama, with his shafts constituting his raj 1 looked beautiful like the Sun on the Mandara mountains.* Unto the mighty-armed son

Radha, that

warrior

of im-

measurable energy, stationed on his car fur battle, Duryodhana 18 hi?ro do Ihou said these words son of Adhiratha ;

—

— I2G

MAHABHARATA,

achieve

that feat, difficult of accomplishment, which Dfonap and Bhishma have not achieved, in the very sight of all the btwracn 17 I had always believed that those two mighty car:

warriors,

Bhishma and Drona, would, without doubt,

viz.,

slay Arjuna and Bhimasena in battle !"

achieve

that feat worthy of a hero which was not achieved by

two! 13

those

Either seize

king Yudhishthira the just or slay

Dhananjaya and Bhimasena, of Madri

sons

out for battle, troops

20 !

son

of Radha,,

and

Blessed be thou,

let victory

be thine

O tiger among men

of Pandu's

son

of thousands

tens

Like a second wielder

O son of Radha, do thou in great battle

thunder-bolt,

of the

twin

the

Set

Reduce to ashes all the

— Then thousands of trumpets and sounded together, produced a

drums,

noise like that of the clouds in the welkin.

Accepting those

words (of Duryodhana), that foremost of car-warriors stationedon

his

warrior

car,

viz.,

the son of Radha, addressed

accomplished in battle,

O mighty-armed one, so

that

saying, 23

that

Calya,

—

Urge the steeds, may slay Dhananjaya and

Bhimasena and both the twins and king Yudhishthira 84 !

Calya,

let

Dhananjaya behold today the might of my arms,

when I will be engaged in shooting shafts winged with Kanlca feathers, in hundreds and thousands

shoot shafts

Today,

O Calya, I will

of great energy for the destruction of the Panda-

vas and the victory of Duryodhana

why dost thou think so low of the sons of Pandu, all of whom are endued with great might, all of whom are great bowmen, and all of whom are acquainted "

'Calya said,—

Suta's son,

with every weapon ?

fortune, invincible,

and of prowess incapable of being baffled

They

are

unretreating, of great good

heart

They are capable of inspiring fear in the self

23 !

of Indra

When, O son of Radha, thou wilt hear the twang

GSudlva in battle, resembling the peal thou wilt not then

utter

such speeches

of the 29 !

thunder

When

himof

itself,

thou

wilt

behold Dharma's son and the twins causing a canopy, like that of the clouds in the welkin, with their sharp arrows,

other invincible

kings

(of the

and the

Paudava army), endued with and

great lightness of hands and shooting (showers of shafts) 51 weakening their foc.i then thou wilt not utter such words I

;

—

127

KAHN.V PARVA,

"Sanjaya continued,—'Disregarding those words spoken with Iherulet of the Madras, Kama addressed him endued great activity, saying,

— Proceed! —

" tz '

Section XXXVII. " 'Sanjaya

fcake

said,

— 'Beholding the mighty bowman Kama

up his station from desire

beat

Kauravas,

of battle, the

with delight, uttered loud shouts from every

side.

cymbals and the sound of drums, with

and the roars

diverse kinds of arrows

With great activity,

tilled

With

the

whizz of

the

combatants endued

thy troops proceeded to battle, making

all

When Kama set

death only the point at which to stop

and the warriors of the Kuru army

were

out

with joy, the

filled

noise 3

The seven made a loud great planets including the Sun seemed to proceed against one Meteoric showers became noticeable and another (for combat). king, trembled and

Earth,

all

the quarters seemed ablaze.

Thunders

and fierce winds began to blow.

less sky,

from a cloud-

fell

Animals and bird3

numbers kept thy army to their right, foreboding great 6 Kama had set out, his steeds tumbled After calamities.

in large

the

i iwn on

the sky. ablaze

;

Earth.

frightful

their standards

trembled

arch,

shed copious tears. 8

awful

appeared

p >rtents

;

and their animals,

These and many other for

Stupified by Destiny, none at all.

shower of bones

the of

O monand

terrible

of the

Kurus. 9

them regarded those portents

Beholding the Suta's son

men (in the Kaurava army)

destruction

from

fell

The weapons (of the Kuru warriors) seemed

out, all

set

cried victory to him.

vas regarded the Pandavas to have been

already

the

rulers

The Kauravanquished. 10

That slayer of hostile heroes, that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Vaikarfcana, as he stayed on his car, recollecting

the

death

Bhishma and Drona, blazed up with splendour like the Sun or Reflecting on the mighty feats of Partha, and burning

fire."

with self-conceit and pride, and blazing with wrath, and breath12 ing long and hard, he addressed Calya and said these words :

—

When stationed on my car and armed

with

my bow, I won d

not take fright at Indra himself armed

with

the

thunder

and

MAHABHARATA.

128 excited with wrath

Beholding those great heroes headed by

Bhishraa lying on the field of battle, I do not feel any anxiety !'*

Seeing even

Bhishma and Drona, equal unto

faultless

the

ludra and Vishnu, those crushers of foremost of ears and steeds

and elephants, those heroes that were unslayable, foe,

experience any

do not still

quainted with mighty

fear

weapons, and

slain

battle

this

Remembering that

cars ? IS

and elephants and

drivers

Br ma in great battle, I tell you truly, listen there

bear

battle

seeinsr them destroy the mightiest of our ki.igs with

foes,

their

the

Ac-

foremost of

himself the

Brahmanas, why, indeed, did not the preceptor slay all

by 14 !

me, ye Ivurus.

none amongst you, save myself, that is competent to

Arjuna, that warrior who resembles Death

the advancing

himself in

fiercest form l'

his

In Drona were the skill atten-

highest

When even that high-souled one had

dant on practice, and might, and bravery, and the weapons, and policy.

succumb

Death,

regard

others

the

all

strengthless and on the point of death.

army)

our

(of

In this world I do not

find anything, even on reflection, to be stable, in consequence of

When the preceptor

the inevitable connection of acts. is

dead,

live

till

himself

who then will indulge in the certain belief that he will even today's sun-rise

18 ?

When the preceptor was thus

slain by the enemy in battle, without doubt, weapons, ordinary and celestial, and might and prowess and achievements, and

wise pjlicy, are not able to

In energy Drona was equal to fire or

the

resembled Vishnu or

policy

Vrihaspati

Purandara, in

Ucanas

nob yet protect him

;

irresistible

as he

Sun. in

prowess

he was

equal

was, weapons

When (our) women and

of man!

happiness

compass the

ho to

could

children

are

when the valour of the Calya, that it Dhartarashtras has been defeated, I know it, is who am bo fight Proceed, therefore, against the army of weeping

and uttering loud

wails,

our enemies ? those troops

l -

Who else, save myself,

amongst whom

Pandu firm in

vas,

stationed

be able the

royal

bear

son

truth, and Bhimasena and Arjuna, and Satyaki,

and the twins ?" quickly,

are

will

this

Therefore, battle,

and the Srinjayas

towards

ruler of the Madras, proceed

the

Panchalas, the Panda-

Encountering them

battle

either

— KARNA I'.'vllVA. them

slay

I will

myself

Drona !'

path taken by

Varna's

Don.it think,

midst of those

not go into the very dissensions cannot be

L29

tolerated

presence

Calya,

that

These

heroes!

iho

will

intestine

(Without, seeking

inc.

Drona !***

them) I will even follow in the wake of Wise or ignorant, when his period is run out, everybody is c 1'ially regarded by the Destroyer; no one can escape. O learned

tolerate

I am

one, for this, I will proceed against the Parthas.

transgress my destiny

is,

O king, always engaged in doing me good.

plishment of his purposes,

The son

son

For the accom-

away my

cast

will

unable

of Vichitravirya's

life-breaths

that are so dear, and this body that is so difficult of being cast

away 2S

covered with

This foremost of cars,

tiger-skins,

with

axle producing no sound, c piipt with a golden seat, endued with

trivenu made of silver, and unto which are yoked these fore27 Behold, also, O Calya, most of steeds, Rama gave unto me !

these maces, these shafts

these beautiful bows, these standards, of fierce forms,

this blazing

white conch of fierce and loud blare.

decked with banners,

mighty weapon, this

sword, this 18

Riding upon this car

wheels producing a rattle deep as that

its

of the thunder, having white steeds yoked unto it. and adorned

with excellent quivers, I battle that bull among

will,

putting forth my might, slay in

car-warriors,

Arjuna !"

viz.,

If Death

himself, that universal consumer, were to protect with vigilance

the

son

Pandu

would

battle, I

still

encounter him

and either slay him or myself go to Yama's presence

fight

following Bhishma !

Yama, Varuna, Kuvcra, and Vasava,

with all their followers, coming hither, unitedly protect the son of Pandu in great battle, what need of

vanquish him with them

many words, I will still

* Nilakantha explains this verse in a

different

way, taking teshain

Cur&nam to refer to Bhishma ami others, instead of to Yudhishthira and others. The meaning, he suggests, i*, Do not think, O Calya, that I will will not have to go into the midst of Bhishma and others (i. c, I have to be numbered amongst them) any injury, bowever, to my friend

—

;

(Duryodhana) I

what

ray

powers,

&c,

&c—T. 17

lest

will

never Buffer;

doing otherwise

(i.

e.,

will tight

injure

to tho

Duryodhai

MAH AMUR ATA, "Sanjaya continued,

— 'Hearing these words of the bragging

Kama who was exceedingly battle, the valiant king of

delighted

the

with the prospect of

Madras, deriding him, laughed 88

and gave him the following reply for checking him. " 'Calya said,— Forbear, forbear, O Kama, from such brag

aloud,

Thou art in transports of delight and sayest what thou shouldsfc Where is Dhananjaya, that foremost of men, and never say !

lowest of men

where again, art thou.

S3 !

Who else, save

Arjuna, could ravish the younger sister of (Kecava) that fore-

most of all persons, having forcibly agitated the home of the Yadus that was protected by the younger brother of Indra and that resembled heaven itself that is guarded by the chief of the celestials ?

What man, save Arjuna who is endued with prow-

ess that is equal

to the prowess of the

chief of the

celestials,

could, on the occasion of the dispute caused by the slaughter of

an animal, summon Bhava, the Lord of Lords, the Creator of 85 For the sake of honoring Agni, Jaya the worlds, to battle ?

had vanquished Asuras and gods and great snakes and men and birds and Pigachas and Yakshas and Rakshasas with his ss Dost shafts and gave unto that god the food he had desired !

O Kama

thou remember,

the

occasion

when, slaughtering

numbers with his excellent shafts endued the Sun, Phalguna liberated Dhritaeffulgence of with the 87 Dost thou rememrashtra's son himself among the Kurus? those

foes

large

ber the occasion when, thyself having been the first to fly away,

the quarrelsome sons of Dhritarashtra were liberated by

Pandavas

after

the

latter

the

had defeated those rangers of the

skies (viz., the Gandharvas headed by Chitraratha) ?

occasion also of the seizure of (Virata's)

kine, the

On the

Kauravas,

swelling with numbers in respect of both men and animals, and

having the preceptor and the preceptor's son and Bhishma amongst them, were vanquished by that foremost of men 89 For thy Why, O, didst thou not vanquish Arjuna then ? destruction If

another excellent battle has now presented itself!

thou dost not

Suta's

son, that

slain !—

fly

away from fear of thy enemy, know, O

soon as thou goest to battle thou wilt be

"Sanjaya continued,.— 'When the ruler of the Madras was

— KAHNA PAIITA. roost heartily engaged

addressing

these harsh

Kama and uttering these praises of the lattcr's cher of foes,

the

viz.,

commander

dost thou indulge in

be so!

Arj una's praises ?

that

scor-

Kuru army, excited

of the

with rage, said these words unto the Madra king

'"Kama said, — Let it be so, lot it

speeches

foe,

Why, however,

battle

about to

If he vanquishes me in fight,

ensue between myself and him.

then will these thy praises be regarded as well-uttered

—

'*'

"Sanjaya continued, — 'The ruler of the Madras — Let be — and gave no reply. When Kama, from desire of — then that great addressed Calya, saying, — Proceed said,

so,

fight,

car-warrior, having white steeds yoked unto his vehicle and own-

ing Calya for his charioteer, proceeded against his foes, slaying

Sun destroying

large numbers in battle along his way, like the

the darkness. 44

Indeed, on that

car

covered with

and having white steeds yoked unto it,

tiger-skins

Kama proceeded with a

cheerful heart, and beholding the army of the Panda vas. speedily enquired after Dhananjaya.'

Section XXXVIII. "Sanjaya said,

— 'After Kama, gladdening thy army, had seU

out for battle, he spoke unto every Pandava soldier that he met

—

Unto him that will today point out Dhananjaya of white steeds to me, I will give the high-souled

with, even these words :'

whatever wealth he

desires.

become satisfied, I shell, in that will

discover

gems s

If that

Arjuna to me, vessels

Arj una

of brass

for

having got

addition, give him, to me,

does not

— him, that

is,

— a cart-load of jewels and

the person who discovers him a century of kine with as many

does not

I will give

satisfy

milking those animals.4

will

give

hundred foremost of villages unto the person that discovers Arjuna to me.

I will also give

number of long-tressed damsels

him that shows Arjuna to me a of black eves

which shall be yoked white mules.

If that

the person that discovers Arjuna to me, other

foremost of cars, made

of gold

shall

and

car unto

dees not satisfy give

and havii

him an•

bulls

MAHABHARATA. yoked unto it that shall be as large as elephants.* 8 I shall also give unto him a hundred damsels decked with ornaments, with collars of gold, fair-complexioned singing and dancing. 7

and accomplished

: -f"

If that does not satisfy the person

discovers Arjuna to me, I shall give him a

a hundred

and a hundred

villages,

steeds of the foremost of breed,

cars,

hundred elephants, 8

docile,

fat,

and ten thousand

endued with many well-trained. 9

excellent qualities, capable of dragging cars, and

I shall also give to the person that discovers Arjuna to me

hundred kine, each

that

with golden horns and her calf

four

If that

does not satisfy the person that discovers Arjuna to me, I shall

make him

more valuable

hundred

viz., five

gift,

steeds,

adorned with trappings of gold and decked with jewelled ornaI shall also give eighteen

ments. lity.

of great

other steeds

doci-

Arjuna to me

I shall also give the person that discovers

1 *

a bright car made of gold and adorned with diverse ornaments 3 If and having foremost of Kamvoja steeds yoked unto it.'

Arjuna to me,

that docs not satisfy the person that discovers I shall make him a more

phants,

valuable

gift,

with chains of gold around

viz.,

their

hundred

six

necks,

ele-

and covered

with housings of gold, born in the western shores of the ocean,t

and trained by elephant-trainers.

person that discovers Arjuna to me, valuable

gift,

viz.,

If that does not satisfy the I shall

Vaicya

fourteen

make him

villages,

people, full of wealth, situated in the proximity of forests rivers, free from

necessaries),

all sorts of

teeming with

danger, well furnished (with

and worthy of being enjoyed by kings. 17

and other

To him

that will discover Dhananjaya to me I shall also give a hundred

female slaves, with golden

collars,

belonging to

and of very youthful age. 18

of the Magadhas,

the

country

If that does not

* Or, it may mean, "that shall have six elephants attached to it and acting as its bulls."

— T.

The word Cj/am-i, as applied to a damsel, means one whose skin is warm in winter and cold in summer, and whose complexion is bright as t

heated gold.

— T.

think one can trace

The original is apardnteshU,

meaii^, as I have put

it,

reference e.,

on the

Africa in

other end

;

the other shore of the ocean.

this

very

— T.

expression.

probably,

KAi.n

that

satisfy the person

L33

PAKVA,

Arjuna

discovers

mc,

will

mako

—

him a moro valuable gift, that, indeed, which he himself will 19 Sons, wives, ami articles of pleasure and enjoyment, solicit. 20 these all, I shall give him if he desires them! that I have,

—

him who discovers

Indeed, unto

Keeava and Arjuna to me,

I shall, after slaying those two, give

left

them

in that battle,

— Having uttered these diverse speeches,

Kama blew his

excellent

conch, sea-born

Hearing these

producing a sweet blare." son that

wealth that may

the

all

and

words of the Suta's

were suitable to his disposition, Duryodhana,

with all his followers, became filled with joy.* 3

king,

At that juncture

the beat of cymbals and drums, and leonine shouts, and grunts the sounds of diverse musical instruments, 8 *

of elephants, with

king, among the (Kaurava) troops,

bull among The shouts also of warriors filled with joy arose there.* 8

arose there,

men.

When the (Kaurava) troops were thus filled with joy, the ruler of the

Madras, laughing

grinder

of foes,

warrior who was

scorn, said these words unto that

viz.,

(he

about

son

Radha,

mighty

that

car-

plunge into that ocean of battle and

who was indulging in such vain brag.'

" 2S

Section XXXIX. <;

'Calya said,

— Do not, O Suta's son, give away

a golden car with six bulls of elephantine wilt obtain a sight

to any

proportions

Dhananjaya today

l !

From

man Thou

foolishness

thou art giving away wealth as if thou wcrt the Lord of treasures

Without any trouble, however, O son 2

Wilt behold Dhananjaya today

wealth like a senseless person

;

Radha, thou

Thou art for giving away this but thou sccst not the demerits

attaching to those gifts that are made to undeserving p< rsons !'

With that large wealth which thou art desirous of giving away, thou art certainly able to perform many

O Suta's son, do thou

perform

thy desire, entertained from

those

folly,

sacrifices

that

4 !

surely

Then lore, As regards vain! Wi

have never heard of a couple of lions having been overthrown by a fox l" Thou seekest what, should never be sought by thee:

seems that thou hast no friends

for

forbidding

—— 134

MAHABIIARATA.

thafc art for speedily falling into a

blazing fire

Thou art un-

do and what

able to discriminate between what thou shouldst

thou shouldst not

Without doubt, thy period is full

man desirous of living would utter

speeches

that

listened

to V

coherent and undeserving of being

What

are

in-

This thy

endeavour is like that of a person desirous of crossing the ocean

by the aid of only his two arms after having attached

hi3

neck a heavy stone, or of one desirous of leaping down from 8 If thou art desirous of winning the summit of a mountain !

what is for thy good, fight with Dhananjaya, well protected from within thy arrayed division, and aided by all thy warriors !° I say this to

thee for the

from any ill will to thee thy

life,

good of Dhritarashtra's son and not If thou hast any wish for preserving HQ

then accept the words spoken by me

" 'Kama said,

— Relying on the might of my own arms I Thou, however, that art a- foe with the

Seek Arjuna in battle.

frighten

face of a friend, desirest to

me !"

person

shall

deter me from this resolution, not even Indra himself uplifting his thunder,

what then need be said of a mortal

'Sanjaya continued,

Kama, Calya,

M3 !

— 'At the conclusion of these words of

the ruler

Madras,

of the

desirous

provoking

Kama exceedingly, said these words in reply. 13 — When keenpointed shafts winged with

Kanka feathers, shot by Phalguna

of mighty arms and impelled from his bowstring and sped with all his

energy, will seek thee, then wilt thou

counter with that hero sachin, taking up

his

14 !

When

celestial

lament thy en-

Partha, called also

Savya-

bow, will scorch the (Kuril)

army and afflict thee exceedingly with keen Suta's son, wilt thou repent (of thy folly)

shafts, then,

As a child l\ ing 7

on the lap of its mother seeks to seize the Moon, even so dost from

thou,

folly,

seek

stationed on his car

,s !

In desiring,

with Arjuna of keen-edged

thy

limbs against

little

O Kama, to fight today thou art

feats,*

keen-edges

of a

Suta's

rubbing

for

trident.

all

This thy

that

of a

foolish

deer of activity challenging a

huge

lion

excited

challenge of Arjuna,

young

the

vanquish the resplendent Arjuna

son,

trauiUte the expression literally.

— T.

K.\R\A PART V,

13-J

Do not, O Suta's son, challenge that prince

*lth wrath: 18

mighty energy like a fox

with meat

gratified

challenging the maned monarch of the forest troyed, encountering

Arjuna

Thou,

the

forest

Do not be des-

O Kama, challengest

Dhananjaya the son of Pritha even like a hare challenging a mighty elephant with tusks largo as plough-shafts, and with tho juice issuing out of its mouth and

rent cheeks

2 !

From

folly

thou art piercing with a piece of wood the

black cobra

virulent poison excited to fury within

desiring

hole,

its

Endued with little understanding, thou, O Kama, disregarding that lion among men, viz., the son of Pandu, yellest at him, like a jackal that, disregarding a maned 2a lion excited with wrath, yells at him As a snake, for its own destruction, chall-enges that foremost of birds, viz., Vinafight with

Partha !"

ta's son possessed of beautiful

tha

plumage and great activity, even

Kama, challenge Dhananjaya the son

so dost thou,

of Par-

Thou desirest to cross without a raft the terrible ocean,

the receptacle of all the waters, with

its

mountain waves and

teeming with acquatic animals, when at its height at the of the

rise

O Kama, thou challengest Dhananjaya tho

Moon 9 * I

son of Pritha to battle even like a calf challenging a smiting bull of keen horns and neck

croaking at a

showers

and mighty

terrible

of rain,

cloud

2S !

of his

Like a frog

yielding

thou croakest at Arjuna who

Parjanya among men 26 * of the house

as a drum

thick

copious

even like

As a dog from within the precincts

master barks at a forest-roaming

tiger,

Kama, so, among men 27 A jackal, O Kama, residing in the forest in tho thou barkest at Dhananjaya, that tiger

even

midst of hares, regardeth himself a lion till a lion he actually sees

28 l

Even so,

son of Radha, thou

lion for thou dost not behold that

among men,

viz.,

Dhananjaya ID !

lion till thou beholdest the

able to do

Thou

regardest

As long as thou Gdndiva in great battle, so long

what thou

thyself a

of foes, that

tiger

thyself a

two Krishnas stationed on the same

car like Surya and Chandramas.

hear the twang of

represser

pleasest

51 !

* rarjarn/a. is the deity of the clouds.

dost

not

art

thou

Beholding Partha causing

— T.

MAIIABHARATA,

13(3

the ten points of the compass to resound with car and the twang; of his bow,

the

and beholding; him

a tiger, thou wilt became a jackal

and Dhananjaya always a lion

in consequence

envy and hatred for heroes, thou always seemest jackal! 83

or a dog and a tiger, or a

lion, or

poison

truth, as

known

thou and Piirtha

art

deeds

and a

fox

and

all

of thy

be like a

As a mouse and a cat are to each other

elephant, as falsehood

of his

Thou art always a jackal,

O fool,

roar

roaring;

strength,

hare and an

and nectar, even

by your respective

" s*

Section XL. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Thus rebuked by Calya of immeasurable

energy, the son of Radha, feeling the propriety of his rcbuker's

name in consequence of his wordy darts, and becoming filled * with rage, answered him thus.' 'Karna said, The merits of meritorious men, O Calya, are known to them that are themselves meritorious but not to them 1

—

that are

of merit.

destitute

every merit.

The mighty weapons bow,

his

hero, are,

Thou, however, art destitute of

How then canst thou judge of merit and demerit a

shafts,

Arjuna, his wrath, his energy, his

and the prowess

O Calya, well

known

also

of that high-souled

me s

also,

O Calya,

thou dost not know so well as I myself, the greatness of

among the

Krishna, that bull ing

my own

energy as also the

challenge

him

insect

respect

battle,

of a

Calya

blazing

fire

energy !

5 !

Calya, of keen mouth, blood-drinking,

But, know-

Earth !*

lords of

of Pandu's

son,

do not act like an

have this

shaft,

lying alone within

O one

6 quiver, equipt with wings, well-steeped in oil and well adorned.

It lieth amid sandal

dust, worshipped

Partaking of the nature and form

by me

for

snake,

of a

long years

poisonous

and fierce and capable of killing large numbers of men and steeds and elephants. 7 it is

capable

Of terrible form and exceedingly awful,

of piercing

coats

of mail

and bones.

An allusion to the word Calyx, which means a ilavt. — T.

Inspired

KARNA PARVA

137

I may pierce even the mighty mountains of Mern That shaft I will never shoot at any otheT person save Phalguna or Krishna the son of Devaki. In this I tell

With wrath, with it

thee the truth

Listen to it

With that

That would be a feat worthy the Vrishni race,

me 10

Of all the heroes

Krishna in whom

it is

Among all

established.

the

sons

battle

Thou

day the nobility of my lineage

of whom is the son of the aunt and

maternal

those

uncle,*

Calya, behold

to-

Those two cousins, one other

the

of the

the son

two invincible warriors,

be slain by me (with

advance against

will

shalt,

Partha

Those two tigers among

men, stationed together on the same car,

my single self for

always

Prosperity is

Pandu,

whom Victory is always established."

see, will

Calya, I

shaft,

with rage, fight with Viisudeva and Dhananjaya

will, inspired

thou shalt

one shaft) and will look like two

pearls strung together in the same string. 15

and the ape-bearing banner,

and

Gandiva

Arjnna's

Krishna's discus and the

Garuda-bearing banner, inspire only those that are timid with

To me, however, O Calya, they are causes of delight * Thou art a fool, of evil disposition, and unskilled in the ways of great battle Overcome with terror, thou utterest these ravings! 15 Or, thou art praising them for some reason not known to me! Having slain those two first, I shall then l

fear.

slay

thee

country,

today

thou

with

all

thy

kinsmen !'*

amongst Kshatriyas

Born

and mean,

wickcd-souled,

art

Being a friend, why dost thou,

sinful

and a wretch like

enemy, frighten me with (these praises of) the two Krishnas ? 17

Either they two will slay

Knowing as the

two Krishnas

Phalgunas,

today or

will

slay

them two.

my own might, I do not cherish any fear of

' !

A thousand Vasudevas and hundreds of

shall,

single-handed,

thou that art born in

slay

Huld thy tongue,

Hear from me, O Calya, the sayings, already passed into proverbs, that men, young and old, and women, and persons arrived in course of their listless wanderings,

formed part of

their

sinful

country!

generally

utter

studies,

sayings,

about the wicked Madrakas

* Kunti and Vasudeva were sister and brother. — T.

those

MAHABHARATA,

1S8

Brahmanas also duly narrated the same things formerly

O fool,

Listening to those sayings attentively,

courts of kings.

thou mayst forgive or rejoin

Ho that

hater of friends.

20 " ai !

—{The Madraka

hatetb us

the

always a

Madraka.

There is

no friendship in the Madraka who is mean in speech and is the lowest of mankind." The Madraka is always a person of wicked soul, is always untruthful and crooked. It hath been heard by U3 that are wicked.

the

mother, uncle,

moment

the

till

(Amongst the Madrakas) the mother-in-law,

the

Madrakas

the

of death, sire,

the

son, the

father-in-law,

the

maternal the

the son-in-law, the daughter-in-law, the brother,

grandson, and other kinsmen,

companions, strangers arrived

male and female, mingle together.

at their homes, slaves

-women of the Madrakas mingle, at

known and unknown. 85

their

own

will,

with

The

men

Of unrighteous conduct, and subsisting

upon fried and powdered corn and fish, in their homes they s$ They laugh and cry, having drunk spirits and eaten beef. songs and mingle lustfully with one another,

sing incoherent

How then can

indulging the while in the freest speeches.

virtue have a place amongst the Madrakas who are arrogant

and notorious for all kinds of evil acts ? %1

No one should make

Madraka

with him.

friends with a

provoke

the Madraka there is no

hostilities

The Madraka

friendship.

the dirt of humanity.* 8

Amongst the Madrakas

friendship are lost as purity amongst libations poured

the sacrificer and

sacrifice

priest !]"

that wise men treat a

assists

one

the Madrakas

Then again,

truly

seen

— [As a Brahmana that

of a Cudra suffereth deBrahmanas always suffereth

hateth

person by

becometh

fallen

making an alliance with As there is no friendship

poison is nought With Atharvan I have duly performed the " Knowing this, O learned one, hold exorcism !] !0 B2 scorpion, thy

so,

these mantras

of the

thy tongue, or listen Tiiose

Gandharakas and the

person bit by a scorpion and affected

that

in the Madraka,

acts

the religious ceremonies

degradation, even

rite

always

all

which the king is himself

by its poison, even with these words gradation,

the

something further that I

women that, intoxicated by

spirits,

cast

will

off their

say

8S !

robes

KARNA TARVA. and dance,

139

— those women that aro not attached (to particular

individuals) in the matter of intercourse and

do as they

that

that being as

2 pleaso without owning any restrictions, * I say,

thou art the child of one of those women, how canst thou, O

Madraka, be a fit person for declaring the duties of men ? Those

women that live and answer calls of nature like camels and asses, being as thou art the child of one of thoso sinful and shameless 58 "" creatures, how canst thou wish to declare the duties of men?

When a Madraka woman is solicited for

of a

the gift

little

quantity of vinegar, she scratches her hips and without being desirous of giving it, says these cruel

ask any vinegar of

that

give him my son, I would give him I would not give '] sa are generally

impure

words ;" dear

— [Let no man me

and gluttonous and like

respect of all their acts, from the crown of their "

and others 83 40

nature, in

heads to the

of them by

tip of their toes, are capable of being asserted self

vinegar

—The young Madraka maidens, we hear,

very shameless and hairy

These and many other things of a

would

husband, but

my-

How, indeed, would the Madrakas and the

Sindhu-Sauviras know anything cf duty, being born, as they are, in a sinful country,

being mlecchas in

being totally regardless of ns that even

this

the

1 all duties ?*

their

and

practices,

It hath been heard

highest duty

of a

Kshatriya,

viz.,

that, slain in battle, he should lie down on the Earth, applauded

That I should lay down (my

by the righteous.**

clash of arms is my foremost wish, desirous as I

through Death '* 3

son of Dhrifcarashtra

am also the dear

I !

For his sake, aro

whatever wealth I have !**

friend

life),

this

of hoaven

of the

intelligent

and

life-breaths

As regards thyself,

thou that art

born in a sinful country, J

it is evident that thou hast been tampered with by the Pilndavas, since thou behavest towards

us in everything like a foe!**

man

Like a righteous

that

'incapable of being led astray by atheists, surely I am incapable I

of being di

thee to

!* s

weep

led from this battle

by hundreds of persons

Liko a deer, covered with sweat, thou art at liberty or

;Kshatriya, recall to

thirst

Observent as

of the

lam incapable of being frightened

my mind the end, declared unto me in

duties

by thee'* 7 past

times

MAHABHAKATA,

140

my preceptor Rama, of those lions among men, those unreturning heroes, that laid for rescuing the

am now

down

I do not,

lives

battle

the

imitate

Prepared

foes, know

Kauravas and slaying our

determined to

Fururavas 49

their

that

behaviour of

excellent

O ruler of the Madrakas, behold the

person in the three worlds that can, I think, dissuade me from this

purpose 50

Forbear to speak, knowing

all

this

Why

way from fear O wretch amongst the Madrakas, I shall not now slay thee and present thy car51 From regard for case as an offering to carnivorous creatures dost thou rave in such a

friend,

O Calya, for the sake of Dhritarashtra's son, and for avoid-

ing blame,

—

for these three reasons,

— thou

still

livest

If,

ruler of the Madras, thou speakest such words again, I shall then

thunder 53

crush thy head with my mace that is as hard as the

O thou that art born in a sinful country, either that the two Krishnas have slain Kama or that Kama has slain the two Krishnas 51 — Having said these words, the son of Radha, O monarch, once more addressed the king of People will today see or hear,

the Madras, fearlessly saying,

— Proceed, Proceed — !

" iS '

Section XLI. 'Sanjaya said,

— 'Hearing, O

these

sire,

words of Radha'g

son who delighted in battle, Calya once more addressed

Kama, race of men who perciting an example. formed great sacrifices, who never retreated from battle, who 1

—

I am born in

were kinoes whose coronal

locks

the

underwent the sacred bath

I am also myself devoted to the practice

of virtue

Vrisha, seemest to be like one that is intoxicated with

For

all that,

I will,

intoxicated self.

Thou, O

spirits !

from friendship, seek to cure thy erring and

Listen,

O Kama, to this simile of a crow

that I am about to narrate

Having heard it, thou mayst do what thou choosest, O thou that art destitute of intelligence 4 I do not, Kama, reand that art a wretch of thy race !

member the slightest fault in me for which, O thou arms, thou mayst desire to

slay

innocent

tell thee what is for thy good and what for thy

as I am with both, especially as

the

of mighty

self!' ill,

driver

must

acquainted of thy

car

1*1

EARN A PAKVA.

What land is and desirous of the good of king Duryodhana level and what not, the strength or weakness of the warrior 1

(on my vehicle), the fatigue and faintness, at

and the

steeds

(lam

warrior

driving),

all

times, of the

a knowledge

of tho

weapons that are available, the cries of animals and birds, what would be heavy for the steeds and what exceedingly heavy for them,

the

extraction

of arrows

and the curing of wounds,8

which weapons counteract which, the several methods of battle, and all kinds of omens and indications,

—

who am

nearly

connected with this car, being none else than its driver, should be familiar with to thee

For

once more

9 !

O Kama, I narrate this instance

this,

There lived on the other side of the

who had abundance of wealth and corn. performed sacrifices, made liberal gifts, was peaceful, devoted to the duties of his own order, and pure in habits and mind. 10 He had many sons whom he loved, and was

ocean a Vaicya

He lived fearlessly

kind unto all creatures.

of a king that was guided by virtue. 11 lived

the dominions

There was a crow that

on the refuse of the dishes set before those well-be-

haved young children of the Vaicya. 18

Those Vaicya children

always gave the crow meat and curds, and milk, and sugared milk with rice, and honey, and butter. 18 refuse of their dishes by

Thus

young children

the

the crow became arrogant and came to disregard

were equal to him or even superior.

fed

with the

of that Vaicya, all

birds that

chanced that on a

time certain swans of cheerful hearts, of great speed and capable of going everywhere at will and equal unto Garuda in range and speed of flight,

came to that

side

himself

1' of the ocean.

The Vaicya boys, beholding those swans, addressed the crow thou art superior to — [O ranger of the unwinged creatures — Deceived by those children of

and

all

skies,

said,

little

that

derstanding,

regarded their

oviparous creature,

words to be

true.

from

folly

and

pride,

Proud of the refuse of

the children's dishes upon which he fed, the crow then, alight-

ing in the midst distances,

desired

their leader. 18

those birds

of those to

swans capable of traversing great who amongst them was

enquire as to

The foolish crow at last challenged him amongst

of tireless

wings

whom

he regarded their leader,

142

MAHABKARATA,

saying,— [Let us compete in flight !] 19

—

Hearing those words of the raving crow, the swans that had been assembled there, those

foremost of birds endued with great strength, began to laugh."*

The swans then, that were capable of going everywhere at will, the crow, saying,' [We are swans, having our abode in the Manasa lake. We traverse the whole Earth, and amongst winged creatures we are always applauded for the length of the distances we traverse !" Being, as thou art, only a crow, how canst thou, O fool, challenge a swan endued with 1

addressed

—

might, capable of going everywhere at distances in course of his flight ? shalt

with us !] iS

fly

Tell

will,

us,

and doing large

O crow, how thou

— The boastful crow, in consequence of the

foolishness of his species, repeatedly finding fault with the words

of that swan, at last shall,

— The crow

gave this answer. 8 *

said,

—

without doubt, fly, displaying a hundred and one different

kinds of motion

Doing every hundred Yojaoias in a separate

and beautiful kind of motion, I shall display all those motions 2S !

and swooping down,

Rising up,

and

coursing straight, and proceeding gently, ly,

whirling around, and

and advancing steadi-

and performing the diverse courses up and down in a

ing direction,8 * and floating

still,

slant-

and wheeling around, and

and soaring high, and darting forward, and

receding back,

soaring upwards with fiercer velocity, and once more proceeding

gently and then proceeding with great impetuosity, 87 * and once

again swooping down steadily,

and whirling around,

and advancing

and rising up and up by jerks, and soaring

and once more

down, 88 and wheeling

falling

in a

straight,

circle,

rushing proudly, and diverse other kinds of motion,-f" all I shall

witness of

display

the

strength

89 !

sight of all

With one

motion I shall presently

duly,

rise

into

you

— these

sky.

then

shall

kinds

these different

the

and

Point

out

ye swans, by which of these motions I shall course

* The second line of 27 I read as it is in the Bombay edition. + I do not render the last few kinds of

intelligible.

Nilakantha appends a learned note,

different kinds of

motion mentioned here.

erer, are fauciful if

— T.

motion as these are not very

not unintelligible.— T.

explaining

all

the

Many of his meanings, how*

143

fcARNA PAUVA,

through space. selves,

you

will

supportless space !]•'

amongst your-

Adopting

me.

with

those

all

me through

have to course with

different motions, ye shall

— The crow having said these words, ono

of the swan3 addressed him.

Listen,

O son

of Radha, to tho

The swan spoke,

the swan said.

words that

of motion

Settling tho kind

have to course

— [Thou, O crow,

wilt doubtless fly the hundred and one different kinds of flight I shall, however, fly in that one

crow, know any other

birds know, for I do not,

thou of red eyes,

thee,

kind of motion that all (other)

fly

thou in any

As regards

kind of course that

— At these words, those crows that had been the swan — [How by only one kind of flight get the better cf a hundred different — kinds of the swan and the crow, rose into — Then those two, thou likest !"" s *

assembled there laughed aloud, saying,

flight ?]

will

viz.,

Capable of going everywhere

the sky, challenging each other. at will, the swan proceeded in one

kind of motion, while the

crow coursed in a hundred different kinds. 87

And the swan flew

and the crow also flew, causing each other to wonder skill) and each

speaking highly of his own achievements.

(at his 88

Be-

holding the diverse kinds of flight at successive instants of time, the crows that were there were filled with great joy and to caw more

loudly.

The swans

also

uttering many remarks disagreeable

began

laughed in mockery,

And

(to the crows).

they

began to soar and alight repeatedly, here and there. 40 And they began to come down and rise up from tree-tops anil the surface

And

of the Earth. their

victory.*

to the crow.**

uttered

diverse

indicative

of of

familiar)

cries

began to traverse

For a moment, therefore, O sire, he seemed to yield

the skies.

they

Tho swan, however, with that one kind

(with which he was

slow motion

The crows, at this, disregarding the swans, said

— [That swan amongst you which has soared into yielding — Hearing these words, the

these words

the sky,

evidently

(soaring) swan flew westwards with great velocity to the

that abode of Makaras.**

Then fear entered the

heart

ocean, of the

crow who became almost senseless at not seeing any island or trees whereon to porch when tired. And the crow thought within his heart as to where he should alight when

tired,

upon

— 144

MAHABHARATA.

that vast expanse of water. 45

The

ocean, being

abode of countless creatures, is irresistible. of monsters,

dreds

exceed it in depth,

grander than space. 4 '

son

Suta's

the waters of the

the

Nothing can

Men know, O Kama, that

ocean are as limitless as space.

extent of its waters,

Dwelt in by hun-

O Kama, what is a crow

swan, having traversed a great distance

The

moment, looked

For the

to it? 47

back at the crow, and (though capable) could not leave him behind. 48

Having transgressed the crow, the swan cast

on him and waited, thinking,

his

— [Let the crow come

up.] 40

The crow then, exceedingly tired, came up to the swan, holding him succumbing, and about to rescuing him in

remembrance

of the

tedly spoken of ject

—

Be-

of good

folks,

— [Thou hadst repea-

many kinds of flight while speaking on the sub-

Thou wouldst not speak

and desirous of

sink,

practices

the swan addressed him in these words

eyes

of this (thy

name of this kind of flight,

present motion)

us ? 52

because of its having been a mystery to

What

the

O crow, that thou hast now adopt-

Thou touchest the waters with thy wings and beak reWhich amongst those diverse kinds of flight is Come, come, this, O crow, that thou art now practising ? ed ?

peatedly. 58

quickly,

O crow, for I am waiting for thee

" 'Cilya continued,

water with

his

— Exceedingly

afflicted,

and touching the

fatigue,

soul, the

swan, addressed the

Indeed, not seeing the limit of that watery

down

—

wings and beak, O thou of wicked

crow, beheld in that state by the

ing

54 !]

latter.

expanse, and sink-

and exhausted with the

of his

effort

— [We are crows, we wander hither and thither, crying caw, caiv — O swan, I the

flight,

crow said unto the swan, 56

seek thy protection, placing my life-breaths at thy hands take me to the shores of the

ocean !] 57

and touching the ocean with

his

very

much

fatigued,

suddenly

— Exceedingly

Oh,

afflicted,

wings and beak, the crow,

fell

down. 58

Beholding him

fallen upon the waters of the ocean with a melancholy heart, the swan, addressing the crow who was on the point of death, 5 crow, what thou hadst said these words '— [Remember, :

said in

praise

of thyself

Thy words even were

wouldst course through the sky in a hundred and

that

thou

one different

— EARN A P UIVA. kinds of flight. different kinds

Thou, therefore, that wouldst lly a

of flight, thou

why then art thou tired and

that

down

fallen

Overcome with weakness, the crow

the

O swan, regarded myself as the equal

ejus

his

replied,

however, seek thy protection and place my

Garuda,

and had disregarded all crows and many other birds

'.'

lord,

never again

return in

disregard

from this calamity !] 6J

safety

life-breaths at

my own

anybody

the

thy

If,

()

country, I

Oh, rescue me now

— Him that said so and was so melan-

choly and weeping and deprived of his senses, him sinking in

now,

Oh, take me to the shores of some island! 64

swan, I can, will

;

— [Proud of the remains of others' dishes upon which

I fed, I had,

hands!

alas,

ocean

him,

gratify

hundred me,

casting

then,

upwards at the swan, and seeking saying,"

superior

art

ocean,

uttering cries of caw,

was

that

caw,**

him

drenched by the water and so disgusting to look at and trembling with fear, the swan, without feet and slowly caused to

ride

word,

took

back.

his

up with

his

Having caused

the crow wh<>se senses had deserted him to rido upon his back, the swan quickly returned to that island whence thy had both flown, challenging each other. 68

Placing down

that

the sky on dry land and comforting him, the swan,

mind, proceeded to the region he desired. fed on the remains of others' dinners,

The crow,

then, casting

off the

fed

upon the remains

disregarded that

art

his

equals

tho

Thus was that crow,

vanquished by the swan.

pride

adopted a life of peace and quiet. 60 " 70

ranger of

fleet as

might and energy,

Indeed, even as that crow,

of the dinners of the Vaicya children,

and superiors, so dost thou,

fed by the sons of Dhritarashtra

their dishes, disregard all

thy

equals

Kami,

upon the remains of

and superiors! 71

Why

didst thou not slay Partha at Virata's city when thou hadst tho

advantage of being protected by

Drona and Drona's son and Kripa and Bhishma and the other Kauravas ?" There whore,

like a pack of jackals defeated by a lion, ye all were defeated with great slaughter by the diadem-decked Arjuna, what be-

came of your prowess V*

Beholding also thy brother slain by

Savyasachin, in the very sight of the Kuru heroes, that

didst

fly

away

first'.

was thou

By the skirls also of the Dwaifa

HAHABHARATA,

14-0

Kama, when thou werb assailed by the Gandhatvas,

lake,

Kurus, didst first run away

was thou that, deserting all the

it 7S !

Having vanquished in battle the Gandharvas headed by Chitrasena, withgreat slaughter, it was Partha, O Kama, that liberated

Dnryodhana with his wife 76

llama himself,

O Kama, before

the kings in the (Kuru) assembly, spake of the former prowess of both Partha and Kecava.

Avords

Thou didst frequently hear

the

and Bhishma, speaking in the presence of all

of Drona

the kings, that the two Krishnas are unslayable. 78

I have told

thee a little only regarding those matters in which Dhananjaya is

superior

created beings!

thee 79

the Brahmana who is superior to all

Soon

wilt

son

Vasudeva and the son of Kunti and

most of cars, the

thou see, stationed on that fore-

Pandu.80

As the crow (in the story), acting with intelligence, had sought the protection of the swan, so do thou seek the protection of him of Vrishni's race, and of Pandu's son Dhananjaya 81 !

When thou

shalt

in battle

behold Vasudeva

and Dhananjaya, those two endued with great prowess, stationKama, ed together on the same car, thou shalt not then, utter such speeches

When Partha will, with

between thyself and Dhananjaya sons are celebrated

beings

disrespectfully

art

Those two best of per-

fire-fly,

do not, from

folly,

think

two resplendent luminaries!

those

8S !

among the gods, the Asuras and human

Thou that

hundreds of

thou behold the difference

arrows, quell thy pride, then wilt

the Sun and the Moon, Ke$ava and Arjuna are celebrated for their resplendence.

men

86 !

Thou, however,

art like

a fire-fly

among

O learned one, O son of a Suta, do not

think disres-

Those two

high-souled

Achyuta and Arjuna!

pectfully

are

persons boas ts !'—

lions

among men

Forbear indulging

such

"8« *

Section XLII. "Sanjaya said,

— 'The high.-souled son of Adhiratha, having

listened unconvinced to these words of the rulor of the Madras,

adiressod are, is

Calya, saying,

well-known to me

— That which Vasudeva and Arjuna l !

The skill of Caurin in the manage-

KARNA PARVA, mcnfc of cars, and the might and the

147

weapons of Arjuna

high

the son of P&ndu, arc well-known to me at

however, I

shall

Calya, hast fearlessly

foremost of all

fight

occular

with

the

two

however, of

curse,

Rama, that best of regenerate persons, paincth me I dwelt,

day '}

On that occasion, O Calya, the

Rama in

gods, wishing

chief of the

by approaching my thigh

benefit Phalguna, caused an obstacle, it,

to-

obtaining celestial weapons from him.

former days, desirous of

and piercing

greatly

with

in the disguise of a Briihmana,

two

those

Krishnas,

The

Thou

matters

proof of those

of weapons.

wielders

hour.

this

having assumed the dire form of a worm !*

When my preceptor slept having

head

his

laid

worm, approaching my thigh, began to pierce

thereon, th

through.

consequence of the piercing of my thigh, a pool of thick blood flowed from my body. 5 of)

For

the slumber

of (disturbing

fear

my preceptor I did not m)ve my limb. Awaking, the BrailWitnessing my

mana, however, beheld what had taken place. patience, he addressed me, saying,

mana

—

[Thou

Tell me truly who thou art !] 8

never a Brah-

art

Calya, truly

I then,

Hearing my

informed him of myself, saying that I was a Suta. word-,

the groat ascetic,

saying, 7

— [In consequence of the deception, O Suta, by which

thou hast obtained

this

his heart filled with rage,

weapon,

will never,

at the time of

when the hour of thy death comes, occur to thy memory

need,

Brahma cannot certainly reside in one- that is na !]'

cursed me,

not a Brfihma-

— havo forgotten that great weapm in this I

fierce

and

Calya, who is He amongst the Bharatas, who is an effectual smitcr, who is a universal itroyer, and who is exceedingly terrible, (viz., Arjuna), that

terrible battle

accomplished,

—

mighty crusher, yas.

— think, I

will

burn many foremost of Kshatri-

Know, however, O Calya, that I will slay in battle that

fierce bowman,

that foremost of warriors, that hero endued with

activity, that terrible

person whose energy

unbearable, that

warrior whose premises are accomplished, that sun of Pandu

Dhananjava '."

today with which I will be able ,

• i

I have that w«;ipon (at least) under my control

destroy

largo

numbers

Toes! I will slay in battle that scorcher «>f enemies, that might) warrior

accomplished

weapons, that

fierce

bowman of

MAHABHABATA.

14S

measurable energy, that cruel and terrible hero, that great resister of enemies, viz., Dhananjaya

12 !

The immeasurable Ocean,

that lord of all wafers, rusheth with fierce impetuosity for over-

whelming innumerable hold and check him. the

fiU'ht

however,

continents,

Today, in this world,

of Kunti. that

son

The

creatures.

will

resist

foremost of all drawers of the

bowstring, while he will be engaged in ceaselessly shooting

his

countless shafts equipt with goodly wings, destructive of heroes,

capable of penetrating into every limb, and nous

comes futile

1 I

of which

today resist that mightiest of the mighty, that great possessing the highest weapons, that hero like self,

of far-reaching arrows,

waves, while he

kings!"

be-

Like the continent resisting the Ocean, I will

fierce,

warrior

into the Ocean's

and having shafts

his

for

be engaged in overwhelming (hostile)

will

Behold today the fierce battle I fight with him that

hath no equal,

I think,

ammg men wielding the bow, and that

would vanquish the very gods united with the Asiwas ! 16 ceedingly proud is

that

of Pandu.

son

will approach me with his

Ex-

Desirous of battle he

mighty and superhuman weapons !!

Baling his weapons with my own weapons today overthrow that Partha with my own

Scorching his foes tike the Sun endued with blazing with fame like that dispcller

battle, I

shall; 1

excellent

shafts. ']

fiery

rays, and'

of darkness, I

shall, like!

a mass of clouds, completely shroud Dhananjaya today with mjl shafts

18 !

Like the clouds extinguishing a blazing fire of greaj

energy and sm jke-mixed flames, that seems ready

consumj

the whole Earth, I shall, with my showers of arrows, extinguish

the son of Kunti shall still

the

poison, that

in battle !'

son

of Kunti,

is exceedingly

With my broad-headed shafts ] that

terrible

difficult of

snake of virulerj

being captured,

endued with keen fangs, that is even like a blazing

fire,

finm?s up in wrath, and that always consumes his foes!

Himavat bearing the mighty, god of wind,

I shall,

dictive Dhananjaya

21 !

all-crushing,

fierce,

that i|

thff Lil.

and smitir

without moving, bear the angry and

vij

I shall resist in battle Dhananjaya, th>

foremost of all wielders of bows in the world, that hero in

figlj

that warrior who is always in the van and who is competent

moet all foeSj

th.it

car-warrior

who is conversant with

all

KA1LVA 1'AIIVA.

1 |<J

tracks !"

Today I shall fight in battle with that person who hath, I think, no equal among men wielding the bow and who

What

conquered the entire Earth !* 3

(saving

his

except

lite,

sachin who vanquished in

the country

weapons hands

strike

myself, all

deep

;

including

Arjuna

steeds

proud

his

;

head from

shall

trunk

off his

;

with

yet,

today

keeping Death or Victory in battle before me,

Calya, ever

today

1 shall

Savya-

that

the very gods,

he agitates vast hosts

;

Though such, I

he is regarded an Atiratha !

my sharp shafts, strike his

desirous of

endued with great lightness of

he is conversant with

;

with

creatures

Khandava

called

man

other fight

will

Dhananjaya!

with

fight

There

none

save myself that would on a single car fight with that

who resembles the Destroyer himself 28

myself will gladly

else,

Pandava

speak of the prowess of Phalguna in the midst of an

assembly

Why, however, dost thou, a foul as thou art and of foolish understanding, speak to me of Phalguna's prowof Kshatriyas.

ess !

Thou art a doer of disagreeable deeds

Thou art

cruel

and mean, and being thyself unforgiving, thou art a detractor of one that is forgiving

hundred persons like

I can slay a

but I forgive thee in consequence tion,

owing

the

excigeney

forgiving

times! 28

the

Like a fool, thou hast, for the

sinful deeds.

son, rebuked

injurer

paced

!* 9

friends,

Cursed art thou

hour that

dhana hath himself come to battle.

way that it shows thee to have no '.

now

seven-

passing.

Duryo-

solicitous

of seeing

friendship

He is a friend who shows affection

thou art an

for

Thou, however, art acting

his purposes achieved.

king)

Crook-

unto

— of friends, because friendship

Terrible is the

art

sake of Panda's

ed-hearted as thou art, thou hast said all these words !

disposi-

Thou

me and told me many disagreeable things

that am of a sincere heart

thee,

such

Kuru another, who

(for

for

the

who makes himself agreeable to another, who another, who honors another, and who joys in the

gladdens another, protects

joy of another. the king that "

I tell

thee that 'I have all those attributes, and

himself knows

all

this.

destroys, chastises, sharpens ;

makes u

cho

•

Be, on

the

his weapons,

and wrongs us

other

hand,

injures, cau

diverse W

loO is

MAHABHARATA,

a foe.

All these

attributes

are

found in thee and

thou discoverest all of them towards me. 88

Duryodhana,

for the

sake of doing what

For the sake of agreeable

for the sake of victory, for the sake of myself,

God

himself,

will,

Partha and Vasudeva today

celestial

excellent

my feats 33 Behold my Brahma and other

weapons,

viz.,

weapons, as also those that are human

slay that hero of fierce prowess,

at Partha, for

will

today

an exceedingly infuriate

elephant slaying an infuriate compeer. 34 alone, hurl today

thee,

with vigorous exertion, fight with

Witness today

and for the sake

my mind

victory, that

weapon of

I shall,

immeasurable energy, called the

Brahma !

be able to escape that weapon,

only the wheels of my car

rod, or Varuna himself

for slaying me

Vasava himself armed with the

or at any other foe whatever that 3S " 37

may approach

Therefore, I have no fear from Partha, nor

from Janarddana

armed with his noose, or Kuvera him-

self armed with his mace, or

thunder-bolt,

will never

Know this, Calya, Yama himself armed with his

not sink into the Earth in battle today that I would not take fright at

Arjuna

On the other hand, I shall encounter them

both in today's destructive battle

Once on a time, while wandering for the sake of practising weapons on my bow called Vijaya,

king, I

had,

by shooting many

terrible forms, 39 heedlessly struck

the

calf of

fierce

shafts

(Brahmana's)

Homa cow with one of those shafts, and unwillingly killed it while it was wandering in a solitary forest. The Brahmana then addressed me, saying, 40 slain the offspring of will sink

enter

into the

thy heart !] 41

experiencing great

— [Since, becoming insensate, thou hast

my Homa cow, the

wheel (of thy car)

Earth while at time of

battle

fear

— From these words of the Brahmana fear.

will I

These kings of the Lunar race that

are lords of (other people's) weal and woe, 42 offered to give that

Brahmana a thousand kine and six hundred bovine bulls. With even such a gift, O Calya, the Brahmana could not be gratified,

O ruler of the

Madras 43 !

I was then for giving him

seven

hundred elephants of large tusks and many hundreds of slaves male and female. That foremost of Brahmanas would not still

be gratified. 44

Collecting next full fourteen thousand

151

KAH.NA l'ARVA, each

feine,

unable

the

wealthy mansion wealth

ever

hue and

black

obtain

gift.

— [That which,

happen.

sure to

fact,

Unto me then

offended and that begged so importunately for

what-

had

pardon, tho

his

Suta, hath been uttered by me

cannot be

that

A false speech

otherwise.

would destroy creatures, and sin also would be mine for the preservation of virtue I do

fore,

wished to give him, with due worship,

but he refused to accept tho

Brahmana said,

was still

every object of desire, in

full of

had, I

having a white calf,

45 of that best of Brfihmanas.

grace

not venture

There

speak

what is false 47 18 Do not, again, destory the means of a Brahma!

na's support falsify

There is none in the world that would be able to

my speech.

Accept those words.

ment (for the sin of having slain a by thee, still, this

for friendship's sake,

It will be

calf !] I

— Though rebuked

have disclosed to thee

know thee that art rebuking me thus

—

and hear what I will presently say

thy atone-

all

Be silent now,

" 60 '

Section XLIII. "Sanjaya

Radha,

said,

— 'That chastiser of

thus silencing

addressed him, to that

the

son

— In answer

me by way

incapable

being fright-

thy

words 1*

all

with

battle

words

thou hast said unto

Calya,

of instance, I tell thee that

thee

the

viz.,

Madras, once more

of the

ruler

monarch, saying these

which,

ened by

foes,

the gods

themselves with Vasava would fight

with me I would nob any fear, what need be said then of my fears from Partha and Kecava ? 3 I am incapable of being frightened

still feel

by means of words alone be able to

frighten

myself ) !*

Thou

He,

battle

spoken

hast

O Calya, whom

many

bitter

Therein lieth the strength of a person that of speaking of

merits, thou

thou of wicked heart s I

for fear in battle

Kama

thou wouldst

some other person (and not

sayst

low.

Incapable

bitter

things,

many

words to me.

On the other hand, I was born

ing valor as also for achieving glory for my own

sake of my friendship

for thee, for

for

display-

For the

self'.

affection,

Madraka,

was never born,

and

for

thy

152

MAHABHARATA,

being an ally,

Calya 7

—

those

for

three

reasons,

— thou

livest,

still

Important is the task that has now to be done for king

That task,

Dhritarashtra.

thou livest a moment 8

Calya, depends on ine

Before

thee that any disagreeable speeches thou mightst

be pardoned by

For this,

made a compact with

this, I

utter

would

That compact should be observed.

Without a thousand O Madraka Calyas, I would vanquish my foes !* He that injurcth a friend

is for

this that thou livest,

It is for this that thou livest for the present

is sinful.

—

" l0 '

Section XLIV. " 'Calya said,

— These,

est regarding the foe

Kama, are ravings, that thou utter-

As regards myself, without a thousand

am able to vanquish the foe in battle

Karnas,

features,

who was saying such disagreeable things unto Kama,

— "Sanjaya continued, 'Unto the ruler of the Madras, of harsh

the latter once more said words that were twice bitter.

'Kama said,

— Listen with devoted attention to

this,

ruler of the Madras, that was heard by me while it was recited

of Dhritarashtra

in the presence

the Brahmanas used to

narrate

and many

lightful regions

In Dhritarashtra's abode

the

accounts

of diverse

de-

A fore-

times. 4

kings of ancient

most one among Brahmanas, venerable in years, while reciting old

histories,

said

Madrakas

the those

these

words,

blaming

— [One should always

Vahikas and

the

avoid

that live away from Himavat

and Ganga and Saraswati and

Yamuna and Kurukshetra and the Sindhu and 6

remember from the days

butary

rivers.

that a

slaughter-ground

intoxicating spirits

abodes

Vahikas,

the

impure people that are out of the pale of virtue, and

of the

sion I had

for

live

and a space

kine

always distinguish

(Vahika) kings. 8

its

the

for

tri-

youth storing

entrances of the

On some

among the Vahikas.

five

very

secret mis-

consequence

such residence the conduct of that people is well known to me.

* The sense seems to be that "if thou wert absent a thousand times, I would still vanquish the Pandavas."— T,

PA.RVA,

There is a town of the name ol Cakala, a river of the name Jpaga, and a clan of the Vahikas i nown by

name

the

of the

The practices of these people are very censurable. * 1

Jarttikas.

They drink the liqour called Gowda, and eat tried barley with it. They also eat beef with garlics. They also eat cakes of flour mixed with meat,

others.*

and boiled

rice

bought from

none.'.'

Their women,

that

Of righteous practices they have

and dance

intoxicated with drink and divested of robes, laugh outside

of houses

walls

the

without garlands and

cities,

unguents, 19 singing all the while drunken and

obscene songs of

diverse kinds that are as musical as the bray of the

any restraint, and in

they act as they like.

other matters

all

or the

ass

absolutely without

In intercourse they are

bleat of the camel.

Maddened with drink, they call upon one another, using many endearing epithets. 13

Addressing many drunken exclamations to

their husbands and lords, the fallen women

among ne Vahikas, fc

them-

without observing restrictions even on sacred days, give

One

selves up to dancing.'*

pened to

some days

for

live

cheerless heart, saying,

lover

— that

— Alas, that (Vahika) maiden of large thinking of me. — her

delightful

slnll T cast

Iravati,

my eyes

frontal bones,

now passing his days in Kurujangala,

at the hour of her going

the

women,

Kurujangala, burst out with

proportions, dressed in thin blankets,

Vahika

— one, — who hap-

wicked Vahikas,

of those

that is, that lived amongst those arrogant

to bed

Crossing the Sutledge and

and arriving at my own country, when

upon those beautiful women with thiek

with blazing circlets of red arsenic on their fore-

heads, with streaks of jet

black collyrium

their beautiful forms attired in blankets selves uttering shrill cries

18 !

on their eyes, and

and skins and them-

"When shall I be happy,

the

company of those intoxicated ladies amid the music of drums and kettle-drums and conchs sweet as the cries of asses and camels and mules

13 !

When shall

amongst those

ladies

eating cakes of flour and meal and balls of pounded barley mixed

with skimmed milk, in the forests, having many pleasant paths, * Orthodox Hindus must boil their own boiled rice from others,

rice,

without,

To this day the practice is observed.

purchasing

— T.

]

MAHABHAftATA,

of garni and Pilu and Karira When shall I, amidst my own countrymen, mustering in strength on the high-roads, fall

upon passengers, and snatching their robes and attires beat them repeatedly ? 21 What man is there that would willingly

—

dwell, even for a moment,

amongst the Vahikas that are so fallen and wicked and so depraved in their practices ? 2a Even

—

thus did that Brahmana describe the Vahikas of base behaviour, a sixth of whose merits and demerits

O Calya iZ f

thine,

Having said this, that pious Brahmana began once more to say what I am about to repeat respecting the wicked Vahikas.

— [In the large and populous town of fourteenth drum, — of the dark accompaniment with a fortnight, in day Listen to what I say !**

Cakala, a Rxkshasa woman used to sing on every

When shall I next sing the songs of the Vahikas in this Cakala town, having gorged myself with beef and drunk the liquor?* 6

Gauda

When shall I again, decked in ornaments, and with

those maidens and ladies of large proportions, gorge upon a large

number of sheep 27 and large quantities

and beef and They who do not eat

of pork

the meat of fowls and asses and camels ?

sheep live in vain old,

among

sing

and cry

— — Even thus, O Calya, the young and the 28

the inhabitants of Cakala, intoxicated with spirits,

23 a people ?

H.iw can

virtue

this

speak again to thee about what another

unto us in the

Kuru court

80 :

must,

however,

Brahmana had

— [There where

stand, and those five rivers flow,

among such

be met with

Thou shouldst know

forests

said

of Pilus

the Catadru, the Vipaca,

viz.,

the Iravati, the Chandrabhaga, and the Vitasta and which have

the Sindhu for their sixth, there in those regions removed from the Himavat, are the countries called by the name of the iratttas. Those regions are without virtue and religion.

81 82 one should go thither.

the Brahmanas, never len, or

The

gods,

accept gifts from

the

those

those that are begotten by Cudras

Pitris,

that

on the

other castes, or the Vahikas who never perform

and

are

fal-

girls

sacrifices

and

t A king takes a sixth of the merits and demerits of his subjects. Henee, it is hi* interest to see them beeoine righteous and abstain from

Bin.— T,

EARN A PARVA, are exceedingly irreligious said in the Kuril

court,

]

38 " 3 *

169

— That learned Brahmana had a — [The Vahikas, without any

feel-

ings of revulsion, eat off wooden vessels having deep stomachs

and earthen plates and vessels that havo been d )ga and corn.

licked

stained

with

pounded barley and other

The Vahikas drink

the

milk of sheep and camels

that

are

and asses and eat curds and other preparations from those different kinds of milk." 6

bastards among them.

Those degraded people number many

There is no food and no milk that they

The Aratta-ViLhikas that are steeped in ignorance,

do not take.

should be avoided.]' 7

— Thou shouldst know

Calya

this,

must, however, again speak to thee about what another Brah-

— [How can one

mana had said unto me in the Kuru

court.

go to heaven, having drunk milk

the town

dhara,

and resided in the place

bathed in the spot called

called

Yugan-

Achyutasthala,

called

Bhutilaya ?* 89

and

There where thp &ve

mountains, there among

rivers flow just after issuing from the

the Xratta- Vahikas, no respectable person should dwell even for 40

There are two Pif.achas in the river Vipaca, two days. named Vahi and Hika. The Vahikas are the offspring of

They are not creatures created by the Being of such low origin, how can they be conver-

those two Pigachas. Creator.

sant with the duties ordained in the scriptures ?

The Karash-

karas, the Mahishakas, the Kalingas, the Keralas, the Karko-

takas, the Virakas, and other peoples of no religion, one should

always avoid.]"

— Even thus did a Rakshasa woman of gigantic

hips speak unto a

Brahmana who on a certain occasion went to

that country for bathing in a sacred water and passed

night there. 43 Arattas.

The regions

The people

residing

are

there

are

* In Yugandhara all kinds of milk were drinking milk in that town could be sure that vaccine milk.

contamination.

called

sold

the

and taken.

one

what he took was pure

women were unchaste and the conduct For a resident it was impossible to escape the

In Bhutilaya, again, there was only one piece of water

which Bi ahmanas and Chandalas used to bathe together.

kautha.— T.

Vahikas.

In Achyutasthala,

of the people irreligious.

a single

by the name of the

called

Thus Nila-

35G

MAHABHABAT4.

The lowest of Brahmanas remote times. 44

They

also

are

residing

from

there

ray

without the

Veda and without knowbdge, without sacrifice and without the power to assist at others' sacrifices. They are all fallen and many amongst them have been begotten by Cudras upon other peoples' girls. The gods never accept any gifts from them. 48 The Prasthalas, the are

Madras, the Gandharas, the Arattas, those called

Khasas, the

Vasatis, the Sindhus, and the Sauviras, arc almost as blamable in their practices,

—

" 46 '

Section XLV. "

'Kama continued,

— Thou shouldst know

I shall, however, again speak

attention to what I say.

to our house as a guest.

unto thee

Calya I

all this,

with

Listen

Once on a time a Brahmana came Observing our practices he became

highly gratified and said unto us

2 :

—

dwelt for a long time

on a peak of Himavat quite alone.

Since

diverse countries following diverse

religions. 3

then

have seen

Never, however,

have I seen all the people of a country act unrighteously.

All

the races I have met with admit that to be the true religion

which has been declared by persons conversant with the Vedas* through various countries following various

Travelling gions,

O king, came among the Vahikas.

at last,

heard 5 that one at first becomes a a Kshatriya.

Indeed, a

Brahmana and then becomes

Vahika would, after

Vaigya, and then a Cudra, and then a barber.

become a Having become

that,

a barber, he would then again become a Brahmana. to

the

reli-

There I

"Returning

status of a Brahmana, he would again become a slave. 7

One person

from

falling off

family becomes a

Brahmana

virtue, act as they like.

;

all

the others,

The Gandharas, the

Madrakas, and the Vahikas, of little understanding, are even such. 8

Having travelled through the whole world I heard of

these practices

destructive of virtue, of these sinful irregulari-

—

amongst the Vahikas! 9 ] Thou shouldst know all this, Calya I shall, however, again speak to thee about those

ties,

ugly words that another said unto mo regarding the Vahikas. 10 In former days a chaste woman was abducted by robbers

(hail'

KARNA TARVA, ing) from Aratta.

—

saying,"

[Since ye

them, upon

have sinfully

who am not without a husband, there-

violated a helpless girl fore,

was she violated by

Sinfully

which she cursed them,

5 ]

the women of your

families

shall all become unchaste

ia !

lowest of men, never shall ye escape from the consequences

of this

dreadful sin !]— It is for this,

sons of the

and not

O Calya, that the sisters' own

sons, become their The Kauravas with the Panchalas, the Calwas, the

heirs. 13

Irattas,

Matsyas, the

their

Kacapaundras, the

Naimishas, the Eocalas, the

Kalingas, the Magadhas, 14 and the Ohedis,

who are all highly blessed, know what the eternal religion is. The wicked even of various countries know what religion is. The Viihikas, however, live without righteousness. 18

Beginning with the Matsyas,

the

residents

of the

Kuru and

Panchala countries, the

Naimishas as well, and the other respectable peoples, the pious

among

all

races

are

conversant

with the

eternal

truths of

be said of

the

Madrakas and the

crooked-hearted race that resides in

the

country

This

religion.

rivers. 16

cannot

of the

five

Knowing all those things, O king, hold thy tongue,

O Calya, like one deprived of utterance, in nected with religion and virtue

Thou

art

all

matters con-

the protector

and

king of that people, and, therefore, the partaker of a sixth part of

their

merits

and demerits. 17

perhaps,

Or,

thou

art

partaker of a sixth part of their demerits only, for thou

the

never

A king that protects is a sharer in the merits

protectest them.

Thou art not a sharer in their merits. 18 In clays of yore, when the eternal religon was reverenced in all of his subjects.

countries, the Grandsire, observing the practices of the country

of the

five

rivers

cried

fie

thom. ID

When

even

Krita age, Brahman had censured the practices of those people of evil deeds who were begotten soil,

what would you now say to men

tho

fallen

by Cudras on others' Even the world n °*

thus did the Grandsire condemn the practices of the country of the five waters.

When all people were observant of the duties

of their respective orders, the Grandsire had to find fault *

The Bengal reading at the end of the Becond line is "who

that would succeed in shaming thciu

— T.

with there

laS

MAHABHARATAi

these men. 81

Thou shouldst know all this,

however, again speak to thee

Calya

shall,

A Rakshasa of the name of

Kalmashapada. while plunging in a tank, said,"

— [Eleemosyna-

tion is a Kshatriya's dirt, while the non-observance of vows is a

Brahmana's dirt. The Vahikas are the dirt of the Earth, and the Madra women are the dirt of the whole female sex !]* 28 While sinking in the stream, a king

rescued

the

Rakshasa.

by the former, the latter gave this answer. you.

Listen to me

24 !

—

;

of the Mlecchas

who

they

avail

of the

;

eunuchs are the

priestly

sin of those again that have the

—

The

last-named persons for their

priests, as also of the Madrakas, shall be thine if

abandon me !] 2S

;

dirt

ministrations

their sacrifices, are the dirt of eunuchs. 28

Kshatriyas, in

[The Mlecchas are the dirt of mankind

the oilmen are the dirt of oilmen

Asked

I will recite

thou do not

Even this was declared by the Rakshasa to be

the formula that should be used for curing a person

possessed

by a Rakshasa or one killed by the energy of a poison. The words that follow are all very true. 27 The Panchalas observe the duties enjoined in the Vcdas the Kauravas observe Truth ;

;

the Matsyas and the Curasenas perform sacrifices ers follow

the

practices

of the

Cudras

;

the

;

the Eastern

Southerners are

fallen ; the Vahikas are thieves ; the Saurashtras are bastards.

They that are denied by ingratitude, theft, drunkenness, adultery with the

wives

of their

preceptors, harshness

of speech,

slaughter of kine, lustful wanderings during the night out

home,

and the wearing of other peoples' ornaments,

sin is there that they do not

the people of the country

incur ?

of the

Fie

five

on the

— whalj

Arattas and

Commencing

rivers !"

with the Panchalas, the Kuravas, the Naimishas, the Matsyas, —all these,— know what religion is. The old men among the Northerners, the

Angas, the Magadhas, (without themselves!

knowing what virtue

is)

the

practices

of the

pious.

Agni, dwell in the East.

The Pitri$

dwell in the South that is presided over by Yama

of righteous

Many gods, headed by

* The sense seems to be that a Kshatriya subsisting on eleemosynary, alms is the dirt of all his order ; so a Brahmaua living without observing

any vows is the dirt of his order.— T.

]

KARNA PARVA, 3eods. 51

The West is protected by

159

the

mighty Varuna who

gods there.

The North

the divine Soma along with the

Brahmanas. 8 "

overlooks tho other

protected

So Rakshasas and Pigdchas protect Himavat, that bost of mountains. Tho Guhyakas, O groat king, protect the mountains of Gandhamadana. Without doubt, Vishnu, otherwise called Janarddana, protects

(For

creatures.

all

that, the

especial protectors among the gods).

prehenders of signs see

;

the

the Kurus and the

;

uttered speech

speech

;

Vahikas have no

The Magadhas are com-

Kocalas comprehend from what they

Panchalas comprehend from a

the Calwas cannot comprehend

half-

whole

the

till

uttered s *

very stupid.*

The Mountaineers, like the Civis, are The Yavanas, O king, are omniscient; the

Curas are particularly so.t JI

The Mlecchas are wedded

creations of their own fancy.

Other peoples cannot understand.

The Vahikas resent

counsels

beneficial

kas, they are none amongst those

Calya, art so

the

as regards the Madra-

(mentioned above.)

Thou,

Thou shouldst not reply to me."

The Madrakas are regarded on Earth as the dirt of every nation. So the Madra woman is called the dirt of the whole female sex." They !

that have for their practices the of the

tion

beds of their

drinking of spirits, the

preceptors,

the

destruction

embryo by procuring miscarriage, and the robbing people's wealth, there is no sin

they

have not

the Arattas and the people of the country

of the five

Knowing this, be silent let

that

viola-

of the

of other

Fie on

rivers

18 :

Do not seek to oppose me Do not me slay Kecava and Arjuna, having slain thee first 89 !

—

" 'Calya said,

— The abandonment of the afflicted and the

Angas whose king thou thine

Kama, prevalent amongst the

wives and children are,

sale of

that

Bhishma

art!'

recited

Recollecting

on the

Rathas and Atirathas, drive away thy

those

occasion

wrath

;

faults

of the

tale

not

* Literally,— 'can with difficulty be made to understand the meaning.'-T. t

A high compliment to the Yavanas and the OuraH, probably the

Greeks. i

Nilakantha makes a desperate attempt

force of the passage,

but fails miserably.— T.

explain

away

the

160

MAHABHAItATA, 41

angry

may

Kama

Brahmanas may be found everywhere found everywhere

;

Kshatriyai

;

Vaicyas and Cudras, O

also

Women of chastity and excellent

vows may also be Everywhere men take delight in jesting with men and wounding one another. Lustful men also may !

found everywhere

be found everywhere. 48

Every one on every occasion can com-

mand skill in speaking of the faults ever,

knows his own

Everywhere

of others.

how-

one,

knowing them, feels shame. 4 *

faults, or

devoted to their respective religions,

are kings

Everywhere may be

and employed in chastising the wicked. found virtuous men. 45

cannot be,

O Kama, that all

There are men

people of a country are sinful.

many

the

coun-

— — "Sanjaya continued, 'Then king Duryodhana stopped Kama

tries that surpass the very gods by their behaviour

and Calya (from going

on with

dressing the son of Radha as

with joined hands. 47

their

friend,

saying,

wordy warfare), adand beseeching Calya

Kama, O sire, was

and forebore saying anything more. enemy. 43

quieted

by thy son

Calya also then faced the

Then Radha's son, smiling, once more urged Calya,

— Proceed — !

" 4) '

Section XLVI. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Beholding then that unrivalled array of

the Parfchas made by

Dhrishtadyumna which was capable

resisting all hostile armies,

Kama proceeded, uttering leonine And he made

shouts and causing his car to produce a loud rattle. the Earth to ments.*

with the loud din of musical instruAnd that chastiser of foes, that hero in battle, seemed tremble

to tremble in rage.

array,

Duly disposing his own troops

in counter-

bull of Bharata's race, that hero of great energy

made a

great slaughter of the Pandava forces like Maghavat slaughter-

ing the

Asura host.

Striking Yudhishthira then with many

arrows, he placed the eldest son of Pandu to his right.'

"Dhritarashtra

said— 'How, O

did

Sanjaya,

Radha dispose his forces in counter-array to all headed by Dhrishtadyumna and protected by all

those great bowmen invincible

the

son

Pandavas

Bhimasena,

viz.,

gods ? 5

Who,

by the very

KARNA PARVA,

161

and the

Sanjaya, stood in the wings

wings of our

further

Dividing themselves properly, how were

army ?

warriors

the

How also did the sons of Pandu dispose their stationed How also did that great and army in counter-array to mine awful battle commence V Where was Vibhatsu when Kama proceeded against Yudhishthira? Who could succeed in assail6

presence

ing Yudhishthira in the

Arjuna

That Arjuna

8 ?

who had vanquished, single-handed, in former days, all creatures at Khandava,— who else that is desirous of life, save the son of Radhii, would fight with him ?'

"Sanjaya said,

— 'Hear now of the formation of the arrays, Arjuna came, and how the battle was

the manner in which

9 both sides surrounding their respective kings V

fought by

Caradwat's son Kripa,

O king, and the Magadhas endued with

great activity, and Kritavarman of the Satwata

race,

took up

Caknni, and the mighty

wing. 11

the right

their position in

car -warrior Uluka, standing on the right of these, and

many

panied

fearless

accom-

Gandhara horsemen armed with

bright lances, and many mountaineers difficult of defeat, numer-

ous as flights of locusts, and grim-looking as Pigachas, pro"

12 (Kaurava) army. 18

the

tected

unrcturning cars battle,

Four and thirty thousand Samsaptakas, mad with desire of

the

with thy sons in their midst, and

ing Krishna and Arjuna, protected the

rava army).

their

left,

the

desirous

all

(of the

side

left

Suta's

Kecava.

son,

stood,

the

challenging

centre,

the

command

that

host, stood

of mail

and adorned

point.

with Anrjadas and garlands, for protecting that

angry sons, that

Arjuna and the mighty head of

Kama, clad in armour, with beatiful coat ported by his own

Kau-

Kamvojas, the Cakas, and

the Yavanas, with cars and horse and foot, at the the

of slay-

foremost

of weapons, that hero, shone rosplendent

the

all

Sup-

wieldera

head of the

The mighty-armed repeatedly. Sun or fire, with of the effulgence the Duscasana, possessed of

army as he drew

his

bow

t'wany eyes and handsome features, riding on the neck of a huge elephant, surrounded by many troops, and stationed at the rear of the army, gradually approached for fight.

king Duryodhana himself, 21

Behind him came

monarch, protected by his uterine

MAHABHARATA,

162

mail.

18 " 1 *

and cased in beautiful

on beautiful steeds

brothers riding

Protected by the united

of exceeding energy, the king,

Madrakas and the Kekayas

O monarch, looked resplendent

like Him of a hundred sacrifices when surrounded by the tials.

Acwatbhaman and the other foremost

secretions like the very clouds and

followed behind that car force. 81

car-

and blazing weapons,

those

overgrown with

hills

ridden

by brave Mlecchas,

Decked with triumphal stand-

warriors skilled in fighting from like

of mighty

and many ever-infuriate elephants shedding temporal

warriors,

ards

celes-

huge

backs, looked beautiful

their

trees.

ridden by

creatures,

Many thousands of brave

and unreturning warriors, armed with axes and swords, became the foot-guards of those elephants. 83

Gorgeously decked with

horsemen and car-warriors and elephants, that

foremost of

arrays looked exceedingly beautiful like the array of the tials

of the Asuras.**

the scheme of Vrihaspati

ways

of battle,

celes-

That great array, formed according by

its

seemed to dance

terror into the hearts of foes.

commander well-versed in and struck

(as it advanced)

Like ever-appearing clouds in

the season of rains, foot-soldiers and horsemen and car-warriors

and elephants, longing for battle, began to issue from the wings and further wings of that array. 26 Then king Yudhishthira, beholding Kama at the head of the (hostile) army, addressed

Dhananjaya, that slayer of foes, that one hero in the world,

and said these words :"

— Behold, O Arjuna, the mighty array

Kama in battle

formed by

The hostile force looks resplen28 At sight of this vast

dent with its wings and further wings hostile

force, let such measures be 89

—

adopted that

may

not

Thus addressed by the king, Arjuna replied vanquish us with joined hands, Everything will bo done as thou sayest. !

—

Nothing will be otherwise s0 I will, O Bharata, do that by which the destruction of the enemy may be compassed !

By slaying destruction

their 31 !

—

foremost

" 'Yudhishthira

said,

of warriors, I will achieve

their

—With that view, do thou proceed

against the son of Radha, and let Bhimasena proceed

against

Nakula against Vrishasena,

against

Suyodhana, the

son

of Suvala,

Catanika,

against

Sahadeva,

Duscasana,

that

bull

KARNA PARVA, amongst the

Cinis, viz., Siityaki, against the son

and Pandya against the son of Drona with Kripa. 82-88

myself will

of Hridikii, fight

Let the sons of Draupadi, with Cikhandin

amongst them, proceed against the

of the

rest

Dhartarash-

Let the other warriors of our army encounter our other

tras.

fues

1G3

84 !

—

"Sanjaya cotninucd,— 'Thus addressed by Yudhishthira the

Dhananjaya said,— So be it !— and ordered his troops (to do the needful) and himself proceeded to the head of the

just,

army. 85

That car for which the Leader of the universe, viz., Agni, who derives his effulgence from Brahman, became the

steeds, that car which

was known amongst the gods as belong-

ing to Brahman because it sprang first from Brahman himself,

Brahmau

borne

that car which in days of old had successively

and Icana and Indra and Varuna one after another, riding on that primeval car, Kecava and Arjuna now proceeded to battle.

Beholding that advancing car of wonderful aspect,

Calya once more said unto Adhiratha's son, that warrior of great energy in battle, these words 88 Yonder comes that car hav:

ing white steeds yoked unto driver, that

vehicle

incapable

troops, like the inevitable

fruit

—

and owning Krishna of

being resisted by

of work !*

son of Kunti, slaughtering his foes along is,

the way,

the clouds,

all

the

— he, that

Since tremen-

being heard, deep as the

its

There conies the

about whom thou hadst been enquiring

dous is the uproar that

for

roar

without doubt, those high-souled ones,

is,

viz.,

Vasudeva and Dhananjaya 10

Yonder ascends a cloud of dust The whole Earth, that overspreads the welkin like a canopy !

Kama, seems to tremble, cut deep by the circumference Arjuna's wheels sides of

aloud,

thy army

These carnivorous creatures are yelling

and these animals are uttering

cries !*"

fearful

making the hair to stand on end, hath

Sun !f

Behold, diverse kinds of animals,

—

form,

appeared, covering all

Work must be followed by fruit. T. The t malignant planet know by that uame,-— T. *

Behold,

of vapoury

Kama, the terrible and portentuous Ketu ts

These violent winds are blowing on both

the

around in Jargo

MAHABHARATA,

164)

packs, and 44

the Sun

many mighty wolves and tigers, are looking a§ Behold those terrible Kankas and those vultures,

assembled together in thousands, sitting with faces towards one another, in seeming discourse

Those colored yak-tails at-

Thy

tached to thy great car are waving unquietly !* also

trembling 4S

standard

Behold, these thy beautiful steeds,

huge limbs, and great speed resembling that of soaring birds, are

From these portents, it is certain that kings, Kama, deprived of life, will lie 43 The loud uproar of down on the ground for eternal sleep also quivering !*'

in hundreds and thousands,

conchs, making

The sound is

also

the

hair

drums

being heard on

all

stand on

end,

and cymbals,

sides,

also

the

being heard

son

Radha,

whizz of diverse

kinds of arrows, and the din made by cars and steeds and men ! Listen

also,

O Kama, to the loud twang produced by the 50 Behold, O Kama, those

bow-strings of high-souled warriors

banners of Arjuna, that

are

equipt with rows of bells, and

decked with golden moons and stars

Made by

skilful

artists

out of cloths embroidered with gold and of diverse hues, they are blazing with resplendence on Arjuna's car as they are shaken

by the wind, like flashes of lightning in a mass of clouds 51 w "

Behold those (other) banners producing sharp sounds as they Those car-warriors of the high-souled Panchawave in the air !

las, with

flag-decked standards on their vehicles, are looking res-

§i plendent, O Kama, like the very gods on their celestial cars !

Behold the heroic son of Kunti, the unvanquished Vibhatsu, with that foremost of apes on his standard, advancing destruction of the foe ard,

54 !

for

the

There, on the top of Partha's stand-

to be seen that terrible ape, that enhancer of the fears of

foes, attracting the gaze (of warriors) from

every side !"

discus, the mace, the bow called garnga and the conch

The

(called

Pdnchajannya) of the intelligent Krishna, as also his gem 'Kaustubha, look exceedingly beautiful in him ss The wielder of parnga and the mace, viz., Vasudeva, of great energy, !

cometh, urging those white steeds endued with the fleetness of tho wind

87 !

Yonder twangs Gandivct,

* Another reading is, "are blazing "— T.

drawn by Savya-

165

KARNA TARVA, Sachin

Those whected

horo,

arc

with

the

destroying

heads of

sped by

shafts,

enemies

his

The Earth

eyes of coppery hue

maces, with

There the

weapons

grasp,

with

kings,

unretreating

moon at full, and docked with

ful as the

strong-ramed

that

large

strewn

faces

beauti-

and expansive

looking

arras,

spiked

and smeared with excellent contending with

perfumes, of warriors delighting in battle and

weapons, are falling

uplifted

with eyes,

Steeds

tongues,

and entrails drawn out, along with their riders, are falling and Those fallen and deprived of life lie prostrate on the Earth !*'

huge as mountain summits, torn, mangled,

lifeless elephants,

and pierced by Partha, are falling down like the changeful

Those cars, looking

sky, with their royal riders

slain, are

veritable

hills!

forms of vapour in the falling

down

the

celestial cars of the denizens of heaven upon the exhaustion of

the latters' merits

Behold, the army is exceedingly agitated

by the diadem-decked Arjuna,

herds

of countless

cattle

There the Piindava heroes, advancing kings and large numbers of eleand foot-soldiers of thy car-warriors phants and steeds and

by a maned

lion! *

for the attack, are

slaying

army engaged in battle 68

There, Partha, shrouded (by friends

and foes and weapons and dust) shrouded by clouds

not to be seen, like the Sun

Only the top of his standard may be

seen and the twang of his bowstring

may

Kama, to behold today that

art sure,

be heard

Thou

hero of white steeds

and with Krishna for his driver, engaged in slaughtering his

Thou art sure of beholding him about whom 67 Today, O Kama, thou art sure to behold those two tigers among men, both of red eyes, both

foes in battle

thou hadst been enquiring

chastisers of foes, viz.,

same car 88 !

Vasudeva and Arjuna, stationed on the

son of Radhii, thou succeedest in

If,

him that hath Kecava for his driver and then thou shalt be our king kas,

SD !

bow,

Challenged by the Samscrpta-

Partha now proceedeth against them

rior is engaged

slaying

Gdndivd for his

That mighty war-

making a great slaughter

of his

foes

— Unto the ruler of the Madras who was saying Kama, rage, — Behold, Partha assailed on sides

battle

so,

said,

by the angry ScmsaptvJcas ! n

all

Like the Sun shrouded by the

166

MAHABHARATAi Partha is no longer visible

clouds,

Plunged into that ocean

O Calya, Arjuna is sure to perish 72 — a 'Calya said, — Who is there that would slay Varuna with Who is there that would water, or quench fire with fuel ?

of warriors,

seize the wind, or drink off the ocean ? afflicting Partha

be even such

Arjuna

the act of

I regard

incapable

being vanquished in battle by the very gods and the Asuras 74 united together and having Indra himself at their head ?

Or, suffer thyself to be gratified,

and be of easy mind, having

thy capacity to slay Partha)

said those words (about

tha cannot be conquered in battle

purpose thou mayst have in thy mind. 75 uplift this Earth on

two arms,

his

battle

burn

that

all

creatures in

would

may vanquish Arjuna in

wrath, or hurl the gods from heaven, 76

Par-

Accomplish some other

Behold that other heroic son of Kunti, viz., Bhima,

who is never fatigued with exertion, blazing with resplendence, mighty-armed, and standing like another Meru 77 With wrath ever kindled, and longing for revenge, Bhima of great energy !

stands there, desirous all his injuries

of victory

and remembering

battle,

of virtuous men,

There that foremost

viz.,

king Yudhisthira the just, that subjugator of hostile towns, stands, difficult of being resisted

foes

battle

stand those two tigers among men, the twin uterine battle

Nakula and Sahadeva,

brothers

30 !

Acwins, the two

of Krishna, that

All of them, equal to

Arjuna in battle, are standing, desirous of fight 81 !

sons of Drupada, headed by pride and

energy,

viz.,

Dhrishtadyumna,

There the

swelling with

— heroes endued with great energy, — have

taken up their stand 32 Satwatas,

There

both invincible in

Yonder may be seen the five sons

have the features of Panchala princes

79 !

There, that foremost

Satyaki,

irresistible

against us, from desire of fight, like the

wrath before our eyes 83 !

one among the

Indra,

advanceth

Destroyer himself in

—While those two

lions

among men

two armies mingled

were thus addressing each other,

the

fiercely in battle, like the currents of

Ganga and Yamuna.'

"8 *

Section XLVII. "Dhritarashtra said,

— When the two armies, duly arrayed,

thus mingled with each other for battle,

O Sanjaya, how did

Partha assail the Samsaptakas, and how

Kama, tho Panda-

vas ?

Tell me the incidents of the

art skilled

narration

battle

detail, for

prowess of heroes in battle, I am never satiated

"Sanjaya said,

consequence of the evil policy of thy son.

proper

form, in

The vast Piindava

teeming with horsemen and elephants and

force then,

soldiers

— 'Observing the vast hostile force stationed

Arjuna arrayed his troops

in that manner,

thou

accounts of the

the

Listening to

foot-

and cars, and headed by Dhrishtadyumna, looked ex-

ceedingly

magnificient. 4

With

white as pigeons,

steeds

his

the son of Prishata, equal in splendour to the Sun or the Moon,

armed with bow, looked resplendent like Death himself in embodied form. 5

The sons of Draupadi, desirous of battle, stood They were clad in excellent coats of mail, and armed with excellent weapons, and all of them were

by the side of Parshata.

endued with the prowess of

Possessed of effulgent

tigers.

bodies, they followed their maternal uncle like the stars appear-

ing with the Moon. 6 array, Arjuna.

Beholding the Samsaptakas standing in

with wrath excited, rushed against them, draw-

ing his bow Gcindlva. 7

The Samsaptakas

slaying

Arjuna,

victory,

and making death their

heroes,

teeming with men,

rushed against

Partha,

then, desirous

resolved

firmly

That brave host of infuriate elephants, and

goal. 8

steeds, afflict

Arjuna. 9

Their encounter

became exceedingly

furious.

That encounter

resembled the one that took place between

Arjuna and the

cars,

with

began very quickly to Kiritin

Nivatakavachas as we have heard. 10

Partha

cut

off

ears

and steeds and standards and elephants and foot-soldiers endisci

and

grasp,

nod

gaged in fight, and shafts and bows and swords and battle-axes,

and

uplifted

arms with

weapons

thousands."" 12

the heads also of foes, by thousands upon The Samsaptakas, regarding the car of Partha sunk

deep vortex

of warriors,

uttered

loud roars. 13

that

Partha, how-

ever, slaying all his foes in front, slew those that stood

further

MAHABIIAUATA,

1G8

his back, like off, and then those that were on his right am] Rudra himself in rage slaughtering all created things endued with life. 11 The encounter that took place between the Pancha-

the

las,

Chedis,

son of Suvala,

with thy troops,

and the Srinjayas,

exceedingly fierce. 15

— those heroes

difficult of defeat in battle,

panied by troops that were all cheerful, themselves rage,

was

Kripa, and Kritavarman, and Cakuni the

— accom-

filled

with

and capable of smiting down thick ranks of cars, fought

with the Kocalas, the Kacis, the Matsyas, the Karushas, the

Kaikayas, and the Curasena*, all of whom great courage.

16 " 17

were

possessed

That battle, fraught with great slaughter,

and destructive of body, life, and sins, became conducive to fame, heaven, and virtue, in respect of the Kshatriya, the Vaic,ya, and the Cudra heroes that engaged in it. 18 Meanwhile the Kuru

O bull of Bharata's

king Duryodhana, with his brothers,

race,

and supported by many Kuru heroes and many mighty Madraka car-warriors, protected Kama while the latter was engaged in battle

with the Pandavas,

Satyaki.

13 " 20

the Panchalas,

Destroying that

vast

division

the

arrows, and causing many foremost of car- warriors, 21 ceeded in afflicting Yudhishthira.

Cutting

Chedis, and

with

off

his

sharp

Kama sucarmour,

the

the weapons, and the bodies of thousands of foes and slaying his foes by thousands,

and sending them to heaven and making

them earn great fame,

Kama caused

Thus,

his

friends

great joy. 28

O sire, that battle, destructive of men, steeds, and cars,

between the Kurus and the Srinjayas, resembled the battle between the gods and the Asuras of old.'

Section XLVIII. "Dhritarashtra said,

— Tell me,

Sanjaya,

how Kama, hav-

ing caused a great slaughter after penetrating into the midst

the Pandava troops, struck and

afflicted

of;

king Yudhishthira. 1

Who were those foremost of heroes among the Parthas that, resisted Kama Who were they whom Kama crushed before ?

the son of Adhiratha could succeed in afflicting Yudhishthira

?' 8

"Sanjaya said,— 'Beholding the Parthas headed by Dhrishta-,

dyumna stationed for battle, that crusher

of foes, viz.

;

Kama,

It A

UNA PAUVA. Like swan

lushed impetuously against the Panchalas.*

ing towards the sea, the Panchalas, longing fur victor}7 as quickly against that high-souled

Then the

encounter.*

blare

thousands of

diverse musical instruments and the noise

rushed to

tin

conchs, us

piercing the heart by its shrillness, arose from both the fierce peal also of thousands of drums.*

advancing

warrior

rush-

hosts,

and

The sound also of made by elephants

and steeds and ears, and the leonine shouta of heroes, that arose there,

became exceedingly awful*

It seemed

the

that

Earth with her mountains and trees and

oceans, the

welkin covered with wind tossed clouds, and

the

who entire

whole firma-

ment with the Sun, the Moon, and the stars, trembled with Even such all creatures regarded that noise to be and became agitated. Those amongst them that were endued

that sound. 7

with little strength fell dead. 8

Then Kama, excited with crrcat

wrath, quickly invoking his weapons, began to smite the Pan-

dava army like Maghavat smiting the army of the Asuras* Penetrating

then

into

the

Piindava

host

and shooting his

Kama slew seven

and seventy foremost of warriors

among the Prabhadrakas."

Then that foremost of car- warriors,

arrows,

with five and twenty sharp shafts equipt slew five

and twenty Panchalas."

equipt with wings of gold

goodly wings,

With many cloth-yard shafts

and capable of piercing the bodies

of all foes, that hero slew the Chedis

sands."

with

While he was employed

hundreds and thou-

achieving those super-

human feats in battle, large timings of Panchala cars, ()

king,

Bha-

quickly surrounded him on all sides. 13 rata, five irresistible shafts,

Aiming

then,

Kama, otherwise failed Vaikarlana

Panchala warriors.'*

Tim five Panchalas, Bhanudeva and Chitrasena and Senavindu and Tapana and Curasena. * While or Vrisha, slew five

O Bharata, that he slew in that battle

were

the Panchala heroes were thus being slaughtered

with

arrows

of Oh and A/<>.-< arose from 14 among the Panchala host. Then ten car- warriors among the Panchalas, monarch, surrounded Kama. Them too, Kama speedily slew with his shafts. 17 The two protectors <>f Kama's in that great

car-wheels,

battle, loud

viz.,

his

cries

two invincible

named Sushena and Satyasena, 22

son.-,

began

sire,

fight,

that

were

reckless

—

MAHABHAJRATA,

17 18 their very lives.

The eldest son

Vrishasena, himself

car-warrior

and

Then Dhrishtadyumna,

Kama,

protected

and

Satyaki,

the

mighty

father's

rear.

five

sons of

viz.,

his

tlie

Draupadi, and Vrikodara, and Janamejaya, and Cikhandin, and many foremoss warriors among the Prabhadrakas," and many amongst the Chedis, the Kaikayas, and the Panchalas, the twins (Nakufa and

Sahadeva), and the Mafcsyas,

clad

all

upon Biidha's son skilled in smitslaying him. 21 Pouring upon him diverse ing, from desire of mail,

rushed

fiercely

began to

kinds of weapons and thick showers of arrows, they afflict him,

like the clouds afflicting the

season of rains.

mountain-breast in the

Desirous of rescuing their father, the sons

Kama, all of whom were effectual smiters, and many

heroes,

other

O king, of thy army, resisted those (Pandava) heroes. 23

Sushena, cutting off with a broad headed arrow the bow of

Bhimasena, pierced Bhima himself with seven cloth-yard shafts 2 * Then Vrikodara of in the chest, and uttered a loud roar. terrible prowess, taking up it

quickly, cut aff Sushena's bow.

dancing

(on

his

bow and

another tough 25

Excited with rage and as if

Sushena himself

he quickly pierced

car),

stringing

with ten arrows, and then pierced Kama, within the twinkling of an eye, with seventy sharp shafts.

With

ten other shafts,

Bhima then felled Bhanusena, another son of Kama, with steeds, driver, latter's friends.

a face as

his

weapons, and standard, in the very sight of the 27

The sightly head of that youth, graced with

beautiful as

Moon, cut

the

off

with a razor-headed 28

Having Kama's son, Bhima began to afflict thy troops once more. Cutin^ off the bows then of Kripa and Hridika's son, he began arrow, looked like

lotus

two

also.

plucked from

its stalk.

slain

afflict

those

Piercing Dusqasana

with three

arrows made wholly of iron, and Cakuni with six, he deprived

both Uluka and (his brother) Patatri of their ing

Sushena next

these

words,

viz.,

cars.

Address-

Thou art slain

— Bhima took up an arrow. Kama, however, cut arrow and struck Bhima himself with three

shafts.

off that 81

Then

Bhima took up another straight arrow of great impetuosity •and sped it

Sushena.

But Vrisha cut

that

arrow also S2

Then Kar na, desirous of rescuing his son, and wishing to make

ITI

KARNA PART A, Bhimasena, struck the

an end of the cruel

and seventy fierce arrows.

Then

cellent bow capable of bearing a

thrle

with

latter

ex-

Suahena, taking up an great

pierc<

strain

with five arrows in the arms and the che piercing his antagonist

twenty strong

with

bearing a great strain, uttered a loud roar and

with

fright.

The mighty Nakula with ten

king, piercing Iatter's bow

sensate

with a razor-headed arrow.

O king, shrouding all

the

Su-

resisted

That slayer of hostile showers of

quarters with

the

ell'

Then Nakula, in-

took up another bow, and

with rage,

cut

quickly

shafts,

shena in that battle with nine shafts. heroes,

ins

car-warrior SusUena, however,

Sushena himself

arrows, slew Sushena's driver, and a^ain with three shafts, and then with three other broad- headpiercing

ed arrows, cut off his bow

strength into three frag-

of great

Sushena also, deprived of his senses in rage, took up another bow and pierced Nakula with sixty arrows and Sahaments.

deva with seven."

The

battle raged

gods and the Asuras, between those other.

Satyaki, slaying the

fiercely, like that of the

heroes

striking

then with another arrow, three arrows

senseless

the

his

arrows.

Thus

shield,

him. 43

and

standard

became

struck, Vrishasena

but within the twinkling

and standard by Yuyudhana, sword and

Crushing

shaft

his

eye,

Deprived of his driver and steeds and car

stood up again."

slaving

he struck Vrishasena himself with

chest.

car,

an-

driver of Vrishasena with three

arrows, cut off the Iatter's bow with a broad headed

struck his steeds with seven

>ne

Vrishasena

then,

armed with

rushed against Yuyudhana from desire of however, as his antagonist rushed

Satyaki,

towards him, struck at his sword and shield with ten arrows equipfc with heads like a boar's e u\

ing Vrishasena made earless

Then Duscasana, behold-

and weap niless, quickly caused

him to ascend his own car, and bearing him away from the spot, caused him to ride another vehicle. 4 ' The mighty car warrior Vrishasena then, riding on sons of Draup.idi

with

another vehicle,

seventy and

and Bhimasena with four and

sixty,

pierced

Yuyudhana

the

with

and Sahadeva with

and Nakula with thirty, and Catanika with seven awows,

fivfl

fiv^

five,

and

MAHABHABATA,

172

Cikhandin with ten, and king Yudhishthira with a hundred.

O king, all inspired

These and many other foremost of heroes, with desire of victory,*

that great

bowman, \"tz., the son of

Kama, O monarch, continued to afflict with his

shafts.

Then,

in that battle, the invincible Vrishasena continued to protect

rear

the

Kama. 49

The grandson

Dusrasana driverless and

steedless

nine times nine arrows made wholly

then, riding

necessary

having made

by means of

Duscasana

of iron, struck

the forehead.*

himself with ten shafts in

Cini,

earless

and

The Kuru

prince

on another car that was duly equipt (with every

implement),

once more

began to

fight

with

the

Pandivas, from within ihe division of Kama." Then Dhristadyumna pierced Kama with ten arrows, and the sons of Draupadi seven.

and Yuyudhana with

pierced him with three and seventy, 52

And Bhimasena

pierced

him with

four

and sixty

And Nakula pierced him with thirty arrows, and Catanika with seven. And the heroic

arrows, and Sahadeva with seven.

Cikhandin pierced him with ten, and king Yudhishthira with 59 These and other foremost of men, O monarch, a hundred. all

of victory, began

inspired with desire

bowman, viz., the Suta's chastiser

of foes,

viz.,

the

Suta's son

forming quick evolutions with his those warriors with ten arrows.*'

grind that great battle. 9 *

dreadful

sou, in that

of great

car,

That

heroism, per-

pierced every

one of

We then, O king, witnessed

the lightness of hand displayed by the high -soulcd

Kama and

Indeed, what we saw

appeared to

the energy of his weapons.

when he took be highly wonderful. up his arrows, when he aimed them, and when he let them off 8'

People could not notice

They only beheld his enemies dying fast in consequence of his The sky, the firmament, the Earth, and all the wrath. 87 quarters,

seemed to be entirely shrouded with sharp arrows. 53

The firmament looked resplendent as if covered with rod clouds. The valiant son of Radha, armed with the bow. and as if dancing (on

his car), pierce]

each

of his

assailants with thrice as

89 And many arrows as each of them had pierced him with. car, driver, once more piercing each of them, and his steeds, and standard, with ten arrows, he uttered a loud roar. His

assailants then gave him a way (through

which he passed out).

173

KABNA I'AKVA.

Having crushed those mighty bowmen with showers of arrows, the son of Radha, that crusher of foes, then penetrated, unimanded the Pandava resisted, into the midst of the division i

king/

Having

cars

thirty

destroyed

the

unreturning

Chedis, the son of Radha struck Yudhishthira with many sharp arrows." Then many Pandava warriors, O king, with Cikhan-

and Satyaki, desirous of rescuing the king from the son ot Radha, surrounded the former. 62 Similarly all the brave and

din

mighty bowmen

of thy army resolutely protected the irresisti-

Kama in that battle." The noise of diverse musical instruments arose then, O king, and the leonine shouts of brave

ble

And the Kurus and the Panda vas once

warriors rent the sky, 65

more fearlessly encountered each other, the former headed by the Suta's son and the latter by Yudhishthira."

" 6

Section XLIX. 'Sanjaya said,

— Piercing through the Pandava host, Kama, '

surrounded by thousands of cars and elephants and steeds and 1 Cutfoot soldiers, rushed towards king Yudhishthira the just.

thousands of wcap-

tin" oft" with hundreds of fierce shafts the

ons sped at him by his that host."

foes,

Vrisha fearlessly pierced through

Indeed, the Suta's son cut off the heads, the arms, fell

down

their divisions broken,

fled

and the Nishada

foot-

and the thighs of his enemies, who, deprived of life, on

the

away."

Earth.

Others,

finding

The Dravida, the Andhaka,

soldiers, urged on by Satyaki, once more rushed towards Kama

in that hattie,

Deprived of arms

4 from desire of slaying him.

and head-gears, and slain by Kama with his d iwn simultaneously on

the Earth, like a

cut down (with the axe).

Earth."

fame,

fell

The Pandus and

life

down with the

their

Panchalas

Destroyer himself, even as people

disease with incantations sailants.

fell

trees

and drugs.

Kama once more

rushed

ten

and filling the whole bodies

obstructed

otherwise called Vaikartana, who careered wrathfully like the

they

Gala

Thus hundreds, thousands, and

thousands of combatants, deprived of welkin with their

shafts,

forest

Beek

Crushing

toward-

to all

the

Kama, battle

obstruct

those

as-

Yudhishthira.. like

MAHABHARATA,

174

an irresistible disease unchecked by incantations and drugg (propitiatory)

rites.

Panchalas, and the

checked by

last

Kekayas,

the

were desirous of

vanquish persons conversant

Then Yudhishthira, with eyes red in wrath, ad-

Kama, that slayer of hostile

dressed

whom

Kama could not succeed in passing them

rescuing the king,

over like Death that is unable to

with Brahma. 9

all

Snd

Pandus,

the

who was

heroes,

check at a litte distance from him, and said these

held 10

words

—

Kama, thou of vain sight, O son of a Suta, listen Thou always challengest the active Phalguna in

Kama,

to my words battle !"

Obedient to the counsels of Dhritarashtra's son, thou

always seekest to oppose us

show thou today

Mustering

might,

thy

all

hatred thou bearest towards

all

sons

the

thy great prowess, energy, and

thy

of Panda

the

all

Today, in

dreadful encounter, I will purge thee of thy desire for battle

— Having said these words, the son of Pandu, Kama with ten shafts made entirely 1

wings of gold. * viz.,

the

Suta's

king, pierced

and equipt with

of iron

of foes,

and great bowman,

Bh strata, pierced

Yudhishthira, with

That chastiser son,

the greatest care, in return, with ten arrows equipt like the calfs tooth.

Thus pierced by the

O sire, the mighty-armed

tempt,

wrath like a fire upon receiving

Suta's son

that arrow, fatal as the

butter."'

Bending

formid-

his

Pandu placed on his bow-

Suta's

mis:ht, that

arrow whose

suddenly

thunder,

side.

left

into a swoon

hills.

king quickly sped desire

Spod by the king endued with great whizz resembled the noise of the

pierced

Kama,

that

Deeply

afflicted

by the violence of that

mighty-armed Kama,

stroke, the

Beholding

stretch, the

rod of the Destroyer, from

son.' 8

slaying the

con-

whetted arrow capable of piercing the very

Drawing the bow to its fullest

on his

with heads

Yudhishthira blazed up with

able bow decked with gold, the son of string a

18 !

his

car,

Kama

that

his

with weakened limbs,

plight, the vast Dhartarashtra host

tants

became

king,

amongst the Pandavas,

colorless.

fell

bow dropping from his hand. 20

uttered cries of Oh and Alas, and the faces 2'

mighty car-warrior,

Beholding

the

of all

the

prowess

on the other

hand,

arch, leonine roars and shouts and confused cries of joy

combaof

their

O monarose.

175

SAUNA PABVAi

Radha, however, of cruel prowess, recovering his senses soon enough, seb his heart on the destruction of Yudhish-

The son thira.

Drawing his formidable bow

decked with gold, the Suta's son to resist the son

Pandu with

called

Vijaya that was

of immeasurable soul began his

24 sharp shafts.

With a

encounter Chan-

couple of razor-headed arrows he slew in that

dradeva and Dandadhara, the two Pnnchala princes, that protected the two car

wheels

of the

high-souled

Each of those heroes, standing by the car,

of Yudhishthira's

side

had Looked resplendent liko the constellation Punarvasu

by the

side

the

Moon. 8 *

m >re pierced Kama with

Yudhishthira, arrows.

thirty

And

shona and Satyasena, each with three arrows. every

one of

arrows. 88 his

Yudhishthira. 8 *

the

The son

protectors of

Kama with

however,

once

he struck

Su-

And he pierced three

straight

Adhiratha then, laughing and shaking

bow, inflicted a cutting

wound on tho

king's

body with

a broad-headed arrow, and again pierced him with sixty

and then uttered a loud shout.

arrows

Then many foremost heroes

amongst the Pandavas, desirous of rescuing the king, rusheu in wrath towards Kama and began to grind him with their 30 Siityaki and Chekitana and Yuyutsu and Cikhandin arrows. 31 and the and the sons of Draupadi, and the Prabhadrakas, twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and Bhimasena and Cicupala and

Karushas the Matsyas, the Curas, the Kaikayas, the Kacis, and the Kocalas, 88 all these brave heroes, endued with great The Panchala prince Janamejaya activity, assailed Vasushena.

the

then pierced Kama with many arrows.

The Pandava

heroes,

armed with diverse kinds of arrows* and diverse weapons, and accompanied by cars and elephants and steeds, rushing towards

Kama, encompassed him on

all

sides,

from desire of slaying

Thus assailed on all sides by the foremost of Pandava into existence tho Brahma weapon 38 The all points the of the compass with arrows. and filled

him.**"

warriors,

Kama invoked

heroic Kama then, like unto a

blazing

scorching flame, careered in

battle,

its

I do not render

fire

having shafts

for

burning that forest of

the names of the several kinds of arrows mentioned

here as those names have in several instauces been rendered before.— T.

HAB A nil A RATA.

170

Pandava troops."

The high-soulcd Kama, that groat bowman,

aiming some mighty weapons, and laughing the while, cut the bow of that foremost

of men,

viz.,

Yudhishthira.

off

Then

aiming ninety straight arrows within the twinkling of an eye,

Kama cut antagonist.

off,

with

sharp shafts,

those

That armour, decked with gold and

gems, looked beautiful, as it fell down,

adorned with costly brilliants,

fallen off

foremost of men, looked beautiful night, bespangled with

the

arrows,

son

stars.

with

Indeed, that

armour,

from the body

of that

firmament

the

His armour cut off with those covered

Pritha,

set

like a wind-tossed cloud

by the rays of the Sun. 43

penetrated

armour of his

the

hurled at the son of Adhiratha a dart

with blood,

wrathfully

made wholly

of iron. 42

Kama, however, cut (into pieces) that blazing dart, as it coursThat dart, thus bowman, fell down on

ed through the welkin, with seven shafts. cut off with those shafts Earth. 48

the

lances

his

of that great

striking

Kama

with four

two arms and forehead and

chest,

repeatedly

Then Yudhishthira, 4

Thereupon blood spouted forth from the

uttered loud shouts. *

wounds of Kama, and the latter, filled with rage and breathing antagonist's standard and pierced the

like a snake, cut off his

Pandiva himself with three broad-headed arrows. 45 also cut off the couple

of quivers

(he rode) into minute fragments.

(that is foe had)

And he

and the car

Thereupon the king, riding

on another car unto which were yoked those steeds, white as ivory and having black hair

him (to battle), turned his

on their face

Yudhishthira begin to retreat. slain.

46 " 17

tails,

and liegan

used to

that to

fly.

bear

Thus did

His Pdrshni driver had been

He became exceedingly cheerless and unable

to stay

The son of Radha then, pursuing Yudhishthira 48 cleansed himself by touching him in the son of Pandu, the shoulder with his own fair hand (the palm of which was)

before Kama.

graced with the auspicious signs brella, the hook, the shell,

fish,

of the

the flag, the tortoise,

and desired to seize him by

um-

thunder-bolt, the

force.

and the conch-

then

remem-

43 " 80

Then Calya addressed him and bered the words of Kunti. As soon as said, Do not, O Kama, seize this best of kings 5 thou seizest him, he will reduce both thee and me to ashes '—

—

— !

177

PARVA.

Then Kama, O king, laughing in mockery, addressed the son of How, indeed, Pandu and thus spoke unto him disparagingly :

born though thou art in a

noble

thou art of Kshatriya duties, desiring

and

race,

think

life ?

not well-acquainted with the

duties

Brahma

art,

fear,

dued with

thou

force,

though

thou art

that

Kshatriyas !*

indeed, devoted

of Kunti, fight

proach brave warriors

again,

Do not

words,

the

rites

and do not again aplanguage towards

use harsh

heroes and do not come to great battles

En-

study of the Vedas and the performance of sacrificial

Do not, O son

battle

the

wouldst thou leave

thy

save

—

observant

Thou mayst use such

O sire, towards others, but thou shouldst never address

persons like us in that way

5S !

using

such words towards

persons like us, thou wouldsfc in battle meet with this and other

Go back to thy quarters, O son of Kunti,

kinds of behaviour!

8S Kec^va and Arjuna, arc Having king, Kama will never slay one like thee

where those two,

or thither

Indeed,

wielder

the

host.

That

Chedis,

car- warrior glory.

the

thunder-bolt

the

ruler

men,

king, quickly fled away. 88

the

of Pritha, the

son

the

—

mighty Kama,

Yudhishthira free, 57 began to slaughter the Pandava

host like

Asuva

said these words unto

setting

viz.,

(viz.,

slaughtering

Beholding the king Hying away,

Pandavas, the Panchalas, aud the mighty

Satyaki,

And the sons

all

followed

that monarch

of Draupadi,

of unfading

and the Curas, and the

twin sons of Madri by Pandu, also followed the king. ing the division

the

Yudhishthira,) then,

of Yudi.shthira

retreating, the

Behold-

heroic

Kama

became highly glad with all the Kurus and began to pursue the retreating force. The din of kettle-drums and conchs and " cymbals and bows, 60 61 and leonine shouts, arose from among the

Meanwhile Yudhishthira, thou of Kuru's race, quickly riding on the car of Crutakirti, began to

Dhartarashtra troops.

behold the

prowess of Kama.

just, seeing his troops fast

Then king Yudhishthira the

slaughtered, 6 " 63 became

filled

with

and addressing his warriors, commanded them, saving, Slay these enemies Why are ye inactive Then the mighty

rage,

—

car-warriors of the Pandavas, headed by Bhimasena, thus com-

manded by the king, all rushed against thy 23

sons.

The shouts

— 17S

MAHABHAHATA.

O Bharata, of the warriors (of both hosts), and the noise

then,

made

cars and elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers, and the clash of weapons, became tremendous. Exert, Strike*

Face the /oe, 64" 68

— were the words that the combatants address-

ed to one another as they began to slay

one another in that

And in consequence of the showers

dreadful battle.

of shafts

shot by them, a shadow as that of the clouds seemed to spread

over the field.

And in

consequence

of those

rulers

men,

covered with arrows, striking one another, they became divested of banners and standards and

umbrellas

drivers and weapons

Earth, deprived of life

that

battle.

and limbs,

Looking like mountain summits

fell

down on

fell

down

lords

the

Earth.

consequence of their un-

even backs, huge elephants, 69 with their life,

and steeds and

Indeed, those

riders,

deprived of

mountains riven by thunder.

Thousands

of steeds, with their armour, equipments, and

adornments

all

torn and broken and displaced, fell down, along with their heroic riders, deprived of life.

their grasp, life,

Car- warriors with weapons loosened from

and deprived by

(hostile) car-warriors of cars and and large bands of foot-soldiers, slain by hostile heroes in

that dreadful clash,

fell

down in thousands.

The Earth became

covered with the heads of heroic combatants intoxicated with battle,

— heads, that

is,

that were adorned with

and ex-

large

pansive eyes of coppery hue and faces as beautiful as the or the moon.

And people heard noises as loud in

on the surface of the Earth,

70 " 78

the

lotus

sky

consequence of the sound

of music and song proceeding from large bands of Apsaras

their celestial cars, with which those bands of heavenly chorristers

continually

greeted

the

newly-arrived heroes slain

hundreds and thousands by brave enemies on which, placing them on celestial vehicles

cars,

they

(towards the region of Indra).

repaired

going to heaven,

one another.

on those

Witnessing with their

own eyes those wonderful sights, and actuated by the 74 " 75

Earth, and with

desire of

heroes, with cheerful hearts, speedily slew

Car-warriors fought beautifully with car-warriors j

in that

battle, 7 *

and

foot-soldiers with

foot-soldiers,

phants with elephants, and steeds with steeds.

and

Indeed,

ele-

when

that battle, destructive of elephants and steeds and men, raged

EARN A PART A, in

77 the field became covered this way,

dust raised

the

with

Then enemies slew enemies, and friends slew

by the troops.

The combatants dragged one another by their locks,

friends.

bit

ITS

with their teeth, tore one another with their and struck one another with clenched fists, and fought

one another

nails,

Indeed, as that battle, fraught with carnage

both life and sins.

and steeds and men, raged on so

of elephants

ran from

river of blood

and steeds and a large

number

that fierce battle destructive

one another with bare arms in

the

of dead

bodies

And

elephants.

human

of (slain)

that

current

beings

away

carried

and steeds and

of elephants

bodies

fiercely,

men. Indeed, in that vast host teeming with men and steeds and elephants, that river formed by the blood of men and steeds and elephants and horsemen and elephant-men, became 80

miry with flesh and exceedingly terrible. inspiring

And on that current,

timid with terror, floated the bodies of men and

the

steeds and elephants.

Impelled by the desire

some

of victory,

combatants forded it and some remained on the other

side.

And some plunged into its

depths, and

some sank

some rose above its surface as they swam through it. all

over with blood, their armour

became bloody.

and

Smeared

and weapons and robes

all

Some bathed in it, and some drank the liquid,

anu-rtome became strengthless,

O bull of Bharata's race

Cars

and steeds and men and elephants and weapons and ornaments, 84 and robes and armour, and combatants that were slain or about to be slain,

and the Earth, the welkin, the firmament, and

the points of the compass,

became red. 8 *

With the

all

odor, the

touch, the taste, and the exceedingly red sight of that blood and its rushing sound,

almost all the combatants,

Bhtirata, be-

came very cheerless. The Pandava heroes then, headed by Bhimasena and Satyaki, once nure rushed impetuously against J

that army already beaten.

Beholding the impetuosity of that "

rush of the Pandava heroes to be irresistible, 87 48 the vast force

of thy sons,

king, turned

back on

the

field.

that host of thine, teeming with cars and steeds and

and men no longer in I

its

compact

of mail displaced and weapons

grasp, Hod

away

all

array, with

Indeed,

elephants

armour and coats

and bows loosened from

direction?, whilst

being

their

agitated

MAHABHARATA, the enemy, even like a herd of elephants in the forest

afflicted

by lions.'" 89 - 90

Section L. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Beholding the Pandava heroes rushing im-

petuously towards thy

Duryodhana, O monarch, endea-

host,

voured to cheek the warriors of his army on

O butt

sides,

all

Although, however, thy son cried at the

of Bharata's race.

top of his voice, his flying troops, O king, still refused to stop.

Then one of the wings of the army and

its

further

wing, and

Calami the son of Suvala, and the Kauravas, well-armed, rushed against Bhimasena in that battle. 3

Kama also, beholding

the Dhartarashtra force with all its kings flying away, addressee the ruler of the

Bhima

4 !

Madras, saying,

— Proceed towards the car

— Thus addressed by Kama, the ruler of the Madras

began to urge those foremost of steeds, of the hue of swans, towards the spot where Vrikodara was. 8 that

ornament

of battle, those

Bhimasena, mingled in battle. 5

steeds

Thus urged by Calya, approaching the car of

Meanwhile, Bhima, beholding

Kama approach, became filled with rage, and set his heart Adon the destruction of Kama, O bull of Bharata's race. 7

dressing the heroic Satyaki Prishata,

said,

of virtuous soul

— Do

and Dhrishtadyumna the

you two protect king

son'

Yudhishfchira

With difficulty he escaped from a situation

of great peril before

very

eyes

3 !

armour and robes of the king been cut

sight

have the

off

and

torn,

fur

Duryodhana's gratification, by Radha's son of wicked soul ? I

shall

today reach the end of that woe,

Today, either I shall slay Kama dreadful battle

I tell thee truly

king to you as a sacred pledge

today for protecting the king f"

O son of Prishata

in battle, or he will slay 19

Today I make over the With cheerful hearts exert ye !

— Having said these words, the

mighty-armed Bhima proceeded towards Adhiratha's ing all the points of the compass resound with shout. 12

me in

son,

loud

mak-

leonine

Beholding Bhima, that delighter in battle, advancing quickly, the puissant king of the Madras addressed the SutaS bun in the following words. 18

— 1M

KARNA TARVA, " 'Calya said,

— Behold, O Kama, the mighty-armed son of

Pandu, who is filled with rage

Without doubt, he is desirous

of vomiting upon thee that wrath which

many years

Never before did I see him assume such a form,

no, not even when 15

Ghatotkaeha

he has cherished for

Abhimanyu was

and the Jialcshasa

slain

now

as-

fire

capable

Filled with wrath, the form he hath

sumed, endued with the splendour of the all-destroying

Vug a, is such that it seems

the end of the

resisting the three worlds united together

"Sanjaya continued,

rage,

— 'While the ruler of the Madras was

saying these words unto the son

with

Radha, Vrikodara, excited

came upon Kama. 17

Beholding Bhima, that deof Radha

lighter in battle, approach him in that way, the son

Calya these words. 18

unto

laughingly said

— The words that

thou,

ruler of the Madras, hast today spoken to me regarding

Bhima,

O lord, are without doubt all true

brave and is a hero full of wrath

ing his body, and in

strength

This Vrikodara

He is reckless in protect-

of limbs

superior

all!

While leading a life of concealment in the city of Virata, relythen on the mighty of his bare arms, for doing what

ing

was agreeable to Draupadi, he secretly slew Kichaka with all 21 Even he stands today at the head of battle, his relatives !

clad in mail and insensate with wrath in

with

battle

the

He is ready

engage

Destroyer armed with uplifted mace !"

This desire, however, hath been cherished through all my days, viz.,

that either I shall slay Arjuna or Arjuna

That desire of mine may be

fulfilled

my encounter with Bhima 24 earless, Partha may come

If I

for me

today

me.

against

That

Settle that without delay which thou

consequence of

Bhima

slay

me !S

slay

will

make him

will

thinkest

well to

— Hearing these words of Radha's son of immeasurable energy Calya saying, — O thou of hour! 21

suitable to the

replied,

mighty-arms, proceed against Bhimasena of great might

Hav-

ing checked

Bhimasena, thou mayst then obtain Phalguna !"

That which

years thou

hast

O Kama

once

thy purpose, that desire which for many long

tell

cherished

thee

the

more said unto Calya,

thy heart, will be accomplished,

truth! 88

— Thus addressed, Kama

— Either

shall

slay

Arjuna in

MAHABHARATA.

182 battle,

will

slay

thy

Setting

proceed to the spot where Vrikodara is

— 'Then,

—

heart

battler

king, Calya

speedily

pro-

ceeded on that car to the spot where that great bowman,

viz.,

"Sanjaya continued,

Bhima, was engaged in routing thy army. 80

There rose then

the blare of trumpets and the peal of drums,

monarch, when

Bhima and Kama met. rage,

The mighty Bhimasena, filled with

began to scatter thy troops

sharp and polished shafts, to

all

sides.

monarch, between

came,

king, fierce and awful, and the

tremendous.

That

collision

Kama and the son of Pandu be-

battle,

with his

of defeat,

difficult

noise

that

arose

otherwise called Vaikartana or Vrisha,

him with shafts in the centre of the

filled

chest.

with rage, struck

Kama of immeasurable soul covered him

was

Kama,

Beholding Bhima coming towards him,

And

once more,

with a shower of

son, Bhima covered the And he once more pierced Kama Then Kama, with a numwith nine straight and keen shafts. 86 And ber of arrows, cut in twain Bhima's bow at the handle.

Thus pierced by the Suta's

arrows.

former with winged arrows. 85

after cutting off his

bow, he pierced him

once again in the

and capable

centre of the chest with a shaft of great keenness 87

Then Vrikodara, takfull well what the knowing king, and

of penetrating every kind

ing up another bow,

of armour.

vital parts of the body are, pierced the Suta's

keen arrows. 88

son

arrows, like a hunter striking a proud and infuriate in the forest with

mangled with those desire

many

with

Then Kama pierced him with five and twenty number shafts,

revenge, the

son

brands.

of blazing

his

eyes red

elephant

His limbs

with rage and the

of Pandu, insensate

with wrath,

40 fixed and impelled by the desire of slaying the Suta's son,

on his bow an excellent shaft of great impetuosity, capable of bearing a great strain, and competent to piercce the very mountains. 41

Forcibly drawing the bowstring to

his very ear,

the son of the Wind-god, that great bowman, filled with wrath 43 and desirous of making an end of Kama, sped that shaft.

Thus sped by the mighty Bhima, that loud as that of the battle,

like the

shaft,

thunder, pierced through

thunder-bolt

itself piercing

making

noise

Kama in that

through a moun-

—

KARNA PARVA, tain.*

Struck by

Bhimasena,

1S3

perpetuator

of Kuril's race,

the Suta's son, that commander (of thy forces), sat down sense-

on the terrace of his car. 44

less

beholding the

The ruler of the Madras

deprived

son

Suta's

ornament of battle away on his car, from that

then,

bore that

of his senses,

Then Bhimasena began to rout the vast Dhiirta-

after Kama's defeat,

rashtra host like Indra routing the Ddnavas.'

fight.

" 46

Section LI. "Dhritarashthra said,

— 'Exceedingly

difficult of

accomplish-

ment was that feat, O Sanjaya, which was achieved by Bhima who caused the mighty- armed Kama himself to measure his length on the terrace of his car !' viz.,

There is only one 2^rson,

Kama, who will slay the Pdndavas along with the — Even this is what Duryodhana, O Suta, used

Srinjayas

very often to say unto me

Beholding, however, that son of

Radha now defeated by Bhima

battle,

what did

son

Duryodhana next do ?' 8 "Sanjaya said,

—'Beholding Radha's son of the Suta caste

turned back from the

fight

that great

battle,

monarch, addressed his uterine brothers, saying, 4 ly,

thy son,

— Go ye quick-

blessed be ye, and protect the son of Radha, who

plung-

ed into that fathomless ocean of calamity represented by the fe;ir

Bhimasena s !

— Thus commanded by the king, those

princes, excited with wrath and desirous of slaying

Bhimasena,

rushed towards him like insects towards a blazing

fire.

They Kratha and Vivitsu and Vikata and Soma, and Nishangin and Kavachin and Pacm 6

wvre Crutarvan and Durddhara and

and Nanda and Upanandaka, 7 and Duspradharsha and Suvahu and Vatavega and Suvarchasas, and Dhanurgraha and Dur-

mada and Jalasandha and Cala and Saha. 8

Surrounded by a

lar^e car force, those

great energy

princes,

endued

quickly

slew

and Bhimasena and encompassed him on all 9 sides. They sped at him from every side showers of arrows of diverse kinds. Thus a^ictod by them, Bhima of great with,

might, approached

strength,

with

five

king,

hundred

others,

fifty

foremost car- warriors

amongst those sons

of thine

that

MAHABHARATA,

1S4.

11 advanced against him.

O kins:,

with rage, Bhimasena then,

Filled

with a broad-headed arrow, struck

off

head of

the

Vivitsu, adorned with ear-rings and head-gear, and graced with

Thus cut

a face resembling the full moon.

down on the Earth.

off,

that prince fell

Beholding that heroic brother of theirs

slain, the (other) brothers there,

O lord, rushed in that battle,

13 from every side, upon Bhima of terrible prowess.

Bhima

other broad-headed arrows then,

took the lives of two battle.

Those two,

other viz.,

sons

of thine

With two

terrible

prowess

that

dreadful

Vikata and Saha, looking

ceuple of celestial youths, O king, thereupon fell down on 18 Earth like a couple of trees uprooted by the tempest.

the

Then

Bhima, without losing a moment, despatched Kratha to the abode of Yama, with a long arrow of keen point. Deprived of life,

that prince fell down on the

then,

ruler of

Earth. 16

Loud

cries

woe

men, arose there when those heroic sons of

When mighty Bhima, O

thine, all great bowmen, were being thus slaughtered.

those troops were once more

agitated, the

monarch, then despatched Nanda and Upananda in that battle 18 Thereupon thy sons, exceedingly agitated to Yaraa's abode.

and inspired with fear, fled away, seeing that Bhimasena in that battle behaved like the Destroyer himself at the end of the Tuga.

Beholding those sons of thine

slain,

the

Suta's

son, with a cheerless heart, once more urged his steeds of the 20 hue of swans to that place where the son of Pandu was.

Those steeds,

king, urged

on by the ruler of the Madras,

approached with great speed the car of Bhimasena and mingl7,1 monarch, that once more took The collision, ed in battle. place between Kama and the son

Pandu

battle,

O king, exceedingly fierce and awful and fraught din."

Beholding,

king, those

became,

with a loud

two mighty car-wrariors close

with each other, I became very curious to observe the course 23 Then Bhima, boasting of his prowess in of that battle. battle, covered

Kama in that encounter,

of winged shafts in the very sight of thy

king, with sons.

showers

Then Kama,

that warrior acquainted with the highest of weapons, filled with wrath, pierced Bhima with nine broad headed and straight 25 Thereupon the mighty-armed arrows made entirely of iron.

KARNA PARVA.

185

Bhima of terrible prowess, thus struck by Kama, pierced assailant in return with seven shafts sped

his

from his bowstring

Then Kama, O monarch, sighing like u snake of virulent poison, shrouded the son of Pandu with a 27 The mighty Bhima also, shrouding thick shower of arrows. drawn to his ear. 86

that mighty car-warrior with denso

very

Kauravas,

of the

sight

arrowy downpours

uttered

loud shout. 28

tho

Then

Kama, filled with rage, grasped his bow strongly and pierced Bhima with ten arrows whetted on stone and equipt with Kanka feathers. 29 With another broad-headed arrow of great sharpness, he also

cut

off

Then the mighty-

Bhima's bow.

armed Bhima of great strength, taking up a

terrible

Parigha,

twined round with hempen chords and decked with gold and re-

sembling a second bludgeon slay

Death himself, and desiring to

Kama outright, hurled it at him with

loud roar. 80-81

Kama, however, with a number of arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison, cut off into many fragments that spiked mace as it coursed towards him with the tremendous peal of thunder. 82 Then Bhima, that grinder of hostile troops, grasping his bow with

greater strength, covered

Kama with

keen

The battle that took place between Kama and the son of Pandu in that meeting, became awful for a moment, like that of a couple of huge lions desirous of slaying each other. 84 Thon Kama, king, drawing the bow with great force shafts.

and stretching the string to his very with three arrows. 85

Bhimasena Deeply pierced by Kama, that great bowear, pierced

man and foremost of all persons endued with might then took up a terrible shaft capable of piercing through the body of his 5

That shaft, cutting through Kama's armour and

antagonist,. *

piercing through his body, like a

passed out and entered the

snake into an anthill. 37

of that stroke,

agitated.

In consequence of the

Kama felt great pain

Indeed,

Earth

violence

and became exceedingly

he trembled on his car like a mountain

dur-

Then Kama, O king, filled with rago and the desire to rataliate, struck Bhima with five and twenty shafts, and then with many more. 89 With one arrow he then ing an

earthquake. 6 "

cut off Bhimasena's standard, and

with

another br<>ad headed

arrow he despatched Bhima's driver to the presence

Yama. 4 *

MAHABHAKATA,

186 Next, quickly

cutting

off the

bow

Panda's son

with an*

Kama deprived Bhima of terrible feat3 Deprived of his car, O chief of Bharata's race,

winged arrow,

other

of his car. 41

the mighty-armed

Bhima, who resembled the Wind-god

prowess) took up a mace and jumped down from his vehicle.

Indeed, jumping down from his car with

Bhima began to slay thy troops, ing the clouds of autumn. 43

schorcher of elephants,

foes,

filled

(in

excellent

great fury,

king, like the wind destroy-

Suddenly the son of Pandu, that with

wrath, routed seven

hundred

O king, endued with tusks as large as plough-shafts,

and all skilled in smiting hostile

troops.

strength and a knowledge of what

the

Possessed of great

vital

parts

of an

ele-

phant are, he struck them on their temples and frontal globes

and eyes and the parts above

gums. 45

their

animals, inspired with fear, ran away. drivers,

Thereupon those

But urged again by their

they surrounded Bhimasena once more, like the clouds

covering the Sun. 46 thunder,

Like Indra

felling

mountains with

his

Bhima with his mace prostrated those seven hundred

•elephants with their riders and weapons and chastiser of foes,

viz.,

standards. 47

the son of Kunti, next pressed down two

and fifty elephants of great strength belonging Suvala. 48

That

the son of

Scorching thy army, the son of Pandu then destroyed

a century of foremost cars and several hundreds of foot-soldiers in that battle.

Scorched by the Sun as

also

by the high-

souled Bhima, thy army began to shrink like a piece of leather

spread over a fire.

Those troops of thine,

race, filled

with anxiety

Bhima in

that

five

battle

O bull of Bharata's

through fear of Bhimasena, avoided

and fled away in all directions. 51

Then

hundred car-warriors, cased in excellent mail, rushed

to-

wards Bhima with loud shouts, shooting thick showers of arrows

on all

sides.

Like Vishnu destroying the Asuras, Bhima

destroyed with his mace

all

those

brave

warriors

Avith

their

Then

drivers and cars and banners and standards and weapons.

three thousand all

brave

horsemen, despatched by Cakuni, respected by

men and armed with

rushed towards Bhima.

darts and swords and lances,

That slayer of foes, advancing

impe*.

tuously towards them, and coursing in diverse tracks, slew them

with his mace, 55

Loud sounds arose from among them while

1ST

EARN A PARVA. they were being assailed by Bhima,

son in that

upon another

with

filled

Kama

Meanwhile,

son Radha.*

O king, covered Dharma's son, that chastiser of foes, with

thick showers

mighty

and

of arrows,

his

felled

driver.

car-warrior, beholding Yudhishthira

many

pursued him, shooting

battle,

equipt with Kanka feathers.

with

and

car, 7

the

against

rage proceeded also,

from

arise

of Suvala's

excellent horso

slain those three thousand

way, he rode

that

large pieces of rocks.

with

fcmong herd of elephants struck

Having

like those

wrath, and covering

Then that

away

fly

that

shafts

straight-coursing

The son of the Wind god, filled

the

entire

welkin with

shafts,

his

shrouded Kama with thick showers of arrows as the latter pur60 The son of Radha, then, that crusher sued the king from behind.

back from the pursuit, quickly covered Bhima

of foes, turning

himself with sharp arrows from every side.*

immeasurable

soul,

Then Satyaki, of

Bharata, placing himself on the side of 6*

Bhima's car, began to afflict Kama who was in front of Bhima. Though exceedingly afflicted by Satyaki, Kama still approached

Bhima,

two bulls among

other, those

Approaching each

all

wielders of bows, those two heroes endued with great energy, looked exceedingly resplendent as they sped their beautiful arrows at each other.

O monarch,

Spread by them,

the

welkin,

those flights of arrows, blazing as the backs of cranes, looked exceedingly fierce and terrible. * In consequence of those thousands e

king, neither the rays of the Sun nor the points of

of arrows,

the compass, cardinal and subsidiary, could any longer be notic-

ed either by

ourselves

or by the enemy.

Indeed, the blazing

effulgence of the Sun shining at midday was dispelled by

those

dense showers of arrows shot by Kama and the son of Pandu.**

Beholding the son of Suvala, and Kritavarman, and Drona's son, and Adhiratha's son, and Kripa, engaged with the Pandavas, the Kauravas rallied and came back to the fight.

monarch, that was made by that host as

became the din,

rushed impetuously against their

foes,

noise that is made by many oceans

ously

engaged

great, joy as

dreadful

Tremendous

battle,

the warriors

melee.'

The

the

resembling that terrible C8

Fun-

filled

with

swollen with r;uns.

two hosts became

beheld and seized one another in battle

that

commenced

that

that h.uir

18s

MAHABHARATA,

when the Sun had reached the meridian was such had never been heard or seen by us. 70 One vast against

that its

host

another, like a vast reservior of water rushing

the ocean. 71

The din that arose from the two

hosts

liks

rushed towards as

they

roared at each other, was loud and deep as that which may be

heard when several oceans mingle with one another. 72

Indeed,

the two furious hosts, approaching each other, mingled into one

mass like two furious rivers that run into each other. 78 " 'The battle then commenced, awful and terrible, between the Kurus and the Pandavas, both of whom were inspired with the desire of winning great fame. 74 of the shouting warriors was

A perfect Babel of voices

incessantly

heard there, O royal

Bharata, as they addressed one another by name. 75

He who

had anything, by his father's or mother's side or in respect of his acts or conduct, that could furnish matter for ridicule, was in that battle made to hear

by his antagonist. 76

Beholding

those brave warriors loudly rebuking one another in that battle, king, that their periods of life had been run over.

I thought,

Beholding the bodies of those angry heroes of immeasurable energy, a great fear entered my heart, respecting the dire conse-

quences that would ensue. 73 the Kauravas other,

also,

Then the Pandavas,

— mighty car-warriors

all,

king,

and

— striking one an

began to mangle one another with their keen shafts.'

Section LIL "Sanjaya said,

—'Those Kshatriyas,

feelings of animosity against one another

one another's life, began to slay

monarch, harbouring

and longing to take

1 one another in that battle.

Throngs of cars, and large bodies of horses, and teeming sions of infantry,

divi-

and elephants in large numbers, mingled with

one another, O king, for battle. 2

We beheld the falling of maces

and spiked bludgeons and Kunapas and lances and short arrows and rockets hurled

men

4 3 .

one another in that dreadful engage-

Arrowy showers, terrible to look at, coursed like flights

of locusts. *

Elephants, approaching elephants, routed

A triplet.— T,

one an-

KARNA TARVA,

t89

Horadmerh encountering horsemen in

other.*

enc mntoring

car- warriors

and

car-warri >rs,

battle,

and

foot-soldiers

en-

that

and foot-soldiers meeting with horse-

countering foot-suldiers,

men, 5 and foot-soldiers meeting with cars and elephants, and cars meeting

with elephants and horsemen, and elephants of

great

speed

meeting with the three other kinds

began,

and grind one another.

king, to crush

of forces,

In conse-

quence of those brave combatants, striking one another and shouting at the top of their voices, the field of battle became

resembling the slausd-iter-firound of creatures (of Rudra

awful,

The Earth, O Bharata, covered with blood, looked

himself ). 7

covered with

of rains

beautiful like a vast plain in the season

Indeed, the Earth assumed the aspect of a

the red ooccinella. 8

maiden of great beauty, attired in white robes dyed

youthful

with deep-red. 9

Variegated with

and blood, the field of

flesh

battle looked as if decked all over with gold.

Large numbers of

heads severed from trunks, and arms, and thighs, and ear-rings,

and other ornaments displaced from Bharata.

men, and coats of mail, ground.'

bodies

the

of warriors,

and collars and cuirasses and bodies of brave bow-

and banners,

lay

scattered

on the

Elephants, coming against elephants, tore one another

tusks

with their tusks,

king

compeers, elephants

looked exceedingly beautiful.

Struck with

the

of hostile

Bathed in

bio id, those huge creatures looked resplendent like moving hills

decked

with

chalk. 13

metals adown whose breasts run streams of liquid

Lances hurled by horsemen, or those held horizontally combatants, were seized by

hostile

while many amongst them twisted

Many huge

elephants,

many

of those

beasts,

* and broke those weapons. 1

whose armour had been cut

with

off

shafts, looked, O king, like mountains divested of clouds at the I

advent of winter. 15

arrows

jsire,

Many foremost

winged with gold, looked beautiful

like mountains.

whose summits are lighted with blazing brands.

those creatures, huge as hills, struck

with

of elephants, pierced

hostile

Some of

compters,

fell

down in that battle, like winged mountains (when dipt of their wings). 17 their battlc

Others, afllicted with

wounds, ;

fell

arrows and

down, touching the Earth,

with their frontal globes or

the

much pained by in

that

dreadful

parts between

their

MAHABHARATA.

190 tusks. 18

Other roared aloud

lions.

And many, uttering

terrible

sounds, ran

and

thither,

and many,

hither

uttered cries of pain. 19

king,

Steeds also, in golden trappings, struck

with arrows, fell down, or became weak, or ran in all directions. 8 ® Others, struck with arrows and

dragged down,

lances, or

fell

on the Earth and writhed in angony, making diverse kinds of motion. 81

Men also, struck down, fell

diverse cries of pain,

sire

and sires and grandsires, 28 and foes,

Earth, uttering

on the

Others, beholding their relatives

others, seeing

names of their races. 88

names and the

The arms of many combatants, decked

with ornaments of gold, cut off, O king, by the ground, making diverse

kinds of motion.

such arms fell down and sprang up, and forward like

retreating

their

shouted to one another their well known

five-headed

snakes.

the tapering bodies of snakes, and

writhed- on

foes, 24

Thousands of

many seemed

dart

Those arms, looking

smeared with sandal-paste,

O king, looked beautiful, when drenched with blood, like little standards of gold. 26

When the battle, becoming general, raged

so furiously on all sides, the warriors fought with and slew one

fought

another without distinct perceptions of those they or struck.

the weapons used fell in thick showers. darkened, the combatants could

from foes. 28

with

A dusty cloud overspread the field of battle, and no

The scene being thus distinguish

longer

friends

Indeed, that fierce and awful battle proceeded thus.

And soon there began to flow many mighty rivers of bloody 29 And they abounded with the heads of combatAnd the hair of the warriors ants that formed their rocks.

currents.

constituted their floating weeds and

Bones formed the

moss.

and bows and arrows and maces

fishes with which they teemed,

50 formed the rafts by which to cross them.

Flesh and blood

forming their mire, those terrible and awful

rivers,

rents swelled by

blood, were

thus

the fears of the timid and the joy of the rivers led to the

abode of Yama.

brave.

Those awful

Many plunged

of various carnivorous

men, roaring and yelling on

all

creatures,

sides, the

field

came terrible like the domains of the king of the

those

into 88

And in

tiger

among,

streams inspiring Kshatriyas with fear, and perished.

consequence

with cur-

formed there, 81 enhancing

of battle

dead.

be-

And

KARNA PARVA,

191

And

innumerable headless trunks rose up on all sides.

terrible

creatures, gorging on flesh and blood, and drinking blood and

and vultures and

cranes, gratified

with

fat

other animal humours and flesh, were seen glee.

crows

and marrow and

move about

heroes, casting

off

Thy, however, O king, that were

And

4 Bharata, began to dance around/

drinking fat,

which is so difficult of being cast off, and observing the vow of warriors, fearlessly did their duty. 86 Indeed, on that;

all fear

where countless arrows and darts coursed through the air, and which was crowded with carnivorous creatures of diverse kinds, brave warriors careered fearlessly, displaying their prowfield

ess.

Addressing one another,

names and families.

O Bharata, they declared their

And many amongst them, declaring

names of their sires and

families,

began

lord,

the

one

crush

king,

another,

38 89 with darts and lances and battle axes.

During the progess of that fierce and awful battle, the Kaurava army became strengthless and unable to bear up any longer like a foundered vessel on the bosom of the ocean.'

" 40

Section LIII. "Sanjaya said — 'During the progress of that battle so many Kshatriyas sank down, the

O sire, was heard above the din, the son of

twang

loud

on that

spot,

which

of Gdiicliva,

O king, where

Pandu was engaged in slaughtering the Samsupta8

Filled with

rage

and longing for victory, the Samsaptakas, in that battle,

began

kas, the Kocalas,

and the Narayana

pour showers of arrows on

Partha, however, king,

quickly

forces.

Arjuna's

head. 8

The puissant

checking those arrowy

plunged into that battle, and began to

showers,

fore-

of that

divi-

mast of car-warriors. 4

Plunging into the midst

sion of cars with

the

aid

Kanka

Partha came upon Sugarman of

weapons.

feathers, 5

of his

many

slay

whetted shafts equipt with excellent

That foremost of car-warriors poured on Arjuna

Meanwhile the SameaptaJcasa also covered Partha with their shafts. 6 Then Sucarman, piercing Partha with ten shafts, struck Janarddana with three in thick

showers of arrows.

the right arm,

With a bruad-headed arrow

then,

sire,

MAHABHARATA,

192

pierced the standard of Arjuna. 7

Thereupon that foremost of apes, of huge dimensions, the handiwork of the celestial artificer himself, began to utter loud sounds and roar very fiercely, thy

afrighting

troops.

Hearing the roars of the ape,

thy

army became inspired with fear. Indeed, under the influence 9 That of a great fear, that army became perfectly inactive. army then, as it stood inactive, O king, looked be*a\itiful like with

Chaitraratha forest

the

kinds.

flowery

its

burthen of diverse

Then those warriors, recovering their

senses,

chief

of tire Kurus, began to drench Arjuna with their arrowy down-

mountains. 11

pours like the clouds drenching the

Then

all

them encompassed the great car of the Pandava. Assailing him, they uttered loud roars, although

all

the while they were being

struck and slaughtered with sharp shafts.

Assailing his steeds,

his car-wheels, his car-shaft, and every other limb of his vehicle,

with great

force,

Some among them some among them,

sire,

they

uttered

many

seized

the

massive

arms of Ke<;ava, and

king, seized

joy as he stood on his car. 14

leonine

Partha himself with great

Then Kecava, shaking

on the field of battle, threw down

roars.

all

those

that

his

arms

had seized

down all the riders from Then Partha, encompassed by those great car-warriors, and beholding his car assailed and Kecava attacked in that manner, became filled with rage, and overthrew a large number like a wicked elephant shaking

them,

his back.

of car-warriors and foot-soldiers.

that

batants fit

Behold,

And he covered all the commany arrows that were

were close to him with

Addressing Kecava then, he said, 17

encounters.

for close

Krishna,

—

thou of mighty arms, these countless

Sarnsaptakas engaged in accomplishing a fearful task although slaughtered in thousands is

18 !

O bull amongst the

Yadus, there

none on Earth, save myself, that would be able to bear such

a close attack on his car.

blew

his

welkin

conch.

with

its

— Having said these words, Vibhatsti

Then Krishna also blew his conch filling the 20 Hearing that blare, the army of the

blare.

Sarnsaptakas began to waver, O king, and became inspired with great fright. 21

Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son

of Pandu, paralysed the legs of the Sarnsaptakas by repeatedly

invoking,

monarch, the weapon called Naga**^

Thus

tied

— KABNA PARVA,

193

those foot-tying bands by the high-aouled son of Pandu, all

trifch

of them stood motionless,

The son

king us if they had boon petrified."

Pandu then began to slay those motionless warriors

Indra

with

Taraka. 9 *

days of yore slaying the Daityaa in the battle

Thus slaughtered in that battle, they

and commenced to throw down

car free,

the

set

weapons. 5 *

their

all

not, O king, move a Then Partha slew them with his straight arrows.* 6 In-

Their legs being paralysed, they could step.

deed, all those warriors, in that battle, aiming at whom Partha had invoked that foot- tying weapon, had their lower limbs encircled with snakes.* 7

Then the mighty car-warrior Sinjarman,

O monarch, beholding his army thus paralysed, quickly invoked the

weapon

began

Saupama. 2

Thereupon numerous birds come down and devour those snakes. The latter called

again, at sight of those rangers of the

sky, began,

king, to

29 fly away.

Freed from that foot-tying weapon, the Samsapta-

ka force,

monarch, looked like the Sun himself giving

30 unto all creatures, when freed from clouds.

those warriors once more shot their arrows,

O sire, and hurled

Cutting

off with

own arrowy-

his

downpour that shower of mighty weapons, Vasava's slayer of hostile heroes,

Then

Su carman,

began

king,

lighfj

liberated,

And all of them pierced Pilrtha

their weapons at Arjuna's car.

with numerous weapons. 31

Thus

slaughter

those

son, thafc warriors.

with a straight arrow,

pierced

Arjuna in the

chest,

other shafts. 33

Deeply pierced therewith, and feeling great

pain,

Arjuna sat down on the

the troops loudly cried this,

and then he pierced him with three of his

terrace

out, saying,

Partha

Then

car.

slain /

all

— At

the blare of conchs, and the peal of drums, and the sound

of diverse musical instruments, and loud

leonine

shouts, arose

there. Recovering his senses, Partha of immeasurable soul, owning white steeds and having Krishna for his driver, speedily

invoked the Aindra weapon. 35 sire,

Then thousands

of arrows,

issuing from that weapon, were seen on all sides

kings and elephants. 37

slay

And steeds; and cars, in hundreds and

thousands, were also seen to be slaughtered in that battle, with those weapons.

Then while the troops were thus being slaugh-

tered, a great fear entered

the

hearts

of all 53

the

fiamsapta-

MAHABHAIIATA,

194 Jcas

and the Gopilas,

them

could

that

sight of

all

O Bharata

There was no man amongst

Arjuna. 89

with

fight

the heroes, Arjuna began

There,

the very

thy troops.

destroy

Beholding that slaughter, all of them remained perfectly active,

without putting forth their prowess. 40

in-

Then the son

Pandu, having slain full ten thousand combatants in that battle,

O monarch, like a blazing fire without

looked resplendent,

smoke. 41

And then he slew

full

thousand warriors,

fourteen

and three thousand elephants. 48

Then the Samsaptakas once more encompassed Dhananjaya, making death or victory their goal.

The battle then that took

warriors and that mighty hero,

viz.,

between thy

there

place

the diadem-decked son

Pandu, became awful." 44

Section LIV. "Sanjaya said, of Drona, la's

son

— 'Then Kritavarman, and Kripa, and the son

and the Suta's

son,

sire,

and Uluka, and Suva

(Kuru) army, afflicted with the fear

of Pandu's son, unable to stand together

ed on the ocean,

with his uterine

and the king himself,

(Cakuni),

brothers, 1 beholding the

endeavoured to rescue

a vessel wreck-

like it

with great speed.

For a short space of time, O Bharata, the battle that once more took place became exceedingly fierce, enhancing as it did the fears

of the

brave. 8

timid and the joy of the

The

dense showers of arrows shot in that battle by Kripa, thick as flights

of locusts,

covered the Srinjayas. 4

Then Cikhandin, son of Gotama

filled with rage, speedily proceeded against the

and poured upon that bull amongst BriLhmanas his arrowy Acquainted with the highest weap-

downpours from all sides. 8

ons Kripa then checked that arrowy downpour, and wrathfully pierced Cikhandin with ten arrows in that

Cikhandin,

filled with rage,

counter, with seven straight thers.

deeply pierced Kripa, in

arrows equipt

The twice-born Kripa

then,

that

vehicle, the

great

Then

that en-

Kanka

with

deeply pierced with those keen arrows, deprived his steeds, driver, and car. 8

battle.

fea-

car-warrior,

Cikhandin

Jumping down from his

steedless

mighty car-warrior (Cikhandin) rushed impeut-

KA11NA PARVA,

195

Brahman, having taken up a sword and a

ously at the

shield.'

As the Panchala prince advanced, Kripa quickly covered him with many straight arrows in that encounter, which seemed wonderful. 10

exceedingly

Indeed,

exceedingly

the sight that we then beheld, even for

O king, (thus assailed), remained perfectly

Cikhandin,

active in

that

arrows) by

Hying of rocks,

the

battle.

Kripa,

in-

Beholding Cikhandin covered (with

O best of kings, the mighty car-warrior

Dhrishtadyumna speedily proceeded against Kripa. 19 car-warrior

was

wonderful

Kritavarman,

however,

rushing

The great

impetuously,

re-

ceived Dhrishtadyumna as the latter proceeded against

the son

Caradwat. 18

Then Drona's son checked Yudhishthira

the

with his son and troops, was rushing towards the car of Caradwat's son. * Thy son Duryodhana, shooting a shower of latter,

arrows, received and cheeked Nakula and Sahadeva, those

great car-warriors endued

with

wise

called

Vaikartana,

Bhimasena, and the jayas. 18

celerity.

Bharata,

Karushas, the

two

Kama, too, other-

that

battle,

Kaikayas, and

resisted

the

Srin

Meanwhile Caradwat's son, in that battle, O sire, with

great activity, sped many arrows

purpose of

Cikhandin, as

burning him outright. 17

the

if for

The Panchala

prince,

however, whirling his sword repeatedly, cut off all those arrows,

decked with gold, that had been sped at him by Kripa from all sides.

The son of Gotama then quickly cut

off

with

arrows the shield

of Prishata's

hundred moons.

At this feat of his, the troops made

uproar. 19

son, that

Deprived of his shield,

his

was decked with a loud

O monarch, and placed under

Kripa's power, Cikhandin still rushed, sword in hand, (towards Kripa), like a

sick man

Sukctu the son

of Chitrakctu,

towards the jaws

wards the mighty Cikhandin

of Death.

king, quickly

plunged into such

assailed in that manner by Kripa

with

his

Then

proceeded

to-

distress

and

arrows. 81

Indeed,

the young prince of immeasurable soul rushed towards the of

Gotama's Bon, and poured upon the

battle

Brahmana

innumerable shafts of great keenness. 88

Brahmana observant another), Cikhandin,

that spot. 88

vows thus engaged best

car

thai

Beholding that in

battle

(with

of kings, retreated

hastily

from

Meanwhile Suketu, O king, piercing the son

MAHABHARATA,

196

Gotama with nine arrows, once more pierced him with seventy and again with

three.

Then the

O sire,

prince,

Kripa's bow with arrow fixed thereon, and with

cut

off

another shaft

limb 25

The son of Gotama then, filled with rage, took up a new and very strong bow and struck Suketu with thirty arrows in all his vital struck hard the latter 'a driver in

limbs. 26

vital

All his limbs exceedingly weakened, the

bled on his

excellent

car

prince trem-

trembling exceedingly

tree

earthquake. 27

With a razor-headed arrow then, Kripa struck off from the prince's trunk, while the latter was during an

still

trembling, his head decked

with

fell

of blazing

pair,

rings and head-gear and head-protector. 23

down on the Earth like a piece of meat from

a hawk, and then his trunk glory

also

the claws

Upon the fall of Suketu, O monarch, his

29 !

thou of great

down,

fell

ear-

That head thereupon

troops

be30

came frightened, and avoiding Kripa, fled away on all sides. " 'Encompassing the mighty Dhrishtadyumna, Kritavarman cheerfully addressed him, saying,

— Wait, Wait — The encoun31

Panchala

ter then that took place between the Vrishni and the

warriors in that battle became exceedingly fierce, like that

tween two hawks, rage,

O king, for a piece of meat. 82

Dhrishtadyumna, in that battle, struck the son of Hri-

dika with nine arrows in the chest, and succeeded in

him

be-

with

Filled

greatly. 33

Prishata's steeds,

son

Then in

Kritavarman,

that

encounter,

thus

deeply

covered his

afflicting

struck

Thus shrouded, O king,

and his car, with his shafts. 34

along with his car, Dhrishtadyumna became invisible

Sun shrouded by rain-charged shafts decked with gold,

assailant, his

clouds. '

Dhrishtadyumna.

plendent in that battle in his wounds. 36

Baffling

the

those

all

O king, looked res-

The commander of the

Pandava forces, viz., the son of Prishata, then, filled with rage, approached Kritavarman and poured upon him a of arrows. 37

The son

Hridika,

however,

fierce

shower

that

battle,

with many thousands of his own arrows, destroyed that

fierce

arrowy shower coursing towards him with great impetuosity. 33

Beholding his battle by

irresistible

shower of arrows checked

Kritavarman, the son

antagonist, began

resist

him.

of Prishata, approaching 33

And

soon

that his

he despatched

RARNA PARVA. driver

Krifcavarman's

Yama's abode with a broad-headed

arrow of great sharpness.

Deprived of

driver

the

life,

fell

The mighty Dhrishtadyumna, having car.* antagonist, began then to resist the mighty vanquished his 41 Then Kauravaa with his shafts, without losing a moment.

down from

the

thy warriors,

O king, rushed towards Dhrishtadyumna, utterAt this, a battle once more took

ing loud leonine roars.

between them.'

placo

"*"

Section LV. "Sanjaya

said,

—'Meanwhile the son of Drona, beholding

Yudhishthira protected by the grandson of Cirri and by the heroic sons of the king,

Draupadi, cheerfully

advanced against the

scattering many fierce arrows equipt with wings of gold

and whetted on stone, and displaying diverse manoevres of his car

and the great

lightness of hands.

he had acquired and his exceeding

skill

He filled

the entire

inspired with the force of celestial all

son

weapons, Drona's

welkin

weapons.

with

shafts

Conversant with

encompassed Yudhishthira

that

The welkin being covered with the shafts of Drona's The vast space in front of Aewatson, nothing could be seen. of arrows. 4 The welkin then, thus thaman became one expanse battle.

c >vered

with that dense shower of arrows decked with gold, look-

ed beautiful, gold

with

chief of the Bharatas, as if a canopy embroidered

had been spread

there. 5

Indeed,

the

firmament,

O king, having been covered with that brighfc shower of arrows, a shadow, as that of the clouds, appeared there sion.

the

occas-

Wonderful was the sight that we then beheld when the

sky had thus become one expanse of arrows, for not one creature ranging the sky could course through his element. 7

Then

Satvaki, though struggling resolutely, and Pandu's

son

king

Yudhishthira the just, as also all the other warriors, could

not

display their prowess.

displayed

Beholding the great lightness of hands

by the son of Drona, the

the Pandava army)

were

filled

with

mighty car-warriors wonder.

All

became incapable of even looking at Ac,watthaman,

who then reocmblcJ

the

scorching

Sun himself in

the

(of

kings

monarch, the

sky.

19S

MAHABHARATA.

While the (Pandava) troops were thus being slaughtered, those

mighty car-warriors, viz., the sons of Draupadi, and king Yudhishthira the

s " i0

and Satyaki,

and the Panchala warriors,

just,

uniting together, cast off their fears of death and rushed

all

Then Satyaki, piercing the son arrows, once more pierced

against the son

of Drona.

of Drona with

seven and twenty

him with seven long shafts decked with thira pierced him with

vindya with seven

gold.

And Yudhish-

and seventy arrows, and Prati-

three

and Crutakarman pierced him

;

arrows and Crutakirti with five.

Avith

three

And Sutasoma pierced him And many other

with nine arrows, and Catanika with seven. heroes pierced

him with many arrows from every side. * 1

then with rage and breathing, pjison, Drona's son

pierced

O king, like a snake

Satyaki in return with five and

And he

twenty arrows whetted on stone. 15

arrows and Sutasoma with

with nine

Filled

of virulent

pierced

five

Crutakirti

and with eight

;

' arrows he pierced Crutakarman, and Prativindya with three. 1

And he pierced Catanika with nine arrows, and Dharma's son And each of the other warriors he

(Yudhishthira) with five. pierced with a couple

then cut

off the

of shafts.

With some keen arrows he The latter then, that

of Crutakirti. 17

bow

great car-warrior, taking up another bow, pierced first

sharp points.

Then,

O monarch, the son

the Pandava troops, bull

Drona's son,

with three arrows and then with many others equipt

of Bharata's

Drona,

next,

sire,

race.

smiling

the

with

Drona covered

with thick showers of arrows,

Of immeasurable cut

while,

soul,

off the

the son

bow

king

Yudhishthira the just, and then pierced him with three arrows.

The son of Dharma then, O king, taking up another formidable bow, pierced Drona's son with seventy arrows in the arms and the chest. off

Then Satyaki, filled with rage in that

the bow of Drona's

son, that

great

crescent-shaped arrow and uttered a loud roar. 28 off,

that

foremost

mighty men,

battle, cut

smiter, with

the

viz.,

a sharp

His bow cut son

of Drona,

quickly felled Satyaki's driver from his car with a dart. 28

The

valiant son of Drona then, taking up another bow, covered the

grandson of Cini,

O Bharata, with a shower

driver having been slain, Satyaki's

steeds

of arrows. 24

were seen

His run

5ARNA PARVA, Bharata,

hither and thither,

that

battle.

Then the

Pandava warriors headed by Yudhishthira, shooting foremost

however,

viz.,

weapons.* 6 That scorcher of foes,

wielders

the son

of Drona,

all

sharp

towards Drona's son, that

with impetuosity

shafts, all rushed

beholding those

warriors

them all in that dreadful battle.* 7 Then like a fire in the forest consuming heaps wrathfully advancing against

him, received

of dry grass and straw, that

mighty

son,

having showers of arrows

car-warrior, viz., Drona's his

for

consumed the

flames,

Pandava troops in that battle, who resembled a heap of dry grass and straw. 38 That army of Pandu's son, thus scorched by the chief of tho Bharason of Drona, became exceedingly agitated, tas,

like the

mouth of a river by

whale. 39

People then,

monarch, beholding the prowess of Drona's son, regarded all the

Panda vas as already slain by him. 50 Then Yudhishthira, that great car-warrior and disciple of Drona,* filled with rage and 81 the desire to retaliate, addressed Drona's son, saying,

among men, thou

hast no

mana are asceticism and gift bent by

the

hast

tiger

no gratitude,

The duties of a Brahand study. The bow should be

Kshatriya only.

Brahmana

art a

thou

affection,

since thou desirest to slay me today

—

seems, therefore, that thou

name only 88 !

In thy very

sight,

how-

ever,

thou of mighty arms, I will vanquish the Kauravas in

battle.

Do what thou canst in battle.

art a wretch mongst Brahmanas

8* !

tell

that

thee

thou

— Thus addressed, the son of

Drona, smiling, and reflecting upon what was proper and true, gave no reply. 8 *

Without saying anything, he covered the

son of Pandu in that battle with a shower of arrows, like the

Destroyer himself 8

creatures. '

wrath

while

engaged

Thus covered by Drona's son,

Pritha quickly went away from division of hi?. 87

After

that

spot,

spot.

annihilating the

leaving

son

that

large

Yudhishthira the son of Dharma had

gone away, the high-souled son of Drona also, 83

in sire,

king, left that

Then Yudhishthira, O king, avoiding the son of Drona

in that great battle,

proceeded against thy

achieve the cruel task of slaughter.' "•

I adopt the Bombay

reading.— T.

army, resolved to

Section LVX "Sanjaya

said,

—'Meanwhile Viakartana himself, resisting

Bhimasena supported by the Panchalas and the Chedis and

many

the Kaikayas, covered him with

arrows. 1

the

very

sight of Bhimasena, Kama slew in that battle many mighty car-

warriors among the Chedis,

and the Srinjayas."

the Karushas,

Then Bhimasena, avoiding Kama, that best of car-warriors, proceeded against the Kaurava troops like a blazing fire towards a heap of dry grass. 3 The Suta's son also, in that battle, began to slay the mighty bowmen amongst the Panchalas, the Kaikayas, and the Srinjayas in thousands. 4

mighty

car-warriors, viz.,

began

exterminate

Indeed, the

three

Partha and Vrikodara and Kama,

Samsaptakas the Kauravas, and

the

the Panchalas, respectively.

In consequence of thy evil policy,

O king, all those Kshatriyas, scorched with excellent shafts by those three great warriors, began to battle.

with rage,

cut off the 8

of the

Bharatas,

golden standard of Sahadeva with wrath, Nakula

Filled with

filled

and his four steeds with nine

Of immeasurable soul, thy son next, O ruler

arrows. 7

shaft.

Nakula

pierced

exterminated in that

O chief

Then Duryodhana,

of men,

razor-faced

king, struck

then,

thy

son with three and seventy arrows in that battle, and Sahadeva

him with

struck

five.

Each of those foremost warriors of

Bharata's race

and foremost

Duryodhana

rage

with

five

bowmen, was struck by 10 With a couple of arrows.

broad-headed arrows then, he cut warriors

;

all

off the

bows of both those

and then he suddenly pierced each of the twins with

three and seventy arrows. 11 tiful and foremost of

Taking up then two other beau-

bows each

which

resembled the

of Indra himself, those two heroes looked beautiful of celestial youths in that battle.

both endued with groat activity in cousin,

O king, ceaseless showers

bow pair

Then those two brothers, battle, poured upon their of terrible

shafts

two

13 pouring rain upon a mountain breast. Thereupon thy son, that great car-warrior, O king, filled with

masses

clouds

bowmen, viz., the twin sons of Pandu, with showers of winged arrows.'* The hm of Duryo-

rage, resisted those two

great

KARNA PARVA,

201

dhana in that battle, O Bharata, seemed to be continuously drawn into a circle, and shafts seemed to issue from it ceaselessly

on all sides. 15

Covered with Duryodhana's shafts, the two

pons of Pandu ceased to shine brightly, like

Sun and the Moon in the firmament, divested of splendour, when shrouded

by masses of clouds. 16

Indeed, those

the

arrows,

king, equipt

with wings of gold and whetted on stone, covered all the points

When the welkin was

of the compass like the rays of the Sun, 1 *

thus shrouded and all that was seen of arrows, the aspect that each

was one uniform expanse twins showed was that

of the

of the Destroyer himself at the end of the

on the other hand, the prowess of thy riors all regarded the twin sons of

of Death. 13

army,

viz.,

The commander

car-warriors,

viz.,

dyumna began measurable

soul,

with the desire to prince

the

then,

that

thy

bull

king,

Pandava

of the

two great

Transgressing those

son with

Madri,

among men,

Dhrishta-

Of im-

shafts.* 1

his

viz.,

thy

son, fillod

and similing the while, pierced the

retaliate,

Panchala with

car-war-

Parshata, proceeded to that

two brave sons of

resist

Beholding,

great

son, the

Madri to be in the presence

the mighty car-warrior

spot where Duryodhana was. 20

Yuga* lt

Of im-

and twenty arrows."

five

measurable soul and filled with the desire to retaliate, thy son once more pierced the prince of Panchala with sixty shafts

with a sharp razor-faced arrow, cut

off,

and

Then the king,

once again with five, and uttered a loud roar." in that

battle,

O sire,

the bow with arrow fixed thereon and the leathern fence of hia antagonist.

Casting aside that broken

bow, the prince of

Panchala, that crusher of foes quickly took up another bow that

was new and capable of bearing a great strain. impetuosity, and with eyes red

blood

bowman Dhrishtadyumna, with many wounds looked resplendent

his

car."

Blazing with

from rage, the great on

his

Desirous of slaying Duryo-

dhana, O chief of the Bharatas, the

Panchala hero sped

and ten clothyard shafts that resembled hissing snakes. shafts,

person,

fivo

Thoso

whetted on stone and eqiipt with the feathers of Kan-

has and peacocks, cutting through gold, of the king, passed

armour, decked

through his body

Earth in consequence of tho 20

the

force

with which

with

and entered tho they

had been

MAHABHARATA,

202 2

shot. *

Deeply pierced,

beautiful like a gigantic Its

weight."

flowery

O monarch, thy son looked exceedingly Kincuka in the season

His'

of spring

armour pierced with those

Avith

shafts,

and all his limbs rendered exceedingly infirm with wounds, he

became filled with rage and cut off Dhrishtadyumna's bow with 80 Having cut off his assailant's bow, a broad-headed arrow. the king then,

O monarch, with great speed, struck him with

ten shafts on the forehead between the two shafts, polished by the hands

eye-brows. 31

of the smith, adorned

Those

Dhrishta-

dyumna's face like a number of bees, desirous of honey, adorn32 Throwing aside that broken bow, the ing a full-blown lotus. high-souled Dhrishtadyumna quickly

took up

with it, sixteen broad-headed arrows. 38

With five he

four steeds and the driver of Duryodhana, another, his bow decked with gold.

another,

and he cut

and

slew

the

off,

with

With the remaining ten

shafts, the son of Prishata cut off the car with

the

upashlcava,

the umbrella, the dart, the sword, the mace, and the standard of thy soil

Indeed,

all

the kings beheld the beautiful stand-

ard of the Kuru king, decked with golden Angadhas and bearing the divice of an elephant worked in jewels, cut off by prince of the Panchalas.

dhana,

bull

of Bharata's

the

Then the uterine brothers of Duryorace, rescued

the

Duryo-

earless

dhana who had all his weapons, besides, cut off in that battle. In the very sight of Dhrishtadyumna, Drudhara, O monarch,

causing that ruler of men to ride upon his car. quickly bore him

away from the battle. 88 " 'Meanwhile

the mighty Kama,

having vanquished Satyaki

and desirous of rescuing the (Kuru) king, proceeded straight against the face of Drona's slayer, that warrior of fierce shafts. 89

The grandson of Cini, however, quickly pursued him from behind, striking him with his arrows, like an elephant pursuing a rival and striking him at the hinder limbs

with his tusks. 40

Then, O Bharata, fierce became the battle that raged between the high-souled warriors of the two armies, in the space that inter-

vened between Kama and the son of Prishata. 41

Not

combatant of either the Piindavas or ourselves turned

single

his

face

Then Kama proceeded against the Panchalas 48 At that hour wheif the Sun had ascended iviih grea.t speed.

from the battle.

203

KARNA TARVA.

best of men, of elephants and

the meridian, a great slaughter, steeds and men, took place

on both

sides.

The Panchalas,

O king, inspired with desire of victory, all rushed with speed 4 against Kama like birds towards a tree. * The son of Adhiratha, of great energy, filled with rage, began from their

keen points of his shafts,

to strike those Panchalas, with the 45

front-

Vyaghraketu and Sncarman singling out their leaders, and Chitra and UgiTiyudha and Jay a and Cukla and Rochamana and the invincible Singhascna. 46 Those heroes, speedily advancing with their cars, encompassed that foremost of men, viz.,

and poured their shafts upon that angry warrior, viz., Kama, That foremost of men, endued with that ornament of battle. 47 the

son

of Radhii,

afflicted

heroes engaged in battle

with

him, with

eight

great

valour,

viz.,

The Suta's son, possessed of great prowess, O

eight

those

keen

shafts."-*

slew

king, then 49

many thousands of other warriors skilled fight. with rage, the son of Radha then slew Jishnu, and Jishnuin

karman, and Devapi,

king, in that

Chitrfiyu dha, and Hari, and

the great

while

many

car-warriors

Bathed in blood, the form

he was engaged in

and Chitra, and

battle,

Singhaketu, and Rochamana, and

car-warrior Calabha, and

the Chedis. 53 51

taking the

of those

lives

form

Kama, fled away on all sides in fear and caused a tion on the field of battle. 88

uttered diverse

riven with thunder. 54

the

cries,

and

fell

track

Drona,

nor any

Amongst

car. 65

Kama's

down

With the fallen bodies

other warrior

achieved such feats as were battle. 5 5

heroes,

of Rudra

great

agita-

Others assailed with the shafts of

steeds and men and with fallen cars, the

nor

son,

There, O Bharata, elephants, assailed with arrows by

himself. 58

along

among

of Adhiratha's

swelled with energy and pride like the gigantic

Kama,

Filled

then

elephants,

mountains

of elephants

and

Earth became strewn

Indeed, neither

Bhishma,

thy army,

had ever

achieved by

amongst

steeds,

Kama in

that

amongst

cars,

and amongst men, the Suta'.s son caused a very great carna tiger among

men. 57

As a lion is seen to care. $[y among a herd of deer, even so Kama careered fearlessly among the Panchalas. 58 all

As a lion routcth a herd of terrified deer to

points of the compass, oven so

Kama

routed those

throngy

20£

MAHABHARATA.

of Panchala cars to all sides.* 9

the jaws of a lion, can never

As doer escape

lives.

As people

are

even so those

burnt if they come in

certainly

contact with a blazing fire, even

have approached

life,

Kama could not escape with

great car-warriors that approached their

that

with

the

Srinjayas,

O Bhiirata,

Kama- fire when they came in contact with Many warriors among the Chedis and the Panchalas,

were burnt by the it.

O Bharata, that were regarded by heroes, were slain by the single-handed Kama in that battle who fought with them, proclaiming his name in every instance.* 2 of

Kama,

would

not, in

ess

Indeed, the

Panchalas.

king, I thought

Beholding the prow-

that a single Panchala even

that

battle,

escape from the son of Adhiratha. 63

Suta's

son, in

that

battle, repeatedly

routed the

Kama thus slaughtering the Panchalas in that

" 'Beholding

dreadful battle, king

wards him. 65

Yudhishthira the just rushed in wrath to-

Dhrishtadyumna and the sons of Draupadi also, O

sire,

and hundreds of warriors, encompassed that slayer of foes,

viz.,

the

Sim of Rfvlha. 66

And Cikhandin, and Sahadcva, and

Nakula, and Nakula's son, and Janamejaya, and the grandson of Cini,

and innumerable Prabhadrakas, 67

immeasurable their

energy,

— these, endued with

— advancing with Dhrishtadyumna in

van, looked magnificent as they struck Kama with shafts

and diverse weapons. 68

Garuda

falling

upon a

large

number of snakes, the son of Adhiratha, single-handed, fell upon all those Chedis and Panchalas and Pandavas in that encounter. 69 The battle that took place between them and

Kama, O monarch, became exceedingly fierce like

that

which

had occurred in days of old between the gods and the Ddnavas.'' Like the Sun dispelling the surrounding darkness, lessly and

alone

encountered

all

those

great

Kama fear-

bowmen united 71

together and pouring upon him repeated showers of arrows. While the son of Radha was thus engaged with the Pandavas, Bhimasena, filled with rage, began to slaughter the Kurus with shafts every one of

72 which resembled the rod of Yama.

great bowman, fighting single-handed

That

with the Valhikas, and

the Kaikayas, the Matsayas, the Vasatis, the Madras, and the 7

Saindhavas, looked exceedingly resplendent, *

There, elephants,

KABNA PARVA, bsailed in fcheir vital limbs by fell

nvn, with their

riders

20-'

Bhima with his clothyard shafts, making the

slain,

with the violence of their fall. 74

Earth

Steeds also, with

tremble

their

riders

and foot-soldiers deprived of life, lay down, pierced with arrows and vomiting blood in large quantities. 75 Car-warriors in slain,

thousands fell down, their weapons loosened from

their

hands.

Inspired with the fear of Bhima, they lay deprived of life, their bodies mangled with wounds. 75 car-warriors and horsemen

The Earth became strewn with

and elephant-men and drivers and

foot-soldiers and steeds and elephants all mangled with the shafts

of Bhimasena. 77

The army of Duryodhana, king, cheerless and mangled and afflicted with the fear of Bhimasena, stood as

if stupifiud.

Indeed, that melancholy

host

stood motionless

king,

during a calm

in that dreadful battle like the

Ocean,

autumn. 79

host stand even like the Ocean in

Stupified did that

However endued with wrath and energy and might, the

a calm.

army of thy son then, divested of its pride, Indeed, that host, whilst thus

being

lost all its splendour,

slaughtered,*

80 " 81

The comba-

drenched with gore and seemed to bathe in blood. chief of the Bharatas, drenched with

tants,

became

blood, were seen

to approach and slaughter one another. 82

with rage,

The Suta's son, filled routed the Pandava division, while Bhimasena in

rage routed the Kurus. ed,

looked exceedingly

And both of them, while thus employresplendent. 88

During the progress of

that fierce battle filling the spectators with wonder, Arjuna, that large

number of

in the midst of their array, addressed

Vasudeva,

foremost of victorious persons, S'.'iiisaptakas

Baying, is

— This struggling force of Samsaptakas, O Janarddana,

broken

takas

having slain a

34 "" 85 I

arc

Those great car-warriors amongst the Samsap-

flying away

with their followers, unable to bear my

shafts like deer unable to bear the roar of the lion

86 !

The vast

force of the Srinjayas also seems to

break in this great battle

There that banner of the intelligent

Kama, bearing the

of the

elephant'.:, rope,

Krishna, 87

Yudhishthira's division, where he

* The Bengal reading reading ia Vadkyi

Yuddhyam&nam mdnam.—T.

seen

careering

i»

duvice

the

midst of

with

activity!

erroneous.

The Bombay

MAHABIIARATA,

20G

The other

car-warriors

great

great energy

regards

our army)

(of

prowess in battle

where Kama is routing our forces 39 in battle, proceeded against

This

what

Proceed thither

Avoiding (other warriors)

warrior

incapable

are

Thou knowest that Kama is possessed of

vanquishing Kama ii

the

Suta's

wish,

mighty

son, that

Krishna

car-

Do, however,

— Hearing these words of Govinda — Slay the Kauravas, O son of Pfmdu, without delay — Then those steeds, white as that which thou likest

smiled,

his,

and addressing Arjuna, said, 91

swans, urged by Govinda, and bearing

Pandu, penetrated thy vast

force.

Krishna and the son of Indeed,

thy

host

broke

on all sides as those white steeds in trappings of gold, urged by

Kecava, penetrated into

its

midst. 95

That ape-bannered

car,

the clatter whose wheels resembled the deep roar of the clouds

and whose flags waved on the air, penetrated into the host like a

car

celestial

Arjuna,

passing

through the welkin. 94

Kecava and

with rage, and with eyes red as blood, as they

filled

penetrated, piercing through thy vast host, looked

resplendent

in their splendour.

those two

heroes, challenged

exceedingly

Both delighting in

battle, as

by the Kurus, came to the field,

they looked like the twin Acwins invoked with proper rites in a sacrifice by the officiating priests. 95

Filled with rage, the impe-

tuosity of those two tigers among men increased like that of two

elephants in

large forest, enraged at the

claps

of hunters. 07

Having penetrated into the midst of that car-force and thoso bodies of horse, Phalguna careered within those divisions like the Destroyer himself armed with the fatal noose. 98

Beholding

him put forth such prowess within his army, thy son, O Bhfirata, once more urged the

Samscqj+akas against him. 99

Thereupon, with a thousand cars, and three hundred elephants, and fourteen thousand horse, 130 and two hundred thousands of footsoldiers

armed with the bow, endued with great courage, of ways of battle, 101

sureness of aim, and conversant with all the

the leaders of the Samstvptakas rushed [from every side]* towards the son of Kunti [in that great battlej.f covering tho * This expression occurs in 101. t This occurs in

100.— T.

—T,

KAENA PARYAi Bartdava,

O monarch, with showers of arrows from all

Thus covered with shafts in that of hostile

207

that

battle, Partha,

himself

forces, exhibited

form

fierce

sides.

108

grinder the

While engaged in noose. slaughtering the Samsaptakas, Partha became a worthier 103 Then tho welkin became filled with object of sight with all. Destroyor himself armed with

the

shafts docked with gold and possessed of the effulgence of light-

ning that were ceaselessly shot by the diadem-decked Arjuna. 104 Indeed, everything, completely

shrouded with mighty shafts

sped from Arjuna's arms and falling ceaselessly looked resplendent,

son

Pandu,

lord,

immeasurable

all

Tho

sides

his

wings of gold and furnished with

straight shafts equipt with

keen points. 104

soul, shot

around,

snakes. 105

covered with

all

In consequence of the sound of Partha's palms,

people thought that tho Earth, or the vault of the welkin, or all the mounHaving slain ten thousand Khatriyas,

the points of the compass, or the several oceans, or tains,

seemed to split. 107

Kunti's son, that mighty car-warrior, then quickly proceeded to tho further wing of the Samsaptakas. ther wing which was protected by the

Repairing to that fur-

Kamvojas, Partha began

arrows like Vasava grinding the With broad-headed arrows he began to quickly

to grind it forcibly with his

Dxnavas. 109

cut off the arms, with of foes

longing

weapons

slay

him.

heads,

Deprived of diverse limbs,

down on the Earth, like many boughs broken by a hurricane. 111 Whilo he was

and of weapons, they began trees of

grasp, and also the

110

fall

engaged in thus slaughtering elephants and steeds and

car-

warrriors and foot-soldiers, the younger brother of Sudakshin (tho chief of the Kamvojas) began to pour showers him. ua With a couple of crescent-shaped arrows,

of arrows

Arjuna then

cut off the two arms, looking like spiked maces, of his striking assailant,

and then his head graced with a

the full moon,

with a razor-headed arrow.

ho foil down from his vehicle,

his

face as 113

beautiful

Deprived of

body bathed

tall

and exceedingly

life,

blood, like

the thunder-riven summit of a mountain of red arsenic."* deed, people saw the

In-

handsome younger

brother of Sudakshina the chief of the Kamvojas, of eyes resembling lotus petals, slain and fall down liko a column

of gold

MAHABHAItATA.

208 like a summit

of the golden

Sumeru. 115

Then commenced

battle there once more that was fierce and exceedingly wonderThe condition of the struggling combatants varied repeatful.

Each slain with a single arrow, steeds and combatants | fell down of the Kamvoja, the Yavana, and the Caka races, bathed in blood, upon which the whole field of battle became one 117 In consequence of car-warriors expanse of red, O monarch! J deprived of steeds and drivers, and steeds deprived of riders,! edly.

IlS

and elephants deprived phants, battling

took place.

118

and riders deprived of ele-

of riders,

king, a great carnage

one another,

with

]

When the wing

and the further wing of the ]

Samsaptakas had thus been exterminated by Savyasachin, the son of Drona quickly proceeded against Arjuna, that foremost! of victorious warriors.

119

Indeed, Drona's son

rushed, shaking'

many terrible arrows,! his own rays. 120 With with appearing Sun himself

his formidable bow, and taking with him like

the

mouth wide open from rage and the desire to retaliate, and with red eyes, the mighty Acwatthaman looked formidable like D<eath himself armed with his mace and filled with wrath as at the end

of the

Yuga* 121

then

showers of

shot

fierce

With those shafts sped by him, he began to rout the shafts. 122 As soon, however, as he beheld him of Pandava army. king, he once

Dacarha's race on the car,

O sire,

repeated showers of fierce shafts.

shafts,

monarch, sped by Drona's

more sped

125

son,

at him,

With those falling both

Dhananjaya were completely shrouded on

Krishna and

their car.

124

Then

the valiant Ac,watthaman, with hundreds of keen arrows, stupified both

Madhava and

the

son

Pandu

in that

battle.

125

Beholding those two protectors of all mobile and immobile creatures thus covered with arrows, the universe of mobile and cries

oh and alas. 12 *

Crowds of

Siddhas and Chdranas began

repair

spot from

immobile beings uttered

every to

all

side,

the

mentally worlds

127 !

that

uttering

this prayer, viz.,— Let

—Never

before,

good be

king, did I see

prow-

engaged ess like that of Drona's son in that battle while he was * Kinkaradandabhrit,— Nilakatha explains that

Kinkara was probably

T. the name of the mace or bludgeon that Yama had for his weapon.—

\i;na r.vnvA,

in shrouding the

Kristin as with

two

shafts.

198

The sound

Acwatthaman's bow, inspiring foes with terror, was repeatedly heard by

roaring lion.

that

139

his left and right, the .string of his bow

flashes

lightning

the

looked

midst of

Though endued with great firmness and son of Pandu, for all that, beholding

became greatly stupified.

own

prowess

resemble

king, to

battle, ()

of a

that

While careering in that battle and striking on

181

Indeed,

destroyed

beautifull

of hand, the.

lightness

son

the

mass of clouds. 18*

of Droiia

then,

Arjuna then regarded his

high-souled

his

assailant.

The form of Aewatthaman became such in that battle that men oould with difficulty gaze at it. 18 ' During the progress of that dreadful

battle

between Drona's son and the Pandava,

during that time when the mighty son

of Drona,

monarch,

thus prevailed over his antagonist and the son of Kunti lost his Inspired with wrath, energy, Krishna became filled with rage. king, and seemed to burn with his eyes

he drew deep breaths,

b >th Aewatthaman and Phalguna as he looked at them edly.

tionate

rage, Krishna addressed

Filled with

tone, saying,

,ss " JS

— This, O Partha, that

battle regarding thee is exceedingly strange, since

Partha, surpasscth thee today

repeat-

Partha in an affecbehold in

Drona's son,

Hast thou not now the

1SG !

Hast energy and the might of thy arms thou hadst before dost thou not tlhou not that Gdndiva still in thy hands, and 187 Are not thy two arms sound ? Hath stay on thy car now ? I

Why is it then that I see the son of SB Do not. O Partha, spare Drona prevail over thee in battle

thy fist suffered any hurt ?

bull thy assailant, regarding him as the son of thy preceptor, 189 for sparing the time him! is not This race of Bharata's

—

up four and

Thus addressed by Krishna, Partha speedily

took

ten broad-headed arrows at a time when s]

d was of the

high

off Aewatthaman 's

bow

est monument, and with them he

cut

and dart and

and standard and umbrella and banners and With a few calf-toothed arrows he then deeply struck mace. u0 car

the son of

Drona

the

latter's

shoulder.

come with a deep swoon, Aewatthaman

sat

Thereupon, overdown, supporting

The latter's driver then, O monarch, desirous of protecting him from Dhananjaya, bore him away 11

himself on his flagstaff."

MAHAEHARATA,

210

insensible and thus deeply afflicted

that scorcher of

foes,

by the

foe.

148

Meanwhile,

Vijaya, slaughtered thy troops by

viz.,

hundreds and thousands, in the very sight of that hero, viz., thy son, O sire counsels, a

143

O king, in consequence of thy evil

Thus,

cruel and awful destruction and carnage commenced

as t>hy warriors were

engaged with the enemy. 144

short time Vibhatsu

routed the Samsaptakas

Kurus

and Vasusena, the Panchalas. 145

;

Within a

Vrikodara, the

During the progress

of that battle destructive of great heroes, there rose many head148

Meanwhile Yudhishthira, O chief the

Bharatas, in great pain

owing to his wounds, retreating about

less trunks all around.

" 147

•two miles from the battle, rested himself for some time.'

Section LVII. Sanjaya said,

—'Then Duryodhana,

chief of the Bharatas,

repairing to Kama, said unto him as also unto the ruler

of the

1 Madras and the other lords of Earth present there, these words,

— Without seeking hath this occasion arrived, when the gates of heaven have become wide open yas,

O Kama,

that

obtain

Happy are those

such a battle

a !

Kshatri-

Brave heroes,

fighting in battle with brave Kshatriyas equal to them in might

The occason of Radha and prowess, obtain great good, 3 let these brave Either such even is come sion that hath the broad obtain battle, Kshatriyas, slaying the Pandavas in Earth, or let them, slain in battle by the foe, win the blessed !

heroes

region reserved for

4 !

— Hearing these words of Duryo-

dhana, those bulls among Kshatriyas cheerfully uttered loud 5 When shouts, and beat and blew their musical instruments.

Duryodhana's

force

became thus

filled

with joy, the son of

Drona, gladdening" all thy warriors further, said,— In the very sight of all the troops, and before the eyes of you all, my father, after he had

dyumna

6" 7 !

laid

aside

weapons, was slain by

Dhrishta-

By that wrath which such an act might kindle, and

for the sake also of

you all

his

friend,

ye kings, I swear truly

Listen then to that oath of mine

before

Without slaying

Dhrishtadyumna I shall not doff my armour ! If this vow of 9 Be it Arjuna, mine be not fulfiled, let me not go to heaven !

EARN A PAUVA, be it Bhimasena, or be

anybody

21 1

in this!

whoever

else,

against me I will crush him or all of them

There

will is

coma

no doubt

— After Acwatthiiman had uttered these words, the

entire Bharata army, united together, rushed against the Panda-

That colli-

and the latter also rushed against the former."

vas,

Bharata, became exceed-

sion of brave leaders of car-divisions,

ingly

awful.

A destruction of life then set in at the van of

the Kurus and the

Srinjayas, that resembled what

at the last great universal

dissolution.

takes placo

Upon the commence-

ment of that passage-at-arms, various (superior) beings, with the gods, came there, accompanied by the Apsavax. for beholding those foremost of mon. 13 Filled with joy, the Apsaras began to cover those foremost of men devoted to the duties of their order, with celestial garlands, with diverso

kinds of celes-

perfumes, and with diverso species of gems. 14

tial

winds

Soft

the foremost

bore those excellent odors to the nostrils of all

Having smelt those perfumes in consequence

warriors.

action of the wind, the warriors once more

and striking one another began to

fall

engaged

down on

of tho battle,

the

Earth. 16

Strewn

with celestial flowers, with beautiful shafts equipt with wings of gold, and with many foremost of warriors, the Earth looked beautiful like of stars.

Then

the firmament

with

bespangled

myriads

consequence of cheers coming from the

welkin and the noise of musical instruments, the

furious

age-at-arms distinguished by twang of bows and clatter

of car-

wheels and shouts of warriors became exceedingly fierce.'" 17

Section LVIII. "Sanjaya said, lords of

son of

— "Thus raged that great battle Bet'weon

Earth when

Arjuna and

Pandu became angry.'

IDrona, and other great 8

— Behold,

tho

Pandava army is Hying away'.

adopt the

ipralaya.

— T.

Bombay

reading.

K&la-yuganta

t'no

son

king, addre

Krishna of Behold,

thosi

Bhimasena tho

Having vanquished

Vfisudeva,

and

car-warriors, Arjuna,

ing

said,

Kama

mighty arm

Kama is slaying is

explained

MAHAEHAKA7A.

212

our great car warriors in this battle

thou of

not,

Dacarha'* race, sco king Yudhishthira the just

Nor

the

O foremost of warriors, visible 4 The third part of the day still remaineth, O Janarddana! No standard of Dharma's son,

5 one amongst the Dhartarashtras cometh against me for fight For doing, therefore, what is agreeable to me, proceed to the !

where Yudhishthira is! Beholding Dharma's son safe and sound with his younger brothers in battle, I will again At these words fight with the foe, O thou of Vrishni's race spot

—

of Vibhatsu, Hari quickly proceeded on that car

spot

that

where king Yudhishthira, along with the mighty Srinjaya carwarriors of great strength, were fighting with the foe, making death their goal. 3

During the progress of that great carnage,

Govinda, beholding the field of battle, addressed Sayyasachin, saying, 9

— Behold, O Partha, great and awful

this

carnage,

O Bharata, of Kshatriyas on Earth for the sake of DuryoBehold, O Bharata, the gold-backed bows of slain dhana !'°

their

costly

quivers

from their

displaced

warriors,

also

shoulders

Behold those straight shafts equipt with wings of

gold,

oil

and looking

Behold,

O Bharata,

and those clothyard arrows washed with

like snakes

freed

from their sloughs

those scimitars, decked with gold

and those

displaced

shields

;12

and having ivory handles,

embossed

with gold

Behold

those lances decked with gold, those darts having golden orna14 Bements, and those huge maces twined round with gold !

gold, those

hold those swords adorned with

axes

with golden

ornaments, and the heads of those battle-axes fallen their golden handles.'

clubs exceedingly

off

from

Behold those iron Kuntas, those short beautiful rockets, those huge

heavy, those

bludgeons with spiked heads, those disci displaced from the arms of their wielders, and those spears (that have been used) in this 16

Endued (while living) with great activity, warriors that came to battle, having taken up diverse weapons, dreadful battle

are lying, though deprived of

life,

if still

alive

17 !

Behold,

thousands of warriors lying on the field, with limbs crushed by moans of maces, or heads broken by means of heavy clubs, or torn and

mangled by elephants and

field of battle

covered

with

shafts

steeds

and

cars.'

and darts and

Thi

sworffl

213

KARNA PARV.V

and spiked maces and lances and and the bodies of men and steeds and elephants, hacked with many wounds and covered with and

axes

and

scimitars

iron Kuntas and battle axes,

streams of blood and deprived

The Earth

looks

beautiful,

life,

Bharata,

slayer

of foes

19" 20 !

arms smeared

with

Angadas of gold and with Kcyuras,

With sandal, decked with

and having their ends cased in leathern

fences.

With hands

cased in leathern fences, with displaced ornaments, with severed thighs, looking like elephants' trunks, of many active warriors,"

with fallen heads, decked with costly gems and ear-rings, of large expansive eyes, the Earth looks exceed-

heroes having

ingly beautiful

23 !

With headless trunks smeared all over with

blood, with severed limbs and heads and

O best of the ed fires ?* bells,

Earth looks,

the

Behold those beautiful cars with rows of golden

broken in diverse ways, and those slain steeds lying

scattered on the field, with arrows ies

lips,

strewn with extinguish-

Bharatas, like an altar

Behold those bottoms

yet sticking

those

cars,

their

quivers,

bodthoso

banners, those diverse kinds of standards, those gigantic

conchs

of car-warriors, white in hue and scattered all over

field

the

26 I

Behold those elephants, huge as hills, lying on the Earth, with tongues lolling out, and those other elephants and steeds, deprived of

life

27 and decked with triumphal banners!

Behold those

housings of elephants, and those skins and blankets, and other beautiful

thoso

Behold and variegated and torn blankets ? diverse ways in conso-

those rows of bells torn and broken in

quence of falling elephants of gigantic size, and those beautiful lazuli, and those hooks falling Behold those whips, adorned with gold,

goads set with stones of lap-is

upon the ground !"

of (slain)

horse-

men, and those blankets and skins of the Rarikn deer

falling

and variegated with gems,

still

the

on the ground but which had served

grasp

for

on horse-back.

seats

Behold those gems for adorning the diadems of kings, and those beautiful necklaces of gold, yak-tails for fanning: 3 '

strewn

and those displaced umbrellas and

Behold the Earth, miry

with blood,

with the faces of heroes, decked with beautiful ear-rings

and well-cut beards and possessed of the splendour of the moon

and stars'. 3 *

Behold those wounded warrior

whom

life

— 2H

MAHABHARATA.

not yet extinct and who, lying of woe

Their relatives,

tending them,

are

weeping

incessantly

many warriors with arrows and those

uttering

wails

Having covered

deprived them

of life, behold,

combatants, endued with activity, longing for victory,

and swelling with

rage, are

once more proceeding for battle

,84

Others are running hither and

against other antagonist? thither on the field

them, 35

around, arc

all

prince, casting aside their weapons,

others

Begged for water by fallen heroes

have gone

Arjuna, are breathing their brave relatives, seeing

quest

last

meanwhile

them become

drink

Many, O

Returning, their

senseless/ 6 are throwing

down the water they have brought and are running wildly, Behold, many have died after having slaked their thirst, and many, O Bharata, are dying while shouting at one another

drinking

Others, though affectionate towards relatives,

deserting their dear relatives, are seen to rush towards

great

battle

Others,

again,

best

contraction

around

39 !

their

bows,

are

men, biting their

nether lips, and with faces rendered terrible in the

foes

still

consequence of

surveying

the

field

all

— While saying these words unto Arjuna, Vasudeva

proceeded towards Yudhishthira.

Arjuna also, for beholding the king in that great battle, repeatedly urged Govinda, saying, Proceed, Proceed 40

—

Having shown the field of battle to Partha, Madhava, while proceeding quickly, slowly said unto Partha !

once more, 41 thira

— Behold those kings rushing towards king Yudhish-

Behold Kama, who resembles a blazing

arena of battle

4t !

ceeding to battle

fire,

— they, that that — are following Bhima

Panchalas. the Srinjayas, and the Pandavas,

have Dhrishtadyumna for their head,

The vast army of the enemy is again broken Parthas

on the

Yonder the mighty-bowman Bhima is proThoy that are the foremost among the is,

the

b_y

rushing

Behold, O Arjuna, Kama is trying to rally the flying

Kauravas 44

Resembling the Destroyer himself in impetuosity and Indra himself in prowess, yonder proceedeth Drona's son, !

O thou of Kuru's race, that hero, viz., who is the wielders of weapons

foremost of

The mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna is rushing against that hero The Srinjayas are followall

ing the lead of Dhrishtadyurana!

Behold, the

Srinjayas

are

21-3

EARN A PARVA. falling '"—Thus did fcho

thing

menced a

terrible

arose as the

and awful

battle.

Loud

two hosts encountered each

making death their goal. of

Vasudeva describe everyThen, O king, com-

invincible

unto the diadem -decked Arjuna.

shouts

leonine

other,

O monarch,

king, in consequence

Eeven thus,

thy evil counsels, did that destruction set in on Earth,

O lord " 4D

of Earth, of b >th thy warriors and those of the enemy

Section LIX. "Sanjaya said,

— "Then the Kurus and the Srinjayas once

more fearlessly encountered each other in battle, the Tarthaa being headed by Yudhishthira, and ourselves headed by the Suta's son.

Then commenced a

hair to stand on end, between

terrible

battle,

Kama and the

making the

Pandavas, that

After that Yama's kingdom. 8 furious battle, producing rivers of blood, had commenced, and increased

the

population

when a remnant only of the brave Samsaptakas, O Bharata, were

left

unslaughtered, 8

Dhrishtadyumna,

monarch, with

the Pandava side), and those mighty carthemselves, all rushed against Kama Pandavas warriors, the 4 Like the mountain receiving a vast body of water. only. all

the kings (on

Kama, unaided by any one, received

that

battle

all

those

8 and longing for victory. advancing warriors filled Those mighty car-warriors, encountering Kama, were beat off

with joy

and broken like a mass of water beat back on all sides when mountain. 6 The battle, however, that took it encounters a place between them and Kama made the hair to stand on

Then Dhrishtadyumna assailed the son of Radha with a straight shaft in that battle, and addressing him said,— Wait,

end.

Wait 7 I

—The mighty car-warrior Kama,

his foremost of

bows called

Vijayi, and

filled

with rage, shook

cutting

off the

bow

arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison, assailed Dhrishtadyumna himself with nine sinless one, piercing through the goldarrows. Those arrows,

of Dhrishtadyumna as

also

decked armour

high-souled

of the

his

son

of Prishata,

many

bathed in blood and looked beautiful like so Tin mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, casting

became

eoccinella.

aside

that

MAHABHARATA,

broken bow/

bow and

took up another

resembling snakes of virulent poison.

number of shafts With those straight a

shafts

numbering seventy, he pierced Kama. 11

king,

Kama,

that

covered

battle,

scorcher of foes, with many shafts resembling lent poison.

The

liated by piercing

bowman, reta-

great

with

Filled

monarch, sped at his antr.g mist a gold-

decked shaft that resembled a second rod of Death. 13 terrible shaft,

Prishata's

seven

O monarch, as it coursed

son,

the

fragments,

grandson of

Kama resisted Satyaki 15

the

And he pierced Satyaki in

clothyard shafts.

The grandson

king,

of arrows

that

as to

fill

into

Be-

O king,

from every

encounter, with

seven

him The battle then

of Cini, however, pierced

king, between those two warriors

both spectators and auditors with fear.

soon it became beautiful

off

of hand.

lightness

in return with many arrows decked with gold. 16

that took place,

cut

arrows of Satyaki,

with showers

That

impetuously towards

Cini,

desplaying great

holding his shaft baffled by

side.

that

son,

snakes of viru-

Kama with many keen shafts. 18

Kama then,

rage,

of Drona, that

slayer

Similarly,

Prishata's

was such

Though awful,

and a deserving objects of sight. 17

Beholding the feats, in that encounter, of Kama and the grandson of Cini, the hair of all the creatures there present seemed to stand on end. 18

Meanwhile the mighty son of Drona rushed

against Prishata's

son, that

the prowess of all

enemies.

that subjugator of hostile

Filled

— Wait, wait,

slayer life

20 !

of a

with rage, Drona's

Brahmana,

son,

Dhrishtadyumna, thou

shalt

of hand, striving

not

resolu-

who also

strove

utmost of his prowess, with many keen and

terrible

deeply pierced the brave son of Prishata,

to the

and queller of

— Having said these words, that

mighty car- warrior of great lightness tely,

of foes,

towns, addressing

escape me today with

said,

chastiser

As Drona (while alive), sire, had become cheerless

shafts endued with great impetuosity.

beholding the son of Prishata,

and regarded him as his death, even so that slaver of hostile heroes, the son of Prishata, beholding Drona's son in that battle,

now regarded him

his

21 " 25

Soon, however, remem-

battle

by means of weapons,

death.

bering that he was unslayable in

rushed with great speed against Drona's son,

like the

Destroyer

— O KARNA PARVA,

Destroyer at the

the

rushing against

217

monarch, behold-

Drona's heroic son, however,

dissolution."

him, drew deep breaths

ing Dhrishtadyumna stationed before in wrath and rushed towards him.

of each

at sight

with great rage

Both of them were

filled

Endued with great

other.

activity, the valiant son of Drona then,

monarch, said theso

Dhrishtadyumna staying not

words unto

universal

time of the

from him

far

—

wretch amongst the Panchalas, I shall today despatch thee to " Yarna!* 27 The sin thou hast committed by slaying Drona 6

before will fill thee today

with regret, to thy great

thou stayest in battle without being protected by if

thou dost not

away,

fly

Thus addressed, the valiant

fool

thee

tell

evil,

Pfirtha, or 29

truly

—

Dhrishtadyumna replied, saying,

That same sword of mine which answered thy sire resolutely s0 engaged in battle, will today answer this speech of thine !

thou that art a Brahmana in

If Drona could be slain by me,

name only, why should I not then, putting forth my prowess, 81 Having said these words, slay thee also in battle today ? forc:s, viz., the son Pandava the of the wrathful commander 38 Then of Prishata, pierced Drona's son with a keen arrow.

—

Drona's son,

with great rage, shrouded every side of

filled

king, in that battle, with straight arrows.

Dhrishtadyumna,

Shrouded with thousands of arrows, neither the welkin, nor the points of the compass, nor the combatants all around, monarch, be any

could,

84 longer seen.

king, shrouded

of Prishata,

Similarly, the

son

Drona's son, that ornament of

battle, with arrows, in the very sight of

Kama. 8

The son

monarch, singly resisted the Panchalas and the

Radha, too,

Pandavas and the and the mighty

(five)

and Yudhamanyu

sons of Draupadi

car-warrior

Satyaki, in consequence 86

which

Then Dhrishta-

became the cynosure of all eyes. dyumna, in that battle, cut off the very tough and formidable feat he

bow of Drona's son of virulent poison.

destroyed, within the

the mace,

all

his

Drona's son,

arrows resembling snakes however,

driver,

and the car of

Bowless and earless and steedless and driver-

the son of Prishata then took up a

with his arrows,

twinkling of an eye, the bow, the dart,

the standard, the steeds, the

Prishata's son. less,

also

huge

scimitar

and a

MAITABHAIIATA,

2 1 8

hundred moons. 39

blazing shield flocked with a

and possessed of

of hand,

great lightness

that mighty car-warrior,

Endued with mighty weapons,

O king,

the heroic son of Drona,

viz.,

with many

quickly cut off, in that battle

broad-headed arrows,

those weapons also 40 of Dhrishtadyumna before the latter could

come d'-uvn from his car.

All this seemed

ty car- warrior

wonder-

exceedingly

A watthaman, however, though

ng vigorously, could not,

chief of the

Bharatas, slay

the earless and steedless and bowless Dhrishtadyumna although pierced and exceedingly mangled with many arrows. 4,1 king, the

therefore,

proceeded towards the son of Prishata. 48 that high-souled one, as he rushed

Garuda swooping down

bow and quickly

The impetuosity of

towards his for

seizing

Meanwhile Madhava, addressing Arjuna, tha,

When,

son of Drona found that he could not

slay his enemy with arrows, he laid aside his

that

"43

said,

foe,

resembled snake. 4 *

large

— Behold,

Par-

how the son of Drona is rushing with great speed towards

the ear of Prishata's son prince

Without doubt, he

mighty-armed one, G crusher

4S !

will

slay

the

of foes, rescue the

son of Prishata, who is now within the jaws of Drona's son as if 45 within the jaws of Death himself !

— Having said these words,

the valiant Vasudeva urged the steeds towards that spot where

Drona's son was. 47

urged by

Kecava, proceeded towards the car of Drona's son,

devouring the very energy,

the

Those steeds, of the splendour of the moon,

viz.,

skies.

Krishna and Dhananjaya, coming towards him,

mighty Acwatthaman

Dhrishtadyumna soon. 49 ruler

Beholding those two of great

of men,

made

great

efforts

for

slaying

Seeing Dhrishtadyumna dragged,

by his enemy, the mighty Partha sped many

arrows at the son of Drona. 50

Those arrows, decked with gold

and sped from Odndlva, approached the son

of Drona and

pierced him deeply like

snakes penetrating

Thus pierced with those Drona,

terrible

king, abandoned

able

energy. 52

jaya's

shafts,

excellent

bow,

Indeed, the

mounted on

the

into

car,

Dhanan-

and taking up his own.

began to pierce Partha with

Meanwhile, the heroic Sahadeva,

Panchala prince of immeasur-

hero, thus afflicted with his

anthill."

arrows, the valiant son

ruler

many shafts. 83

of men, bore

away

KARNA PARVA. on

own

his

Arjuna then, with

Filled

4 son of Prishata, that scorcher of foes.*

the

car

21D

rage, Drona's

son

arrows.

struck Arjuna in the arms and

Thus provoked, Partha, in that

the chest."

many

with

king, pierced Drona's son

sped at

battle,

Drona's son, a long shaft that resembled a second rod of Death or, fell

Death

rather,

himself.

That arrow

upon the shoulder of the Brahmana

Exceeding-

hero.*

sat

down on the

terrace of his car

and swooned

Then Kama, O monarch, shook his bow Vijaya and,

away." filled

splendour

monarch, in that battle, by the violence of the

ly agitated,

stroke, he

great

with rage, repeatedly eyed Arjuna in that battle, desiring

83 a single combat with him.

son, beholding

the latter senseless, quickly bore him away on

from the

his car

Meanwhile the driver of Drona's

of battle.*

field

Beholding Prishata's son

rescued and Drona's son afflicted, the Panehalas,

O king, ex-

Thousands

pectant

began to utter loud shouts.

of victory,

Seeing such wonder-

of sweet instruments began to be sounded.

ful feats in battle, the combatants uttered leonine roars.

ing achieved that

Hav-

Partha addressed Vasudeva, saying,

feat,

—Proceed, O Krishna, towards the Samsaptakas, —Hearing those words of Pandu's greatly desired by me for

this is

of Dacarha's

son, he

race proceeded

on that car graced with

banners and whose speed resembled that of the wind or

many

the mind. 63

Section LX. "Sanjaya

—'Meanwhile Krishna, pointing out king Yudhish-

thira the just unto Kunti's son Partha, addressed him

words is

— Yonder,

the Dhartarashtras, ing him are

all

inspired with

bowmen amongst

the desire

The mighty Panchalas, difficult

of slaughter-

of defeat in battle,

proceeding after the high-souled Yudhishthira from desire

of rescuing him

the

these

son of Piindu, thy brother (Yudhishthira)

being pursued by many mighty and great

3 !

Yonder, Duryodhana,

O Partha, the king of

whole world, clad in mail and accompanied by a large

car force,

pursuing the Pandava king!'

Impelled by

the

MAHABHARATA,

220

desire of slaughtering his rival, the mighty Duryodhana,

among men,

pursuing him, accompanied by

the touch of whose weapons

of poisonous

that

fatal as

tiger

brothers

his

8 snakes and who are all conversant with every mode of warfare.

Those Dhartarashtra elephants and horse and car-warriors and foot are

coming

seizing

Yudhishthira

seizing

for

precious

gem. 6

men

poor

for

checked by Satyaki and

Behold,

Bhima, they have again been stupified, like the Daityas, that desired to take away the

and Agni 7 !

ever,

Amrita, made motionless by Cakra

The mighty car-warriors (of the Kuril army), how-

consequence of the vastness of their numbers, are

again proceeding towards Yudhishthira like a vast quantity of

water in the season of rains rushing towards the ocean. 8

Those

mighty bowmen are uttering leonine roars, blowing their conchs, and shaking their bows. 9

I regard

Kunti's son Yudhishthira,

thus brought under the influence of Duryodhana, to be already within the jaws of Death or already poured as a libation on the sacrificial fire.

The army of Dhritarashtra's son,

is arrayed and equipt duly.

range of its arrows, can scarcely escape. bear the impetuosity

Pandava,

Cakra himself, coming within the

of the

heroic

Who will in battle

Duryodhana who shoots

showers of arrows with the greatest celerity and who, when angry, resembles the

Duryodhana's

heroic

Kama's,

Destroyer himself ? 12 shafts,

would break

scorcher of foes,

viz.,

down

Drona's very

the

The

force

son's, or

of the

Kripa's, or

mountains 13 !

That

king Yudhishthira, was once compelled

by Kama to turn his back upon the field. The son of Radha and great lightness of hand. is endued with great might Possessed of great skill, he

accomplished in battle.

competent to afflict the eldest son of Pandu in ally

when he

Dhritarashtra

united with

14"11 I

the

Of rigid vows,

when

the

son of Pritha

warriors, other great

him and contributed

his defeat.

The king, O best of the Bharatas, is exceedingly emaciated consequence of his fasts. but the puissant one

might

17 !

He is endued with Brahma not

mighty and brave sons of

had been engaged in battle with all those car warriors had struck

fight, especi-

force,

endued with much of Kshatriya

Assailed, however, by Kama, the royal son of Pandu,

221

EARN A PARVAi viz.,

Yudhishthira, that scorcher of foes, hath been placed in a great

situation

peril.

Yudhishthira hath fallen viz.,

Partha,

think,

that

king

Indeed, since that chastiser of foes,

the wrathful Bhimasena, coolly beareth the leonine roars of

the frequently-shouting Dhartarashtras longing for victory and

blowing their conchs,

19-80

think,

Pandu's son Yudhishthira is dead

bull

among men, that

Yonder

Kama urges for-

81 ward the mighty car-warriors of the Dhartarashtras !

The

mighty (Dhartariishtra) car-warriors are surrounding the royal weapons

son of Pritha with the jdla,

and Pacwpata,

The

king,

and

Sthunakarna, Indra-

called

with clouds of other weapons

O Bharata, is deeply afflicted and exceedingly weak-

ened, since the Panchalas and the Pandavas, those foremost

with great speed

to-

all

wielders of weapons, are

proceeding

wards him at a time when speed

highest moment,

of the

like strong men rushing to the rescue of a person

bottomless sea

8S " 8 *

The king's standard is no longer

visible !

Kama with his shafts

It has probably been struck down

In the very sight of the twins,

Partha, and of Satyaki

Cikhandin, 8 * and Dhrishtadyumna and lord, as also of all the ta,

yonder

Panchalas and the Chedis,

There, those car-warriors of thy army,

retreating

28 !

of pain

in battle,

ing away

29 !

Partha, by in

all

those

the

?1 !

There,

the

son of

of car-warriors, routed

crusher of foes, are

Suta's

the device of the elephant's rope,

assailed

directions, uttering

all

Behold,

directions I of

crowds

Kama, that 80

most of standards,

field

O Bharata,

Those elephants,

There,

of lotusof Pandit,

son

Partha, how those great warriors

See, see,

Kama in battle, are flying away cries

Bhara-

Kama is destroying the Pandava division with

are flying away are

and

Bhima and Catanika,

his arrows, like an elephant destroying an assemblage es.

sinking in

son,

Partha, that fore-

on his

car,

seen to move all

Radha

fly-

bearing the

over

now rushing against

Bhimasena, scattering hundreds of shafts as he proceeds and slaughtering thy army therewith

ta !

There,

those mighty

warriors of the Panchalas are being routed (by

the Daifyas had been routed There,

by Cakra

Kama, having vanquished the

car-

Kama) even

dreadful

battle

as ss !

Panchalas, the Pandus,

MAHABHARATA.

222

and the Srinjayas, is casting his eyes on all seeking thee

O Partha, Kama, as he beautifully

Behold,

think, for

sides, I

draws his foremost of bows, looketh exceedingly beautiful even as Cakra in the foes

3S !

midst of the

vanquishing his

celestials, after

There, the Kauravas, beholding the prowess of Kama,

are

roaring and inspiring the Pandus and the

fear

on every side

with

Srinjayas

There,

Kama himself, terrifying the

Pandus with his whole

soul, in

dreadful

all

the

addressing

battle, is

of honors, saying, 37

giver

troops,

— [Blessed be

ye,

advance, ye Kauravas and rush with such speed that no Srinjaya

may, in

this

this all of you

hind !]

with

battle, escape !

life

38 !

As regards ourselves, we

— Saying these words, he

scattering his shafts. 39

United together, do will

you be-

advancing behind (his troops),

Behold Kama,

Partha, adorned with

and looking like the Udaya With his beautiful umbrella of a hundred ribs, resembling the moon in full, held over his head, prince, is casting his Bharata, in this battle, 41 Kama, his white umbrella in

hills adorned by

glances

after

this

the moon

thee

battle,

Without doubt, he

come hither, with great speed 4a !

will, in

this

battle,

Behold him, O mighty-arm-

ed one, as he shaketh his formidable bow and shooteth, in this dreadful battle, his shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison

There, the son of Radha

turneth towards this direction, be-

holding thy banner bearing the ape, and desiring,

an encounter with thee,

scorcher

of foes !

Partha,

Indeed, he

eth for his own destruction, even like an insect into of a lamp !**

4S !

the

Com-

mouth

Wrathful and brave, he is ever engaged in the

good of Dhritarashtra's

son.

Of wicked understanding, he

45 always unable to put up with thee !

and unsupported, Dhritarashtra's

son,

Beholding

Bharata, turneth to-

wards him with great resolution, accompanied by his car for protecting him.*

all those allies of his,

force,

Let that wicked-souled one, along with be slain by the3, putting forth thy

vigor,

Both

from desire of winning fame, kingdom and happiness of you are endued with great strength.

ed of great celebrity.

Kama alone

Both of you are possess-

When encountering each other in battle,

O Partha, like a celestial and a Ddnava in the great battle between the gods and the Asuras,

let all fche

Kauravas be hold

KARNA PARVA, thy prowess !* 3 *

Beholding thee

223 with great rage and

filled

O of Bharata's race, Duryodhana in wrath will not be able to do anything 49 Remembering Karna also excited to

bull

fury,

thyself to be

of purified

soul,

of Bharata's

bull

of Radha

remembering also that the son

and

race,

harboureth a great

animosity for the virtuous Yudhishthira, 50 achieve that, of Kunti, which should now be achieved

thy heart on battle, advance against SI !

best

of car-warriors, that 2

and innumerable

son of

and

endued with great might and

are

foot-soldiers,

are

Show thyself, of thy own

will,

unto

Advance,

Bharata's race, towards him with great speed

with great wrath,

rushing

I see his standard approaching

dyumna

think he will

84 !

bull

There, Karna,

against the

Panchalas

towards the car of Dhrishta-

exterminate the Panchalas !"

of Bharata's

will tell

thee,

bull

Partha

King

Yudhishthira the just

hero,

one another,

the Suta's son

viz.,

united together,

all

protecting

advancing against thee that great bowman,

filled

of car-war-

leader

and five thousand elephants, and twice as many

horse,

Kunti,

Righteously setting

that

hundred foremost of car-warriors, O thou

There, five

riors

fierce energy,*

son

some good news, O

race,

living !-f

the mighty-armed Bhima, having returned,

There,

stationed at

the

head of the army, supported by the Srinjayas and by Satyaki,

O Bharata !" with keen

There,

Kauravas

the

bv Bhincasena,

shafts

high-souled Panchalas

58 !

The troops

slaughtered

are

being

son

of Kunti,

and the

of Dhritarashtra's

son,

with their faces turned from the field, and with blood streaming down from

their

battle, struck by fch

wounds, are speedily

Bhima with

Bharata army,

his

shafts

of crops.

Behold,

of combatants, filled

son of Kunti,

blood,

an ex-

Bhimasena, that foremost

with rage like a snake of virulent poison,

and engaged in routing the (Kaurava) host !"

;

Bathed

Earth when divested

and black and white banners, adorned with

* 48 is a triplet

away from

chief of Bharata's race, presents

ceedingly cheerless aspect like that of the 60

flying

Yellow and red stars

and moons

the third Hue is omitted in certain Bengal texts

— T.

t The Bombay edition reads the second line with a slight rariation.— T.

MAHABHARATA,

224 and Suns, as about

also

Made

many

O Arjuna, lay scattered

umbrellas,

of gold or silver or

brass

and other metals,

standards are lying about, and elephants and steeds also, scattered all

over the field

There, those car-warriors are

their cars, deprived of life by the

shafts of diverse kinds.

from

falling

unreturning Panchalas with

There, the Panchalas of great speed, O

Dhananjaya, are rushing against the elephants and steeds and cars

Dhartarashtra

riderless

Reckless of their very

lives,

O chastiser of foes, those warriors, difficult of defeat in battle, aided

by the might of Bhimasena,

among men, the hostile loud

uttering

force

are

There,

crushing,

and blowing their conchs

roars

tiger

the Panchalas are

they are

rushing against their foes and crushing them with their shafts in battle

67 !

Behold their great energy and power

sheer valor, the Panchalas

are

tras like angry lions slaying

slaughtering the

elephants

58 !

Through

Dhartarash-

Unarmed, they are

snatching the weapons of their armed foes and with

weapons thus snatched are slaying their foes that are

those

effectual

and uttering loud roars 69

The heads and arms of The their foes are being struck off and felled on the field smiters,

Panchala cars and elephants and horse are highest praise

70 !

Like swans of

great

worthy of the

all

leaving the

speed

Manasa lake and rushing into the Ganges, the Panchalas rushing against the

Kauravas,

Dhartarashtra force is assailed by them 71 !

bulls,

the heroic Kripa and

ting forth all their valor for

are

and every part of the vast Like bulls resisting

Kama and other leaders are putresisting

the Panchalas

The

Panchala heroes headed by Dhrishtadyumna are slaying thouviz., the great car- warriors of the Dharta-

sands of their foes,

rashtra army already sinking

ons the

73 !

the ocean

weap-

of Bhima's

Beholding the Panchalas overwhelmed by their

foes,

fearless son of the Wind-god, assailing the hostile force, ia

shooting his shafts and uttering loud roars

The

greater

portion of the vast Dhartarashtra army has become exceedingly

frightened 7S

Behold, those elephants, pierced by

his clothyard shafts, are falling

down

riven by the thunder-bolt of Indra

7S !

Bhima with

mountain summits

There, those

phants, deeply pierced with the straight shafts

huge

ele-

Bhimasena^

— 225

KARNA PARVA, are flying away, crushing their

the

recognise

own ranks 77

battle?

unbearable leonine shouts,

terribly-roaring Bhimasena inspired with 74

Dost thou nut

of victory

desire

There, the prince of the Nishadas,

of the

Arjuna.

with

filled

rage,

coming against the son of Pandu, on his foremost of elelike phants, from desire of slaying him with his lances, even by !" Struck bludgeon his with the Destroyer himself armed is

the splen-

Bhima with ten keen clothyard shafts endued with

dour of the fire or the Sun, the two arms of the roaring prince, 80 Slaying the prince, with lances in grasp, are lopped off!

Bhima proceedeth against other elephants looking

masses

them with

of blue clouds and ridden by riders guiding

skill

S1 !

Behold those riders striking Vrikodara with darts and lances in Slaying with his keen shafts those elephants seven profusion !

standards

at a time, their triumphal

himself,

shafts

are

bull of Bharata's race,

who

shouts of the Dhartarashtras

Bhima, is

engaged

Partha, are cub

As regards those other elephants,

down by thy elder brother each of them is being slain with ten !

also,

battle!

by him. 84 88

The

now

thafo

longer is

heard,

equal

Purandara

Akshavhinte of

Full three

Duryodhana's soldiers had been assembled together of Bhima).

men,

viz.,

They have all been checked by that Bhimasena,

in wrath !'

feat, difficult

of ac-

Bhimasena, Arjuna, with his keen

shafts, destroyed the remnant

saptakas,

lion

front

among

"Sanjaya continued,— 'Beholding that

complishment, achieved by

(in

of his foes.

The mighty Sam-

lord, slaughtered in battle and routed (by Arjuna),

fled away in all directions,

overcome with fear.

them (that fell), became the great happiness.

guests

Many amongst

Cakra and attained to

As regards Partha, that tiger among men con-

tinued, with his straight shafts, to slaughter the Dhartarashtra host consisting of four kinds of forces.'

" 88

Section LX. "Dhritarashtra

Bhima and Pandu's son battle, when my troops were

said,— 'When

Yudhishthira were engaged

being slaughtered by the Pandus and the

Srinjavas,'

when,

in-

826

MAHABHARATA,

my vast tinny was being broken and routed and repeated-

deed: ly

became

did

!' a

Sanjaya, what the Kauravas

me,

cheerless, tell

"Sanjaya said,— 'Beholding the mighty-armed Bhima, the Suta's son of great valor, with eyes red in wrath,

king, rush-

ed towards him. 3

Bhimasena,

the mighty

Seeing thy army fly away from

Kama,

king, rallied

with great

mighty-armed Kama, having rallied thy son's

efforts.

host,

The

proceeded

against the Pandavas, those heroes difficult of defeat in battle. 5

The

great

car-warriors

bows and shooting Radha.*

their

the

Pandavas also, shaking their

shafts, proceeded

against the son

Bhimasena, and the grandson of Cini, and Cikhandin,

and Janamejaya, and Dhrishtadyumna of great strength, and all

the

Prabhadrakas, 7 and those

Panchalas,

filled

rushed in that battle, from Similarly

tigers among men, viz., the

with rage and inspired with desire of victory, every

side,

against

the great car-warriors of thy army,

thy army. 8

O king, quickly

proceeded against the Pandava host, desirous of slaughtering 9

Teeming with cars and elephants and horse, and abounding with foot-soldiers and standards, the two armies then, tisrer it.

among men, assumed a wonderful aspect. 10 Cikshandin proKama, and Dhrishtadyumna proceeded against

ceeded against

thy son Duscasana, accompanied by a large force. 11 Nakula proceeded against Vrishasena, while Yudhishthira against Chitrasena.

Sahadeva,

Uluka.' 2

Satyaki proceeded against Cakuni, and the sons of

king, in that

proceeded against

battle,

Draupadi against the other Kauravas.

The mighty car-warrior against

Arjuna. 13

Gotama's son Kripa proceeded against the mighty

bowman

Aewatthaman

proceeded,

with great care,

Yudhamanyu, while Kritavarman against

Uttamaujas. 14

alone and at the

strength proceeded

The mighty-armed Bhimasena, O sire,

unsupported, resisted

head of their division.

Cikhandin, then,

of great

all

the

Kurus and thy sons

The slayer of Bhishma,

viz.,

monarch, with his winged arrows, resisted

Kama careering fearlessly in that battle. Held in check, Kama then, his lips trembling in rage, assailed Cikhandin 16

with three arrows in the midst of his eyebrows. 17

With those

three arrows sticking on his fore head, Cikhandin looked highly.

KAItNA PARVA.

22 T

mountain with three elevated

beautiful like a silver

crests. 1 *

Deeply pierced by the Suta's son in that encounter, the mighty

bowman Cikhandin pierced Kama, in return, with ninety keen shafts.'

din's

The mighty car- warrior Kama then, slaying Cikhan-

steeds and

his standard

next his driver with

warrior then, that

down from Cutting

his

.^orcher car

stoedless

off that

with

dart

arrows, cut

three

with a razor-fa^cd arrow. 20

That mighty

rage, jumped

with

of foes, filled

(iff

car-

and hurled a dart at Kama. 11 three

shafts

that encounter,

Kama then, O Bharata, pierced Cikhandin with nine keen Avoiding then the shafts sped from Kama's bow,

arrows." that

best of men,

treated

speedily

Cikhandin, exceedingly mangled,

viz.,

from that spot. 23

Then Kama,

began to scatter the troops of the Pandavas,

wind scattering a heap

dyumna, in

monarch,

return,

of cotton.

afflicted by

Then Dusciisana, wings of gold. 25

shafts

Dhrishtadyumna

the

Dhrishta-

of the

centre

chest.

assailant's left arm

with

pierced his

Thus

pierced,

wrath and the desire to

three

Meanwhile

sharp and straight and equipt

sire,

Bharata, at Duseasana.

mighty

like a

thy son, pierced Duseasana,

with three arrows in

a broad-headed shaft,

re-

monarch,

Dhrishtadyumna, filled with

retaliate,

Thy

son,

sped

terrible

however,

his,

cut off that impetuous arrow

23 coursed towards him.

shaft,

with

king,

sped

Approaching

Dhrishtadyumna then, he struck him in the arms and the chest with seventeen other broad-headed shafts adorned

Thereat Prishata's son,

bow,

sire,

filled

with gold. 2 '

off Dusrasana's

with rage, cut

with a sharp razor- headed arrow, at which all

troops there uttered a loud shout. 30

the

Taking up then another

bow, thy son, as if smiling, held Dhrishtadyumna in check with 31

Beholding the prowess

of that high-souled son of thine, the

combatants as also Ml;

showers of arrows from every

side.

Siddhas and the Apsaras, became all filled with wonder." then saw the mighty

Dhrishtadyumna thus

assailed

Duseasana to resemble a huge elephant held lion." horse,

Then many Panchala elder brother of

ear warriors and

check

th<

by a

elephants and

Pandu, desirous of rescuing the com-

mander (of the Pandava army), encompassed thy

son»

The

MAHABHARATA,

228 battle that commenced, riors and the

scorcher

between thy war-

of foes,

enemy, presented as frightful a sight as that

which may be seen at the destruction of all creatures

the

end of the Yuga.** " 'Vrishasena,

staying by

the

of his

side

pierced Nakula with five arrows made

wholly

him once again with three other arrows. 56

having

father,

of iron, pierced

The

Nakula

heroic

then, as if smiling, deeply pierced Vrishasena in the chest with

a clothyard shaft of great keenness. 87

mighty foe, that scorcher of foes,

viz.,

with five.

son

Beholding the troops of Dhrita-

away,

flying

which the divisions that

of arrows, at

supported them broke.

Suta's

the

O king, began to forcibly stop them. 40

avoiding Nakula, 41 proceeded quickly,

Kama's son where his

sire, to

father the son of Radha was, for protecting " 'The angry

them,

following

son,

After Kama had gone

away, Nakula proceeded against the Kauravas. also,

him

Then those two bulls among men shrouded each

other with thousands

rashtra's

his

himself pierced by

assailant with twenty arrows and was 38

Thus pierced by

Vrishasena, pierced his

car-wheel.

his

Uluka was held in check by Sahadeva. 42

Hav-

ing slain his four steeds, the valiant Sahadeva then despatched his foe's

driver

abode of Yama. 43

the

delighter of his father, jumping

quickly tas.

Uluka

down from

his

car,

king,

proceeded and entered the division of

the

Trigar-

Satyaki,

arrows, easily

having

cut

broad-headed arrow.

off 45

pierced

Cakuni with twenty keen

the standard

The valiant son

then cut off his golden standard. 46 in return with

many keen

with a

son

of Suvala's

with

of Suvala, filled

king, in that encounter, pierced Satyaki's

rage,

then, that

armour and

Then Satyaki pierced him

arrows, and

struck

driver,

his

With great speed then, he desmonarch, with three arrows. pached with other shafts the steeds of Cakuni to Yama's abode. alighting

Speedily

Cakuni,

Uluka.

then,

bull

among men,

his

that mighty car-svarrior, quickly ascended the

The latter then bore away with great speed

from Cini's grandson, that warrior skilled Satyaki,

from

car,

car of

his

father

Then

battle.

king, rushed in that battle against thy army with

great impetuosity, at which that army broke.

Shrouded with

KAKNA TARVA.

229 monarch,

the arrows of Cinis grandson, thy army,

away

fled

on all sides with great speed, and fell down deprived of life.

"'Thy son resisted Bhimasena

that

battle.

8 '

trice

Bhima made that ruler of men steedless and drivcrless and carand standardless, at which the (Pfmdava) troops became king, went away from Bhimahighly glad. Then thy son, less

presence.

scna's

52 ~ 53

The whole Kuru army,

this,

rushed

Tremendous became the din made by those combatants inspired with the desire of slaying Bhimasena." Yuagainst Bhimasena.

dhamanyu, piercing Kripa, quickly cut Kripa,

that

wielders

foremost of all

Then

bow.

his

off

weapons, taking up

another bow, 86 felled Yudhamanyu's standard and driver and

At this, the mighty

umbrella on the Earth.

dhamanyu retreated on his car, driving it jas covered the

son

terrible

scorcher of foes,

mountain. 57

became so awful that

1 had never seen before.

cloud pouring

battle

between them,

down on

the

of his

terrace

chest

son,

Bhimasena.

encompassing the son

force, bewail to strike

car

that

which

His driver

Then the whole

then bore away that foremost of car-warriors.

Kuru army rushed

monarch,

like,

its

Then Kritavarman, O king, in

encounter, suddenly pierced Uttamaujas in the the latter sat

terrible

The

Yu-

Uttamau-

endued with

of Hridika,

prowess, with a thick shower of arrows torrents of rain on a

car-warrior

himself. 8 *

Duscasana and Suvala's

Pandu with

him with small arrows.

large

elephant

Then Bhima,

causing the wrathful Duryodhana to turn his back on the

field

towards

that

by means of hundreds of arrows, quickly rushed elephant

force."

Beholding that elephant force advance im-

petuously against him, Vrikodara became filled with great rage

and invoked his

celestial

elephants with elephants

weapons. like

And

he began to strike

Indra striking

the

Asaras.* 3 *

While engaged in slaughtering those elephants, Vrikodara, that battle, covered the welkin with his shafts like insects covering a fire. 6 * clouds,

myriads of

Like the wind scattering masses of

Bhima quickly scattered and destroyed crowds

phants united together in thousands. *

A triplet iu the Bengal texts.— T.

Covered

all

of elo

over

with

MAHABHARATA,

230

networks of gold, as also with many gems, the elephants looked exceedingly beautiful in that battle like clouds charged with lightning.

Slaughtered by Bhima, those elephants,

began to

fly

away.

O king,

Some amongst them, with their hearts With those fallen and fall-

pierced, fell down on the Earth. 67

ing elephants adorned with gold, the

Earth looked beautiful

there as if strewn with broken mountains. 68 elephant-warricrs

With

the

fallen

blazing resplendence and adorned with

gems, the Earth looked beautiful as if strewn with planets of

exhausted merit. 69 * globes,

Then elephants, with their temples, frontal

and trunks deeply pierced,

battle, afflicted with the shafts of

fled

hundreds in that

Bhimasena. 70

Some amongst

them, huge as hills, afflicted with fear and vomiting blood, ran away, their limbs mangled with arrows, and looking, on that account, like mountains with liquid metals running adown their sides.

People then beheld the two arms of Bhima, resembl-

ing two mighty snakes, smeared

with sandal-paste and other

pounded unguents, continually employed in drawing the bow. 73 Hearing the sound of his bowstring and palms that resembled the peal of thunder, those elephants, ejecting urine and excreta,

ran away in fear. 73

The feats

of the

Bhima of

single-handed

Rudra

—'The handsome Arjuna then, on that

fore-

which were yoked white

and

great intelligence, on that occasion, shone like those

himself while engaged in destroying all creatures.'

" 7i

Section LXII. "Sanjaya said,

most car

of his, unto

steeds,

which was urged by Narayana himself, appeared on the scene. 1 Like the tempest agitating the ocean, Vijaya,

foremost of

kings, in that battle, agitated that host of thine teeming

horsemen. 2

with

When the white-steeded Arjuna was otherwise en-

gaged, thy son Duryodhana, filled with rage, and surrounded by half his

troops,

approached

suddenly, and encompassed the

* The righteous on Earth, after death, become planets and stars. Upon the exhaustion of their merits, they are supposed to fall down.— T.

KARNA PARVA.

231

advancing Yudhishthira inspired with the desire of revenge. 9 *

The Kuru king then pierced the son of Pandu with three and seventy razor-headed arrows. of

this,

Yudhishthira the

son

Kunti became inflamed with sire,* and quickly struck thy with thirty

Bon

The Kaurava troops

broad-headed arrows.

then rushed impetuously

for

seizing

Yudhishthira. 5

Under-

standing the wicked intentions of the enemy, the great warriors

of the

car-

together, rushed

Pilndava army, uniting

him. 6

wards Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, fur rescuing

to-

In-

and Sahadeva, and Dhrishtadyumana the son of Prishata, surrounded by a full AksJutuhini of troops, thus deed, Nakula,

proceeded towards Yudhishthira. 7

Bhimasena

also,

that

battle, crushing the great car- warriors

of thy

towards the king surrounded by foes. 8

Kama, otherwise called

army, proceeded

Vaikartana,

king, shooting dense showers of arrows,

singlehanded,

all

rescue).

checked,

those mighty bowmen thus advancing (to the

Though they shot dense showers of arrows and hurled

innumerable lances, fighting with determination, yet they were unable te even look at

the

of Radha, that master of

son

all

Radha. 10

Indeed, the son

weapons offensive and defensive,

by shooting dense showers of shafts, checked

all

those

great

bowmen. 11

The high-souled Sahadeva, however, quickly approaching (the spot where Duryodhana was), and invoking without loss of time a (celestial) weapon, pierced Duryodhana with twenty arrows. 12

Thus pierced by Sahadeva, the Kuru

king, covered with blood, looked beautiful like a huge elephant of

split

temples. 13

many arrows viz.,

Beholding thy son deeply pierced with

of great

the son of Radha,

energy, that filled

foremost

of car- warriors,

with rage, rushed to that spot. 14

Seeing Duryodhana reduced to

that plight,

Kama, invoking

his weapons quickly, began to slaughter the troops of

thira and Prishata's son. 15

Kama, Yudhishthira's

troops,

king, afflicted

arrows of the Suta's son, soon fled away. fell

together.

Showers

Indeed, those sped subsequently from

of the Suta's son touched with their heads

Yudhish-

Thus slaughtered by the high-soul-

A triplet in the Bengal tests.— T.

the wings

with the of shafts

the

bow

of those

— MAHAEHARATA.

232 sped before. 17

In consequence of those falling showers of shafts,

monarch, colliding with one another, a conflagration seemed

Soon

Kama shrouded the ten

king, with

arrows capable of pierc-

to blaze forth in the welkin.

points of the compass,

ing the bodies of foes, as if with advancing flights

of locusts. 19

Kama began to

wave with

weapons,

Displaying the highest

arms smeared with red sandal paste and

great force his two

adorned with jewels and gold. king,

Then stupifying

all

sides,

Kama deeply afflicted Yudhishthira

with his shafts,

the just.

Filled with rage

thira struck Kama with

this,

keen

fifty

Dharma's son Yudhishshafts.

In consequence

then of the darkness caused by those showers of arrows, the battle

Loud cries of woe arose from among

became awful to look at. thy troops,

monarch,

by Dharma's

son,

whilst

sire,

were being slaughtered

they

with diverse kinds of keen shafts

equipt with Kanka feathers and whetted on

stone, with

nu-

merous broad-headed arrows, and with diverse kinds of darts and swords and

clubs.

24 *

thither

thy

army

broke,

where Pandu's

Thither

virtuous soul cast his eyes with

the desire bull

son of

of producing evil,

Bharata's race

25 !

In-

flamed with great rage, Kama also, of immeasurable soul, inspir-

ed with the desire of retaliating, his face flushed in anger, rushed, in that battle, against Pandu's son king

Yudhishthira

the just, shooting cloth-yard shafts and crescent shaped arrows

and those equipt with heads like the calf's tooth.* Yudhishthira also pierced him with many whetted arrows equipt of gold.

2£ " 27

with wings

As if smiling the while, Kama pierced the royal

son of Pilndu

the

chest

with three broad- headed arrows

whetted on stone and equipt with

Kanka

feathers.

afflicted therewith, king Yudhishthira the

Deeply

just, sitting

on the terrace of his car, ordered his driver to retreat.

down There-

upon all the Dhartarashtras, with their king, set up a loud shtfut, saying,

Seize,

— Seise, and

all

them then pursued the

A triplet in the Bengal texts. — T.

+ 27 is a triplet.

The two lines of 2G with the first two lines of 27 The construction is pleonastic. In the second

form a complete sentence. line of 27, for

Yudhishthira read

Panduputra

— T.

KARKA PARYA, (Pandava) king. 80

215

Then seventeen hundred Kekaya troops

skilled in smiting, united with a body

the Panchala

t" «

troops,

O king, and checked the Dhartarashtras."

During the proDuryodhana and Bhima,

gress of that fierce and terrible battle,

those two other.'

warriors

endued with groat might, encountered each

" Si

Section LXIII. "Sanjaya

said,

arrowy showers, Kaikayas,

— "Meanwhile Kama also began, with his to

the

afflict

viz.,

mighty

bowmen

those great

car- warriors

that

stood

the

him. 1

before

Indeed, the son of Radha despatched to Yama's abode full

five

hundred of those warriors that were employed in checking him in that battle. 8 Beholding the son of Radha to be irresistible in th.it battle, those warriors, afflicted

with the arrows of their

assailant, repaired to the presence of Bhimasena. 8

Breaking that

car-force into many parts by means of his arrows,

Kama, singly

and riding on that same car of his, pursued Yudhishthira* who then, exceedingly mangled with arrows and almost insensible, was proceeding slowly for reaching the Pandava encampment with

Nakula and Sahadeva on

his

two sides. 5

Having approached good to Duryo-

the king, the Suta's son, from desire of doing

dhana, pierced the son of Pandu with three formidable arrows.* In return the king pierced Radhii's son

the

chest and then his driver with three shafts. 7 •

scorchers of foes,

viz.,

centre

of the

Then those two

the twin sons of Madri, those two pro-

tectors of Yudhishthjra's car-wheels,

rushed towards

that the latter might not succeed

slaying the

Nakula and Sahadeva, both shooting showers great care, covered the eon of

Radha

Kama so

king. 8

Then

of shafts

therewith. 9

son of the Suta, however, in return, pierced those

The

with

valiant

two high-

souled chastisers of foes with two broad-headed arrows of sreafc 1

sharpness. *

The son of Radha then slew Yudhishthira'a

cellent steeds,

ex-

white as ivory and fleet as the mind, and having

black hair in their tails. 11

Then, smiling the while, the Suta's

son, that groat bowman, with another broad-headed shaft, felled 1

the htjad-goar of Kunti'fl son, *

Similarly, the

valiant

Kama,

MAHABWARAT^,

231

having slain the steeds of Nakula, cut

bow of that

intelligent

and

sons

earless

son

of Madri.

Pandu,

and

Beholding those two brothers

made earless, that slayer of hostile

heroes, viz., their maternal

moved by compassion, addrcssson of Radha and said,' Thou art to fight today

the ruler of the Madras,

le 1

car-shaft

Those two steedless

— those two brothers, — thereupon

ascended the car of Sahadeva. 14

off the

the

ith Pritua's son Phalguna

—

Why dost thou then, with rage

inflamed to such a pitch, battle with Dharma's royal son.? 16

Thy own to be exhausted. With thy shafts reduced, and with-

Chou art suffering thy weapons

armour is being weakened.

out quivers, with thy driver and steeds fatigued, and thyself

mangled 17 !

when thou

wilt

approach

O son of Radha, thou wilt be an object of derision and

Partha,

mirth

by foes with weapons,

— Though thus addressed by the ruler of the Madras,

Kama still, filled with rage, continued to assail Yudhishthira in And he continued to pierce the two sons of Madri by Pilndu with many keen arrows. Smiling the while, by means that battle. 18

made Yudhishthira tnrn his face from the Then Calya, laughing, once more said unto Kama as

of his shafts he battle.

the latter, excited with great wrath and resolved upon Yudhishthira's

destruction, stood on his car, these

words 20

whose sake Dhritarashtra's son always honors Partha, O son of Radha,

Yudhishthira ? 21

— Him for

thee, slay

What wouldst thou gain by

that

slaying

The two Krishnas are blowing their conchs The twang also of Arjuna's

whose loud blare is being heard.

bow is being heard, like the roar of the clouds in the season of 22 There, Arjuna, striking down the foremost of our carrains !

warriors with his arrowy down-pours, is devouring all our troops 1

Behold him, O Kama, in this battle 23 !

The two that are pro-

tecting his rear are Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas.

The brave Satyaki is protecting his left wheel, 2 * and Dhrishtadyumna is protecting his right wheel.

There, Bhimasena is fighting with

the royal son of Dhritarashtra

28 !

Act in such way,

son

Radha, that Bhima may not be able to slay the king today in the sight of us all,—-that the king may, indeed, escape him 2S !

Behold, Duryodhana is brought under the power of Bhimasena, Uiat ornament of battle

Approaching, if thou canst rescue him,

KIRNA PALIVA, it will, indeed, bo

235 2T

a very wonderful feat

Going thither, rcsouo-

the king, for a great peril has overtaken him

What wilt fchoir

gain by slaying the sons of Madri or king Yudhishthipa ? 88

Hearing these words of Calya,

Duryodhana overpowered by Bhima the

son of Radha, 29 thus

[valiant]*

—

O lord of Earth, and beholding that

dreadful

battle,

urged by the words of

Calya and exceedingly desirous of rescuing the king,

Ajata-

left

Madri by Pandu, 50 and rushed for rescuing thy son. He was borne by his steeds that were fleet as birds and that were urged by the ruler of the Madras. 81 After c,atru and the twin sons of

Kama

had gone away, Kunti's son Yudhishthira retreated,

borne,

O sire, by the fleet steeds of Sahadeva. 88 With his twin

brothers accompanying him, that ruler of men, quickly repairing in shame to the

(Pandava) camp, his body exceedingly mangled

alighted from the car and hastily sat down on an

excellent bed.

The arrows then being extracted from his body,

the royal son

of Pandu, his

Wtith shafts,

heart exceedingly

afflicted

with

sorrow's dart, 8 * addressed his two brothers, vizr., those two mighty car-warriors, the sons of Madri, saying,

division of

engaged

—

Repair quickly to the Roaring like a cloud, Vrikodara is Riding another car, Nakula, that bull

Bhimasena 8 * !

battle

among car- warriors,

—

and Sahadeva of great energy,

brothers, those two crushers

of foes,

— those two

— both endued with ercaS

might, then proceeded towards Bhima, borne by

utmost

flcctness.

Indeed,

the

brothers,

steeds of the having together re-

paired to Bhimasena's division, took up their places there.'

Section LXIV. "Sanjaya said, large car-force,

Partha was.

— '"Meanwhile Drona's son, surrounded by a

O king, suddenly proceeded to that spot Like

the

continent

wheru

withstanding the surging

ocean, the heroic Partha having Caurin fur his help-mate with-

stood as impetuously the

Then,

impetuously-rushing Acwatthaman.*

O monarch, the valiant son

of Drona, filled

covered both Arjuna and Vasudeva with * This word occurs iu 31.

— T.

his

shafts.

with 3

rage,

Behold-

236

MAHABHAIIATA,

ing the

two Krishnas shrouded with arrows, the great car-

Panda va array), as also the Kurus that witThen Arjuna, as if smiling, existence a celestial weapon. The Brahmana

warriors (of the

nessed it, wondered exceedingly. 4

invoked into

Acwatthaman, however, O Bharata, that battle. 8

Indeed,

all

weapon

that

baffled

those weapons that Arjuna sped from

by the latter, During the progress

desire of slaying the son of Drona, were baffled

that great bowman, in that encounter.

of that awful

O king, we beheld the

encounter of weapons,

son of Drona to resemble

mouth.

himself with gaping

the Destroyer

Having covered all the points

nal and subsidiary, with straight

of the

compass, cardi-

Vasudeva Then Arjuna, slaying all

arrows, he pierced

with three arrows in the right arm. 8

the steeds of his high-souled assailant, caused the Earth in that battle to be covered with a river of blood 9 that was exceedingly awful, that led towards the other world, and

kinds of creatures floating on

All

it.

that

had diverse

the spectators

beheld a

large number of car-warriors along with their cars, belonging to

the division of Acwatthaman, slain and destroyed by

the arrows sped from Partha's bow.

Acwatthaman also, slaying

his enemies, caused a terrible river of blood to flow led to Yama's domains.

means of there

that

10 " 11

During the progress of that fierce and awful battle between Drona's son and Partha, the combatants fought, without showing any regard for one another, and rushed hither and thither. 12 * In consequence of cars hav-

ing their steeds and drivers slain, and steeds having their riders slain,

and elephants having their

awful carnage,

king,

riders and guides slain, an was made by Partha in that battle ,s !f

Car-warriors, deprived of life with

down.

bow,

fell

and

thither.

shafts

Steeds, freed from their

sped from

Beholding those feats of Partha,

ment of battle, the valiant son the former, that foremost

of Drona, quickly

of victorious

Partha's

trappings, ran hither

that

orna-

approached

men, 15 shook

his

for-

midable bow decked with gold, and then pierced him from every *

I adopt the

Bengal reading itast d'ts and not prishthatas as read in

the Bombay edition. — T. t

A triplet iu the Bengal texts, — T.

237

KARNA I'ARVA, Bide with many sharp arrows.

Once more bending the bow,

Arjuna, aiming at

O king, tho son of Drona cruelly struck

Deeply pierced by Drona's that encounter, the wielder of Gdndiva,

the chest, with a winged arrow. son,

that

hero

Bhfirata, in

of great

intelligence,

covered the son

forcibly

Drona with showers of arrows, and then cut

bow. 18

off his

His bow cut off, Drona's son then, taking up a spiked mace

whoso touch resembled that

thunder, hurled

encountor, at the diadem-decked Arjuna.

however,

king,

smiling

the

that

Pandu,

while, suddenly

mace, decked with gold, as

that spiked

it,

The son

cut

off

advanced towards

Thus cut off with Partha's shafts, it fell down on the

him. 20

Earth, like

a mountain, 81

with the thunder-bolt.

broken into pieces, struck

king,

with

Filled

great car-warrior, began

son, that

by the energy

this,

Drona's aided

ccver Vibhatsu,

Aindra weapon. 18

the

rage

Beholding that

through the Aindra

shower of arrows spread over the welkin

weapon, Partha, endued with great activity,

king, taking up

his bow Gdndiva, and fixing on his bow string a mighty weapon

Having

Aindra shower

Indra, destroyed that

created by

baffled

that

arrowy

of arrows.*

shower caused by the Aindra

weapon, Partha soon covered the car of Drona's son (with

own arrows). Partha's

of Drona, however,

The son

shafts,

penetrated through

shot by the son of Pandu

his

overwhelmed with

that

shower of arrows

and, approaching the latter, invoked

a mighty weapon and suddenly pierced Krishna with a hundred 3 hundred small arrows. ' Then Arjuna pierced the son of his preceptor with a hundred arrows

shafts and Arjuna with

in all his vital limbs.

three

And then he poured many arrows on

the

steeds and driver and the bow-string of Drona's son in the very Having pierced Drona's son in every sight of thy warriors." vital

part,

Pandu's son,

that slayer of hostile

felled his adversary's driver from

headed arrow."

tho

Drona's son, however, himself taking

the reins, covered Krishna with many arrows.

prowess that we then wonderful, 23 since

Phalguna,

heroes,

beheld in

he guided

Thai feat of his

his in

then

with a broad-

car-niche

The

up the

activity

Drona's

Bon

was exceedingly

steeds

while

he fought with

battte,

king,

was applauded

— 2 S

MAHABHARAT1,"

by all the warriors."

Then Vibhatsu, otherwise

smiling the while, quickly steeds

that

arrow. 80

with a razor-faced

battle,

afflicted by the energy of

Jaya,

called

cut off the traces of Acwatthaman's

Already

Arjuna's shafts, the steeds of Drona's

son thereupon ran away.

the

Then a loud noise arose from thy Meanwhile the Pandavas, having obtainand desiring to improve it, rushed against

Bharata 3i

troops,

victory,

thy

troops, shooting

The

vast

broken

from

sharp arrows at them. 3 *

sides

all

Dhartarashtra host then,

the

victory, 83 in the

sant with

all

heroic

very

Pandavas

O king,

was repeatedly

inspired

with

modes of warfare, and

Kama,

Suvala, and of ped,

O king, by

sides,

stayed not

thy

king

3 "1

field.

Cakuni the son of

Though sought

sons, that

on the

desire

monarch, of thy sons conver-

sight,

army,

great

stop-

afflicted

all

Indeed, a confusion

set

among the vast terrified host of thy son in consequence of many warriors flying away on all sides. 86 The Suta's son loudStay, Stay !

ly cried out, saying,

by many high-souled

warriors,

—bat thy army, slaughtered not stay

did

on the

field.

Loud shouts were uttered then, O monarch, by the Pandavas inspired with

desire

upon beholding the Dharta-

of victory,

away on

rashtra host flying

all

addressing Kama from affection,

sides.

said,

Then Duryodhana,

— Behold, O Kama, how

our army, exceedingly afflicted by the Pandavas, 39 though thou art hero,

flying away

from battle

Knowing

this,

of mighty arms, do that which is suited to the hour, ser

of foes

Pandavas,

Thousands of (our)

are,

warriors,

O hero, ealling after thee only,

— Hearing these grave words

thou

chasti-

routed by

the

best of men !"

Duryodhana, the son of Radha,

as if smiling, said these words unto" the ruler of the Madras

42 :

—

Behold the prowess of my arms and the energy of my weapons,.

O ruler of men tiger among

Today I will slay all the Panchalas and the

Pandas in battle

men

Cause the steeds

proceed with

car,

Without doubt, everything will be as 43 Having said these words, the Suta's son of 1 have said great valour, that hero, taking up his ancient and foremost of

— —

—

bows called Vijaya, li stringed it and rubbed the string repeatedly.

Bidding the troops stay on the field after having assured

KAUNA PARVA,

28!)

upon his truth and by an oath, the mighty Kama of immeasurable soul fixed on his bowstring the weapon known thorn

by the name of

Bhargava***

and millions of keen arrows

king, millions

battle.*

with

feathers

Pandava army could not arose from battle,

then

among

the

with the mighty of elephants,

see

that great

and

terrible

Kankas and peacocks, the anything. 47 Loud wails of woe of

Panchalas,

that

king, afflicted, in

BJutrgava weapon. 48

In consequence

O king, and steeds, by thousands, and cars,

O monarch, and men, falling on

sides,

all

The vast force

Eirth began to tremble.

the

weapon flowed,

that

shrouded with those blazing

Entirely

arrows winged

From

became agitated from one extremity

deprived of life,

another. 50

Piindavas

of the

Meanwhile

Kama, that scorcher of foes, that foremost of warriors, that tiger among men, while consuming his foes, looked resplendent like a smokeless fire. 51 Thus slaughtered by Kama, the Panchalas and the Chedis began to the field like elephants during

senses

their

lose

O tiger among men, uttered

foremost of men,

Loud became the

loud

over

all

conflagration. 82

a forest

Those

roars

of woe, like

those

of living creatures at the universal dissolution, that were

utter-

those of the tiger.

wails

ed by those crying combatants struck with wildly on all sides,

with

fear.

53 " 54

the Suta's son,

with fear. 55

them thus

Beholding all

panic

and running

of battle and trembling

slaughtered,

creatures, even beasts

and

birds,

sire,

were

filled

The Srinjayas then, thus slaughtered in battle by

the Suta's son, like

O king, of the field

repeatedly called upon

the spirits of the

dead within Yama's dominions calling

upon Yama to rescue them. slaughtered with

Arjuna and Viisudeva 16

Kama's

Hearing those wails of the troops shafts,

and beholding the

terrible

Bhavgava weapon invoked into existence, Kunti's son Dhananjaya said unto Vasudeva these words 58 Behold, O Krishna of mighty arms, the prowess of the Bhargava weapon It cannot, :

—

by any means, be baffled in battle s3 I

Krishna,

filled

with rage in this great battle

* Called after tUe nam? of

Kama.— T,

Behold the Suta's son also,

Rama

and resembling

Bhrigu'a race, the

preceptor

MAHABHARATA,

240

and employed

tho Destroyer himself in prowess

such a

fierce

feat

Urging

his

steeds

repeatedly casting angry glances upon me

Kama in battle

to fly away from

61 *

achieving

incessantly,

I will never be able

The person that is living, To the man,

may, in battle, meet with either victory or defeat. however, that

Hrishikeca, even

dead,

death

victory.

How can defeat be his that his dead ?f 62 — Thus addressed by Partha, Krishna replied

unto that foremost of intelligent men

and chistiser of foes, these words that were suitable to the occasion

6S :

— The royal son of Kunti hath been deeply wounded

and mangled by Kama.

Having seen him first and comforted

Partha, slay Kama

him, thou wilt then,

s* !

— Then Kecava pro-

ceeded, desirous of beholding Yudhishthira, thinking that Kama

meanwhile, O monarch, would be overwhelmed with fatigue! 65

Then Dhananjaya, afflicted

himself

desirous

beholding

with arrows, quickly proceeded on

the battle, at Kecava's

command. 66

that

the

car,

While the son

king

avoiding of

Kunti

was thus proceeding from desire of seeing king Yudhishthira

army but failed 67 field. The son of

the just, he cast his eyes on every part of the to find his eldest brother anywhere on the

Kunti proceeded, preceptor

Drona,

Bharata, having fought with the son of his

and having vanquished that hero who

incapable of being resisted by the himself.'

wielder. of the

thunder-bolt

" 68

Section LXV. Sanjaya said,

— Having vanquished the son of Drona and

achieved a mighty and heroic feat that

exceedingly

of accomplishment, Dhananjaya, irresistible by

foes,

difficult

and with

bow outstretched in his hands, cast his eyes among his own troops. The brave Savyasachin, gladdening those warriors of 1

his that were still battling at

the

head of their divisions, and

* The Bengal reading is Karnasya prapaldyitum, the Bombay read-

—

Karnam pratipaldyitum. The difference in meaning is slight. T. The sense of the passage is that if, being alive, I avoid Kama, defeat will be mine. On the other hand, if, encountering him, I meet ing is +

with death, defeat will not be mine.— T.

—

KARNA PARVA, applauding those among them former achievements, caused continue

stand

that,

wore

celebrated

Not seeing his brother diadem-decked

Tudhishthira of Ajamida's race,

the

adorned, besides, with a necklace

of gold, speedily

Bhima and enquired of him the whereabouts

— Tell me, where

their

for

car-warriors of his own army

fehe

their posts.

241

of tho

Arjuna,

approached king, say-

the king ? 3

— Thus asked, Bhima

King Yudhishfchira the

just hath

gone away from this place,

his limbs scorched with

Kama's shafts.

ing,

he still livcth !*

said,

whether

doubtful

— Hearing those words, Arjuna said,— For this

reason go thou quickly from this spot of the king, that best of all

for

bringing

descendants of

fehe

intelligence

Kuru

out doubt, deeply pierced by Kama with shafts, the

With-

king

hath

camp 5 In that fierce passage-at-arms, though deeply pierced by Drona with keen shafts, the king, endued gone

the

with great activity, had still stayed in battle, expectant of victory, until

Drona was

slain

That foremost one among the

Pandavas,

possessed

perilled by

Kama in today's battle

our foes

7 !

—

For ascertaining his condi-

Bhima I will stay Thus addressed, Bhima said,

tion, quickly go hence, all

was greatly im-

magnanimity,

of great

here, checking

—

thou of greati

glory, go thyself for ascertaining the condition of the king, that

bull amongst the Bharatas

If,

O Arjuna, I

go there,

many

foremost of heroes will then say that I am frightened in battle !*

— Then Arj,una said unto Bhimascna, — The Samsaptukas are before my division it is

Without slaying those assembled foes first, imp .ssilbe for me to stir from this place Then Bhima!

— — Relying upon my own might, O foremost 9

soua said unto Arjuna,

one among the Kurus, I will fight with all the Samsaptakas in battle

Therefore,

O Dhananjaya, do thou go thyself! —' 10

'Sanjaya continued, — 'Hearing,

the

midst of foes, those

words of his brother Bhimaacna that

were

difficult

plishment,

the

king, addressed

Arjuna,

desiring

see

Vrishni heeo, say ing,"-— Urge the steeds, this sea of troops

catru

12 !

—

"Sanjaya continued, ing

the

steeds,

desire,

of accom-

the

Hrishikeca, leaving

Kecava, to see

King Ajata-

— 'Just as he was on the point of urg-

Kecava, that foremost one

of the

Dacarhas,

— MAll'ABIlAHATA,

addressed Bhima, saying, thee,

Bhima

sembled

foes

I am

very great speed

Bhima,

resembled Garuda,

that

the

SamsaptaJcas). *

Then those two foremost

Krishna and Arjuna,) proceeding on their worshipped the

car,

having

fight (with

men, (viz.,

approached the

car,

Yudhishthira

of king

feet

Beholding that bull or tiger among men

the just. 15

Both of them, alight-

king who was lying alone on his bed. ing from that

as-

head of the

the

ehastiser of foes, at

army and having commanded him, O monarch, to 1

Fes

these

where king Yudhishthira was,

steeds

that

Slay

— Then Hrishikeoa proceeded with

the spot

king, b >ri e by those

stationed

13 !

wonderful

feat is not at all

about to go (hence).

Partha

— This

sound, the two Krishnas became filled with joy

safe

and

the

twin

Acwins on seeing Vasava. 17 The king then congratulated them b >th like Vivaswat congratulating the twin Acwins, or like Vrihaspati congratulating Cakra and Vishnu after the slaughter of the mighty Aswra Jambha.

King Yudhishthira

the just,

thinking that Kama had been slain, became filled with joy, and that scorcher of foes thereupon addressed them -.in

a voice choked with delight.'

in these

words

" 1S

Section LXVI. '"

'Yudhishthira said,

for thy

>ther,

of both of you,

able !'

I see

— Welcome,

thou

that

and welcome to thee, O Dhananjaya

hast

Devaki

The sight

O Achyuta and O Arjuna, is exceedingly agree-

that without being wounded yourselves you two,

— have

Kama He was was poison. He accomin battle like unto a snake of virulent his foes,

plished in a

1 !

slain the

weap >ns.

mighty

The

car- warrior

leader

of all

8 he was their armour and protector!

the

While

Dhartariishtras, fighting, he

was

always protected by Vrishasena and by Sushena, both of whom are great bowmen

Kama in weapons

Of great energy, he had received lessons from He was invincible in battle !* The fore-

most one in all the world, throughout, all the worlds.

car-warrior he

rashtras, and the proceeder in their van troops, he was the

crusher

was celebrated

He was the saviour of the of large

5 !

Dharta-

A slayer of hostile

bands of foes,

Ever cik

KAIINA TAilVA.

243

gaged in Duryodhana's good, he was always prepare/] to

woe on ua Vasava at

inflict

lie was invincible in battlo by the very gods with

5 !

their

head.

and might he was equal

energy

unto the god of fire and the god of wind. 7

gravity he

The enhancer

unfathomable as the Nether world.

of friends, he was like tho Destroyer himself unto foes!

Kama (who was even so) in dreadful

ing slain

luck it is that you two have

Hav-

by good'

battle,

come, like a couple

after vanquishing an Asura ! e

of the

of celestials

O Achyuta and Arjuna,

Today,

a great battle was fought between myself exerting with might and that hero who resembled the Destroyer himself while

seeking to exterminate

down,

my two

and

creatures

all

Pdrshni

My standard was cut

D !

drivers

also

were

very

sight

of Yuyudhana,

sons

of the

the

of Dhrishtadyumna, of the twins

(Nakula and Sahadeva), of the heroic Cikhandin, as the very sight

slain

was also made steedless and earless by him

him.

of Draupadi,

and

all

also

the Panchfi-

las

Having vanquished these his innumerable foes, Kama mighty energy then vanquished me, O thou of mighty

arms, although I exerted myself resolutely

suing tectors,

battle

then and, without doubt, vanquishing

that

foremost

harsh speeches.' 3

of warriors

That

that

alive,

still

humiliation

14 !

Pur-

all

my pro-

diverse

Dhananjaya,

What more need

due to the prowess of Bhimasena. I am unable to bear

addressed

12 !

say ?

For thirteen years,

O Dhananjaya, through fear of Kama, I did not obtain any sleep by night or any comfort by day

,$ !

Filled with

hatred

Kama. I burn, O Dhananjaya! Like the bird Vctddhrinasa I fled from Kama, knowing that the time for my own destruction The whole of my time had passed in the thought how I would accomplish tho destruction Of Kama in Awake or asleep, O son of Kunti, I always beheld battle! 17 h id come.*"

Kama (with my mind's eye). Wherever I was, the universe Kama Inspired with the fear

appeared to me to be full of of

Kama,

wherever

used to go,

beheld Kama standing before my eyes *

do not understao

lire

allusiou.

—T,

<">

19 !

Dhananjaya, thither I Vanquished, in bat?

MAHABHARATA,

244 with

my bieeds and car, by that hero who n^vcr retreated from

battle, alive I was let off by

him 20

What use have

of life

or of kingdom either, since Kama, that ornament of battle, to-

That which I had never before met

day cried fie on me ? 21

with at the hands of Bhishma or Kripa or Drona in battle, that I met with today at the hands of the Suta's car- warrior

22 !

today about thy welfare slain

Kama today

Tell

In battle

son, that

how thou

detail

Kama was equal

was equal unto Rama.

hast

unto Cakra

In weapons he

In prowess he Avas equal unto Yama.

himself.

mighty

son of Kunti, that I ask thee

It is for this,

How then hath he been slain ?" He

was regarded as a mighty car-warrior, conversant with all modes of warfare. He was the foremost of all bowmen, and the one

man amongst

all

men 25

prince, the

son

always worshipped by Dhritarashtra and his son,

Radha was

for thy

sake

How then hath he been slain by thee 2S In all engagements, Phritarashtra's son, O Arjuna, used to regard Kama as thy death, bull among men 27 How then, O tiger among men, son Tell me, hath thaft Kama been slain by thee in battle 28 How, of Kunti, how that Kama hath been slain by thee while he was enagaged in battle, didst thou, O tiger among?

men, strike off his head in the very sight of all his friends like 23 That Suta's a tiger tearing off the head of a Ruru deer ? son who in battle searched

all

compass

points of the

the

for

finding thee, that Kama who had promised to give a car with six bulls of elephantine proportions unto him that would puint

thee out, so

I ask,

doth that Kama of wicked soul lie today on

the bare ground, slain with thy keen arrows equipt with KanJea feathers ?

Having slain the Suta's son

accomplished a deed highly agreeable

battle,

81 !

thou hast

Encountering

him in battle, hast thou really slain that Suta's son, who, filled with arrogince and pride and bragging of his heroism, used to overy where on

thou,

sire,

the

field

battle

for

thee ? 82

really slain in battle that sinful wretch

to always challenge thee and

of giving unto others

who was

magnificent

desirous, for

car,

made

wight

thy sake,

of gold, along

with a number of elephants and burls and steeds? 53 really slain today that sinful

Hast

who used

Hast thou

who was exceedingly

dear.

— KARNA TARVAi to

Suyodhana, and who,

24a with pride

intoxicated

brag in the assembly

used always to

countered in battle, doth that wretch his limb3

today

lie

of heroism,

Kurus

of the

En-

on the

field,

mangled with sky-ranging

exceedingly

E ?

shafts sped

by thee from thy bow and all steeped in blood ? Have the two arms of Dhritariishtra's son been (at last) broken ? 88

Hive those words been unfulfilled who,

with

filled

from

uttered

used to always

pride,

derstanding been

slain

by thee today, that Suta's son who

made the vow that he would not wash 37

That

long as

his feet as

Kama of wicked understanding who

the assembly, before the saying,

elay

O son of Indra, hath that Kama of little un-

35 ?

Partha lived

midst

I will

of the kings for gladdening Duryodhana, saying,

Fhalguna

by him

folly

boast in the

Kuru chiefs, had addressed Krishna,

— [Why, O Krishna, dost thou not abandon the Panda-

vas that are divested of might, exceedingly weak, and fallen ?]

—

that Kama who had vowed for thy sake, saying that he would not return from battle without having slain Krishna and

Partha,

today

— ask, doth that Kama of sinful understanding I

on the

field,

his

lie

3D body pierced with shafts ?

knowest the nature of the battle that took place

Thou when the

Srinjayas and the Kauravas encountered each other, the battle, viz.,

which

was brought

that

Kama, hast thou

Encountering that

plight.

distressful

him today ? 40

slain

Savyasachin, hast thou today, with blazing shafts sped from

Gdndiva, cut

Kama of wicked

from the trunk of that

off

understanding his resplendent head decked with Pierced

with Kama's shafts today,

thou

of thee (that

the

slaughter

wouldst slay him)!

Kama, made

hero,

had,

filled

that thought

with pride, always recked us

thy prowess, hast thou

dhana

13 ?

vas and in the midst of the

Kama, SuyoDisplaying

wicked

soul,

that

Kama

of the

Kaura-

assembly, called us sesame

without kernel, encountering that ?* 4

mine true? 48

little.

who had formerly, in the presence

shift him today

thought

today destroyed that refuge of Suyo-

That Suta's son of

great wrath,

Hast thou then, by

In consequence of the protection granted him by dhana,

ear-rings ?

seeds

Kama in battle, hast thou

That Suta's son of wicked soul who had,

HABABHARATA.

24G faughing

the

while,

commanded DusQasana

drag

forcibly

Yajnasena's daughter wen in gambling by Suvala's son, hath he

That Kama of little understand-

been slain today by thee ? 46

ing who, having been counted as only half a car-warrior during the tale of Rathas and Atirathas, had upbraided that foremost of all wielders of weapons on Earth, viz., our grandsire Bhishma,

hath he been slain by thee ?* 8

my heart that is

Phalguna, this

Extinguish,

and is fanned by the wind of humiliation, telling me that thou hast slain fire in

born

of vindictiveness

Kama today, having encountered him in battle 47

The news

Kama's slaughter is exceedingly agreeable to me.

therefore, how the

Suta's son hath been slain

mo,

Tell

Like the divine

Vishnu waiting for the arrival of Indra with the

intelligence of

Vritra's slaughter, I had so long waited for thee,

hero

—

" 4S '

Section LXVII. "Sarijaya said,— 'Hearing these words of the righteous

king

who had been filled with anger, that high-souled Atiratha, viz., Jishnu of infinite energy, replied unto the invincible Yudhishthira of great might, saying,

— While battling with the Sam-

saptakas today, Drona's son who always proceedeth at the head of the

Kuru troops, O king, suddenly came before me, shooting

shafts that resembled

of virulent poison. *

snakes

my car, of rattle deep as the roar of clouds, all began to encompass it. I then,

O foremost

Approaching me,

Slaying

full

of kings, proceeded

king, that

hero,

five

Beholding the

troops

hundred of

those,

against

Drona's son. 8

with great resolution,

rushed against me like a prince of elephants against a lion, and desired

rescue,

monarch, the

were being slaughtered by me.

Kaurava car-warriors that

Then, in that battle, O Bharata,

the preceptor's son, that foremost of heroes among the Kurus, incapable of being

made

Janarddana with whetted

tremble, began

shafts

afflict

resembling poison

me and

fire.

* The Bengal reading of the last word of 2 is evidently incorrect. The correct reading seems to be Kurusainyenljan as given in the Bombay edit on.— T.

SARNA PARVA, mo, eight carts, cadi drawn

"While engaged in battle with eight bullocks, carried

me, but

all

with

shafts

me,

with

skill

arrows,

sped

all

He shot them

hundreds of arrows.

his

wind destroying the clouds I destroyed

217

He then shot at

that arrowy shower of his.'

and force and resolution, thousands of other from his bow-string stretched to his very ear,

even like a black cloud in the season of rains pouring in torrents water

the

with which it is chagred. 7

son career

the right, he

the left or

side,

So quickly did Drona's

that battle that we conld not discern from which

notice when he took

shot

arrows, nor

his

up his arrows and when he

let

could

them

we off.

Indeed, the b )W of Drona's son was seen by us to be incessantly

drawn to a circle.

At last, the son of Drona pierced me with

whetted arrows and

five

arrows. 9

Viisudeva also

Within the twinkling of an

with

five

whetted

eye, however, I

afflicted

him with thirty shafts endued with the

force

Exceedingly afflicted with

sped by me, he soon

those

shafts

assumed the form of a procupine. 10 ed in

All his limbs became bath-

Beholding his troops, those foremost of warriors,

blood.

covered with blood and overwhelmed by me, he then entered

all

the car-division of the

Suta's son.

Seeing the troops over-

whelmed by me in battle, and struck with the elephants and steeds h-osts),

Slaying

them

all

quickly come hither for seeing

The Prabhadrak is

full

Kama has

quickly

with

and avoiding

thee.

Kama, are like persons that have of Death.

and beholding

the

All

fifty

Panchalas are

already

entered

the

despatched

wide-open jaws

Yama's abode

seventeen hundred of those distressed car-warriors.

king,

the

Suta's

sisht of us. 14

son

great

Kama, I have

Kama like kine at the scent of also, O king, having approached

a Hicted with fear at sight of lion.

fear,

away, that grinder (of hostile

flying

Kama, approached me

viz.,

car- warriors.

of thunderbolts.

did

Indeed,

not become cheerless till he had a

Thou hadst first been engaged with Acwattha-

man and exceedingly mangled by him. I heard that after that thou wert seen by Kama. thou of inconceivable feats, I thought that thou must have,

king, been

the camp), having come away from the cruel seen,

son

enjoying .rest (in

Kama."

have

Panda, the great and wonderful (Bh&rgava)

MAHABHARATA.

218

weapon of Kama displayed in the van of battle.

There is now

no other warrior among the Srinjayas that is able to

mighty car- warrior Kama

18 !

the

resist

Let Cini's grandson Satyaki, and

Dhrishtadyumna, O king, be the protectors of my car-wheels. Let the heroic princes Yudhamanyu

my rear. 17

and Uttamaujas protect

O thou of great glory, encountering that heroic and

invincible car-warrior, viz., the Suta's son, staying in the hostile

Cakra encountering Vritra,

army,

I will,

O Bharata, fight with the Suta's son if he can be found

in this battle today

foremost of kings,"

Come and behold me and the

contending with each other in battle

son

Suta's

victory

for

There, the

Kama like persons rushing There, O Bharata, six towards the face of a mighty bull

Prabhadrakas are rushing towards

thousand princes are sacrificing themselves in battle sake of heaven

putting

If,

forth

the

for

do not,

strength, I

O king, slay Kama today with all his relatives while engaged in battle with him, then that end will be mine, kings, which is his that does not accomplish

him ai

I beg of thee, bless me, saying

mine

Yonder,

battle!

devour Bhima

I will,

the

among made by

lion

a vow

that

victory will

O lion among kings, slay

son and his troops and all our foes

the

— ""

about to

Dhartarash.tr as are

Suta's

Section LXVIII. ''Sanjaya said,

—'Hearing that Kama of mighty energy was

Pritha's son Yudhishthira

still alive,

of immeasurable

energy,

exceedingly anrgy with Phalguna, and burning with the shafts of

Kama, said these words unto Dhananjaya

army is fled and hath been beaten honorable

Inspired

hast,

son

s !

unable

—

that

sire, is

Bhima, slay

thy

scarcely

thou

Kama a !

by entering her womb, rendered the conception

of Kunti abortive

ing

way

with fear and deserting

hast come hither since thou hast been

Thou

T :

Thou

hast acted

improperly

Bhima because thou wert unable to Thou hadst, O Partha, said unto me

woods that thou wouldst, on a single then, through fear of

carr,

slay in

slay

Kama, hast thou come

by desertthe

the

Rita's

Divaita

Kama.

Why

hither, avoiding

KARNA PARVA, Karna and deserting Bhima ?*

249

Dwaita woods thou

the

If in

hadst said unto me,— [O king, I shall not be able to

Kama — we would then, O

with

fight

Parfcha,

have made other arrange-

ments suitable to the circumstances s

Having promised to ma

the

slaughter

Kama, thou

hast

not,

kept that

hero,

Bringing us into the midst of foes, why hast thou promise broken us into pieces by throwing us down on a hard soil ?' !

O Arjuna,

Expecting diverse good things and benefits from thee,

we have always uttered blessings on thee! expectant of fruit getting instead a flowers!

Like a

fish-hook

hid

poison overlaid with food, thou last,

covetous

within

piece

meat, or

disappointing

didst, for

kingdom 8

with

burthened only

troe

of kingdom

p >int out destruction in the shape

selves

expecta-

those

All

prince, have proved vain like those of persons

however,

tions,

afe

unto our-

For these thirteon years,

Dhananjaya, we have, from hope, lived relying on thee,

lik'o

Earth in expectation of the showers sent by the

seed sown on

gods in season

9 !

Even these were the words that a voice in the

skies had said unto Pritha on the seventh day

after

thy birth,

O thou of foolish understanding — [This son of thine that is !

born will have the prowess of Vasava himself!

van-

Endued with superior energy, he Khandava vanquish all the celestials united together

quish all his heroic foes! will at

will

and diverse other creatures

one

This

subjugate tho

will

Madras, the Kalingas, and the Kaikayas.

This one will, in the

midst of many kings, slay the Kurus! 11

There will be no bow-

man superior to him, and no creature will ever bo able to him With his senses under control, and having

vanquish

one,

subjection

obtained mastery over all branches of knowledge, this

merely desiring it, himself! * 1

will in

will

bring all creatures under

This high-souled son that is born of thee,

beauty be the rival

of Soma, in

speed

O Kunti,

of the

god of

wind, in patience of Meru, in forgiveness of Earth, in splendour of Surya, in prosperity of the

Cakra, and in might of Vishnu

Lord of treasures, in courage of lie

foes like Vishnu the son of Aditi

will

be the

slayer

of all

Endued with immeasurable

energy, he will be celebrated for the destruction he will deal to foes and the success he will

win

for

friends

He will,

besides,

MAHAEHARATA,

250

be the founder of a race I] 13 1 *— Even thus, in the slues, on tho

summit of the Catacringa mountains, in the hearing ascetics, that voice spoke.

pass

Alas,

Hearing

shows that the gods even may speak untruths 1S

also

of many

All that, however, hath not come to !

words of praise always uttered about thee

the

by many foremost of Bishis, I never expected that Suyodhana would win success and prosperity or that thou thyself wouldst be afflicted with the fear

Kama 1S

Thou

ridest

upon an

excellent car constructed by the celestial artificer himself, with

axles that do not creak, and

with standard that bears the ape.

Thou bearest a sword attached to that belt of gold and silk. This thy bow Gandiva is full six cubits long.

Thou hast Kecava for

Why then, through fear of Kama, hast thou come If, O thou of wicked soul, thou away from battle, O Partha thy driver.

hadst given this bow to Kecava and become

Kecava would have (by this time) (Cakra) the

Asura

lord

Vritra! 18

Radha. today as he

his

driver,

slain the fierce

then

Kama like

of the

Maruts slaying with his thunder the

If thou

art unable to resist the fierce son of

careering in battle, give this thy Gandiva

today to some other king, that may be thy superior in (the use

and knowledge of) weapons 19

If that be done, the world will

not then behold us bereft of sons and wives, deprived of happiness

consequence of the loss of kingdom, and sunk,

Pandu,

an unfathomable

hell

of great

misery

son 20 !

would have been better for thee if thou hadst never been born the

womb

of Kunti, or, having

thou hadst come out on the fifth have, soul

month an

abortion, than

O prince, thus come away from battle, O thou of wicked ai

Fie on thy Gandiva,

on thy inexhaustible arrows ape on "*** f fi r e !_'

gigantic .

taken thy birth there,

it,

and

fie

fie '

on the might of thy arms,

fie

Fie on thy banner with the

on thy car given thee by the god

* The Bombay edition contains about 8 more verses It is difficult to decide whether they

are

genuine.

to fellow the Bengal texts in such matters.— T.

this

section.

prefer, however,

—

Section LXIX.

"Samrjaya said,

— 'Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, Kunti'g

son owning white steeds, of

bull

slaying that

filled

with rage, drew

Bharata's race.

his

sword

for

Beholding his wrath,

Kecava, conversant with the workings of the (human) heart, 2 I do not, Partha, dost thou draw thy sword ? kid,—Why,

whom

Dhananjaya, behold any one here with

thou hast to

The Dhartarashtraa have now been assailed by the in3 son of Thou earnest from battle, telligent Bhimasena The king has been seen by thee. Kunti, for seeing the king fight

Having seen that

Indeed, Yudhishthira is well.*

tiger

kings who is endued with prowess equal to that of a

here,

tiger,

why

do not

son of Kunti, the person whom- thou mayst slay

this folly

see

time when thou shouldst rejoice ?

among

Why then dost thou desire to strike What is this delusion Why dost thou, with such speed, take up that of thy mind Whit formidable sword? I ask thee this, O son of Kunti inconceivof thou as, O thou art about, inasmuch that this is ?

able

prowess, thou

dressed by

that sword in anger V

like an

off the

angry snake,

unto Govinda, 8

said

head of that man who would tel! me

thy Gdndiva to another person !

— Even this

measurable prowess, in forgive them

10 !

sword,

my vow a !

grief

that

this

O delighter of the Yailus

thira, will pay off

It is for

I dare not

who himself fears

have drawn the

Even I, slaying Yudhish-

my debt to truth 19

and fever, O Janarddana

that I

I ask thee,

will dispeT

what do you

have arisen ?' s

think suitable to the circumstances that sire,

Slaying this best of men,

slightest falling off from virtue.

1 will keep

Give

thou of im-

Govinda

thy presence,

I will for that slay this king

—

my secret vow.

Those words have been spoken by this king,

the

— Thus ad-

Krishna, Arjuna, casting his eyes on Yudhishthira,

and breathing

would cut

graspest

Thou,

knowest the entire past and future of this universe!'

1 will do that which thou wilt tell

me !'*

—

— 'Govinda then said Fl> /' — unto ParTartha and once more continued say/ — now know, "Sanjaya continued,

T MAHABHAIUTA,

252 tha, that thou hast

nob

waited

upon the

among men, thou hast yielded to wrath at shouldst not have done so

IS !

which thou, O son of Pandu, that

them are for acting today

17 !

with

acquainted

the distinctions of morality would act in the way, in

when thou

time

No one that is

tiger

since,

old,

Dhananjaya,

art unacquainted with

He. O Partha, is the worst of men

who achieveth acts that should not be done and apparently proper but condemned by

the

that

acts

scriptures.

are

Thou

knowest not the conclusions of those learned men who, waited

upon by pupils, declare their opinions, following the dictates of morality. n The man that is not acquainted with those -f-

conclusions becomes confounded and stupified, O Partha, even as

thou hast been stupified,

.should not, cannot be

asc3rtained by

the

AVhat should be done and what easily.

Everything can be

of the scriptures.

Thou, however, art

ascertained

aid

what should

in discriminating between

be done and what should not. 20

not acquainted with the scriptures. 2

Since (believing thyself )

conversant with morality thou art desirous of observing morality

(in this

way,

seems) thou art actuated by ignorance.

Thou belie vest thyself to be conversant with is

a sin. 22

highest

but thou

virtue,

O Partha, that the slaughter of living creatures

dost not know,

Abstention from injury to animals

One may even speak an

virtue.

should never kill. 28

How then,

is,

think, the

untruth, but

one

foremost of men, couldst thou

wish, like an ordinary person, to slay

thy eldest brother, the

King, who is conversant with morality? 24 a person not engaged in battle, or of a foe,

The slaughter of Bharaia, who has

turned his face from battle or who Hies away or seeks protection or joins his hands or yields

never

Akdrydnam Kriyanam means acts that should not be done.

Kurya-

nam Akriydnam,

e.\

acts condemned (by the scriptures)

less appearing as proper,

keeping a vow. +

himself up or is careless,

Sumusavistdravit,

pupils.

such as the slaughter of the eldest brother for

— T.

and io the gross expHrience.

but neverthe-

;

lit.,

one acquainted with a subject both in detail

other words, a learned person, or a

UpzsthitiU is explain cd by Nilakantha as

Kath'ycyuz is. lit., speak ur preach.

—

man

of great

waited upon hy

— 253

KAUNA PAIIVA.

superior.*' fore from

5 "'

consequence of that vow

now, from folly, desirous of perpetrating a sinful O Partha, dost thou rush towards thy reverend

act.

thou art 47

stood ?

of 14

morality I will

that

this

mystery

that

was

declared

by the righteous

Yudhishthira,"

otherwise called Kshatri, and by

Kunti of great

will tell thee that mystery in

its

by Bhishma,

Dhananjaya so

all

by Vidura celebrity.

Listen

details.

One who speaks truth

under-

Pandu,

mystery

connected with morality,— this

subtile

of being

again, difficult

is,

now tell thee, O son

Why,

superior for

slaying him, without having resolved the exceedingly

course

thy

thee be-

was adopted by

Pfirtha,

This vow,

foolishness.

ore

attributes

All these

applauded by the righteous.

it,

There

righteous.

nothing higher than truth.

Behold, however, truth as prac-

tised is exceedingly difficult

essential

attributes.

falsehood

may

be utterablc

may

Truth

understood as regards unutterable, and

its

even

where falsehood would become

truth and truth would become falsehood. peril to life and in marriage, falsehood

In a situation of

becomes utterable.

a situation involving the loss of one's entire property, falsehood

becomes utterable. 33

On an occasion of marriage, or of enjoydanger, or when one's entire

ing a woman, or when life is in

property

about

taken away,

Brahmana, falsehood may be

uttered.

falsehood have been declared to be sions falsehood would become falsehood. 58

for

the

These

five

sinless.

truth and

sake

of a

kinds

those

occa-

would become

truth

He is a fool that practises truth without knowing

the difference between truth and falsehood.

One is said

conversant with morality when one is able

tween truth and falsehood. 36

then

this

a man of wisdom, by perpetrating even a cruel

act,

may

What wonder

distinguish

be-

Valaka by the slaughter

that

ob-

of the

blind

What wonder, again, in this that a foolish and

igno-

tain great merit

beast? 57

rant person, from even the desire of winning merit, earns great sin like

* iu

Kaucika (living) among the rivers?

A, all the attributes that wouh.l make slaughter censurable uecur

Yudhiohthna.— T.

— 254

MAHABHARATA.

" 'Arjuna

said,— Tell me,

understand it,

viz.,

O holy one, this story that I may

this illustration

Kaucika (living) among rivers " 'Vasudeva said,

about Valaka and about

S9 !

— There was a certain hunter of animals,

O Bharata, of the name of

Valaka.

He used, for the

liveli-

hood of his sons and wives and not from will, to slay animals. 40

Devoted to the duties of his own order and always, speaking the truth and never harbouring malice, he used also to support his parents and others that

depended upon him. 41

One day,

searching for animals even with perseverance and care, he found none.

At last he saw a beast of prey whose sense of smell sup-

plied the defect of his eyes,

employed in drinking water. 42

Al-

though he had never seen such an animal before, still he slew it immediately.

After the slaughter of that blind beast, a floral

shower fell from the skies (upon the head of the hunter). 43

A celestial car also, exceedingly delightful and resounding with the songs of Apsaras and the music of their instruments, came for taking away that hunter

from heaven

of animals.

That

beast of prey, having undergone ascetic austerities, had obtain-

ed a boon

and had become the cause of the destruction of all

For this reason he was made blind by the Self-born.

creatures.

Having slain that animal which had resolved tures,

Valaka went to heaven.

being understood. 46

slay

all

crea-

Morality is even so difficult of

There was an ascetic of the name of Kau-

cika without much knowledge of the scriptures.*

He lived on

a spot not much removed from a village, at a point where many

He made a vow, saying, — I must always speak the truth — He then became celebrated, Dhananjaya, as a rivers met.

speaker of truth. 43

At that time certain persons, from fear of robbers, entered that wood (where Kaucika dwelt). Thither 43 even, the robbers, filled with rage, searched for them carefully. Approaching Kaucika then, that speaker of truth, they asked

him, saying,

— [0 holy one, by which path have a multitude of

men gone a little while before ? *

prefer

the reading lapaswi navahufrulas.

noticed by Nilakantha, ascetic?,

Asked in the name

&c.,— T.

of Truth,

The other

tapnswinoi'aki'gnitas, meauing the

reading,

foremost of

KARNA PAKVA.

255

answer us. If thou hast seen them, tell us this.] 50

Kaucika bold them the truth, saying,

— Thus adjured,

— [Those men have entered

this wood crowded with many trees and creepers

plants.] 11

and

— Even thus, O Partha, did Kaucika give them the informaThen

tion.

those

men,

cruel

heard,

In consequence

persons they sought, slew thorn

all.

finding

out

the

of that

great sin consisting in the words spoken, Kaucika, ignorant

the subtilities of morality,

hell, 53

into a grievous

foil

even as a

man, of little knowledge, and unacquainted with the

foolish

distinctions of morality, falleth into painful hell by nut

having

doubts. 84

There

asked persons of age for the solution

must be some indications

of his

distinguishing

for

from

virtue

sin.

Sometimes that high and unattainable knowledge

may

by the exercise of reason. 55

on the one

Many

persons

hand, that the scriptures indicate morality.

That which is connected. with abstention from

The precepts of morality

injury must, for certain, be morality.

were made for making creatures abstain from because it upholdeth all, therefore is morality fact,

upholdeth

morality

all

creatures.

One should never have any

injury. 53

called

And

Dharma.

Therefore, that

morality, without doubt, which is calculated tures).

every

for

For the growth of creatures have precepts of morality

been declared. 57

had

do not contra-

The scriptures, however, do not provide

dict this. case.

say,

uphold (creawith

intercourse

persons that on any occasion hope to acquire

virtue

those actii

according to the precepts of unassisted reason, or to win salva-

the same means.*

the

silence, or,

others),

untruth

necessity if it

hotter

truth.

of the

speak

produces

silence

of that

Verse.3 60, 61,

vow. 5 **

and 62 are whal

I hare followed the jlo33

the

reason

arises,

any

spoak

that,

makes a vow which ho does n the fruit

which

scriptures

are

(In situations again whore neither

wisdom

the scriptures nor

when

about

situations

regards

tion,

silent, by

risk

should

(to one's

untruth.

view

keep by

liis

maintain ownself or

certain

purposes,

acts, obtains ei

called

ire

light),

Verily, that

occasions of dan

Nilakautha ia rea lei

any

affords

one

cnices iem,

not

life,

VyOsak

Ny9yena

T 256

MAHARHARATA.

of marriage, or of risk of destruction to relatives

one's entire body of and kinsmen, or of jests, that which is said will not

be regarded as falsehood. 63

They that are conversant with do not behold sin in all this. There where by even an oath one may escape from the company of thieves and robbers," it is better to swear falsely, for that the

truths

of morality

falsehood

would,

give

wealth to thieves,

his

any means/ 5

without doubt,

The

the giver himself. of a

righteous

duly declared

if.

one should

can

avoid

wealth

Therefore, a falsehood

to sinful

men afflicts

uttered for

end docs not become falsehood. 65

the sake

have now

unto thee the indications by which morality or

may be ascertained.

"Arjuna

of course, he

of one's

gift

its reverse)

Partha,

be truth.

Having heard all this, tell me,

Yudhishthira deserves to be slain by thee 67 !

said,

—

Thou,

and great intelligence!

Krishna,

art

of great

That which thou hast

said

—

wisdom our

for

68 Thou art as a mother unto us good is undoubtedly true Thou, O Krishna, art our great refuge as also a father It !

is for this

that thou

us excellent counsel

givest

Krishna, that is not

nothing in the three worlds, thee tails.

Therefore, thou knowest high

I certainly regard

morality

There

known

its

de-

all

king Yudhishthira the just to be

60 alludes to the numerous precepts of a moral character referrible to the

human wisdom unassisted by inspiration or the scriptures, such as "the wise man should make otrhers happy. Even that is worship offered to the Deity."

Ahijanena haa reference to the silence of the scriptures on any

particular matter.

Grammatically,

in the second line of 60.

icch.ff.nti is

understood after 3fohham

Refrardin.ir the morality of

one of the fictions of Sir Walter Scott,

viz.,

what is said

Gl,

Woodstod; furnishes an apt

Henry Lee to Oliver Cromwell when the former was asked about the presence or otherwise of Low's Karneguy in illustration in the answer of Sir

However casuists may argue, no reader, whatever his prinwould despise the honest cavalier for a lie whose object was the safety of his king. In 62, what is said, parhaps, is that Arjuna, by not keeping his vow, incurred only the loss of the fruits of that vow, and as the house. ciples,

his vow had been motiveless or had proceeded at best from'vanity or selfconceit, lus loss

would be immaterial.

by not keening his foolish vow.—

At any rate, he ran no risk of sin

— KARNA PAR VI, unslayable by me.

2 .17

In this, however, that is

pur-

present

mo graciously something that I may do. Listen now 71 to something else in my heart and which I will now declare Thou knowest, O thou of Dacarha's raoo, what my vow is I would, putting forth my might, slay him among men that would toll me these words, viz., [(iive thy Gandiva to some other person, Partha, who is thy superior in weapons and energy !] pose,

tell

— So Bhima also less* in

him bread-

will slay the person that will call

The king hath repoatedly used those vory words

me,

— If

slay

O hero, viz., — [Give thy bow

thy presence,

72-73 !]

O Kecava, I will not be able to live in this world for even

him,

a moment.

Having intended again the slaughter

king

of the

through folly and the loss of my mental faculties, I have been polluted by sin

It behoveth thee

today,

foremost of all

righteous persons, to give me such counsel that my vow,

may become true while at the same time

throughout the world,

both myself and the eldest son of Pandu may live

Vasudeva said,

known

76 !

—

— The king was fatigued, and under the in-

fluence of grief.

He had been mangled in battle by Kama with

numerous arrows.

After that, O hero, he was repeatedly struck

by the Suta's son (with his shafts), while he was retreating from battle.

-f

was for this that, laboring under a load of sorrow,

he spoke those improper words unto thee

wrath.

pro-

Kama The son of Pandu knows that the wretched Kama

voked thoe by those words so that thou mightst slay in battle. is

incapable of being borne by any one else in the

thee)

It was for this,

said those harsh

world (save

Partha, that the king in great wrath

words to thy face. 78

The stake in the game of

today's battle has been made to lie in the ever alert and always

* Tt is difiicult for foreigners to catch

term of abuse or reproach.

the

sense of this

The fact is, the Indian races

beardless person is more of a woman than a man, of

manhood are so highly prized by them.

— Tuvaraka)

(Sanskrit

still

terra

manhood.

of reproach.

t-hosd

person, in is

the

destitute

— T.

The Bengal reading Ayuddhyamtinas scema to be correct.— T.

that a

the hirsute appendages

Bengal the word

morning, rising from bed, should see the fare of a man that of the hirsute honors of

word

believe

MAHABHARATA,

258

Kama,

-unbearable

That

Kama being slain,

79 son of Dharma had thought.

does not deserve death. Listen now to

kept. thee,

—

the Kauravas

Even this is what the royal

would necessarily be vanquished.

For

Thy vow

O Arjuna, should be

counsels that

to counsels in consequence of

of Dharma

son

the

this, also,

be agreeable to

will

which Yudhishthira with-

out being actually deprived of life may yet be dead.

As long

as one that is deserving of respect continues to receive

person meets with disrespect, he

dead though alive.

spoken of as

respect,

When, however, such a

he is said to live in the world of men.

one that

This king hath always been respected by

thee and by Bhima and the twins, as also by all heroes and all

persons in the world that are

then show him disrespect.

trifle

venerable 82

Therefore,

this Yudhishthira as thou when his

usual

A superior, O Bharata, by

your honor. •thou, is

killed

^hus,

son

though not deprived

of Kunti, 'towards

In some

years.

for

Partha, address

form of address

being addressed as

of life

Bear thyself

king Yudhishthira the

just.

Adopt this censurable behaviour, O perpetuater of Kuril's race 84 !

This best audition of all auditions, hath been declared by both

Atharvan and Angiras.* in this way

Men desiring good should always act

without scruples of any kind. 85

Without being

deprived of life a superior is yet said to be killed if that able one is addressed as thou. art,

vener-

Conversant with duty as thou

address king Yudhishthira the just in the manner I have

indicated. 86

This death,

son of Pandu, at thy

Yudhishthira will never regard as an thee.

Having addressed him

this

offence

hands, king

committed by

way, thou mayst then

worship his feet and speak words of respect unto this son of Pritha, and soothe his wounded honor. 87

Thy

wise.

The royal son

never be angry

with

thee.

then,

of Pandu, therefore, will

Freed from falsehood as also from

brother

fratricide,

thou wilt

O Partha, cheerfully slay the Suta's son Kama! — '" 88

* Cruel is rendered 'audition,' having been first declared by Brahman to a hearer.

—*

Section LX\.

"Sanjaya said,

— 'Thus addressed by Janarddana, Pritha son r

those

Arjun;\, applauding

counsels

of his

friend,

mently addressed king Yudhishthira the just in

then

vehe-

language that

was harsh and the like of which he had never used before. ."'Arjuna said, Do thou not, O king, address these up1

braidings to me,

— — thou that art passing thy time

away from battle

may

the foremost heroes of the world

two miles

full

battling

upbraid

proper time in

the

foes

his

atllieted

who

Bhima, however,

Having

and

battle,

with

slain

many brave lords of Earth and many foremost of car-warriors and hu^e elephants and many heroic horsemen and countless brave combatants, 8

he hath,

elephants and ten thousand

the

lion

slaying

after

That hero achieveth the most

innumerable smaller animals !* feats,

thousand

Kamvoja mountaineers, and

uttering loud leonine roars in battle

difficult

slain

addition,

which thou canst never achieve

Jumping down from his car, mace in hand, he hath destroyed a large number of steeds and cars and elephants in battle !*

With

also his

limbs of cars, and with

his

Endued with the prowess his

bow also, he consumeth his foes

of Indra,

Kuvera

might and resembling army,

putting for^h

with

his

protected by friends

his

now

and

also

Possessed of great

Tama, he destroyeth the That

strength.

Bhimasena

Agitating the foremost of car-warriors

aud elephants and steeds and is

feet

upbraid me, but not thou that art always

hath the right to

handed,

destroyed

arms he slayeth numerous foes. 6

bare

hostile

many With the broken

hath

of swords

foremost

horsemen and cars and steeds and elephants

the

foot-soldiers,

midst of the Dhartarashtras

chastiser of foes hath the right to upraid me of foes who is slaying

Bhima,

the

Kalingas, the

8 !

single!

That

That chastiser

Vangas, the Angas,

the Nishadas, and the Magadhas, and large numbers of hostile

elephants that are ever infuriate and that look blue clouds,

competent to upbraid me

3 !

able car, shaking his bow at the proper time,

his (other) hand

;

masses of

Hiding on a

suit-

and with shafts in

that hero poureth showers of arrows in

great

MAHABHARATA.

260

battle like th« clouds pouring torrents of rain.

Eight hundred

elephants, I have seen, with their frontal globes split open

and

the ends of their tusks cut off, have today been slain by Bhima

with shafts in battle.

me harsh words. 11

That slayer of foes is competent

The learned say that the strength

most of Brahmanas lies

strength is in his arms.

Thou,

and very unfeeling I always strive

and wives

Bharata, art strong in words

me with such wordy darts, it is evident any happiness from insultest me,

warriors

thou art cruel thee

thee.

art

sons,

life,

still

u !

piercest

we cannot expect

that

Lying on Draupadi's bed thou

without any anxiety,

Bharata,

and

have never obtained any happiness from

It was for thy

thyself

though for thy sake I slay the mightiest of car-

Thou

my soul,

do thee good with

Since, notwithstanding all this, thou

tell

and that the Kshatriya's

speech,

Thou thinkest me

of fore-

chief of men, that

good,

Bhishma,

firmly devoted to truth, himself told thee the means of his death in battle, and was slain by the heroic and high-sou led din,

the son of Drupada, protected by me

Cikhan-

do not derive

any pleasure from the thought of thy restoration to sovereignty, Havsince thou art addicted to the evil practice of gambling !

ing

thyself committed a

wicked act to

addicted that are low, thou desirest now

through our aid

16 !

which they only are

vanquish thy foes

Thou hadst heard of the numerous faults

and the great sinfulness of dice that

Sahadeva spoke about.

Yet dice, which is worshipped by the wicked, thou couldst not abandon

was for this that all of us have fallen into hell

17 !

We have never derived any happiness from thee since thou wert engaged in gambling with dice. thyself

these

caused

harsh

all

this

words to

Having,

calamity, thou

me 18 !

Slain

art,

son of Pandu, again, addressing

us, hostile troops are

lying on the field, with mangled bodies and uttering loud wails It was thou that didst that cruel act

consequence of which

the Kauravas have become offenders and are being destroyed

19 !

Nations from the North, the West, the East, and the South, arc

being struck, wounded, and slain, after the performance of

incomparable feats in battle by great warriors of both It was. thou that hadst gambled

sides.

was for thee that we lost

KARXA TARVA, Our calamity arose from thcc, O king

our kingdom!

ing us, again, with

the

do not pruvoke our wrath

"Sanjaya said,

mitted a small

of thy

cruel goad 21 !

speeches,

—

sin,

became very cheerless. 22

Savyasachin of calm wisfear

of falling

away from

the

chief of the

The son

became filled with repentance, and breathing heavily,

celestials

drew his sword. Seeing this, Krishna asked him,

— What

Why dost thou again unsheathe thy sword blue

as the

me what

thy answer is, for then

the gratification of thy object

for

king,

and thereby com-

brother

eldest

the intelligent

dom, who is ever actuated by the

Tell

Strik-

— 'Having addressed these harsh and exceed-

ingly bitter words unto his

virtue,

201

I shall

this ?

sky ?2S .

give thee counsel

— Thus addressed by that

foremost of men, Arjuna in great sorrow answered Keeava, say-

— I shall, putting forth my strength, slay my own self by whom this wicked act hath been done — Hearing those words 2

ing, *

of Parfcha, Kecava, that foremost of all righteous

persons, said

— Having said these words unto the

this

unto Dhananjaya, 25

king,

why hast thou become

cheerless ?

thou desirest now to destroy thy own

self.

Kiritin, is not approved by the righteous

2S !

men, thou hadst today, from fear of sin,

O slayer of foes, This, however, O If, O hero among

slain

thy eldest

this

brother of virtuous soul, what would then have been thy condi-

and what wouldst thou not then have done ? 27

tion

is subtile,

Bhfirata,

are ignorant.

and unknowable, especially by those that

Listen to me as I preach to thee

By destroying

thy own self thou wouldst sink into a more terrible if

thou hadst slain thy brother

own merits.

Declare now, in

Thou shalt then, O Iftrtha, have

thy

There is no other bowman,

own

so,

his bow, said

unto Yudhishthira, that foremost of virtuous persons,

O king'/

than

hell

words, thy

slain

— Applauding these words, saying, — Let Krishna — Dhananjaya, the son of Cakra, lowering self

Morality

— Listen,

ruler of men, like unto

Pinaka ! I am regarded In a moment I can destroy this

myself, except the deity that bears

by even that illustrious deity.

universe of mobile and immobile creatures

that vanquished all

the

points

kings ruling there, and brought

of the all

SI !

It was I,

compass with thy subjection

O kinjr, all !

the

Tho

)

MAOABHARATA.

2G2

Rajasuyci (performed by thee), brought to completion by of Dakshinct, and

both due

the

celestial

palace

prowess

owned by

signs

can vanquish a person like

thee, were

hands are (marks of

sharp shafts and a stringed bow with arrow

both my soles are the

fixed

me in battle ss

thereon.

No one

with standards.

of cars

gift

Nations from the

North, the West, the East and the South, have been struck

down, slain, exterminated, and only of the Samsaptakas is alive. (hostile) army

entire

A small remnant

destroyed.

I alone have slain half of the

Slaughtered by me, the Bharata host

that resembled,

king, the very host of the celestials,

dead on the field.

I slay those

with (high) weapons that are

conversant with high weapons.

For this reason I do not reduce

worlds

three

the

victorious car,

the

Suta's

vsurely slay

ashes.

my terrible and

Riding upon

son

Let this king become cheerful now.

Kama in battle, with my arrows

37 !

—

"Sanjaya said,

arrows in

—'Having said these words unto that foremost

of virtuous persons,

into the sheath.

will

Truly do I say it that I will not put

viz.,

Yudhishthira, Partha threw down his

weapons and cast aside his bow and quickly thrust 38

I will

Either the Suta

by me, or Kunti

childless !

S6 !

my armour without having slain Kama with my

battle

lying

Krishna and myself will soon proceed for slaying

dame will today be made made childless by Kama off

3 **

his sword

Hanging down his head in shame, the

dia-

dem-decked Arjuna, with joined hands, addressed Yudhishthira What I have king, forgiving me and said, Be cheerful,

—

you

said,

will understand a little while after

I bow to thee

— Thus seeking to cheer that royal hero capable of bearing soon

all

Arjuna, that foremost of men, standing there, once more

foes,

said,

S9 !

— This task !

will nut be delayed

Kama cometh

towards me.

* The meaning is that if I

It will I

be accomplished

shall proceed

against

wished to destroy persona unconversant

with (superior) weapons by means of the (superior) weapons I have, then,

by this time,

me that I

I could consume the universe.

It is, however, a rule

never use my superior weapons against any one

acquainted with superior weapons.— T.

who

with is un-

KARNA PARYA. 10

him

I shall,

with my whole soul, proceed for rescuing Bhima

the battle and for slaying

from

the

that I hold my life for thy good

king

!*'

—

2C3

son

Suta's

Having said so, the diadem-decked Arjuna

splendour touched the king's feet the field. 48

and rose

thee

tell

Know this for the

truth,

of blazing

proceeding to

for

Hearing, however, those harsh words of his brother

Phalguna, Panda's son, king Yudhishthira the

just, rising

from that bed (on which he had been sitting), said these words 43

unto Partha, with his heart filled with sorrow

have acted wickedly

For

with terrible calamity

head today race '."

—

have been

that, ye

Partha, I

overwhelmed

Do thou strike off, therefore, this my

I am the worst of men, and the exerminater of

am a wretch

I am addicted to

wicked courses.

I am idle and a coward am of foolish understanding I am an insulter of the old I am cruel What wouldst thou gain by always being obedient to a cruel person like me? 48 A !

wretch that I am, I shall this very day retire into the woods Live you happily without me The high-souled Bhimasena is !

fit

to be king

sovereignty ? 46

A eunuch that I am, what shall I do with I

am incapable of bearing these harsh speeches

of thyself excited with wrath

ing been insulted thus,

Having

Let Bhima become king

hero,

said these words, the king, leaving that

—

Hav-

what use have I with life ? 47

stood up and desired to go to the woods.

ing down, said unto him, 43

—

bed, suddenly

Then Vasudeva, bow-

king, the celebrated vow of the

wielder of Gandiva who is ever devoted to truth, about his Gandiua, is known to thee

him

49 !

That man in the world who would tell

—

[Give thy Gandiva to another]— would be slain by him. Even those very words were addressed to him by you.' Therefore,

for

keeping that earnest vow, Partha, acting also at

instance, offered you this

insult,

superiors is said to be their death. 81

of Earth

lord

Insult

O thou of

For this reason,

mighty arms, it behovcth thee to forgive me that beseech and

bow

thee

this

transgression,

king, of both

Arjuna committed for maintaining the

truth

great king, throw ourselves on thy mercy to lay

52 " s3 !

drink the blood of the wretched son of

truly to thee

myself and

Both of us, O The Earth shall

Radha

Know the Suta's son as shun today

swear

He whose

2G4

MAHABJIARATA,

slaughter thou

hath today

desirest

lost

his

life

— Hearing

those words of Krishna, king Yudhishthira the just, in a great flurry, raised the prostrate Hrishikeca, 55

—

said in haste,

It is even so as

guilty of a transgression

Govinda

hast said

have been

I have now been awakened by thee,

I am saved

thou

and joining his hands,

Madhava

thee,

Achyuta, we have today been rescued from a great calamity 57 !

Both of us stupified by fully, viz., myself and Arjuna, have been rescued from an ocean of distress, having obtained thee as our lord! 58

Indeed, having

obtained

the

of thy

raft

gence today, we have, with our relatives and over an

ocean

of sorrow

intelli-

allies,

Having obtained

and grief!

O Achyuta, we are not masterless — " 59 !

passed thee,

Section LXXI. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Having heard these joyful words of king

Yudhishthira. Govinda of virtuous soul, that delighter of the

The lattter, however, having at

Yadus, then addressed Partha. 1 the instance of Krishna,

addressed those words unto Yudhish-

thira, became exceedingly cheerless for having committed a little sin.

Then Vasudeva, as if smiling, said unto the son of Pandu,

— What would have been thy condition, O Partha,

of virtue, thou hadst slain the son of Dharma with

sword ?

Having only addressed the king

lessness

hath possessed thy heart

3" 4 !

thou, such cheer-

thou hadst

O Partha, what wouldst thou have done

Morality

understanding! 5

Without doubt, great

thy brother

race

tion,

grief

consequence of thy fear of sin.

sunk also in terrible hell !

this foremost

him.

that ?

Gratify of all

Even this

Thou wouldst have

consequence of the slaughter

now

this

king of virtuous behaviour,

practicers of virtue, this

my wish.

would have been

chief of Kuril's

with devo-

Gratifying the king

and after Yudhishthira will have been made happy, Ave

two will proceed against the car of the Suta's son 8

after

slain

unknowable, especially by persons of foolish

thy sharp

the king,

thine in

observant

if,

Slaying Kama today

do thou,

with

for

fighting

thy keen shafts in battle,

giver of honors, give great happiness

Dharma's

K A V.N A PARVA."

son! 5

Even this,

is what I think to be Having done this, thy purpose will bo

mighty-armed one,

suitable to this hour!

achieved

'°

265

— Then Arjuna, O monarch,

And

king Yudhishthira's feet with his head." said

unto that chief of the

Forgive,

"Sanjay a said,

18 !

—

bull

feet,

of observing

desire

that slayer

of Bharata's

5 udhishthira the just 18 raised his brother.

of foes,

king

race,

And king Yudhish-

then embraced his brother affection-

thira, that lord of Earth,

ately and wept aloud. 14

touched

repeatedly

—Beholding Dhananj ay

weeping at his

— Be gratified with me

king, all that I have said from

virtue and from fear of sin

lying

Bharatas,

shame,

The two brothers, of great splendour,

having wept for a long while, at last became freed from grief, O

monarch, and as cheerful as before. 15 Then embracing him once

m »re with affection and smelling his head, the son of Pandit, exceedingly gratified, applauded his brother Jaya and said, 15

—

thou of mighty arms, in the very sight of all the troops,

armour, standard, bow, dart, steeds, and arrows, were cut off in battle,

O great bowman, by Kama with his shafts, although

1 exerted myself with care !" In battle,

is no longer dear to

battle today,

will

If thou dost not slay that

cast

Life

away my

life-breaths

itself

hero

What

use

Bharata's race, 90

— Thus addressed, Vijaya replied, O bull of king, and by thy saying, — swear by Truth,

have I with life?

grace,

Thinking of and seeing his feats

O Phalguna, I lose my energies in grief.

best of men, and by

by Bhima,

of Earth, that today

him, 81

myself slain by

slay

I shall fall

the

Kama, in

down on

twins,

lord

battle, or,

being

Earth

the

Swearing

— Having said these words unto the king, he addressed Madhava, saying," — Without doubt, truly, I touch

weapons!

O Krishna, I will slay Kama in battle today intelligence, blessed

thou,

souled one is certain!"

Aided by

slaughter of that

the

thy

wicked-

— Thus addressed, Kee.ava, O best of — Thou art competent, O best of the

kings, said unto Partha,

Bharatas, to slay the mighty Kama

s !

Even this hath ever been

* Milakantha believes these verses (1-12) to be interpolations. thiug more likely.

They are eviJeutly repetitions,

— T,

No-

MAHABHARATA.

26t>

mighty car-warrior, as to how, O host of men,

my thought,

thou wouldsfc slay Kama in battle gence

25 !

— Endued with great

intelli-

of Dharma, say-

Madhava once more addressed the son

O Yudhishthira, it behoveth thee to comfort Vibhatsu, and command him to slaughter Kama of wicked soul I* Hav•

1U cr

ing heard that thou

hadst been afflicted with

Kama, myself and

this

for

ascertaining thy

wert not slain

luck,

By good luck, thou wert not seized

sinless

one, with

— Come, come,

Partha,

thy Vibhatsu, and bless him, for his victory

By good

88 !

shafts

O son of Pandu, O king, thou

one came hither,

plight!

the

Comfort

wishes

thy

—

" 'Yudhishthira said,

and embrace me, O son of Pandu

Thou hast

Vibhatsu,

told

bene29

ficial words that deserved to be said, and I have forgiven thee

O Dhananjaya, go and slay Kama

I command thee,

Do not,

O Partha, be angry for the harsh words I said unto thee "Sanjaya continued, 'Then Dhananjaya, O king,

—

unto Yudhishthira by bending

two hands, O

sire,

the feet

30 !

—

bowed

head, and seized with

his

eldest

of his

his

Raising

his

head and

brother

him and embracing him closely, the king smelt

—

Dhananjaya, O once more said these words unto him, greatly been honored by thee 1 have I arms, thou of mighty 82

Do thou ever win greatness and victory " 'Arjuna

said,

33 !

—

— Approaching Radha's son today that

proud of his might, I shall slay that

man of sinful

deeds

with

my shafts in battle, along with all his kinsmen and followers

54 !

He who, having bent the bow strongly, afflicted thee with his shafts, I say, that Kama will obtain today the bitter fruit of that act of his

ss !

Having

Kama, O

slain

lord

of Earth,

shall today come back from the dreadful battle to pay thee

respects by

walking behind thee

tell

thee this truly !"

Without having slain Kama I shall not come back today from the great battle. Truly do I swear this by touching thy feet,

— — "Sanjaya continued, 'Unto the diadem-decked

£> lord of the universe

who was speaking in that way, Yudhishthira, with

<(A-rjuna)

cheerful

* The command of a superior is \h^ sure means of success,— T,

KARNA PAEVA.

2C7

words of graver import: 88

hoart, said these

— Do thou obtain

imperishable fame, and such a period of life as

accordeth

with

thy own desire, and victory, and energy, and the destruction of thy foes all

Let the gods grant thee prosperity

these to the measure desired by me

and slay Kama, even

— aggrandisement

Obtain thou

Go quickly

Purandara slew Vritra

for

battle,

own

his

" 39

Section LXXII. "Sanjaya said,—'Having with a cheerful heart gratified king-

Yudhishthira the

Partha, prepared to slay the Suta's son,

just,

—

Let my car be once more equipt, and let my foremost of steeds be yoked thereto Let all kinds of weapons be placed upon that great vehicle 2 The steeds have addressed

Govinda, saying,

rolled on the ground.

They have been trained by persons skill-

ed in horse-lore. let

Along with the other equipments of the car, them be quickly brought and decked in their trappings 3 !

O Govinda, for the slaughter of the Suta's son — Thus addressed, O monarch, by the high-souled PhalProceed quickly, !

Krishna

guna,*

commanded

Daruka,

saying,

Arjuna. that chief of Bharata's race and wielders of the bow, hath

Daruka,

best

said

s :

that

— l>o

— Thus ordered by Krishna,

of kings, yoked those

unto

steeds

that

covered with tiger^skins and ever capable of scorching all

He then represented unto

high-souled

the

having equipt his vehicle.

fact of

by the high-souled Daruka, 7 thira's leave and causing the rites and

vehicle.

ear.

Pandu the

him. ascended that excellent

just, of great

wisdom, also

After this, Phalguna proceeded towards that

high-souled Pandava. 10

great

bowman

thus

Kama's

proceeding,

all

slain

by the

All the points of the compass,

O king,

King-fishers and parrots and herons,

wheeled around the son of Pandu. ful and auspicious birdsj

Beholding the car equipt?

O Bharata, regarded Kama as already

became serene.

foes.

Phalguna, obtaining Yudhish-

King Yudhishthira the

Beholding

creatures,

son

car

Brahmanas to perform propitiatory

utter benedictions

blessed him.

that

all

foremost of all

king

king,"

A large number of beauti

called

Pwngf* .causing A

MAMABHAKATA.

2GS

(by their timely appearance) to put forth greater speed in battle, cheerfully uttered their

around him.

cries

Kankas

Terrible

and cranes and hawks and ravens, O king, 13

and vultures,

tempted by the prospect of food, proceeded in advance of his car,

and indicated auspicious omens' 4 foreboding the destruc-

tion of the hostile host and the slaughter of Kama.

And while

Partha proceeded, a copious perspiration covered his body. 18

His anxiety also became very great as to how he would achieve his vow. The slayer of Madhu then, beholding Partha filled with anxiety as he proceeded, addressed the wielder of Gdndiva

and said these words.' ' 1

" 'Vasudeva said,

—

Gdndiva, save thee there

wielder

exists no other man that could vanquish those whom

vanquished with this bow of thine heroes, who,

endued with prowess

attained to the 18

in battle thee,

highest

thou

hast

We have seen many

17 I

have

of Cakra,

that

regions, encountering

thy

heroic

self

Who else, O puissant one, that is not equal to

would be safe and sound

after

encountering Drona and

Bhishma and Bhagadatta, O sire, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti and Sudakshina the chief of the Kamvojas and Crutii1D " 28 Thou yudha of mighty energy and Achyutayudha as well ? hast celestial weapons, and

and might, and

of hand,

lightness

Thou hast also that humiThou canst strike with lity which is due to knowledge!" presence of mind as and aim, effect Thou hast sureness of

thou art never stupified in battle

of means,

regards the selection

O Arjuna

Thou

art

compe-

tent to destroy all mobile and immobile creatures including the very gods with the Gandharvas /" On Earth, O Partha,

there is no

human

Amongst all

who

warrior

Kshatriyas, invincible

bow,' 3 amongst the very

gods, I

equal to

battle

thee in

battle, that

have not seen

wield the

or heard

The Creator of all beings, * with viz., Brahman, himself created the great bow Gdndiva

even one that

equal

thee!

which thou figh test, one that is equal to thee

Partha! !

For

this

reason

must, however,

O son

there

of Pandu,

O mightyDo say that which is beneficial to thee Kama armed one, disregard Kama, that ornament of battle as

not,

t«

posse

?.ed

tnii

lit,

He is proud and accomplished

weap-

kar.va parva.

bat.tle)

ut'

He is accomplished

He is a Mahciratha"

ens.

well

also

with

and conversant

with

acquainted

2b 9

all

modes

nil

and

place

suits

that

(in the ways

of warfare.

time.

Hear in brief, O son of What need is there of saying touch 27 Panda I regard the mighty car-warrior Kama as thy equal, '.

perhaps, thy superior

or,

With the greatest care and

tion shouldst thou slay him

great

of his body. laree.

him-

Destroyer

Endued with might, he resembles a lion in the

self.

resolu-

energy

In wrath, he resembles the

osity of the wind.

formation

He is eight Rain is* in stature. His arms are He is invincible. He is sensitive. He is, again, the foremost of heroes. He is

His chest is broad.

He is a

hero.

handsome. 30

exceedingly

in the good of Dhritarashtra's

Pandu. 31

their head, can slay the son of tSlay, therefore,

even

the

gods

£2 !

car-warrior

38 I

fighting

with

Towards the

his

quarrel

he is actuated by no consideration

with

the

affecting

great

care,

together, can

Pfmdavas he

always of wicked soul and sinful behaviour, and

wicked intelligence.

think

one possessed of

not all the warriors (of the three worlds) fighting

vanquish that

Vasava at

with

gods

Radha, save thee, as

the Suta's son today

flesh and blood, not

Engaged

of friends.

always hates the sons

son, he

not even the

one,

accomplishment

Possessed of every

of a warrior, he is a dispeller of the fears

battle

As regards speed, he is equal to the impetu-

equal to Agni.

and of

cruel,

sons

Pandu,

own

his

interests.

Slaying that Kama, therefore, fulfill thy purpose today !"*

Des-

son, that

fore-

unto Yama's presence that

patch today

most of car-warriors, whose death

Suta's

near!

show thy

that Suta's son, that

first

of car-warriors,

Yudhishthira the just

know thy prowess truly,

which is incapable of being resisted by

The

Suta's son of wicked soul, from

disregards the sons of

Pandu !"

the

slaying

Indeed,

love

for

Partha,

gods and Asuras!

exceeding

pride,

always

Dhananjaya, slay that man

today for whose sake the wretched Duryodhana regardeth him*

A Ratni is a sort of cubit measured from the elbow to the end of

the closed fist

;

it is supposed to

be equal

the

breadth of 21

making the thumb as ths fiuger of measurement.— T.

fingers,

MAHAMIAIUTA.

270

self a hero, that root of all (those)

a Stita

sinful persons, that

active and proud Kama,

who hath

phant s3 I

for

teeth

his

tongue,

know

and the might that are in thee

thee well as regards the energy

Kama in

sword

the

the bow for his mouth, and arrows

Slay the brave

son

O Dhananjaya, that tiger among men, that

Slay,

battle, like

Slay in battle today,

slaying

lion

ele-

Kama, other-

Parfcha, that

wise called Vaikartana, in consequence of whose energy Dhritarashtra's son disregards thine

—

" i0 '

Section LXXIII. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Once more Kecava of immeasurable soul O Bharata, was advancing

Arjuna who,

said these words unto

(to battle), firmly resolved upon slaying

Kama.

seventeenth day, O Bhiirata, of this terrible

and elephants and steeds that belonged

you.

a !

At the

— Today

massacre of men

was the host

outset vast

Encountering the foe in

host has been very much reduced in

the

numbers,

battle, that s

king

The

Kauravas also, O Partha, were numerous at first, teeming with elephants and steeds. Encountering thee, however, as their foe,

they have been nearly exterminated in the van of battle !*

These lords of Earth and these Srinjayas, united together, and these

Pandava troops

also,

obtaining thy

their leader, are mantaining their ground on

O slayer

tected by thee,

of foes, the

invincible

the

field

Panchalas, the

self s !

Pro-

Matsyas,

the Karushas, and the Chedis, have caused a great destruction of thy foes

Who is there that can vanquish

5 !

Kauravas in battle ?

the

assembled

On the other hand, who is there that can

vanquish the mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas protected

by thee? 7

Thou,

however,

art

competent to

vanquish in

battle the three worlds consisting of the gods, the Asuras,

human beings, united together Kaurava host

8 ?

there,

even

could

vanquish

all

Save thee,

tiger

among men, who

he resemble Vasava himself in king Bhagadatta ? 9

that

else

prowess, that

also,

sinless

the lords of Earth, united together, arc incapable,

of even gazing at this vast force

and

What need I say then of the

protected

one,

Partha, thee !"*

— 271

KAIIN'A PARVA.

So also, O

Partha, owing

boon

having

their

always pro-

jected by thee that Dhrishtadyumna and Cikhandin succeed-

ed in slaying Drona and

Bhishma!"

vanquish

those

could

Bharatas,

the

viz.,

battle

Who, indeed, O Piirtha,

two mighty

endued with prowess equal thee,

tiger

able

vanquish those

of Cakra

that

among men, what

lords

fierce

unreturning and invincible heroes,

whom

were

Save

himself?

this world is

Akshauhinis,

all

man

other

car- warriors

Bhishma and Drona, both

those

accomplished in weapons

and united together, viz., Cantanu'a son Bhishma, and Drona, and Vaikartana, and Kripa, and Drona's son, and king Duryo-

dhana himself

IS ~ :5 ?

Innumerable divisions of

soldiers

have

been destroyed (by thee), their steeds and cars and elephants having been mangled (with thy shafts) yas also, wrathful and

fierce,

have been destroyed by

hailing

thee

Numberless Kshatri-

from diverse provinces,

Teeming with horse and

18 !

elephants, large bodies of combatants of diverse Kshatriya clans,

yuch as the Govasas, the Diisamiyas, the Vasatis, O Bharata,

and the Easterners, the Vatadhanas, and the Bhojas that are

very sensitive of their honor, approaching thee and Bhima,

Bharata, have met with destruction

17-IS !

Of terrible deeds and

exceedingly fierce, the Tusharas. the Yavanas, the Khaeas, the

Darvabhisaras, the Daradas, the Cakas,

Kamathas, the

the

Ramathas, the Tanganas, 15 the Andhrakas, the Pulindas, the Kiratas of fierce prowess, the Allecchas, the Mountaineers, and the races hailing from the sea-side,

all endued with great

wrath

and great might, delighting in battle and armed with maces, these all,

— united with the Kurus and fighting wrathfully

Duryodhana's sake,

were incapable

battle by anybody else save

thee,

being

for

vanquished in

What

scorcher of foes!* * 1

man, unprotected by thee, could advance, beholding the mighty

and swelling host of the

Dhartarashtras

of battle ?"

thee,

vas, filled

Protected by

with

destroyed that swollen sea

i3 !

wrath, and host

arrayed in

puissant

penetrating

into

one, the its

order

Piinda-

midst, have

shrouded with dust and resembling a

Seven days have elapsed since the mighty Jiayafc-

Tii's is a triplet,— T,

272

MAHAP.ITAP.ATA.

sena the ruler of the idanyu.

Magadhas was slain

in battle by Abhithousand elephants, of fierce feats,

After that, ten

that used to follow that king, were slain by Bhimasena with his

m ice.

After that, other elephant?, and car- warriors, by hun-

by Bhima

dreds, have been destroyed

might.

Even

thus,

the

exercise

of his

Partha, during

the

progress

of this

awful battle, the lvauravas, with their steeds

and elephants, encountering Bhimasena and

and car-warriors son of

thee,

Panda, have from hence repaired to the region of Death !" The van of the Kaurava army, O Partha, having been struck

down by the Pandavas, Bhishma shot showers of fierce

O sire 28

Conversant with the highest

the

Karushas, the Matsyas, and

shafts,

and deprived them of life 29

Panchalas,

the

Chedis, the

the

Kaikayas, with

his

shafts,

weapons, he shrouded

The welkin became filled with gold-winged and straight-coursing shafts, capable

out of his bow.

of piercing 50

the

bodies

He slew thousands

31 *»en and elephants of great might.

new

all foes,

h it issued

of car-warriors, shooting

In all, he slew a hundred thousand

showers of shafts at a time.

Abandoning the diverse

which they careered,

those"

and elephants, while perishing, destroyed

many

motions, each of a

wicked kings

steeds and cars

kind, in

and elephants.

Indeed, numberless 3

shafts that Bhishma shot in battle. *

were the

Slaughtering the Pandava

host for ten days together, Bhishma made the terraces of numberless cars empty and deprived innumerable elephants and

Having assumed the form of Rudra or of Upenbattle, he afflicted the Pandava divisions and caused a

steeds of life.

dra in

great carnage amongst them. *

Desirous of rescuing the wicked

Suyodhana who was sinking in a raftless sea, he slaughtered many lords of Earth among the Chedis, the Panchalas, and the Kaikayas, and caused a great massacre of the Pandava army teeming with cars and steeds and elephants.

Innumerable foot-

soldiers amongst the Srinjayas, all well armed, and other lords of Earth,

were incapable of even looking at that hero when he

careered in battle like the Sun himself of scorching splendour.

35 " 3 '

At last the Pandavas, with all their resources, made a mighty effort,

and rushed against that warrior who, inspired with the

desire of victory, used to career in battle

even in this

way!"

KARNA PABVA, V5 ifchoufc

availing of any

aid,

273

routed, however, the

Panda-

vas and the Srinjayas in battle, and came to !)<• regarded as

one foren

ist

world. 59

hero in the

among men, with hi-; Having obtained thee that art a tiger among

din, protected by

straight shifts.

the

him, Cikhan

iintering

thee, slow that

tiger

men (as his foe), that grandsire is now stretched on a bed of when he obtained Vasava for his foe. 41 The fierce Drona also slaughtered the hostile army for five days arrows, like Vritra

together.

iving

made an

had prot(

and

array

penetrable

many mighty car-warriors to be slain,* 2 that sted Jayadratha (for some time).

great

caused

car warrior

Fierce as

the

troyer himself, he caused a great cai nage in the nocturnal battle. 4 *

Endued with great valour, the heroic son of Bharadwaja consumed innumerable combatants with his arrows. At last, encountering Dhrishtadyumna, he attained to the highest end. 44 * on

If,

that

thou

day,

checked in

hadst not

(Dhartarashtra) car-warriors headed by the

then would never have the whole

Dhartarashtra

What

other feats

ich

slain.

Kshatriya,

slain

save

compassing

for

Thou

heldst

the

Drona check

O Dhanan-

by the sun of

Prishata. 45

for

could

battle

slaughter

Jayadratha? 41

thee,

the

all

sun,

this,

was

force.

Drona could be

that

jaya,

been

battle

Suta's

achieve

Checking the vast (Ivaurava) army and slaying many bravo kings,

thou

killedst king

energy of thy weapons the ruler ful. it

of the

48 I

Sindhus

Jayadratha, aided by the might and All the kings regard the slaughter of to-

have been exceedingly wonder-

however, do not regard it so. since it is thou that didst

and thou art

great

car-warrior

blage of Ivshatrivas, obtaining thee as nation in Cuurse of even a whole

If this

day,

a I

foe,

vast

surfer

should, I

assem-

ex term i-

think,

still

yard these Ivshatrivas to be truly mighty f When Bhishma and Drona have been slain, the terrible Dhartarashtra host, !

4-2,

13,

ti,

conr.toi-.fr

The sense is this,

To avoid a long and cumberoua

one sentence.

structure, I have split it into three parts.

— T.

— since thou art ah!e to destroy the three worlds

in a moment, I would regard these

Kshatriyaa tialy

thee a, whole dav to exterminate them.— T. '3j

might)

takes

MAHABHARATA.

274

may

regarded

have

lost

Indeed, with all

its

foremost

warriors

.slain,

Partha,

and elephants destroyed,

cars, i

iday

firmament

the

the of

reft

all

with

51 !

steeds,

its

army looketh

Bharata

Moon,

Sun,

heroes

its

and

stars.

Yonder host of fierce prowess, O Partha, hath been shorn of its

splendours toda) like the T

Asura host in days of yore shorn

53 of its splendours by Cakra's prowess

The remnant of that

grand muster now consists of

only

five

great

car-warriors,

Aewatthaman and Kritavarman and Kama and Calya and

viz.,

Kripa. 5 *

Slaying those five great car-warriors today,

among men, be thou a hero that hath

killed

bestow thou the Earth with all her islands and Yudhishthira

O tiger

his foes,

all

cities

on king

Let Pritha's son Yudhishthira of immeasur-

able energy and prosperity, obtain today the whole Earth

the welkin above it, the waters on

below it 56

it,

with

and the nether regions

Slaying this host like Vishnu in days of yore slay-

Danavas, bestow the Earth on the king,

the Daily as and the

Cakra !"

Hari bestowing (the three worlds) on

and

Banohalas rejoice today, their foes being

slain,

Let the the

celes-

the slaughter of the .Danavas by Vishnu

tials rejoicing after

58 !

If in consequence of thy regard for that foremost of men, viz.,

thy preceptor Drona, thou cherishest compassion for Acwat-

thaman,

if,

again, thou hast any

kindness

Kripa

for

sake of the respect that is due to a preceptor, 59

for

the

approaching

if,

Kritavarman thou dost not despatch him today

Yama's

abode in consequence of the honor that is due to one's kinsmen

by the mother's mother's dost

not

side,

brother,

60 if,

viz..

the

of the

ruler

him, 51

thy

Madras, thou

ask thee, do thou,

foremost of men, slay

Kama today with

from compassion

•with keen-shafts,

one, approaching

lotus-eyed

Calya

slay

speed, that vile wretch of sinful heart who cherishes the fiercest

hate

for

the

sous

There is nothing in it,

and there

of it

Pandu

452 I

This

thy

that would be improper. fault

the

act

63 !

noblest

duty

We approve of

The wicked-souled

Kama is the root, thou of unfading glory, of that attempt, O sinless one, made in the night for burning thy mother with .all

her children, and of that conduct which

Suyodhana adopted

towards you in consequence of that match at dice ?•* Suyodhana

EAR IV A PARVA. always hopeth for deliverance through Earns.

Filled with ra

he endeavours to afflict me also

(in

port) !•

of Dhritarashtra's

the

firm

belief

consequence of that supson,

royal

O giver of honors, that Kama, without doubt, will slaj all the

Parthas

might,

war

still,

battle

Though fully acquainted with thy

O son of Ivunti, Dhritarashtra's son hath selected you

with

consequence

reliance

his

Kama."

Kama also always says, — [I will vanquish the assembled thas and that mighty car-warrior, race !] 58

viz.,

Vasudeva

Par-

of Daciirha's

— Buoying up the wicked-souled son of Dhritarashtra, Kama

the wicked

always roareth

Bharata M

Slav him today,

the

(Kuru) assembly

all

the

acts

of injury,

which Dhritarashra's smi hath been guilty

towards you, the

Kama of sinful

hath been

wicked-souled leader!

understanding

I saw the heroic son of

of a bull, slain by six mighty

Subhadra,

car-warriors

Dhartarashtra army

longing to the

<»f

of cruel

Grinding

the-

those

oye.3 like

heart be-

tliose

bulls

among men, viz., Drona and Drona's son and Kripa and

othei

heroes,

deprived elephants

of the

their

life.

foot soldiers of

weapons

Routing the (Kaurava) divisions and

many mighty and

Truth to thee,

he despatched

car-warriors,

and

steeds

mighty

fame of both the

deprived steeds also of their riders and

and

riders

The bull-necked Abhimanyu, that? Kurus and the Vrishnis,

car- warriors of their cars."

spreader

elephants

that

friend,

thought that while the son

innumerable men.

Yama's abode! 74

limbs

afflicting

are

swear b\

burninw at

the-

Subhadra was thus advancing;

consuming the hostile army with his shafts, oven on that occa sion the wicked souled Kama was engaged in acts of hostility: to that hero,

()

lord

Unable,

before Abhimanyu's face, dra's

son,

deprived

O Partha, to stay in (hat battle-

mangled with

(lie

consciousness;

and bathed

shafts

Kama drew deep breaths, intlamed with rage.

of Sublia* in

with arrows, he was obliged to turn his back upon the

field.

Eagerly desirous of flying away and becoming hopeless

he stayed for sometime

battle,

hausted with the wounds he had fcbose cruel words of

perfectly

received."

Drona in battle,

blood,'

At last, afflicted

stupified,

last,

—words thai wer<

7,s

"''

Ijf,

and exhearing -

Led

MAHABtlAKATA,

276 to the hour,

— Kama cut

off

Abhimanyu's bow. 73

Made bowless

by him in that battle, five great car-Avarriors then, well- versed warfare, slew

in the ways of foul shafts.

Upon the

slaughter

hero, grief entered the

Kama and Suyo-

Only the wicked-souled

heart of every one.

dhana laughed in joy

81 !

[Thou rememberest also] the harsh and

Kama cruelly said unto Krishna in the (Kuru)

bitter words that

assembly, in the face of the Pandavas and the

Pandavas, hell

O Krishna, are dead

of sweet speeches

Kurus 82 '

— [The

They have sunk into eternal

O thou of large hips, choose

other

now,

lords

thou

Enter now the abode of Dhritarashtra

woman,

as a serving

showers of

hero with

that

of that

or,

O thou

of curving eye-lashes, thy

The Pandavas will not, O Krishna, Thou art the wife of men thee today!

husbands are no more 8 * !

be of any service to that are self,

slaves,

O beautiful

is regarded as

the

and thou

princess of Panchala, lady,

a slave

one king on

art

thy-

Today only Duryodhana

Earth

All

;

other kings

the world are worshipping the agency by which his administra-

O amiable

how all the Overwhelmed by the sons of Panda have equally fallen now silently eyeing are they son, Dhritarashtra's energy of

tion

kept up. 86

Behold now,

one,

one another

87 !

It is evident that

these

are

all

sesame seeds

They will have to without kernel, and have sunk into hell of kings, as his that king (Duryodhana), serve the Kaurava !

slaves!]

Even these were the

words that that wretch,

foul

Kama of exceedingly wicked heart, spoke on 89 Let gold-decked thy hearing, O 'Bharata

viz.,

the sinful

that

occasion, in

him shafts whetted on stone and capable of taking the life of (the fire of) at whom they are sped, shot by thee, quench 90 wicked-souled that wrongs that and all the other those words wight did unto thee

Let thy shafts quench

and the life also of that wicked wight

91 !

all

those

wrongs

Feeling the touch

terrible arrows sped from Gdiidiva, let the wicked-souled Kama

recollect today the words of

Bhishma and Dronn

killing cloth-yard shafts, equipt with

the

>2 i

effulgence

Let

foe-

of light-

blood ning, shot by thee, pierce his vital limbs and drink his Let fierce and mighty shafts, of great impetuosity, sped by thy '/

arms, penetrate the vitals of

Kama today and despatch him

KAKNA PARVA. Yama's abode filled

277

and

Let all the king9 of the Earth, cheerless

Kama fall

of woe, behold

with grief and uttering wails

down from his car today, afflicted with thy arrows 08

Let his

kinsmen, with cheerless faces,

behold Kama today, fallen down

and stretched at his length on the Earth, dipt in gore and with 36

his weapons loosened from his grasp

of Adhiratha's son, bearing the device fall

standard

Let the lofty

of the

elephant's

rope,

fluttering on the Earth, ml, off by thee with a broad-headed

arrow

Let Calya fly away

terror,

decked car (he drives) upon seeing

abandoning the gold-

deprived

and steeds and cut off into fragments with

warrior

Let thy enemy Suyodhana today, beholding Adhi-

by thee

of its

hundreds of shafts

and king-

ratha's son slain

dom!"

O Partha, Kama, equal unto Indra in energy,

or,

Yonder,

thee, despair

both

his

life

perhaps, Cankara himself, is slaughtering thy troops with his

shafts

There the Pane h alas, though slaughtered by Kama

°°

with his whetted shafts, are yet,

rushing (to battle),

cause

serving

for

the

chief of Bharata's of the

race,

Pandavas. 101

Know, O Partha, that Kama is prevailing over the Panchalas, and the

(five)

sons

Draupadi, and Dhrishtadyumna and

Cikhandin,

and the

the son

Nakula, and Nakula

sons

of Dhrishtadyumna, himself,

and Catanika

and Sahadeva, and

Durmukha, and Janameiaya. and Sudharman, and Satyaki ,08 ~8 The loud uproar male by those allies of thine, viz., the Pancha!

las,

O scorcher of foes, as they are being struck

dreadful battle, is heard:

10 *

inspired with fear, nor do they turn away their faces battie

10s l

shafts, the .

from the

Encountering even that Bhishma who, single-

handed, had encompassed the

Those mighty bowmen are utterlv reckless of death in

great battle

Tli

Kama

The Panchalas have not at all been

Pandvava army with clouds

Panchalas did not burn away their faces from him

tin,

of lOS !

O chastiser of foes, they always strove with alacrity

to forcibly vanquish in

battle

their

cible Drona, that preceptor of

all wii

great

foe,

ld< r^ of the

viz.,

the invin-

bow, that, blaz-

ing lire of weap >ns, that hero who always burnt his foes in battle

They have never turned their faces from battle, afcared of Adhiratha's son

107'' i :

The hi r >ic Kama, however, with his shafts, is

taking the lives of the

Panchala warriors endued with great

278

MAHABHAltATA.

activity as they are advancing against him, like

taking the lives of myriads of insects

103

in this brittle, is destroying in hundreds the

advancing against him,

blazing

The son

— those heroes, that

of Radha,

Panchalas that are that are resolved

is,

to lay down their lives for the sake of their allies !"°

It behov-

Bharata, to become a raft and rescue those brave

eth thee,

warriors, those great bowmen, that are sinking

ocean represented by Kama!

111

the

raftless

The awful form of that weap-

on which was obtained by Kama from

foremost

of sages,

displayed! 112

Scorch-

that

Rama of Bhrigu's race, hath been

viz.,

ing all the troops, that weapon of exceedingly fierce and

form

is !

awful

own energy, surrounding our vast Those arrows, sped from Kama's bow, are coursing with

blazing

army

fire

its

and scorching thy troops! 114

in battle, thick as flights of bees,

Encountering Kama's weapon in battle, that

irresistible

persons not having their souls undfer control, there the Pancha-

O Bharata, are flying away

las,

directions!

all

115

Yonder,

Bhima, of unappeasable wrath, surrounded on all sides by the Sriujayas, is fighting with Kama, O Partha, afflicted by the ui

latter with keen shafts

If neglected,

exterminate the Pandavas, the

Kama will,

Bharata,

Srinjayas, and the Panchalas,

whose germ has entered the body

like a neglected disease

Save thee I do not see another warrior in Yudhishthira's army that would come home safe and sound, having 118

son of Radha in battle

Slaying that

bull among

keen shafts,

Partha, and win great fame

this

great

attain

feat,

Kama today with thy

11D !

thee

tell

truly, thou only

Kauravas with Kama amongst

foremost of warriors

else,

the

men, act according to thy vow,

art able to vanquish in battle the

them, and no one

encountered

120 !

Achieving

viz.,

slaying the

mighty car-warrior Kama,

Partha, and

crowned with success,

thy object,

— m happy, O best of men

Section LXXIV. "Sanjaya said,

Vibhatsu soon

— 'Hearing these words of Kecava,

cast

Rubbing then the

off

sfring

his

anxiety

of GanMva

and

became

Bharata, cheerful.

and stretching

it ;

KARMA TARVA, V.old

bow

his

for

RLecava, saying,

destruction

the

— With thee

279

Kama, and addressed

for

protector,

Govinda,

and when thou that art acquainted with the past and the future gratified with

art,

ed by

me today, victory is sure to bo mine s Krishna,

thee,

great

can, in

battle, destroy

three worlds assembled together, what need

then ?*

I see

the

Kama

the Panchala host is flying away, O Janarddana

Bhargava weapon careering invoked

said

Kama careering fearlessly in battle

I see also

Aid-

having been

directions,

all

the

I see too

Kama, O thou of Vrishni's race, like the puissant

thunder invoked by

Cakra 5

Kama will be slain

This

mo and

speak as long as the Earth will

that

which

last.

battle

Today,

mangling Kama, rashtra will curse

intelligence

will

Gdnd'tva,

Today king Dhrita-

that

which

Krishna, un-

barbed arrows, impelled by my arms and sped from 8 will take him to Yama

creatures

all

of his

consequence of

which he hid installed Duryodhana, who was undeserving of sovereignty,

the

throne

mighty-armed one,

Today,

Dhritarashtra will be

divested of sovereignty, happiness, pros-

perity, kingdom, city,

and sons: 10

I (ell

thee truly, O Krishna,

Kama being slain, Duryodhana will become hopeless and kingdom !" Today, beholding Kama cut into pieces by me with my arrows, like Vritra in days of yore by

that today, of both

life

Indra in

the

between

the

gods and

king Duryodhana call to mind

the

words thou

for

battle

bringing about

pence! 12

Today

Asuras,

the

the son

let

hadst spoken of Suvala,

O Krishna, know that my shafts are the dice, my Got rid rn is box for throwing them, and mv car. the chequered cloth! 13 i

)

Govinda,

slaying

the long sleeplessness of Kuuti,

with

keen

and be of cheerful Today, O Kecava,

Krishna, was the vow of that

—

heart

viz..

will

dispel

Today the royal, son by me. ^hall

and obtain

1 will shoot

unrivalled arrow that will deprive Kama

lughter,

shafts

of Kuuti's son !*

upon the slaughter of the Suta's son

gratified

forever! 15

Kama

of life!"

wicked-souled

— / will not uxish my feet

happini

irresistible

one

til/

and

Even this, about

1 slay Phal-

guna /" Falsifying this vow of that wretch, O slayer of Madhu, I will, with straight shafts, throw dowu his body today

—— MAHABHARATA.

280 from his car

Today the Earth will drink tho blood

13 !

of that

men on Earth! 19 With Dhritarashtra's approbation, the Suta's son Kama, boastSuta' son who in battle contemns

all

ing of his own merits, had said,

Thou hast no husband now,

Krishna!*

— My keen shafts will

other

that speech

falsify

of his!

Like angry -snakes of virulent poison, they will drink his lifeblood

Cloth-yard shafts, of the effulgence

of the lightning,

GdnToday the son of

shot by myself possessed of mighty-arms and sped from 22

diva, will send Kama on his last journey

Radha will repent for those cruel words that he

unto the

said

princess of Panchala in the midst of the assembly, in disparage-

They that were on that occasion

ment of the Pandavas ,23 sesame seeds without

kernel, will

I will save ye from the sors even these were the words that Kama, bragging 2*

otherwise called Vaikartana

of Pandit!

—

of his own merits, said unto

keen

Kama of wicked soul,

son

kernel after the fall of the Suta's

become seeds with

today

of Dhritarashtra

the sons

shafts will falsify that speech of his

88 !

T< day. in the very

Kama who said — 26 will slay all the Pandavas with their sons / — Today, O

sight of all the bowmen,

that

will slay

•slayer of Madhu, I will slay that

Kama, that son of Radha, rely-

on whose prowess the proud son of Dhritarashtra, of wicked 27 Today, O Krishna, understanding, always disregarded us I in<*

with their king, struck

after Kama's fall, the Dhartarashtras

with panic, will

ed self,

of the lion!

away

fly

Today,

all

directions, like

upon the slaughter of Kama, with

by me

battle"

Today,

afear-

deer

king Duryodhana repent him-

let

his sons and

relatives,

Kama slain, let the O Krishna, know me to be the

beholding

wrathful son of Dhritarashtra,

Today I will make king Dhritarashtra, with his sons and grandsons and counsellors and Today, cranes and other carnivorous servants, shelterless S1 foremost of all bowmen in battle ?*

birds will, into pieces

Ivecava, sport over

with

shafts!

the

limbs of Kama

Today,

slayer

bowmen

53 !

I will cut off in battle the limbs of

with keen

Today,

Madhu,

slayer

Madhu,

Radha s son of wicked

Vipathas and razor-faced arrows

s* !

off

Kama, in the

1 will cut off in battle the head of Radha s son

very sight of all the

cut

soul

Today the

KARNA PARVA. heroic king Yudhishthira will cast ofY a great pain and a great; !s

sorrow cherished long in his heart

Today,

Kecava, slay-

ing the son of Radhii, with all his kinsmen, I will gladden king

Yudhishthira tho son of Dharma M

Today,

the

slay

cheerless

followers of

Kama in

Krishna, battle,

I will

with shafts

To-

resembling the blazing fire or the poison of the snake !*' day, with my straight I will,

shafts

O Govinda, cause

the

cquipt

with

Earth

bodies of ) kings cased in golden armour

vultnrine

foathers,

strewn

with (tho

Today,

slayer of

be 58 !

Madhn, I will, with keen shafts, crush the bodies and cut off 59 Today I will the heads of all the foes of Abhimanyu !

bestow the Earth divested of Dhartarashtras on my brother,

or,

O Kecava, wilt walk over tho Earth divested of 40 Arujna Today, O Krishna, I will free myself from the debt. I owe to all bowmen, to my own wrath, to the Kurus, to my

perhaps, thou, !

shafts,

and to G&ndiva ! il

Today I

grief that I have cherished for

thirteen

Kama in battle like

slaying

freed

years,

will

the task of their

allies,

Krishna, by !

the

let

the

measure,

accomplished 4i

Madhava, of tho

Kama and

joy of Cini's grandson today after I will have slain !* 4

won the victory

battle, I will

Kama in

Today I will slay

his son, that mighty car-warrior,

Satyaki !* s

the twins and

mighty

who are desirous of accomplishing

regard their task

I do not know what will be

tho

Maghavat slaying Camvara 4a

Today, after I will have slain Kama in battle, car-warriors of the Somakas,

from

and give joy

Today, slaying

battle

also

]>hima and

Kama in dreadful

pay off my debt, O Madhava, to the Panchalas

with Dhrishtadyumna and Cikhandin

46 I

Today let

all

behold

the wrathful Dhananjaya fight with the Kauravas in battle and

the Suta's son

s'.ay

in thy presence

4S !

47 I

Once more let me utter

my own praises

In the science of arms there is none equal to

me in the world In prowess also, who is there that resembles mo What other man is there that is equal to me in forgive!

ness?

In wrath also, there is no one that

equal

Armed with the bow and aided by the prowess I can vanquish the Asuras and the gods and united together highest

i0 !

Know that my

me 45 !

my arms,

all

creatures

prowess is higher than

Alone assailing all the Kurus and the 36

the

Valhikas

MA77A7WAKATA,

282 the

with

fire

shafts issuing

Gawdiva,

from

putting forth my might, burn them with their followers

will,

!" fire in the midst of a heap of dry grass at the close of winter

My palms be ir these marks of arrows and

and

excellent

this

outstretched bow with arrow fixed on the string,

each

my feet occur the mark of a car and a standard. When a person like me goeth forth to battle, he cannot be

the soles of

vanquished by

any one

sa !

— Having said these words unto

Aehyuta, that foremost of all heroes, that slayer of foes, with blood-red eye:-, proceeded quickly to battle,

for rescuing Bhinia

and cutting off the head from Kama's trunk.'

"* s

Section LXXV. "

•

Tihritarashtra said,

— In that awful and fathomless en-

counter of the Fandavas and the of my army,

when Dhananjaya,

how, indeed, occurred that fight ?' '

Srinjayas sire,

with the

warriors

proceeded for battle,

— 'The innumerable divisions of the Pandava

Smjaya said,

army, decked with lofty standards and swelling (with pride and energy) and united

together

battle,

began

roar aloud,

•drums and other instruments constituting their mouth, like masses of clouds at the close of summer uttering deep

The battle

•season, cruel and

pour

;

its

destructive of living

clouds

;

creatures.

Huge ele-

weapons were the water they were to

the peal of musical instruments, the rattle of car-wheels,

and the noise of palms, constituted their roar

;

diverse wea-

pons decked with gold formed their flashes of lightning arrows and swords and cloth-yard shafts and mighty constituted their torrents of rain.

blood

ensued resembled a baneful shower out of

that

phants were

roars.

of the sword, "

carnage of Fvshatriyas. 5 4

and

Marked by impetuous onsets,

)wed in streams in that encounter.

incessant strokes

;

weapons

Rendered awful by

was fraught with a great

Many car-warriors, united together,

encompassed one car-warrior and despatched him to Yama's presence.

Or, one foremost of car- warriors despatched a single

adversary, or one despatched many adversaries united together,

KAIINA PAIIVAAgain, some one

283

despatched to Yama's abode some

car- warrior

one adversary along with his driver and steeds.

with a single elephant, horsemen.*

enemy. 7

Crutacravas with

and

car-warrior?

and steeds, of elephants and'

their

riders,

and of foot soldiers, belonging to the

Kripa and Cikhandin encountered each other in that while

battle,

Similarly, Partita, with clouds of shafts, despatched

large numbers of cars with drivers

horses with

many

despatched

8 .me one rid.

And was engaged with Drona's son, and Yudhamanyu Stl-tyaki

Chitrasena."

proceeded against Duryodhana;

The great Srinjaya ear-warrior Uttamaujas

was engaged with Kama's son Sushena, while Sahadeva, rushed against Cikuni

the king of the Gandharas like a hungry

against a mighty bull. 9 jNiakula,

rushed against

Kama, shooting showers

lion

The youthful Cat an ilea, the son of youthful Vrishasena the son

the

The

of shafts.

heroic son of

Kama

struck that son of the princess of Panehfila with many arrows.

Conversant with all modes of warfare, Miidri's son Nakula, that bull among

the

The

car-warriors, assailed Kritavarmau.

Panchalas,

viz.,

fting

l>hrishtadyumna the son of Yajnasena,

attacked Kama, the commander of the Kaurava army, with all his

forces.

Duscasana,

the Samsa-ptalca>8

O Bhilrata, with the swelling host of

forming a p>rtion

fiercely attacked in that battle

of irresistible impetuosity. 12

The

with a loud noise. 13 the ground,

the Bharata army,

Uttamaujas, putting

heroic

Kama and cue off his head/

forth his strength, struck the son of

which fell down on the Earth,

Bhima, that foremost of warriors

Earth and the welkiir

tilling the

Beholding the head of Sushena lying on

Kama became

in rage he cut oft' the steeds, son's slayer with many keen

rilled

with

grief.

Soon, however,

the ear, and the standard, of his shafts.

Mea-nwhile

piercing with his keen shafts and cutting

off

Uttamaujas,

with

his

bright

sword the steeds of Kripa and those warriors also that protectt-d Kripa's sides, quickly ascended the car of Cikhandin.' *

Behold-

Kripa deprived of his car, Cikhandin who was on his vehicle, wished not to strike him with his shafts. The son of

ing

Drona then, covering with his own the car of Kripa, rescued the latter like a bull

sunk in a mire.'*

the Wind-god, clad in golden

mail,

Meanwile Bhima the son of began

scorch

with

bia

MAHABHARATA.

2.S4-

keen arrows the troops of thy sons like the mid-day Sun scorch; '

ing everything in the summer season.'

Section LXXVI. "Sanjaya said,

— 'During the progress of that

ment, Bhima, while fighting alone,

beinsr encompassed

numerable foes, addressed his driver, saying, midst of

Dhartarashtra host

the

with speed, borne by these steeds Dhilrtarashtras to

Yaraa

in-

O charioteer,

despatch

I will

— Bear me into the

Proceed,

the presence

engage-

fierce

these

all

— Thus urged by

Bhimasena, the charioteer proceeded, quickly and with great

Bhima

impetuosity, against thy son's host to that spot whence desired

slaughter

Then a

it.

troops, with elephants and cars and

against him

from

sides.""

all

number

large

They

then,

from every

shafts

wings, cut

of golden 4

fell

amongst those foremost

down on the Earth.

of Kshatriyas,

shafts, the elephants and cars and

loud wail,

Kshatriyas,

limbs

their

Then,

O kinsr,

struck with

Bhima's

and

foot,' set

up a

pierced

Bhima

with

Bhima's

that

battle

from

like new Hedged birds towards a tree.

When

thy

troops thus rushed against him, displayed

fracr-

Thus struck by Bhima, those

powerful shafts, rushed against every side,

horse

three

with golden

O monarch, that resembled the din made by moun-

tains when riven with thunder.

foremost

side,

Bhima,

those advancing

off all

Thus cut off into two

ments with Bhima's arrows, those shafts, equipt wings, of his enemies,

The high-souled Bhima, however, with

with numerous arrows. his own

Kaurava

horse and foot, advanced

began to strike that foremost of vehicles belonging

arrows of his enemies.

all

his

impetuosity,

Bhima of infuriate impetuosit;

6-7

the

Destroyer himself

armed with mace when he burns and exterminates

all

creatures

Thy soldiers were unable to resist in th it battle that fierco impetuosity of Bhima endued with fierce

at the end of the Yuga.

impetuosity s like that of the Destroyer

himself of wide-open

mouth when he rusheth at the end of the Yuga for exterminating

all

creatures.

Then,

Bharata,

scattered by thy tempo 3t, the Bh.iraU host,

masses of clouds thus mangled and

285

KARNA TARVA, burnt in that battle by the

and fled

high-souled Bhima, broke

Then the mighty Bhimasena of great

in fear in all directions.

intelligence once more cheerfully said unto his

charioteer,

" 10

—

whether those assembled cars and standards that are advancing towards me, are ours or the enemy's! Absorbed in battle, I am unable to distinguish them. Let

O Suta,

Ascertain,

me not shroud our own troops

with

O Vieoka,

shafts !"

beholding hostile warriors and cars and the tops of their standThe king is in pain. ards on all sides, I am greatly afflicted !

The diadem-decked Arjuna also has not yet come. These things, O Suta, fill my heart with sorrow 13 Even this is my grief, O !

charioteer, that king Yudhishthira the just should have gone

away, leaving me in the midst of the enemy. alive or

dead

however, though

filled

whether he, as also Vibhatsu,

my sorrow 1S

I shall,

destroy these hostile troops of great might in the' midst of battle my assembled

thee today

me,

tell

of arrows 18

sort!

This adds to

not

with great grief,

Thus slaughtering

rejoice

foes, I shall

Suta, ascertaining the matter still left

—

" 'Thus commanded,

car,

well,

that is,

what quantity

how much

thousand, and broad-headed

number Of

much.

hero,

Partha, three thousand

Pradards thou hast still,

and of Indeed,

O son of Pandu, the portion that still remains

not capable of being borne,

locks. 16

number

two thousand,

cloth-yard shafts thou hast still

of the weapons,

ones

what

hero, thou

Vieoka said,— Of arrows,

hast yet sixty thousand, while thy razor-headed shafts ten

with

Examing all the quivers containing my arrows,

know

I !

Shoot and hurl them,

placed

carts,

learned

one, for

six

bul-

of maces

and swords and other weapons used with the arms alone, thou hast thousands upon thousands, as also lances and scimitars

and darts and spears be exhausted

17 !

Never

fear

that

thy

weapons

will

—

O Suta, today this awful battle in which everything will be shrouded with my impetuous arrows sped fiercely from my bow and mangling all my foes, and in "'Bhima said,— Behold,

consequence of which the il-jlU.

very

Sun

will

disappear from

making the latter resemble the dark domains

the

of Death !*

MAHABBARATA,

286

Today, even this will be known to all the Kshatriyas including Suta,

the very children,

that Bhimasena hath succumb-

viz.,

ed in battle or that, alone, he hath subjugated all the Kurus

Today,

the Kauravas fall in battle

let all

applaud me

beginning with

overthrow them

Alone, I will

Bhimasena down 20 come here now l

earliest years

let

all

host

bolts

force,

forest

repeatedly

Indeed,

conflagration, 85

assailed with shafts.

— How

twang

Piirtha in wrath ?

thy wishes,

and

of gold

is it,

of the

all

and utter Vieoka are

huge elephants, again,

Those

said,

hear the loud

equipt with wings

down bands of foot-soldiers

uttering loud cries, " 'Vi<;.oka

There, cars and steeds and elephants are fly-

elephants filled with fear at a ing cries of woe

Dhananjaya and resembling thunder-

having lost their senses, are flying away,

Kauravas,

8* !

Yonder, the Kaurava

though slaughtered extensively, *

ing away, crushing the

shafts

Behold, these cars

O Suta 2S

with the shafts,

of peacocks, of

his

with those warriors riding on

darts,

feathers

Whv do

Vicoka, and elephants and steeds

them, are being scattered,

strike

It is evident that Savyasfichin, that fore-

quickly shrouding that host with

assailed with shafts and

filling its gaps

breaking

and bands of foot-soldiers are flying away

them

Let that slayer of foes, viz., Arjuna,

Behold, those standards,

host, assailed

the world

all

all,

the Bharata

those kings fly away ? is

let

Cakra, duly invoked, quickly coming to a

Behold,

most of men,

feats

Let the gods that aid in the achievement

of the best acts, bless me

sacrifice ?

the

19 !

—

Bhima, that thou dost not

yawning Gciadiva stretched by

Are these two ears of thine gone

son of Pfimlu, have been fulfilled

21 '.

All

Yonder the

Ape (on Arjuna s banner) is seen in the midst of the elephant Behold, the string of Gdndiva is flashforce (of the enemy) !

ing repeatedly the ti.<

amid blue clouds

Ape on Dhananjaya's standard-top

rrify hostile divisions in this

ing at it, CD

am struck with

of Arjuna is shining

the diadem, •

lightning

endued

with

M exceedingly regpl.endejifc !

dreadful

fear!"

brilliantly

the

Yonder,

everywhere seen to

battle

There, the '

?a !

Even I,

look-

beautiful diadem

There, the precious jewel on

splendour

of the

Sun, looketh

There, beside him, behold bis conch

KARNA PARYA, Devddatta

loud

and

blare

midst of the

the

effulgence,

of solar

sharp as

razor

its

nave

Behold,

hue

the

cloud

white

pene-

hostile

army, behold his

discus

hard as

thunder, and

hand, as

reins in

Yadus

edge

its

of Kecava,

hero, that discus

that enhancer of his fame, which is always worshipped 3I " 8a

There, by the side of Janarddana, trates into

887

the

There, the trunks, resembling lofty trees perfectly

are falling upon

straight, of

huge elephants, cut off by lviritin,

the Earth

There those huge creatures also, with their

pierced and split with shafts, are falling down, like

with thunder. 38

riders,

riven

hills

O son of Kunti. the Pdncha*

There, behold,

janya of Krishna, exceedingly beautiful and of the hue of the moon, as also fchla blazing Kaustubhd on his breast and his triumphal garland ni all

Without doubt, that first, and foremost of

car-warriors, viz., Partha,

advancing, routing the

hostile

army as he comes, borne by his foremost of steeds, of the hue of ;$

white clouds, and urged by Krishna sieeds and

bands of foot-soldiers,

brother with

energy

the

of the

Behold those cars and

mangled by thy younger

chief of the

celestials

hold, they are falling down like a forest uprooted

pest caused by Garuda's

with

warriors,

wings

their steeds

'.'

and

Behold, four

hundred

and seven

drivers,

Be-

by tho temcar-

hundred

elephants and innumerable foot-soldiers and horsemen, slain in this battle by Kiritin with his

Kurus, the

the

mighty shafts

ever increase

life,

Bhima said,— Since, I will

thee !—

Suta,

for

this

3S !

side

wishes arc

Let thy

ful-

might, as

—

Vicoka, thou tellest me of Arjuna's

give thee four and ten

hundred female slaves and twenty thee,

thy

All

Thy foes arc being exterminated

also the period of thy

arrival,

Slaughtering

mighty Arjuna is coming towards thy

even like the constellation Chitra ! filled

i7 l'

agreeable

p >pulous cars,

villages

being

intelligence

pleased

and a with

imparted

"*• '

Section LXXVII. "Sanjaya said,

— Hearing the roar- of ears and She leonine

shouts* (of the warriors) in

buttle

Arjuna addressed

Govinda,

28$

KAHABJTAR-ATA.

— Urge the steeds to greater speed — Hearing these — I am proceeding with great speed to the spot where Bhima stationed — Then saying,

words of Arjuna, Govinda said unto him,

many lions among men

(belonging to tho Kaurava army), ex-

cited with wrath and accompanied by a large force

horse and elephants and foot and making the

of cars

and

Earth resound

with the whizz of their arrows, the rattle of their car-wheels,

and the tread of their horses'

advanced against Jaya

hoofs,

(Arjuna) as the latter proceeded for victory, borne by his steeds

white as snow or conchs and decked in

trappings

of gold

and

pearls and gems, like the chief of the celestials in great wrath

armed with the thunder,

proceeding,

Jambha for slaying him.

8 "*

Asura)

against (the

Between them and Partha,

occurred a great battle destructive

of body,

life,

and

sire,

sin, like

the battle between the Aswran and the god Vishnu, that foreworlds. 5

Alone,

oft'

the

mighty

weapons sped by them as also their heads and arms

diverse

most

of victors,

for

the sake of the three

Partha, decked with diadem and garlands, cut

ways, with his razor-faced

and crescent-shaped and broad-head-

arrows of great keenness. 1 Umbrellas, and yak-tails for fanning,

and standards, and steeds, and cars, and bands of foot, and

ele-

down on the Earth, mutilated in diverse ways,

phants,

fell

Hugo

a forest broken down by a tempest. 7 in housings of gold and equipt with

warriors

(on

their

backs),

looked

elephants, decked

triumphal standards and

were

resplendent, as they

pierced with shafts of golden wings, like mountains ablaze with light.

Piercing elephants and steeds and cars with

shafts resembling

Vasava's

quickly for the slaughter of

thunder,

excellent

Dhananjaya proceeded

Kama, even as Indra in days of 9 Then that tiger among men,

yore for riving ( the Asura) Vala.

that mighty-armed chastiser of foes, penetrated like a Mafcara into the ocean.

thy warriors, largo number

and

host

Beholding the son of Pandu,

king, accompanied by of elephants

into thy

cars

foot

and a

against

him. 11

and

steeds, rushed

Tremendous was the din made by them as they advanced against Partha, resembling that made by the waters of the 13 Those mighty carocean lashed into fury by the tempest. warriors, resembling tigers (in prowess), all rushed in that battle

KARNA PARVA. against that tiger among

289

men, abandoning all Pear of death.* 1

routed the troops of those

Arjuna, however,

leaders

of the

Kurus as they advanced, shooting at him showers of weapons, like a tempest driving off masses of congregated clouds.

1,1

great bowmen,

and pro-

in smiting, united together,

all skilled

Those

ceeded against Arjuna with a large number of cars and to pierce him with keen shafts.

despatched to Yama's abode

several

elephants and steeds.

thousands of cars and

While those great car-warriors

battle were thus struck with

began

Then Arjuna, with his shafts,

shafts

sped from

in that

Arjuna's bow,

they were filled with fear

and seemed to disappear one after

another from their cars. 17

In all, Arjuna, with his sharp arrows,

hundred of those heroic

four

slew full

vigorously in battle.

Thus struck

shafts of diverse kinds,

Arjuna.

car- warriors

they fled away

exerting

that battle with sharp

sides,

all

avoiding

Tremendous was the uproar made at the van of the

army by those warriors

made by

the

mountain. 20

as they

broke and

surging sea when it breaks

fled

that

upon encountering a

Having routed with his arrows that army struck

with fright, Prithii's son Arjuna then proceeded,

sire,

against

21 of the Suta's son.

Loud was the noise with the which Arjuna faced his foes, like that made by Gadura in days of yore when swooping down for snakes. 22 Hearing that division

sound, the

mighty Bhimasena, desirous as he had been of of Pfirtha, became filled with joy.* 8 As

obtaining a sight

soon as the valiant Bhimasena heard of Partha's arrival, he

monarch, to grind thy

began, 2 life. *

troops, reckless

Possessed of prowess equal to

that

Bhima, the son of the Wind-god, began

valiant

that battle like the wind itself. 25

thy army,

king,

bosom

of the sea.

began

began to reel 26

of his

of the to

Afflicted by him, like

very

wind, the career

O monarch,

wrecked vessel on the

Displaying his lightness of hands,

Bhima

cut and mangle that host with his fierce arrows and the abodo of Yama."

Beholding

on that occasion the superhuman might of Bhima,

Bharata,

despatch

large

numbers

like that of the Destroyer at the end of the

became filled with fright. 8 * afflicted by

Bhimasena, er

Yuga, thy warriors

Seeing his mightiest soldiers thus Bharata, king Duryodhana address-

MAHABIlArUTA.

298 ed a?

all

race,

commanding them

troops

his

and great bowmen, slay

of Bharata's

bull

Bhima in that

since

battle,

upon Bhima's fall he would regard the Pfmdava troops already 30

command of thy son, all the Bhima with showers of shafts from every king, and men inspired with Innumerable elephants,

exterminated.

Accepting that

kings shrouded Bide.*

and cars, and horse, O monarch, encompassed Thus encompassed by those brave warriors on

desire of victory,

Vrikodara. 38 nil

sides,

king,

that

hero,

that chief of Bharata's race,

looked resplendent like the

Moon surrounded by

Indeed, as the Moon at

within

best of men,

so that

•even

beautiful

full

that battle.

the

his corona looks

stars.

beautiful,

handsome,

exceedingly

All those kings, with

looked

cruel intent

and eyes red in wrath, showered upon Vrikodara their arrowy downpours, moved by the desire of slaying him. 35 Piercing that

mighty host with straight shafts, Bhima came out of

the

press

ten

thousand unretreating elephants, two hundred thousand

coming out

a fish

flow there. 38

•caused a river of blood to

and cars

with

which

its

eddies

teemed.

having

slain

Blood constituted its

and elephants were the

;

Men were its fishes, and

sharks, and the hair of animals formed

its

alligators

steeds

its

weeds and moss. 33

from trunks formed its foremost of snakes.

Arms lopped

off

Innumerable

jewels

and gems

by the

were carried along

and marrow its mire.

current.

Thighs constituted

And

was covered with heads forming

Having slaughtered these, Bhima

a hundred car-warriors.

•water,

net,

Bharata, 37 and five thousand horse,

and two hundred men, :and

of a

its gavials,

its

rocks.

And

bows and arrows constituted the rafts by which men sought to cross that terrible river, and maces and spiked bludgeons formed its snakes. And umbrellas and standards formed its swans, 41 and head-gears its foam.

and the

Necklaces constituted

earthy dust that arose

formed

its

waves.

its

lotuses,

Those en-

dued with noble qualities could cross it with ease, while thos that were timid and afrighted found it exceedingly difficult to cross.

Warriors constituting its crocodiles and

van towards the region of Yama.

Very

alligators, it

soon, indeed, did

tiger among men cause that river to flow.

that

Even as the terri-

KARNA PAR 71, of being

blc Vaitarani is difficult

refined

souls,

of the

fears

that best

that bloody

was

timid,

by persons

crossed

difficult

cross.

son

the

the'

where

Thither

of rand:'., penetrated;

thousands. 4 *

hundreds and

thither he felled hostile warriors in

)].!

of un-

terrible and enhancing

river,

of car-warriors, viz.,

Seeing those feats achieved in battle by Bhimasena, Duryodhana,

O monarch,

46 addressing Cakuni, ?aid,

the mighty Bhimasena in battle

host of the Pandavas

may

Upon his defeat the mighty Thus

'* 7

regarded as defeated

O monarch, the

addressed,

— Vanquish, O uncle, —

son of Suvala, competent

valiant

to wage dreadful battle, proceeded, surrounded by his brothers.

Approaching

that

battle

Bhima

prowess, the

terrible

him like the continent resisting the Though resisted with keen shafts, Bhima, disregard-

heroic Cakuni checked ocean.

ing them ail, proceeded against the sons of Suvala. 50 Cakuni,

Then

O monarch, sped a number of cloth-yard shafts equipt

with wings of gold and whetted on stone, at the

Bhima's chest.51 souled son

Piercing through

of Pandu, those

fierce

side

left

armour

the

of the

high-

O monarch, equipt

shafts,

with feathers of Kankas and peacocks, sunk deep into his Deeply pierced in that battle, Bhima, O Bhftrata,

body."

suddenly shot at Suvala's son a shaft decked with gold."

The

mighty Cakuni, however, that scorcher of foes, O king, endm with great lightness of hands, cut that terrible arrow shaft

fell

coursed

down on the Earth, Bhima, O

enraged, and cut off with Suvala's

son

with

the

seven

off into

fragment

towards him. 54

When

became highly

king,

broad-hcadod arrow the bow of

ease. 55

greatest

The

valiant

Suvala then, casting aside that broken bow, quickly another and six and ton broad-headed arrows." of

those straight

and broad-headed arrows,

struck Bhima himself;

four

gold.*

dart

That dart,

made

took

With two monarch, he

With the remaining four,

restless as

from Bhima'a arms, speedily

antagonist.' 8

steeds of his

with rage at this, the valiant that battle a

son

with one he cut off Bhima's standard,

and with two, his umbrella. of Suvala pierced the

his

Bhima,

iron, with

the fell

monarch, its

tongue

upon

statf

•

Filled

hurled in

adorned with ake

hurl<

big]

'• I

tl,

MAHABI1AKATA.

2D2 soucld son

Suvala.

The

then, filled with wrath,

latter

O monarch, took up that same gold-decked dart and hurled Bhimasena. 61

it back at

Piercing through the left arm of the

of Pandu,

son

hisfh-souled

down on the Earth like sky/ 2 At this, the Dharta-

fell

lightning flashed down from the rashtras,

O monarch, set up a loud roar all around.

however, could not bear that

with great activity.

Bhima,

of his foes endued

leonine roar

The mighty son of Pandu then, quickly

taking up another stringed bow, in a moment, the

covered with shafts battle,

soldiers

who were fighting reckless of their very

ing slain

his

four

cut

Hav-

king,

Bhima with

antagonist's standard

off his

65 a broad-headed arrow without losing a moment.

ing with speed that stecdless

that

in 64

lives.

and then his driver,

steeds,

of great prowess next

monarch, son

Suvala's

car,

Abandon-

Cakuni, that foremost of

men, stood on the ground, with his bow ready drawn in his hands, his eyes red like blood in rage, and himself breathing

He then, O king,

heavily.

innumerable

arrows.

struck Bhima from every side with

The

valiant

shafts, cut off Cakuni's bow in rage self

with many keen arrows.

Earth almost

Then thy

king,

son,

stupificd, bore him away from battle

sight

Bhimasena. 63

those

baffling

Deeply pierced by his power-

ful antagonist, that scorcher of foes, lifeless.

Bhima,

and pierced Cakuni him-

When

fell

down

the

monarch, seeing him

on his car in the very

among men,

that tiger

Cakuni, was thus taken up on Duryodhana's

car,

the

viz.,

Dharta-

rashtra troops, turning their faces from battle, fled away on

all

sides, inspired

with fear on that occasion of great terror due to

Bhimasena. 70

Upon the

that great bowman, filled

defeat of Suvala's

son,

king,

Bhimasena, thy son Duryodhana,

viz.,

with great fright, retreated, borne away by his fleet steeds,

71 Beholding the king from regard for his maternal uncle's life. himself turn away from the battle, the troops, O Bharata,

from the encounters in

fled away,

Seeing

battle

and

been engaged.

away from impetuously, shafts,'

fell

all

fly

Slaughtered by

Dhartarashtra

the in

upon them,

which each of them had

all

directions,

shooting

troops

turn

Bhima, rushing

many hundreds

Bhima, the retreating DhartuiT^h-

KAKNA I'AEVA. king, approaching

tana,

the spot

where

more stood for battle, surrounding him.

Kama

might and great energy, Finding Kama,

Kama was, once

Endued with great

became

then

of Bharata's

bull

2f):j

thy

race,

their

refuge.

troops

became

comforted and stood cheerfully, relying upon one another, like

O tiger of men,

ship-wrecked mariners,

their

distressful

when at last they reach an island. They then, once more, making death itself their goal, proceeded against their

plight,

foes for battle.'

" 78 - 77

Section LXXVIII. "Dhrifcarashfcra

battle

said,

— 'When our troops were broken in

by Bhimasena, what, O Sanjaya, did Duryodhana and

Suvala's son say ? l Or, what did Kama, that foremost of victors, or the warriors of my army in that

varman,

Drona's

wonderful,

think,

say ?"

the

prowess of

Panda's son,

single-handed, he fought in battle with

army 3 !

all

the warriors of my

his

vow ?

That slayer

of foes,

very

Beholding the army broken by

Kunti's son of immeasurable energy, of Adhiratha and

what did Kama, the son

Radha, do in that battle ?*

What

my sons, difficult of defeat in battle, do

the

and mighty car-warriors of our army ?

Tell

for

Kama, O

viz.,

the prosperity, the armour, the fame, and the

hope of life, of the Kurus !*

Sanjaya.

since,

Did the son of Radha act towards the (hostile) troops

according to

Sanjaya,

Exceedingly

Dusciisana,

Krita-

battle, or Kripa, or

son, or

also

other

did

kings

this,

all

thou art skilled in narration !'

"Sanjaya said,

— 'In that afternoon, O monarch, the Suta's

son of great valour began to smite all the Somakas in the very sight of Bhimasena. 7

destroy

the

Bhima also

of great strength

Dhartarashtra troops.

(his driver) Calya, said unto him,

— Indeed, beholding

his

Bhimasena of great

intelligence,

his driver, saying,

army

Then Kama,

began

— Bear me to the Panchalas

in course

Kama

of being

onco

addressing 8 !

routed by.

more addressed

— Bear me to the Panchalas only! — Thus 1

urged, Calya tho ruler of the Madras, endued with great might, ur 'ed those white steeds that were fleet as thought; towards the

MAHABHARATA.

29-4

Karushas. 10

Chcdis, tkc Panchiilas and the into that mighty

Penetrating then

Calya, that grinder

host,

cheerfully conducted those steeds into every

that foremost of warriors, desired to go

to.

car cased in tiger skins and looking

of hostile troops,

Kama,

spot that

Beholding that

Pandus The rattle

cloud, the

and the Piinchalas, O monarch, became terrified. 12

then of that car, like unto the peal of thunder, or the sound of a mountain splitting into fragments, *

dreadful

battle.

1 3

became audible in that

With hundreds upon hundreds

arrows sped from the bowstring drawn to his

smote hundreds and thousands of warriors belonging:

Pandava army. 14

keen

Kama then

ear,

the

While the unvanquished Kama was employ-

ed in achieving those feats,

many mighty bowmen and

great

car-warriors among the Paudavas encompassed him on all sides. 15

Indeed, Cikhandin, and Bhima, and Dhrishtadyumna the son Prishata,

and Nakula, and Sahadeva, and the

sons

(five)

Draupadi, and Satyaki, surrounded the son of Radha, pouring

showers of arrows upon him, from desire of despatching him to the other world. 15

The heroic Satyaki, that best of men, struck Kama in that engagement with twenty keen shafts in the 17 Cikhandin struck him with five and twenty shoulder-joint. and Dhrishtadyumna struck him with seven, and the

shafts,

sons

Draupadi with four and sixty, and Sahadeva with

and Nakula with a hundred, in that

seven,

battle.

mighty Bhimasena, in that encounter, filled with the son of Radka in the shoulder-joint with shafts.

The son of Adhiratha

shafts, afflicting his foes.

of them

return

of Satyaki as

also

with

The son

rage, struck

might, laugh-

let off

many keen

Radha

pierced each

Cutting

off

arrows.

five

standard,

his

The

ninety straight

of great

then,

ing in scorn, and drawing his excellent bow,

bull

the

of Bharata's

bow

race,

Kama pierced Satyaki himself with nine shafts in the centre of the chest.

Filled with wrath,

with thirty shafts. 22

With

then

pierced

Bhimasena

broad- headed arrow,

sire,

next cut off the standard of Sahadeva, and with three other arrows,

that chastiser

foes

afflicted

Sahadeva's

driver.

Within the twinkling of an eye he then deprived the (five) sons of Draupadi of their cars

;

bull of Bharata's race, which seemed

KARNA I'ARVA, Exceedingly wonderful.

296

Indeed, with hi* straight shafts caus-

back from the fight,

ing those heroes to turn

Kama

the heroic

began to slay the Panchalas and many mighty car-warriors among the Chedis. 8S Thus struck in that battle, monarch, the Ghedis and the Matsyas, rushing against

upon him showers

of shafts.

Kama alone, poured

The Suta'a

son, however, that

mighty car-warrior, began to smite them with his keen shafts. I beheld this exceedingly wonderful feat,

O Bharata," viz., that

the Suta's son of great prowess, alone and unsupported in that

with

fought

battle,

all

bowmen who contended with

those

him to the utmost of their prowess, 28 and checked all those Pandava warriors, monarch, with his shafts. With the Bharata, of the high-souled Kama on that

lightness of hand, occasion,

the gods as also the Siddhas

and the Chdranas among the Dhartarashtras also, O best of men, applauded 30 Kama, that foremost of great car-warriors, that first of all bowmen. Then Kama, all

were gratified.

All the great bowmen

O monarch, burnt the hostile army Conflagration consuming a

Thus slaughtered

season.

struck with

Kama.

tied

fear,

like a mighty and blazing

heap of dry grass in the summer by Kama, the Pandava troops, directions, at the

all

very

sight

Loud wails arose there among the Panchalas "

great battle, 32 33 while they shafts sped from

the

vast

regarded

were

Kama's bow.

thus struck

with

the

keen

Struck with fear at

the

noise,

host of the Pandavas, 34

him

crusher of foes,

— those enemies of Kama,

the one warrior in

viz.,

in that

battle.

Then that

the son of Radha, onco more

achieved an

exceedingly wonderful

feat,"

united together, were unable

that

inasmuch as to

swelling mass of water breaking

all

the

Pandavas,

even gaze at him.

Like a

when it comes in contact with

a mountain, 36 the Pandava army broke when it came in contact

with

Kama.

Indeed,

the

king,

mighty-armed

Kama in

that battle, burning the vast host of the Pandavas, stood there like a blazing fire

without smoke.

hero, with his shafts, cut

off

the

With great

activity

that

arms and the heads of his

•brave foes,

O king, and their ears decked with ear-rings. Swards

with

hilts

and elephants,

ivory, 87 "* 8

and standards, and

and

cars

diverse

darts,

kinds,

and steeds, king,

aud

MAHABHARATA.

20G banners, and axles,

and yokes, and wheels of many kinds, 4 ® were cut off in varrious ways by Kama observant of a warrior's vow.

Bharata with elephants and steeds

There,

Kama,*

blood.

The uneven and even spots also

quence of slain horse and foot" elephants, could no longer

of the

field,

conse-

and broken cars and dead

The combatants

be distinguished. foes 43 in

could not distinguish friends from ness

slain

the Earth became impassable and miry with flesh and

that thick dark-

caused by shafts when

Kama's (celestial) weapon was The mighty car-warriors of the Piiudavas, O mon-

displayed.

arch, were completely shrouded

with

the

shafts,

decked with

gold, that were sped from

Kama's bow.

riors of the Pandavas,

king, in that battle, though strucrcrHno-

Those mighty car- war-

vigorously, were repeatedly broken by the son

as a herd of deer in the

of Radha, even by an angry lion 44 ~* s

forest is routed

Routing the foremost of Panchala car-warriors and (other) foes,

Kama of great fame, in that battle, slew the Pandava

warriors

wolf slaying smaller animals.

Pandava army turn away from

battle, the

bowmen of great might rushed

against

uttering terrible shouts.

Beholding the "

Dhartarashtra 47 4 *

the

retreating

host,

monarch,

filled

Then Duryodhana,

with gteat delight, 49 caused diverse musical instruments to be

The

beat and blown in all parts of the army.

amongst the Panchalas, those foremost en,'

bowmen

great

of men,

though brok-

making death their

returned heroically to the fight,

goal,

The son of Radha, however, that bull among men and scorcher of foes,

O monarch, in that battle, broke those returned heroes

in diverse ways.

There,

Bharata, twenty car-warriors among

the Panchalas and more than a hundred Chedi slain by

Kama with his shafts.

Making the

warriors

terraces

were

of cars

Bharata,*'" 55 and slaying the

and the backs of steeds empty,

combatants that fought from the necks of elephants, and routing the foot-soldiers, that scorcher

of foes,

great bravery, became incapable

midday

Sun and looked resplendent like

at the

end of the Yuga.

foes,

that

Thus,

mighty bowman,

horse, car-warriors,

viz.,

of being

viz.,

the

Suta's

gazed at

son of

the

Destroyer himself

monarch, that slayer of

Kama, having

and elephants, stood there ou his

slain

foot,

car,

Iu'-

KARNA PARVA.

I>!»7

deed, like the Destroyer himself of great might standing

slaying all creatures, 5

*"' 6

the mighty

car-warrior

The prowess that we then

alone, having slain the Somakas.

beheld of the Panchalas seemed to be exceedingly for,

after

Kama stood wonderful,"

though thus struck by Kama, they refused to fly away from

At that time, the king (l)uryo-

that hero at the head of battle.

dhana), and Duscasana, and Kripa the son of Caradwata," and

and Cakuni

and Kritavarman,

Ar'.watthaman,

of great

also

might, slaughtered the Pandava warriors in hundreds and thou-

sands."

The two sons also

Kama, O monarch,

brothers of prowess incapable of being baffled,

slaughtered the Pandava army

The battle that took heroes, viz.,

—

with rage,

filled

parts

of the

field."

was dreadful and cruel and tho

place

carnage that occurred was

several

— those two

very

Similarly the Pandava

great.

Dhrishtadyumna and Cikhandin" and the (five)

sons of Draupadi, filled with rage, slaughtered thy host.

Even

thus a great destruction took place among tho Pandavas every-

where on the field, and even thus thy army also suffered great loss at the hands of the mighty

Bhima.'

" 6a

Section LXXIX. "Sanjaya

said,

— 'Meanwhile Arjuna, O monarch, having (of the enemy),

slain the four kinds of forces

tained a sight of the angry son of the »Suta battle,

caused a river of blood to flow

rocks and stones.

of ravens

current. 5

lotuses,

(Fallen) necklaces

and head-gears formed

shafts constituted its

fishes

floated on its surface.**

its

banks.

its

swans or

And that river ran, bearing away heroes like trees along

rafts. its

was tawny

it resounded with tho

Umbrellas were

and vultures.

dreadful

that

Elephants and steeds formed

Full of the bones of heroic combatants, cries

Human heads constituted

8 with flesh. and marrow and bones.

its

there

and having ob-

hnon.

;

constituted

its

assemblage of

Bows and men

and the crowns of crushed

Shields

confess I do not understand

and armour were

its

eddies,

what is meant by .Wirakshndraiavd-

The version giveu is offered tentatively. — T. •-'S

its

excellent foam.

•

MAEABHARATA.

which

rafts with

and cars were the

And it

teemed.

could

be easily forded by persons desirous of victory, while to those that were cowards

was unfordable. 5

river to flow, Vibhatsu, that slayer

among men,

addressing Viisudeva, said,

standard of

the

sena and There,

the

Suta's son

are

fighting

others

Panchiilas, afeared

the

Janfmldana

umbrella over

car-warrior!

with

white

the

Kama, looketh

with

away,

flying

exceed-

engaged in routing the Pancha-

and Kritavarman, and Drona's

There, Kripa,

Bhima-

There,

cfreat

Kama, are

heroes and bull

—Yonder, O Krishna,

visible

with that

head, along

his

king Duryodhana,

Yonder,

ingly resplendent as he las '}

Having caused that

of hostile

son, that

mighty car-warrior, are protecting king Duryodhana, themselves protected by the Suta's son

There,

O Krishna, Calya,

holding the reins, looketh exceedingly

well conversant with

resplendent as, seated on the terrace of Kama's car, he guideth that vehicle

such is in

this

the

Bear me to that mighty car-warrior, for

10 !

battle

Otherwise, the son of

will,

even.

Without slaying Kama

never return u

will

Janarddana,

Badha,

wish cherished by

sight, exterminate

the 12

—

mighty car-warriors of the Parthas and the Srinjayas Thus addressed, Kecava quickly proceeded on his car against !

*hy army, towards the mighty bowman Kama, for causing a 13 pingle combat to take place between Kama and Savyasachin.

command

Indeed, the mighty-arn^ed Hari, at the son, proceeded on his

that

battle,

Pandu's

O sire, the tremendous peal

resembling,

Vasava's thunder.

With

that

loud rattle

the sun of Pandu, of prowess incapable 14

came) thy host. having Krishna for that

Beholding Arjuna of drivor

his

high-souled

addressing Kama, said/

of his car-wheels,

of being

baffled

endued with immeasurable soul, advanced, vanquishing (as

standard of

the

all

The rattle then of Arjuna's vehicle rose loud

tPandava troops. * in

car, assuring (by that very act)

and he

white steeds and

thus advance, and seeing the one,

the

king of the

Madras,

— There cometh that car-warrior hav-

ing white steeds yoked unto his vehicle and having Krishna for las driver, slaying his foes in battle

whom thou

wert enquiring ?

There cometh he about

Yonder standetk the son of

KAKVV fARVA. Kunti, holding his bow Gcmdiva !

2f)f)

thou canst slay him to

day, great good may then be done to us

resisted by anybody

else

of Bharata's race

smi

incapable,

large numbers of his

Radha, of being

Do thou proceed against Unit,

there

foes,

speedily breaking on

sides

all

the

hero

slaying

Dhartarashtra army

Avoiding

Dhananjaya advanceth with great

all

swelling

think, an

with

rage

Blazing with wrath, Partha will not stop

anybody else save

desire of battle with

thee,

Vrikodara is being so much, afflicted (by thee)

when

especially 23

our warriors,

speed', f<r, as

encounter with thee, judging by his form

and energy !"

cometh, our

lie

Through fear of Arjuna who

Kama,

Hi; cometh.O

!*'

desirous of an encounter with thee, slaying, as chief warriors!

Learning thafr

king Yudhishthira the just hath been exceeding!}' mangled and

made earless by thee, and seeing (the plight of) Gikhandi.n, and Satyaki, and Dhrishtadyumnathe son of Prishata,* 4 and then sons

(five)

and Yudn&manyu, and Uttamaujas;

of Draupadi,

and the brothers Nakula and Sahadeva," that scorcher of foes, viz.,

thee

Partha, advanceth i5 !

impetuously on a single car

again..:.

Without doubfc, he is advancing with speed against us,

Do thou, O Kama, proceed against bowman (among us that can do so).*'

avoiding other combatants

him, for there is no other I do not behold in

the

world any

that would resist the angry (resisting the surging sea)

bowman, save

other

not behold any arrangements;

I do

made for his protection, either on his Hanks

or at his rear.

advanceth alone against thee

thv success

L >ok after

Thou alone art able to encounter the two Krishnas in That business is against

thine,

Dhananjaya

z °

thee,

Arjuna in battle like the continent

O son of Radha, Thou

art

Drona, of Drona's son, of Kripa battle the advancing Savyasachin

Proceed,

the equal

He.

now 89 !

battle

therefon

Do thou resist in this great-

S1 !

Indeed, O

Kama, slay this

Dhananjaya that resembles a snake frequently darting out tongue, or a roaring bull, or a tiger in the forest kings,

those mighty car-warriors

of the

sa !

its-

There, those;

Dhartarashtra arm}',

through fear of Arjuna, are quickly flying away, regardless one another. 53

Bhishma, of

<»£

Save thee, O Suta's son, there is no other man,

O hero, that can, in battle, dispel the fears o^ those retwatii

— MAHABIURATA.

SOO •combatants

O tiger among men, obtain-

All those Kurus,

ing thee as their refuge in this battle, stand, depending on thee 85

and desirous of thy protection

Advance against the son of

now with

son of Riidha, mustering that courage

Pandu,

which thou hadst in battle vanquished the almost invincible Vaidehas, the Amvashthas, the Kamvojas, the Nagnajits, and the Gandharas 35 !

O mighty-

Mustering thy great prowess,

armed one, proceed against Vasudeva of Vrishni's

race,

who is

always gratified by the diadem-decked (Arjuna) !" "

'Kama said,

— Thou seemest now to be

of mind and thou art now agreeable to me

armed one, entertain any

fear

thy usual frame

Do not, O mighty-

Dhananjaya 38

Behold the

might of my arms today, and behold my skill

Single-handed,

I will today destroy the mighty host of the Pandavas, as those two lions

among men,

this truly unto thee

8D !

viz.,

two Krishnas

the

also

say

I will never return from the field today-

without slaying those two heroes

Or, slain by

shall today sleep on the field of battle

those

two, I

Victory is uncertain in

— — All great car-warriors, O Kama, say that

battle !*° Slaying or slain, I shall today achieve my purpose I* 1 " 'Calya said,

this foremost of car-warriors, (viz., Arjuna), even

when

alone,

When, again, he is protected by Krishna, who 42 will venture to vanquish him ? " 'Kama said, As far as I have heard, such a superior car-

is invincible

—

warrior hath never been born on Earth since I will contend in buttle

such

4S !

Behold my prowess,

with even

Partha who

that

This prince of Kuril's line, this foremost of car-warriors,

careers in battle, borne by his steeds

white

hue

Perhaps,

he will despatch me to Yama's abode today.

Know, however,

Kama's death, these

exterminated!***

that with

all will

The two arms of this prince are never covered with sweat. They never tremble. They are massive and covered with cicatrices.

Firm in the use of weapons, he

skill and endued is

no warrior equal to the son of Pandu !* s

number of arrows and shooteth them *

possessed

with great lightness of hands.

Beferniif' lo the Kuru aruiv.— T.

of great

Indeed, there

He takcth a if

they

large

were one.

KARNA PARVA. Quickly

fixing

to the distanco

them

orr the

of two

301

bow-string, he

What warrior is there on Earth that is

them

propelleth

They always

miles.

fell

him

equal to

the 4S

foe.

That

Atiratka, endued with great activity,

with Krishna as his ally,

gratified the god Agni at

There, on

the high-souled

Khandava.

that occasion,

Krishna obtained his discus, and Savyasachin,

the son of Pandu, obtained his

bow GdndicaS 7

There that mighty-armed one, endued with might that knows no decay, obtained his terrible car unto which are yoked those white

also

steeds, as also his two great celestial

and inexhaustible quivers,

and many

the god

weapons, from

celestial

innumerable Daityas, and

soul,

fire.

In the

he obtained his conch Dcvadatta and slew

region of Indra

on Earth that

him ?*'

Who is there

Kalakeyas.

the

all

superior

Possessed

he gratified Mahadeva himself

obtained from him the terrible and mighty that is capable of destroying the three

of greatness

and

fight,

fair

weapon I'd cupula

worlds.

The

several

Regents of the world, united together, gave him their weapons of immeasurable

energy,

quickly destroyed in

Kalakhanjas. 51

with

which that

united Asuras,

those

battle

among men

lion

the

viz.,

So also, in Virata's city, having on a single

car vanquished all of us, he snatched from

that

wealth

kine and took from all the foremost of car- warriors (portions of) their

garments. 52

Challenging that foremost of

Kshatriyas,

that hero having him of Vrishni's race for his ally, that warrior

who is endued with such energy and such attributes, myself,

in point of courage

of uifuriate energy,

out a

I regard

O Calya, to be the foremost of persons in all the world

rival, that

He is, again, protected by that Kecava who is Narayana himself and who is with-

high-souled

Vasudeva, that ever-victorious

Vishnu armed with conch, discus, and mace, whose attributes all the worlds, united together, cannot (in narrating) exhaust in tin

thousand years.

Beholding the two Krishnas together on

same car, fear cntercth my heart together with courage.* * Some of the Bengal texts read Jayate-asdddkyatancha. nouueed a before the last word to be that ultbou^h

i.<

coura

The onpro-

The Bense Beema

the negative particle.

Kama is not wuutiu

the 54 " 1 '

fear also eutera

MAHABHARATA.

D02 Piirfcha

foremost

the

bowmen,

of all

while

Narayana

Even such are VasuIndeed, the mountains of Hima-

unrivalled in encounters with the discus. deva, and the son of Pandu

vat may move from the spot were they stand, 55

Krishnas skill,

Both

firm

them

heroes, possessed

are

and mighty

use of weapons,

the

two

but not the

great

car-warriors.

Both of them have adamantine frames. Who else, O Calya, save myself, would proceed against Phalguna and Vasudeva 57 The desire cherished by me today, viz., that are even such ? a battle with the son of Pandu,

without delay

fulfilled

Soon

rivalled and beautiful battle take

ruler of the Madras, will

wonderful and un-

that

will

place

Either

over-

will

throw those two in battle today, or the two Krishnas will today

me sa

overthrow

— Saying these words unto Calya, Kama,

that slayer of foes, began to utter

loud

roars

that

battle,

Approaching then thy son, that fore-

like those of the clouds.

most one among the Kurus, and saluted respectfully by him,

Kama said unto that prince 53 as also unto those two mightyarmed warriors, viz., Kripa and the Bhoja and the ruler of the Gandharas with tor's son,

chief Kritavarman,

his son,

and the precep-

and his own younger brother, and all the foot-soldiers

and horsemen and elephant-riders, these words, 60 viz.,

— Rush,

towards Achyuta and Arjuna and close up their path all around,,

and cause them to be tired with exertion,

that,

lords

Earth, I may easily slay those two after ye all will have mangled

them deeply GI !

— Saying, — So be

of slaying

desirous

Arjuna,

— those foremost of heroes,

speedily

proceeded against him.

Those mighty c;ir- warriors then, obeying the behest of Kama* began to strike Dhananjaya with innumerable arrows battle.

Like the great ocean containing a

battle.

His

foes

quantity of

Arjuna received all

water receiving all rivers male and female, those warriors in

vast

that

could

not

notice

when

he fixed his excellent arrows on the bowstring and when let

them

All

off.

that

could

seen

steeds and elephants, piurced with the arrows sped

his heart. ^auie car.

Hia

— T.

i.-

a tuiied

feeling at

sight

he,

was that men and

of the

by Dhanan-

two Krishnas on

tbe

KARA A I'ARVA. deprived of life/ 1

continually fell down,

jfiya,

unable

diseased eyes that are

Jj03

men with

gaze at the Sun, the Kau-

on that occasion could not gaze at Jaya who seemed

ravas

to be possessed of the rises at the end of

energy

of the

all-destroying

the Yaga, having arrows

fur

his

Sun

that

rays,

and

Gandiva fur his beautiful circular disc. * Smiling the while, Pariha with his own showers of arrows cut off the excellent arrows sped at him by those mighty car-w;u riurs. In return, he struck them with innumerable arrows, drawing his bow Gan-

diva to a complete circle.

months

the

waters (of the of his foes,

Kripa, and

As the Sun of fierce rays between

Jaishtha and Ankara .easily dricth up the even so Arjuna, bathing the arrows

Earth),

consumed thy the

and thy son himself,

Bhojas,

the

chief of

Then

king of kings !"

troops,

towards

shootincr showers of shafts, rushed

him.

Drona's son

that mighty car-warrior, rushed towards him, shooting his

also,

shafts.

Indeed,

all

them rained

of Panda,

with

his

however,

own

with

great

shafts those excellent arrows sped

of slaying

cut

off

him with

by those accomplished war-

him, and pierced the

of his adversaries with three shafts. fierce rays, the

The son

and speed,

activity

great care in that dreadful battle riors desirous

arrows on him,

their

68 on a mountain.

the clouds pouring torrents of rain

chest of each

Having arrows

for

his

Arjuna-sun, with Gandiva drawn to its fullest

stretch constituting his corona, looked resplendent, as he scorched his foes, like the Sun

himself between the months of Jaishtha

and Ashiira, within

his

bright corona.

pierced Dhananjaya with

ten

Then Drona's son

foremost of shafts, and

Ke<;ava

with three, and the four steeds of Dhananjaya with four, and

showered many shafts on the Ape mi Arjuna's banner. 71 ail

that,

sary's

Dhananjaya cut

hand with three

olf the full-drawn

razor-faced arrow, and his four steeds

with four

felling last from his enemy's car his

standard

arrows. 7 *

filled

another costly

bow,

decked with gems

bright

then, as

bow in his adver-

head of his driver with a

shafts, the

The son of Drona

For

the

other shafts,

with three

other

with wrath, took

body

Takshaka, and

and diamonds and gold, and resembling a

migVy snake caught from

the

foot

of a mountain,

String-

— MAHABHARATA.

304f

bow

ing that

he stood on the Earth, and bringing out

one after another shafts and weapons, Dronas son, that warrior

who excelled

many accomplishments, began to afflict

those

two unvanquished and foremost of men and pierce them from

many shafts. 7 *

a near point with riors, viz.,

Then those mighty car-war-

Kripa and Bhoja and thy son standing at the van

of battle, fell upon and shrouded that bull among the Piindavas,

shooting showers of shafts, like the clouds shrouding the disof darkness. 78

peller

the

Possessed of prowess equal to that

thousand-armed (Karttaviryya), Partha then showered his on Kripa's bow with arrow fixed on it, his steeds, his

shafts

standard, and

the wielder of the

driver, like

his

thunder in

days of yore showering his shafts on (the Asura) Vali. 7S

weapons destroyed by Partha's

shafts,

His

and his standard also

having been crushed in that great battle, Kripa was

afflicted

many thousands of arrows by Arjuna as Ganga's son Bhishma before them (viz., on the day of his fall) by the same

with as

diadem-decked warrior. 77 shafts, cut off the

The

valiant Piirtha then, with

standard and the

bow

of thy roaring

his son.

Destroying next the handsome steeds of Kritavarman, he cub off the

latter's

standard as well. 78

He then began to destroy

with great speed the elephants of the hostile force, as also its cars

with their steeds and drivers and bows and standards.

Thereupon that vast host of thine broke into a hundred parts like an embankment washed off by the waters.

quickly right

urging Arjuna's

side.

Then

other

car,

Then Ketjava,

placed all his afflicted foes on his

warriors,

with their well-equipt cars bearing

desirous of an lofty

standards, followed

Dhananjaya who was proceeding with great speed 81

encounter,

Indra

Then those mighty

proceeding for the slaugther

of Vritra.

car-warriors, viz., Cikhaudin

and Satyaki and the twins, pro-

ceeding in the direction of Dhananjaya, checked those foes and, piercing them with keen arrows,

the

Kuru

heroes

uttered terrible roars. 8 *

Then

and the Srinjayas, encountering one another

with rage, slew one another with straight shafts of great energy, like the Asuras

battle. all

and the

celestials

days of yore in great

Elephant-warriors and horsemen

chastisers of foes,

and car-warriors,

— inspired with desire of victory or ihh

KA.RXA patient of proceeding to heaven,

305

1'AItVA,

the field.

Uttering

loud shouts, they pierced one another vigorously

with well-

shot arrows. 8 *

In consequence

fast on

foil

of those

high-soUled

of great courage shooting their arrows at one

dreadful battle and by that

moans causing

warriors

another in a

that

darkness there,

.subsidiary,

became

enveloped in gloom and the very effulgence of the Sun

became

the

points

of the

totally shrouded.'

compass, cardinal

and

Section LXXX. "Sanjaya said rescuing

— 'Then, O king, Dhananjaya, desirous of

Kunti's of the

of warriors

attack), 1 avoided,

Bhima who, assailed by many foremost Kuru army, seemed to sink (under that

son

Bharata, the troops of the Suta's son and

began, with his shafts, to despatch those

hostile

heroes (that

were opposed to Bhima) to the regions of death. **

Successive

showers of Arjuna's shafts were seen overspread on the sky, while others were

seen

slay thy army. 3

Filling the welkin

with his shafts that resembled dense flights of feathery creatures,

Dhananjaya,

troyer unto the

monarch, at that time, became the very DesKurus.*

those enpiipt with heads

With flat

his

broad headed arrows, and

and sharp

razors,

and cloth-

yard shafts of bright polish, Pirtha mangled the bodies of his foes and cut off their heads. 8

with falling and fallen

The field of battle became strewn

warriors,

some with bodies cut and

mangled, some divested of armour, and some deprived of heads. 6

Like the great Vaitarani (separating the regions of life from those of the dead),

king,

became uneven

terrible, in

consequence of

the field of battle,

and impassable and unsightly and

steeds and cars and elephants, which, struck with Dhananjaya's

were mangled and pierced and crushed and cut

shafts,

diverse

ways. 7 8

The

P^arth

was

also

covered with

off in

broken

* The first word of 2 is texts.

Visriji/a and not Vimridya as read in many Avoiding Kama's division, Axj una despatched the assailants of

Bhima who seemed to sink under the pressure brought to bear opon him. j

This seems to be the plain sense of the passage.— T.

MAEABHARATA,

30C

shafts and wheels and axles,

and with cars that were

steedlesa

had their steeds and others that were driver less or 9 Then four hundred well-trained and their drivers. had that or that

wrath, and ridden by war-

ever furious elephants, excited with riors cased in mail of

of gold,

and

golden

and urged by

hue and adorned with ornaments

fierce

guides

toes, fell down, struck by the

with pressure of heels

diadem-decked Arjuna with

his shafts, like loosened summits, peopled with living creatures, of gigantic mountains.

10 " 11

Earth became covered

the

Indeed,

with (other) huge elephants struck down by Dhananjaya with 18 Like the Sun piercing through masses of clouds, his arrows. Arjuna's car passed through dense bodies of elephants with juicy secretions flowing

their bodies and looking like masses

adown

Phalguna caused his track to be heaped up with slain elephants and men and steeds, and with cars broken in diverse ways, and with lifeless heroes deprived of weapons and of clouds.

engines and of armour, as also loosened from hands that

with arms of diverse kinds

held them.

The twang of Gdndiva

became tremendously loud, like the peal of thunder in the wel15 The (Dhartarashtra) army then, smitten with the shafts kin. of Dhananjaya, broke, like a large vessel on the bosom of the ocean, violently

lashed by

fatal shafts, sped from

the tempest.

Diverse kinds of

Gandiva, and resembling burning brands

17 That mighty and meteors and thunder-bolts, burnt thy army. host, thus afflicted with Dhananjaya's shafts, looked beautiful

18 bamboos on a mountain in the night. Crushed and burnt and thrown into confusion, and mangled and

like a blazing forest of

massacred by the diadem-decked Arjuna with host of thine then fled away on

all sides.

his

arrows, that

Indeed, the Kauravas,

burnt by Savyasachin, dispersed on all sides, like animals in the great forest frightened at a forest-conflagration.

The Kuru host

then (that had assailed Bhimasena), abandoning that mightyarmed hero, turned their faces from battle, filled with anxiety." After the Kurus had been routed, the

unvanquishcd Vibhatsu,

approaching Bhimasena, stayed there

for a moment."

Having

met Bhima and held a consultation with him, Phalguna formed his brother that the arrows had been Yudhishthira's body and that

the

latter

in-

extracted from

was perfectly

well,

K-AKNA T'AKV.l,

30?

With Bhimasena'a leave, Dhananjaya then proceeded (once more against his foes), causing the Earth and the welkin, (>• Bharata, to resound with the rattle of his

car.'

He was then

surrounded by ten heroic and foremost of warriors,

thy

viz.-,

sons, all of whom were Dusgasana's juniors in age.* 5

Afflicting

Arjuna with their shafts

elephant

with burning brands,

hunters afflicting an

those heroes,

with

O Bharata, (on their

seemed to dance,

outstretched

The

slayer

them

his

Madhu then, guiding his car, placed all

Indeed, he expected that Arjuna would

very

them to Yama's presence. 27

bows,

cars).

send

soon

right all

Beholding Arjuna's car proceeding

in a different direction, those heroes rushed towards him.

Soon,

however, Partha, with a number of cloth-yard shafts and crescent-shaped arrows, cut off their standards and steeds and bows

and arrows, causing them to fall down on the Earth.

some broad-hcadod arrows he cut decked with lips

bit

and

off

felled

and eyes blood-red in rage. "

looked beautiful like an assemblage of lotuses. 28 30

Then with their heads

Those faces

Having slain

those ten Kauravas cased in golden mail, with ten broad-headed

endued great impetuosity and equipt with wings of gold;

shafts

that slayer of foes,

viz.,

Arjuna, continued to proceed.'

" 31

Section LXXXL "Sanjaya

said,

— 'Meanwhile ninety

rushed for battle against the

Kaurava car-warriors

ape-bannered Arjuna who

advancing, borne by his steeds of exceeding tigers among men,

fieetness.

wa.i

Those-

having sworn a terrible oath about the other

world* encompassed that

tiger

among men,

viz.,

Arjuna. 8

Krishna, however, (without minding those warriors), urged tho white steeds of Arjuna, endued with great speed and adorned

with ornaments of gold and covered with net-works of pearls, 8 Those ninety Samsaptaka cars pursued towards Kama's car.

Dhananjaya, that slayer of

foes,

pouring upon

* Such as— "May we sink in ever-lasting

Arjuna

' :

Vide

hell

the ouih of the Saimaptakaz in the

him showers of we tly away from

beginning of DruM

MAHABHAKATA.

308

shafts, as he proceeded towards

Kama's car. 4 Then Arjuna, with

his keen

ninety assailants endued with

shafts, cut

off those

great activity, along with their drivers and bows and standards.' Slain by the diadem-decked Arjuna with diverse kinds of shafts,

they fell down like Slddhas falling down, with their cars, from

heaven upon the exhaustion of their merits. 6

After this,

many

Kauravas, with cars and elephants and steeds, fearlessly ad-

vanced against that foremost one of Kuril's race, that chief of the Bharatas,

viz.,

Phalguna. 7

That large

teeming with struggling men and

force

steeds,

of thy

sons,

and swelling with

foremost of elephants, then encompassed Dnananjaya, checking his further progress.

The mighty Kaurava bowmen shrouded

that descendant of Kuril's race with darts and swords and lances

and spears and maces and scimitars and arrows. destroying the darkness

Like the Sun

with his rays, the son of Pandu des-

troyed with his own shafts that shower of weapons overspread in the welkin.

Then a force of Mlecckas riding thirteen hundred

ever-infuriate elephants, at the

command

of thy

son, assailed

With barbed arrows and Ndl'ihas and Partha in the flank. cloth-yard shafts and lances and spears and darts and Kampu12 That nas and short arrows, they afflicted Partha on his car. matchless shower of weapons, some of which were hurled by the elephants with their tusks, Phalguna cut off with his broad-

headed shafts and crescent-shaped arrows of great keenness. 13

With excellent arrows

of diverse

elephants and their standards

kinds, he

struck

Indra striking mountains with thunder-bolts.

all

those

riders

Afflicted

with

and

and banners 14

gold-winged shafts, those huge elephants decked with necklaces of gold,

fell

down deprived of life, like mountains ablaze with

volcanic fires.' 5

Amid

that

roaring and cf

shouting O and wailing Q

army of men and elephants and steeds, the twang of Gdndiva,

O monarch,

rose

high. 16

shafts), fled away on all

Elephants,

sides.

wandered in all directions. 17

Steeds

Cars,

O king,

struck (with

also, their riders

slain,

O monarch, looking like the

changeful forms of vapour in the sky, deprived of riders and 18 steeds, were seen in thousands.

Horsemen, O monarch, wan-

dering hither and thither, were seen life

by the

shafts

of Partha. 19

to fall

down deprived of

At that time the might

KARNA i\\K\ A. Arjuna's arms was seen.

809

(So great, was thai,

he vanquished horsemen and

in that battle,

might) that alone, elephants and

warriors (that had been assailing him from every side).

Bhimasena, passed,

beholding

consisting

of three

race,

kinds of forces,

Kaurava

slaughtered remnant of the

Then

(Kaurava) bust

largo

abandoned the small unwith

car- warriors

engaged, and rushed impetuously,

he had been

car

diadem-decked Phalguna encom-

the

of Bharata's

bull

was. 22

spot where Dhananjaya's car

force that still remained after the

whom

king, to the

Kaurava

Meanwhile the

heavy slaughter, exceedingly

weakened, fled away. Bhima (as already said), beholding Arjuna, proceeded towards his brother. 23

The unfatigued Bhima, armed

with a mace, destroyed, in that battle, the portion that still remained, after the greater part had been slaughtered by Arjuna, of the Kaurava horse

the death-night, as its food,

24 possessed of great might.

Fierce

subsisting upon men and elephants and

steeds

and capable of crushing walls and mansions and

exceedingly terrible mace of his, Bhima made incessantly to descend on men and elephants and steeds gates of cities, that

around him. riders.

25 " 26

That mace,

sire,

With that mace the son of Pandu crushed men and Struck therewith, they fell down

steeds cased in steel armour.

with great

slew numberless steeds and

noise.

Biting

the earth

with

their

and

teeth,

bathed in blood, these, with the crowns of their heads and bows

and lower limbs crushed,

laid

themselves down on

supplying all carnivorous creatures with

food.

the

field,

Satiated with

blood and flesh and marrow, and eating bones as well, that mace (of

Bhimasena) became,

gazed at. 23

like the death-night, difficult of

being

Having slain ten thousand horse and numerous foot,

Bhima ran hither and thither in rage, armed with his mace. 80 Then, O Bhilrata, thy troops, beholding Bhima mace in hand, thought that Yama himself, armed with his fatal bludgeon, was in their midst. 31

The son of Pandu then, excited with rage, and

resembling an infuriate elephant, ponotratcd into the division (of the Kauravas),

elephant

like a Makara entering the ocean."

Having, with his formidable mace, penetrated into that

phant division, the enraged Bhima, <.!:

patched it to Yama's abode."

within a very

then

ele-

short time,

beheld

thobc

in-

310

MAHAB1IARATA.'

furiate elephants with spiked plates on their bodies, falling

every side, with their riders and standards, like winged moun-

Having destroyed that elephant

tains. *

Bhimasena, once more riding on

his

mighty

division, the

car,

followed Arjuna in

That great host, thus slaughtered, filled with cheermonlessness and about to fly away, stood almost inactive,

his rear.

arch, assailed on all sides with weapons.

lookino humble and standing

inactive,

Beholding that host

and almost motionles,

57 Arjuna covered it with life-scorching shafts.

Men and steeds

and elephants, pierced in that battle with showers of shafts by the wielder of Gdndiva, looked beautiful like Kadamva flowers

with their filaments.

Thus struck with Arjuna's

shafts

quickly slew men and steeds and cars and elephants,

that

loud wails,

O king, arose from the Kuru army. 59 With cries of Oh and Alas, and exceedingly frightened, and huddling close to one another,

The

40 thy army began to turn round with great speed.

Pandavas or

however, continued between the

battle,

or elephant-warrior or steed or elephant

horseman

unwounded.

There was not a single car-warrior

might.

of great

Kurus and the that was

Their coats of mail pierced with shafts and

themselves bathed in blood, the troops looked blazing like a Acohas. iZ

forest of flowering

Beholding Savyasachin putting

forth his valor

on that occasion, the Kauravas became hopeless

of Kama's

life.

unbearable, the

diva, fled

they

Regarding the touch of Arjuna's shafts to be Kauravas, vanquished by the wielder of Gdn-

from

Deserting Kama in that battle as

rescue

all sides,

them).

Arjuna's shafts, they fled

with

were being thus struck

away in fear on (to

the field. 44

loudly calling upon

the

Suta's

son

Partha, however, pursued them, shooting

hundreds of shafts and gladdening the Pandava warriors headed

by Bhimasena. 46

Thy sons then, O monarch, proceeded towards

the car of Kama.

Sinking, as they seemed to be, in a fathom-

Jess

ocean,

Kauravas,

Kama then became an

island

unto them. 47

monarch, like snakes without poison, took Kama's

shelter, moved by the fear of the wielder of Gdndiva.*

even as creatures, take the

The

shelter

Indeed,

with actions, from fear of death, ruler of men, from thy sons,

sire, endued

of virtue,

fear of the high-souled son of Pandit,

took the

shelter

of the

KARNA PAR71, mighty bowman Kama.' addressed

,311

Then Kama, uninspired with

those distressed warriors

with

afflicted

— Do not fear

fear,

arrows and

—

Come to me M Beholding thy army vigorously broken by Partha, Kama, stretchbathed in

blood, saying,

ing his bow, stood desirous of slaughtering that the Kurus had left the

the

wielders of weapons, reflecting a little, set his heart

slaughter of Partha and began to draw

bow,

ing his formidable

Seeing

foe."

Kama, that foremost

field,

upon the

deep breaths.' 3

Adhiratha's son

of all

Bend-

Vrisha once more

rushed against the Panchalas, in the very sight of Savyasachin 5 *

many

Soon, however,

lords of Earth, with eyes red

ing rain

Then thousands

upon a mountain."

on him like clouds pour-

blood, poured their arrowy downpours

of arrows,

Kama, sire, deprived Loud sounds of wail were

foremost of living creatures, shot by

many Piinchalas

of their

lives.

uttered by the Panchalas,

thou of great intelligence, while

they were being thus smitten by the Suta's son,

that rescuer of

"" friends, for the sake of his friends.'

Section LXXXII. "Sanjaya said, flight by the

— 'After the Kurus, O king, had been put to

mighty car-warrior Arjuna of white

Suta's son Kama began to destroy the sons

steeds, the

of the

Panchalas

with his mighty shafts, like the tempest destroying congregated masses of clouds. 1

Felling Janamejaya's

driver with broad-

faced shafts called Anjalikas, ho next slew the

steeds

of that

Panchala warrior.

With a number of broad-headed arrows he

then pierced both

Catanika and Sutasoma and then cut

the bows of both those

dyumna with

arrows,

six

Next he

heroes.*

pierced

and then, without the

off

Dhrishtaloss

moment, he slew in that encounter the steeds of that prince. Having slain next the steeds of Satyaki, the Suta's son then slow Vi(;oka the son of the ruler of the

slaughter of the Kaikava

kaya division,

viz.,

prince, the

caused

commander

Upon of the

the

Kai-

Ugrakarman, rushed with speed and striking

Prascna the son of Kama with .osity,

Kaikavas. 3

him

many

tremble.

shafts

of fierce

Then Kama,

impetu-

with

three

MAHABHARATA.

$12

crescent-shaped arrows, cut off the arms son's

assailant,

whereupon the

and the head of his deprived

latter,

fell

life,

down upon the ground from his car, like a £? ala tree with its branches lopped off with an axe. 5 Then Prasena, with many keen arrows of straight course, covered the steedless grandson of Cini, and seemed

the son of

Upon the slaughter

upon

dance

Kama, struck by of his

sped at him

— Thou art

of Cini,

grandson of Cini

slain,

all

Suta then, cutting

bow and

arrows the

the

The

with a couple

off

— and Then

fierce

son

razor-faced

six

Dhrishtadyumna's son.

and then cut

off

The high-souled son

shafts,

Adhiratha then pierced Sutasoma with a very keen

During the progress of that fierce dyumna's son had been

standard of Cikhandin, struck 8 and

pierced Cikhandin himself with

the head

foes.

arrow with three shafts of his, and

off that

struck Kama himself with three other shafts. of the

with

filled

from desire of slay-

an arrow capable of slaying

Cikhandin cut

down. 6

fell

Kama, with heart

son,

rage, addressed that bull among the Cinis

ing him, saying,

Soon, however,

his car.

the grandson

battle,

Krishna,

slain,

and

Dhrishta-

after

among

lion

shaft.

kings,

addressed Partha, saying, — The Panchalas are being extermi— Thus addressed, nated Go, O Partha, and slay Kama 10

foremost of men, smiled and

the mighty-armed Arjuna, that

then proceeded on his car towards the car of Adhiratha's son, desirous, on that occasion of terror,

of rescuing the

slaughtered by Kama,

of car- warriors.

that

leader

Panchalas 11

Stretch-

ing his Gandiva of loud twang, and fiercely striking his palms

with his bowstring, he suddenly created a darkness by means of his arrows and destroyed large numbers of men and steeds and cars and standards. 1 * The echoes (of that twang) travelled through

the welkin.

The

birds, (no

longer

finding

room in their own With his

element), took shelter in the caverns of mountains. full-drawn

diadem -decked Partha, foe,

resplendent.

bow, Arjuna looked

Bhimasena,

that

at that

foremost

car behind that son of Pandu,

princes then, on their cars,

Indeed,

terrible moment,

of heroes,

fell

proceeded on

protecting his rear.

the

upon the his

Those two

proceeded with great speed towards 1

Kama, encountering their foes along the way. *

During that

KARN'A PAR 71,

813

fought fiercely, grinding the Somakas,

Interval, the Sufca'a son

He slew a large number of car-warriors and steeds and elephants, and covered the ten points of the compass with his shafts."

Then Uttamaujas and Janamejaya, and the enraged Yudha-

manyu and Cikhandin, uniting with Prishata's son (Dhrishtadyumna) and uttering loud roars, pierced Kama with many Those five foremost of Panchala car-warriors rushed

shafts. '

against

Kama otherwise called Yaikartana, but they could

not

shake him off his car like the objects of the senses failing to

shake off the person of purified soul from abstinence. 17 ly cutting

with his shafts,

ners,

Quick-

bows, standards, steeds, drivers, and ban-

off their

Kama struck

each

arrows and then uttered a loud roar like a lion.

them with 18

fivo

People then

becamo exceedingly cheerless, thinking that the very Earth, with her mountains and trees, might split at the twang of

Kama's bow while that hero, with shafts in hand and touching the bowstring, was employed in shooting at his assailants slaying his foes. 19

and

Shooting his shafts with that largo and

extended bow of his that resembled the b:>w of Cakra himself, the son of Adhiratha

looked

resplendent

then pierced Cikhandin

son

with

dozen

The

keen

Uttamaujas with half a dozen, and Yudhamanyu

and then each of the other two,

viz.,

Sun, with

the

his multitude of blazing rays, within his corona.

shafts,

(Janame-

tho Somaka

five

mighty

foes,

even as

person

dreadful battle by the Suta's son,

of purified

objects soul.

with

other

well-equipt

theirs

that

were sinking

of the

The

cars,

senses fivo

the

O sire, those

vanquished by a

Draupadi then,

those maternal uncles of

rescued the

aro

sons

Karna-occan,

sea by means of other vessels.

ship- wrecked

rescuing from the depths of the ocean in

shafts.

then stood inactive, gladdening their

car- warriors

the

and

with three,

jaya) and Prishata's son (Dhrishtadyumna) with three

Vanquished

Suta's

persons

merchants

Then that, bull among

the Cinis, cutting off with his own keen shafts tho innumerable '

Kama, and piercing Kama himself with many keen arrows made entirely of iron, pierced thy eldest son with 24 Then Kripa, and the Bhoja chief (Kritavarman), eight shafts.

arrows sped by

and

thy

son.

and Kama himself assailed Satyaki

return

MAHABHARATA.

31 4>

That foremost one, however, of Yadu's rac?

with keen shaft?.

fought with those four warriors like the chief of the Daityas -fighting with the regents

of the

twanging bow stretched to

its

(four)

quarters. 28

With

his

and from which

fullest limits,

shafts flowed incessantly, Satyaki became exceedingly irresistible 26

Those scorchers

then, viz., the mighty car-warriors among the Piincha-

of foes las,

meridian Sun in the autumnal sky.

the

more riding on their cars and clad in mail and united

once

together, protected that Foremost one among the Cinis, like the

Maruts protecting Cakra while engaged in in battle.

-steeds

the

his

afflicting

The battle, fraught with the slaughter

men and

and elephants, that then ensued between thy

warriors of thy army,

became so

fierce

foes

and

that it resembled

the encounter in days of old between the gods and the Asuras. 28 Car-warriors and elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers, covered

with showers of diverse weapons, began to move from p )int

one

Struck by one another, they reeled or utter-

to another.

ed wails of woe in

affliction

fell

down deprived

life.

When such was

the state of affairs, thy son Duscasana. the younger brother of the king, fearlessly advanced against Bhima,

shooting showers of shafts.

Yrikodara also rushed impetu-

ously against him, like a lion springing towards a -deer.

large

Ruvu

The encounter then that took place between those two

^heroes incensed with

other and who

each

sport making life itself the

resembling that between

stake,

engaged in

became exceedingly

battle's fierce,

Camvara and Cakra in days of old. 81

They struck each other deeply with shafts possessed of great energy and capable of piercing each other's body, like two mighty elephants excited with lust and with juicy

secretions

adown

with each

incessantly trickling

their

bodies, fighting

other in the vicinity of a she-elephant in her season. sa dara,

with

arrows, tho

groat speed, cut off, with a couple

bow and

the standard of thy son.

Vriko-

of razor-headed

With another

winged arrow he pierced his antagonist's forehead and then (with a fourth) cut driver. 33

Vrikodara

Prince

off from his trunk the

with a dozen shafts.

his steeds, he once

head of the

latter's

Duscasana, taking up another bow, pierced

Himself holding the reins of

more poured over Bhima a shower of straight)

— KAtlNA PART*

arrows. 8*

Then DuscSsana sped a shaft bright

the Sun,

decked with gold, diamonds, and other precious gems,

capable as

the

body

of piercing the

of his

of Indra's thunder.*1

stroke

with, Vrikodara

fell,

assailant,

as the

rays of

and irresistible

His body pierced

there-

with languid limbs and like one deprived

of life and with outstretched arms, upon his

own excellent car.

Recovering his senses, however, he began to roar like a lion.'

" S5

Section LXXXIII. "Sanjaya said,

— Fighting

ed the most difficult feats in off

pierced his

foe's

with

driver.

nine shafts.

With a

encounter.

Having achieved those

feats,

the

activity,

pierced

Filled

single

shafts

Indeed, the

losing a moment, then

dued with great

Duscasana achievsix

endued with great

of great energy.

that

Bhima's bow, ami then with

shaft he cut

prince,

fiercely, prince

Bhima

himself

warrior,

without

pierced

high-soulcd

Bhimasena with many

with rage at

this,

shafts

Bhimasena, en-

activity, sped at

thy son a fierce dart. Beimpetuously coursing towards him like a blazing brand, thy high-souled son cut it off with ten

holding that terrible dart

shafts shot from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch. 8 *

that difficult feat achieved by him,

all

Seeing

the warriors, filled with

Thy son then once more pierced Bhima deeply with another shaft.* Blazing with wrath at sight of Duscasana, Bhima then addressed him, saying,

joy, applauded him highly.

Pierced I have

been,

hero, quickly

and deeply, by thee

—

Bear now, however, once more, the stroke of my mace s Having said this, the enraged Bhima took up that terrible !

mace of his for Duscasana>'s slaughter. him, he said,

—

Once more addressing

thou of wicked soul, I shall today drink thy

blood on the field of battle

6 !

— Thus addressed, thy son sped,

at Bhima with great force a. fierce dart resembling Death itself.

Bhima also, his form

filled

with wrath, whirled his terrible

mace and hurled it at his antagonist. 7

That mace, precipitately

breaking Duseasana's dart, struck thy son *

A triplet in the Bengal texts.— T.

on his head.

In-

3JG

MAIIABHARATA,

deed, perspiring like an elephant with juicy secretions trickling

adown his body, Bhima, in that dreadful battle, hurled his With that weapon, Bhimasena forcibly

mace at the prince. 8

threw Duseasana down from his car at a distance measured by the length of ten bows. Struck with that impetuous mace, Duseasana, thrown down on the ground, began to tremble.* All his steeds also,

king, were

slain,

reduced to atoms by that falling weapon.

and

car

his

was

too

As regards DusQiisana

himself, his armour and ornaments and attire and garlands were ail displaced,

and he began

with

writhe, afflicted

agony. 10

Endued with great activity, Bhimasena then recollected, in the midst of that terrible battle and standing as he did amid many forem >sfc warriors of the Kuru army, all the acts of hostility (done towards the Pandivas) by thy sons. 11 The mighty-armed Bhima of inconceivable feats,

king, beholding

Duseasana

(in

that

plight), and recoil ;cting the seizure of Draupadi's tresses and her

disrobement while she was ill, 12

— indeed, the innocent Bhima,

also upon the diverse other wrongs

reflecting

princess while her husbands

sat

the scene,

— blazed up in wrath

clarified

butter.* 13

inflicted on

fire

fed

with

slay

protect

wretched Duscasana

the

him

( if

they

can )

l !

Let

said,

all

— Having said

osity rushing towards a

Like a

lion

— Today I

the

this,

exceeding strength and great activity suddenly desire of slaying Duscasana. 15

libations

Kama and Suyodhana and

Addressing

Kripa and Drona's son and Kritavarman, he shall

that

with faces turned away from

warriors

Bhima

rushed, from

of fierce

impetu-

mighty elephant, Vrikodara, that fore-

most of heroes, rushed towards Duseasana in that battle and attacked him in the very sight of Suyodhana and Kama. Jumping down from his car, he alighted on the ground, and 16 Drawing then fixed his eyes steadfastly on his fallen foe. his whetted sword of keen

edge, and

trembling with rage, he

placed his foot upon the throat of Dusrasana, and ripping open

the breast

warm

of his

life-blood.

O king, with '

Prasikta,

enemy stretched on the ground, quaffed

that

lit. :

Then throwing him down and

cutting

head of thy son,

Bhima

sword,

the

dreucbed with.— T.

his off,

—

KAHNA TAKVA. great intelligence, desirous quaffed his enemy's blood,

;;I7

of accomplishing

his

vow,

again

by little as if for enjoying its Then looking at him with wrathful eyes, he said these

taste.

words 18 19 :

— regard the

taste of this blood of

superior to that

little

mother's

my enemy to be

milk, or

honey, or clarified

butter, or good wine that is prepared from

honey, or excellent

water, or milk, or curds, or skimmed of drink there are on

nectar I"" 21

with

milk, or all

— Once more, Bhima of

kinds

fierce deeds, his heart filled

beholding Duscasana dead,

wrath,

other

Earth that are sweet as ambrosia or laughed softly

and

— What more can do to thee Death has rescued thee from my hands — They, O king, that saw Bhimasena, while

said,

the latter, foe,

filled with joy at having quaffed the blood of his was uttering those words and stalking on the field of

down

battle, fell

the sight, saw their

fear.

They that

did

not

fall

weapons drop from their hands.

down at Manv,

from fear, cried out feebly and looked at Bhima with halfshut eyes. 24 Indeed, all those that stood around Bhima and beheld him

drink

the

blood of Dusgasana,

fled

away, over-

whelmed with fear, and saying unto one another, This one id no human being / 2S When Bhima had assumed that form, people, beholding him quaff his enemy's blood, fled away, with

—

Chitrasena, saving unto one another, lldlcshasa /" Then the (PanchaJa)

—

This Bhima mast prince

be a

Yudhamanyu, at

the head of his troops, fearlessly pursued the retreating Chitra-

sena and pierced one after another. 27

him with seven keen shafts quickly sped At this, like a trampled snake of great

energy repeatedly darting out his tongue and desirous of vomiting its poison, Chitrasena turned back

and pierced the Pan-

chaia prince with three shafts and

his

driver

brave Yudhamanyu then struck

off his

with six.* 8

enemy's head

The with a

shift equipt with goodly wings and an exceedingly

keen point

and sped with great care from

its

fullest

Chitrasena,

Kama,

stretch. 89 filled

Upon

the

fall

his his

bow drawn brother

with wrath and displaying his prowess, put the

host to flight, at

which Nakula rushed against that warrior of

immeasurable energy." v;ry sighlj ox

Pandava

Bhima also, having slain there (at the

Kama) the vindictive D-usciisanaj took up a little

—

— MAHABHAIUTA.

318

quantity of his blood, and endued as he was with stentorian lungs, said these words in

of heroes of the world

31 :

thy life-blood from thy throat more, saying, continued,

hearing of all those foremost

the

— O wretch among men, here

beast, beast,

—

(as thou didst before)

— They that danced at us then, saying,

— even we

I drink

Filled with joy, abuse us once

32 !

— And he

beast, beast,

will dance at them now, repeating their own words

Our sleep at the

palace

of deadly poison

our

Pvamanakoti, the administration bites of black

food, the

setting fire to the house of

33 !

lac,

cobras, the

the robbing of our kingdom

by gambling, our exile in the woods, the cruel seizure of Drau3 padi's beautiful tresses, * the strokes of shafts and weapons in battle, our

miseries

we endured at

Virata's

home,

the

abode, 36

—

other kinds

of sufferings

by us

these woes borne

all

through the counsels of Cakuni and Duryodhana and Radha's son,

proceeded from

thee

cause

their

Through the

wickedness of Dhritarashtra and his son, we have endured these woes

words,

these

Happiness has never been ours 38 !

king,

the

victorious

in blood, with blood flowing from

ceedingly red,

filled

his

once

Vrikodara,

39 spoke these words unto Kecava and Arjuna.

all

— Having said more

Indeed, bathed

wounds, with

face

ex-

with great wrath, Bhimasena endued with

great activity, said these words

—Ye heroes, that which I had

vowed in respect of Dusc^sana in battle, I have accomplished 40 I will soon accomplish my other vow by slaying today l

that second beast,

viz.,

Duryodhana,

in this sacrifice of battle

Striking the head of that wicked-souled one with the presence of the Kauravas, said these words,

Bhima,

filled

I shall obtain

peace

my 41 !

foot

— Having

with great joy, drenched with

blood, uttered loud shouts, even as the mighty

and high-souled-

Jndra of a thousand eyes had roared after slaying (the Asura) Vritra.'

Section LXXXIV. "Sanjaya said,— 'After the slaughter of DuscHsana, O king, ten of thy sons, heroes that never retreated from battle, all of

whom were great car- warriors, endued with mighty

energy,

)

KAKN1 l'AKVA, and

with

filled

their

t.ho

shafts.* 1

Bhima with

of wrath, shrouded

poison

and Kavachin,

Nishangin,

and Pagin, and

Dundadhara, and Dhanurgraha, and Alolupa, and Saha, and Shanda, and Yatavega, and Suvarchasas, 3 these ten, afflicted at the

with their shafts

sides

all

Bhima, with eyes red like

together and check-

brother, united

slaughter of their

ed the might}' armed Bhimasena with

shafts.

by those great

with

fire

their

the Destroyer himself in rage. 4

Resisted

car- warriors,

looked

fury,

resplendent

Piirtha, however, with ten

broad-headed shafts of great impetuosity, equipt with golden wings, despatched to Yama's abode those ten

decked with golden bracelets. 5

Upon

heroes, thy army fled

away

the

son, afflicted with the

fear

of the

a great fear entered the

heart

the

very

Bharata princes

of the

sight

Then,

Piindavas.*

ten

of those

fall

Suta's

O king,

Kama at sight of Bhima's

prowess which resembled that of the Destroyer himself unto creatures. 7

living

Then

Calya, that ornament

of assemblies,

understanding the state of Kama's mind from

a survey

his features, addressed that

words suited

hour 8

to the

chastiser

of foes

— Do not be grieved,

son

does not become thee

Afflicted with the

these kings are all flying away

calamity that has befallen

of Riidha

fear

Duryodhana

stupified

around him. 11

Those hero?s,

and

others,

with afflicted

tending

Duryodhana,

the

Piindavas of

viz.,

headed by Dhananjaya, arc advancing against thee

sure aim,

for buttle '"

For these reasons,

tiger

among men, muster-

ing all thy

prowess and keeping the duties of a Kshatriya

before thy

eycs

proceed against Dhananjaya! 13

The

burthen (of this battle) has been placed upon thee by of Dhritarashtra

great

•

fame

entire

the son

thou of mighty arms, bear that burthen

to the best of thy p >wer I

conse-

alive,

still

hearts, their rage quelled by sorrow, are

high-souled

the

Kripa and

those of the king's brothers that are

sitting

This

Bhimasena,

brother Duscasana

quence of his blood having been quaffed by

Bhima,

Exceedingly pained by the

his

and might M *

defeat,

heaven

A triplet in the Bengal texts.

Jn is

victory

certain

11 !

there

will

There,

MAHABHAIUTA,

320

son of Radha, th) son Vrishasena,

filled

the

stupefaction

has overwhelmed thee,

that

towards the Pandavas

16 !

with wrath at sight

rushing

— Hearing these words of Calya of

immeasurable energy, Kama, reflecting, concluded unalterably

had become unavoidable. 17

Then Vrishasena,

that

fighting

filled

with wrath, and riding upon his own car, rushed towards

that son of Pandu,

Vrikodara, who, armed with his maco,

viz.,

resembled the Destroyer himself with his

employed in slaughtering thy troops. 18 viz.,

and was

rod,

fatal

That foremost of heroes,

Nakula, filled with wrath, rushed at that enemy, of theirs,

Kama's son, striking him with arrows, like the victorious Maghavat with joyous heart rushing against (the Asuva) Jambha. 19 Then the brave Nakula, with a razor-headed shaft, cut off his enemy's standard decked with gems. With a broad-headed arrow, he next cut off the bow also of Kama's viz.,

son, with a golden belt

attached to it. 20

weapons, Kama's son

then,

for

Duscasana,

quickly

desirous

Possessed of mighty of showing

took up another bow,

his

regard

and pierced

Nakula the son of Pandu with many mighty celestial weapons. 21 The high-souled Nakula then, filled with rage, pierced his antagonist with shafts

that

resembled large blazing brands.

accomplished in weapons, showered

At this, Kama's son 82 celestial Aveapons upon Nakula. also,

From

rage engendered by

own

the strokes of his enemy's weapons, as also from his

weapons, the son

res-

Kama

plendence and the energy

of his

blazed up like a

2* with libations of clarified butter.

Indeed,

fire

fed

O king, Kama's son then slew with

his

excellent

weapons the beautiful steeds of the delicate Nakula, that were of the Vanayu breed, white in hue, and decked with trappings 2

gold. *

Alighting then from his steedless vehicle, and taking

up a bright shield decked with golden moons, and armed

also

with a sword that was blue as the sky, Nakula, frequently a bird. zs

Performing diverse

beautiful evolutions in the air, the son of

Pandu cut off many

jumping up, careered there

foremost of men and steeds and elephants. sword,

they fell down on the

horse-sacrifice by the person

Earth

Cut

off

with that

animals cut

appointed to

that

duty.

off in a 26

Two

thousand well-trained heroes, delighting in battle, hailing from

KARNA PARVAJ

321

diverse realms, well-paid, of sure aim,

and fcheir limbs smeared

with excellent sandal-pas fce, were quickly cut off by the single-

handed Nakula inspired with desire of victory." son, suddenly

advancing

Then Kama's

with great speed against the rushing

Nakula in that battle, pierced him from every side with many keen arrows from desire of slaying him. 28 Thus struck with shafts (by Vrishascna), Nakula struck his brave antagonist Pierced by the

in return. filled

with wrath.

son

Pandu, Vrishasena became

Protected, however, in that dreadful battle,

by his brother Bhima, the high-souled Nakula achieved such terrible feats on that occasion."

Filled with rage,

son

the

Kama then pierced with

eighteen

who seemed to

that battle, while employed, unaided,

sport

in destroying the foremost of

shafts

the

men and steeds and

Deeply pierced by Vrishasena in that

Nakula

heroic

elephants. 9-

O king, Pandu'a

battle,

son Nakula, that foremost of men, endued with great activity,

became filled with rage and rushed

that

Kama from desire of slaying

the son of

encounter against

him. 81

Then Vrisha-

sena poured showers of keen shafts

upon Nakula of great precipitately advanced against him in

energy as the

latter

that battle like

a hawk

meat. 82

Baffling,

Nakula careered

shafts,

with outstretched wings from desire

however, in

antagonist's

his

diverse

shafts, the

shield,

Then

motions.

battle,

cut off, with

Kama's son, O king, in that dreadful mighty

showers of

beautiful

decked with a thousand

stars,

his

Nakula while he was careering with great activity in those 33 Without losing a moment, that resistor beautiful motions. of foes,

(viz.,

Vrishasena,)

headed shafts, then cut keen-edged,

with

off that

made of steel, capable

half a

dozen sharp razor-

naked sword, polished and of bearing

great

strain

and of destroying the bodies of all foes, and terrible and

fierce

as the poison of the snake,

rapidly.

After this,

Nakula while he was whirling it

Vrishasena deeply pierced his antagonist

with some well-tempered and keon Having achieved those feats in battle that were

in the centre of his chest

shafts.

54 " 25

applauded by all noble persons and that could not bo achieved

by other men, the high-souled Nakula of great activity, ed with those shafts, proceeded to the 41

car,

king, of

afflict-

Bhima-

mahabitarata,

[22 8t

The steedless son of Madri, thus afflicted by Kama's Bhima's car like a lion springing upon a mountain summit, in the sight of Dhananjaya." The highsena.

son, sprang upon

soulcd and heroic Vrishascna

then, filled

piercing those two sens of Pandu. 33

that car belonging to

the

after his sword also had

After the

of Pandu

son

Nakula,) and with

off

foremost of Kuru

for

destruction

(viz.,

been speedily cut

many other

sena's) shafts,

wrath, poured

with

upon there two mighty car-warriors

his arrowy showers

(Vrisha-

heroes, uniting

together, approached the Pandava brothers, and began to strike

them with showers of shafts. 39

Then those two sons of Pandit,

Bhima and Arjuna,

with wrath, and resembling

viz.,

filled

two fires fed with libations of clarified

butter,

poured terrible

showers of arrows upon Vrisbasena and the other assembled warriors around him. 40

The son

dressing Phalguna, said,

— Behold, Nakula here

of the

Wind-god

The son of Kama is resisting ourselves

against Kama's son

fore,

41 !

then, ad-

being afflict-

Proceed, there-

— Hearing these words, the diadem-

decked (Arjuna) approached the car of his brother Vrikodara.

Beholding that hero arrived near, Nakula addressed him, saying,

—Do thou speedily slay this one — Thus addressed in 9

that battle by his brother Nakula standing before him, the diadem-decked Arjuna, that formidable hero, precipitately caused his

ape-bannered

guided by

vehicle,

driven towards Vrishasena.'

Section "Sanjaya said,

himself, to

LXXXV.

— 'Learning that Nakula had been deprived

of his car, afflicted with arrows and of

Kecava

" 4S

Kama's son, and had

his

mangled with the weapons

shafts,

these

eleven

formidable resisters of

heroic

sons

of Drupada,

the

bow, and sword cut all

foes,

viz.,

the

off,

five

grandson of Cini forming the

sixth,

and the

five

sons

of Draupadi, quickly

their

loud-sounding

cars

drawn by bounding

proceeded on steeds,

with

banners waving in the air, and guided by accomplished drivers.

Those well-armed warriors began to destroy thy elephants and cars and men

and steeds with shafts that resembled formidable

KAltXA TAIIVA.

JT23

Snakes. "'

Then llridikii's son and Kripa and Drona's son and Duryodhana and Cukuni's son and Vrika and Ivratha and Deviivridha, theso foremost of Kanrava car-warriors, speedily proceeded against, them, armed with their bows and mounted upon their cars of rattle deep as the roar of elephants or the 1

—

clouds. 8

—

These Kaurava warriors, assailing those foremost of

men and first of car-warriors, viz., those eleven heroes Pandava army),

king, with the mightiest

(of the

of shafts, checked

their progress. At this, the Kulindas, riding upon their elephant-:

of impetuous speed that looked like mountain summits and that

were of the hue of newly-risen clouds, advanced against those Kaurava heroes.* Wcll-equipt, and covered with gold, those infuriate elephants, born in Himalayan regions

accomplished warriors longing like clouds in the

and ridden by

battle, looked

resplendent

welkin, charged with lightning.'

The prince

for

of the Kulindas then vigorously assailed Kripa and

his

and steeds, with ten shafts made wholly of iron.

Struck (in

driver

return) with the shafts of Caradwat's son, the prince fell

down The younger brother of that prince then, assailing Kripa's car with a number of lances made wholly of iron and all bright as the rays of the Sun, littered loud roars. The ruler of the Gandharas, however, cut with his elephant on the

ground. 5

off the head of that warrior while

Upon the

filled

uttering

Kulindas, those

of those

fall

of thy army,

still

roars. 7

those

mighty car-warriors

with joy, blew their sea born conchs, and,

armed with bows, rushed against their enemies. 8 The battle then that once more took place between the Kurus on the one Pandus and the Srinjayas on the

side and the

arrows and scimitars and

darts

other, with

and swords and maces and

battle-axes,

became fierce and awful and exceedingly destruc-

tive of men

and steeds and elephants. 9

and elephants and

foot, striking

the ground, making the

field

Car- warriors and steeds

one another,

of battle

look

fell

when congregated mases of clouds charged with

down on

the

welkin

lightning

producing incessant peals of thunder are assailed by

winds from all the

sides.

Then

huge elephants, the

and the horse

under

the

chief of the

car- warriors,

Catanika,

the

and fierce

Bhojas struck

innumerable

foot,

Struck with KritaYarmaus

MAHABHA1UTA.

32i soon

these

shafts,

down on

fell

ground. 11

the

About

this

three huge elephants

time, struck with Acwatthaman's shafts,

by accomplished warriors, and adorned with lofty standards, fell down lifeless on the ground like gigantic cliffs riven by thunder. 12 Then cquipt with

all

of weapons,

kinds

ridden

the third brother of tho Kulinda chief assailed thy son Duryo-

dhana with some excellent shafts

centre

the

of the

chest.

Thy son, however, pierced him as also his elephant with many whetted

shafts.

prince on his back,

That prince

of elephants

with the

then,

down, with streams of blood issuing

fell

from every part of his body, like a mountain of red chalk in the season of rains, with red streams running adown its breast,

tumbling down when riven by the thunder of Cachi's lord. ^ The Kulinda prince, however, having saved himself in time, 1

rode another elephant. assailed

shafts, that

down like a thunder-riven hill.

that invincible car- warrior,

like a

mighty

tree

deeply pierced with

The ruler of the Krathas,

however, struck with shafts by

down with his steeds,

fell

rider,

its

mountains from the back of another

the prince born on the elephant,

Pierced,

car.

with

elephant,

animal

that

prince,

Kratha with his driver and steeds and

however, with Kratha's fell

Urged by the

uprooted by

driver,

the

bow, and standard,

tempest.'

Then Vrika

dozen shafts that prince having his

The huge beast quickly crushed with his four legs (the Kaurava 17 That prince of warrior) Vrika with his steeds and car.

abode

on the

Himavat

stood

elephants then, with its rider, deeply

his elephant.

pierced

the

son

Vabhru, advanced impetuously against the latter. Vabhru's son, however, that prince of the Magadhas, afflicted with arrows by

Sahadeva's son,

fell

down. 18

The

of the

prince

Kulindas then, with that elephant of his which was capable of slaying the foremost of warriors with its tusks and body, rushed impetuously

mountaineer

towards Cakuni

succeeded in

afflicting

slaying

for

Cakuni

him.

greatly.

Soon,

About

however, the chief of the Gandharas cut off his head.

this time huge elephants and steeds and car- warriors and

hands of foot, struck by Catanika, paralysed and crushed,

fell

The

down on

the

large

Earth,

snakes beat by the tempest caused

KARNA TAIIVA, by Garuda's wings. 80 rava

side),

32»

Then a Kulinda warrior (on the Kau-

smiling the

while,

Catanika the son of

pierced

Nakula with many whetted arrows.

Nakula's son, however,

with a razor-headed arrow, cut off from his antagonist's trunk his head resembling a lotus.

Then Kama's son pierced Cata-

nika with three arrows made wholly

with as many.

and Arjuna

of iron

And he pierced Bhima with

also

arrows and

three

Nakula with seven, and Janarddana with a dozen. 82

Behold-

that achiever of superhuman feats,

ing that feat of Vrishasena,

the Kauravas became rilled with joy and applauded him greatly.

They, however, that were conversant with Dhananjaya's prowess, fire.

regarded Vrishasena as a libation 28

heroes,

The diadem-decked Arjuna then, seeing

Madri's

Nakula,

son

deprived of his steeds in

poured on

already

that slayer

the

of hostile

foremost of men,

that

and beholding mangled with Janarddana arrows, rushed in that battle against midst

the

all,

Vrishasena who was then staying in front of the Suta's son

(Kama)"

Like Namuchi rushing against Indra, Kama's son,

that great car-warrior, fierce

also rushed, in

that battle, against that

and foremost of men, viz., Arjuna, that warrior possess-

ing thousands of arrows, as the latter advanced towards him. 2 '

Unsupported by any one, the high-souled son of Kama, quickly piercing Partha with

shaft

that

battle, uttered

a loud

shout, like Namuchi in days of old after having pierced Indra. 28

Once more Vrishasena pierced Partha in the

msny

formidable

shafts.

Piercing

left

Krishna

arm-pit with

next,

arrows, he struck Partha again with ten shafts. 27

steeded Arjuna,

with

nine

The white"

having before been pierced by Vrishasena with

those formidable arrows, became slightly

enraged and set his

Kama's son.* 8 The high-souled and diadem-decked Arjuna then, his brow furrowed from wrath with three lines, quickly sped from the van of battle a number heart on the slaughter of

of shafts for the destruction of Vrishasena in that

With eyes red in wrath,

that

himself if the latter fought

encounter. 25

hero capable of slaying

with him, then

laughed

Yama terribly

and said unto Kama and all the other Kaurava heroes headed by Dnrvodhana and Drona's son, these words: Today, O

—

Kama, in thy very sight in

this

battle,

will

despatch

the

MAHABHAlUTA.

326 fierce Vrishasena

unto Yama's abode with

dued with great

activity,

absence, and !

son in the very sight of ye

Let

warriors

him

protect

After that,

slay

I will

the midst of battle

art the root of this

will

all

the

slay

O fool, even

thee,

Today I

will,

sena will slay this Duryodhana,

arisen

80 " 84

evil

son.

he was

the

Kaurava car-

fierce

Vrishasena

viz.,

Arjuna, in thee

that

proud

this

policy

this

Putting forth

this

and Bhima-

battle,

wretch among

men, born of dice hath

quarrel

— Having said these words, Arjuna rubbed the string took aim

of his bow and sped,

while

and that hast become

quarrel

strength, I will certainly slay thee in

son, en-

battle, slay

inconsequence of Duryodhana's patronage

through whose

however, will slay thy

alone and unsupported on his car all

keen arrows ?

slew

People say that all of you, united together,

Vrishasena in that

king, a number of shafts

for the slaughter

The diadem-decked Arjuna then,

and

battle,

fearlessly

great force, pierced Vrishasena with ten shafts in all

Kama's

and

with,

his

vital

With four fierce razor-headed arrows he cut off Vrishass Struck with Partha's sena's bow and two arms and head. shafts, the son of Kama, deprived of arms and head, fell

limbs.

down on the Earth from his car, like a gigantic f dla adorned 87 Beholdwith flowers falling down from a mountain summit. ing his son thus struck with arrows and fall down from his vehicle, the Suta's son Kama,

endued with great

and

activity

scorched with grief on account of the death of his son, quickly

proceeded on his car, inspired with wrath, against the car of the diadem-decked Partha. 83

soulcd Kama,

and Arjuna.'

filled

son

slain

battle, the

high-

Indeed, beholding his

in his sight by the white-steeded Arjuna in

with great wrath, rushed against

Krishna

"* 39

* In numbering the verses of this the Bengal nor the

Bombay

edition,

section, I

the

Bombay

shown above.

Almost

although

there are in all 39 verses in this section as

have followed neither in

edition all

Bengal texts, so far as this section is concerned, appear to be faulty

the

—T.

LXXXVI.

Section

"Sanjaya Baid,—'Beholding the gigantic and roaring Kama, incapable of being resisted by the very gods, advancing like bhe surging

sea,

among men,

that bail

of Dac&rha

viz.,

addressed Arjuna, saying, — That ear-warrior

having

race,

white steeds and owning Calya

with

whom

thou

art

Dhananjaya, summon

all

for

contend

his

driver

battle!

thy coolness

comet h hither

Therefore,

O son of

Behold then,

White steeds are yoked unto it and Radha'a son himself is the warrior that stands upon

Panda, the well-equipt car of Kama

Teeming with banners and decked with rows of bells, the welkin by steeds it looks like a celestial car borne along it

white in hue. 4

Behold

standard of the high-souled

the

also

Kama, bearing the device of the elephant's rope, and looking like the bow of Indra himself that devides the firmament by a clear

line. 5

Kama as

Behold

he advanceth from desire of

doing what is agreeable to Dhritarashtra's son, shooting show6 There ers of shafts like the clouds pouring torrents of rain !

Madras, stationed on the fore-part of

the royal chief of the

the car, guideth

energy

the

of Radha's

steeds

son

of immeasurable

Hear the peal of their drums and the

7 !

of their conchs

son

Hear,

fierce

blare

Panda, the diverse leonine

Hear the terrible twang, silencing all other loud sounds, of the bow (Vijaya) stretched There, the mighty carby Kama of immeasurable energy

roars

coming from every

side

warriors among the Panchalas, with their followers, are breaking like a herd of deer in the

angry lion

10 !

Suta's son with every care

son

the

sight

of Kunti, to

of an

slay

the

No other It is well known to me Kama person

venture to bear the shafts of that thou art

great forest

It behov^th thee,

save

thee

can

competent to vanquish in battle the three worlds

mobile and immobile creatures including the very gods and the Gandharvaa /' What need be said about with all

their

battling with that

puissant one,

even gazing at him, grei'.t

viz.,

are

incapable of

terrible

L;ana, that

when people

the fierce

and

god, the three eyed £arva, otherwise called Kaparddin

Thou, however, hadst, by

battle, gratified

that

/1S .

god of gods

MAHABHARATA,

328

himself, that Civa who is the source of bliss unto all

creatures,

The other deities also have all given

that deity called Sthanu !

Through the grace, O Partha, of that god of mightygods, that deity armed with trident, slay Kama, Lefi armed one, like Indra slaying the A sura Namuchi thee boons P.*

ever

prosperity

victory in battlo

" 'Arjuna said, is

O Partha,

thee,

— — My victory,

O slayer

the steeds,

certain

Madhu,

and

car,

with

gratified

worlds, art

the

Hrishikeca,

Krishna,

no doubt in this, since thou,

the master of all

and do thou obtaiu There

that 16

art

Urge

O great car-warrior

Today Phalguna will not return from battle without slaying Kama 17 Behold Kama slain today and cut into pieces with !

my shafts with

(

Govinda, thou wilt today behold

Or,

Kama's ) arrows

stupifying the three worlds, will last,

That

never

tired

proceeded on his car against a rival

at hand

people will speak of it

Krishna who

elephant.

terrible

19 !

battle, capable

As long as the Earth Partha quickly

with exertion,

Kama like an elephant against

Once more Partha

Hrishikeca, for time

energy said

of great

words, viz.,— Urge

passeth !— Thus

addressed

Pandu, 21 Kecava wished him victory

by the high-souled son

and urged those steeds

fleet

Then that

thought.

car

reached the front

Panda's son, possessed of great speed, soon of

slain

— Saying these words unto

unto Krishna, that chastiser of foes, these the steeds,

Kama's car.' ""

Section LXXXVII. "Sanjaya

said,

— 'Beholding Vrishasena

with grief and rage, shed tears from of his

son.

copper from

Endued with rage,

slain,

eyes

his

having summoned Dhananjaya to

for

with

great energy,

Kama proceeded in

Kama, filled the

death

eyes red as

the

face

of his

foe,

Then

those

two

battle.

cars, both possessed of solar effulgence and covered with tigerskins, when they camo together, looked like two Suns close

Both having white steeds and both crushers of those two great bowmen, those two warriors possessed of

to each other. 3 foes,

KABNA PAltVA, [

Solar effulgence, Looked resplendent in the firmament.

the

for

conquest

(Vali)

the

were filled with wonder. 5 towards each other

like the ,>nn

and seeing

worlds,

with the clatter

also

their

approach each other, "

with wonder. 6 7

for

creatures

of car- wheels, the

that

viz..

twang

and leonine

of arrows,

standards,

and that

all

Kama

Partha bearing tho

became

the lords of Earth

filled

Seeing those two car-warriors ensealed with

O Bharata, all

each other,

all

Seeing those two warriors rushing

bearing the elephant's rope ape,

resi

preparing

carefully

three

of bows, the sound of palms, the whizz

Shouts,

and ihe Moon

Beholding those cwo warriors that

bled Indra and Virochana's sun battle

329

the

kings

uttered

and cheered them repeatedly with applause. 3 single combat between

leonine

shouts

Beholding

that-

Partha and Kama, thousands of com-

batants there slapped their arm-pits and waved their garments

The Kauravas beat their musical instruments and

on the air. 9

blew their numerous conchs for gladdening Kama. 10 all

the

Pandavas,

for

point of the compass to resound with pets and

conchs.'

Similarly,

gladdening Dhananjaya, caused every the blasts of their trum-

With those leonine shouts and

on arm pits and other loud cries and roars

of brave

the

slaps

warriors,

tremendous became the noise there on the occasion of that encounter between

two

tigers

among men,

stationed on their

each

Kama and Arjuna. 18

equipt

with

cars,

those

People

beheld those

two foremost of car-warriors,

each armed

with his

formidably bow,

arrows and darts, and each owning a lofty

Both were clad in mail, both had scimitars tied to

their belts,

both had white steeds, and both were adorned with

standard.

One had Krishna for driver on his car, and the other had Calya. Both of them were great car-warriors and excellent conchs.

both looked alike. 14

Both possessed of leonine necks and

arms, the eyes of both were red, and both

were adorned

with

B>th were armed with bows that seemed to lightning, and both were adorned with wealth of

garlands of gold. 1

flash like

weapons. 15

Both had yak tails

and both were decked

for

being

fanned therewith,

with white umbrellas held over them.

Both had excellent quivers and both looked exceedingly handsome,"

The limbs of both were smeared with red sandal-paste 42

MAHABHARATA.

330

and both looked like infuriate bulls. like the lion,

Both were broad-necked

both were broad-chested, and both endued with

great strength.

Challenging each other, O king, each desired

to slay the other.

And

two mighty

in a cowpen.

bulls

they rushed against each other like 18

They were like a couple of

infuriate elephants or of angry mountains or

of virulent poison or of all destroying Yamas.

snakes

of infant 19

Enraged with

each other like Indra and Vritra, they looked like the Sun and the Moon in splendour.

Filled with wrath,

mighty planets risen for the destruction end of the Yuga.

of their own accord

on the

of celestial

fathers,

were of

godlike

beauty, they

Indeed, they looked like the

energy.

field

endued with great might, both

world at the

of the

Both of them born

and both resembling gods

they resembled two

Sun and the Moon come

of battle.

Both

of them

filled

with pride in battle,

they were armed with diverse weapons.

Beholding those two

tigers among men, those two heroes endued

with the impetu-

O monarch, were filled with great Seeing those two tigers among men, viz., Kama and

osity of tigers, thy troops, joy.

Dliananjaya, engaged in battle, a doubt entered the all

as to

which of them would be victorious. 23

hearts

Both armed

with superior weapons, and both well-practised in

battle,

both

made the welkin resound with the slaps on their arm-pits. 84 Both possessed of great celebrity in consequence of prowess and might, they resembled the Asura Camvara and the chief of the

respect

of their

battle.

equal to Kartaviryya or Dacaratha's son

battle,

skill

celestials

Both

both

sembled Vishnu himself in energy or Bhava himself in

re-

fight.

Both had white steeds, O king, and both were borne on foremost of cars. Both of them, again, had foremost of drivers in that great battle.

car-warriors looking

Beholding, resplendent

O monarch, those two great on their

cars,

the

Siddhas and Charanas that came there became wonder.

with their

The Dhartarashtras then, O bull troops,

bands of

filled

with

of Bharata's race,

encompassed the high-souled Kama, that 29

Similarly the ornament of battle, without losing any time. Pandavas headed by Dhrishtadyumna, filled with joy, encom-

passed the high-souled Pilrtha who was unrivalled in battle,"

KARNA TAHVA.

Kama became

the

33 T

O monarch, of thy army

stake,

while Partha became the stake of the Piindavas.

battle,

soldiers of both sides were as

became the spectators

members

was certain.

the

victory

Those two then,

defeat

Kama and Arjuna, for

viz.,

standing

the

field

battle.

O monarch, in that encounter,

Skilled in fight, the two heroes,

became highly enraged with each other and wished Vritra,

the

began the match between ourselves

reverse,

and the Pandavas both

each other. 34

The

Indeed, as regards

parties engaged in the game of battle, either victory 88

that

assembly and

of that

game.

of that

slay

Desiring to take each other's life, like Indra and

O lord, they faced each other like two

mighty comets

Then in the sky,

and disputes,

of terrible form."

differences

accompanied with revilings, arose among the creatures there,

O bull of Bharata's race, on the subject of Kama and Arjuna. O sire,

All the inhabitants of the world,

amongst themselves. 86

vas, the Picdchas, the Snakes, the site

sides

that

were heard

differ

The gods, the Ddnavas, the GandharRdkshasas, adopted oppo-

Kama and Arjuna. 87

encounter between

The welkin, O monarch, with all the stars, became anxious on Kama's account, while the wide Earth became so on. 88 The rivers, Partha's account, like the mother for her son. the seas, the mountains,

O best of men, the trees, the decidu-

ous plants and herbs,

took the side

Arjuna.

scorcher

The Asuras, of foes,

sided Kama.*

the

diadem-decked

of the

Ydtudhdnas, the

Guliyalris,

and ravens and other rangers of the sky, All

the

gems and precious jewels, the

four

the Upavedas, the Upa-

Vcdas with the histories as the fifth, 41 and nishads, with all their mysteries, and the compilations, Vasuki, and Chitrasena, and Takshaka, and Upatakshaka, and with their all the mountains, and all the offspring of Kadru children, all

the

great

Ncigas, took the side of

the

offspring

of Surabhi,

Kama.

of Vairjlli, and

The smaller snakes

Wolves and wild stags

animals and birds were,

Airdvata and his children,

offspring

the

Bhogins,— these sided Arjuna. 43

with poison, and the

snakes endued

Arjuna."

and

kinds

all

king, for victory

Vaaas, the MaruU, the Sdddhyas, the

the

sided

all

of auspicious

Partha. 44

Bvdras, the

The Vuwc-

— no oo 2

MAHABITARATA.

Soma and

Indra and

devas, and the Acwins, and Agni and

Parana, and the ten points of the compass, became the partisans of

Dhananjaya,

while

all

Adityas sided Kama. 45

the

The Vaicyas, the Cudras,

the

Sutas, and

were of a mixed origin,

all,

O king,

those

castes that

adopted the side of

Kadha's son. 46

The celestials, however, with the Pitris, and with all that were numbered with them as also with their followers, and Yama and Vaicravana and Varuna were on the side

of Arjuna.

fices,

The Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas, the

sacri-

The

and those gifts called Dakshinds, were for Arjuna.

many carnivorous animals and birds, the

Pretas, the Phcachas,

Rdkshasas with all the monsters of the sea, the dogs, and the 48 The diverse tribes of celestial and jackals were for Kama. regenerate and royal Rishis were

the son

for

The

of Pandu.

Gandharvas headed by Tumvuru, O king, were on the side of Arjuna.

With the offspring of Pradhd and Mauni, the Gandharvas and Ajisaras, and many wise

several classes of wages,

having for their vehicles wolves and stags and elephants

and steeds and cars and foot and clouds and the wind, came there for witnessing the

encounter between

Kama and Arjuna.* "51

The gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Ndgas, the Yakshas, the birds, the great Rishis versed in the Vcdas, the Pitris

that subsist

upon

the

gifts

called

Sivadhci, 62

and asceticism

and the sciences, and the (celestial) herbs with diverse came,

virtues,

O monarch, and took up their stations in the welkin,

making a great

noise.

Brahman, with the regenerate Rishis

and the Lords of creatures, and Bhava himself on his car, came to that part of the welkin.*

Beholding those two high-souled

Kama and Dhananjaya, about to encounter each — Let Arjuna vanquish Kama said, — Let however, Kama vanquish Arjuna ss Indeed, Surya, let my son Kama, slaying Arjuna, gain the victory in this battle — Let my son, slaying Kama, win the victory 56 —

onos,

viz.,

Cakra himself said,

other,

Even thus did Surya and Vasava those two foremost of personages,

who were there and had adopted opposite sides, disputed

with each other.

Beholding those two high-souled ones,

Kama and Dhananjaya, about to engage in and the Asuras adopted opposite

sides.

battle, the

The

three

viz.,

gods worlds

So3

KARNA PAU7A. with the Celestial Rishis and all the gods and all The gods were on tures, trembled at the Bight." Partha, while the Asuras were on that

were interested

creatures

leader

that hero.

man),

that

of car-warriors,

encounter,

Biding

Kuru

the

side

Thus

all

(his

the

Kama.

crea-

other

Pandava

Boholding the Self-born Lord of Creation (viz., Brahth<^

him, saying,

gods urged

of these two lions among

men be

— Let, O god, the success Let not the vast

equal I"

universe be destroyed in consequence of this encounter between

Kama and Arjuna the success

of these

O Self-born

equal !"

two be

but the word, let

one, say

—Hearing these words,

Maghavat, bowing down unto the Grandsire, represented this unto that god of gods, that foremost one of all intelligent beings, saving,

— Formerly

was said by thy holy

the two Krishnas arc always sure to win victory

self that

Let

Be gratified with me, holy Brahman and Icana replied unto the chief of the celestials, saying, The victory of the high-souled Vijaya is 65 Savyasachin who gratified the eater of i. c, of that certain, sacrificial libations in the forest of Khandava and who, coming

(now) as thou hadst then said one

this,

—

to heaven, rendered assistance

on the side of the Danavas. should meet

with defeat

poses of the gods will be

thee,

without doubt, the pur-

this, 67

One's own

chief of the celestials, should always be important

souled Phalguna, again,

without doubt.

was gratified, why should not he, victorious,

he, that

viz.,

his

standard

for

the

driver of his

Vishnu himself'

mind and great

hero, accomplished in arms

O thou of a hundred eyes,

who hath

is,

car that Lord of the universe,

ed of great energy

The high-

He by whom

the high-souled and holy god having the bull

business, !

devoted to truth and to morality

He must always be victorious,

proper, therefore, that

achieved

Kama is

Cakra 66

strength,

and endued with hath

Partha

ascetic

Possessed also of groat energy of body, he bearcth

Partha

Possess-

every

the

merit.'

entire

accomplish-

science

of weapons.

ment.

He ought to be victorious, since that would accomplish

the purposes of the

Indeed.

gods. 71

Partha transgresses destiny

consequence of his greatness,

itself,

whether favorable

un-

MAHABHARATA.

33-i

favorable

and when he does so, a great destruction of creatures

;

takes place. 74

When the two Krishnas are excited with

they show regard for nothing. are the Creators

of all

are Nara and Narayana,

These two bulls among beings

the two ancient

These two

and best of Rishis.

They

There is none to rule over them. Perfectly fearless, they

things. 78

and unreal

real

wrath,

over

are rulers

are scorchers of all

foes

all

heaven

among human beings, there is none equal to either of them. The three worlds with the celestial Rishis and the Ckdranas are behind these two. 75 * All the gods and all universe exists in walk behind them. The entire creatures 76 Let Kama, that consequence of the power of these two. bull amcng men, obtain these foremost regions of bliss here Let him obtain identity with the Vasus or the Maruts /" or

Let him, with Drona and Bhishma, be worshipped in heaven,

and

for Vikartana's son is brave

however,

belong to the

foremost

ones

among

hero.

Let the victory,

— After those two

two Krishnas

the gods

Brahman and

(viz.,

had said so, the deity of a thousand

eyes, worshipping

words of Brahman and Icana and saluting self said,

not otherwise.

those

him-

creatures,

even so and 80

hearts

became

sire,

deity.

Hear-

filled

The

celes-

kinds of fragrant flowers and blew

Indeed,

Gandharuas all waited

O king, that

with wonder and applauded, trumpets. 83

cheerful

creatures,

all

tials then showered diverse

It will be

Stay ye then, with

ing these words of Indra,

the

there

single combat between those cars,

all

— Ye have heard what has been said by the two

gods for the benefit of the universe

their

Icana),

gods, the for

Danavas,

and the

witnessing that matchless

two lions among men. 83

The two

O king, upon which Kama and Arjuna were stationed, had

And both had excellent84 Many foremost of standards, and both produced a loud rattle. white steeds yoked unto them both.

heroes, approaching the brave

Vasudeva and Arjuna

Calya and Kama, began each to blow

his conch. 85

The

also

battle

then commenced (between the two warriors), inspiring all timid persons with fear.

* Literally,

Fiercely

they

challenged each

"walk behind these two.''— T.

other, like

835

KARNA 1'AUVA.

the planets Rdhu and

Retu

risen

cars,

their

firmament at the

the

The elephant's rope on a snake of virulent poison and

dissolution.

universal

time of the

looked exceedingly beautiful

fectly bright,

heroes, per-

The standards of the two

Cakra and Camvara."

Kama's banner, looking like made of jewels and gems and exceedingly strung and resembling the bow of Indra, looked resplendent (as it waved in the air).

That foremost of

belonging

apes, again,

Partha,

with jaws wide open and terrible, and difficult of being gazed at like the Sun himself, inspired fear by his formidable

teeth.

The impetuous Ape on the standard of the wielder of Gdndiva, becoming desirous of battle, rushed from

upon Kama's standard.

his

and teeth, like Garuda falling upon a snake. of little

bells,

fell

Endued with great impetuosity, the with his nails

darting forward, struck the elephant's rope

Ape,

and

station

Decked with rows

hard as iron, and resembling the fatal noose (in

the hands of Yama or Varuna), the elephant's rope,

wrath, closed with the Ape.

filled

with

Thus in that fierce single combat

between those two heroes, which was the result of what had at dice, their standards

match

been settled at the time of the

Meanwhile the steeds of the one 98 The lotuseyed Kecava other. the neighed at the steeds of The latter also cast pierced Calya with his keen glances. battled with each other.

first

similar glances at the former.

Yasudeva, however, vanquished

Calya with those glances of his, while Dhananjaya the son of 98 Kunti vanquished Kama with his glances.

son, smilingly addressing Calya, said,

slays

battle today,

tell

Then the Suta's

— If Partha by any means

me truly, O friend, what thou

— Calya answered, saying, — If thou art — Once more slay both Krishna and Dhananjaya I myself — O Kama, the whitc-steeded the ruler of the Madras wilt do after that!

slain,

will

said,

If.

Arjuna slays thee in battle today, will slay b ->th Madhava and Phalguna

I myself, 9s i

on a single car,

—

"Sanjaya continued,— 'Arjuna also asked Govinda a similar Krishna,

question.

however, smiling, said unto Partha theso

words of grave import

9D :

from his place, the Earth fragments

;

fire itself

— The Sun himself may herself

may

may become cold.

split

Still

into

fall

Kama

down

thousand will

nut

MAHABHARATA,

330 be able

slay

O Dhananjaya 109

thee,

any

however,

If,

such occurrence takes place, know then that the destruction of the universe will be

hand

As regards

myself, I

will,

using my bare arms, slay both Kama and Calya in battle

Hearing these words of Krishna,

101 !

—

ape-bannered Arjuna,

the

who was never fatigued with 102 exertion, saying, Calya and Kama, united together, are Janarddana not a match for myself alone, Thou shalt

smiling, replied unto Krishna

—

today,

Krishna, behold Kama with his

ners,

with Calya and his car and steeds, with

standard and ban-

umbrella

his

and armour and darts and shafts and bow, cut into pieces with "

my shafts in battle 103 4

Thou shalt today behold him with

his car and steeds and darts and

armour and weapons, reduced

to dust like a tree in the forest

crushed by a tusker

day the widowhood of the wives of Radha's son they must have in their

Verily,

(last night's)

10S !

To-

hand

dreams seen

O Madhava 106 Verily, thou shalt I cannot restoday see the wives of Kama become widows train my wrath at what was done before now by this fool of signs of approaching evil,

little

foresight when he beheld Krishna dragged to the

bly and when laughing at us he abused us

words

l07 " J

Govinda,

Today,

crushed by me like a tree with

after

Kama's

good Inch,

tlioit

shalt,

thine /"°

load

its

109

Today,

fall,

hear

an infuriate elephant.

thou

repeatedly

shalt

of flowers

vile

Kama

crushed by

O slayer uf Madhu, thou

those

sweet words, viz.,— By

Vrishni's race,

victory

hath

bee,i

— Thou shalt today comfort the mother of Abhitnan-

Today thou shalt, !

behold

yu with a lighter heart for having paid thy debt Kunti

assem-

of tearful

filled

Today thou face

sweet as nectar

with joy, comfort shalt,

the

foe

thy paternal aunt

Madhava, comfort Krishna

and king Yudhishthira the just with words!'

" lia

— Section LXXVIII.

"Sanjaya said,

— 'Meanwhile the welkin,

filled

with gods and

Ndgas and Asuras and Siddhas and Yakshas and with largo bands of Gandharvas and Hdhhams and Apsams, and re«

— 337

KA11NA PARVA.

and royal sages and birds of excellent

generate Rishia

assumed a wonderful aspect.'

thers,*

bled there beheld those the sky, and the sky cal

beings of wonderful

instruments and song

staying

aspect

and adulatory hymns and laughter

Then

and dance, and diverse other kinds of charming sounds.* the Kaurava and

causing res mnd

the

Fandava

warriors,

Earth and the ten

the

with

the

voice

with the v. .ice of musi-

resounded

itself

fea-

All human beings assem-

the compass

instruments,

musical

with joy, and

filled

points

blare

the

and leonine roars and the din of battle, began to 8 Teeming with men and steeds and slaughter each other's foes. of conchs,

elephants and cars and weapons,

unbearable

combatants in

consequence of the falling of maces and swords and darts and

abounding with heroes,

rapiers,

crowded

and

bodies, the field of battle, crimsoned with gore,

ingly

resplendent.

with

lifeles3

looked exceed-

between the Kurua

Indeed, the battle

and the Pandavas then resembled that in days of yore between the gods and the Asuras. After that fierce and awful battle had commenced between Dhananjaya and Adhiratha's son, each of those two heroes, clad in

excellent

points of the compass and the host

and straight arrows.

mail, shrouded

ten

the

him with keen

opposed to

A darkness having been caused there with

the

arrows shot on that occasion, neither

thy warriors nor

the

enemy could any longer

the

warriors there

see

anything.'"

sought the protection

From

fear

all

of either Kama or

Arjuna like rays of light spread out in the welkin converging towards either the Sun or the each baffling

with

his

east and the west winds

Moon.

own the

the

welkin.

ground,

weapons

tho

other's

darkness caused by

the clouds and

Each having encouraged

encircling

and the Moon risen after

Do not fly away ! — the enemy and 8

then,

7 encountering each other, looked ex-

ceedingly resplendent like the Sun despelling

The two heroes

those

his

thy

two mighty

troops,

covering saying,

warriors stood car- warriors

their

the

gods and the Aswras standing around Vasava and Camvara.

The two armies then greeted those two best of men with the * Garuda and bis progeny.— T.

— 33$

MAHABIIARATA.

sounds of drums and other instruments and with leonine roars, 9 at which

those two bulls among men

Sun and

the Moon greeted by roaring clouds gathered around.*

looked beautiful like the

Each armed with a formidable bow drawn to a complete circle and looking like a (solar or lunar) corona, those two heroes of great splendour,

shooting in

that battle

thousands of arrows

that constituted their rays, 10 resembled two risen at the end of the

Yuga for burning

with its mobile and immobile creatures. capable of exterminating

foes,

other, and each displaying

his

two warriors, viz.,

unbearable Suns

the entire universe

Both

invincible,

both

each desirous of slaying the skill

upon the

other, 11

those

Kama and the son of Pandu, closed fear-

lessly with each other .in that

the Asura Jambha.

dreadful

battle, like

Indra and

Invoking the mightiest of weapons then,

those two formidable bowmen began, with their terrible shafts, 19 slay innumerable men and steeds

and elephants as also to once more by those two foremost of men, the troops of both the Kurus and the

•to

strike

king

each other,

Pandavas,

consisting

Afflicted

elephants and

car- warriors, fled away on all sides

forest when assailed by the

lion.

daughter, 13 14

—

off at the

and Kripa, and the son

these five

assailed Dhananjaya and Kecava

ducing great pain.

and horse and

Then Duryodhana, and the

chief of the Bhojas, and Suvala's son,

of Caradwat's

foot

other animals in the

great car-warriors,

with shafts capable of pro-

Dhananjaya, however, with his shafts, cut

same time the bows, the quivers, the

elephants, and the cars

steeds, the

with their drivers, of those warriors,

and mangling every one of them with excellent

shafts, pierced

Then a hundred cars, a hundred elephants, and a number of Caka and Tukhara and

the Suta's son with a dozen arrows.

Yavana horsemen, acoompanied by some of the foremost combatants among the Kamvojas, quickly rushed against Arjuna from desire of slaying him.

Speedily cutting off with the

shafts and razor-headed arrows in his hands the excellent

wea-

pons of his foes as also their heads, 18 17 and steeds, and

ele-

* The second line of 9 and the first of 10, as read in the Bengal texts, are incorrect and unmeaning,

I adopt the Bombay readings.— T,

RARNA PARVA, phants, and cars, Dhananjaya

felled

Then in the welkin

on the field.

of Arjuna.

his

;

contending enemies of celestial

blasts

trumpets

These were mingled with

were blown by the excellent gods. the praises

339

Blown by

breezes, excellent

gentle

showers, fragrant and auspicious, fell (upon Arjuna's head).

floral

Beholding that incident, which was witnessed by gods and men, 19

O king, were filled with wonder. *

all creatures,

Only thy son

and the Suta's son who were both of the same opinion, felt

Then Drona's son, catching hold of

nor wonder.

neither pain

Duryodhana's hand.f and adopting a soothing tone, addressed thy son, saying, 80

— Be

with the Pandavas

Duryodhana

gratified,

There is no need for quarrel.

like unto Brahma itself,

hath been slain

the kingdom for ever, (sharing

it)

Dissuaded by me, Dhananjaya

will

doth not desire

creatures.

Parthas,

creatures

all

go back to their homes

foes

Thou

also

obedient to him.

be benefited, through, as

Let the

listen

thou

wilt

battle

Janarddana

Let the kings that are

If thou dost not in

abstain.

Vrikodara

will

would seem, thy desire !* 9

lities

with the sons of Pandu

Peace being made between thee and

So also are the twins. the

Rule

Yudhishthira is always engaged

hostilities.**

in the good of all

As regards

slain !"

my maternal uncle.

unslayable, as also

and

Other bulls among

men, headed by Bhishma, have also been

Fie on war

of weapons

The preceptor, conversant with the mightiest

myself, I

Make peace

troops

abstain

my words,

have

still

alive

from

hosti-

king, struck

burn with grief!* 4

the universe, what has

been

achieved by the single-handed Arjuna decked with diadem

and

hast beheld,

garlands like,

The

well

slayer

nor the Destroyer,

if of the Yakshas !

of Vala

himself could not achieve its-

nor Prachetas, nor the illustrious king

Dhananjaya, as regards his merits, is even

* In the first line of 19, for nipetu, &c, the Bengal read na petu &c.

texts

incorrectly

— T.

As the touching of hands was not the custom then, I am inclined to think that Kiram KarenoL &c, means 'squeezing his own hands' It is. +

almost a stereotyped expression for signifying agon v pained to see the carnage.

—X.

Afwatthaman W9»

— MAHABIURATA.

340

He will never transgress whatever Be thou gratiHe will alway-s follow thee

much greater than that. I say unto him. fied,

honorest me greatly.

It is for this that I say so unto thee also,

sons say

that

are naturally

Discerning per-

four kinds of friends,

are

thee

Kama

shall dissuade

provided thou art inclined to peace there

Thou always

bear a great friendship for

too,

universe

king, for the benefit of the

viz.,

those that

those that are made so by conciliation, those

so,

that become so through wealth, and lastly those brought under subjection by the exercise

owned by thee with regard Pandavas,

naturally

are

hero,

the sons

again as friends for certain by

elements are

All these

of power.

Pandu. 88

conciliation.

way

that

of kings,

ing been

said unto him

upon thyself

O king

thou,

being gratified they agree to become friends, do act

The

Obtain them

thy friends.

— Those beneficial words hav-

his

Duryodhana

friend,

reflected

for sometime.

Drawing deep breaths, he then, with a cheer-

less heart,

—

said,

as thou,

It is

friend, hast

said

Listen,

however, to the words that I would say unto thee

30 !

The

wicked-hearted Vrikodara, having slain Duseasana like a tiger,

spoke words that still dwell in my heart the same

How then can there be peace

not be able to bear Kama in is

Thou

also

heardst

Arjuna again will

battle, like a tempest whose force

weakened when encountering the mighty mountains of Meru.

Nor will the sons of Pritha have the least confidence in me, thinking of the many acts of forceful hostility (done by me 38 towards them).

Nor,

son of unfading glory,

preceptor's

doth it behove thee to say unto

Kama now

Abstain from

Kama will — Phalguna exceedingly — Having with humility said these words soon slay him tired

battle !

today.

son commanded his

repeatedly unto the preceptor's son, thy

own

troops,

saying,

— Armed with arrows, rush against and "

slay these foes

Why stand ye inactive V 34 Section LXXXIX.

"Sanjaya said,— 'Then when peal of

drums became very

the

blare

loud, those

of conchs

and the

two foremost of men,

EARN A TARVA, both owning white steeds, Arjana,

viz.,

impetuosity,

each other

viz.,

O king, of

Those two heroes endued with great

Dhananjaya and Adhiratha's son, closed with

two infuriate Himalayan elephants, both of

full-grown tusks, fighting with

she-elephant in her season.

each

other

for

the sake

encountering a mountain,

pouring showers of arrows, encoun-

warriors, both

bows loudly twanging the

tered each other, their

of a

Like a mass of clouds encounter-

ing another mass, or a mountain

the

Vaikartana and

the Suta's son

encountered each other in consequence,

1 thy sun's evil policy.

those two

[\i]

wheels of their cars producing

deafening

while,

and

clatter,

and

emitting loud sounds. 3

their bowstrings and palms

mountains, both endued with trees and creepers and herbs

tall

Like two

and abounding with

cliffs

and both teeming with the diverse

other denizens that are natural to them, moving

towards each

other for an encounter, those two mighty warriors

encountered

each other, each striking the other with

mighty weapons.*

The combat between the two heroes became

furious

like that

between the chief of the celestials and Virochana's son in days of yore.

Incapable of being endured by others and marked by

a river whose distasteful water consisted of blood, the limbs of those two heroes, as

exceedingly mangled.

also 5

their

and animals, became

drivers

Like two large lakes, both teeming with

lotuses of diverse kinds and fish and tortoises,

and echoing with

the voices of diverse kinds of fowl, and softly stirred by the wind,

approaching each other,

tho.se

approached each other. 6

Both endued with prowess equal

two cars graced with standards to

that of the great Indra, both resembling the great Indra himself,

those two mighty car-warriors

struck

that resembled the great Indra's

thunder, like the great

himself and (the A sura) Vritra.' of cars and

elephants and

steeds

the

Indra

Both the armies consisting

and

beautiful armour and ornaments and

those also that were

each other with shafts

foot, all

robes

welkin, were

equipt

with

and weapons, and inspired

with

fear

upon beholding that encounter of wonderful aspect between Arjuna and Kama. 8 Others among the spectators, filled with joy and uttering their fingers or

the

leonine pieces

shouts, of cloth

raised

their

arms,

they

held,

when Arjuna

waving

MAHABHARATA.

342

rushed against the son of Adhiratha, from desire of slaughter, like

9 one infuriate elephant rushing against another.

loudly shouted to Partha, saying,

Somakas then

Arjuna, go and pierce Kama

Cut off his head without delay, 10 of Dhritarashtra's son for kingdom

and (with it) the desire

—

Tho

— Be quick, O'

Similarly many warriors of ours that were there, said unto Kama, and slay Arjuna with Kama, Proceed, proceed,

—

keen shafts

Let the sons of Pritha once more go to the

woods for ever u !

—Then Kama

encounter, with ten

mighty

pierced

first

Partha in that

Arjuna pierced him in

shafts.

return with ten keen-pointed shafts, shot with great vigor, in the centre of the chest.

and Arjuna

Indeed, the Suta's son

then mangled each other with many shafts equipt with goodly Desirous of obtaining advantage of each other's laches

wino-s.

with cheerful

in that dreadful encounter,

also

Gdndiva,

showers of

then sped

Anjalikas, Partha,

that fierce

with heads

arrows equipt

they rushed

Rubbing his two arms and the bowman, viz., Arjuna, cloth-yard shafts, and Nalikas, and

against each other fiercely. string

hearts

boar's

and crescent-shaped arrows.

ears 14

and

razors,

Those arrows of

welkin, penetrated

king, spread over the

na's car like flights of birds, with

and Kar-

into

heads bent down, penetrat-

18 ing in the evening into a tree for roosting there in the night.

All those

arrows, however,

king,

that Arjuna, that

victor

over all foes, with furrowed brow and angry glances, sped at

Kama,

—

all

showers of shafts shot by

successive

those

son of Pandu,— were cut off by the Suta's son with arrows.

The son of Indra then sped at

pon capable of slaying all foes.

his

the

own

Kama a fiery wea-

Covering the Earth and the

welkin and the ten points of the compass and the very course of the Sun with

its

effulgence,

caused his own body also to

The robes of all the warriors took fire, at which they fled away. Loud sounds also arose there like to what 18 is heard when a forest of bamboos in a wilderness is on fire. blaze up with light.

weapon acting on all sides, the Suta's son Kama of great valor shot in that encounter the Vdruna weapon Beholding that

fiery

That conflagration then, in consequence of Kama's weapon., became quenched. 19 A large mass of clouds

for

quenching it.

KARNA PARVA. quickly caused

all

the points

of the

34*3

compass to be enveloped

with darkness. Those clouds whose extremities presented the aspect of mountains, surrounding every side, flowed the Earth

with water.

That

fierco

though

conflagration,

welkin

and

the directions, cardinal

all

shrouded by clouds. of the

was such,

The

was still quenched by those clouds within a trice.

entire

and subsidiary, were

Thus shrouded by

clouds, all the points

Then

compass became dark and nothing could be seen.

Arjuna dispelled those clouds caused by Kama, by means of the

Vdyavya weapon." over-mastered by shafts, with

After this, Dhananjaya, incapable of being

foes,

inspired

Gdndlva, its

and

string,

his

mantras, and invoked into existence another weapon

that was the favourite of the

chief of the

resembled the thunder in energy

and Anjalikas,

headed arrows,

and Ndlikas,

celestials

and prowess. 23 and

and that

Then

razor-

crescent-shaped shafts,

and cloth-yard shafts and those equipt with

heads like the boar's ear, all keen and sharp, issued from

diva in thousands, endued with the the thunder. 84

force

Gan-

and impetuosity of

Possessed of great might and great energy,

those impetuous and keen shafts equipt with vulturine feathers,

piercing

the

the bow, the yoke, the

all

the

limbs,

wheels, and

the

standard of Kama, quickly penetrated into

steeds,

them like snakes frighten by Garuda penetrating into the Earth. arrows and bathed in blood, [the high-

Pierced all over with souled]*

Kama then, with eyes rolling in

wrath,

1 *" 86

bending

his bow of enduring string and producing a twang loud as the

roar of the sea, invoked into existence the

Cutting

Bhdrgava weapon.

showers of shafts proceeding from the

off Partha's

mouth of that weapon of Indra (which Arjuna had shot), Kama, 87 having thus baffled his antagonist's weapon with his own, destroyed cars and elephants and foot-soldiers (of the

Pandava army). fierce battle, the

the energy

Unable to endure the feats of Arjuna

mighty car-warrior

of the

Bhdrgava weapon. 28

and possessed of great

that

Kama did this, through

activity, the Suta's

Filled

with

son, that

wrath

foremost

of men, laughing at the two Krishnas," pierced the foremost * This occurs in 27.

— T.

MAHABHARATA.

',U4<

Panrihala

warriors

arrows

with well shot

that battle."

Then the Panchalas and the Somakas,

king, thus

by Kama with showers of shafts

encounter, became

that

afflicted

and uniting together pierced the Suta's son

filled with wrath

with keen arrows from every side. 50

Quickly cutting

off

those

arrows with his own, the Suta's son, vigorously agitating them

with many shafts the

in that battle, afflicted

phants, and the

life,

Their bodies pierc-

fell

down, deprived of

steeds of the Panchalas.

ed with those shafts of Kama, they

making loud sounds,

on the Earth,

like mighty

an angry lion of terrible strength.

slain by

the ele-

cars,

elephants

Having

slain

endued with great

heroes

those foremost

of warriors, those

strength, those

leaders of the Panchala forces who had always

challenged him (to battle), Kama,

looked beautiful like rain.

Then thy

victory,

clapped

of the Kurus,

all

mass of

king, as he shot his arrows,

clouds pouring

warriors, thinking that

loudly

torrents

Kama had won the

and uttered leonine

Kama.

chief

roars.

two Krishnas as

of them then regarded the

brought by Kama under his power, 54 seeing that capable

valor,

in-

mighty car-warrior Beholding that weapon of Dhananjaya frustrated by

of being

borne by

foes,

of the

Kama in the midst of battle, 55 the angry son of the Windgod, with eyes blazing with wrath, began to squeeze his hands. Indeed, the wrathful Bhima, his

anger being provoked, drew

deep breaths and addressing Arjuna of true aim,

said,

— How,

O Jishnu, could this wretch fallen off from virtue, this Suta's many foremost Before now thou couldsb of Panchala warriors, in thy sight ? not be conquered by the very gods or the Kalakcyas. Thou How, receivedst the touch of the arms of Sthanu himself son, putting forth his might in battle, slay so 87

diadem-decked Arjuna, could the Suta's son pierce

then,

thee first with riors ?

able,

keen,

fearless

long shafts such as are used by car- war-

That the Suta's son should today have succeeded in

baffling the

amazing

ten

arrows shot by thee, seems to

be very

Recollect the woes of Krishna, and those disagree-

and cutting words that this wicked-souled and

son of a Suta used towards

without kernel /—Recollecting all this,

us,

viz.,

Sesame

seeds

Savyasachin, quickly

—— KARNA PARVA,

Kama

wretched

the

flay

dava,*

succeed in crushing thy weapons

thou,

thy

hero, lose

Indeed,

baffled by after

all

Yuga, thou hast

darkness

for

thou slay Kama today foe

foe

patience with which

tho

that

not

now shouting in arc

being

Yuga

persons having

slain

the

quality

— with that patience do

Putting forth

with

of thine

might, strike off

thy

Svbdargana, of edge

this

like Cakra striking off

Namuchi, with the thunderbolt, thou

hadst

that,

bestow

That

gratified the illustrious deity

hero, slay the

patience once again,

After

That patience with which,

M ihadeva in the guise of a hunter, 44followers!

Kama should his Why dust

are even

keen as a razor, that I give unto thee, head of his

that

Markest thou

Asuraa bom of pride, in many a battle,

the

also

weapon, as also terrible Kehatriycs, and

their

the head of that

former, "

unto the

them know that thy weapons

Kama with his

Khan-

at;

Vasudeva, beholding

with

today

;

wits

Agni

fed

in-

with which

the Suta's son

said

Kauravas, [standing behind Kama], joy ?* s

and

diadem-decked Arjuna,

this,

Kama,

Partha's shafts balrled

What

That

my mace! — Then

him with

crush

for

patience

patience, slay thou

that

with

showing thy

time

creatures

hadat vanquished all

tin. ii

Why,

show such indifference (to-

the

Kama's slaughter

difference to

will

not

This is

today

battle

diadem decked Arjuna, dost thou wards this act) ?

345 ? °- 10

* 6

summoning that son

Suta's

with

that his

all

upon king Yudhishthira the

Earth with her belt of seas, her towns and villages, and wealth,

and from off whose surface all

By that act, O

foes

will

removed!

have been

Partha, do thou also win

unrivalled

fame!

Thus addressed (by Krishna), the high-souled Partha of exceeding son.

might 47-4i

set

his

heart

upon

Indeed, urged by

collecting (his woes),

slaughter

the

of the

rlecava, saying,

existence a mighty and fierrc

will

now invoke

into

weapon for the good of the World !

Let

me have

Brahman's and Bhava's, and of all

are conversant with Brahma ,so

—

4,1

and the destruction of the Suta's son mission, as also

re-

and taking an internal survey of himself,

and calling to mind the object, for which he had come World, he addressed

Suta

Bhima and Janarddana, and

thy

per-

those

that

— Having said these words unto

MAHABHARATA.

34G

Keqava, Savyasiichin of immeasurable soul bowed

holy

the

unto Brahman and invoked into existence that excellent and

Brahma which

irresistible weapon

called

the mind alone.* 1

Baffling that weapon, however, Kama looked

could be applied by

beautiful as he continued, like a cloud pouring torrents of rain, to

shoot

his

Beholding that weapon of the diadem-

shafts.

decked Arjuna baffled in

of battle by

the midst

Kama" the

and mighty Bhima, blazing up with rage, addressed

wrathful

Arjuna of sure aim and

said,

Brahma

master of the high

— People say that thou art a

weapon, that mighty means (for

achieving the destruction of foes) 83

Do thou then,

sachin, use another weapon of the same kind 'by his brother,

Savya-

— Thus addressed

Savyasachin used a second weapon of the kind.

With

that,

of the

compass, cardinal

Partha of abundant energy shrouded all the points

and subsidiary, 54 with arrows sped

from Gandiva that resembled fierce snakes and were like the

race,

those arrows

dreds,

Created by that bull of Bharata's

Sun.

blazing rays of the

of golden

hundreds upon hun-

wings, in

endued with the effulgence of the Yuga fire

moment shrouded

Sun, in a

the

car

Kama.

the

Thence also

issued long darts and battle-axes and disci and cloth-yard shafts

which

in hundreds, all of awful forms, at

warrior, battle.

severed from

56 " 57

trunk,

his

large and massive

of a

warriors

fell

down

on the

Another, beholding his fallen comrade,

dead on the Earth, through

Partha),

hostile

fell

down with the sword

fourth, cut

the shield in it.

off

field

down

fell

(right) arm of a third,

The

trunk of an elephant, cut

the

fear.

all

The head of some hostile

around began to be deprived of life.

grasp. 58

The

with a razor-headed arrow,

fell

off

left

(by

arm

down with

Even thus, Partha, decked with diadem and

wounded and slew all the foremost warriors 69 of Duryodhana's army with his terrible and death-dealing shafts.

garlands,

Vaikartana of arrows.

Pandu like piercing

also, in

the

These, with torrents

midst of that battle, shot thousands a

of rain

loud

whizz,

fell

upon the son of

poured from the clouds.

Then

Bhimasena and Janarddana and the diadem-decked

Arjuna of superhuman

feats,

each

of terrible might uttered a loud and

with

three arrows,

awful roar,

Kama

Struck with

KARNA TARVA. Kama's

the

shafts,

and Janarddana,

61-68

VAT

diadem-decked Arjuna, beholding Bhima

became unable

to endure (the feats of his

Once more, therefore, Pfirtha shot eight and ten

antagonist).

Kama with one of four and Kama himself

Piercing the beautiful standard of

arrows.

those arrows, he pierced Calya

With ten other

with three."

with

shafts he then struck

well-shot

Thereupon

the Kaurava warrior Sabhapati clad in golden mail.

arms and steeds and driver

that prince, deprived of head and

and bow and standard, * fell down, wounded and dead, from 6

his foremost of cars, like a gala tree

Kama

Once mor3 piercing and ten arrows, with

Pfirtha

with

down with an axe.

cut

slew four hundred elephants

many weapons, and eight hundred 66

and

four,

cquipt and.

car- warriors,

eicrht

thousand brave

And soon Piirtha made Kama

with his driver

one thousand steeds with foot-soldiers.

twelve,

three, eight,

riders,

and car and steeds and standard invisible with straightly coursing shafts.

Then the Kauravas, thus slaughtered by Dhanan-

jaya, loudly

addressed

Adhiratha's

arrows and slay the son of Piindu

son,

saying, 67

— Shoot thy

Already, he has begun

exterminate the Kurus with his shafts !*

Thus

with his best endeavours,

shot

incessantly

urged,

many

arrows. 68

Capable of cutting the very vitals, those blood-drinking well sped by Kama, slew large

the Panchalas.

numbers

of the

Kama, shafts,

Pandavas and

Thus those two foremost of all bowmen, those

two warriors of great strength that were capable of bearing all foes,

those two

heroes acquainted with

the warriors opposed to

mighty weapons.

them

also

Then Yudhishthira clad in golden

arrows having been

extracted

towards him, quickly came

that

spot

dhishjihira the just arrived there like the

for

became filled with delight.

foremost of warriors, those

disposed,

witnessing

(the

Beholding king Yuresplendent full

from the jaws of Kahu and risen

creatures

mail, his

Burgeons well

encDunter between Arjuna and Kama).

freed

many

and himself made sound with

mantra* and drugs by foremost

all

weapons, struck

each other, with

the

Moon

firmament,

Beholding those two

two first of heroes and slayers of

* Bead with a Blight variation ui the Lumay text.— X,

MAHABHARATA.

34S foes, viz.,

Kama and Partha, engaged in

the

fight,

spectators,

both celestial and terrestrial, restraining the animals they rode or that were yoked unto their vehicles, stood motionless.

two heroes. arrows,

As the

many foremost

king, struck each other with

O king, the sounds caused by the bows, bowstrings, and

palms, of both Dhananjaya and

mendous and

their

Then the bowstring

of the noise.

whizz.

became

Adhiratha's son,

well sped arrows

with force, broke with a loud

also

son

70 " 74

small arrows, keen and steeped in oil,

tre-

caused a deafening of Pandu, stretched

During the interval

thus offered, the Suta's son pierced Partha

with

a hundred

winged with the feathers

and resembling snakes freed from their sloughs. 75

of birds,

He then quickly pierced Vasudeva with sixty shafts, and Phalguna again with eight.

Surya's son then

Krishna and Partha's standard,

Having

Kama felled many

amongst the Somakas that followed Partha. in return,

then

Bhima

pierced

arrows. 76

with thousands upon thousands of mighty pierced

These, however,

shroudod Kama with showers of straight shafts

masses of clouds shrouding the Sun in the welkin. 77

Accom-

plished in the use of weapons, the Suta's son. stupifying

those

advancing warriors with his shafts and baffling all the weapons 78 shot by them, destroyed theirs cars and steeds and elephants.

king, also afflicted with his arrows And the Suta's son, many foremost warriors among them. Their bodies pierced

with Kama's shafts, they fell down on the ground, deprived of life

and making a loud noise as they

mighty combatants,

afflicted

fell.

Indeed, those

Kama of terrible strength,

perished like a pack of dogs afflicted by

an angry

lion.

And

once more many foremost of combatants among the Panchalas

and many such (among the Kauravas) fell down after this, 80 Deprived of life by the slain by Kama and Dhananjaya.

mighty Kama with well-armed arrows shot with great

force,,

many foil down, purging the contents of their stomachs.

Then

thy troops, regarding the victory to be already furiously

and uttered loud

dreadful encounter,

all

leonine

roars.

of them regarded the

all

clapped

two K-rishnas

have been brought by Kama under his power. bending his bowstring and baffling

theirs,

Indeed, in that to

Then quickly

those shaflb

of Adhi-

KARNA TARVA. Partha,

ratha's son,"

with rage

filled

340 consequence of his

Kama's arrows, assailed the

limbs having been mangled with

Rubbing his bowstring, he clapped

Kauravas.

suddenly caused a darkness

he shot. 83

The

palms and

his

with the showers of shafts

there

diadem-decked Arjuna

Kama

pierced

and

Kurus with those arrows. The welkin having been darkened by means of that mighty weapon, the Calya and

the

all

very birds were unable to range

their

element, a delicious

wind then blew, bearing fragrant

odors.

Laughing the while,

Partha

armour with ten arrows. 8 *

struck

forcibly

Calya's

Piercing Kama next with a dozen shafts,

more with seven. fierce

him once

struck

Deeply struck with those winged arrows of

energy shot with great force from Piirtha's bow, 8S

with mangled limbs and body bathed in dent like Rudra at the

universal

midst, of a crematorium at

blood.* 86

blood, looked

sporting

destruction,

noon or

eve,

his body

Kama, resplenin

the

dyed with

The son of Adhiratha then pierced Dhananjaya who

resembled the chief of the celestials

energy and

himself (in

might) with three arrows, and he caused

other

five

arrows resembling five snakes to penetrate the body

blazing

of Krish-

Shot with great furce, those arrows, decked with gold, pierced through the armour of that foremost of beings and na.

passing out of his body

upon the Earth.

fell

great energy, they entered

the

Endued with

Earth with great force and

having bathed (in the waters of the Bhogavati region) coursed back towards Kama. 88

the

nether

Those shafts were

five

mighty snakes that had adopted the side of Takshaka's son (Aewasena whose mother Partha had slain at Khandava).

With ten broad-headed arrows

shot

with great

cut off each of those five snakes into three

upon they

fell

down on the

Earth. 83

force,

Arjuna

fragments

where-

Beholding

Krishna's

limbs thus mangled with those snakes transformed into arrows

sped from

Kama's arms,

Arjuna decked with

garlands blazed up with wrath like a

* Ilaudra muhurta,

fire

engaged

burning

— certain hours are especially regarded as

beoause appropriated by Itdhhasuo and evil geuii for the world.— T.

diadem and

their

tierce,

rounds over

MAHABUAHATA.

ooO

He then pierced Kama in all

his

vital

limbs with many blazing and fatal shafts shot from

the

bow-

a heap of dry grass.

string

stretched

very

the

moning all his patience. 51 wrath,

all the

(Deeply pierced),

ear.

With the greatest difficulty he

trembled in pain.

Kama sum-

stood,

Dhananjaya having been filled with

points of the

the very splendour of the

compass, cardinal and subsidiary,

Sun, and Kama's

car,

king, all

became invisible with the showers shot by him.

The welkin

Then that

seemed as if it were shrouded by a thick slayer

of foes,

that bull

heroes, viz., Savyasachin,

Kuril's

frost.

race,

that foremost

king, soon slew in that battle

two

thousand foremost of Kuril warriors, with their cars and steeds

and drivers, forming the protectors of Kama's car-wheels and wings and his van-guard and rear-guard, and who constituted the very pick

of Dnryodhana's

car-force,

and who, urged by "

Then

fled

away,

Duryodhana, had been fighting with great energy. 95 95 thy sons and

the

Kauravas that were

still

alive

deserting Kama, and abandoning their dying and the wounded,

and their wailing sons and sires.

Beholding himself abandon-

ed by the terrified Kurus and seeing the space around him

empty,

Kama felt no agitation,

Bharata, but, on the other

hand, rushed at Arjuna, with a cheerful heart.'

"* 97

Section XC. "Sanjaya said, of Arjuna's

— 'Flying away

arrows,

the

broken

consequence of the falling

divisions

staying at a distance, continued to gaze at

the

Kauravas,

Arjuna's

effulgence

swelling with energy and careering around with the of lightning.

weapon

Then Kama, with showers of terrible shafts,

baffled that weapon of Arjuna. while

the welkin and which

was

still

careering in

Arjuna had shot with great vigor in

that fierce encounter for the

destruction

of his foe.

Indeed,

that weapon (of Partha) which, swelling with energy f had been consuming the Kurus, the Suta's son now crushed with his

* In numbering the slokas of this Section I have followed the Bombay edition.— T.

—

KARNA PAKVA.

13)1

Bending then his own loud-sounding

shafts winged with gold.

Kama shot showers of shafts. bow burning weapon of Arjuna with that The Suta's son destroyed his own foe-killing weapon of great power which he had obtained from Rama, and which resembled (in efficacy) an Atharvan rite.

string,

of irrefragable

And he pierced Piirtha also with numerous keen king, that took

The encounter then,

shafts.*

between Arjuna

place

and the son of Adhiratha, became a very dreadful one. They each other with arrows like two fierce

continued to strike

elephants striking each other with

weapons and the

with

of the compass then became shrouded

very Sun became invisible.

Kama and Piirtha, with

Indeed,

made the welkin one

their arrowy downpours,

All the points

their tusks.'

arrows without any space between.

vast expanse

Kauravas and

the

All

the Somakas then beheld a

wide-spread arrowy net.

dense darkness caused by

arrows, they

anything else. 7

incessantly

king,

displayed

arrows,

manoevres.

While they were

other in battle, sometimes the rival and sometimes the his,

aimed and shot innumerdiverse

kinds of

Suta's

beautiful

with each

thus contending

son prevailed over his

diadem-decked Piirtha prevailed over

prowess and weapons and lightness of hands. 3

ing that terrible and awful heroes

each

The beings in the

Kama and Arjuna. with joy, cheerfully

Behold-

passage-at-arms between those two

whom was desirous of availing

of the other's

laches, all the other warriors on the field of battle

with wonder.

In that

were unable to see

Those two foremost of men, both accomplish-

ed in weapons, as they able

Indeed,

many

welkin, of

became filled

O king, applauded

them

at a time, filled

shouted, sometimes saying,

Kama! — and sometimes saying, During the progress of that

Excellent,

fierce encounter,

Excellent,

Arjuna /" while the Earth

was being pressed deep with the weight of cars and the tread of and elephants, the snake Acwasena, who was hostile to ,a Freed Arjuna, was passing his time in the nether region. steeds

from the

conflagration

anger, penetrated

anean region).

Khiindava,

king, he

through the Earth (fur going to

had, from

the subterr-

That brave snake, recollecting the death of his

mother and the enmity he on that account harboured against

MAHABHARATA.

352

now

Arjuna,

Endued with the

from the lower region.

rose

power of ascending the skies, he soared up with great speed

upon beholding that

Kama

between

fight

Arjuna. 18

and

Thinking that that was the time for gratifying his animosity towards, as he thought, the wicked-souled Pfirtha, he

entered into Kama's quiver,

At that; time a net

O king, in the

of arrows

was seen, shedding

Kama and Partha made

arrows around.

quickly

an arrow. 14

form of

its

bright

the welkin one dense 15

Beholdmass of arrows by means of their arrowy downpours. ing that wide-spread expanse of arrows, all the Kauravas and the Somakas became filled with fear.

In that thick and awful

darkness caused by arrows they were

unable to see anything

else.'

Then those two tigers among men, those two foremost

bowmen

of all

the

world, those two heroes, fatigued with

their exertions in battle, looked at each other.

Both of them

were then fanned with excellent and waving fans made of

young (palm)

leaves and sprinkled with fragrant sandal- water

by many Apsaras staying

welkin.

the

And Cakra and

Surya, using their hands, gently brushed the faces of those two heroes.

When at

last

Kama found that he could not prevail

and when he was exceedingly scorched with the shafts of the former, that hero, his limbs very much mangled, Partha

over

set

his

heart upon that shaft

a quiver.

which

of his

The Suta's son then

lay singly within

on his bowstring that

fixed

foe-killing, exceedingly keen, snake-mouthed, blazing, and fierce shaft,

which had been polished according to

he had long

kept

Stretching

bowstring to his ear,

of fierce

his

for

Partha's

and which

destruction.

Kama fixed that shaft

energy and blazing splendour, that ever-worshipp-

ed weapon which lay dust,

the sake

rule,

within a golden

and aimed it at Partha. 21

arrow, born

head in battle.

Airavata's

race,

terrible

When that snake of the form bowstring,

the

for

All the points of the

became ablaze and

quiver amid sandal

Indeed, he aimed that blazing cutting

off

Phalguna's

compass and the welkin

meteors and thunder-bolts of an

Regents of the

arrow was

world,

fixed

including

fell."

the

Cakra, set

The Suta's son did not know that the snake t$ Acwasena had entered his arrow by the aid of his Yoga powers up loud wails.

KARNA PAKVA,

353

Beholding Vaikartana aim that arrow, the high-souled ruler of the Madras, addressing Kama, said,

— Thia arrow, O Kama, will

not succeed in striking off Arjuna's head fix

that may succeed in striking off thy enemy's

another arrow

head 1'*

Searching carefully,

— Endued with

great, activity,

the Suta's son. with eyes

burning in wrath, then said unto the ruler of the Madras, Calya,

Kama never aimeth an

never

become crooked warriors

arrow twice 2S !

—

Persons like us

— Having said these words,

Kama, with great care, let off that shaft which he had worshippking, ed for many loner years. Bent upon winning the victory, he quickly said unto his rival, Thou art slain, O Phalguna ,e

—

Sped from Kama's arms, that shaft bling

or the Sun

fire

blazed

—

of awful

splendour, as

left

resem-

whiz,

the bowstring,

up in the welkin and seemed to divide it by a line such

as is visible on

tresses. 47

crown of a woman dividing her

the

Beholding that shaft blazing in the welkin, the slayc-r of Kansa, viz.,

Madhava, with great speed and the greatest ease, pressed

down with

his feet that excellent car, causing it to sink about

deep. 28

steeds,

white as the rays of the

Moon and decked in trappings of gold,

bending their knees, laid

a cubit

the

this,

themselves down on the ground. the form of an arrow)

Indeed, seeing that snake (in

aimed by Kama, Madhava,* 3 that fore-

most of all persons endued with might, put forth his strength and thus pressed down with his

laid

that

feet

whereat the steeds, (as already said)

car into the

themselves down upon the Earth when

sunk into

s0 *

it.

Then loud sounds

celestial

upon

were showered

flowers

shouts also were uttered.

the car itself had

the welkin

voices were heard,

and

arose

Many celestial

applause of Vasudeva.

Earth,

bending down their knees,

Krishna, and

leonine

When the car had thus been pressed

down into the Earth through

the

Madhu, 31 the excellent ornament

exertions

of the

of Arjuna's

slayer

head, celebrated

throughout the Earth, the welkin, heaven, and the waters, the Suta's son

swept

off

from

the

crown

of his rival,

with

that

arrow, in consequence of the very nature of that snaky weapon

* The last line ef 29 and the two

Bombay edition. 45

lines

They are evident!) a repetition.-

not

occur

the

MAHAEHARATA,

S"54

and the groat care and wrath with which

had been

That diadem, endued with the splendour of the Sun

Moon or fire or a

planet,

shot. 3

the

and adorned with gold and pearls

and gems and diamonds, had with great care been made by the Solf-born

puissant

himself

appearance indicated it was, contributing to the

foes,

Purandara. 33

for

inspiring

happiness

Costly

its

the hearts

terror

him that wore

it,

and

shedding a fragrance, that ornament had been given by the chief of the celestials himself with a cheerful heart unto Partha while

the latter

had proceeded

slaughter the foes of the gods.

That diadem was incapable of being crushed by Rudra and the Lord of waters and Cakra and Kuvera with Pindka and noose and thunderbolt and the very foremost of shafts. It could not be endured by even the foremost ones among the gods. Vrisha, however,

now broke it forcibly with his

snake-inspired

Endued with great activity, that wicked-natured snake shaft. of fierce form and false vows, falling upon that diadem decked 36 That with gold and gems, swept it away from Arjuna's head. 35

king, forcibly tore it away from Partha's head, quickly

snake,

reducing into fragments that

with

well-made ornament set over

many a gem and blazing with

beauty, like

the thunder-

and beautiful bolt riving a mountain-summit decked with 37 * Crushed by that excellent weatrees graced with flowers. lofty

pon, possessed of splendour, and blazing

with the fire of (the

snake's) poison, that beautiful and much-liked diadem of Partha fell

down on the Earth like the blazing

the Asta hills.

Indeed, that snake

thunder of Indra

felling

of the Sun from

forcibly swept away from

with

Arjuna's head that diadem adorned

disc

many gems, like the

a beautiful mountain-summit adorned

39 with lofty trees bearing budding leaves and flowers.

Earth,

welkin, heaven,

tempest, roar aloud,

and the

O Bhfirata,

waters,

when

As the

agitated

by a

even such was the roar that

arose in all the worlds at that time.

Hearing that tremendous

noise, people, notwithstanding their efforts to be calm, became 40 extremely agitated and reeled as they stood.

Reft of diadem,

the dark-complexioned and youthful Partha looked

A triplet— T.

beautiful

EARN A PARVH like a blue mountain of lofty summit.

Binding thou Ins locks

with a white cloth, Arjuna stood perfectly that white gear on

unmoved.

head, he looked like

his

illumined with the »ya

the

(whom Arjuna had killed

Sun. 41

Thus that she-snake

Khandava)

With

Udaya hill

the

mouth,

of excellent

through her son in the form of an arrow, .sped by Surya's son, beholding Arjuna of exceeding

with his head at a level

with

and might standing

energy the

of the

reins

steeds, took

away his diadem only, that well-made ornament (formerly) owned by Aditi's son and endued with the effulgence of Surya himself.

But Arjuna also

not return

from

that

appear

(as will

battle -without

succumb to the power of Yuma. 42 * that costly viz.,

that

resembling

shaft

the

sequel) did

causing the

snake to

Sped from Kama's arms,

Sun

the

fire'

mighty snake who from

before

effulgence,

had become the

deadly foe of Arjuna, thus crushing

away. 43

the latter's diadem, went Having burnt the gold-decked diadem of Arjuna dis-

played on his head, he desired to come

me,

not),

he said these words

O Kama, without having seen me.

I could not strike

Kama (who saw him

Asked, however, by

with great speed.

but knew him

off Arjuna's head.

once again, after seeing me well.

Arjuna once more

44 :

— Thou hadst sped

It was

for this

that

Do thou

quickly shoot

shall

then slay thy

— Thus addressed that battle by him, — Who are you possessed of such form — The snake answered, saying, — Know me as one that 4*

foe and mine too

the Suta's son said,

fierce

has been wronged by Partha

due to his having slain

thunder-bolt himself were to still

mother

enemity 46 !

proteet Partha,

him

towards wieldcr

If the

the latter would

have to go to the domains of the king of the Pitria !

not disregard me

Do my bidding

I will slay

of the

thy foe

me without delay 47 — Hearing tho^c words, Kama said, !

Shoot

— Kama,

O snake, never desires to have victory in battle today by relying on another's might! Arjunas, I will not,

Even if I have

slay a

hundred

O snake, still shoot the same shaft twice

* This verse appears to be one of the GrWXiQi V)u,8a. ed Nilaknutlw iu iuLei pietiu^ it.— T.

4* !

have follow-

MAHABHARATA.

356

— Once more addressing him

in the

other snaky weapons, and by slay Partha

midst of battle, that best of

— Aided by the nature of my

men, viz., Surya's son Kama, said,

resolute effort and wrath, I shall

Be thou happy and go elsewhere !*

to bear those words, himself proceeded,

of Partha, having

O king, for the slaughter

assumed the form of an arrow.

form, the desire he ardently 50

— Thus address-

by Kama, that prince of snakes, unable from rage

ed, in battle,

his enemy.

cherished was the

Of fierce

destruction of

Then Krishna, addressing Partha in that encounter,

said unto him,

— Slay that great snake inimical to thee — Thus 1

addressed by the slayer of Madhu, the wielder of Gandiva, that

bowman who was always fierce unto foes, enquired of him, say-

— Who

ing,

that snake

that advanceth

own accord

of his

against me, as if, indeed, he 'advanceth right against the mouth of Garuda ? 51

— Krishna

replied,

—Whilst thou, armed with bow,

wert engaged at Khandava in gratifying the god Agni, this snake was

then in

mother's.

Thinking that it was only a single snake that was so

the

sky, his

body ensconced within

staying in the sky, thou killedst the mother !* 2

his

Remembering

that act of hostility done by thee, he cometh towards thee today for

thy destruction

a blazing meteor, falling from the firmament

behold him coming

of foes,

resister

—

"Sanjaya continued, — 'Then Jishnu, turning his face in

rage, cut off, with six keen shafts,

the

latter

that snake in the welkin

was coursing in a slanting

thus cut off, he fell down

on the Earth. 54

After

had been cut off by Arjuna, the lord Kecava of massive arms, that foremost

arms that car from the Earth. 56

At that

that

snake

himself,

time,

king,

up with

of beings, raised

His body

direction.

his

Kama, glanc-

ing obliquely at Dhananjaya, pierced that foremost of persons, viz.,

Krishna, with ten shafts

with peacock feathers. 56

whetted on stone and equipt

Then Dhananjaya, piercing

Kama

with a dozen well-shot and keen arrows equipt with heads the boar's ear, sped a cloth-yard shaft endued with of a snake

of virulent

stretched to his ear. 57

Arjuna, penetrated

poison

the energy

and shot from his bowstring

That foremost of shafts,

well

shot

through Kama's armour, and as if suspend-

ing his life-breaths, drunk his

blood and

entered

the

Earth,

EARN A PARVA. its wings also

357

having been drenched with gore.

Endued with

great activity, Vrisha, enraged at the stroke of that shaft, like a snake beat with a stick, shot many mighty shafts, like :i snake 3 And he pierced Janardof virulent poison vomiting its venom.'

dana with a do/on shafts and Arjuna, with nine and ninety.

And once more piercing the son

Kama laughed and uttered a

Pandu with a terrible shaft, 60 The son of Pandu,

loud roar.

Acquainted with

however, could not endure his enemy's joy. all

the

vital

prowess

human

parts of the

that

pierced those

of Indra,

possessed of

body, Partha, vital

limbs with

hundreds of arrows even as Indra had struck Vala with great Then Arjuna sped ninety arrows, each resembling

energy. 61

the rod of Death, at Kama.

Deeply pierced with those shafts,

Kama trembled like a mountain

The

thunder."

with

riven

head-gear of Kama, adorned with costly gems and precious

diamonds and

also

his

ear-rings,

Dhananjaya with his winged arrows,

fell

down on

pure

gold,

cut

off

Earth. 63

the

The costly and bright armour also of the Suta's son that had been forged with great care by many foremost of artists working for a long time, the son of Pandu cut off within a into many fragments.

After thus divesting him

Partha then, in rage, pierced

our,

suffered great

pain

Kama

diseased

arm-

with four whetted

Struck forcibly by

energy.

of great

shafts

moment

of his

person

his

Kama

foe,

afflicted

by bile,

Once more Arjuna, with great wind, and fever." his very vitals, with numerous piercing Kama, mangled speed, phlegm,

excellent shafts, of great keenness, and sped from 66

his

circling

Deeply struck

bow with much

force

by Partha with

those diverse arrows of keen points and fierce

energy,

Kama (covered

and speed and

with

blood)

care.

looked resplendent

a mountain of red chalk with streams of red water running adown its breast. 67 Once more Arjuna pierced Kama in the centre of the chest with many straight-coursim; and strong shafts made entirely of iron and equipt with

wings of gold and

each resembling the fiery rod of the Destroyer, 60 Agni piercing the Krauncha mountains.

^gui'i sou is

the

celestial

like the son

Then

the

iSutas

gcucruliu-uiiu Kiulikcya. the slayer

MAHABSARATA.

358 son,

bow

his

aside

casting

Cakra, as also his quiver,

resembled the very .bow of

great

and stood

pain,

inactive,

and reeling, his grasp loosened and himself in great

stupified, 69

The virtuous Arjuna*, observant of the duty of manliwished not to slay his enemy while fallen into such

anguish. ness,

that

felt

The younger brother

distress.

him, saying,

addressed

excitement,

70 dost thou become so forgetful ?

Indra then,

with great

— Why, O son of Pfmdu,

They that

are

never spare their foes, however weak, even for a

wise

truly

moment

that is learned earneth both merit and fame by slaying foes fallen into distress

Lose no time in precipitately crushing

Kama who is always inimical to thee and who is the first of heroes

The Suta's son, when

Slay him, therefore, like Indra slaying

against thee as before.

the Asura Namuchi

73 !

once more advance

able, will

— Saying, — So be

O Krishna — and

it,

worshipping Janarddana, Arjuna, that foremost of all persons

Kama with many excellent arrows like the ruler of heaven piercing the A sura

in Kuru's race, once more

Camvara. 73

quickly pierced

Bharata, covered

The diadem-decked Partha,

Kama and his car and steeds with many

calf-toothed

arrows,

the points of

and putting forth all his vigor he shrouded

all

the compass with shafts equipt with wings

of gold.

Pierced

with those arrows equipt with heads like the calf's tooth, Adhiratha's son of broad

chest

looked resplendent like an Acoka

or Paldga or Qdhwdi decked with its flowery load or a tain overgrown with a

forest

of sandal

trees.

those numerous arrows sticking to his body,

moun-

Indeed, with

Kama,

monarch,

in that battle, looked resplendent like the prince

of mountains

with its top and glens overgrown with

decked with

flowering Karnikaras. 7i of arrows,

Kama

trees

also, shooting repeated showers

looked, with those arrows constituting his rays, like

the Sun coursing towards the Asta

crimson rays.

Shafts,

however,

Arj una's arms, encountering in

hills,

with disc bright with

of keen

points, sped

from

the welkin the blazing arrows,

resembling mighty snakes, sped from the arms of Adhiratha's

Taraka.

vati.-T.

Other traditions represent him as the son

Hara and Par-

—

— KAU.VY parva. son, destroyed them all.

359

Recovering his coolness, and Bhooting

many shafts that resomblod angry

snakes,

Kama then

Partha with ten shafts and Krishna with half a dozen,

pierced

each

which looked like an angry snake. 79

Then Dhananjaya desired

to shoot a mighty and terrible arrow,

made wholly

of iron, re-

sembling the poison of the snake or fire in energy, and whose thunder, and

whiz resembled the peal of Indra's inspired with the force of a high time,

when the honr

(celestial)

which was

At that

weapon."

Kama's death had come, Kala, apBrahmana's curse,*

proaching invisibly, and alluding to the

Kama that his death

and desirous of informing

The Earth is devouring thy wheel !

tnld him,

when the hour

was

near,

— Indeed, O

Kama's death came, the high Brahma weapon that the illustrious Bhargava had imparted unto him, escaped from his memory. And the Earth foremost of men,

8 also began to devour the left wheel of his car. '

Then in conse-

quence of the curse of that foremost of Brahman as, Kama's car

began to reel, having sunk deep into the Earth and havinsr been transfixed at that spot like a sacred tree with of flowers standing upon an

car began to reel from the

elevated platform. 8 ! f of the

curse

its

load

When

his

Brahmana, and when

the high weapon he had obtained from Rama no

longer shone

him through inward light, and when his terrible snakemouthed shaft also had been cut off by Partha, Kama became in

filled

with melancholy. 84

Unable to endure all those calamities,

he waved his arms and began to rail at righteousness, saying,

They that are conversant with righteousness always say righteousness ourselves,

protects those that are

81 !

thafc

As regards

we always endeavour, to the best of our ability and

knowledge, to practise righteousness. ever,

righteous

is destroying

now

instead

devoted to it.

therefore, think

always protect

its

worshippers

Vide Page 150. Verse 41,

To this

35 !

That righteousness, howof protecting us

that

are

that righteousness does not

— While saying these words,

Kama Parva.—T.

day, sacred trees, such as thr banian or the

Afwaltha, may

be seen in villages and towns, with elevated platforms of brick or earth round their trunks. Upon these platforms the village elders may be seen sitting and smoking

and deciding many important causes.— T.

MAHABHARATA,

3liO

he became exceedingly agitated by the strokes of Arjuna'a arrows. His steeds and his driver also were displaced from their usual

became

His very

position.

indifferent

three

terrible

struck, ho

and repeatedly railed at

He then pierced Krishna in the

righteousness in that battle."

arm with

vitals having been

to what he did,

arrows, and Partha too with seven. 88

Then Arjuna sped seven and ten

terrible

arrows, perfectly

straight

and of fierce impetuosity, resembling fire in spleudour

and

unto Indra's thunder in force. 83

impetuosity, those arrows his body

shock,

fell

Endued with awful

Kama and passing out of

pierced

upon the surface of the Earth.

Trembling at the

Kama then displayed his activity to the utmost of his

power. 90

Steadying himself by a powerful

the Brahma weapon.

he invoked

effort,

Beholding the Brahma weapon, Arjuna

invoked the Aiiulra weapon with proper mantras. 01

Gandiva, its string, and his

shafts

Inspiring

with mantras, that

also,

pouring

scorcher of foes shot showers of arrows like Purandara rain in torrents.

Those arrows endued with great energy and

power, issuing out of Partha's car, were seen to be displayed in the vicinity of

The mighty car- warrior Kama

Kama's vehicle.

baffled all those shafts displayed

his

weapon thus destroyed, the Vrishni said,

— Shoot high weapons,

baffles thy shafts

9* !

front.

Seeing that Arjuna,

hero, addressing

Partha

of Radha

The son

— With proper mantras, Arjuna then fixed

the Brahma weapon on his string, and shrouding all the points of the compass with arrows,

arrows. 98

Then Kama,

Partha struck

with

number

Kama (with many) whetted shafts

endued with great energy, cut off the string of Arjuna's bow. Similarly he cut off the second string, and then the third, and then the fourth, and then the off by Vrisha,

the

ninth,

fifth.

The sixth

also

was cut

and then the seventh, then the eighth, then

then the tenth, and then at

the

last

eleventh.

Capable of shooting hundreds upon hundreds of arrows,

Kama

knew not that Partha had

bow. 97

Tying then another string

arrows, the

son

hundred strings his

bow and shooting many

Pandu covered Kama with

resembled snakes of blazing mouths. 98 replace each broken string that;

his

Kama

shafts

that

So quickly did Arjuna could

not

mark when

—

O KARNA PARVA,

was broken and

with

when

The {Vat, seemed to lam

replaced.

The son

wonderful."

exceedingly

3G1

own weapons those of Savyasachin.

his

Radha

baffled

Displaying also

own prowess, ho seemed to get the bettor of DhananThen Krishna, beholding Arjuna afflicted with the weapons of Kama, said these words unto Partha, his

jaya at that time. 100

Approaching Kama, strike him with superior weapThen Dhananjaya, filled with rage, inspiring with ons ! mantras another celestial weapon that looked like fire and viz.,

101

—

resembled

that

weapon with

poison

the

lift

and uniting the Iiaudnc of shooting

his foe.

king, the Earth swallowed up one of wheels of

Quickly alighting

seized his sunken wheel with to

and that was as

snake

the 102

became desirous

it,

At that time, Kama's car. 103

of adamant,

hard as the essence

with a great

then from his vehicle, he two arms and endeavoured

his

effort.'

Drawn up

with

force

by Kama, the Earth, which had swallowed up his wheel, rose up to a height of four fingers' breadth, with her seven and her

hills

and

waters

swallowed, the son of

Radha shed

holding Arjuna,

with

Partha,

this sunken

filled

wait

Partha,

wheel

107

rage f«.r

Seeing

from

tears

said

my car swallowed through accident

his

islands

wheel

wrath, and be-

words: 106

these

moment, that

Beholding,

10 *

forests.

is,

Partha, the

—

till

left

wheel

lifd

by the Earth, abandon

(instead of cherishing) this purpose (of striking and slaying me)

that is capable of being harboured by only a coward warriors that are

observant

of the

practices of the

lOS !

Crave

righteous,

never shoot their weapons at persons with dishevelled hair, or afi those that have turned their faces from battle, or at a Brahmana,

him who

joins

self

up or beggebh

for

his weapon, or at one

quarter,

world.

been broken

103-10 I

who has put up

one

or at one

whose

Thou art the

woapon has fallen

bravest of

Thou art also of righteous behaviour,

Thou art

well

acquainted with the

reasons, excuse me for a moment,"

wheel,

whose arrows are exhausted, or at ono

whose armour is displaced, off or

palms, or at him who yields him-

his

Dhananjaya, from *6

the

rules of battle.

that

Earth

is,

men in tha

son of Pandu

till

For these

extricato

Thyself staying on

MAHABHARATA.

3G2

thy car and myself standing weak and languid on the Earth,

behove th thee not to slay

me now 119

Neither Vasudeva, nor

son of Pandu, inspires or inspirest me with the slight-

thou, est fear

Thou art born

Kshatriya order

the

the perpetuator of a high race

Recollecting the

righteousness, excuse me for a moment,

Thou art

teachings of

son of Pandu

" I1?

—

Section XCI.

— 'Then Vasudeva, stationed on the addressed Kama, saying, — By good luck O son of Radha, " Sanjaya

said,

car,

it is,

that thou rememberest virtue

It is generally seen that

they

when they sink into distress, rail at Providence Thyself and Suyodhana and but never at their own misdeeds. that are mean,

Duscasana and Cakuni the son of Suvala, had caused Draupadi, clad in a single

piece

be brought into

the

On that occasion, Kama, this virtue 2 itself When at the assembly

midst of the assembly. of

of raiment,

thine did not manifest

Cakuni, an adept in dice, vanquished Kunti's son Yudhishthira

who

Avas

unacquainted

thine then gone ? 3

with

it,

whither had this virtue of

When the Kuru king (Duryodhana), acting

under thy counsels, treated Bhimasena in that way with the aid of snakes and poisoned

was over as

also

food,

whither had this virtue of

When the period

thine then gone ?*

the thirteenth

over to the Pandavas their kingdom.

Varnavata

for

into the

words

not

make

didst

Whither had this virtue

Thou hadst set fire to tho house

of thine then gone ? 8 at

of exile

year,* thou

of lac

burning to death the sleeping Pandavas.

Whither then, O son of Radha, had this virtue of thine gone ? 6

Thou hadst laughed at Krishna while she stood of the

assembly, scantily dressed because

obedient to Duscasana's will, whither, then, virtue of thine gone

1 I

gone ? 8

Whither,

the midst

her season and

O Kama, had this

When invading the apartment reserved

for females the innocent Krishna was interfere.

dragged, thou didst

O son of Radha, had this virtue

not

of thine

Thyself addressing the princess Draupadi, that lady

The thirteenth was the year of concealment.— T,

—

— KARNA PARTI.

3G3

whose tread is as dignified as that of the elephant, in thcso The Pandavas, Krishna, are lost. They have words, viz.,

Do thou choose another husband !

sunk into eternal hell.

thou hadst looked on the scene with delight

O Kama, had this virtue of thine gone dom and relying on

of thine

hadsti

Whither

then,

When many mighty

caf-

a match at

gone ? 10

Covetous of king-

Gandharas, thou

the ruler of the

summoned the Pandavas (to had this virtue

—

Whither then,

dice).

warriors, encompassing the boy Abhimanyu in battle, slew him,

whither had this virtue of thine then gone ?"

If this

virtue

that thou now invokest was nowhere on those

occasions,

what

word

now by

use then of parching thy palate

is the

Thou art now for the

practice

O Suta, bufi

Like Nala who was defeated

thou shalt not escape with life !'*

by Pushkara with the aid of dice but who regained

dom by prowess, the Pandavas, who will recover their kingdom by the

with all their friends foes,

1B !

are

free

his

king-

from cupidity,

prowess of their arms, aided

Having slain in battle

their

powerful

recover

their

kingdom.

with the Somakas,

they,

that

uttering

of virtue,

will

The Dhartarashtras will meet with destruction at the hands of those lions among men (viz., the sons of Pandu), that are always protected by virtue

"Sanjaya continued,— 'Thus addressed,

Kama hung down

sudeva, answer.

With

his

head

shame and gave no

lips quivering in rage,

O Bharata, by Vii-

he raised his bow,

Bharata, and endued as he was with great energy and prowess, 16 Then Vasudeva, addresshe continued to fight with Partha. ing Phalguna, that bull among men, said, O thou of great

—

might,

piercing

Kama with a celestial

weapon, throw him

down! — Thus addressed by the holy one, Arjuna became 17

filled

to by

with rage.

Indeed, remembering

tho

Krishna, Dhananjaya blazed up with

king, blazing flames

of fire seemed

pores of the angry Partha's

exceedingly

wonderful.

body.

Beholding

alluded

incidents fury.

Then,

emanate from

The it,

sight

seemed

all

tho

Kama, invoking tho

Brahma weapon, showered his shafts upon Dhananjaya, and 40 Partha also, once more made an effort to extricate his car. by the aid of the Brahma weapon, poured arrowy downpours

MAHABHARATA.

264 upon Kama.

Baffling with

own weapon

his

his foe, the son of Pandu continued to strike

the

weapon of

him. 81

The son

Kama, sped another

of Kunti then, aiming at

pon of his that was inspired with

wea-

favourite

energy of Agni.

the

by Arjuna, that weapon blazed up with

Sped own energy."

its

Kama, however, quenched that conflagration with the Vdruna weapon.

The Suta's son also, by the clouds he created, caused shrouded with a darkness

all the points of the compass to be

83 such as may be seen in a rainy day.

The son of Pandu, endued with great energy, fearlessly dispelled those clouds by means of the Vayavya weapon in the very sight of Kama. 84

The Suta's son then, for slaying the son

of Pandu, took

up a

When that adored shaft terrible arrow was fixed on the bowstring, the Earth, O king, trembled with blazing

fire.

her mountains and waters and

forests.

to blow, bearing hard pebbles.

became enveloped with dust.

by the Suta's son,

Wails of grief,

O Bkarata, arose

Beholding that shaft aimed

the Pandavas, with cheerlees hearts,

sire,

gave themselves up to great sorrow. 89 point and endued

Violent winds be^an

All the points of the compass

welkin. 87

among the gods in the

with the

That shaft of keen

effulgence of

Cakra's thunder,

sped from Kama's arms,

fell upon Dhananjaya's chest and penemighty snake penetrating an anthill. 23 That

trated it like a

grinder

of foes,

trembled

quake. 50

the

high-souled Vibhatsu, thus deeply

encounter, began to

pierced in that loosened, at

viz.,

reel.

His grasp became

which

his

bow Gandiva dropped from his hand.

the

prince

mountains

earth-

Availing of that opportunity, the mighty car-warrior

Vrisha, desirous

of extricating

his

car-wheel

that

had been

swallowed up by the Earth, jumped down from his vehicle. Seizing the wheel with his two arms he endeavoured to drag up, but though possessed efforts as

destiny

strength, he

of great

would have

it.

failed

his

Meanwhile the diadem-

decked and high-souled Arjuna, recovering his senses, took up a shaft, fatal as the rod of Death, and called Anjcdlka*

Then

* So called because the heads of those arrows were broad as the fcands j'jiued together.— T.

two

KARNA PA

V A.

86.

Vasudeva, addressing Partha, said,—Cut the head of this

enemy

of thine,

M ceeds in getting up on his car !

viz.,

with

off

arrow

thy

Vrisha, before

suc-

— Applauding those words of

the lord Vasudeva, and while the wheel of his enemy was still sunk, the mighty car-warrior Arjuna took up a razor-headed

arrow of blazing effulgence and struck the standard (of

Kama)

bearing the elephant's rope and bright

Sun. s3

the

spotless

That standard bearing the device of the costly elephant's rope, was adorned with gold and pearls and gems and diamonds, and forged with care by foremost of artists excelling

knowledge,

2* and possessed of great beauty, and variegated with pure gold.

That standard always used to fill thy troops with high courage and the enemy

with

Celebrated

over

splendour.

Indeed,

Sun

the its

the Moon."

form commanded applause.

fear.

Its

whole

world,

effulgence

was

resembled the Sun like that

of fire

or the-

The diadem decked Arjuna, with that

razor-headed shaft, exceedingly sharp, equipt with wings of gold, possessed of the splendour of fire

when

with

fed

libations

clarified butter, and blazing with beauty, cut off that

of Adhiratha's son, that great car- warrior.

With that

standard stand-

ard, as it fell, the fame, pride,

hope of victory, and everything

dear, as also the hearts of the

Kurus,

Ok and Alas arose

(from

the Kuru

fell,

army).

and loud wails of 87

Beholding that

standard cut off and thrown down by that hero of Kuril's race possessed of great

of hand, thy

lightness

were no longer hopeful of Kama's victory. for

troops, 88

Hastening then

Kama's destruction, Partha took out from

excellent

O Bharata,

his

Anjalika weapon that resembled the

quiver an

thunder of

Indra or the rod of fire and that was possessed of the effulgence of the thousand-rayed Sun. vitals,

Capable of penetrating the very

besmeared with blood and flesh, resembling

fire

the

Sun, made of costly materials, destructive of men, steeds, and it measured

elephants, of straight course and fierce impetuosity,

three cubits and six feet.*

Endued with the force of the thou-

sand-eyed Indra's thunder, irresistible as Rdkshasas in the night,

resembling Pinaha or Narfiyana's discus, terrible fully

was exceedingly

and destructive of all living creatures.

Partha cheer-

took up that, great weapon, in the thape of an arrow, which

MAHABIIARATA,

3G(T

could not bo resisted by the very gods,

— that high-souled being

which was always adored by the son of Pandu, and which was capable of vanquishing the very gods and the Asuras.**

Be-

holding that shaft grasped by Partha in, that bafctle, the entire universe shook with

mobile and immobile creatures.

its

deed, seeing that weapon raised (for being sped) in

cried —Peace be to be uni—The wielder of Gandiva then fixed on his bow that

ful battle, the Rishis loudly

verse

4S !

In-

that dread-

out,

high and mighty weapon.

unrivalled arrow, uniting it with a

—

Drawing his bow Gandiva, he quickly said, 44 Let this shaft of mine be like a mighty weapon capable of quickly destroying and heart of my enemy,

the body

ascetic austerities, gratified

counsels of well-wishers

if I

have ever practised

by superiors, and listened to the shaft, worshipped by me

Let this

and possessed of great sharpness slay my enemy Kama by that Truth

that — Having said these words Dhananjaya of Kama, — that arrow fierce off

let

terrible shaft for the destruction

and efficacious as a rite prescribed in the Atharvan of Angiras, blazing with effulgence, and incapable of being endured by Death himself in battle.

And

the

diadem-decked Partha, desirous

of slaying Kama, with great cheerfulness, said,

conduce to my victory

Shot by me, let this arrow possessed

of the splendour of fire or the of Yama

and

47 !

— Let this shaft

Sun take Kama to the presence

— Saying these words, Arjuna, decked with diadem

garlands,

cherishing feelings

of hostility

Kama

towards

and desirous of slaying him, cheerfully struck his foe with that foremost of shafts which was possessed of the splendour of tho

Sun or

the

Moon and

capable

of bestowing victory.

Thus

sped by that mighty warrior, that shaft endued with the energy of the Sun caused all

with light.

head

thunder. 43

With

the

Indra striking Indeed,

points

of the

compass to blaze up

that weapon Arjuna struck off

the

head

off his

O king, that excellent Anjalika weapon

inspired with mantras

into a mighty weapon, the son of Indra

cut off the head of Vaikartana in the afternoon. 10

with that Anjalika, the trunk of Earth.*

enemy's

Vritra with his

The head also

of that

Thus cut off

Kama fell down on the

commander of tho (Kaurava)

army, endued with splondour equal to that of the risen

Sim

KARNA PAKVA.

H(>7

and resembling the meridian Sun of autumn, Earth like

full

the Sun of bloody disc dropped down from the Asta

unwillingness

Indeed, that head abandonod with great

hills."

down on the

the body, exceedingly beautiful and always nursed in luxury, of

Kama of noble deeds, like an owner abandoning with

great

unwillingness his commodious mansion filled with great wealth.

Cut off with Arj una's arrow, and deprived of life, the tall trunk of

Kama

endued with great splendour, with blood issuing from

summit of a mountain of red chalk with crimson streams running adown Then from that body of the fallen its sides after a shower." every wound,

fell

down

Kama a light passing Sun.

This wonderful

the thunder-riven

through

welkin

the

king, was

sight,

human warriors after the fall of Kama."

penetrated the

beheld by

all

the

Then the Pandavas,

beholding Kama slain by Pb&lguna, loudly blew their conchs. Similarly, Krishna

and Dhananjaya

with delight,

also, filled

56 and losing no time, blew their conchs.

The Somakas, behold-

ing Kama slain and lying

were

on the

field,

with joy

filled

and uttered loud shouts with the other troops (of the Pandava army). In great delight they blew their trumpets and waved thuir arms and garments."

ing Partha, began to

king, approach-

All the warriors,

applaud him joyfully.

Others,

possess-

ed of might, danced, embracing each other, and uttering loud good luck, Kama hath been stretched on the shouts, said,—

Earth and mangled with arrows ["—Indeed, the severed head of

Kama looked beautiful like a mountain summit loosened by

a tempest, or a quenched fire after the sacrifice the

ima^e of the Sun after it has reached

over,

Asta

hills."

the

The

Kama-sun, with arrows for its rays, after having scorched the hostile army, was at last caused to be set by the mighty Arjuna-

As the Sun, while proceeding towards the Asta hills, retires taking away with him all his rays, even so that shaft (of Arjuna) passed out, taking with it Kama's life-breaths." The time.

death hour of the Suta's son, day.*

Cut

off

with the

sire,

.4 njalika

was the afternoon of that

weapon

* I adopt the Bombay reading of this line,

gloss in

interpreting it.— T.

aud

that

battle, the

Xilakantha's

m aha mi a rata,

888

head of Kama fell down along with

his

body.

Indeed, that

arrow of Arjuna, in the very sight of the Kaurava troops, quickly took away the

head and the body of Kama. 58

the heroic Kama thrown down stretched on the

Beholding

Earth, pierced

with arrows and bathed in blood, the king of the Madras went

away on that car deprived of its standard. 64

After the

fall

Kama, the Kauravas, deeply pierced with shafts in that battle, and afflicted with fear, ing their eyes on that

with splendour.

tied away

lofty

from the field, frequently cast-

standard of Arjuna that blazed

The beautiful he'ad, graced with a

resembled a lotus of thousand

petals, of

Kama

were like those of the thousand-eyed Indra,

fell

face

that

whose

feats

down on the

Earth like the thousand-rayed Sun as he looks at the close of day.'

"6 «

Section XCII. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Beholding the troops crushed with arrows

in that encounter between filled

Kama and Arjuna, Calya proceeded,

with wrath, on that car divested of its equipments.

holding his army deprived of the Suta's son steeds and elephants destroyed,

and

cars

its

Be-

and

Duryodhana, with eyes bathed

in tears, repeatedly sighed the very picture

Desirous

of woe.*

of beholding the heroic Kama, pierced with arrows and bathed in blood,

and stretched on the Earth like the Sun dropped from

the skies at will, the warriors came thero and stood surrounding the fallen hero. 3

Amongst those belonging to the enemy and

thy army that thus stood there, some showed signs of joy,

some of fear, some of sorrow, some of wonder, and some gave themselves natures.*

great

grief,

according to

their

respective

Others amongst the Kauravas, hearing that

of mighty energy, had. been slain by

Dhananjaya,

his

Kama armour,

ornaments, robe3, and weapons, having all been displaced, fled inv-fear like

its bull.

a herd of kino afflicted with exceeding fear at losing

Bhima then, uttering loud roars and causing the wel-

kin to tremble with those awful and tremendous shouts, began to slap his armpits, jump, and dance, frightening rashtras by those movements.'

the Dharta-

The Somakas and the Srinjayaa

3o?

K.VHSA PARTA, also loudly blew

their

conchs.

the

All

Kshatriyas embraced

one another in joy, upon beholding the Suta's son

slain at that

Having fought a dreadful buttle, Kama was slain by

juncture. 7

Arjuna like an elephant by a lion.

That bull among men,

Arjuna, thus accomplished his vow.

Indeed, even thus.. Partha

s reached the end of his hostility (towards Karna).

the Madras, with stupified

said in

heart, quickly

of Duryodhana, on that

to the side

sorrow

these

words:'

car

viz

The ruler of king,

proceeding,

uf standard,

divested

— The elephants, the steeds, and

the foremost of car-warriors of thy army have been

slain

consequence of those mighty warriors, and steeds, and elephants

huge as hills, having been slain after coming into contact with one another, thy host looks like the domains of Yama before,

Bharata, has a battle been fought

Kama and Arjuna today

that

Kama had powerfully

Never

between

assailed the

two Krishnas today and all others who are thy foes '."

Destiny,

however, has certainly flowed, controlled

this that Destiny

Partha.

for

is protecting the Pandavas and weakening ua

Many are the heroes who, resolved to accomplish thy have been forcibly slain by the enemy."

objects,

Brave kings, who in

energy, courage, and might, were equal to Kuvera or

Yama or

Vasava or the Lord of the waters, who were possessed of every

who were almost unslayable, and who were

merit,

have in battle been

achieving thy object,

davas

Do not,

Comfort thyself

Bharata, grieve for this !

Success cannot be

desirous

by the Pan-

slain

This is Destiny

always attained:*

13 " 14

—

Hearing these words of the ruler of the Madras and reflecting on his own evil

doings, Duryodhana,

with

cheerless

heart,

became almost deprived of his senses and sighed repeatedly the Jery picture of woe.

SV T1..S XCIII. Dhritarashlra said,

— What was the aspect of the Kuru

and the Srinjaya host on that awful day while

was crushed

with arrows and scorched (with weapons) in that encounter be*

;i')'->pt

the Bombay reading of

the last line of 11.

— T.

Z70

MA7T.VBTIAJUTA,

tween Kama and Arjuna and while it. was flying away from the Held V 1 •'Sanjaya

said,

— 'Hear, O king, with attention how that

awful and great carnage of

human

steeds occurred in

When, after Kama's

beings and elephants and fall

Partha

uttered leonine shouts, a great fright entered the hearts

of thy

puis,

battle !*

Upon the fall of Kama no warriror of thy army set his

heart on rallying thetroops or putting forth his prowess.

refuge having been destroyed by Arjuna, they raftless

Their

were then like

merchants, whose vessels have wrecked on the fathom-

less ocean,

desirous of crossing the son,

&he slaughter of the Suta's fied and mangled

tection,

and desirous of pro-

of elephants

afflicted

Vanquished by Savyasachin on that afternoon, they like bulls with

with keen arrows, thy

fusion, themselves mangled

the fall of Kama, O

king,

away

fled

away fangs. 7

thrown into con-

troops

Their foremost of heroes slain, their

lions.*

fled

snakes with broken

broken horns or

After

Kauravas, terri-

king, the

with shafts, masterless

became like a herd

main, 5

uncrossable

fear.

sons, after

Divested of

weapons and armour, no longer able to ascertain which point of the compass was which, and deprived of their senses, they crushed one another in course of their flight, and looked afe one another, afflicted with

pursuing with speed ! u ith speed !

—It

— It

is me that Yibhatsu is me that Vrikodara is pursuing

fear.

— thought every one among the Kauravas who be10

came pale with fear and fell down as they fled. Some on horses, some on cars, some on elephants, and some on foot, mighty earCars warriors, endued with gj*eat speed, fled away in fear.' were broken by elephants, horsemen were crushed by great carwarriors, and bands of foot-soldiers were trod down by bodies of 1

horse, a3 these fled in fear.

Liko people without protectors

teeming with beasts of prey and robbers, thy warriors

in a forest

They were then like became, after the fall of the Suta's son Afflicted elephants without riders and men without arms. !

with fear, they looked upon the whole of

Parfeha. * 1

Beholding them fly away

ef Bhimasena, indeed, seeing in thousands,

his

as if it were full

world

afflicted

troops thus

Duryodhana, uttering

cries of

with the fear leave

the

field

Oh and Alas, ad-

KlRNA fakva. driver, saying, 11 *

dressed his

— Parbha

behind all the troops

never

will

transgress myself standing bow in hand:

its continents.'

able

Ui£e my steeds slowly

the

vasty

dee])

never

debt I owe

gold.

proud

the

Kama!* — Hearing these words of the Kuru 8

slowly

Then

unable to transgn

Slaying Arjuna ami Govinda and

king that were so worthy of a hero and honorable charioteer

able

Vrikodara and the rest of my foes, I will free myself from to

Without doubt, if I fight standing

the rear of the army, the son of Kuuti will transgress me even

five

urged

his steeds adorned with

man. the

trappings

and twenty thousand warriors on

longing to thy army, without cars and cavalry

foot,

and elephant.;

among them, prepared for battle. 20 Bhimasena filled with wrath, and Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, encompassed themwith four kinds of forces and began to strike shafts.

their

with Bhima and Some amongst them challenged the two heroes

In return, those warriors

Prishata's son.

them with

fought

by name. 42

Then Bhimasena became filled with rage. Alighting from his car. mace in hand, he fought with those Warrior arrived for battle.

son

the

dara,

Observant of the rules of fair fight, Vrik

of Kunti,

came down from his car, and

relying

upon the might of his arms, began to fight on foot with bhosex of his that were on foot. 34 Taking up his massive ma^e adorned with gold, he began to slaughter them all, like tho foes

Destroyer armed with his bludgeon. 1 * The Kaurava warriors o:> foot, filled

with rage and

becoming reckless of

their

liv

rushed against Bhima in that battle like insects upon a blazing fire.

Those infuriate combatants,

difficult

of being defeated

in battle, approaching Bhimasena, perished in a trice like living

creatures upon

seeing

the

Destroyer. 27

The mighty Bhima,

armed with mace, careered like a hawk and destroyed five

and twenty thousand combatants. 23

division

of heroic

warriors,

Having

all

those

slain

that

Bhima, of prowess incapable of

being baffled and great might, once more stood, with Dhrishta-

dyumna

before him. 89

Possessed of great energy, Dhananjaya

* The Bombay reading is h<l ha i

set.— T.

A',

This

MAHABHARATA.

372

proceeded against the (remnant of the) car

(of the

force

Kau-

The two sons of Madri, and Satyaki, filled with joy, rushed with speed against Cakuni and slaughtered the troops of 31 Having slain with keen shafts his cavalry and Suvala's son. ravas).

elephants in that encounter, they

rushed impetuously

against

Mean-

Cakuni himself upon which a great battle took place. while Dhananjaya,

twanged

his bow

O lord, proceeding against thy

car- force,

three

worlds. 38

Gdndiva celebrated over

the

Beholding that car having white steeds yoked unto it and owning Krishna for its driver, and seeing that Arjuna was the warrior standing on it, thy troops fled away in fear.

Five and

twenty thousand soldiers on foot, deprived of cars and mangled with shafts, had perished (at the hands of Bhima and Dhrishta-

dyumna). 88

Having slain them, that

great car-warrior

among

tiger

Panchalas,

the

Dhrishtadyumna the son of the Panchala

among men, that

viz.,

the

high-souled

king, 5 ' soon

showed

That slayer of foes and 37 Beholding mighty bowman appeared exceedingly handsome. pigeons yoked white as steeds had which car Dhrishtadyumna's

himself, with Bhimasena before him.

unto it and whose lofty standard was made of the trunk of a Kov'ulira, the Kauravas fled away in great

(Nakula and Sahaleva)

of great

fame,

fear.

The twins

and Satyaki, having

pursued with great speed the king of the Gandharas who was possessed of lightness of hands in the use of weapons, reappeared 39 Chekitana and Cikhandin and the (amid the Pandava ranks). (five) sons of Draupadi; O sire, having slaughtered thy vast 40 All those heroes, although they army, blew their conchs.

saw thy troops flying away with faces turned from the field, still pursued them, like bulls pursuing angry bulls after vanquishingt them. 41 Pandu's son Savyasachin of great might, O king, beholding a remnant of thy army still standing

came

filled

with wrath. *

jaya rushed against that car-force, drawing celebrated

over

the

for

battle, be-

Dhananbow Gdndiva

Possessed of great energy,

three

worlds.

them with showers of arrows.

his

Suddenly he

shrouded

The dust that was raised dark44

ened the scene and nothing could any longer be distinguished. When the Earth was thus shrouded with dust and when darkness king, fled on all sides from covered everything, thy troops,

KiltNA fear.

When

O monarch,

Then Duryodfaana challenged all the Pandavas

O chief of Bharata's race, liko

to battle,

days of yore challenging the gods. 47

shooting and

Asura

the

At this,

all

Yali

the Pandava

rushed against the advancing Duryo-

heroes, uniting together,

dhana,

kingj

thy son, rushed against all his foes advancing

viz.,

against him.

army thus broke, the Kuru

Kuril

the

373

I'AK'.'A.

hurling

him

and

weapons

diverse

upbraiding him repeatedly. 48

Duryodhana, however, filled with rage, fearlessly slaughtered those enemies of his in hundreds

43 The prowess that we then and thousands, with keen shafts. wonderful, for alone and unexceedingly was beheld of thy son 80 together. united supported, he fought with all the Pandavas

arrows, had set field.

hearts

their

Rallying them

resolved

maintain

monarch, thy son who was

then, his

honor, gladdening those warriors of t2 !

— do not see that spot in I

Earth or on the mountains, whither, will not slay ye

gone not far from the

ilight,

words unto them

these

his, said

who, mangled with

his own troops

Duryodhana then beheld

What use then

exceedingly

mangled

victory will certainly

be ours

sinful Pandavas,

duty

that

Small is

stay

of us

The two Krishnas

5S !

dead knows

no misery

the other

Listen, ye

hereafter

Kshatriyas, ay,

are

assembled here

that

ye,

the destroyer Yama spareth neither the hero so

foolish

For

Death in battie

bliss

all

Fight, observant of the Kshatriya's

hand, such a one enjoys eternal

who is there

battle,

for

disunion, the

fly

we should die in battle

with happiness

s4 I

Pandavas

pursuing us, will certainly slay all of us

this, it is better that is fraught

If all

the

flying away ?

the force that the Pandavas now have also are

fly,

nor the coward, observant

of understanding, although

would not

of a Kshatriya's vow like us, that

When

fight ?*

Would

ye place yourselves under the power of the angry foe Bhima-

behoveth ye not to abandon the duty observed by

sena ?

your

sires

and grandsires 88

Kshatriya than

flight

Thero

from battle

no greater sin

path for heaven, ye Kauravas, than the duty of battle in battle,

for a

There is no more blessed

— ye warriors, enjoy heaven without delay

"Sanjaya continued;— 'While even thecc words

Slain

'*'

were being

37-4

MA1IAB11ARATA.

uttered by thy son, the (Kaurava) warriors, exceedingly mangled, fled away on all sides, regardless of that speech.'

Section XCIV. "Sanjaya said.

— 'The ruler of the Madras then, beholding

thy son employed in rallying the troops, with fear depicted in his countenance and with heart stupified with grief, said

words unto Duryodhana. " 'Calya said,

— Behold this awful

covered with heaps of slain

men and

field

exceedingly

mangled,

their

vital

hero;

of battle,

steeds

and elephants

Some tracts are covered with fallen elephants, huge tains,

these

limbs

mounwith

pierced

shafts, lying helplessly, deprived of life, their armour displaced,

and the weapons, the shields and the swords with which they were equipt lying scattered about

These fallen animals resem-

huge mountains riven with thunder, with their rocks and lofty trees and herbs loosened from them and lying all

ble

around 2 8 !

The bells and iron hooks and lances and standards

with which those huge creatures had been equipt are lying on the ground.

Adorned with housings of gold, their bodies

now bathed in blood fallen steeds,

Some

tracts, again, are

mangled with shafts, breathing hard

vomiting blood. 4

are

with

covered in pain,

and

Some of them are sending forth soft wails of

pain, some are biting the Earth with rolling eyes, and some arc

uttering piteous neighs.

Portions of the field are covered with

horsemen and elephant-warriors

fallen

and with bands of car-warriors their

cars.'

off

forcibly

from their animals,

thrown down from

Some of them are already dead and some are on Covered also with the corpses of men and

the point of death.

steeds and elephants as also with crushed cars

and other huge

elephants with their trunks and limbs cut

the

off,

Earth has

Vaitarani (skirting

become awful to look

the domains of Yama).

Indeed, the Earth looketh even

the

great

such,

being strewn with other elephants, stretched on the ground with trembling bodies and broken tusks, vomiting blood, uttering soft cries in pain, deprived of the warriors on their backs, divested of

the arinoujc that covered their limbs, and reft of the lout soldiers,

K.Ui.SA PAltVAi

their quivers and that protected their flanks and rear, and with adorned with banners and standards displaced, their bodies

The

housings of gold struck deep with the weapons of the foe" consequence of Earth looked like the cloud-covered welkin in fallen bodies of elephant-warriors

with the

being strewn

horse-men and car-warriors,

all

of great

and of foot-

fame,

face,

and

and divested of

by foes 'fighting face to 8 Covered with armour and ornaments and attire and weapons. arrows, fully with mangled combatants fallen thousands of exposed to the view, and deprived of consciousness, with some

soldiers slain

— amongst them whoso breaths were returning slowly, — the Earth 3

many extinguished fires. With those foremost of heroes among both the Kurus and the Srin-

seemed as

covered

with arrows and deprived of life by Partha and

pierced

JAyas,

with

Kama, the Earth seemed as if strewn with blazing plants fallen from

the

firmament, or

the

nocturnal

bespangled with blazing planets of serene 4ped from the arms of

Kama and Arjuna,

of elephants and steeds

bodies

firmament

itself

shafts

light.

The

piercing through tho

and men and quickly

stilling

their lives, entered the Earth like mighty snakes entering their

holes with heads bent

impassable

The Earth has become

downwards.' 1

heaps of slain men and steeds and elephants,

with

and with cars broken with the shafts of Dhananjaya and Adhiratha's son and with the numberless shaft? themselves shot by

them

12 !

mighty

Strewn with well-equipt cars crushed by means of

shafts along with tho warriors and the weapons and the

* Verses 9 and 10 as in the Bengal texts do not agree with those in In every sloka from 1 to 8 diverse differences of have mainly followed the Bengal tests, making an

the Bombay edition

reading occur.

occasional correction by the aid of the Bombay edition.

— T.

Like the previous verses, this also, as'read in the Bombay edition, differs in many respects from the form in which it occurs in the Bengal t

texts.

Instead

Gajairasanhhais of the Bengal

reading is Oajaischa-santhe. is

Apaviddhais.

mentioned.

Bombay

There are othe* differences again which need not bo all or even many of the

The fact is, it is tiresome to note

variations in reading which one meets with thi* section

texts, the

Then for Avabhinnais the Bombay reading

;\*

they occur in the Bengal an

by comparing the verses the

Bombay texts.— T.

MAHABHARATA,

37 (i

upon them,

standards their joints

—

cars,

that is, with their traces broken,

separated, their axles and yokes and Trivenus

wheels loosened, their

duced to fragments, their

re-

Upashkaras

destroyed, their AnvJcarsnas cut into pieces, the fastenings of their quivers cut off,

of drivers)

broken,

(for the accommodation

and their niches

— strewn with those vehicles adorned with

gems and gold, the Earth looks like the firmament overspread with autumnal clouds. 18

In consequence of well-equipt royal

deprived of riders and dragged by

fleet

steeds, as also

men and elephants and cars and horses

that

fled very

cars

quickly,

the army has been broken in diverse ways." Spiked maces with

golden

mallets,

sharp lances, heavy clubs,

bells, battle-axes,

bright unsheathed swords, and maces covered with cloth of gold,

have fallen on the field.

Bows decked with ornaments of gold,

and shafts equipt with beautiful wings of pure gold, and bright unsheathed rapiers of excellent temper, and lances, and scimitars bright as gold,

and umbrellas, and fans, and conchs, and

arms decked with excellent flowers and gold, and housings of elephants, and

and

standards,

and

car-fences,

and

diadems,

and brilliant crowns, and yak-tails lying about, O kino-, and garlands luminous with corals and pearls, and chap18

necklaces,

lets

for

head, and

the

bracelets

upper arms, and collars for

the wrist and

both

for

the

neck with strings of gold,"

the

and diverse kinds of costly diamonds and gems and pearls, and bodies brought up in great luxury, and heads beautiful as 40 Abandoning their the moon, are lying scattered about. bodies and enjoyments and robes and diverse

kinds of agree-

able pleasures, and acquiring great merit for the devotion

showed to the virtues of their order, they of

yodhana

Let the troops retire

proceed towards thy camp the welkin,

fame to regions of bliss ?

in a blaze

O lord

king,

There, the

Remember,

they

have speedily gone

Turn back,

O giver

Dur-

of honors,

Sun is hanging low

ruler of men, that thou art

the cause of all this !"— Having said these words, unto Duryo-

dhana, Calya, with heart

filled

with

grief,

stopped.

Duryo-

dhana, however, at that time, deeply afflicted and deprived of his senses, son,

and with eyes bathed in tears, wept

saying,— Oh Kama !

for

the Suta's

Oh Kama ! *— Then all the kings 1

KARNA PARVA, headed by Drona's son, repeatedly proceeded towards the lofty standard of

fame. 4 * so

377

comforting

camp, frequently

Arjuna that sop mod

Duryodhana, back

looking

ablaze

the

with

his

At that terrible hour when everything around looked

resplendent, the

Ivauravas,

all

whom had

resolved

repair to the other world, their features incapable of recognition

owing to the blood that covered them, beholding the Earth. was drenched with the blood flowing from the bodies of

that

men and steels and elephants, look like a courtezan attired in and floral garlands and ornaments of gold, were

orirason robes

to stand there !' 8 ""

O king,

unable,

slaughter of

Filled

with

grief at

the

Kama, they indulged in loud lamentations, saving,

— Alas, Kama! Alas, Kama! — Beholding the Sun assume a crimson hue.

them speedily proceeded towards their As regards Kama, though, slain and pierced with gold-

camp."

all

winged shafts whetted on stone and equipt with feathers dyed in blood and sped from

Gdndina, yet that

ground,

looked resplendent

vivs. 23

hero, lying on

the

Sun himself of bright

the

seemed that the. illustrious Surya, ever kind to his w irshippers, having touched with his rays the gore-drenched

b)dy of Kama, proceeded, with aspect crimson in grief, to the other ocean from desire of a bath. 29 * Thinking so, the throngs of celestials and Rishls (that had como there for witnessing the battle) left the scene for proceeding to their respective

The large crowd of other beings

entertaining

also,

thought, went away, repairing as they chose to heaven Earth. 30

abodes.

the

same or

the

The foremost of Kuru heroes also, having beheld that

w mderful '-vhich

battle between Dhananjaya and Adhiratha's son. had inspired all living creatures with dread, proceeded (to

The beauty of thin simile will be understood when

bereil that the ctHtom, observe'.!

a dead person,

news of death. tion has to be

to bathe in a tank or stream It"

r<*ruem-

soon after receiving tha

again the corp3e 1b touched, the rame rite of puriika*

performed.

Uere, Surya

latter had also been a devout worshipper is,

this .lay in India by the relatives o£

therefore, represented as

having witnessed the death of

the -ire of Karna,

of that

? .rc

proceeding to the western ocean for a batb, hia child

and having also touched the body

of that child with hig nv?, the Sanskrit worl for ra;- being

stands also for the hand.

— T.

and the

The r-ctting Sun

Kara which

—

htly quarters),

encounter). !

filled

in course of that dreadful fight,

slain

Radha

of features which the son of

that boaufcy

did

with wonder and applauding (the

Though his armour had been cut off with arrows,

though he had been

—

abandon

him when dead.*

possessed

Indeed, every one beheld It seemed to be

the body of the hero to resemble heated gold.

endued with life and possessed of the effulgence of fire or the tn.

h',

the

All

Suta's

the

warriors,

O king, wore inspired with fright at dead on the

lying

son

among men seemed ready to utter ::;

illustrious dead,

that

ful

other

commands.

his

seemed changed. 5S

Nothing,

Clad in a beauti-

and possessed of a neck that was very beautiful,

attire,

&he Suta's s >n

splend >ur.

field,

Indeed, though dead, that tiszcr

animals at sight of the lion.**

owned a face which resembled the full moon

Adorned with diverse ornaments and decked with

Anffalas nude of bright a

gigantic

stretched

twigs. 57

Indeed, that

Yaikartana,

gold,

adorned

tree

tiger

though slain, lay branches and

with

among men lay

heap of

pure gold, or like a blazing fire extinguished with the water of Partha's shafts. 38

ed when it

Even as a blazing conflagration is extinguish-

comes in contact with water, the

tion was extinguished

by the Partha-cloud

Kama conflagrathat

battle.

Having shot showers of arrows and scorched the ten points of the compass, that tiger among men, viz., Kama, along with his sons,

was quieted by Partha's energy.

taking away with him that blazing glory

had earned on

Earth by fair

fight.

He left

the world,

of his own which he* Having scorched tha

Pandavas and the Panchalas with the energy of his weapons, having

p >ufed showers of arrows and

sions,*'

having, indeed, heated the

rayed Surya of great beauty, tana,

that

ft,

hero

represented

burnt the

who was a Kalpa tree unto

Thus fell

these swarms of birds

I have not?*

j rflvS— but never the words always regarded him as a righteous person. !

called Vaikar-

followers.

Solicited by suitors he

Vrisha who fell in single combat

divi-

universe like the thousand-

Kama, otherwise

the world, with his soup and

by suitors.

hostile

always said,

— The righteous Even such was

All the wealth of that high-

soiled person hid been dedicated to the Brivhmanas. There wag

nothing nut even

Brah muiKks. 4 * liberal,

lie

In-

life,

Unit lie could nut give away unto tin

was ever the favourite of

and a mighty

IWrtha, he attained to the

whom thy son had

end. 45 *

highest

provoked

ladi

Burnt by the

car-warrior.

weapons

thus went to

hostilities,

heaven.,

taking away with him the hope

of victory, the happiness,

the armour of the

When Kama

Kauravas !**

The Sun set with u pate hue.

stood still.

upon

Ho, relying

and

the river

fell,

The planet Mercury,

the son of Soma, assuming the hue of lire or the Sun, appeared

firmament seemed to be rent in twain ;

The

the Earth uttered

loud

violent and awful winds began to blow.

the horizon, covered

with smoUe; seemed

great oceans were agitated

tures, 0'

sire,

constellation

Upon

felt

Tin;

The

dour fell.

planet

tremble, and Jupiter,

Rohini, assumed the hue of the the

fall

Kama, the

The Earth trembled.

Rakshmas and

came filled with joy. 50 shaft, struck off

afflicting

the

Moon

tho

points

also

subsidiary

wanderers of the

other

When

Meteors of blazing splen-

Arjuna, with

that

Kama's head adorned with a face

as the Moon, then,

O king, loud cries

heard of creatures in heaven,

crea-

all

The welkin became enveloped

of the compass became ablaze. in darkness.

ablaze.

The

pain.

All the points of

and uttered awful sounds. 48

mountains with their forests began

Sun. 49

;

night

razor-faced beautiful

Oh and Alas were

the welkin, and on the Earth.*1

Having in battle slain his foe Kama who was worshipped by the gods, the

and human beings, Pritha's son

Giindkai'vas,

Arjuna looked resplendent

Ins

energy

thousand eyes after the slaughter of

the deity

Vritra.*'

Then

of a

riding

on-

that car of their- whose rattle resembled the roar of the cloud

and whose splendour was the autumnal sky,

of the

that

meridian

with a standard incessantly producing an

awful

* Some of the Bengal texts read tbe BrBt

the favor, to of men. s,iw;;v

Sun of

which was adorned with banners and equip*,

that reading be adopted, tbe translation

line

would run thus,

Be was exceedingly

to course through the firmament in a slanting direction.

roars

liberal.

loved to jive awav, at laat met witli death.

noise

whosi

differently,

Indeed, he who

— T.

— 'He was ever I

maHabharata,

389 effulgence

of the

that

resembled

snow or thu Moon

83 and whose steeds were conch or the crystal,

Indra himself,

two foremost

those

men,

viz,.,

kha

those of

the son

Pandu and the crusher of Kecin, whose energy resembled that of the great Indra, and who were adorned with gold and pearls and gems and diamonds and corals, and who were like fire or the Sun

splendour,

with

battle

fearlessly

careered

over the

field

Vishnu and Vasava mounted

great speed, like 51 "

on the same chariot. 88 Forcibly divesting the enemy of his splendour by means of the twang of Gandiva and the slaps of their palms, and slaying the Kurus with

showers of shafts, 88

the Ape-bannered Arjuna, and the Garuda-bannered Krishna, both of whom were possessed of immeasurable prowess, those

—

two foremost

men,

—

with joy, took up with

filled

their

hands their loud sounding conchs adorned with gold and white as snow, and placing them against their lips, blew them simultaneously with those beautiful mouths of theirs, piercing 57 the hearts of their foes with the sound.

The

blare

Pan-

ahajanya and that of Devadatta filled the Earth, the welkin, and heaven. 8 * At the sound of the heroic Madhava's conch as also at that of Arjuna's,

became filled with

fright.

the

all 53

O best

Kauravas,

of kings,

Those foremost of men, causing

the forests, the mountains, the

rivers,

and the points of the

compass to resound with the blare of their

conchs, and

filling

the army of thy son with fright, gladdened Yudhishthira therewith. 60

As soon as the Kauravas heard the blare of those conchs that were thus being blown, all of them left the field with great speed, deserting the ruler of the Madras and the 61 Then chief of the Bharatas, O Bharata, viz., Duryodhana. diverse creatures, uniting together, congratulated Dhananjaya,

that hero shining resplendent on

the

field

of battle, as

also

Janarddana, those two foremost of men who then looked like 63 Pierced with Kama's arrows, those a couple of risen Suns.

two chastisers of foes, viz., Achyuta and Arjuna, looked resplendent like the bright and many-rayed Moon and the Sun -.

sen

iho ls-,

after

dispelling

gloom. 43

two mighty warriors, surrounded by

Casting

off

those

arrows,

both endued with unrivalled prow-

well wishers

and

friends,

happily

entered

381

K.VR.VY l'AUVA.

own encampment, like the lords V3sava and Vishnu duly

ili.-ir

Upon tho slaughter of Kama gods, Liamlharvas, human beings,

invoked by sacrificial priests.*** in that dreadful battle, the

Chcivdnas, great RLshis, Valerias, and great Ndgas, worship-

ped Krishna and Arj una with great respect and wished them victory (in all things).

Having received all their friends then, by

each according to his age, and applauded return for

incomparable

their

feats, the

friends

those

two heroes rejoiced

with their friends, like the chief of the celestials and Vishnu after the

overthrow of Vali.'

"**

Section XCV. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Upon the

fall

Kama otherwise called

Vaikartana, the Kauravas,

afflicted with fear,

eyes

on empty space.

sides,

casting

their

fled away

all

Indeed, hearing

that the heroic Kama had been slain by

the foe,

stupified with fear, broke and fled in all

directions. *!-

king, the

all

thy troops,

Then, O

Kuru leaders, filled with anxiety, desired to withdraw Bharata, whose flight had been endeavoured to

their troops,

be checked by thy son. s

Understanding their wishes, thy son, O

bull of Bharata's race, acted

according to the advice

of Calya,

withdrew the army.'* Then Kritavarman, O Bharata surrounded

by the unslaughtered remnant of the Niirayana troops of thy 8 Surrounded army, quickly proceeded towards the oncampment.

by a thousand Gandharas, Cakuni, beholding the son of Adhi4 Cararatha slain, proceeded quickly towards the encampment. dwat's son Kripa, force

that

king, surrounded

by the large elephant

resembled a mass of clouds, proceeded quickly to-

wards the encampment. 7

The

heroic Acwatthfunan, repoatedly

drawing deep breaths at sight of the victory of the Pandavas, proceeded quickly towards tho encampment.' Surrounded by the unslaughtered remnant of the Samsaptakas which was still

a largo

force,

Sucarman also, O

king,

proceeded, casting

* Some cf the Bengal texts read Sadasyaninrfyau which Nig. t

Of course, the correct reading is SucLisyapuiau.

his

unmcin-

— T.

The Bombay edition reads the second line of - cTiffeienliy.— T.

MAHABHAKATA,

eyes on

those

King Duryodhana, deeply

soldier^, * 9

terrified

afflicted and deprived of everything, proceeded, his

with

and a prey

grief,

heart filled

many cheerless thought?. 10

feo

Calya,

of car-warriors, proceeded towards the camp,

that foremost

eyes

all sides.

that car deprived of standard, casting

his

The other mighty

Bharata army, still nu-

car- warriors

of the

merous, fled quickly, afflicted with fear, of their senses.

almost deprived

filled

with shame, and

Indeed, seeing Kama over-

thrown, all the Kauravas fled away quickly, afflicted and anxious with fear, trembling, and with voices choked with tears.

mighty car-warriors

of the Kuru

army

away in

fled

The

fear,

chief of Kuru's rice, some applauding Arjuna, some applauding

Amongst those thousands of warriors of thy army in that great battle, there was not a single person who had still

Kama. 14

any wish for fight. 15

Upon the fall

Kama, O monarch, the

16 Kauravas became hopeless of life, kingdom, wives, and wealth. Guiding them with care, lord, thy son, filled with grief and

sorrow, set his heart upon resting great car-warriors

Those

monarch, accepting his orders with

also,

bent heads, retired from pale faces.'

them for the night. 17

the

field

with cheerless hearts and

" 1S

Section XCVI. "Saujaya said,

— 'After Kama had thus been slain and tho

Kaurava troops had fled away, he of Dacarha's race, embracing Partha from joy, said unto him these words

— Vritra was

Kama hath been slain

slain by the wielder of the thunder-bolt.

by thee.

Men will talk (in the same breath) of the slaughter of

Vritra and Kama in awful battle. 2 Vritra was slain in battle by the deity of great energy with

Kama hath been

his thunder.

slain by thee with bow and sharp arrows.

Go,

son of Kunti,

and represent, O Bharata, unto king Yudhishthira the just, this prowess

of thine

that

capable of procuring thee great

fame

and that hath become well-known in the world!* Having reprc* Tlie

Bengal

Bkay<Xrdditiis>

reading

Bhayardditdn,

—T.

adopt the funuer..

the

Bon>bay rtadmg,

IRNA PARVA<

Kama

sented unto king Yudhishthira thej ust this slaughter of in battle for

compassing which thou

been endeavouring

hadst

for a long course of years, thou wilt be freed from the debt thou

owest

the king !

beholding the

During the progress of the battle be-

Kama, the

tween thyself and

sun

Dharma

once came for

Having, however, been deeply and ex-

field.'

ceedingly pierced (with arrow-), he

could

stay

not

battle.

The king, that bull among men, then went back to his tent.

—

Partha answered Kecava, that bull of Yadu's race, saying,—

So be it

— The

foremost

latter

then

car-warriors

words unto Arjuna,

caused

cheerfully to

turn

back. 8

the car

Having

Krishna addressed the

of that

said

these

soldiers, saying,

"Blessed be ve, stand all of ye careful Iv, facing the foe I

—

— Unto

Dhrishtadyumna and Yudhamanyu and the twin sons of Madri and Vrikodara and Yuyudhana, Govinda said, 10 Ye kings,

—

we come back having informed the king

until

slaughter by Arjuna, stand ye

here

with

ceived the permission of those heroes, he

care!"

—

Kama's Having re-

then set out for the

With Partha in his company, Govinda b iheld Yudhishthira," that tiger among kings, lying on an excellent bed of gold. B »th of them then, with great joy,

quarters of the king.

touched the feet of the king. 13

Beholding their joy and the

extraordinary wounds on

bodies,

the s )ii of

their

Yudhishthira regarded

Radha to be dead and rose quickly from

his

bed. 1 *

That chastiser of foes, viz., the mighty-armed monarch, having risen

from his bed, repeatedly embraced Yasudeva and Arjuna

with

affection-.

That descendant of Kuru's race then asked

Vi-atdeva (the particulars of Kama's death). 11

Then the sweet-

speeched Vasudova, that descendant of the Yadu race, spoko t>

him of Kama's death exactly as it had happened."

then, Krishna, a'l kes-ed

king Yud'iishthira whose foes had been killed, saying,"

— By good of

Smiling

otherwise called Achyuta, joined his palms and

luck, the wielder of Gctndiva,

and Vrikodara the son

and the two sons

of Madri, are all safe*

Panda, and

thyself,

having been freed from this battle that has boon

so destructive

of heroes and that made the very hair of the body to stand end'.

Do thou

next be d >ne

those

Th iSuta

acts, -

sou

Kami, p

Pandu, which should -

•

of -great

might

—

ma ha nn A RATA.

384

and other wise culled Vaikartana, hath

By good By good luck,

been slain

hath become thine, O king of kings

luck, victory

Pandu 13

The Earth drinketh today who had laughed at the dice-won Krishna !*° That foe of thine, O bull

thou growest,

son

the blood of that Suta's son, that wretch amomr men,

of tvuru's race, lieth today on the bare ground,

with arrows.

Behold that tiger

mangled with

shafts

31 !

among

pierced all over

men,

pierced and

thou of mighty arms, rule now,

with care, this Earth that is divested of all thy foes, and enjoy with ourselves, "

all

kinds of enjoyable articles

—

— Sanjaya continued, 'Having heard these words of the Yudhishthira, with great joy, worshipped

high-souled Ke<;ava,

Good luck, Good

in return that hero of Dacarha's race.

— were the words,

monarch, that he said. 38

mighty-armed

wonderful,

It is not

luck,

And he added,

one, in

son

thee,

Devaki, that Partha, having obtained thee for his charioteer, should achieve feats that are even superhuman !"

— Then thab

chief of Kuril's race, that righteous son of Pritha, taking hold of Kecava's right arm adorned with

ousness

the

preservation

of righte-

Gifted with great intelligence, the master Krishna-

Dwaipayana, the highly blessed Vyasa, told

addressing

—

Rlshis, that arc ever employed in JS

A ngadas, and

Narada told me that ye two Nara and Narayana, those ancient and best of

both Kecava and Arjuna, said, are the gods

this

celestial

history

27 !

also,

hath repeatedly

Through thy

influence,

Krishna, this Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, facing his foes, hath

vanquished them, without ever turning back from any of them !"

are

certain

have, since

drivcrship

Partha

battle

Victory, and not defeat,

hast accepted the said these words,

83 !

thou

— Having

King Yudhishthira the just, that tiger among

man, mounting his car adorned with gold and having steeds, of ivory white and

black tails and fleet as thought harnessed

unto it, and surrounded by many Pandava troops, set out, conversing pleasantly with Krishna and Arjuna along the way, for

beholding the field of battle

had taken place. 30 " 8 '* D.fferences

which thousands of incidents

Conversing with those two heroes,

of reading are noticeable between tbese

viz.,

t^o verses

KAIINA PARYA,

38u

Kama,

and Phalguna, the king beheld

Illadhava

among men,

lying

the

of battle."

field

Yudhisthira beheld Kama pierced all over with

that

bull

Indeed,

king

arrows like a

Kadamva flower with atraignt filaments all around its body. 19 Yudhishthira beheld Kama illuminated by thousands of golden 84 Having behold Kama with lamps tilled with perfumed oil. and mangled

from

Gdildiva,

king Yudhishthira" repeatedly looked at him before

he could

his son slain

with

sped

.shafts

He then applauded those tigers among men,

believe his eyes.

— U Govinda, today I my brothers, in consequence of thyself of great wisdom having become my protector

viz.,

Madhava and Phalguna, saying,"

have become king of the Earth, with

Hearing of the slaughter of that tiger among men,

and lord sr !

viz.,

the proud son of Radha, the wicked-souled son

with despair, 8 *

rastra will

kingdom

Through thy grace,

filled

bull among men, we have By good luck, victory hath been thine, By By good luck, the enemy hath been slain

acquired our objects

O Govinda

good luck, the wielder of Gciudicu, the son been crowned with victory in wakefulness

40 I

will

Pandu, hath

we have passed thou of mighty arms,

Thirteen years

and great sorrow

through thy grace, we this way,

of Dhrita-

both life and

as regards

sleep

happily

night !*'

this

— In

O ruler of men, king Yudhishthira the just praised monarch !'*"

Janarddana greatly as also Arjuna,

— "Sanjaya continued, 'Beholding Kama with his son slain Kuril's

with Partha's shafts, that perpetuater of

Pandava army),

— great car-warriors

all

race, viz.,

The kings (in tho

—

with joy, ap-

Yudhishthira, regarded himself as reborn.

filled

proached Kunti's son Yudhishthira and gladdened him greatly.

Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Vrikodara the son of Pandu, and Satyaki,

king, that

foremost

car-warriors

among

tho

and Dhrishtadyumna, and Cikhandin, and others Vrishnis, among the Pandus, tho Panchalas, and the Srinjayas, worship41

ped the son of Kunti after the slaughter of the

Suta's

son.**

Extolling king Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, those delightera

occurring in the

Bengal readings.

Bengal and

—T.

the

Bombay

texts,

have adopted

tb«j

MAITAIfflARATA.

3SG in

battle.,

aim

and

longing for

viz.,

the two Krishna*, with speeches fraught

s-ureness of

car- warriors, filled 47 " 18

delight, proceeded towards their own camp.

king, of thy evil policy

Why dost thou grieve for

— "Hearing those

Kuru king Dhritarashtra suddenly from his excellent seat. of great foresight

Kama in battle. 81

all

powerful, that royal

54 under that great grief, seemed to lose his senses.

filled

Gandhari. 53

ladies raised

Tinking destiny and necessity to be

His

with anxiety and sorrow, the king, however, did not

Comforted by them, he remained silent, in-

again swoon away.

dulging in melancholy meditations. battle,

Then Vidura

monarch and began

fallen

Similarly the Kuru

Gandhari

lady

in diverse lamen-

She indulged

and Sanjaya both raised the comfort him. 88

tidings, the

evil

down on the ground

fell

Similarly, the royal

down.

fell

tations for the slaughter

heart

Thus occurred

" i9

now Vaigampayana continued,

ascetic,

with

making the hair to stand on end, in conse-

that great carnage,

praised those

also

victory,

Then those great

panegyrics.

quence,

affectual

scorchers of foes,

with

heroes possessed

smiters, those

those

which is

unto a

He that reads of this great

sacrifice,

between the high-souled

Dhananjaya and Adhiratha's son, as also he that hears this battle read, both obtain, 50 fice duly performed.

O Bharata, the fruit of a great sacri-

The learned say that the holy and the

eternal Vishnu is Sacrifice, and each of those

Agni, Wind, Soma, and Surya,

is so.

They fame.

that 58

every

region

so,

A man

Ho that

does so

that foremost

rejoice,

obtaining

will be

of bliss.

men always read this sacred and

devotion,

viz.,

Therefore, he that will,

without malice, hear or recite this Parvan, eapable of attaining to

other gods,

first

wealth,

happy and Filled

with

of Samhitas.

and grain, and

must, therefore, ever hear it without malice. will

obtain

persons,

all

kinds

Vishnu,

become

of happiness.

and the

pleased. 89

With

illustrious Self-

Brahmana,

born, and

Rhava

readino- it,

would obtain the fruit of having studied the Vedas

also,

Kshatriya obtains strength and

victory

battle

;

Vaicyas

would obtain immense wealth, and Cudras would obtain health 60 Then again the illustrious Vishnu and freedom from disease.

387

KAILN'A l'AUVA.

is eternal

And

since

that

god who hath been glorified

in this Parvan, it is for this that the man reading or hearing it

become th happy and acquireth all the objects of hi." heart. These words of the groat Rishl (Vyasa) can never he untrue I*

The merit that may be of the

attained

by listening to the recitation

Kama Parvan is equal to his who giveth away un-

ceasingly for a whole year good cows with calves,"

FINIS KARXA PARVA.

TABLE of CONTENTS. KAKNA PARVA. PAG]

After Drona's death the

Kuru warriors in grief,

Duryodhana at their head, repair to Drona's son Kama and Duryodhana and Duseasana and Cakuni pass the night sleeplessly

...

with

...

AVhen morning comes, they rise and perform their customary rites

...

Arraying their troop? fchey proceed to battle, making

Kama their leader

...

Kama fights for two days and is then slain by Arjuna

...

The Panda vas also proceed to battle

Sanjaya repairs to Hastiniipore and informs Dhritarashtra of Kama's fall

...

Janamejaya enquires about the details of the battle Sanjaya repairing to the Kuru city accosts king Dhritarashtra

...

Dhritarashtra's lament

...

•••

...

•••

3 l

Dhritarashtra enquires of Sanjaya about the details of the battle

...

Sanjaya begins his narration

...

... Kama made generalissimo Kama slain by Arjuna on the second day ...

•••

...

The cheerlessness of the Kuru army upon the Duryodhana's spirited address

•••

...

fall

Drona

•••

ib ib

•••

...

Hearing of Kama's fall in battle Dhritarashtra swoons away

Dhritarashtra and the ladies restored to their senses

The old king enquires whether Duryodhana is still alive

Sanjaya informs the king of Duscasana's slaughter ... Dhritarashtra enquires of Sanjaya as to who arc dead

and who still living among both the Kurus and the

Panda

...

Sanjaya recounts the names of those amongst the Kurus that have fallen

...

CONTENTS.

PAGF.

Dhritarashtra enquires about those of the Pandava side that have fallen

...

Sanjaya recounts the names of the Pandava warriors that have fallen in battle

...

Sanjaya recounts the names of the Kuru warriors that are still alive

...

Dhritarashtra, foreseeing defeat, once more swoons away

Dhritarashtra's lament for Kama

...

Sanjaya endeavours to comfort the old king

...

Continuation of Dhritarashtra's lament

...

Dhritarashtra enquires about the particulars of the battle

The Kauravas retire to their encampment after Drona's fall ... They hold a consultation in the night ... should what Duryodhana enquires of his adviseres as to

next be done

...

A(;watthaman proposes the installation of generalissimo

...

Duryodhana's address to Kama, of the Kaurava army

•••

<••

Kama as

offering the command

...

•••

Kama accepts the command and promises to slay the Pandavas

...

•••

in the command of the army

The installation of Kama The Brahmanas bless Kama The Kaurava army arrayed for battle The Makara array and its details

i' 1

...

•••

...

•••

...

•••

Yudhishthira asks Arjuna to array the Pandava army

The Pandava troops arrayed in the form of a semi-circle

... The commencement of battle The fierce slaughter on both sides The encounter between Bhima and Kshemadhurti ... Kshemadhurti slain by Bhima Diverse Pandava warriors encounter diverse Kuru warriors

Encounter between Satyaki and the two Kaikaya princes

•••

Anuvinda slain by Satyaki

...

Vinda also slain by Ditto Encounter between Crutakarman and Chitrasena the ruler of the Abhisaras

CONTENTS

ill

PAGE.

Crutakarman ... Chitra and Pritivindhya Encounter between Encounter between Bhima and Drona's son iitrasena slain by

•••

...

The Siddha8 &c. in the sky applaud both the warriors Bhima and Acwatthaman are both borne away insensible from the field

...

Acwatthaman challenges Arjuna

Encounter between Arjuna and Acwatthaman The immense slaughter caused by Arjuna

...

Fierce battle between Arjuna and the Sumsaptakas ...

...

Acwatthaman borne away from the fight by his steeds

... The heroism of Dandadhara ... Arjuna encounters Dandadhara ... Dandadhara slain by Arjuna Arjuna slays Danda the brother of Dandadhara

...

54>

...

Arjuna once more proceeds against the Samsaptakas

The Samsaptakas slaughtered by Arjuna

...

Krishna describes the dismal sights on the field of battle

... ... The heroism of Pandva ... Pandya slaughters the Kuru army Encounter between Pandva and Acwatthaman

... ...

...

Pandya slain by Acwatthaman ... The heroism of Kama

...

The carnage caused by Kama

...

Diverse encounters between diverse heroes

...

Encounter between Sahadeva and Duscasana

...

Sahadeva vanquishes Duscasana

...

... Kama encounters Naku la ... ... Kama defeats Nakula and lets him escape Kama makes a great slaughter among the Panchalas

...

•••

Yuyutsu encounters Uluka ... Yuyutsu vanquished by Uluka

...

•••

••

...

The heroism of Cakuni Kripa encounters Dhrishtadyumna

•••

1 '3

...

Dhrishtadyumtia confounded before Kripa

...

Dhrishtadyumna retreats before Kripa

•••

Kritavarmah encounters Cikhandin

...

CONTENTS,

PaGE.

Cikhandin worsted by Kritavarman

...

Arjuna encounters diverse heroes

...

Encounter between Duryodhana and Yudhishthira

...

The great carnage on the field

...

The encounter between Yudhishthira and Duryodhana continued

...

Duryodhana swoons away

...

Bhima prevents Yudhishthira from slaying Duryodhana

Diverse encounters

...

The Kuru army defeated by Arjuna and the other Pandava heroes ... ... ... The Kaurava army at evening ... ... Kama assures Duryodhana that he would slay Arjuna on the morrow ... ... ...

9k 95

Dhritarashtra's grief upon hearing of the defeat of the

Kurus

...

Sanjaya rebukes Dhritarashtra by reminding him of his evil acts

...

When morning comes, Kama repeats his pledge about the slaughter of Arjuna

...

Kama desires to have Calya for driving his car

...

Duryodhana approaches Calya and humbly solicits him ... to become Kama's driver in that day's battle

100

Calya takes offence at the proposal

...

102

...

10-i

...

Duryodhana repeats his request in words that do honor to Calya

...

Calya accepts the drivership of Kama's car on the under standing that he (Calya) would utter before Kama

whatever words he would think proper

...

105

Duryodhana recites to Calya the history of the triple city and of Brahman'3 having accepted the drivership of Mahadeva's car on the occasion of the latter's

burning that abode of the Duityas ...

...

Duryodhaua recites the history of Kama's preceptor in arms,

viz.,

Rama and his austerities and the grant of

weapons unto him by Civa

...

Duryodhana: eulogises Calya as superior to Krishna

...

118 123

ONTENTS

PAGE,

Calya repeats his promise about, holding t.ho rein- o!

Kama's steeds during the second day'H battle

...

... ... Calya and Kama ride the same car ... Kama brags about his ability to slay Arjtina Calya endeavours to inspire Kama with fear by eulogis-

ing the Pandavas

123 12"/

12(J

...

Kama's boast about his competence to slay Arjuna...

127

...

Kama expresses his firm determination of encountering Arjuna whatever the consequences

...

Galya again eulogise? Arjuna and taunt? Kama

Kama addresses every Pandava soldier,

...

129

...

L30

offering rich

rewards in case any of them succeeded in pointing out

Arjuna to him in that day's battle

...

I'll

Cilya scornfully laughs at Kama's offer, answering him that he (Kama) would have a sight of Arjuna with-

out the trouble of seeking him

...

133

Calya asks Kama to abandon his desire for a single

combat with Arjuna

...

134

Kama repeats his resolution of encountering Arjuna and slaying him

...

Calya insults Kama in a long speech

...

••• ... ... Kama's dignified reply Madrakas Kama's description of the practices of the

13G

Calya, in reply, recites the story of the crow and the swan

141

The moral of the story as applied to

Kama

...

137

145

Kama recounts to Calya the circumstances of the curse ... denounced on him by his preceptor Kama He repeats his resolution about achieving extraordinary

feats that day

...

147

...

149

Kama suspects Calya of secret friendship with the Pandavas

...

Kama recounts the circumstances of another curse denounced on him by a Brfihmana whose calf he

had killed innocently while practising weapons in the forest

...

1*0

Kama again speaks in disparagement of the Madrakas aud their customs and pratices

...

*..

1~>2

coxti

PAGE,

Calya speaks in disparagement of the Angas over whom

Kama rules...

...

159

Duryodhana restores peace between Kama and Calya

160

Kama proceeds to battle and assails Yudhishthira ...

...

Dhritarashtra enquires about the disposition of the

Kuru forces ...

...

Sanjaya describes the Kaurava array

...

161

...

At sight of the Kuru army, Yudhishthira asks Arjuna to do what is needful

...

Calya points out to Kama the car of Arjuna

...

1G2

...

163

Calya draws Kama's attention to diverse portents of an unfavorable nature

...

Kama points out to Calya how the Samsaptakas threatened to slay Arjuna

...

165

...

16G

...

167

Calya points out to Kama the other heroes of the

Pandava army

...

Arjuna assails the Samsaptakas with vigor

Kama assails the Pandava host with vio:or and afflicts Yudhishthira greatly

...

168

Dhritarashtra enquires about the particulars of Kama's encounter with Yudhishthira

...

Kama attacks the Panchalas and makes a great slaughter

169

Diverse Pandava heroes assail Kama and his sons

170

...

Kama escapes from the ring made around him by the Piliidavas

...

Kama strikes Yudhishthira with many arrows

...

173

...

Cikhandin and Satyaki and many other Pandava warriors proceed to the rescue of the king

...

Supported by the Kauravas Kama once more penetrates the Pandava array

...

Kama ru: lies towards Yudhishthira Yudhisthira addresses Kama in rage

...

174

...

Encounter between Kama and Yudhishthira

...

The Pandava leaders assail Kama

...

175

Kama invokes the Brahma weapon

...

»..

ife

Continuance of the encounter between Kama and Yudhishthira

...

K arna. makes Yudhishthira earless

Contexts',

PA'

Yudhishthira retreats before Kama

...

... ... Kama pursues Yudhishthira Yudhishthira ... seize Calya counsels Kama not to Kama addresses Yudhishthira in an insulting speech

176 ib

...

177

Kama makes a great slaughter of the Pandava forces

and lets him escape

...

Yudhishthira urges his warriors to proceed against Kama

The Pandavaa headed by Bhimasena proceed against Kama The tierce battle fought between the Kauravas and the

Pandavaa

...

The Kauravas break and fly away The Kuru leaders assail Bhima

...

178

...

17H

...

180

Kama attacks Bhima in the hope that Arjuna would then come up

...

1S1

Bhima makes Kama senseless who is thereupon borne ... away by Calya from the fight ... Urged by Duryodhana diverse Kuru leaders assail Bhima

Bhima slays the Kauravas ... ... ... Bhima slays five sons of Dhritarashtra, viz., Vivitsu, Vikata, Saha, Nanda, and Upananda

Kama once more encounters Bhima Kama makes Bhima earless

...

18-t

...

Jvj

Bhima jumps down with his mace in hand ... Bhima slaughters the Kaurava elephants and uther forces with his mace

183

...

Kama once more assails Yudhishthira and forces him to retreat

...

1^7

Bhima, mounting on another car, again proceeds against ... ... ... Kama ... Kama turns back from the pursuit of Yudhishthira to

meet Bhima...

...

byaki supports Bhima

...

191

Fierce battle between the two sides

Encounter between Arjuna and the Samsaptakas

...

Arjuna invokes the Aindra weapon

...

193

The SavMaptakas inspired with fear

...

194

...

Diverse encounters between, diverse her

C'.NTI

PAGE Krifcavarman defeated by Dhrishtadyumna

...

The heroism of Acwatthaman

...

Kama slaughters the Pandavas

...

200

Bhima slaughters the Kauravas

...

197

... Duryodhana encounters Nakula and Sahadeva to Dhrishtadyumna proceeds the rescue of Nakula and

Sahadeva ... ... ... ... Duryodhana made earless by Dhrishtadyumna ... Duryodhana rescued by his brothers by being taken

201

away from the battle

...

202

Kama encounters the Panchalas and makes a great slaughter among them

Kama routs the Panchalas

...

The Pandava leaders rush against Kama ... Bhimaseria slaughters the Kurus ... ... Arjuna's address to Vasudeva upon beholding Kama's

208 ib 204°

...

20o

Arj una slays the Kauravas ...

...

200

...

207

prowess

...

Urged by Duryodhana the Samsaptakas once more proceed against Arjuna ...

Arjuna

slays the younger

brother

...

Sudakshina

and then Sudakshina himself the chief of the

Kamvojas

...

Beholding the slaughter of the Samsaptakas, Drona's son proceeds against Arjuna

...

20-S

Fierce encounter between Arjuna and Drona's son

...

Krishna urges Arjuna not to spare Acwatthaman

...

20!)

Arjuna causes Acwatthaman to swoon away on his car

Acwatthaman borne away by his driver from the fight

210

Arjuna routs the Samsaptakas, Vrikodara the Kurus, ... ... and Kama the Panchalas

Duryodhana's spirited address to the Kuru leaders

...

Acwatthaman vows to slay Dhrishtadyumna

...

The Apsards rain flowers on the combatants

...

Arjuna feels anxious about the safety of Yudhishthira

211

212

Krishna, while proceeding in search of Yudhishthira, describes the field of battle to Arjuna

...

PONTENTS,

PAG]

The Kurus and the Pandavaa once more proceed against each other

...

•••

...

*lo

•••

Dhrishtadyumna encounters Kama

...

•••

>°

Kama encounters Satyaki

•••

216

...

Drona's son rushes against Dhrishtadyumna

Encounter between Dhrishtadyumna and Acwatthaman

217

Dhrishtadyumna worsted in the fight

...

•••

Arjuna rescues Dhrishtadyumna from Acwatthaman's

hands

...

•••

...

Arjuna makes Acwatthaman senseless on his car

•••

218

...

219

Arjuna desires to once more proceed against the Sam•••

Krishna pjiuts Yudhishthira cut to Arjuna

...

saptakas

...

Krishna describes the battle to Arjuna ...

•••

220

Krishna's surmise about Yudhishthira's death

...

221

Krishna describes the heroism and feats of Kama

...

Krishna urges Arjuna to assail Kama

...

222

Krishna informs Arjuna of Yudhishthira's safety

...

223

Krishna applauds the Panchalas

...

224

Krishna describes the feats of Bhima

...

The Sa/nisaptakas fly away before Arjuna

...

22.3

The Pandavas attack the Kurus with great vigor

...

220

Encounter between Kama and Cikhandin

...

Cikhandin worsted in the light and retreats before Kama Encounter between Dhrishtadyumna and Duscasana

Dusgasana applauded by the warriors for his heroism

227 ib ib

Kama endeavours to rally the retreating Dhartarashtras

228

... ••• Uluka encounters Satyaki ... ... ... Satyaki makes Cakuni earless ... ... The Kuru army flics before Satyaki Bhima makes Duryodhana carles and bowless at which ... the latter flies away from Bhima's presence ... Bhima assailed by the whole of the Kuru army

i' J

Bhima scatters his assailants before him Urged by Duryodhana,

the

...

ib 22'..)

ib ib

Kaurava troops rush against

Yudhishthira for seizing him

...

••

The Paudaya leaders proceed to Yudhishthira's rescue

231 ib

CONTENTS, TAGE.

Kama holds them in check ...

..,,

,..

231

Sahadeva wounds Duryodhana

...

... Kama proceeds to rescue the Kuru king Kama slaughters the troops of Yudhishthira and forces

them to fly away

...

232

...

Yudhishthira attacks Kama with great vigor

Yudhishthira, severley wounded by Kama, orders his driver to retreat

...

The Kauravas proceed to seize Yudhishthira

...

The Kaikayas and the Panchalas drive away the pursuers of Yudhishthira

...

233

Nakula and Sahadeva attack Kama for rescuing Yudhishthira

...

Kama pierces both Nakula and Sahadeva with many arrows ib ib Kama pursues Yudhishthira and slays his steeds ... 234 ... ... Kama deprives Nakula of his car Yudhishthira and Nakula ascend Sahadeva's car

...

... Kama continues to strike Yudhishthira Calya induces Kama to turn away from Yudhishthira

ib ib

by pointing out to him the danger of Duryodhana at the hands of

Bhima ...

...

Yudhishthiras urges Nakula and Sahadeva to proceed to the aid of

Bhimasena

AcAvattharnan encounters Arjuna

...

235

...

Agwatthaman borne away from the field by his steeds

The Pandavas, repeatedly charging the Kauravas, break ... ... them and cause them to fiy away ... Kama invokes the Bhdrgava weapon ... The awful effects of the Bhdrgava weapon upon the ••• Pandava army ... •••

239

Arjuna expresses to Krishna his desire of encountering

Kama

...

Krishna persuados Arjuna to first sec Yudhishthira

240 ib

Arjuna meets with Bhima and asks him to bring intelligence of Yudhishthira

...

241

Bhima fears to leave the battle for incurring the reproach of cowardice

...

....

•<»

CONTENT^

PAGE,

Arjuna goea to soe Yudhishthira in tho Pandava camp,

upon Bhima agreeing to resist tho Samsaptakas

241

Arjuna and Ke<;ava arrive at the Pandava camp and find Yudhishthira resting himself after the fatigue he had

undergone

...

242

...

Yudhishthira, beholding Arjuna and Kecava return to the camp, hastily concludes that Kama has been slain

Yudhishthira gives expression to his feelings under the belief of

Kama's death ...

...

Arjuna disabuses Yudhishthira of his impression, telling

him the real motive of his arrival in camp

...

246

Yudhishthira censures Arjuna for what he believes to be an act of cowardice on Arjuna's part in having run

away from the battle, leaving Bhima unsupported to contend against the Kauravas

...

248

In course of his speech, Yudhishthira several times invokes Arjuna to give up Gdndiva to somebody else

250

Arjuna draws his sword for striking off Yudhishthira's head in fulfilment of his vow about the person who

would tell him to give up Gdndiva ...

...

251

Krishna's address to Arjuna on the nature of truth...

252

The story of Valaka who went to heaven by slaying an animal

...

254

The story of the Rwhi who went to hell by telling the truth

...

Krishna suggests that Arjuna by insulting Yudhishthira, his superior,

by addressing him as thou, would be

regarded as fulfilling his vow about slaying the person that asked him to give up Gdndiva

...

256

Urged by Krishna, Arjuna insults Yudkisthira in a long speech

...

259

Having insulted Yudhishthira, Arjuna becomes despondent and desires to strike off his own head

...

2G1

Krishna urges Arjuna to utter his own praises, as selfpraise is equal to self-destruction

Arjuna praises himself

...

Arjuna begi for Yudhishthira's f>rgiveii^

•

...

262,

Ill

CONTENTS

Yudhishthira's sorrow

...

Page. ...

7.,

263

...

Krishna comforts Yudhishthira and induces him to forgive both himself and Arjuna

...

Yudhishthira and Arj una reconciled

...

266

Arjuna proceeds for slayiug Kama

...

267

Krishna's address to Arjuna for raising his spirits

...

268

Arj una's reply to Krishna

...

279

Diverse encounters between diverse heroes

...

283

The heroism of Bhima

...

284

...

285

...

286

...

Bhima's driver takes an estimate of his weapons Bhima's driver gives him the agreeable intelligence of Arj una's return to battle

...

Arjuna assails the Kaurava army with great vigor

...

288

Bhima also assails the Kauravas

...

289

...

291

...

292

...

233

...

294

...

Duryodhana urges Cakuni to encounter Bhima Cakuni rescued by Duryodhana ...

The Kauravas fly away and seek shelter in Kama's presence

...

Kama assails the Panchalas

The Pandavas slaughter the Kauravas and the Kauravas slaughter the Pandavas ...

...

297

Arjuna causes a river of blood to set in on the field of battle

...

Arjuna asks Krishna to bear him towards Kama

...

298

Krishna proceeds at Arjuna's request

...

Beholding Arjuna advance, Calya addresses Kama ...

Calya urges Kama to slay Arjuna

299

...

Kama vows to slay Arjuna or be slain by him ... Kama applauds Arjuna ... ... ... Kama urges the Kuril leaders to assail Arjuna and Krishna and tire them with exertion

...

300 ib

302

Arjuna recoives the vast force of the assailants, without wavering

...

The great slaughter caused by Arjuna

...

303

Acwatfchaman encounters Arjuna

...

Ac,wafcfchaman supported by Kripa and Kritavarman All of

them worsted by Arjuna

...

ib 304<

ON IF\

PAG1

Arjuna proceeds

to the

rescue of

Bhima

...

305

Arjuna despatches to Yama's abode the assailants of

Bhima

...

Arjuna meets with Bhima and holds a consultation with him

...

30G

Kama

...

307

lie is opposed by ten sons of Dhritarashtra

...

Arjuna slays all of them

...

Arjuna assailed by ninety Samsaptaka warriors

...

Arjuna slays all his assailants

...

308

...

Arjuna proceeds cowards

...

Arjuna attacked by the Mlecchas with their elephant division

...

Heavy slaughter made by Arjuna

...

Bhima causes a great carnage of the Kaurava troops

309

Bfeima protects Arjuna's rear as Arjuna again proceeds

towards Kama

...

310

311 ... ... Kama attacks the Pilnchalas Kama deprives Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki of their cars ib ib ... Kama slays the Kaikaya prince Vigoka 312 Kama slays the Kaikaya commander Ugrakarman ... ib ... Satyaki slays Prasena the son of Kama ... ... ib Kama slays Dhrishtadyumna's son ib Krishna urges Arjuna to encounter Kama without delay furiously assail Kama ... 313 leaders Panchala The ib ... ... They are all worsted by Kama

The five sons of Draupadi rescue them ...

...

Satyaki assails Kama

...

Satyaki assailed by Duryodhana and Kripa and Krita-

varman

Tho Panehalas vigorously support Satyaki The great slaughter caused in that battle

...

314

...

Vrikodara encounters Dus<;asana

...

Vrikodara slays Dus<;asana and drinks his blood

...

Tho Kaurava troops fly away at sight of Bhima

...

317

Yudhamauyu slays Chitrasena the brother of Kama

...

Bhima's joy at having fulfilled his stern vow about ihe slaughter of Qusc,asan&

...

318

QS ll-.MPAOE,

Bhima assailed by ten sons of Dhritarashtra ... ... Bhima slays all of them

...

319

...

Kama struck with fear at the sight of Bhima's prowess ... ... ... Calya encourages Kama

ib ib

counter between Nakula and Vrishasena the son of

Kama ... the vehicle of Bhima

...

320

mounts upon

Nakula, made earless by Vrishasena, ...

...

321

Bhima urges Arjuna to proceed against Kama's son Vrishasena

...

322

Diverse Pandava heroes encountered by diverse Kau...

...

323

Arjuna encounters Vrishasena

...

32 a

rava heroes...

Arjuna vows to slay Vrishasena in the sight of Kama

32G

Vrishasena slain by Arjuna ...

...

Kama, beholding the slaughter of his son, rushes in ...

...

•••

327

Krishna's address to Arjuna ...

...

•••

32S

rage against Arjuna

Arjuna repeats his vow of slaying Kama or being slain by

him

...

Sanjaya describes the two warriors,

...

viz.,

Arjuna and ...

The partisans, among other beings, of Arjuna

...

£31

Ditto of Kama ...

•••

332

Kama,

in detail

...

•••

Dispute between Indra and Surya but the issue of the •••

Indra enquires of Brahman about the result

...

333

Brahman answers that Arjuna will succeed

...

Indra's address to the celestial spectators

...

334)

coming battle

...

The ape on Arjuna's banner encounters the elephant's rope on Kama's banner ...

•••

335

Kama asks Calya as to what Calya would do if Kama fell

in battle

...

•••

Arjuna asks Krishna as to what Krishna would do if ib

Arjuna fell in battle Krishna assures Arjuna that his defeat is impossible

33G

The commencement of the encounter

ool

,,,

....

CONTENT

PAG1

Duryodhana and Kritavarman and Cakuni and Kripa •••

338

•••

A floral shower falls upon Arjuna's head from the sky

339

encounter Arjuna

Ariuna defeats

all

his arrows

...

•••

...

them and covers Kama with •••

•••

Aewatthaman endeavours to terrify Duryodhana and induce him to make peace with the Pandavas

...

Duryodhana disregards Agwatthaman's advice, expressing his hope that Kama would speedily slay Arjuna

Arjuna and Kama close with each other Seeing Arjuna's weapons baffled by Kama,

...

340

341

Bnima urges

Arjuna to put forth his strength properly

...

344

Krishna also urges Arjuna to exert vigorously for slaying

Kama

•••

...

345

Arjuna invokes the Brkdma weapon

...

346

Kama

...

The carnage caused by that weapon among the ... ... ... Kaurava troops The Kauravas, slaughterd by Arjuna, urge Kama

...

bailies that

weapon

...

Arjuna uses a second weapon of the same kind

to slay Arjuna without delay

King Yudhishthira appears on the battle

...

the field for

...

.'U7

witnessing

...

The string of Gdndlva breaks in consequence of the force with which Arjuna draws it

...

34S

Kama takes advantage of the interval by piercing Arjuna, Krishna, Bhima, and others, with many arrows...

Kama slays many Pandava warriors Temporary advantage of Kama

...

Arjuna speedily recovers his energies and covers

Kama

and Calya with dense showers of arrows

...

349

Krishna pierced by Kama with five snake-weapons...

Arjuna in great wrath pierces Kama in his vital limbs

Kvrna trembles mi his ear and stands with great difficulty The Kaurava- fly away, leaving Kama to fight with Arjuna...

Kama baffles Arjuna"

•

apon

contents;

xvi

page.

Kama and Arjuna shout at each other dense showers of arrows

...

... The history of the snake Aewasena ... Both the warriors are fatigued ... ... The Apsaras fan them and sprinkle perfumed water ... ... upon them ... ...

351 ib

352

Kama recollects his celebrated snake-shaft and fixes it on his bowstring

...

Calya fruitlessly endeavours to induce Kama to shuot ...

353

Krishna presses down Arjuna's car into the Earth as ... Kama's shaft courses towards Arjuna

another shaft

...

The snake-shaft, foiling to strike off Arjuna's head, breaks the latter's celebrated diadem

...

Aewasena, who had through Yoya powers, entered the snake-shaft of Kama, baffled in slaying Arjuna, appears unto Kama and asks him to shoot the

same weapon again

...

Kama refuses Acwasena's help in slaying his enemy

...

A<;wasena, of his own accord, comes towards Arjuna in the shape of an arrow

...

Arjuna cuts Acwasena into fragments Arjuna and

...

356

...

Kama continue to pierce each other with

shafts

...

•••

357

•••

359

The Earth begins to devour one of the wheels of Kama's car ...

...

•••

Kama rails at righteousness at the sight of his calamities

•••

...

360

with the Aindva weapon

...

Kama invokes the Brahma weapon Arjuna bafrles

Kami

•••

cuts off Arjuna's bowstring eleven times

Kirna begs Arjuna not to strike him till he extricated his wheel

...

•••

3G1

Krishna taunts Kama for appealing to virtue and the rules of fair fight by reminding

wrongs done

to the

him of all the

Pandavas by himself and

Duryodhana acting according to his counsels

...

o<>2

xvu

CONTENTS,

PACK.

Kama hangs down his head in sliamc ... Kama again invokes the Brahma weapon

...

363

...

Arjuna batHes it with a Brahma weapon of his own

Kama pierces Arjuna in the chest with a mighty shaft at

which Arjuna swoons away

In the interval his car

...

3G4

Kama fruitlessly endeavours to extricate ...

...

Recovering his senses, Arjuna takes up an Anjalika wea-

pon and inspires it with celestial force

...

Arjuna strikos off Kama's head before Kama could

mount on his car

...

3G6

A light issues from Kama's body when it falls down, and enters the Sun ... ... ... The joy of the Piludavas at the sight of Kama's fall

3G7

Duryodhana's grief at Kama's

...

308

Bhima, uttering loud roars, frightens the Kauravas State of the Kaurava army after Kama's fall ...

370

fall

...

Duryodhana resolves to make a final stand ... Ehimasena and Dhrishtadyumna encounter and slay

371

five and twenty thousand Kaurava troops ... The two sons of Mfulri, and Siityaki, fall upon Cakuni's

division and make a great slaughter

...

372

Arjuna rushes against tho car force of the Kauravas

Duryodhana challenges all the Pandavas and fights with them with great valor ... ...

373

D.iryodhana rallies the remnant of his troops and exhorts them to tight

...

The Kaurava troops fly away, heedless of Duryodhana's words

...

37 i

Calya addresses Duryodhana, describing the carnage on the field ...

...

o7'i

...

Calya urges the withdrawal of the troops to their nightly quarters

...

Duryodhana's grief for Kama

...

The Kaurava kings retire, headed bj Droua's son

...

377

Kama, though slain,

...

'67',)

•

lost not his splendour

The portents that were van at Kama's fall

(OS TENT!

_\YUI

PAGE. ...

...

380

•••

381

Arjuna and Krishna blow their conchs The celestials worship Arjuna and Krishna for their heroism

...

The order in which the tauravas retire from the field after the fall of

Kama

...

Krishna urges Arjuna, after the fall of present himself to Yudhishthira

...

382

Kama, to ...

Yudhishthira greets Arjuna and Krishna when the two repair to him

...

383

Krishna congratulates Yudhishthira upon his good furtune

...

Yudhishthira ascribes his success to Krishna's influence

384* ib

Yudhishthira comes back to the field to have a look at ••• ... ... Kama's body The Panda va and Pa.ncha.la warriors congratulate

Yudhishthira

...

385

The fruits of reciting the Kama Parva as also of hearing it recited

...

FINIS.

...

•••

386

THE MAHABHARATA OF

KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VTASA

TRANSLA TED INT

ENGLISH PROSE.

Published and distributed chiefly gratis

PRAT A P CHANDRA RAY,

pA I YA PA R V A.

km .

CALCUTTA

BHARATA PRESS, No.

Raja Gooroo Dass' Street. 1889.

(

The right of translation is reserved. )

—

THE MAHABMARATA >

—•»

CALYA PARVA.

TION

(gatya-badha Parva).

Having bowed doivn unto Narayana, and Nara the most exalted of male beings, and the goddess Sarasiuati, must the

word J ay a be uttered. '

Janamejaya said,

battle

— "After Kama had thus been

Savyasaehin, what did the small

slain

(unslaughtered)

regenerate one ? x Beholding remnant of the Kauravas did, the army (of the Pandavas) swelling with might and energy,

what behaviour did the Kuru prince Suyodhana adopt towards hour ?"

the Pandavas, thinking it suitable to the

hear all this

never satiated with listening to the grand tors

I desire

foremost of regenerate ones

Tell me,

feata

my ances-

!" 3

Vaicampayana

said,

— After the

fall

Kama, O

king,

Dhritarashtra's son Suyodhana was plunged deep into an ocean of grief

and saw despair on every

cessant

lamentations,

saying,

Kama, — he proceeded

Indulging in in-

side.*

Alas,

Ok Kama,

accom-

panied by the unslaughtered remnant of the kings on his

Thinking

obtain peace excellent

slaughter

of the

of mind,

reasons

of the

Suta's

ceeded

for battle,

of his

forces. 8

battle to:>k place

could

noff

by the

scriptures. 5

Regarding

the Kuru king firmly

Having duly made Calya the genera-

battle. 7

lissimo of his forces,

side.

though comforted by those kings with

inculcated

Destiny and Necessity to be all-powerful, resolved on

son, he

Alas,

with great difficulty to his camp,

that bull

among

accompanied by that

Then,

chief of

monarch, pro-

kings,

unslaughtered remnant

Bharata'a

between the troep3 of the

race,

Kurus and

terrible

— "2

MABABHARATA.

of the Panda vas, resembling

Asuras.

]<pa!ya-badha

and the

the gods

between

that

monarch, having made a great carnage

Then Calya,

number of his troops and was 10 Then king Duryodhana, slain by Yudhishthira at midday. having lost all his friends and kinsmen, fled away from the in buttle, at last lost

field of battle

from

lake

large

and penetrated into the depths of a

fear

enemies. 11

of his

the

terrible

afternoon

of that

many

day, Bhimasena, causing the lake to be encompassed by

mighty car-warriors, summoned Duryodhana and having obliged him to come out, slew him speedily, putting forth his strength.

After Duryodhana's slaughter,

riors (of the

Kuru side) that were

still

the

three car-war-

unslain

thaman and Kripa and Kritavarman),

Acwat-

(viz.,

monarch, slaughtered the Panchala troops in the night. out from

the next morning, Sanjaya, having set

entered the city (the Kuru grief

and sorrow.

capital), cheerless

Having entered the

jaya, raising his arms in grief,

among men, he wept aloud, saying, us are ruined by the Alas,

filled

with

the Suta

San-

with

Filled

grief,

— Alas, O king

Time is all-powerful, and crooked in equal

have been slain by the Pandavas king,

city,

camp,

O tiger

Alas, all of

slaughter of that high-souled monarch

our allies, endued with might

back to the

the

and

city,

and with limbs trembling, en-

king. 15

of the

palace

the

tered

with rage,

filled

people,

best of kings,

saying,

Alas, OJi king !

filled lg

that

his course, since

to that of 17 *

16 !

all

Cakra himself,

— Seeing Sanjaya come

distressful

plight, all

the

with great anxiety, wept loudly,

— The whole

city,

tiger

among

men, including the very children, hearing of Duryodhana's 19 We death, sent forth notes of lamentation from every side. then behold a'flicted

all

the

men and women, running

about, deeply

with grief, their senses gone, and resembling people

that are demented.

entered the abode

The Sata Sanjaya then, deeply

of the

monarchs, that lord of

agitated,

king and beheld that foremost of

men, having wisdom

for

his

eyes."

* Th>e Bombay edition reads the first line of 17 differently. If that Destiny is all-powerful,

reading be accepted, the translation would run,

O kiiR

r ,

and prowess is fruitless !'— T,

—

calta tai;\ \.

Parva.]

Beholding the sinless monarch, that chief of Bharata's ram, seated, surrounded by bis daughters-in-law

and Gandhari and

Vidura and by other friends and kinsmen that were always '

his well-wishers, ject,

and engaged in thinking on that very sub-

Kama,

the death of

viz.,

with

filled

choked with

tears,

among men

said

bow

unto

him,

to thee,

The ruler of the Madras, larly Suvala's

Sata Sanjaya, with heart

the

Janamsjaya, weopingly and

grief,

viz..

Sanjaya,

of Bharata's

Calya, hath been

Cakuni, and

son

—

bull

Uluka,

slain

35 " 2 * !

Simi-

among men,

tiger

All the SamsaptaJcas, the Kamvojas together with

the Mlcchhds, the

tiger

race

slain 20

gamester (Cakuni), have been

that valiant son of the

voice

the

Cakas,

Mountaineers, and the Yavanas. have

also

The Easterners have been slain, O monarch, been The Northerners have al! been slain, and all the Southerners slain

as also the Westerners, all

have

princes

the

O ruler of men ? All been slain, O monarch 7

the

kings and

King Duryo-

dhana also has been slain by the son of Pandu after the manner he had vowed. 28

With

thighs

his

broken,

lieth now on the dust, covered with blood.

monarch,

Dhrishtadyumna

O king, as also the unvanquished CikhanUttamaujas and Yudhamanyu, O king, and the Pra-

also hath been slain,

din !"

bhadrakas, and those

tigers

among men, viz., the Panchalas, Thy sons have all been

and the Chedis,. have been destroyed. 30 also

slain

the

(five) sons

heroic and mighty son slain.

slain.

All

the

men

Kama, viz.,

(that

All the elephants

O Bharata!

The

Vrishasena, hath

been

of Draupadi,

had been assembled) have b

have been destroyed.

All

the

O tiger ajnong men, and all the steeds, have

warriors, 3

in battle. *

Very few are alive on thy side.

O lord

ear-

fall-

In conse-

quence of the Pandavas and the Kauravas having encountt red each other, 33 the world, stupified by Time, now consists of only

women

On the side of the Pandavas seven amongst the Dhartarashtras three are so."' five

(Pandava) brothers,

and

Yasudeva,

arc

alive, while

They

are

the

and Satyaki,

ami

Ivripa,

and Kritavarman, and Drona's

sou. that

victors.

monarch, are

survive,

These three car-warriors, best of kings,

of all the Akshauhinis

foremost all

that

mustered

m.ahabhaiuta.

thy side, O ruler of men arch, the rest

These are the survivors,

have perished

monMaking Duryodhana and his

hostility (towards the Pandavas) the it seems,

Time

hath been destroyed,

whole world,

cause, the

of Bharata's

bull

race,

" 37

Vaicampayana continued, Dhritariishtra,

that ruler

—"Hearing these cruel words, men,

down, Vidura sorrow on 59

fame,

also, of great

account of the king's

Gandhari also, O best

down, O

fell

the Earth, deprived of his senses. 33

Earth.

[£a'lya-batlhtt

monarch, on

As soon as the king

fell

monarch, afflicted with

down on the

distress, fell

and

of kings,

Kuril

the

all

ladies,

suddenly fell down on the ground, hearing those cruel

words.

That entire conclave of royal persons remained lying

on the ground, deprived of their senses and raving

deliriously,

Then king

like figures painted on

of canvas.

piece

large

Dhritarashtra, that lord of Earth, afflicted with

the calamity

represented by the death of his sons, slowly and with difficulty 43 regained his life-breaths.

king, with

on every

face

(Vidura): 43

Having recovered

his

side,

and

words unto

these

said

my sons

less and destitute of all

more fell down, deprived his

the

Kshattri

— O learned Kshatri, O thou of great wisdom, thou,

O bull of Bharata's race, art now my refuge

all

senses,

trembling limbs and sorrowful heart, turned his

kinsmen,

that

44 !

were present

am lord-

Beholding him fallen, there,

"water over him and fanned him with fans.

long while, that lord of Earth,

— Having said these, he once

of his senses.

afflicted

sprinkled

Comforted

cold

after

with sorrow on ac-

count of the death of his sons, remained silent, sighing heavily,

O monarch, like a snake put into a jar. 47 aloud, beholding

king so

the

afflicted.

Sanjaya also wept the

All

with Gandhari of great celebrity, did the same. 48 while, ed,

— Let

all

the ladies retire, as also

and all these friends

become greatly unsettled

50 !

All those

all

those

ladies retired,

friends

;

My mind hath

— Thus addressed, Vidura, repeatedbull

of Bharata's

chief of the

Bharatas, as

ly trembling, slowly dismissed the ladies,

race

too,

best of men, Dhritarashtra, having repeatedly swoon-

addressed Vidura, saying,

Gandhari of great fame,

also

ladies

After a long

beholding the

king deeply

afflicted.

CALYA TAUVA,

TarVCL]

scorcher of foes,

Then Sanjaya cheerlessly looked at the king, having recovered his senses,

who,

was weeping in great

afflic-

With joined hands, Vidura then, in sweet words, com6* forted that ruler of men who was sighing incessantly."

tion.

Section II.

Vaicampayana said,

— "After the ladies had been dismissed,

Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, plunged into

grief greater

than that which had afflicted him before, began, O monarch, Exhaling breaths that resembled to indulge in lamentations. 1

smoke, and repeatedly waving his arms, and reflecting a little,

monarch, he said these words.*

suffered

loss

the

thee, viz., that

fraught with great grief that I hear from

and have

intelligence

Sida, the

"Dhritarashtra said,— 'Alas,

battle

Pandavas are all

safe

Without doubt,

my hard heart is made of the essence of thun-

der, since it breaketh not upon hearing of the fall of my sons

and of their sports in childhood, and learning today that all of them have perished, my heart seems to break into pieces s Although in conseThinking of their

ages,

Sanjaya,

quence of my blindness I never saw their forms, still I cherished a great love for them in consequence of the affection one feels for his children.

Hearing that they had passed out

childhood and entered the period of youth

and then

of early 7

Hearmanhood, I became exceedingly glad, O sinless one prosperity of divested and ing today that they have been slain !

and energy, I fail to obtain peace of mind, being overwhelmed s with grief on account of the distress that has overtaken them !

Come, come, tor now

my plight? dost

king of kings, to mo that am without a protecmighty-armed one, what will be

Deprived of thee,

thou

lie

Why, on

sire,

the

abandoning all the assembled kings

bare

ordinary and wretched king ? refuge of kinsmen

and

ground, 10

friends,

monarch, the

where dost thou go now,

hero, abandoning nie that am blind and old ?"

king,

fulness '

that compassion of thine, that love, Invincible

thou

deprived of life, like

Having been,

wort

(

Where now, O

and that respect-

battle,

how, alas

hast :

—

— Mahabharata.

thou beon slain by the Parthas ? 12

[gabja-badha

Who will now, after I will

have waked from sleep at the proper hour, repeatedly address

me in such father,

endearing and respectful

—

great

king,

—

words as,

father,

Lard of the world! 19

— and

tionately clasping my neck with moistened eyes, will orders, saying,

dress me,

— Command me, that

son, in

race

sweet language once

heard even these

dear child, I

words from thy

much ours

This wide Earth is as

seek

of Kuru's

thou

affec-

— AdO

14 !

lips,

viz.,

of Pritha's

son

Bhagadatta and Kripa and Calya and the

IS !

two princes of

Avanti and Jayadratha and Bhuricravas and Cala and Somadatta and Valhika

and Acwatthaman and the chief of the

Bhojas and the mighty prince of Magadha and Vrihadvala and the ruler of the Kacis

and Cakuni the son of Suvala 17 and

many thousands of Mlecchas and Cakas and Yavanas, and Sudakshina the ruler of the Kamvojas and the king of the Trigartas

and the grandsire Bhishma and Bharadwaja's son and

Gotama's son and Crutayush and Ayutayush and Catayush of great energy, 19 and Jalasandha and Rishyaeringa's son and the

Mcikshasa Alayudha, and the mighty-armed Alamvusha and the great

car-warrior

Suvahu, 20

— these and numerous other

best of monarchs, have taken up arms

kings,

prepared to

cast

away

Stationed on the field

very

their

lives

for

great

sake,

battle

amidst these, and surrounded by

brothers, I will fight against O CD '

chalas 22 and the Chedis,

all

Parthas and the Pan-

the

among

tiger

21 !

kings, and

the

sons-

of Draupadi and Satyaki and Kunti-Bhoja and the Rcikshasa

Ghatotkacha 23

Even one amongst

with rage,

wards him

24 !

king,

these,

able to resist in battle the

excited

Pandavas rushing

What need I say then of all these heroes,

to-

every

one of whom has wrongs to avenge on the Pandavas, when united together ? followers

the

monarch,

All these,

Pandavas and

fight

will

slay

will

them

Kama alone, with myself, will slay the Pandavas. heroic kings will then live under my sway." leader, viz., the mighty Vasudeva, will

put on mail for them, O king 27 i

not, he

battle.

All

He who is has

— Even in this way,

did Duryodhana often use to speak to

with the 25

the their

told

me,

Suta,

Hearing what he

calta pabva,

Parva.] said, I believed

slain in battle. 23

the

midst of thoso

the Pandavas would

thai,

When, however,

sons,

stationed

heroes, and exerting themselves vigorously

the world,

the valiant Bhishma, having

viz.,

khandiu, met with his death like a

the

Brahmana Drona, that master

but of

When

Destiny ? 80

weapons offensive

all

and defensive, has been slain by the Pandavas can it be but Destiny ? 31

what

battle,

Bhurieravas has been

slain

in battle, as also S omadatta and king Valhika, Avhat can

but Destiny ?

When

Bhagadatta, skilled

the backs of elephants, has been

hath been slain, what can

lord

encountered Ci-

meeting with his at

lion

the hands of a jackal, what can it be

have all

When that

?' 9

b ion slain, what can it be but Destiny

in battle,

fighting from

and when Jayadratha

slain,

be but Destiny ? ss

When Su-

dakshina has been slain, and Jalasandha of Puru's race, as also

Crutayush and Ayutayush, what can

but Destiny? 3 *

The mighty Pfmdya, that furemost of all wielders of weapons,

What can it be but When Vrihadvala has been slain and the mighty

has been slain in battle by the Pandavas.

Destiny ? 55

king of the Magadhas, and the valiant Ugrayudha, that typo of all bowmen,

when the two princes of Avanti

(viz.,

Vinda

and the ruler

also

of tho

and Anuvinda) have been Trigartas,

slain,

what can

as also the numerous Sarmaptakas,

but Destiny ? 37

When king Alain vusha, and the Rdkahasa Ala-

yudha, and Rishyacringa's son, have been slain, what can it be

but Destiny ? ?8

When the Narayanas have been slain,

the Gopalas, those troops

that were invincible

many thousands of Mlecchas, what

can it

as also

battle,

and

but Destiny ? E5

When Cakuni the son of Suvala, and the mighty Uluka, called that hero at

the gamester's son,

high-souled

accomplished

heroes,

offensive and defensive,

head of his

the

been slain, what can

be but Destiny ? in

hailing from diverse realms,

what can

kinds

Suta*

be but Destiny ?

weapons to

that

when Kshatriyas

O Sanjaya, have

my sons and grandsons have friends and brethren, What can it ^ might,

innumerable

all

have

forces,

When

and endued with prowess equal

Cakra himself, have been slain,

battle,

:,ll

been

slain

Endued with great

been

slain, as

b'H

Destiny ?^ 8

also

With-

MAHABnARATA,

out doubt,

man

takes

his

[galya-badha

subject

birth,

my children,

Sanjaya

That

Destiny.

meets with good. 44

deprived

man who is possessed of good am bereft of good fortune, and, therefore, am fortune

Old as I am, how shall I now sub-

mit to the sway of enemies ? 4S

I do not

think anything else

than exile into the woods to be good

for me,

ed of relatives and kinsmen as I am,

I will go into the woods.

Nothing else than an

into

exile

the

lord

Depriv-

woods can be better for

me who am fallen into this plight and who am shorn of my Sanjaya 47 When Duryodhana has been slain, when wings, !

Calya has been slain, when Duscasana and Vivingca and the 48 how shall I be able to bear mighty Vikarna have been slain, the roars of that Bhimasena who hath alone slain a hundred 49

He will frequently speak of the Burning with grief slaughter of Duryodhana in my hearing. sons of mine

and sorrow,

I shall

battle

not be able to bear his cruel words!'

"*°

— Vaicampayana continued, "Even thus that king, burning

with grief and deprived of relatives and kinsmen, repeatedly swooned, overwhelmed with sorrow on account of the death of his sons.

Having wept for a long while, Dhritarashtra, the

son of Amvika, breathed heavy and hot sighs at the thought Overwhelmed with sorrow, and burning with of his defeat." grief,

that bull of Bharata's race

charioteer Sanjaya the son

had happened. 55 "Dhritarashtra said,

once

more enquired of his

Gavalgana the

— 'After Bhishma and Drona had been

slain and the Suta's son also overthrown, riors make their generalissimo ?

without any delay every one

whom my 85

in battle.

whom

did

The Pandavas

their generalissimo

war-

are

slaying

warriors are

making

Bhishma was slain at the van

of battle by the diadem-decked Arjuna in the all !

of what

details

very sight of ye

Even thus was Drona slain in the sight of ye all

58 !

Even

thus was the Suta's son, the valiant Kama, slain by Arjuna in the sight of all the kings !" Long before, the high-souled

Vidura had told me that through the fault of Duryodhana, the 58 There are population of the Earth would be exterminated.

some fools that do not see things even though they cast their Those words of Vidura have been even so unto eyes* on them,

Farm.]

What Vidura

my foolish self." with

PAR7A,

vt.ya

of righteous soul, conversant

attributes of everything, then said, hath turned out

the

exactly,

for the words

Afflicted

fate,

he uttered were nothing but the truth.'

I did not then act according to those words.

The fruits of that evil course have now manifested themselves. 61 Who Describo them to me, son of Gavalgana, once more became the head of our army after Kama's fall ? Who waa ca that car warrior who proceeded against Arjuna and Vasudeva ? !

Who were they that protected the right wheel of the ruler of the Madras in battle ? Who protected the left wheel of that: hero when he went to battle Who also guarded his rear ea

How, when all of you were

together,

could the mighty

king;

O Sanjaya, by the

also

son, be

Pandavas ? 6 *

Tell me

the

details

the Bharatas.

Tell

me how my son Duryodhana fell in battle eK

me how

all

the

of the Madras, as

Tell

slain,

of the great destruction of !

Panclnilas

with

their

followers,

and

Dhrishtadyumna and Cikhandin and the five sons of Draupadi, fell

6S !

(viz.,

Tell

me how the (five) Pfmdavas and the two Satwatas

Krishna and Siityaki), and Kripa and Kritavarman and

Drona's son, have escaped with life !"

I desire to

Thou art skilled,

kind of battle it was! tion.

Tell me everything !'

hear every-

occurred and tho

thing about the manner in which the battle

Sanjaya, in

narra-

" 68

Section III. 'Sanjaya said, carnage of the

— 'Hear, O king, with attention how that great

Kurus and the Pfmdavas occurred when thev

encountered each other. 1

After the Suta's son

had been slain

by the illustrious son of Pandu, and after the troops had been repeatedly

rallied

and had repeatedly

terrible carnage had taken place,

beings in battle subsequent to to utter leonine roars. 8

fled

away," and after a

foremost of men, of human

Kama's

death, Partha

At that time a great Indeed, after Kama's

began

entered

the

death, there

waa

fear

hearts of thy sons. no warrior in thy army who could set his heart upon rallying

the troops

or displaying

his prowess.*

ship-wrecked merchants on 2

the

They then looked like

fathomless ocean without a

— mahabharata.

[(palya-bacllia,

When their protector was slain by

raft to save themselves.

the diadem-decked Arjuna, they were like' persons on the wide

with panic and mangled with arrows, were

men desirous of a protector or like a herd a

lion.

unprotected

of deer

afflicted

they retired in the

Vanquished by Savyasachin,

Indeed,

son, thy troops, struck

of the Suta's

after the slaughter

king,

some shore of safety. 8

of reaching

sea desirous

horns or snakes shorn of their

evening, like bulls with broken

Their foremost of heroes slain, themselves thrown into

fangs. 7

with keen arrows, thy sons,

confusion and mangled

upon the slaughter

Suta's

of the

son,

away

fled

them

Deprived of weapons and coats of mail,

all

senses and knew not in which direction

fly.

fear.

lost

their

Casting their

fear,

It is me ivhom Vibhatsu is pursuing !

dara is pursuing !

—It

— Some riding on

and some on

fleet cars,

many of them began to slaughter Many fell down or became pale, thinking,

eyes on all sides in

one another.

king,

elephants,

fleet

me whom Vrikosome on

steeds,

many

great

abandoning the

riors fled away from fear,

fleet

car- war11

foot-soldiers.

Cars

were broken by elephants, horsemen were crushed by great

and bands of foot were smashed and

car-warriors,

these

bodies of horse, as

Suta's

the fall of the

fled

son,

away from the

thy troops became

slain

field.

After

like stragglers

from a caravan in a forest abounding with robbers and beasts 13 Some elephants whose riders had been slain, and •of pvcy. others

whose trunks had been cut

beheld

the

his troops

whole world to be

Puryodhana

then,

saying, 15

driver,

away

flying

me.

transgress

When I

will

son

Kunti

never slaying

dara,

and the

owe

take

with the fear of Bhimasena,

my post at the rear of the

Urge the

steeds, therefore, with

valor

battle,

transgress

of my

Kama,

foes,

its

free

the

To-

continents.

and the

will

speed.

Dhananjaya the

not venture to transgress

Arjuna with Govinda, rest

fear,

Beholding

my bow, Partha then will never be able

venturing to

ocean day,

debt I

put forth will

with

Partha. 14

with cries of Oh and Alas, addressed his

— If

army, armed with

afflicted

off,

full

proud

Vriko-

myself from the

— Hearing these words of the Kuru

calya tarva.

Favva,]

king so becoming a hero and an honorable man, his driver slowly

1 urged those steeds adorned with trappings of gold.'

At that time many brave steeds and

and

cars,

five

deprived of elephants and

warriors

and twenty thousand

proceeded slowly (for battle).

foot,

Then Bhimasena,

Q sire, with

filled

wrath, and Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, encompassing

those troops with the

troyed them with shafts.

Bhima and Prishata's son. two Pandava

of four

assistance

kinds of forces, des-

them fought vigorously with

All of

Many amongst them challenged the

28 mentioning their names.

heroes,

Surrounded

by them in battle, Bhima became enraged with them. Quickdescending from his car, he began to fight, armed with

his mace.

Relying on the might of his own arms, Vrikodara

the son of Kunti,

who was on his car, observant of the rules of

fair fight, did not fight with those foes who were on the ground.

Armed then with that heavy mace of his that was made entirely with gold and equipt with a

of iron and adorned

sling,

and

that resembled the Destroyer himself as he becomes at the

end of the Yuga, Bhima slew them all like Yama slaughtering creatures with

club. 2S

his

great rage, haying

lost

pared to throw away

Those

foot-soldiers,

their friends

their

lives,

and kinsmen, were pre-

and rushed

towards Bhima like insects towards a blazing those warriors,

filled

excited with

in that fire.

battlo

Indeed,

with rage and invincible in battle, ap-

proaching Bhimasena, suddenly perished like living creatures at the glance of the Destroyer.

Armed with sword and mace,

Bhima careered like a hawk and

slaughtered those

twenty thousand warriors of thine.

division,

the

baffled, once

mighty Bhima,

five

and

Having slain that brave

of prowess

incapable

of being

23 more stood, with Dhrishtadyumna before him.

Meanwhile Dhananjaya of great energy proceeded towards the The twin sons of Madri and tho

car-division (of the Kurus).

mighty car- warrior Satyaki,

all

endued with great strength,

cheerfully rushed against Cakuni with great speed from

of slaying him. 80

desire

Having slain with keen Bhafts the numerous

cavalry of Cakuni, those Pandava heroes quickly rushed agai

Cakuni himself, whereupon a fierce battle was fought

Then Dhananjaya,

there. 8

king, penetrated into the midst of the car

Mahabharata.

[palya-badha

division of the Kauravas, stretching his bow Gandiva

ted over the three worlds. 33

celebra-

Beholding that car having white

steeds yoked unto it and owning

Krishna

for its driver coming

towards them, with Arjuna as the warrior on it, thy troops fled

away

fear.

Deprived of cars and steeds and pierced with

shafts from every side, five and twenty thousand foot-soldiers pro-

ceeded towards Partha and surrounded him. 34 Then that mighty car-warrior amongst the Panchalas, (viz., Dhrishtadyumna) with

Bhimasena at his head, speedily slew that brave stood tirumphant. 58

The son

of the

celebrated Dhrishtadyumna, was a

of great beauty

Panchala

division and

king,

viz.,

the

mighty bowman possessed

and a crusher of large bands of foes. 36

whose car were yoked steeds

sight of Dhrishtadyumna unto

white as pigeons and whose standard was made of a lofty Kovi-

dara, thy troops fled away in

fear.

The

sons

celebrated

Madri, with Satyaki among them, engaged in the pursuit of the Gandhara king

who was quick

speedily appeared to

our view. 3 *

the

use

of weapons,

Chekitana and Cikhandin

and the (five) sons of Draupadi,

having slain a large

sire,

number of thy troops, blew their conchs.

Beholding

troops flying away with their faces from the

thy

all

those (Pan-

field,

dava) heroes pursued and smote them like bulls pursuing van40

the

mighty

Savyasachin the son of

Pandu, beholding a remnant

of thy

army

quished

bulls.

Then

king!

ground, became filled with rage,

keeping their

still

mon-

Suddenly,

arch, he shrouded that remnant of thy forces with arrows. The dust, however, that was then raised, enveloped the scene, in 42 consequence of which we could not see anything.

also spread over the scene

with arrows. all sides.

and

the field of battle

Darkness

was covered

monarch, then fled away in fear on Thy troops, thus broken, the Kuru king, O was When his army

44 Then Duryomonarch, rushed against both friends and foes. chief of Bharata's battle, Pandavas to the all dhana challenged

race, like the Asura Vali in celestials.

with rage,

days of yore challenging

The Pandavas then, uniting together and upbraiding

him

repeatedly

his

foes

with

the

filled

and shooting diverse

weapons, rushed against the roaring Duryodhana. however,, fearlessly smote

all

shafts,

The latter, The prowess

CALYA PARVAi

Paruti.]

since that wc then saw of thy sod was exceedingly wonderful, At all the Pandavaa together were unable to transgress him. this time Duryodhana beheld,

staying at a

distance from

little

him, his troops, exceedingly mangled with shafts, and prepared monarch, thy son, resolved Rallying them then, to fly away.

on battle and desirous of gladdening them, addressed those war48 "" I do not see that spot on plain or mountain riors, saying,

—

whither,

ye fly, the Pandavaa will not slay ye

What

use

The Pandava army hath now been reduced The two Krishnas have been exceedingly If all of us make a stand here, we are certain to

then in flight ?

to a small remnant.

mangled.

have victory. 81

If,

however, ye fly away, breaking your array,

the Pandavas, pursuing your sinful

Death in battle, therefore, is field of battle

for

while engaged in

practices, is pleasant.

our good l*

slay

all!

Death

the

according to

fight

Kshatriya

'Such death produces no kind of grief.

By encountering such a death, 53 ness in the other world.

here listen to me

selves, will

a person

Let

all

happi-

enjoys eternal

the

Kshatriyas assembled

It were better that they should even submit

Bhimasena than that they should

to the power of the angry

abandon the duties practiced by them from the days of their 4 There is no act more sinful for a Kshatriya than ancestors !* flight from battle

Ye Kauravas, there

heaven than the duty

of battle

5S :

not a better

The

warrior

the other world) that take

in a day regions of bliss

(in

long years for ethers to

acquire !— Fulfilling

the king, the great Kshatriya car-warriors*

path

acquires

many

words of

those

once more rushed

against the Pandavas, unable to endure their defeat and firmly resolved

battle once

7 put forth their prowess.*

more, that

was

exceedingly

Then

commenced a

fierce,

between thy

troops and the enemy, and that resembled the one between the

gods and the Asaras. iS

with all his

Thy son Duryodhana then,

troops, rushed against

Yudhishthira.'

" 8S

the

monarch

Pandavas headed by

[£alya-badha

Section IV. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Beholding the

fallen boxes of cars*

as also

the cars of high-souled warriors, and the elephants and footsoldiers,

slain

sire,

battle,

— seeing the

of battle

field

assume an aspect as awful as that of the sporting ground of

— observing the inglorious end obtained by hundreds and thousands of kings, — witnessing also the prowess of Partha

Rudra,

thy son with grief-stricken heart and when

after the retreat of

thy troops,

anxiety 3 and fallen into great distress,

filled with

O Bharata, were deliberating as to what they hearing

also

should next do,

the loud wails of the Kaurava warriors that were

4 being crushed, and marking the displaced and disordered tokens

of great kings, the Kuru leader Kripa of great energy, possess-

ed of years and good conduct and

fifled

5 with compassion,

and endued with eloquence, approached king Duryodhana, and Duryodhana, listen, O angrily said these words unto him :'

—

Bharata, to these words that I will say unto thee

monarch, do thou act according to them,

heard them,

one, if it

sinless

please thee

that is better than

There is no path,

duty of battle bull of the

with son,

fights

and relatives, and kinsmen. 9

battle, there is

terrible.

few beneficial words. the

If he

slaughtered in

in it.

It is for this that the life of a person

regards this, I will say a

After the fall of Bhishma and Drona and

dratha and thy brothers, is

Kshatriya order, engage

Similarly, there is great sin

Unto thee, as

mighty car-warrior

what

by the adoption of Kshatriya duties is ex-

of living

ceedingly

sire,

great merit

he flies from the field.

desirous

Having recourse

brother, sister's son, and maternal

tices

uncle,

monarch,

He who lives in the observance of Kshatriya prac-

in battle

the

Kshatriyas,

that path,

Having

Kama, 11 after

the slaughter

of Jaya-

skiless one, and thy son Lakshmana,

there now for us to do ?

They, upon

whom

resting

all burdens we had been enjoying sovereignty, have all gone to regions of blessedness attainable by persons conversant with

* Nida, a niche or box for tin; driver.— T.

Brahma, deprived

Calya tarva,

rarva.] casting of

bodies

their

off

18 !

As regards

ourselves,

numerous

those great car-warriors possessed

accomplishments, we shall have to pass our time in grief, having caused numerous kings to perish !'* When all those heroes

were alive, even then Vibhatsu could not bo vanquished. Having Krishna, for his eyes, that mighty-armed hero is incapable of being defeated by

The vast (Kaurava)

very gods !"

the

as au

host, approaching his Ape-bearing standard that is lofty

Indra's pole (set up in the season of spring) and that is effulgent

roars of Bhimasena and

twang of Gdndiva,

Moving like flashes

the

our

blare

hearts

srold,

like lightning's

away within

die

will

us.

and blinding our eyes, Ar-

of lightning,

juna's Gdndiva is seen to resemble a

with pure

At the leonine and the Pdnchajanya, of

as Indra's bow, hath always trembled in fear.

circle

bow, as

fire.

that

formidable

flash

moving about on every

Decked

shaken, looks

side.

Steeds

white in hue and possessed of great speed and endued with the splendour of the Moon or

the

Kaga

devouring the skies, are yoked unto his

car.

foremost

of all

Arjuna to

bear

consuming dry grass in the

forest

the

inspiring the kings

with

That

Arjuna,

of winter.

while

ing into our ranks, we have seen Dhananjaya to

elephant with four tusks.

viz.,

season

Possessed of the splendour of Indra himself,

conflagration

swelling

battle.

arms,

persons conversant with

burnt that great force of thine

Urged on by wind, and their

Krishna, like masses of clouds driven by the

limbs decked with gold, they

and that run

grass,

penetrat-

look

While agitating thy army and

fear,

we have seen Dhananjaya

to 84

resemble an elephant agitating a lake overgrown with lotuses. While terrifying all the warriors with the twang of his bow, we

have again seen the son of Pandu to resemble a smaller animals with dread.

lion inspiring

Those two foremost of bowmen

in all the worlds, those two bulls among all persons armed with

the bow,

viz.,

the

two Krishnas, clad

exceedingly beautiful.

awful battle,

mail, are

looking

Today is the seventeenth day of this

O Bharata, of those that are being slaughtered in

the midst of this fight !"

The diverse

divisions

of thy

army

are broken and dispersed like autumnal clouds dispersed by

the

m.murttarata,

la wind. 18

[Qalya-badha

O monarch, caused thy army to tremble

Savyasachin,

and reel like a tempest- tossed boat exposed on the bosom of the 29 Where was the Suta's son, where was Drona with ocean. followers,

his

all

where was

where wert thou, Avhere was

Hridika's son, where thy brother Duscasana accompanied by his

(when Jayadratha was

brothers,

slain) ?

Upon beholding

Jayadrutha and finding him within the range of his arrows, Arjuna, putting forth his prowess upon all thy kinsmen and maternal uncles, and placing his feet

brothers and allies and

upon their heads, slew king Jayadratha all

very

the

sight

Who is there

31-3a What then is there for us to do now ?

among thy troops now that would vanquish the son of Pandu ?

That high-souled warrior possesses diverse kinds of celestial

The twang, again, of Gdndiva robbeth us of our This army of thine that is now without a leader is energies like a night without the Moon, or like a river that is dried up weapons.

with all the trees on

banks broken by elephants. 38

its

mighty-armed Arjuna of white steeds career amid this thy

viz.,

The impetuosity

Satyaki and Bhimasena, would splifc

dry up all the oceans

pleasure,

his

masterless host, like a blazing conflagra-

heap of grass

tion amid a

will,

The

all

the

of those two,

mountains or

The words that Bhima spoke in the

37 !

by him, midst of the assembly have all been nearly accomplished That which remains unaccomplished will again be O monarch !

accomplished by him

38 !

While

Kama was battling before it,

the army of the Pandavas, difficult to be defeated, was vigorousYd, have done many ly protected by the wielder of Gdndiva." foul wrongs, without any cause, unto the

own objects thou hadst, with laree force race,

righteous Pandavas

come 40

For the sake of thy

great care,

mustered together a

The fruits of those acts have now

That vast force as also thyself, O bull of Bharata's

have fallen into great danger

41 !

Preserve

now, for self is the refuge of everything broken,

every side.

sire, 42

conciliation.

everything inhering thereto

He that is growing should make

of Pandu

regards

thy own self refuge

scattered

If the

weakened should seek peace by

He that is being

the policy taught by Vrihaspati. sons

the

war.

This is

We are new inferior to the strength of our army,

There-

— OALYA PAR71,

Turret,] fore,

O lord, I think peace with the Pandavas is for our good !**

He that does not know what is for his good or regards what is for his good,

(knowing) dis-

soon divested of his kingdom

and never obtains any good. 45 If by bowing unto king Yudhishthira sovereignty may still remain to us, even that would be for

our good, and not,

king, to sustain through

the hands of the Pandavas) !* 5

At the request

of Vichitraviryya's

will allow you to continue king.

say unto the victorious

defeat (afc

folly

Yudhishthira is compassionate. 47

and of Govinda, he

son

Whatever Hrishikeca

Bhimasena, all of them will, without doubt, obey. 48 the son of Pfmdu

rashtra of Kuril's race, nor will transgress those of Krishna.

Krishna

words of Dhrita-

be able to transgress the

will not, I think,

will

king Yudhishthira and Arjuna and

be able to

A cessation of hostilities with

the sons of Prithii is what I consider

for

thy good.

do not say this unto thee from any mean motives nor for protecting my life.

king, that

say,

beneficial.

Thou

be on

point of death

the

wilt

recollect (if

these

which

regard to be

words when thou

wilfc

thou ncglectest them now) !*°

Advanced in years, Kripa the son of Caradwat said these words weepingly.

Breathing long and hot breaths, he then gave way

to sorrow and almost lost his senses.'

" il

Section V. "Sanjava said,

— 'Thus addressed by the celebrated son of

Duryodhana ), breathing long and hot Having reflected for a breaths, remained silent, O monarch

Gotama,

king

the

(

little

while, the high-souled son of Dhritarilshtra, that scorcher

of foes, then said those words

unto Caradwat's son Kripa

Whatever a friend should say, thou hast said unto me hast also,

whilst battling, done

caring for thy very life into the midst of the

8 :

—

Thou

everything for me, without

The world has seen thee penetrate Pandava divisions and fight with the !

mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas endued with great energy.* That which should be said by a friend has been

said

Thy

medicine that

words,

however, do not please

pleases the person that is on the point

of death.*

by thee.

These bene-

MAHABHARATA,

IS ficial

l<pdlya-badkct

and excellent words, fraught with reason, that thou,

mighty-armed

one, hast said, do

O foremost of Brahmanas (on a former occasion), trust on us

acceptable to

me,

Deprived by us of his kingdom

why

not seem

son

will the

Pandu repose

his

That mighty king was once defeated by us at dice.

Why will we again believe my words

engaged in the good of the Parthas,

when he came to us as an

envoy, was deceived by

So also, Krishna, ever

That act of ours was exceedingly

us.

Why then, O regenerate one, will Hrishikeca trust

ill-judged.

my words

The

Krishna, while standing in the

princess

Krishna will never

midst of the assembly, wept piteously. forget that act

of ours, nor

that act,

Yudhishthira by us of his kingdom

viz.,

the

deprivation of

Formerly

was heard

by us that the two Krishnas have the same heart between them Today, lord, we and are firmly united with each other 10 Having heard of the slaughter have seen it with our eyes !

of his sister's son,

Kecava passeth his nights

sorrow.

have offended him highly. Why will he forgive us then ?" Arjuna also, in consequence of Arhimanyu's death, hath be-

come very miserable. Even if solicited, why will he strive for my good ? 12 The second son of Pandu, the mighty BhimaHe has made a terrible vow. He sena, is exceedingly fierce. but not bend. 13

The heroic twins, breathing animosity against us, when clad in mail and armed with their swords, resemble a pair of Yamas. * Dhrishtadyumna and will break

Why will those

Cikhandin have drawn their swords against me. two,

best of

Brahmanas, strive for my good ?

in a single raiment

and

While clad

her season, the princess Krishna-

was treated cruelly by Duscasana in the midst bly and before the eyes of all.

Pandavas, who

of the

assem-

Those scorchers of foes,

viz.,

remember the naked Draupadi plunged into distress, can never be dissuaded from battle. 17 Then again, Krishna the daughter of Drupada, is, in sorrow, undergoing still

the austerest of penances for my destruction and the success of the objects cherished by her husbands, and sleepeth every day

on the bare ground, intending to do so '

A triplet in the Bengal texts.— T,

till

the

end of tho

CALTi parva.

Tarva.J hostilities

attained. 13

Abandoning honor and

the

pride,

Drau-

uterino sister of Viisudcva (Subhadrii) is always serving

padi as a veritable waiting-woman. 19 Everything, therefore, hath

flamed np.

Peace with them

That fire can never be quenched.

hath become impossible in conscquonce of the slaughter of

Abhimanyu. 20

Having

enjoyed the sovereignty

also

of this

Earth bounded by the ocean, how shall I be able to enjoy, under

kingdom

favor of the Pandavas, a the

Sun upon

peace ?"

Having enjoyed

I do

life

all

how shall I lead

enjoyable articles and shown great compassion,

miserable

how shall I

heads of all the kings,

the

walk behind Yudhishthira like a slave ?" a

Having shone

now with miserable men as my companions ? as

not hate those mild and beneficial words that thou hast

spoken. peace.

however, do not think that this

To fight righteously

regard to be good policy.

is,

time

the

for

O scorcher of foes, what I

This is not the time for acting lika

On the other hand, this is the time for battle. 8S I have performed many sacrifices. I have given away DaJcshinas

eunuch.

Brahmanas.

wishes.

have obtained the attainment of all

I have listened to

Vedic recitations.

I have relieved people in distress. I dare not,

foremost of regenerate the Pandavas. 27

I have

properly governed my

address such humble words

ones,

own kingdom. Religion

I have paid off

Kshatriya duty. 23

have enjoyed diverse

and

profit

and pleasure

my debt to the Pitris and

Certainly, there is no happiness here

becomes of kingdom, and what of good name ? that one should acquire here.

I have

conquered foreign kingdoms.

kinds of enjoyable articles. 1 have pursued.

have walked

My servants have all been well

upon the heads of my foes. 86 cherished by me.

Fame

What all

That fame can be obtained by

and by no other means. 29

The death that a Kshatriya meets with at homo is censurable. Death on one's bed at home is highly sinful. 80 The man who casts away his body in

battle,

the woods or in battle tains great glory. 81

ing

in pain, afflicted

crying kinsmen. ? *

having performed

after

He is

man who

dies

by disease and decay,

Abandoning diverse

I shall now. by righteous

battle,

sacrifices,

miserably in

objects

proceed to

the

ob-

wc>

midst of

of enjoyment,

the

regiofia

Mahabhakata.

[£alya-badhii

Cakra, obtaining the companionship of those that have attained to the highest end.

Without doubt, the habitation

of righteous behaviour, are

gifted

who never

and devoted

with intelligence

performers of sacrifices, and who have of weapons,

sacrifice

from

retreat

who

are

truth,

been sanctified in the

heaven. 8 *

of heroes

battle,

The

diverse

tribes

Apsaras, without doubt, joyfully gaze at such heroes when engaged

Without doubt, the Pitris behold them

in battle.

worshipped in the assembly of the gods

and rejoicing

heaven, in the company of Apsaras* 1

the path that is trod by the celestials and by ing from battle,

that

path,

viz.,

which

heroes

has

now ascend

will

unreturn-

been taken by

our venerable grandsire, by the preceptor endued with great intelligence,

by Jayadratha, by Kama, and by Duscasana 87 !

Many brave kings, who had exerted themselves vigorously

for

my sake in this battle, have been slain. and their limbs bathed Earth. 58

Mangled with arrows blood, they lie now on the bare

Possessed of great courage and conversant with ex-

cellent weapons, those kings, fices as ordained in

the

who had,

scriptures,

again, performed sacri-

having cast

off their

life-

breaths in the discharge of their duties, have now become

the

denizens of Indra's abode. that blessed region).

They have paved the way (to

That road will once more become

diffi-

crowds of heroes that

hurry

cult in consequence of the

40 along it for reaching that blessed goal.*

gratitude the

feats

of those

heroes

Remembering with have died

that

I desire to pay off the debt I owe them, instead

heart upon kingdom. 41

If,

brothers and grandsires to be

will

for

me,

of fixing

my friends and my own life, the

having caused slain, I

save

world will, without doubt, censure me. 42

What kind of sover-

eignty will that be which I will enjoy, destitute of kinsmen

Some texts read durgamo hi sukham

bhavet

bhavet.

If the former reading be accepted, the

difficult,

that road will

become easy

for durgamo hi punar-

meaning

will

be,

'once

consequence of the crowds of

heroes that will hurry along it for reaching that blessed

goal.'

Duryo-

dhana, iu that case, would be held to be alluding to the many Kshatriyas that would yet die for obtaining regions of bliss in the other tb.9 battle 3

instead pi ceasing^ were allowed to go ou,— T,

world,

Calya tarva,

Tarva.]

and friends and well-wishers, and bowing duwn unto the son of Panda ? 48

who have lorded it over the universe

way, will now acquire heaven by otherwise !**

not bo

will

all

the Kshatri-

and cheered tho king, say-

yas there applauded that speech ing,

fair fight.

— Thus addressed by Duryodhana,

that

— Excellent, Excellent — Without at !*'

all

grieving

for

and firmly resolved upon displaying their prowess, all of them, having determined to fight, became filled with

their defeat,

enthusiasm. 46

Having groomed their animals

ravas, delighting at the prospect

of battle,

tant from the

field.

Having

took up their quar-

than two Yojanas

ters (for the night) at a spot little less 47

Kau-

then, the

obtained the

dis-

Saraswati of red

waters on the sacred and beautiful table-land at the foot of

Himavat, they bathed in that water and quenched their Their spirits raised by thy

with it.

48 wait (on their resting ground).

own selves as

well

one

thirst

son, they continued to

Once more

another,

all

those

rallying

their

Kshatriyas, '

king, urged by fate, waited (in their encampment).'

"49

Section VI. "Sanjaya said, those warriors,

— 'On that table-land at the foot of Himavat,

O monarch, delighting at the prospect of battle 1

Indeed, Calya and assembled together, passed the night. and Chitrasena and the mighty car-warrior Cakuni and Acwatthaman and Kripa and Kritavarman of the Satwata race,"

and Sushena and Arishtasena and Dhritasena of great energy

and Jayatsena and After the heroic inspired

all

these

passed

kings

the

with fright by the

battle,

Pandavas desirous of

All of them then,

of Calya, these

victory,

mountains of

O king, who were resolved on

duly worspipped tho king and said unto

presence

there.

Kama had been slain in battle, thy sons,

failed to obtain peace anywhere else than on the

Himavat. 4

night

words

8 !

—

It behoveth

him, in the

theo

fight

with the enemy, after having made some one the generalissimo of thy army, protected by

our foes !*

whom

battle

will

vanquish

— Then Duryodhana, without alighting from his

(proceeded towards]*

that foremost

of car-warriors, that

* These words occur lower down in verae 17.— T.

car,

hero

mahabharata,

[galya-badha,

conversant with all the rules of battle,*

Acwatthaman,)

(viz.,

Possessed of

beautiful limbs, of head well-covered, of a neck

adorned with

who resembled the Destroyer himself in

battle.

three lines like those in a conch-shell, of sweet speech, of ej7 es

resembling the petals of a full-blown lotus, and of a face like that of the tiger, of the dignity of

of Meru, 8 resembling the bull

M ihadeva as regards neck, eyes, tread, and voice, endued

with arms that were large, massive, and well-joined, having a

was broad and well-formed, 9 equal unto Garuda on

chest that

the

wind

that

of the

telligence face,

speed and might, gifted with

splendour like

Sun, rivalling Ucanas himself in in-

rays of the

and the Moon in beauty and form and charms of

with a body that

seemed to be made

of a

number

and waist and

hips,

of beautiful

beautiful nails, he seemed to have

feet, beautiful

fingers,

of being

knew,

details, the

in all its

forcibly

four pachas and ten Angas.f all

every

Ever vanquishing his

was incapable

with

their

branches,

Possessed of every

he was an ocean

with great speed, he

vanquished" by of

foes.

weapons consisting of

He knew

also

the'-

four

Akhytinas as the

and the

the

act,

foes

science

all

beautiful and good attributes of creation.

auspicious mark, and clever

and

been made by the Creator

with great care after recollecting one after another

of learning.

11 of well-formed thighswith well-made joints,

golden lotuses,

Veclas fifth.

Possessed of great ascetic merit, Drona, himself not born of

woman, having worshipped the Three-eyed deity with great him .upon a wife not born of

attention and austere vows, begat

woman. 15

Approaching that personage of unrivalled feats, that

one who is unrivalled in beauty on Earth, that one mastered all

branches

of learning,

has

ocean of accomplish-

thy

son told him these

ments, the faultless Acwatthaman,

words

who

that

— Thou, O preceptor's son, art today our highest

* The correct reading, I apprehend, in some of the

Bengal

texts,

re-

Sarva yuddhavidhanajnam as

and not Sai'vayuddkavibhdvajnam, as

the Bombay edition, although Nilakantha notices the latter in his gloss. t

A pada is a great division of a subject, an a?ig<.c being a smaller

division, or subdivision,— T,

—

fucre

CALTA parva,

f>arva.] Tell

who

therefore,

us,

my forces now, placing whom

our

head,

of us, united

all

16 " 13

may vanquish the Pandavas ?

together,

the generalissimo of

addressed,] the son of Drona answered,— Let Calya

" '[Thus

become the leader fume,

energy, in

army

of our in

prowsss, in

descent, in

beauty of person, and in every other 19 Mindful of the services superior! is

he rendered to him, he has taken up our side, having abandoned Owning a large force of his own, the sons of his own sister

accomplishment,

that mighty-armed one is like a second (Kartikeya, the) celestial

generalissimo

Making

king the commander of

that

best of monarch's, we will be able to grain victory,

our forces,

after

like the gods, 21

commander

making the unvanquished Skanda

— After Drona's son had said these words,

kings stood, surrounding Calya,

and cried victory

their

the

all

him; 2a

Having made up their minds for battle, they felt groat j<>y. Then Duryodhana, alighting from his car, joined his hands and addressing Calya, that rival of Drona and Bhishma in

—

2S O thou that who was on his car, said these words thy friends come for now time has that friends, devoted to art of friends guise when intelligent men examine persons in the

battle,

otherwise

as to whether they are true friends or

thou art,

friends,

2S !

battle, the

become cheerless,

will

depressed

army.

Pandavas, with

their

and the Panchalas

—

I will,

king

of the

plish that which thou askest

kingdom,

thy service

van

will

—

"'Calya answered,

I have, viz.,

Brave as

of our

be thou our generalissimo at the

When thou wilt proceed

24 !

26 !

life-breaths,

—

" "Duryodhana said,

ship of my army,

—

accomplish

I solicit thee

O maternal uncle

Kurus, accom-

Everything

wealth,

with offer of the leader-

O foremost of warriors,

protect us incomparably, even as Skanda protected

the g< ds in

battle! 27

own

foremost of kings, thyself cause thy

be installed in the the command

command

of (the

Pavaka's

forces of ) the

son

celestials!

self to

Kartikeya

O hero, slay

our foes in battle like Indra slaying the Danavaa !'

—

[Calyd-hadli&

Section VII. "Sanjaya said,

—'Hearing these words of the (Kuru) king,

the valiant monarch (Calya),

Duryodhana in reply to me,

l :

—

O king, said these words unto

mighty-armed Duryodhana, listen

O foremost of eloquent men

Thou regardest the two when on their car, to be the foremost of car-warThey are not, however, together equal to me in might !

Krishnas, riors

of arms

What need I say of the Piindavas ?

2 !

When angry,

I can fight, at the van of battle, with the whole world consist-

ing of gods, Asuras, and men, risen up in ams

assembled Parthas and

quish the

the

Without doubt, I will become the overmaster is

it !

say

no doubt in this

5 !

this

not be

Duryodhana

thee,

battle

troops !*

able to !

There

— Thus addressed (by Calya), king Duryo-

dhana cheerfully poured

sanctified

water, without

best of the Bharatas, on the ruler

time,

of thy

will

van-

I will

Somakas

leader

will form such an array that our enemies

9 !

losing

any

Madras, in

of the

the midst of his troops, according to the rites ordained in the

monarch.* 6

scriptures,

After Calya had been invested with

among thy

the command, loud leonine roars arose diverse musical instruments

blown. 7 f

The Kaurava

also,

warriors

troops and

O Bharata, were beat and became very

cheerful,

them praised the ing, 8

royal

Calya, that

— Victory to thee, O king

the assembled foes

ornament of battle, say-

Long life to thee

Having obtained the might

the Dhartarashtras endued

let

wide Earth without a foe !t 9

e ,

Slay

of thy

all

arms,

with great strength, rule the

Thou art capable of vanquishing

in battle the three worlds consisting of the

•

And all of

also the mighty car- warriors among the Madrakas.

gods, the Asuras,

formally invested him with the command of the army,

The

ceremony consisted in pouring sanctified water on the head of the person chosen. +

— T.

The Bombay

IIr ixhtarupas. \

edition

reads,

wrongl}',

—T.

Literally, 'with all their foes slain !'— T.

think, Klishtarupas

for

Parva.]

paryi.

then need be said of the Somakas mortal ?'°

and

the Srinjayas

that

are

— Thus praised, the mighty king of the Madrakaa ob-

tained groat joy that

unattainable by

persons of unrefined

souls." ,;

'Calya said,— Today,

king,

will

either

slay

all

the

Panchalaa with the

Pandavas

proceed to heaven '."

Let the world behold me today careering

(on the field of battle) fearlessly

Today

let

them,

battle, or, slain

the sons

all

Panda, and Vasudeva, and Satyaki, 18 and the sons of Draupadi, and Dhrishtadyumna, and Cikhandin, and all the Trabhadrakas, 14 behold my prowess

and the great might of my b)w, and my quickness, and the energy of my weapons, and the strength of my arms, in battle !'*

Siddkas,

with the Ciutranas,

Let the Parthas, and all the

behold today the strong h that is

my arms and the wealth of weapons I possess Beholding my prowess today, let the mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, 16

desirous of counteracting it, adopt diverse courses

of action !' 7

Today I will rout the troops of the Pandavas on all sides! Surpassing Drona and Bhima and the Suta's son, O lord, in battle. Kaurava,

I will career on the field, 18

able to thee

—

"Saujaya continued,

for doing

what

a»re-

— 'After Calya had been invested with

the command, O giver of honors, no one among thy troops, O bull of Bharata's race, any longer felt any grief on account of

Kama/

Indeed,

troops

the

became cheerful and

glad.

They regarded the Parthas as already slain and brought under the power of the ruler of the Madras." Having obtained thy

great joy,

night

happily

shouts

Vrishni's

troops,

bull

of Bharata's

and became very army, king

thy

race, said

Kshatriyas :"

—The

bowman who

these

cheerful.*'

Yndhishthira,

addressing

hearing

the

regarded

viz.,

all

that

Hearing thoso

words, in

ruler of the Madras,

highly

race, slept

him of

of all

the

Calya, that great

the warriors, hath,

O Madhava. b n en made the leader of his forces by DhritarashKnowing this that has happened, do, O Mfidhava, that which is beneficial Thou art our loader and protector tra's son !*"

Do that which

monarch, said unto that king :— I know 1

should next be done 2 * '

— Then Vasudeva, O ArtHyani,

Bharata,

26 truly

[£alya-badka

MAH.U51I.VRATA, 2S

Endued with prowess and great energy, he

illustrious

highly

He is accomplished, conversant with all the modes

and possessed of great lightness of hand I* 6

cf warfare,

think that the ruler of the Madras is in battle equal to Bhishma

cr Drona or Kama, or, perhaps, superior to them,87 ruler of men, even upon reflection, find the

I do not,

be a match for Calya while engaged in fight 38

In battle, he is

and Arjuna and Bhima and

superior in might to Cikhandin

Satyaki and Dhrishtadyumna, O Bharata

The king

of the

O monarch, endued with the prowess of a lion

Madras,

elephant, will

career

who may

warrior

fearlessly

Destroyer

the

battle, like

himself in wrath amongst creatures at the time of the uni80

versal destruction.

save thee,

I do not behold a

equal to that of a tiger in either heaven or

Kuril's race,

while

Save thee there is no other person

whole of this world, who, O son

the

would be able

slay

excited with wrath in battle

sa !

Maghavat slaying Camvara. 53

Dhritarashtra's son, that hero

the

Day after day engaged

invincible

with honor by

Treated in

battle

the fall of the ruler of the Madras in battle, thou to have victory

Upon his slaughter, the

host will be slain

now, proceed,

certain

monarch, these words of mine

Hearing,

car-warrior, viz.,

thou of mighty

Slay that warrior,

Upon

art

vast Dhilrtarashtra

Partha, against that mighty

the ruler of the Madras

Madras

of the

ruler

For this, slay Calya in battle,

in fight, he agitates thy troops. like

match fur him in battle

O tiger among men, that art possessed of prowess

arms, like Vasava slaying the Asura

Namuchi

There

need of showing any compassion here, thinking that this one is thy maternal

uncle

Keeping the duties

Kshatriya

Madras S6

Having crossed the fathomless oceans represented by Bhishma and Drona and

before thee, slay the

of the

ruler

Kama, do not sink, with thy followers, in the print of a hoof represented by Calya

37 !

Display in battle

thy ascetic power and thy Kshatriya energy warrior

53 !

cow's

the

whole of

Slay

that car-

— Having said these words, Kecava, that slayer of

hostile heroes, proceeded to his tent in the evening, worshipped

by the Pandavas. 39

After

Kecava had gone, king Yudhish-

thira the just, dismissing all

his

brothers

and the Somakas,

Calya vauva,

JFarva.'J)

happily slept, that night, like an elephant from whose body

the

darts have been plucked out. 40

viz.,

All

those

the Panchalas and the Pandavas, delighted in

the fall of Kama, slept that night happily.*

bowmen,

great

consequence of

Its fever dispelled,

the army of the Pandavas, abounding with great bowmen and mighty ear-warriors, having reached the shore as it were, became very happy that night, in consequence of the victory, G sire,

had won by the slaughter of

Kama

Section VIII.

—'After that night had passed away, king Duryodhana then, addressing thy said — Arm vc mighty car-warriors — Hearing the command of the king, the "Sanjaya said,

all

soldiers,

warriors began to put on their

Some began

armour.

vokc

their steeds to their cars quickly, others ran hither and thither."

The elephants began to be equipt.

The foot-soldiers began to numbering thousands, began to spread carpets on the terraces of cars. 3 The noise of musical instruments, O arm.

Others,

for enhancing the martial

monarch, arose there,

enthusiasm of

Then all the troops, placed in their proper pests,

the soldiers.*

Bharata, to stand, clad in

were seen,

make death their goal.

mail and resolved

to-

Having made the ruler of the Madras

their leader, the great car-warriors

ting their troops, stood in

Kauravas, distribu-

of tho

divisions. 6

Then

all

thy

warriors,

with Kripa and Kritavarman and Drona's son and Calya and Suvala's son and the other kings that were yet alivo, met thy son, and arrived at this understanding, viz., that none of them

would individually and alone fight with the Pandavas. 7 " 8 And they said, He amongst us that will fight alone and unsup-

—

Pandavas, or he that will abandon a comrade

ported with

the

engaged

fight,

will

be stained

with

together, will

the

grave sins

five

— And they — All of fight with the foe — Those great

and all the minor sins!

said,

us,

united

car- warriors,

having made such an understanding with one another, placed the ruler of the Madras at

against their foes. 10

their head

Similarly,

ed their troops in great battle

all the

and quickly proceeded Pandavas, having array-

proceeded against the

Kaur&vi

HAHAMHARAT1.

[£«( '.<i bdd/ut

O king, fur fighting with them on every side."

O chief

Soon,

of the

of the Bharatas, that host, whose noise resembled that

agitated ocean, and which seemed to be wonderful in consequence of its cars and elephants, presented the aspect of the !'"

vasty deep swelling with its surges •

-DhritariUhtra said,— 'I have

heard of the

Bhishma, and of the son of Radha

of Drona,

fall

Tell me now of the fall

How, indeed, O Sanjaya, was Calya And how was my son slain by king Yudhishthira the just ? ?' 14 Duryodhana slain by Bhimasena of great might of Calya and of my son

said,—'Hear,

•'Sanjaya

king, with patience, of the des-

steeds, truction of human bodies and the loss of elephants and ,J O strong, The hope became us I describe (to thee) the battle !

kiiK', in the breasts of thy sons that, after Drona and

and the Suta's son had been overthrown, Calya, slay all the Parthas in battle

16 !

Bhishma

sire,

would

Cherishing that hope in

heart, and drawing comfort from it,

his

O Bharata, thy son Duryo-

dhana, relying in battle upon that mighty car-warrior, viz., the proruler of tho Madras, regarded himself as possessed of a

When after Kama's fall the Parthas had uttered leonine roars, a great fear, O king, had possessed the hearts of

tector.

17 *

Assuring him duly, the valiant king of O monarch, a grand array whose formed, having the Madras, 19 proceeded arrangments were auspicious in every respect, And the valiant king of the against the Parthas in battle. the Dhartarashtras.

Madras proceeded, shaking his beautiful and exceedingly strong

bow capable of imparting a great velocity to the shafts sped 20 And that mighty car-warrior was mounted upon from it. yoked

a foremost of vehicles having horses of the Sindhu breed unto it. Riding upon his car, his driver made the vehicle look resplendent.

crusher of foes,

Protected by (viz.,

fears of thy sons.

that

Calya), stood,

the

car, that

hero,

that brave

O monarch, dispelling the

advance

(to

the Madras, clad in mail, proceeded at the

battle), the

king of

head of the array,

accompanied by the brave Madrakas and the invincible sons of Kama." On the left was Kritavarman, surrounded by the

Both 10 and 17 arc triplets,—T,

ran a.]

calya PASTA

On the right was Gautama (Ivripa) with the Cabas

Trigartas.

surrounded

and the Yavanas."

In the rear was A<;watthfwnan

by the Kfunvojas.

In the centre was Duryodhana, protected

by the foremost of Kuril

warriors."

Surrounded by a large

force of cavalry and other troops, Suvala's son. Cakuni, as also

the mighty

car-warrior

26 Uluka, proceeded with the others.

The mighty bowmen amongst the Pfmdavas, those monarch,

themselves,

of foes, dividing

rushed against thy troops. 17

chastisers

three

into

bodies,

Dhrishtadyumna and Cikhandin

and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki proceeded with great speed against the army of Calya. 28

Then king Yudhishthira, accom-

panied by his troops, rushed against Calya alone, from desire 29

Arjuna, that

great

speed against

bull of Bharata's race

of slaughtering him,

slayer of large bands of foes, rushed with

that great bowman,

viz.,

Kritavarman, and the Samsajitabis.*

Bhimasena and the great car-warriors among the Somakas rushmonarch, against Kripa, desirous of slaughtering their foes

ed,

The two sons of Madri, accompanied by their troops, proceeded against Cakuni and the great car-warrior in

battle.

Similarly, thousands upon

Uluka at the head of their forces."

thousands of warriors, of thy army, armed with diverse weapons and filled with rage, proceeded against the Piindavas in that battle.' 88

"Dhritarashtra said,— 'After the

fall

of the

mighty bow-

men Bhishma and Drona and the great car- warrior Kama, and after both the

Kurus and the Pfmdavas had been reduced in

numbers, and when, indeed, the Parthas, prowess, became once more angry in

stood for

battle

— 'Hear, on

strength of the two

that

armies

king,

?' ?4

- 8,

how we and the enemy both

occasion, 3S

Sanjaya,

battle, what,

was the strength of each of the armies "Sanjaya said,

possessed of great

and what was then the

Eleven thousand

cars,

bull

of Bharata's race, ten thousand and seven hundred elephants,"

and full two hundrod thousand horse, and three millions of 3J Six thousand foot, composed the strength of thy army !

cars,

six

thousand elephants, ten

million of foot,

thousand horse,

and one

O Bharata, 33 were all that composed the rem-

nant of the Pandava force in

that

battle.

These,

bull

MAHABHARATA.

Bharata's race, encountered each distributed

their

forces

excited with wrath and

this

inspired

[Qalya-badfu*

other

way,

battle.

for

of victory, pro-

ceeded against the Pandavas, having placed

command

the

of the

ruler

Madras.

the

Having

monarch, ourselves,

with desire

brave Pandavas, those tigers among

ourselves

under

Similarly, the

men, desirous of victory, 4*

and the Panchalas possessed of great fame, came to battle. Even thus, O monarch, all those tigers among men, desirous of slaughtering their foes, of day,

lord

43 !

encountered one another at dawn

Then commenced a fierce and terrible battle

between thy troops and the enemy, the combatants being

engaged in striking and slaughtering one another.'

all

" 44

Section IX. 'Sanjaya said,— 'Then commenced the battle between the Kurus and the Srinjayas, O monarch, that was as fierce and awful as, the battle between the gods and the Asuras.

Men,

and crowds of cars and elephants, and elephant-warriors and horsemen by thousands, and steeds, all possessed of great prowess,

8 encountered one anothfr.

The loud

noise

rushing

elephants of fearful forms was then heard there, resembling the roars of the clouds in the welkin, in the season of rains.

Routed by those field.

infuriate

animals,

other

Well-trained car-warriors,

their shafts, despatched large bodies

Some

deprived of their cars.

car-warriors, struck by elephants, were

ran on the

brave combatants

of cavalry

Bharata, with

and the

foot-

5 m-m that urged and protected the elephants, to the other world.

Well-trained horsemen, careered on the field,

O king, surrounding great car-warriors,

striking and slaying the latter with spears

4 Some combatants armed with bows, and darts and swords. encompassing great car-warriors, despatched them to Yamas

abode, the

many

unitedly

battling

against individual

ones. 7

Other great car-warriors, encompassing elephants and foremost warriors of their own class, slew some mighty one amongst

them that fought on the

field,

careering all around.**

* The Bombay reading, which I adopt,

Simi-

Nvg&n Iial/uivardn &c—JL

O king,

larly,

riors

Calya parva,

Parva.]

excited

elephants,

wrath

with

car-war-

encompassing

individual

and

showers of shafts,

scattering

despatched them to the other world."

Elephant-warrior rushing

against elephant-warrior, and car-warrior against car-warrior, in that battle, slew each other with darts and lances and cloth-yard shafts,

O Bharata

Cars and elephants and horse, crushing

!'°

foot-soldiors in the midst of battle,

worse confounded.

were seen to make confusion

Adorned with yak-tails, steeds rushed on

all sides, looking like the swans found on the plains at tho They rushed with such speed that they foot of Himavat.

seemed ready to devour the very Earth." The field,

monarch,

indented with the hoofs of those steeds, looked beautiful like a beautiful woman bearing the marks of (her lover's) nails on her

person. 13

With the

wheels of cars, the phants,

the peal

noise

made by the

of heroes, the

tread

shouts of foot-soldiers, the grunts of

drums and other musical

of ele-

instruments,

and the blare of conchs, the Earth began to resound as if with 15 In consequence of twanging bows deafening peals of thunder.

and flashing sabres and the glaring armour of the combatants, all

became so confused there that nothing could be

marked.

Innumerable arms, lopped

off

from

distinctly

human

bodies,

and looking like the tusks of elephants, jumped up and writhed monarch, by and moved furiously about. 17 The sound made, heads falling on the field of battle, resembled that made by the falling fruits of palmyra trees.

Strewn with those fallen heads

that were crimson with blood, the

Earth looked resplendent as

19 if adorned with gold-colored lotuses in their season.

with those

lifeless

heads with upturned eyes,

Indeed,

that were

ex-

ceedingly mangled (with shafts and other weapons), the field of

O king, looked resplendent as if strewn with

loattle,

full-blown

arms of the combatants, smeared with sandal and adorned with costly Key was, the Earth looked

lotuses.

With

tho

fallen

The field of battle became covered with

the

bright as if strewn with the gorgeous poles honor.

of kings, cut

off in

that battle and

looking

set

Indra's

thighs tapering

the

Teeming with hundreds of headless trunks and strewn with umbrellas and yak-yails, that vast army

trunks of elephants."

looked beautiful like a flowering forest.

Then, on the

field

mahabharata,

battle,

[palybrbadhei

O monarch, warriors careered fearlessly,

bathed in blood and, therefore, looking % lcas. *

Elephants

also, afflicted

limbs

their

like flowering Kingu-

with arrows and lances,

fell

down here and there like broken clouds dropped from the skies."

O monarch, slaughtered by highsouled war-

Elephant-divisions,

wind- tossed clouds. 26 Those

riors, dispersed in all directions like

elephants, looking

clouds,

mountains riven with thunder,

down on

fell

lord,

dissolution of the world at the end of the

Earth, like

the

of the

the occasion

Tuga? 1

Heaps upon

heaps, looking like mountains, were seen, lying on the ground, of fallen steeds with their ridors.

Blood formed

Standards formed

waters, and cars its

eddies.

bones its pebbles. 23

The arms

gators,

A river appeared on the field

towards the other world.

of battle, flowing

(of combatants)

trees,

its

were

its

and alli-

bows its current, elephants its large rocks, and steeds

its smaller ones.

Fat and marrow formed

its

mire, umbrellas

Abounding with armour and head-gears, banners constituted its beautiful trees. Teeming with wheels that formed its swarms of Chakravakas, it was its swans, and maces its rafts.

covered with

Trivenus and Dandas. 31

brave

the

Inspiring

with delight and enhancing the fears of the timid, that fierce Kurus and Srinin, whose shores abounded with

river set

jayas.

Those brave warriors,

bludgeons, by the aid of their

with arms resembling spiked vehicles

and animals serving

the purposes of rafts and boats, crossed that awful river which

ran towards the region of the dead.

During the progress of

monarch, in which no consideration was showed

that battle,

by any body

for any one,

truction of the four battle

and which, fraught with awful

des-

of forces, therefore, resembled

the

kinds

between the gods and the Asuras

days of old, 24

scorcher of foes, loudly called some among the combatants, upon their kinsmen and friends. Some, called upon by crying 3 kinsmen, returned, afflicted with fear. * During the progress of that fierce and awful battle, Arjuna fied their

foes.

That vast host

and Bhimasena

of thine,

thus slaughtered, swooned away on the

under the influence of liquor.

Having

Bhimasena and Dhananjaya blew their

stupi-

O ruler of men,

field,

stupified

woman

that army,

conchs and uttered

— Calya tarva,

Perot]

A^ soon as they heard that loud

leonine roars." 3

peal, Dhri.-h«

tadyumna and Cikhandin, placing king Yudhiahthira Madras.

of the

their

Exceedingly

head, rushed against the

ruler

wonderful and

monarch, was the manner

terrible,

which

those heroes, unitedly and in separate bodies, then fought with Cilya.

The two sons of Mairi, endued with grcnt

accomplished in weapons, and invincible with great speed against 41

victory.*

thy

Then thy army, O bull

of Bharata's

That

broken by firm bowmen, O monarch, the very

of thy

sight

sons.

Bharata, arose from among trious

Kshatriyas among

the

saying,

victory, cried out,

cries

all

sides

Ok and Alas,

thy warriors, while some

illus-

routed combatants, desirous of

stop, sto}} /**

troops of thine, broken by the

mangled

for victory,

host, thus struck and

fled away

Loud

desire

race,

Pfmdavas eager

in diverse ways with shafts by the

began to fly away from the field.*

with

inspired

host,

activity,

buttle, proceeded

— For

Panda vas, fled

all

that, those

away, deserting

on the field their dear sons and brothers and maternal uncles

and sisters' sons and relatives by marriage and other kinsmen. 4 *

Urging their steeds and elephants to greater speed, thousands bull of Bharata's race,

of warriors fled away, their own safety

Section "Sanjaya slid

bent only up m

"4 *

— 'Beholding the army broken, the valiant

kino of the Madras addressed his driver, saying,— Quickly urge these steeds endued

with

of thought P

the fleetness

Yonder

stays king Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, looking resplendent 9 Take me thither with with the umbrella held over his head. speed.

O driver, and witness my might

The Piirthas are un-

driver able to stand before me in battle S'—Thus addressed, the stood king where spot that of the Madra king proceeded to

Yudhishthira the just of true aim. the mighty host of the Pfmdavas. the continent force

of the

Calya fell suddenly Alone, he |checked

cheeking the surging

Pandavas

coming

again

sea.' t

Indeed, the

Calya

sire

upon like

mahabitaiuta.

[galya-badha

battle, like the rushing sea

upon encountering a

if!

in that

Still

mountain. 6

Beholding the ruler of the Madras standing

Kauravas returned, making death their

battle on the field, the goal. 7

for

O king, and separately taken

After they had returned,

up their positions in well-formed array, an awful

set

battle

in,

in which blood flowed freely like water.

Nakula encountered Chitrasena. 8 These two heroes, both of whom were excellent bowmen, approach" 'The invincible

drenched each other with showers of arrows in that battle,

ing,

like two pouring clouds risen in the welkin

the south

and

I could not mark any difference between the son of " and his antagonist. 5 10 Both of them were accomplished

the north.

Pandu in

weapons, both endued with might, and both conversant with

the

practices

Each bent upon slaying the

car- warriors.

they carefully looked for each

•other,

Chitrasena, O monarch, with

other's

with

three

whetted on stone. 13

Fear-

shafts

eqaiipt

wings of gold and

with

With a few other keen arrows he then

despatched Nakula's steeds to Yama's abode.

both

handle. 1 *

Kama struck the bowless Nakula at the

then the son of

forehead

Then

broad-headed shaft, well-tem-

pered and sharp, cut off Nakula's bow at the lessly

laches} 1

Next, he felled

standard and the driver of his antagonist, each with

the

three arrows. * 1

With those three arrows sped from the arms of

his foe sticking to his forehead, Nakula, ful like a mountain

with

three

crests.

O king, looked beautiDeprived of his bow

and his car, the brave Nakula, taking up a sword, jumped down from

vehicle

his

lion

from a mountain summit. 16

As,

however, he rushed on foot, his antagonist poured a shower of

arrows upon him. that arrowy

shower on his shield. 17

Chitrasena, the

with

conversant tired

trunk

his

mighty -armed all

The son

Getting at the car then of viz.,

in the

Pandu then cut

diadem decked head

graced with

hero,

the

son

very sight of all the off

from

adorned with

tsrraoe

Chitrasena's

ear-rings,

a beautiful nose and a pair of large eyes.

Chitrasena, endued with the splendour of the Sun, t'h?

of Pfindii,

modes of warfare and incapable of being

exertion, ascended

with

troops.

Possessed of active prowess, Nakula received

of his

car.

fell

and

At this,

down on

Beholding Chitrasena slain, all

the

CALYA PAEVA.

JfarvA.] car-warriors

great

leonine roars.

:";.

many

there uttered loud cries of praise and

Meanwhile the two sons of Kama, viz., Sushena

and Satyasena, both of whom were great car-warriors, behold21 Those ing their brother slain, shot showers of keen shafts. foremost

of car-warriors rushed with speed against

the son of

king, in the deep forest rushing

Pandu like a couple of tigers,

against an elephant from desire of slaying him.

B ith of then*

pjurcd their keen shafts upon the mighty car-warrior

Nakula.

Indeed, as they poured those shafts, they resembled two masses

of clouds pouring rain in torrents. all over,

the valiant and heroic

son

Though pierced with arrows of Pandu cheerfully took

up another bow after ascending another car, and stood in battle 24 Then those two brothers, like the Destroyer himself in rage.

O monarch, with their straight shafts, cut off Nakula's car into

fragments. 88

Then Nakula,

smote the four

laughing,

steeds of Satyasena with four whetted and keen shafts

encounter.

Aiming a long shaft

equipt

the son of Pandu then cut off, sena.

with

that

wings of gold,

monarch, the bow of Satya-

At this the latter, mounting on another car and taking

up another bow, as also his brother Sushena, rushed against the son of Pandu. 28

ca^h of them, of battle. 29

The valiant son

Madri

fearlessly

pierced

O monarch, with a couple of shafts at

the van Then the mighty car-warrior Sushena, filled with

wrath, cut off in that battle, laughing dable bow of Pandu's son with

the

while, the

formi-

razor-headed arrow. 50

Then

Nakula, insensate with rage, took up another bow and pierced

Sushena with five arrows and struck his standard with one. 51 Without losing a moment, lie then cut off the bow and the leathern fence of Satyasena also, there uttered

32 a loud shout.

foe-slaying bow

that

up another

was capable of bearing a great

shrouded the son of Pandu Baffling those

O sire, at which all the troops Satyasena, taking

arrows,

with arrows from

every

strain, side.

Nakula, that slayer of hostile heroes,

pierced each of his antagonists with a couple of shafts. 84

Each

of the latter separately pierced the son of Pandu in return with

Next they pierced Nakula's 5 The valiant Satyasena driver also with many keen shafts. *

many

straight-coursing

then,

endued with great lightness

shafts.

of hand,

cut

off

without

MAHAEHAR.YTA.

[£dlya-badhd

bow with The Atiratha Nakula, however, staying

his brother'- help, the shafts of Nakula's car and his 8

a couple of arrows. *

on his car, took up a dart cquipt with a golden handle and a very keen point, and steeped in

and exceedingly bright. 87

oil

Raising that weapon he

ly darting out her tongue.

at Satyasena in that encounter.*

That

dart,

and reduced

of Satyasena

a hundred

fragments.

Deprived of

down upon the

brother

slain,

that

his

Earth from his

Sushena,

insensate

king, pierced

and

senses

car.

into

life,

Beholding his

with rage, suddenly made

Without

Nakula earless in that battle.

hurled

battle

the heart

fell

poison, frequent-

lord, a she-snake of virulent

It resembled,

a moment, he

losing

poured his arrows over the son of Pandu fighting on Seeing Nakula earless, the mighty

car-warrior

foot.

Sutasoma, the

son of Draupadi, rushed to that spot for rescuing

his

sire

41 *

Mounting then upon the car of Sutasoma, Nakula, that hero of Bharata's race, looked beautiful like a lion upon battle.

Then taking up another bow, he fought with

a mountain.

Sushena.

Those two great car-warriors,

approaching each

and shooting showers of arrows, endeavoured to compass

other,

43 each other's destruction.

Then Sushena, filled with rage, struck the son of Pandu with three shafts and Sutasoma with twenty in the arms and the

chest.

this

the

impetuous

monarch, that slayer of hostile heroes, covered

Nakula,

the points of the compass

with arrows.

all

Then taking up a

sharp shaft endued with great energy and equip* with a semicircular head, Nakula sped it with great force at Kama's son in that battle.

With that arrow, O best of kings, the son

head in the

Pandu cutoff from Sushena's trunk

the

latter's

That

feat

seemed exceedingly

of all

very sight wonderful.

the

Thus

troops.

slain

by the

down like a lofty thrown down by the current son

fell

slaughter

O bull

army,

-i

...

tree

of the

bank of a

the

stream. 48

river

Beholding the

Karmi's sons and the prowess of Nakula, thy of Bharata's

commander, however, viz., i

Nakula, Kama's

illustrious

.--

-. —

Their

the brave and valiant ruler

of the

race, fled

away

fcar.

* The L'jmb;iv edition reads Muh&ratham fur MukdnUhas.—T*

Calya PARVA,

Parva.]

Madras, that ehastisor of foes, then protected, O monarch, those king, Calya stood

Rallying his host,

troops in that battle.'

fearlessly in battle, uttering loud leonine roars and causing

bow to twang fiercely.' in battle by

that

firm

the foe once more from riors,

Those high-soulcd war-

every

side.

bowman, viz., the

surrounding

that

groat

king,

desirous

Madras, stood,

his

king, protected Then thy troop", bowman, cheerfully proceeded against

of battling

of the

ruler

on every

side.

Then Satyaki, and Bhimasena, and those two Pandavas, viz., the twin sons of Mildri, placing that chastiser of foes and abode 5 head, * and

of modesty, viz., Yudhishthira, at their

surround-

And

ing him on all sides in that battle, uttered leonine roars.

those heroes also caused a

shot and frequently

loud

indulged

whizz with the arrows they in

kinds

diverse

shouts. 65

Smilingly, all thy warriors, filled with rage, speedily encompass-

ed the ruler of the Madras and stood from

desire

of battle. 56

Then commenced a battle, inspiring the timid with fear, between thy soldiers and the enemy, both of whom made death their goal. 57

That battle between fearless combatants, enhanmonarch,

cing the population of Yama's kingdom, resembled,

Asuras in days of yore. 54

the gods and the Then the ape-bannered son of Panda, O

king, having

tered the Samsaptakas in battle, rushed

against

that between

slaugh-

that portion

Kaurava army. 50 Smiling, all the Pandavas, headed by Dhrishtadyumna, rushed against the same division, shooting showers of keen arrows. 60 Overwhelmed by the Pandavas,

of the

the

Kaurava host became

stupilied.

Indeed, those

then could not discern the cardinal from the 61

Covered with

keen

divisions

points

subsidiary

arrows sped by the

of the compass. Pandavas, the Kaurava army, deprived of its foremost warIndeed, O Kauravya, riors, wavered and broke on all sides.

that host

of thine

began to be slaughtered by

car-warriors of the Pandavas.

Similarly,

the

O kincr, be^an to be slaughtered in hundreds and that battle

by thy sons on every

side

the

mighty

Pandava

host,

thousands

with their arrows.'1

While the two armies, exceedingly excited, were thus slaughtering each other, they became much agitated like two streams in the season of rains.

During the progress of that dreadful

MAH'ABHARATA,

38 battle,

[frdya UtuUut

monarch, a great fear entered the hearts of thy

riors as also those of

war-

" 6S

the Pandavas.'

Section XI. "

Sanjaya

said,

— When the troops, slaughtered by one when many

another, were thus agitated,

away and the elephants began dreadful

foot-soldiers in that

aloud,

when the

steeds,

utter

began

battle

king,

the

loud

ran in

warriors fled

cries,

when the

shout and wail directions,"

diverse

when the carnage became awful, when a terrible destruction set in of all embodied creatures, or clashed with one to be

when weapons of various kinds fell when cars and elephants began on that occasion when heroes felt

another,

mingled together, 5

—

great delight and cowards felt their fears enhanced —when com-

batants encountered one another from

desire of slaughter,

that awful occasion of the destruction

life,

— on

— during the pro-

gress of that dreadful sport, that is, of that awful battle

that

enhanced the population of Yama's kingdom, — the Pandavas 5

slaughtered thy troops with

keen

shafts,

and, after

6 manner, thy troops slew those of the Pandavas.

the

same

During the the

that battle inspiring the timid with terror,— indeed, during progress of the battle as it was fought on

the hour of sunrise,

that morning about

— the Pandava heroes of good aim, protected

by the highsouled Yudhishthira, fought with thy forces, mak8 thou of the race The Kuru army, ing death itself their goal. of Kuril, encountering the proud

Pandavas endued with great

strength, skilled in smiting, and possessed of sureness

of aim,

became weakened and agitated like a herd of she-deer frighten9 Beholding that army weakened ed at a forest-conflagration. and helpless

cow sunk

mire, Calya, desirous

rescuing it, proceeded against the Pandava army.

Filled with

rage, the ruler of the Madras, taking up an excellent bow, rush-

ed for battle against the Pandava foes."

The Pandavas

also,

O monarch, in that encounter, inspired with desire of victory, proceoded against the ruler of the Madras and pierced him with

keen shafts. 13

Then the ruler of the Madras, possessed of great

strength, afflicted that host

with

showers of keen arrows in

CALYA i-auva,

rarva.]

8 the very sight of king Yudhishthira the jus*.'

The Earth herself, with

diverse portents appeared to the view.

her mountains,

making a loud

trembled,

At that time

noise.

Meteors,

with keen points bright as those of lances equipt with piercing the

air,

upon

fell

Deer and buffaloes and

army

thy

placed

Venus and at

the

rear

their

Mars, the

Enrth

the

from

right,

The planets appeared

Mercury,

with

Piindavas and

numbers,

large

king!"*

()

conjunction

firmament."

the

O monarch, in

birds,

to the

handles,

front

the

all

Blazing flames seemed to issue

(Kaurava) lords of Earth."

from the points of weapons, dazzling the eyes (of the warriors).

Crows and owls in large numbers perched upon the heads of and on the tops of their standards. 13 Then

the combatants a

fierce

battle

took

between

place

the

Pandava combatants assembled together Then,

king, the

Kauravas,

mustering

rushed against the Pandava army.

Kaurava and the in

large

bodies. 13

all

their

divisions,

incapable

soul

poured dense showers of arrows

being depressed, Calya then

on Yudhishthira the son of Kunti like the thousand-eyed Indra

pouring rain in

torrents.

Possessed of great strength,

pierced Bhimasena, and the five sons of Draupadi,

and the two

sons of Madri by Pandu, and Dhrishtadyumna, and the grand-

son of Cini, and Cikhandin also,

with

wings of

gold and

each with ten

whetted on stone.

arrows equipt

82 " 88

Indeed, he

began to pour his arrows like Maghavat pouring rain at the 8

close of the summer season. *

Then the Prabhadrakas,

king,

and the Somakas, were seen felled or falling by thousands, in 21 Multitudinous as swarms of consequence of Calya's arrows. bees or flights uf locusts, the shafts of Calya were seen like thunder-bolts from the clouds.

down or wandered or uttered loud wails."

his foes in

battle like the Destroyer at the end of the Yuga.'f

c ,

these animals were seen to pass along

army, portending a great slaughter ami defeat.

arrows, feH

Infuriate with

and prowess, the ruler of the Madras shrouded

fall

Elephants and steeds and

foot-soldiers and car-warriors, afflicted with Calya's

the

left

— T.

t Literally, Hike the Destroyer let loose by Time'.— T.

rago that

The mighty of the

Km n

MAHABHARATA,

ruler of the

Paudava

[galya-badha,

Madras began to roar, aloud like the clouds. 28

army,

thus

slaughtered

The

Calya,

ran towards

Yudhishthira the son of Kunti (for protection)."

Possessed of

great lightness of hand, Calya, having in that

battle

crushed

them with whetted arrows, began to afflict Yudhishthira with a dense shower

shafts.

Beholding Calya impetuously

rushing towards him with horse and

foot,

king Yudhishthira,

with wrath, checked him

keen

shafts,

filled

infuriate elephant is checked

Avith

with

iron-hooks. 81

even as an

Then Calya

sped a terrible arrow at Yudhishthira that resembled a snake Piercing through the

of virulent poison.

Kunti, that arrow quickly fell down upon Vrikodara,

filled

sons

(five)

Earth." 2

Then

with wrath, pierced Calya with seven arrows,

and Sahadeva pierced him with

The

high-souled son of

the

five,

and Nakula with

ten.

Draupadi poured upon that foe-slaying

hero, viz., the impetuous

Artayani, showers

of arrows

34 Beholding mass of clouds pouring rain upon a mountain. every side, both Kritavarman Parthas on Calya struck by the ss and Kripa rushed in wrath towards that spot.

Uluka

also of

mighty energy, and Cakuni the son of Suvala, and the mighty car-warrior Acwatthaman with smiles on his lips, and all thy sons, protected Calya by every means in

that

battle.

Pierc-

ing Bhimasena with three arrows, Kritavarman, shooting a dense shower of shafts, checked that warrior who then seemed to be the

embodiment of wrath. 37

Excited with rage, Kripa

struck Dhrishtadyumna with many arrows. against

the

sons

Draupadi,

and

Cakuni proceeded

Acwatthaman

against

the

That foremost of warriors, viz., Duryodhana, possessed of fierce energy, proceeded, in that battle, against Kecava and

twins.

Arjuna, and endued with might, he struck them both with many arrows. 39

Thus hundreds

of combats,

monarch, that were

fierce and beautiful, took place between thine and the enemy, on

diverse parts of the field.

The chief of the Bhojas then slew The in that encounter.

the brown steeds of Bhimasena's car steedless son of

Pandu, alighting from

his

car,

began to fight

with his mace, like the Destroyer himself with his uplifted bludgeon. 41 The ruler of the Madras then slew the steeds of Sahadeva before his eyes,

Then Sahadeva slew Calya's son with his sword.

The

CALYA PARYA,

Parva.]

Gautama once

preceptor

with

fought

fearlessly

Dhrishtadyumna, both exerting themselves with great

care.

The preceptor's son Acwatthiiman, without much wrath and as smiling in that battle, pierced each of the five heroic sons of

Draupadi with ten arrows. 4 *

Once more the steeds of Bhima-

The

sena were slain in that battle. quickly alighting from his

Destroyer his bludgeon.

car,

son

steedlcss

took

mace

his

from his vehicle, Kritavarman rage,

keen shafts.

the

Jumping down

then

away.

fled

O king, slaughtered many

Pandavas, and once more 47

Excited with wrath, that mighty hero

crushed the steeds and the car of Kritavarman.

excited with

Pandu,

afflicted

Calya

also,

Somakas and

many

Yudhishthira with

Then the valiant Bhima, biting his nether up his mace in that

and infuriate with rage, took

battle,

lip,

and

48 Resembling the aimed it at Calya for the latter's destruction. very bludgeon of Yama, impending (upon the head of the foe)

the

death-night, exceedingly

destructive

elephants and steeds and human beings,

the lives of

twined round with

cloth of gold, looking like a blazing meteor, equipt with a sling, fierce as

she-snake, hard

iron," smeared with

as thunder,

sandal-paste

and made wholly of

and other unguents

desirable lady, smutted with marrow and fat and blood, resembl-

very

ing the

tongue of Yama, si producing

shrill

sounds in

consequence of the bells attached to it, like unto the thunder of Indra, resembling in shape a snake of virulent poison just freed fr

its

phants,'

slough,

drenched

the juicy

with

seretions

ele-

inspiring hostile troops with terror and friendly troop.4

with joy, celebrated in the world of men, and capable of riving

mountain summits," that mace, with which the mighty son of

Kunti had the

friend of

Kailasa challenged the enraged Lord of Alaka,

Mahecwara, 54 *

— that weapon with which Bhima,

though resisted by many, had in wrath slain a large number of proud Guhyakas endued with powers of illusion on the brcasU of Gandhamadaua for the sake

doing

for

ft,

of procuring

what was agreeable Ivuvera,

Alaka beiu^' the

the Quhyakw or Yakthat.—T.

Mandara

Draupadi,"

capital

flowers

— uplifting

ubode

the

th<it

king of

— [£alya-badha

3IAHABHARATA.

mice which was rich with diamonds and jewels and gems and possessed of eight sides and celebrated as Indra's thunder, the mighty-armed son of Pandu

now rushed

against

Calya. 86

With that mace of awful sound, Bhima, skilled in battle, crushed Calya that were possessed of great fleetThen the heroic Calya, excited with wrath in that ness." battle, hurled a lance at the broad chest of Bhima and uttered a

the four steeds

loud shout.

That lance, piercing through the armour of Pandu's

son, penetrated into his body.*

Vrikodara, however, fearlessly

plucking out the weapon, pierced therewith the driver of Calya 69 His vitals pierced, the driver, vomiting blood, in the chest.

down with agitated heart. At this the ruler of the Madras 60 came down from his car and cheerlessly gazed at Bhima. Beholding his own feat thus counteracted, Calya became filled with wonder. Of tranquil soul, the ruler of the Madras took ' up his mace and began to cast his glances upon his foe.

fell

Baholding that terrible feat of his in battle, the Parthas, with •cheerful hearts, worshipped Bhima who was incapable of being tired with exertion.'

" 6a

Section XII. said,— 'Seeing his driver fallen, Calya, O kingv quickly took up his mace made wholly of iron and stood immov'Sanjaya

Bhima, however, armed with his mighty mace, rushed impetuously towards Calya who then looked like the

able as a hill.

blazing Yuga fire,

or the Destroyer armed Avith

the

noose,

the Kailasa mountain with its formidable crest, or Vasava with

Mahadeva with his trident, or an infuriate 4" 3 At that time the blare of thousands elephant in the forest. his thunder,

and trumpets and loud leonine roars arose there, 4 The combatants of both enhancing the delight of heroes. of conchs

armies, looking at those two side,

applauded them

foremost

of warriors

saying,— Excellent,

both,

from every Excellent

s !

Save the ruler of the Madras, or Rama, that delighter of the Yadus, there is none else that can venture to endure the im6 Similarly, save Bhima, there petuosity of Bhima in battle !

no other warrior that can venture to endure the force

of the

farva.]

ai.ya vawu.

— Tin

7 mace of tho illustrious king of the Madras in buttle two combatants then, viz., Vrikodara and the ruicr !

Madras, roaring like ing up in the air.

bulls,

careered in circles, frequently jump-

In that encounter between those two

of tho

lions

among men, no difference could be noticed between them eithei in

respect

the mace.

of their

careering

circles

wielding

of their

The mace of Calya, wrapped round with a resplen-

dent cloth of gold that looked spectators with dread.

like a sheet

fire,

inspired

tho

Similarly, the mace of the high-souled

Bhima, as the latter careered in circles, looked like lightning in the midst of the clouds."

Madras

Struck by the ruler of the

with his mace, the mace of Bhima,

king, produced

sparks

of fire in the welkin which thereupon seemed to be ablaze. Similarly, struck by Bhima with his mace,

mace

the

of Calya

produced a shower of blazing coals which seemed exceedingly wonderful. 13

Like two gigantic elephants striking each other

with their tusks, or two huge bulls striking each other with their horns, those two heroes began to

foremost of maces, like a

each other's mace, they

of combatants

striking

each

with

soon became bathed in

handsomer in consequence

looked fcos.

their

Their limbs being struck

couple

other with iron-bound clubs.

each other with

strike

blood and

two flowering Kincu,-

Struck by the ruler of the Madras on both his left and

ri"ht, the mighty-armed

mountain. 18

Similarly,

Bhimasena stood immovable

though struck repeatedly with the force

of Bhima's mace, Calya,

king,

assailed by an elephant with his

moved

tusks.

not, like a

mountain

The

made by

noise

the blows of the maces of those two lions among men was heard 18

Having ceased for on all sides like successive peals of thunder. a moment, those two warriors of great energy once more began, 18 with uplifted maces, to career in closer circles.

clash took feats,

place

Once more the

between those two warriors of superhuman

each having advanced towards the other but eight stops,

and each assailing the other with his uplifted iron club. * The correct reading, as

the

Bombay

ihc.-T. 1

Totrcu were clubs with heads of irou,— T.

edition,

Then,

dahyaman

MahabharaTA,

[palya-hadha

wishing to get at each other, they once more careered in circles.

Both accomplished

use

the

(in

display their superiority of skill.

mace) they began to

of the

Uplifting their terrible wea-

pons, they then again struck each other like mountains striking

each other with their crests at

the time

of an

earthquake. 22

Exceedingly crushed with each other's mace in consequence of each other's strength, both

same time like a couple

those

heroes

set up

of poles

down at the

fell

Indra's worship.

for

The brave combatants then of both armies, at that sight, uttered cries of Oh and Alas. Struck with great force in their 24 vital limbs, both of them had become exceedingly agitated. Then the mighty Kripa, taking up Calya, that bull among away from

the

Within, however, the twinkling of an

eye,

the Madras, on his own car, quickly bore him field of battle.

Bhimasena, rising up, and still reeling as

with uplifted mace, the ruler of the Madras. warriors

thy army,

drunk, challenged,

if 28

Then the heroic

armed with diverse Aveapons, fought

with the Pandavas. causing diverse musical instruments to be 27 With uplifted arms and weapons, and makblown and beat. ing a loud noise,

monarch, thy

warriors

dhana rushed against the Pandavas. host,

the sons of Pandu, with

headed by Duryo-

Beholding the Kaurava

leonine

roars,

29 those warriors headed by Duryodhana.

rushed against

Then thy son,

bull

of Bharata's race, singling out Chekitana amongst those

rush-

Thus

ing heroes, pierced him deeply with a lance in the chest.

assailed by thy son, Chekitana fell down on the terrace of his 31 car, covered with blood, and overcome with a deep swoon.

Beholding Chekitana slain, the great car-warriors among the Pandavas incessantly poured their arrowy showers (upon the Kauravas). victory,

Indeed,

the

Pandavas, inspired with desire of

O monarch, careered beautifully

thy divisions.

Kripa, and Kritavarman,

all

sides

amonst

and the mighty son

of Suvala, placing the ruler of the Madras before them, fought

with king Yudhishthira the

just.

fought with Dhrishtadyumna,

Duryodhana, O monarch,

the slayer

that hero endued with abundant energy

thousand

cars,

by Drona's

O king, despatched by

son,

battled

with Vijaya

of Bharadwaja's son,

and prowess. 88 thy

son

(Arjuna).*!

Three

and headed All

those

— Calya pauva,

Farva.] combatants,

O king, had

4-5

win

firmly resolved to

victory

and

Indeed, O king, thy warriors

had cast off fear with life itself.*

penetrated into the midst of the Pandava army like swans into

A fierce battle

a large lake."

took

then

between the

place

Kurus and the Pandavas, the combatants being actuated with the

desire

one another and deriving great

slaughtering

pleasure from giving

and receiving blows. 88

During the

pro-

gress, O king, of that battle which was destructive of great heroes, an earthy dust, terrible to behold, was raised by the

wind. 89

From only

names we heard

the

Pandava

battle

and from

(of

warriors) that were uttered in course of that

those (of the Kuril warriors) that were uttered by

Pandawe knew the combatants that fought with one another 40 fearlessly. That dust, however, O tiger among men, was soon the

vas,

and all the points of the

dispelled by the blood that was shed,

compass became once more clear when that dusty darkness was driven away. 41

Indeed, during

progress

the

of that

terrible

and awful battle, no one among either thy warriors or those of the foe, turned his back. 44 of

Brahman and longing

batants displayed heaven. 48

their

victory

fair

prowess, inspired

of the

accomplish

firmly resolved to

the

of diverse 4

another. '

groat

kinds,

the

mas-

latter,

of their friends and

objects

heaven, fought with

the warriors, with hearts fixed on

one another on that occasion.

their

com-

hope of

the

granted by

sustenance

the

fight,

with

For paying off the debt they owed

ters on account

allies,

Desirous of attaining to the regions for

Shooting and hurling weapons

car- warriors

roared at

Slay, pierce, seize, strike, cut ojf\

smote one

— these were the

words that were heard in that battle, uttered by thy warriors

and those of the slaying him,

foe.

Then Calya, O monarch, desirous

car-warrior, with

many sharp arrows. 47

Conversant with what

son

of Pritha, however,

are the vital limbs

of the bodv,

the

O monarch, with

the greatest

ease, struck

Madras with four and ten cloth-yard latter's vital *

limbs.

Resisting

the

A mode of expression signifying that

were readv to lay down their lives.

— T.

mighty

pierced king Yudhishthira the just, that

the

shafts,

ruler

son of Pandu they

of the

aiming at the

had cabt

with

his

off fear

and

MahaBHARATa,

Calya of great fame,

shafts,

[palya-badha

with rage and desirous of

filled

slaying his adversary, pierced him in that battle with innumer-

Kanka

with

arrows equipt

able

feathers.

monarch, he struck Yudhishthira with a straight shaft 50 very sight of all the troops.

of great

possessed

of the Madras of

Once more,

in the

King Yudhishthira the

just,

fame and filled with rage, pierced the ruler

with many keen arrows equipt with feathers

Kanhas and

peacocks.' 1

That mighty car-warrior then

seventy arrows, and Calya's driver

pierced Chandrasena with

When

52 with nine, and Drumasena with four and sixty.

the

two protectors of his car-wheels were (thus) slain by the highking, slew five and twenty souled son of Pandu, Calya, warriors among the

Chedis. 53

And

he pierced Siityaki with

and twenty keen arrows, and Bhimasena with seven, and 54 While the two sons of Madri with a hundred, in that battle. five

battle, that

Calya was thus careering in that viz., the son of Prithii,

bled snakes of virulent poison."

Yudhishththira the son

front. off

best

shafts

of kings,

resem-

that

With a broad-headed arrow,

Kunti then cut

the standard-top of his adversary 58

many

sped at him

the

off

latter

from his ear stood

his

We saw the standard of Calya, which was thus cut

by the son of Pandu in that great battle,

fall

down

his standard fallen and

Seeing mountain summit.* observing the son of Pandu standing before him, the ruler of riven

the Madras became filled with rage and shot showers of shafts.

That

bull

amongst Kshatriyas,

viz.,

Calya of immeasurable

poured over the Kshatriyas in that battle dense showers 53 of arrows like the deity of the clouds pouring torrents of rain.

soul,

Piercing Siityaki and Bhimasena and the

by Panda, each with greatly.

then,

five

arrows, he

twin sons afflicted

Madri

Yudhishthira

O monarch, beheld a net of arrows spread

before the chest of Panda's son like

mass of risen

clouds.

The mighty car-warrior Calya, in that battle, filled with rage, 62 At this, king shrouded Yudhishthira with straight shafts. Yndhishthira, afflicted with those showers of shafts, self

deprived of his prowess, even as

become before the slayer of Vritra.'

the

" 63

felt

him-

Asura Jambha had

Farca.]

Section XIII. "Sanjaya

said,

— 'When king Yudhishthira the just was

thus afflicted by the ruler of the Madras, Satyaki and Bhima-

two sons of Miidri by Pandu, encompassing 1 Calya with their cars, began to afflict him in that battle.

sena and

the-

Beholding the unsupported Calya thus afflicted by car-warriors (and seeing him

loud sounds of applause

witnessed ascetics,

the

successfully repel

great

those

attacks),

were heard, and the Siddhas (who

encounter) became

filled

The

with delight.

assembled together (for witnessing the battle), declared 2

Then Bhimasena in that encounter, having pierced Calya who had become (as his name implied) an iresistiblc dart in prowess, with one arrow, next pierced him with seven. 3 Satyaki, desirous of rescuing the son of Dharma,

to be wonderful.

pierced Calya with a hundred arrows and uttered a loud leonine roar.*

seven

;

Nakula pierced him with five aruows, and Sahadeva with 6 the latter then once more pierced him with as many.

The heroic ruler battle,

Madras, struggling carefully in

of the

thus afflicted

formidable bow capable of bearing

great strain

6 parting great force to the shafts sped from it, and

tyaki,

Then cutting

a broad- headed arrow the bow, with shaft fixed

Sahadeva,

pierced

Sahadeva

with three and seventy shafts.

himself,

five shafts that 9

Sii-

off

that

battle,

splendour with

resembled snakes of virulent poison or blazing

Filled with great rage, he

then struck

his

adversary's

driver with a straight shaft in that battle and then Calya self once

with

on the string,

Sahadeva then, stringing an-

other bow, pierced his maternal uncle of great

fire.

and of impierced

O sire, with five and twenty shafts and Bhima with thrco

and seventy and Nakula with seven. 7

that

by those mighty car-warriors, drew a

more with three.

him-

Then Bhimasena pierced the -ruler

of the Madras with seventy arrows,

and Satyaki pierced him

with nine, and king Yudhishthira with sixty."

Thus

pierced,

O monarch, by those mighty car-warriors, blood began to flow from Calya's body, breast

crimson streams running adown the

of a mountain of red chalk,"

Calya, however,

quickly

mahabharata,

•

[galya-badha

pierced in return each of those great bowmen

O king, which feat seemed exceedingly

with five arrows,

wonderful. 13

With an-

other broad-headed arrow, that mighty car-warrior then, cut off the stringed bow of Dharma's son

Taking up another bow, that great of

O sire,

that encounter. 1 *

son

car-warrior, viz., the

Dharma, covered Calya, his steeds, and

and stand-

driver,

many arrows." Thus shrouded in that battle by the son of Dharma with his shafts, Calya struck the ard,

and

with

car,

former with ten keen arrows.

Then Satyaki, filled with rage

upon beholding the son of Dharma thus

with shafts,

afflicted

checked the heroic ruler of the Madras with clouds of arrows. 17

At this, Calya cut off with a razor-faced arrow the formidable bow of Satyaki, and pierced each of the other Pandava warriors with three arrows. 18

O monarch, Satyaki of

Filled with rage,

unbaffled prowess then hurled at Calya

with a

lance equipt

golden staff and decked with many jewels and gems. 19 sena sped at him a clothyard shaft that

snake

;

Nakula hurled at him a

looked

Bhima-

like a blazing

Sahadeva an excellent

dart,

mace, and the son of Dharma a gataghni, impelled by the desire

of despatching

him. 80

ever, quickly baffled in that

The battle

of the Madras,

ruler

how-

those weapons, hurled

all

from the arms of those five warriors at him, as these coursed towards his

Calya cut

With

the

lance

hurled by

car.

off

number

of broad-headed

Satyaki.

valour and great lightness of hand, ho cut

Possessed

clouds

of shafts

the

two

off into

ments the gold-decked shaft sped at him by Bhima. resisted with

arrows

He then with

dart, equipt

terrible

frag-

a golden handle, that Nakula sped at him and the mace also that Sahadeva had thrown.

With a couple

arrows,

of other

O Bharata, he cut off the Qataghni sped at him by the king, in the very sight of the sons of Pandu, and uttered a loud leonine roar. The grandson of Cini, however, could not endure the defeat of his

weapon

that

battle. *

with rage,

Insensate

Satyaki took up another bow, and pierced the ruler of the

Madras with two shafts and his driver with Calya,

three.

O monarch, excited with rage, deeply

pierced

this, all

them with ten arrows, like persons piercing mighty elephants with sharp-pointed lances,

Thus checked

that

battle

Riadras,

of the

ruler

fche

^YA v\\w\.

Parva.]

became unable

stay

those slayers

BViiirtita,

Calya.*

front

King Duryo-

dhana, beholding the prowess of Calya, regarded the Pandavas, 88 Then, O the Panchalas, and the Srinjayas as already slain. king, the mighty-armed Bhimasena,

and mentally resolved to the ruler of the Madras."

ed of great prowess

life-breaths,

off his

cast

encountered

Nakala and Sahadeva and Satyaki

encompassing Calya, shot their arrows at him

oi great'might,

Though encompassed by those four great bowmen and mighty car-warriors among the Pandavas, the valiim every side.

ant ruler of the Madras still fought with them.

Then,

king,

the royal son of Dharma, in that dreadful battle, quickly cut off

with a raz >r-h3aded arrow one of the protectors wheels.

When that brave and mighty

of Calya's car-

car warrior, viz., that;

thus slain, Calya of greats

protector of Calya's car-wheel, was ingth c ivered the Pandava troops

with showers of arrows/ 3

B h >iding his troop3 shrouded with arrows, O monarch, in thafj

Yudhishthira

king

battle,

strain,

the just

began

reflect

one true

hope, the ruler of the Madras, excited with rage,

my army in battle ss — Then

will not annihilate

approached the ruler of the Madras and began on every side.

of clouds, the

Pandavas,

the

Pandu, with cars and elephants and

elder brother of

this

— Verily, how shall those grave words of Madhava be-

steeds,

afflict

him

wind dispersing mighty massea

the

king of the

Madras,

that

battle,

dispersed

that risen shower of arrows and diverse other kinds of weapons in profusion/

arrows

We then beheld the downpour

sh >t

flight of locusts.

Calya, coursing 38

through

of gold-winged

the welkin

Iudood, those arrows shot by

tho ruler

the M ilr.ia from the van of baUio were seen to fall like of

b'.rds.

b>w ti'

With tho gold-decked shafts

of fche

led tint

a thick

Midra

there

king, the

welkin,

was not an inch

gloom appeared,

caused

that issued

swarms

from

monarch, became

of empty

space.

tho arrows shot

tho i

When by

tho

mighty ruler of the Madras owing to his extreme lightness of hands in that dreadful battle,41 and when they beheld the vast host of the Pandavas thus agitated by that hero, the gods and tho dandharvas became filled with great wonder," t

Afflictint;

with vigor all the Paadvva warriors with his shafts sire,

Bide,

every

from

Calya shrouded king Yudhishthiva tho just and

roared repeatedly like a Iion.

unable to proceed against

that great hero for fighting with

The mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, thus shrouded by Cilya in that battle, became him.**

that

amongst the Pandavas,

however,

Those,

had

Bhimasena at their head and that were led by king Yudhishdid not fly away from

trhira the just,

the brave Calva.'

viz

ornament

that

of battle,

"**

Section XIV. "Sanjaya said,— 'Meanwhile Arjuna,

in that battle,

with many arrows by the son of Drona as also by followers,

Trigarbas,

pierced Drona's

the

latter's

and mighty car-warriors among the

heroic

the

viz.,

pierced

son

with three shafts,

return

and each of the other warriors with two. Once again, the raighty-armed Dhanaujaya covered his enemies with showers Though struck with keen arrows and though they of shifts.* looked like porcupines in consequence of those arrows sticking to their limbs, still thy troop3, O bull of Bharata's race, fled not.

With Drona's son

from Partha in that battle.* T.hey

their

head,

encompassed that mighty car-warrior and fought with him,

The gold-decked arrows,

shooting showers of shafts.* shot by

them,

speedily

filled

the terrace

king,

of Arjuna's

car.

Beholding those two great bowmen, those two foremost of all warriors,

viz.,

the

two

Krishnas, covered

invincible (Kaurava) combatants

became

Indeed, at that time, the Kuvara, the traces, the yoke,

and the Anukarska,

with arrows, those with delight. 4

filled

wheels, the lord, of

shaft, the

Arjuna's car,

The like of what thy became entirely onveloped with arrows. warriors than did unto Partha had never before, O king, been 7

either seen or heard

That car looked resplendent with those

keen arrows of beautiful wings like a

vehicle

celestial

with hundreds of torches dropped on the Earth.

monarch, straight

covered

shafts

mountain,

that a

hostile

cloud

division

blazing

Then Arjuna,

with showers of

pouring torrents of rain on a

Struck iu that battle with arrows insciibed

yriik

Calya parva.

Paria.]

behblding that stato

Partha's name, these warriors,

regarded the field of battle to be

full

of Partha.

of things;

Then tho

Partha-fire, having arrows for its w >nderful flames and the loud

twang of Qdndiva for the wind that fanned it, began to conBharata, sume the fuel constituted by thy troops." Then, heap3 of fallen wheels and yokes, of quiver?, of banners and with

standards,

the

vehicles

themselves

shafts and Anukarshas and Trivenits,

gears, of arm3,

of axle3 and traces

and

earrings und

head-

decked with

goads, of heads of warriors

them, of

bore

that

monarch, and thighs

um-

thousands, of

and of diadems and crowns, wero seen

brellas along with fans,

18 " 1 *

along the tracks of Partha's

car.

along the

track

of tho angry Partha's car,

monarch, tho ground, miry

with

blood,

Indeed,

chief of the

became impassable,

Bharatas, like

tho

The scene inspired the- timid with 14 Having destroyed two fear and the brave with delight.""

sporting ground of Rudra.

thousand cars with their fences,

that

scorcher

of foes, viz,, flames. 19

Partha, looked like a smokeless fire with blazing

Agni when he blazes forth

deed, even as tho illustrious

(at

In-

tho

end of the Yuga) for destroying the mobile and the immobily even so looked,

universe,

Partha. the

son

king,

mighty car-warrior

the

Beholding the prowess of Pandu's son in that battle, of

Drona,

hi3

endeavoured to check him.

many banners, Those two tigers among men, equipt

car

b^th having white steeds yoked unto

with

and both

vehicles

their

regarded as the foremost of car-warrior3, quickly

encountered

each other, each desirous of slaying the

The arrowy

other."

showers shot by both became exceedingly terrible and dense, O

were as

bull of Bharata's race, as the torrents of ruin poured by

two masses of clouds at the close of summer.* 8

Each challeng-

ing other, those two warriors mangled each other with straight shafts in that battle, like a couple of bulls

with their horns. 8 *

The

fought equally for a long while. terrific

tearing

between them,

battle

each other king,

was

The clash of weapons becamo

The son of Drona then,

Bharata, pierced

Arjuna

with a dozen gold- winged arrows of great energy and Vasudeva

with ten."

Having shown for a short whilo some regard for

the preceptor's son in tha f great b:,

....

sailing

mahabharata,

[£aly&-badk% 27

the while, stretched his bow Gdndiva with force. ever, the mighty

and without putting forth

steedless and driverless and earless,

much

strength pierced him

that

car,

steedless

with three arrows. 83

Droua's son, smiling

the son of Pandu a heavy mallet

m ice with iron spikes. 23 with cloth

flecked

Soon, how-

Savyasachin made his adversary

car- warrior

looked

that

Staying on

the while, hurled

dreadful

Beholding that weapon, which was course

of gold,

off into

Partha, that slayer of foes, cut it

him,

towards

the

heroic

fragments. 8

seven

Seeing his mallet cut off, Drona's son of great wrath took up a terrible mace equipt with iron spikes and looking like a

mountain summit. hurled

then

Accomplished in battle, the son of Drona Partha. 31

spiked

Beholding that

mace

coursing towards him like the Destroyer himself in rage, Pan-

Arjuna quickly cut it off with five excellent

du's son

shafts.

Cut off with Partha's shafts in that great battle, that weapon on the Earth, riving the hearts, as it were, O fell down 33 The son of Pandu then Bharata, of the (hostile) kings. pierced Drona's son with pierced by the mighty

three other

shafts.

Partha, Drona's

Though deeply

son, however, of great

mi^ht, relying upon his own manliness, showed no sign of fear 34 That great car-warrior, viz., the son of Drona, or agitation. then,

O king, shrouded Suratha with showers

of shafts

before

Kshatriyas. 35

At this, Suratha, that great the eyes of all the oar-warrior among the Panchalas, in that battle, riding upon his car whose rattle

was

deep as the roar of the clouds,

36 rushed against the son of Drona

Drawing

his

foremost of

bows, firm and capable of bearing a great strain, the Panehala hero covered Acwatthamah with arrows that resembled flames of

fire

warrior

37 snakes of virulent poison.

Suratha. rushing -towards, him

Seeing in

the

great

car-

wrath, the son

a snake struck with a Drona became filled with 33 Furrowing his brow into three lines, and licking the stick. rage

looked at Suratha in garners of his mouth with his tongue., he sped a keen clothand rage and then rubbed his bowstring 33 Endued yard shaft that resembled the fatal rod of Death. -

with great speed, that shaft pierced tho heart of Suratha and pacing out entered the Earth riving hor through, like- the ;

BALYA iwkva.

rarva]

thunder-bolt of Cakra hurled from the sky. shaft,

.Struck with that

Suratha fell down on the Earth like a mountain

riven with thunder.*

slain

foe.

Then,

warrior, invincible in battle, viz., the son of

valiant

mounted

son of Drona, that foremost of car warriors, speedily

upon the vehicle of his

summit

hero, the

of that

After the fall

monarch, that

Drona, well equipt

With armour and weapons, and supported by the Sannsaptukas, fought with Arjuna. 43

That battle,

hour of noon, be*

the

tween one and the many, enhancing the population

became

domains,

exceedingly

sight that we then beheld,

for,

tierce.

time. 4 *

unsupported, fought

Arjuna and

his

resembling that between Indra, in days of yore, and host of the Asuras.'

was

the

with

all

The encounter was exceedingly between

thus took place

fierce that

Yama's

Wonderful

noticing the prowess of all those

combatants, Arjuna, alone and his foes at the same

enemies, the

vast

V46

Section XV. Sanjaya said,

— 'Duryodhana, O king, and Dhrishtadyumna

the son of Prishata, fought a darts in profusion.

season.

battle, using

poured by

showers of rain

of arrows like

rainy

fierce

The

(Kuril)

arrows the slayer of Drona.

king,

viz.,

the

the live

Prishata's son of fierce shafts,

Endued with great

might and steady prowess, Dhrishtadyumna. king

arrows. 4

Duryodhana with seventy

thus

bull

atiiicted,

Bharata's

brothers, accompanied by a large force,

Prishata. 5

quickness in the

race,

uterine

his

the

king, careered in that battle, displaying

his

use

of weapons.

arch, that battle became

resolved

battle,

side,

Cikhandin, supported

varinan and the great car-warrior Kripa. 7

all

that

Beholding the

encompassed the son

Prabhadrakas, fought with two Knru

were

Surrounded by those Atirathas on every

Panchala hero,

t-he

clouds

having pierced with

once more pierced him with seven arrows. 8

afflicted

arrows and

Both of them, O monarch, shot showers

them fought, making

lay life

fierce

down

and awful since their

the stake,*

bowmen, viz.. KriiaThen also, O mon-

lives

tin 1

warriors,

and since

all

-Calyx shooting showi

Mauabiiaiuta.

54 of shafts

Pandavas with Satyaki

the

sides, afflicted

all

With

amongst them.'

Vrikodara

and

[£alya-badke6

and great

patience

Btrength, O monarch, the king of the Madras at the same time

twins (Nakula and Sahadeva),

each of whom

10 resembled the Destroyer himself in prowess.

The great car-

fought with the

warriors among the Pandavas who were mangled in battle

of Calya, failed

with the shafts

find

that great

a protector."

Then the heroic Nakula, the son of Madri, seeing king Yudhishwith speed against his

thira the just greatly afflicted, rushed

maternal uncle.

many

in that battle (with

Shrouding Calya

arrows), Nakula, that slayer of hostile heroes smiling the while,

with ten other arrows, 18

pierced him in the centre of the chest

made

by the hands

of iron, polished

entirely

smith,

of the

equipt with wings of gold, whetted on stone, and propelled from 14

his bow with great force.

Cilya

arrows."

nephew,

many

straight

nephew

his

afflicted

Afflicted by his illustrious

return

with

Then king Yudhishthira, and Bhimasena, and Sa-

tyaki, and Sahadeva the son of Madri, all rushed against the ruler of the Madras. * That vanquisher of foes, viz., tho 1

generalissimo of the Kuril

army, received in

him

that rushed towards

those heroes

battle

that

all

quickly, filling the car-

and the subsidary points of the compass with the rattle 17 of their cars and causing the Earth to tremble therewith. Piercing Yudhishthira with three arrows and Bhima with

dinal

seven, Calya battle

pierced Satyaki with a hundred

Then the

and Sahadeva with three."

Madras,

sire,

cut

with arrow fixed on

with Calya's

off,

arrows in

that

of the

ruler

with a razor-headed arrow, the bow Struck of the high-souled Nakula.

shafts, that

bow broke

into

pieces.'

Taking

up another bow, Madri's son, that great car-warrior, quickly 40 Then covered the ruler of the Madras with winged arrows. Yudhishthira and Sahadeva, the

Madras with

sire,

ten arrows in the

Satyaki, rushing at the ruler of

and the

Bhimasena and

the Madras, both struck

with arrows winged with Kanka sixty,

each pierced the ruler of chest.

feathers, the

former

Filled with rage at this, the

latter with nine."

ruler of the Madras pierced Satyaki with nine arrows and

again with seventv straight shafts.

him with

Then,

sire.,

once

cut off

alva i'akva,

JParva.] at the

handle die bow, with arrow fixed on it, of Satyaki and

then despatched the four steeds of the latter to Yama's abode. 1 *

Having made Satyaki

mighty car-warrior,- viz., him with a hundred arrows from every side.** He next pierced the two angry sons of Madri, and Bhimasena the son of Pandu, and Yudhishthira, thou of Kuru's race, with ten arrows each." The prowess earless, that

the ruler uf the Madras,

struck

that we then beheld of the ruler of the Madras was exceedingly

wonderful, since the Parthas, even unitedly, could not approach

him in that battle. 87 Satyaki,

Riding then upon another car, the mighty

of prowess incapable

of being

baffled,

beholding the

Pandavaa afflicted and succumbing to the ruler of the Madras, That ornament of assemblies,

rushed with speed against him." viz.

Calya, on

his

car,

rushed against

the

one infuriate elephant against another.*

that then took place between Satyaki and the

car 8

of Satyaki,

The

collision

heroic

ruler

the Madras, became fierce and wonderful to behold, even like

Asura

that which had taken place in days of yoro between the

Camvara and the chief of the celestials. 50 Beholding the ruler of the Madras staying before him in that battle, Satyaki piercWait, Wait Bl Deeply ed him with ten arrows and said,

—

pierced by that high-soulcd warrior, the ruler of the Madras

pierced Satyaki in return with sharp shafts equipt with

beauti-

Those great bowmen

Parthas,

ful

feathers."

then,

beholding the king of the Madras assailed by

viz.,

the

Satyaki, quickly

rushed towards him from desire of slaying that maternal of theirs."

struggling

uncle

The encounter then that took place between those marked by a groat How of blood, became

heroes,

exceedingly awful like that which takes place between a number

monarch, that took place The struggle, between them resembled that which takes place between a number of roaring lions fighting with each other for meat." 8

of roaring lions. *

With the dense showers'of shafts shot by thorn, the Earth became entirely enveloped, and the welki:: also suddenly became one mass of arrows." All around the field a darkness was caused by those arrows.

Indeed, with the bhafts shot by

illustrious warriors, a shadow as that of the clouds

there."

Then,

these

was can: d

king, with those blazing shafts sped

the.

mauabharata.

5ti

[<palya-badha

warriors, (.hat were equipt with wings of gold and

looked

that,

like snakes just freed from their sloughs, the points of the com-

pass seemed to be

ablaze.

That slayer

then achieved the most wonderful

of foes, viz., Calya,

that

feat, since

hero, alone, 39

and unsupported, contended with many arrows in that battle. The Earth became shrouded with the fierce shafts, equipt with feathers of Kankas and peacocks, that fell, sped from the arms Madras. 40

of the

of the ruler

Then,

car of Calya careering in that dreadful

we beheld the

king, battle

the

car

Cakra in days of yore on the occasion of the destruction of the Asvuras.'

" 4I

Section XVI. "Sanjaya said,— 'Then, O lord, thy troops, with Calya at their head, once more rushed against the Parthas in that battle with great impetuosity.

Although afflicted, still those troops

of thine, who were fierce in battle, rushing against the Parthas,

very soon

numbers.

agitated

them

consequence of

Struck by the Kurus, the Pandava

superior

their

troops, in

the

very sight of the two Krishna's, stayed not on the field, though 8 Filled with rage at sought to be checked by Bhimasena. this,

Dhananjaya covered Kripa and

Kritavarman,

with

showers of

his

shafts.*

followers,

also

Sahadeva checked

Cakuni with all his forces. Nakdla cast his glances on the 5 The (five) sons of ruler of the Madras from one of his flanks. Draupadi checked numerous kings (of the Kuru army). The Panchala prince Cikhandin resisted the son of Drona. with his mace, Bhimasena held the king in check.

Yudhishthira resisted

among thy

Kunti's son

7 Calya at the head of his forces.

battle then commenced once stood,

Armed

warriors

The

those pairs as they

more between and those of the enemy, none of

whom had ever retreated from fight. We then beheld the highly 8

wonderful feat that Calya, achieved, since, alone, he fought with the whole

Pandava army

9 I

Calya then, as he stayed in the

vicinity of Yudhishthira in that battle, looked like

Saturn in the

vicinity,

of the

Moon.

10 ..

the

Afflicting

planet

the king

calya parva,

Parva.]

resembled snakes of virulent

that

with shafts

57 poison, Calya of arrows. 11

rushed against Bhima, covering him with showers

Beholding that lightness of hand and that mastery over weapons displayed by Calya, the troops of both the armies applauded 1

him highly. *

Afflicted

mangled,

away, leaving the

tied

battle,

and disregarding tho

commanding them to stop. 18

of Yudhishthira

cries

by Calya, the Pandavas, exceedingly

While his

troops were thus being slaughtered by the ruler of the

Pandu's son, king Yudhishthira the rage.

filled

with

Relying upon his prowess, that mighty car-warrior began the

to afflict

Madras, resolved to either win the

of the

ruler

battle or meet with death. also

became

just,

Madras,

Summoning

all

and

his br. thers

Krishna of Madhu's race, he said unto them,

— Bhishma,

and Drona, and Kama, and the other kings, 16 that put forth their prowess in battle

for

the sake of

the

Kauravas,

Ye all have exerted your valour

courage and in respe 3 1 of the shares one share,

viz.,

Madras today in battle

I desire to !

your

you! 17

Only

allotted to

car-

vanquish that ruler of the

Whatever wishes I have regarding the

accomplishment of that task viz.,

according to

mine, that is constituted by the mighty

warrior Calya, remains.

heroes,

have all perished

I will now

you

tell

the two sons of Madravati, will

These two

become the

pro-

my wheels.

They are c mnted as heroes incapable of being vanquished by Vasava himself 19 Keeping the duties of tect jrs of

a Kshatriya before them, these two that are deserving of every

honor and are firm in their vows, nal uncle.

him.

quickly

science, with

8t !

victory

supply

foremost

Observant of Kshatriya duties, I will

slain !"

vehicle,

Let them that furnish

according

the

rules

weapons and all kinds of implements in a larger

measure than Calya's." right

mater-

my maternal uncle, ye lords of Earth, firmly resolved

to either obtain

their

Listen to these true words, ye

of heroes in the world

cars

with

Either Calya will slay me in battle or I will slay

Blessed be ye

fight with

will fight

wheel, and

The grandson

of Cini

Dhrishtadyumna my left.

son Dhananjaya guard my roar today. 8 *

And

let

will

protect

Let Prithaa

Bhima, that

foremost of all wielders of weapons, fight in my front.

I shall

thus be superior to Calya in the great battle that will

occur '.**

mahabhahata.

[Qalya-hadha,

—Thus addressed by the king, all his well-wishers did as they Then the Pandava troops once more became and filled with joy, especially the Panchalas, the Somakas, proceeded king vow, the that made Having the Matsyas.*' against the ruler of the Madras. The Panchalas then blew and

-were requested.

28 beat innumerable conchs ai>d drums and uttered leonine roars. Endued with great activity and filled with rage, they rushed,

with loud shouts of joy, against the ruler of the Madras, that 29 And they caused the Earth to rebull among the Kurus. *

sound with the noise of the elephants' bells, and the loud blare 80 Then thy son and the valiant of conchs and trumpets. ruler of the Madras,

like the

ceived those assailants.

Udaya and

Asta

the

hills,

re-

Boasting of his prowess in battle,

Calya poured a shower of arrows on that chastiser of foes, kinc Yudhishthira the just, like Maghavat pouring rain." The high-souled king of the Kurus also, having taken up his beautiful bow, displayed those diverse kinds of lessons viz.

that

him. 33

Drona had taught of arrows

showers

And

he poured successive

and with great

beautifully, quickly,

As he careered in battle, none could mark any laches in Calya and in battle,

both

Yudhishthira,

mangled each

ing for a piece of meat.* that delighter in

skill.

him. 34

endued with great prowess a

other, like

couple

of tigers

fight-

Bhima was engaged with thy son, The Panchala

battle.

prince

(Dhrishta-

dyumna), and Satyaki, and the two sons of Madri by Pandu, 36 In received Cakuni and the other Kuru heroes around. consequence of thy evil policy,

king, there again occurred in

that spot an awful battle between thy warriors and those of the foe, all of whom were inspired with the desire of

Duryodhana then, with a straight shaft, aiming at 38 the o-old-decked standard of Bhima, cut it off in that battle. victory.

The

beautiful

bells, fell

standard

down,

giver

Bhimasena,

of honors

with a sharp razor-faced arrow, cut

adorned with

many

Once more the king,

off

the

beautiful

bow

It should be in the * The reading Kurupungavas is incorrect. the Bengal texts, following read, again, I Then accusative form.

turasa-lnas and not farwrinm as in the Bombay edition.— T.

Tarva.1

CAEYA tarva.

Bhima that looked like

the trunk

son with

of thy

thy son sat down on the terrace of his

faced shaft, cut

The

car.

steeds of Durvodhana's car, deprived

wildly

at which

his

this,

with

his

ra/.or-

trunk.

driver, ran

of their

O Bharata, dragging the car after them,

sides,

all

forth

When Duryo-

head of his driver from

off the

Endued

a dart.

Vrikodara once more,

dhana swooned away,

then, putting

with great energy, the bowloss Bhima prowess, pierced the chest

elephant.

of an

Kuru army). 43

loud wails arose (in the

Then

the

mighty car-warrior Aewatthiiman, and Kripa, and Kritavarman, followed that

desirous of rescuing

car,

44 thy son.

The

(Kaurava) troops (at sight of this) became exceedingly agitated.

The followers

Duryodhana became

the wieldcr of Gandiva, 45 with his arrows.

terrified.

drawing his bow,

Then Yudhishthira,

At that time,

began to slay them excited

with rage,

rushed against the ruler of the Madras, himself urging his steeds 46 We then saw something white as ivory and fleet as thought. wonderful

that was

Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti,

fur

though very mild and soft before, he then became exceedingly fierce.

the

eyes opened wide and body trembling

With

means

sands by soldiers

against

whom

overthrown by him, thunder. 43

sharp shafts. 48

his

the

rage,

Those amongst the

Pandava proceeded, were like mountain summits riven with eldest

king,

Felling cars with steeds and

and throwing

hundreds and thou-

son of Kunti cut off hostile warriors in

down car-warriors

drivers

and standards

numbers, Yudhish-

large

thira, without any assistance, began to sport there like a mighty

wind destroying masses

of clouds.

Filled with rage, he

des-

troyed steeds with riders and steeds without riders and footsoldiers

living

by thousands creatures

(at

Having made the sides,

that

the time

battle, like

Rudra destroying

of the universal

empty by shooting his

field

dissolution)." shafts on

Yudhishthira rushed against the ruler of the

and said,— Wait, Wait hero of terrible deeds,

5 !

*— Beholding

all

thy

the

feats

warriors became

fear.

Calya, however, proceeded against him."

filled

with rage, both blew

llenging each

their

other, each then

conchs.

all

Madia.

then of fel inspired

with

Both of them

Returning and cha-

encountered the other."

Tfc

mahabharata.

[gdlya-badha

Calya covered Yudhishthira with showers of arrows.

Similarly,

the son of Kunti covered the ruler of the Madras with shower3

Then those two

of arrows."

heroes,

Madras and Yudhishthira, mangled other's arrows and bathed

the

soldiers

be victorious.

could

son

there.

placed his foes

Both

battle, those

Beholding them

which of them would

of Pritha

would enjoy the

Madras, or, Calya, having

Pandu, would bestow the Earth on Duryo-

dhana, 68 could not be ascertained, present

roars.

not conclude

Whether the son

Earth, having slain the ruler of the slain the

that battle with each

and both invincible in

of splendour

of the

ruler

tree decked with flowers.

two illustrious warriors uttered loud both,

the

58 beautiful blood, looked

£dlmali and a Kincuka possessed

viz.,

O Bharata, by

the warriors

King Yudhishthira, in course of that battle, 9 Then Calya shot a hundred his right.'

With another arrow of 60 Taking up anogreat sharpness, he cut off the latter's bow. foremost of arrows at

ther

bow,

Yudhishthira.

Yudhishthira

shafts and cut off the

pierced

latter's

Calya with three hundred

bow with a

razor-faced

arrow. 61

The son of Pandu then slew the four steeds of his antagonist with some straight arrows. With two other very sharp shafts, he then cut off the two Parshni drivers of Calya. 68 Then with another blazing, well-tempered, and sharp shaft, he cut standard of Calya staying in his foes,

chastiser of

The son

of Drona, at

Then,

front.

the army of Duryodhana broke. 68

this time, speedily proceeded towards the ruler

who had been reduced to that up on his own

car, fled

plight,

off the

of the

Madras

and quickly taking him

away quickly. 64

After the two had

proceeded for a moment, they heard Yudhishthira roar aloud. Stopping, the ruler of the Madras then ascended another car 68 that had been equipt duly.

That best of cars had a

deep as the roar of the clouds.

rattle

Well furnished with weapons and instruments and all kinds of utensils, that vehicle made the hair of foes stand on end.'

" 68

Tarva.]

Section XVII. Sanjaya

said,

—'Taking up another bow that was very

and much tougher, the ruler of the Madras pierced

strong

Yudhishthira and roared like a lion. 1 Kshatriyas, of immeasurable triyas showers

soul,

even

of arrows

pouring rain in torrents."

Then that

bull amongst

poured upon all the Kshathe

deity

of the clouds

Piercing Satyaki with

ten

and Bhima with three and Sahadeva with as many, he

And he

Yudhishthira greatly. 8

bowmen with their steeds and

afflicted

the

all

other great

and elephants with many

cars

blazing brands. 4

hunters afflicting elephants with

shafts like

arrows afflicted

Indeed, that foremost of car-warriprs destroyed elephants and elephant-riders, horses and horsemen,

and cars and car-warriors.*

And he cut off the arms of combatants with weapons and the standards of

vehicles,

and caused the Earth

strewn with (slain) warriors like the blades of Kuga grass. 6

the Somakas,

filled

grasp

with

altar

sacrificial

Then the Pandus, the Panchalas, and who was

with rage, encompassed that hero

thus slaughtering their troops like

Death. 7

destroying

all

Bhimasena, and the grandson of Cini, and those two foremost of men,

while

the two sons of Madri, encompassed that

viz.,

was fighting with the (Pandava) king of tcrriblo

And all

might.

warrior

those heroes,

them challenged him

battle.

O king, having obtained the ruler of the

Then Madras,

that foremost of warriors, in battle, checked that first of men in that encounter and began to strike him with winged arrows fierce energy.

Protected by Bhimasena, and the

Madri, and by him of Madhu's race, the royal son struck

the

ruler

of the

Madras

the

with winged arrows of fierce energy. 10

of Dharma

centre of

Then

the

two sons of

the chest

car-warriors

and other combatants of thy army, clad

with weapons, beholding the ruler of the

Madras exceedingly

afflicted

at the at;

mail and

equipt

with arrows in that battle, surrounded him on all

command

this time

Duryodhana."

The

ruler

quickly pierced Yudhishthira

with

side,

of the

Madras

seven

arrow.

Mahabharata.

62 that

battle.

The high-souled son

return,

pierced

his foe

encounter. 12

with

of Pritha,

king, in

arrows in that dreadful

nine

Those two great car-warriors, viz., the ruler of the

Madras and Yudhishthira,

began

ears.

cover

arrows washed in oil and shot from to their

[galya-badJua

each other with

bowstrings stretched

their

Those two best of kings, both endued with

great strength, both incapable of being defeated by

both foremost of car-warriors, watchful 14

and

other's

laches,

with

each

other's

and deeply pierced each other

quickly shafts.

foes,

of each

The loud noise of their bows, bowstrings, and palms,

resembled that of Indra's thunder as those high-souled warriors, viz.,

the brave ruler of the

Madras and the heroic Pandava, 15 They their numberless arrows.

showered upon each

other

careered on the field

of battle

two young

of prowess, they mangled each other like a

elephants equipt with ruler of the forth

his

powerful

Madras, endued

vigor,

pierced

tusks.

with

the

fierce

heroic

tigers

the

Swelling with pride

deep forest fighting for a pierge of meat.

couple

of infuriate

Then the

illustrious

impetuosity, putting

Yudhishthira of terrible

mi^ht in the chest with a shaft possessed of the splendour of 17 king, that bull of Kuru's Deeply pierced, fire or the Sun. race, viz., the illustrious Yudhishthira,

then struck the ruler of

the Madras with a well-shot shaft and became filled with

joy.

Recovering his senses within a trice, that foremost of kings (viz., Calya), possessed of prowess equal to

of him

that

struck the son

sand eyes, with eyes red in wrath, quickly Pritha with a hundred arrows.

this,

thou-

of a

the

of Dharma, filled with rage, quickly pierced

illustrious

son

Calya's chest and

then, without losing a moment, struck his golden mail with six shafts.

Filled with joy, the ruler of the

Madras then, drawcut off, with

ing his bow and having shot many arrows, at last a pair of razor-faced shafts, the bow of his royal bull of Kuru's race.

foe, viz.,

that

The illustrious Yudhishthira then, tak-

and more formidable bow in that battle, pierced Calya with many arrows of keen points from every side like

ing a new

Indra piercing the then,

Asura Namuchi.™

The

illustrious

cutting off the golden coats of mail of both

king Yudhishthira with nine arrows, pierced the

Calya

Bhima and

arms of both

ai.ya parti,

Parra.]

With another razor-faced arrow endued with the fire or the Sun, he then cut off tho bow of

them."

splendour of

At this time Kripa, with

Yudhishthira.

king's driver who thereupon

down

fell

six

arrows, slew of

front

the

car.

The ruler of the Madras then slew with four shafts the four Having slain the steeds of the king, steeds of Yudhishthira. the high-souled Calya then began

royal son of Dharma. 25

(Pandava) king had been

When the

slay

the

of the

troops

Bhimasena,

quickly

cutting off the bow of the Madra king with an arrow

of great

brought to that plight,

the

illustrious

impetuosity, deeply pierced the king himself with a

couple

arrows.

driver,

from his trunk the middle of which was encased in mail.

With another arrow he severed the head

of Calya's

Exceedingy excited with rage, Bhimasena next slew, without a

m mient's delay, the four steeds also of his foe. 27

That foremost

of all bowmen, viz., Bhima, then covered with a hundred arrows

that hero who, endued alone in that battle.

Beh olding Calya

great impetuosity, was

with

stupified

with

his armour with other shafts. off

careering

Sahadeva, the son of Madri, did the same. 28

those arrows,

Bhima

cut off

His armour having been cut

by Bhimasena, the high-souled ruler of the Madras, taking

up a sword and a shield decked with a thousand

stars,

jumped Cut-

d >wn from his car and rushed towards the son of Kunti. ting off the shaft

of Nakula's

car,

rushed towards Yudhishthira. 29 petuously towards the

king,

Calya of terrible strength

Beholding

him rushing im-

the

Destroyer himself

even

rushing in rage, Dhrishtadyumna and Cikhandin and the (five) sons of Draupadi and the grandson of Cini

Then the illustrious Bhima cut

towards him/ arrows the

unrivalled

shield

another broad-headed arrow he cut warrior at the in the midst all

the

filled

suddenly advanced

hilt.

Filled

of the

troops.

this,

he roared aloud

among

the

Pandavas became

Laughing aloud, they uttered fierce thy

With

sword also of that

Beholding that feat of Bhima,

blew their conchs white as the moon. 32 the army protected by

ten

with

advancing hero.

off the

with joy at 31

foremost car-warriors

with joy.

the

off

and

roars

that terrible

noise

heroes became cheerless, covered

with sweat, bathed iu blood, exceedingly melancholy, and

al-

most

[£alya-badha

mahabharata.

G-J.

lifeless.

The

Madras, assailed by those

of the

ruler

foremost of Pandava warriors headed by Bhimasena, proceeded (regardless of them) towards Yudhishthira, like a lion

King Yudhishthira the

ing for seizing a deer."

proceed-

just, steedless

and driverless, looked like a blazing fire in consequence of the wrath with which he was then excited. Beholding the ruler of the Madras before

great

impetuosity.

quickly set

his

him, he rushed towards that foe with the words of Govinda, he

Recollecting

Indeed,

on the destruction of Calya.

heart

king Yudhishthira the just,

staying on his steedless and driver-

less car, desired to take up

dart.

Beholding that feat of

Calya and reflecting upon the fact that that hero who had been allotted to him as his share still remained unslain, the son of

Pandu firmly set

his

heart

upon accomplishing that which

Indra's younger brother had counselled him to achieve.

King

Yudhishthira the just took up a dart whose handle was adorned

with gold and gems and whose effulgence was as bright as that Rolling his eyes that were wide open, he cast his of gold. 38 glances on the ruler of the Madras, his heart filled with rage.

Thus looked at, O god among men, by that king of cleansed soul and sins all washed away, the ruler of the Madras was not reduced to ashes.

This appreared to us to be exceedingly

monarch 89

wonderful,

The

Kurus

chief of the

illustrious

then hurled with great force at the king of the Madras that blazing dart of beautiful and fierce handle and effulgent with

and corals.

gems

All the Kuravas beheld that blazing dart emitting

sparks of fire as it coursed

through the welkin

after

having

been hurled with great force, even

like at

large meteor falling

from the skies at the end of the

Yuga"

King Yudhishthira

the just, in that battle, carefully hurled that dart which resembled the Death-night armed with the fatal noose or the foster-

mother of fearful aspect of Yama himself, and which, like the

Brahmana's curse, was incapable of being

baffled.

the sons of Pandu had always worshipped

Carefully

that weapon

with

perfumes and garlands and foremost of seats and the best kinds of viands and drinks.

That weapon seemed to blaze

Samvartaka fire and was as fierce as 4

ing to the Atharvan of Angirasa, ^

rite

the

performed accord-

Created by Tashtri (the

— calya parva.

Ftirva.]

celestial artificer) for the use

the life-breaths and tho

was a consumer of

of all foes.

was capable of

It",

ami

Earth and the welkin

destroying bv it* force the receptacles of water

of Iclina,

bodies

tho

all

kind. 44

and creatures of every

Adorned

with bells and banners and gems and diamonds and decked with stones of lapis lazuli and equipt with

Tashtri himself had forged it with great care

after

served many vows.

Unerringly

handle,

having ob-

was destructive of all

fatal, it

Having carefully inspired it with many

haters of Brahma.*' fierce

golden

mantras, and endued

with

by tho

velocity

terrible

exercise of great might and great care, king Yudhishthira hurled it

along

the

best

the Madras. 4 *

wretch!

slain,

of tracks for the destruction of the ruler of

Thou art

Saying in a loud voice the words,

— the king hurled

it,

even as Rudra had, in

days of yore, shot his shaft for the destruction of tho

Andhaka, stretching forth his strong hand, and

beautiful

dancing

apparently

A sura

(right) arm graced with a

wrath. 47

Calya,

however, roared aloud and endeavoured to catch that excellent dart

of irresistible

his might, even clarified butter vitals

and his

hurled by

leap*

fire

poured fair

Earth as easily as resistance

energy

over

it.

forth

Yudhishthira with

all

catching

for

Piercing through

a jet

very

his

and broad chest, that dart entered tho

would any water without the slightest

and bearing away (with it) the world-wide famo Madras)* 9

of the king (of the

issued from his

and eyes and ears and mouth, ami

nostrils

that which flowed from

Covered with the blood that

his

wound, he then

looked

tho

Krauncha mountain of gigantic size when it was pierced by Skanda. 50 His armour having been cut off by that descendant of Kuru's race, the

phant, stretching

illustrious

his

arms,

fell

Calya, strong

mountain summit riven by thunder.* the ruler of the

Madras

fell

Indra's

down on the Earth, 1

down on

Stretching the

erected

the

Earth, with

honor of Indra falling down on

the

arms,

his

directed towards king Yudhishthira the just, like a tall

ele-

face

banner

ground.**

Like a dear wife advancing to receive her dear lord about to fall

on her breast, the Earth then seemed, from affection, little

for

receiving 9

that

bull

among men

to rise ft>ll

down

mahabhakata.

with mangled limbs bathed

blood. 58

The puissant Calya, a dear wife, now seemed

having long enjoyed the Earth like to

sleep on

limbs.

the

Earth's

breast,

[£alya-badka

embracing her with

all

his

Slain by Dharma's son of righteous soul in fair fight,

Calya seemed to assume the aspect of a goodly fire lying extinguished on the sacrificial platform. 55

Though deprived

weapons and standard, and though his heart had been beauty did not yet seem to abandon the

;

Madras. 58

Then

lifeless

pierced,

of the

ruler

taking wp his

Yudhishthira,

of his

bow whose

splendour resembled that of Indra's bow, b-egan to destroy foes

that battle like the prince of birds

his

destroying snakes,

With the greatest speed he began to cut off the bodies of his •enemies with his keen shafts. 57 Wioh the showers of shafts that the son of Pritha then shot, thy troops became entirely shrouded.

Overcome with fear and with eyes shut, they began one another (so stupified were they then).

strike

With blood issuing

from their bodies, they became deprived of their weapons of attack and defence and divested

of their

Upon

life-breaths. 88

the fall of Calya, the youthful younger brother of the king

the Madras, who was equal to his (deceased) brother in every accomplishment, and who was regarded as a mighty car-warrior,

59 proceeded against Yudhishthira.

Invincible

battle

and desirous of paying the last dues of his brother, that fore-

most of men quickly pierced the Pandava with very many 60 With great speed king Yudhishthira the just pierced shafts.

him with six arrows.

With a couple of razor-faced

arrows,

then cut off the bow and the standard of his antagonist.

with a blazing and keen arrow of great

force

Then

and broad-head,

62 I saw he struck off the head of his foe staying before him. ear-rings fall down from the car that head adorned with

like a denizen of

merits.

heaven falling down on the exhaustion of his

Beholding his headless trunk, bathed all over with

blood, fallen down

from the car, the Kaurava troops broke.

In-

deed, upon the slaughter of the younger brother of the Madras clad in beautiful armour, the Kurus, uttering

away with

speed.

cries of

Beholding Calya's

Oh and younger

Alas, fled brother slain, thy troops, hopeless of their lives, were inspired

with the fear of the Pandavas and

fled,

covered

with dust. ' 1

calya tahya,

Parva.]

The grandson of Cini then,

tS9

Satyaki,

viz.,

of Bharata's

bull

KauThen Hridika s son,

race, shooting his shafts, proceeded against the frightened

ravas while the latter were flying away."

O king, quickly and fearlessly received that invincible warrior, that irresistible and mighty bowman, as

the beaten army).

advanced (against

Those two illustrious and invincible heroes

of Vrishni's race, viz., Hridika's son and Satyaki, encountered

each other like two furious lions. effulgence, they

Both resembling the Sun in arrows of

other with

covered each

70 splendour that resembled the rays of the Sun.

of those two lions of Vrishni's

race, shot

bjazing

The arrows

forcibly

from

their

b >ws, we saw, looked like swiftly-coursing insects in the welkin.

Piercing Satvaki with ten arrows and

three, the son of Hridika cut

shaft."

that

of! his

bull

of Cini's

straight

took up another that was Having taken up that foremost of

race, quickly

the first.

bows, that first of bowmen pierced ten arrows in the centre of the

the

chest.

son

of Hridika

Then cutting

with

off his

and the shaft also of that car with many well-shot arrows,

Satyaki quickly slew the steeds of his antagonist as

two Parshni drivers. 78 Caradwat, ly

with

Laying aside his best of bows which was thus cut off,

tougher than

car

steeds

his

bow with

bore him

lord,

The

valiant

also

his

Kripa then, the son

beholding Hridika S son made earless, quick-

away, taking

him up on

slaughter of the king of the

his

car.

Madras and upon

Upon

(he

Kritavarman

having been made earless, the entire army of Duryodhana once

At this time the army more turned its face from the battle. 77 was shrouded with a dusty cloud. We could not see anything.

The greater portion, however,

of thy army fell.

mained alive had turned away their faces from it

They who rebattle. 78

Soon

was seen that that cloud of earthy dust which had arisen be

came allayed, O bull among men, in consequence of the diver streams of blood that drenched it on every side. 73

Then Duryo-

dhana, seeing from a near point his army broken, alone

resist-

ed all the Parthas advancing furiously.* Beholding Iho Paudvaas on their cars as

also

Dhrishtadyumna the son

of Prishata

and the invincible chief the Anartas (viz., Satyaki), the king covered all of them with sharp arrows."

Kuril

The enemy, (at

— OS

MAHABUARATl.

that time) approached

him

[£alyq,~badhd

not, like mortal

to approach the Destroyer standing

creatures fearing

Meanwhile

them.

before

the son of Hridika, riding upon another car, advanced to that spot.

slew

The mighty car-warrior Yudhishthira then quickly

the four steeds

pierced

the

great force. 83

Kritavarman

son of Gotama

with

four

shafts,

and

with six broad-headed arrows of

Then Aewatthfunan, taking up on

the

car

his

son of Hridika who had been made steedless and earless by the

(Pandava) king, bore him away from Yudhishthira's presence. 84

The son

Caradwat pierced Yudhishthira

eight arrows, and

Thus,

steeds

his

with

also

O monarch, the embers

shafts.

began to glow

battle

of that

with

return

eight keen

O king, of the

policy

slaughter

that foremost of bowmen on the field of battle by that bull

here and there, in consequence, thyself and

thy

son,

Bharata 88

After

evil

the

Kuru's race, the Piirthas, beholding Calya of them applauded Yudhishthira in celestials,

days of

slaughter of Vritra.

yore,

united to-

slain,

gether, and filled with great joy, blew their conehs.

as the

that battle, even

had applauded Indra

the

after

And they beat and blew diverse kinds every

musical instruments, making the Earth resound on

with that noise.'

And all

side

Section XVIII. "Sanjaya said, followers of the

— 'After the slaughter of Calya, O king, the Madra

king,

heroic car-warriors, proceeded

numbering seventeen hundred for

battle

with

Duryodhana riding upon an elephant gigantic

great as

energy. 1

hill,

with

an umbrella held over his head, and fanned the while with yaktails,

forbade the Madraka

Do not 'proceed dhana, those

warriors, saying,

Do not jirocced,

— Though repeatedly forbidden by Duryo-

heroes, desirous

of slaying

Yudhishthira, pene-

O Pandava host. loudly, monarch, loyal to Duryodhana, twanging their bows 4 Meanwhile hearing that Calya had fought with the Pfmdavas. been slain and that Yudhishthira was afflicted by the mighty trated into the

car-warriors of the

Those brave combatants,

Madrakas devokd

the

welfare

of the

— 09

calya tahva.

Tarva] Mulraka

the

kins,',*

Pfirtha

car-warrior

gre.it

stretching his bow Gandiva, and

came

the Earth

filling

there,

with the

Then Arjuna, and Bhima, and the two sons of Madri by Panda, and that tiger among men, viz., Satyaki,

rattle of his car.'

and the

Dhrishtadynmna, and

sons of Dranpadi, 7 and

(five)

Somakas, desirous of 8 Having rescuing Yudhishthira, surrounded him on all sides. Cikhandin, and the Panchalas and

the

Panda vas, those bulls anions' men, beiran to agitate the hostile force like Makaras Indeed, they caused thy army to tremble agitating the ocean. taken their places around the king, the

mighty tempest shaking the

river Ganges agitated

by a hostile

O king, once more became

trees.

Like the great

Pandava

wind, the

exceedingly

agitated.

Madrakas),

the

Pdndavas,

the

car-

shouted loudly, saying,

all

Where is that king Yudhishthira !" brothers, viz.,

host,

Causing

mighty

that mighty host to tremble, the illustrious and warriors, (viz.,

Why arc not his

What has

here I

seen

brave

become of the Pdnchdlas of great energy as also of tlte mighty

Where are Dhrishtadyumna and

car-warrior (pikhandin 7 .

tlte

grandson of ^ini and those great car-warriors, viz., the At this, those mighty car-war-

(flue) sons of Dranpadi /" riors,

viz.,

—

the sons of Dranpadi,

began

slaughter

lowers of tho Madra king who were uttering those battling vigorously.

the

fol-

words and

In that battle, some, amongst thy troops,

were seen to be crushed by car-wheels and some slain by means 1

Beholding, however, the heroic Piin-

of their lofty standards. *

davas, the brave warriors of thy army,

bidden by thy son,

still

O Bharata, though

rushed against them.

speaking softly, sought to prevent those warriors from

with the foe.

great

obeyed his behest. 16 king, possessed

car-warrior,

dhana these words 17 :

— How

monarch,

is this

of the said

that we are

When thou, O Bharata, art understanding

unitedly

made

here, this

was

that

Gandhara

unto Duryo-

standing

while the Madraka host is being slaughtered before

The

fighting

however, amongst them

Then Cakuui, the son

of eloquence,

for-

Duryodhana,

our eyes

does

not

look

should

all

hero,

well

'.'*

fight

Why then, O king, dost thou tolerate our foes when

thoy are tins slaying our trj ips

;'"

—

mahabharata.

TO " 'Duryodhana said,

— Though forbidden by me before, they

did not obey my behest. into the Pandava host " 'Cakuni said,

[£alya-bacVi&

20 !

penetrated

— Brave warriors, when excited with rage in

do not obey the commands of their

battle,

men

Unitedly have these

—

leaders.

not behove thee to be angry with those men.

time to stand indifferently

does

This is not the

We shall, therefore, all of us,

21 !

united together with our cars and

horse

and elephants, pro-

ceed, for rescuing those great bowmen, viz., the followers of the

With great care, O king, we shall

Madra king z * '

protect

another — Thinking after the manner of Cakuni,

all

one the

Kauravas then proceeded to that place where the Madras were.**

Duryodhana also, thus addressed (by his maternal ceeded, encompassed by a large force, against the

leonine shouts and

seize, strike,

loud sounds that were

heard then,

troops.

cut

off,

— these were the

Bharata, among those

Meanwhile the Pandavas, beholding

Madra king assailing them

the followers of the

ceeded against them, arraying themselves

Madhyama^

uttering

foe,

causing the Earth to resound with that

—Slay, pierce,

noise.*

uncle), pro-

unitedly, pro-

the

that battle

form

called

O monarch, for a short

Fighting hand to hand,

of the Madra

while, those heroic warriors,

viz.,

king, were seen to perish. 27

Then, whilst we were proceeding,

the

followers

the Pandavas, united together and endued

with great activity,

completed the slaughter of the Madrakas, and filled with delight, uttered joyous shouts. 28

Then headless forms were seen to Large meteors seemed to fall down from the The Earth became covered with cars and broken

arise all around.

Sun's disc. 29

yokes and axles and slain car-warriors and

lifeless steeds.

50,

fSteeds fleet a^ the wind, and still attached to yokes of cars (but

without drivers to guide them) were seen to drag car-warriors,

O monarch, hither and thither on the field of battle.

Some horses were seen to drag cars with broken wheels, while some ran on all sides, bearing after them

Here and there in their

of broken

seen

motions by their

traces

Car-warriors,

while

seen to

drop down

their merits.*

heaven

the

exhaustion

steeds

that

cars.

were hampered

were

also

down from their cars, were of

portions

falling

denizens

When

the.

CaLYA parya.

Parvd.]

brave followers of the Madra king were slain, the mighty car-

body

•warriors of the Parthas, those great sm iters, beholding a

of horse advancing towards them, rushed, towards it with speed

Causing their arnnvs to whizz loudly

from desire of victory. *

mingled with the

and making diverse other kinds of noise

blare of their conchs, those effectual smiters possessed of

ness

shaking

aim,

their

bows,

of sureroars. ' 3

leonine

uttered

Beholding then that large force of the Madra king exterminated

and seeing also their heroic king

slain

battle, the

entire

army of Duryodhana once more turned away from the field. 58 Struck, O monarch, by those firm bowmen, viz., the Piindavas, 37 the Ivuru army fled away on all sides, inspired with fear.'"

Section XIX. "Sanjaya said, car-warrior, that

—'Upon tin

fall

invincible

hero,

of that great king and mighty (viz.,

Calya) in battle, thy

troops as also thy sons almost all turned away from

Indeed, upon the

slaughter

Yudhishthira, thy

troops

hero by

of that

were

the

illustrious

ship-wrecked merchants

2 on the vasty deep without a raft to cross it.

After the

O monarch, thy troops, struck with

the Madra king,

fight.

fall

fear

and

mangled with arrows, were like masterless men desirous

of a

protector or

herd of deer

horns

deprived of their

afflicted

elephants

by a

lion.

After

the

of Calya,

fall

troops set his heart on either his prowess.

That fear,

ours

upon the

son,

fall

Bharata,

Despairing of

Like bulls

whose tusks have been

broken, thy troops, defeated by Ajatacabru,

da v.*

fled

away at mid-

king,

none amongst thy

the

army or displaying

rallying

king, and that grief, which had been

Bhishma, of Drona, and of the Suta's

now became ours once more, O monarch s !

success

upon the fall of the mighty car-wnrrior

Kuru army, with its heroes slain and exceedingly Upon the confused, began to be cut down with keen shafts. Calya, the

slaughter

of the

away in fear. 7 on also,

Madra king, O monarch, thy warriors all iled elephants, some

Some on horse-back, some on

cars, great car- warriors, fled away in four,

with great speed,

Two thousand

and foot-soldiers,

elephants, looking like

MAHABHarata.

and accomplished in smiting,

hills,

with hooks and toes.

urged on

fled away, after Calya's fall,

Indeed,

thy soldiers tied on all sides.

ratas,

and broken and flying away

the Pandavas, inspired with

desire

hotly.

Beholding them defeated of victory, pursued

them

The whizz of arrows and other noises, the loud leonine

tremendous. 18

Beholding the

warriors, became Kaurava host agitated with fear

away, the Panchalas and the Pandavas addressed

flying

— Today king Yudhishthira, firm

one another, saying. 13

hath vanquished his enemies

of his

death, let

Let him

of great

possessed

feel the most

know today that the son might among all bowmen

poignant

of Kunti

Vidura

Let him from

their slave

had been

time and

day

by the sons of Pandu. 17

greatness

of Krishna

Parthas as

the

weapons, and the

Let that king know

Let him

terrible twang of Arjuna's bow in battle,

his

words of

beneficial

wait upon

self! 16

Let that king today experience the grief that

felt

the

this

Today that

Lit him recollect today

of all

Today, hear-

and wicked-hearted king will censure his own

sinful

today

14 !

Dhritarashtra, that king of men,

and prostrate on the Earth,

stupified

anguish

son's

in truth,

Today Duryodhana hath been

divested of his splendour and kingly prosperity ing

Panchalas and

dejection, the

and the blare of conchs, of heroic

roars,

and

O chief of the Bha-

Afflicted with arrows, they

were seen to run, breathing hard.'

[^alya-badha

hear

today the

the

as also

might of his arms

strength

fight

,$ !

Today he will know the awful might of the high-souled Bhima when Duryodhana will be slain in battle even as the A sura 13 Save Bhima of mighty strength, Vali was slain by Indra' there is none else in this

world that can

achieve

that

which

was achieved by Bhima himself at the slaughter of Duscasana

a0 !

Hearing cf the slaughter of the ruler of the Madras

who was incapable of defeat by the very gods, that king will know the prowess of the eldest son of Pandu ai After the !

the Gandharas

slaughter of the heroic son of Suvala and of

all

he will kinw the strength, in battle,

the

Madri by Pandu !**

two sons of

Why will not victory be theirs that have

Dhananjaya for their warrior, as also Satyaki, and Bhimasena,

and Dhrishtadvumua the son of Prishata/ 5 and the

five

sons

alya carta.

Parva.] of

Dmupvli,

ami

two sons

the

"ill

and Lho

of Mfidri,

bowman Cikhandin, and

king

Yudjaishthira ?

that

have

for

nob victory bo theirs

mighty

Why

will

protector Krishna,

their

Janarddana, that Protector of the universe ?

otherwise called

Why will not victory be theirs that have righteousness for Who else than Yudhishthira the son of

their refuge ? 2S

who hath Hrishikeci,

Pritha,

and fame,

protector,

his

Bhishma and

battle

the

for

? 2i

~ 27

Srinjayas

— Saying these

Kama

vanquish in

and the ruler of

and thou-

hundreds

and

filled

with joy,

that

battle

who had been

kings

words

pursued thy troops

righteousness

competent to

Drona and

Madras and the other

sands

refuge

the is

exceedingly mangled with shafts. 28

tho

Then Dhananjaya of great The two

valour proceeded against the car-division of the foe.

sons of Madri and the mighty

Beholding them

all if

dressed his driver, saying,

bow,

car- warrior

Bkimascna, Duryodhana, as

against Cakuni. fear of

while, ad-

— Piirtha, stationed there with his of the

Like the ocean that cannot transgress its conti-

nents, Kunti's son Dhananjaya gress me if I

with speed in

flying

smiling the

Take my steeds to the rear

transgressing me.

whole army. 31

proceeded

Siityaki

take

will

venture

never the

stand in

rear.

driver, this vast host that is pursued by the Pandavas

hold this cloud of dust that has arisen

quence of the

motion of the troops

leonine roars that arc so awful and loud

proceed slowly and take up thy stay in battle will rally

and

fight

the

trans-

Behold,

O Be-

conse-

all

Hear those diverso

sides

Therefore, the

position

Pandavas,

O driver,

rear

If I

army,

and come back with vigor to battle M l

driver,

— Hearing these

words of thy son that were just those of a hero and man of honor, the driver slowly

urged those steeds in

trappings

One and twenty thousand foot-soldiers, deprived of elewho were ready to lay down their lives, still stood fur battle. 17 Born in diverse

gold.

phants and steeds and car-warriors, and

countries and hailing from diverse towns, those warriors

tained their ground, desirous of winning great fame.* 1 of those rushing

warriors

exceedingly terrible.

filled

with joy

became

main-

The clash luiid

and

Then Bhimasena, O king, and Dhrishta-

74 'dyumiia the son

forces.

mahabhaRata.

[£alya-hadha

of Prishata, resisted

them with four kinds

Other

"uttering loud shouts

desire of

the

combatants,

filled

against

Bhiraa,

and slapping their armpits, all actuated

going to heaven. 41

Those

Dhartarashtra

with rage and invincible in

approached Bhimasena,

Encompassing

they began to strike him from

They then

Bhima

all sides.*

having

battle,

uttered furious shouts.

spoke not to one another. battle,

proceeded

foot-soldiers

that

Surrounded

them in Bhima did not stir from where he stood fixed mountain. 49 His assailants, meanwhile, like the Mainaka filled with rage, O monarch, endeavoured to afflict that mighty by that large body of warriors on

foot and struck by

that battle,

car -warrior

of the

Pandavas and checked other combatants

(that tried to rescue him). 4 *

Bhima became filled with

Encountered by those warriors, fury.

Quickly alighting from his

he proceeded on foot against them. 4 *

car,

Taking up

his

massive mace adorned with gold, he began to slay thy troops like the Destroyer himself

armed with his club. 48

The mighty

Bhima, with his mace, crushed those one and twenty thousand foot-soldiers who were without cars and steeds and elephants. 47

Having slain that strong division, Bhima, of prowess incapable of being baffled, showed himself with Dhrishtadyumna in his 48 The Dhartarashtra foot-soldiers, thus slain, lay down front. on the ground, bathed in

blood,

Kamikaras

9 flowery burthens laid low by a tempest.*

with their

Adorned with gar-

lands mule of diverse kinds of flowers, and decked with diverse

kinds of ear-rings, those combatants of diverse races, hailed from diverse realms, lay down on the life.

field,

who had

deprived of

Covered with banners and standards, that large host of

foot-soldiers,

thus cut down,

awful as they lay down on

the

looked field.

fierce

and

terrible

The mighty

and

car-war-

riors,

with their followers, that fought under Yudhishthira's

lead,

all

pursued thy illustrious son Duryodhana. 62

Those

great bowmen, beholding thy troops turn away from the battle,

proceeded against Dnryodhana, but they could not transgress

him even as the ocean cannot transgress prowess that

its

continents. 58

The

we then beheld of thy son was exceedingly

wonderful, since all

the

Parthas, united

together, could

no-ft

Calya parva,

fWvaJJ

7.1

Then Duryodhana, addressing

transgress his single solf.'*

own army which had not

fled

arrows, had set its heart on

flight, said

these words :"

not see the spot on plain or mountain, whither,

numbers.

— I do tho

fly,

use

then

The army of tho Pandavas hath been reduced in The two Krishnas are exceedingly mangled. If all

of us make a

victory

stand,

fly away, losing

will slay ye

all !

If ye

Pandavas, pursuing ye,

on the other hand, we make a stand,

If,

all

ye Kshatriyas that are

When the Destroyer

always slays heroes and

Listen,

here

be certainly ours !"

will

order, the sinful

all

good will result to us 58 assailed

What is the

Pandavas will not pursue and slay ye I of flight ? s8

his

but which, mangled with

far

cowards, what man is there

stupid that, calling himself a

Kshatriya, will not fight? 19

Good will result to us if we stay in the front of the angry Bhimasena Death in battle, while!

Kshatriya

struggling according to

happiness slain,

Winning victory, one obtains happiness here.

one obtains great fruits in the other world

vas, there is no better path

battle

fraught with-

practices, is

Slain

those regions

battle,

of blessedness

without delay, obtain

all

— Hearing these words of

his,

and applauding them highly, the (Kuru)

kings

once more

rushed against the Pandavas for battling with them.'*

them advancing with speed, the Parthas, arrayed battle, skilled in smiting,

Seeing order

excited with rage, and inspired

bow Gdndiva

with

The valiant Dhanan-

desire of victory, rushed against them/ 8

jaya, stretching his

Ye Kaura-

heaven than that offered by

ye may, !*'

celebrated

over the three

The two sons of Madri, and Siityaki, rushed against Cakuni, and the other worlds, proceeded on his car against the

(Pandava) heroes, smiling, "• forces.'

foe.

rushed impetuously

against

thy

Section XX. 'Sanjaya said, Ciilwa, the

ruler

— 'After the (Kuru) army had been of the

Mlccchas,

filled

against the large force of the Pandavas,

with

rage,

riding on

rallieo?,

rushed

a gigantic

elephant, with secretions issuing from the usual limbs,

looking

mahabhaiutj.

like a hill, swelling

[£alya-badhd

with pride, resembling Airavata himself,

and capable of crushing large bands sprung from a high and noble breed.

by Dhritarashtra's son.

It was always worshipped

It was properly equipped and properly

king, by

trained for battle,

Calwa's animal

of foes.*

persons

conversant with

well

Hiding on that elephant, that foremost of kings

elephant-lore.

looked like the morning Sun at the close of summer. 3

ing on that foremost of elephants,

against the Pandavas and began

pierce

Mount-

monarch, he proceeded

them on

sides

all

with keen and terrible shafts that resembled Indra's thunder in force.

While he shot his arrows

that

and des-

battle

patched hostile warriors to Yama's abode, neither the Kauravas nor the the

Pandavas could notice any laches

Daityas,

king, could not

thunder, in

employed

crushing their divisions. 5

Somakas, and the Srinjayas, beheld

of the

of Indra in

them even

stand in battle,

side as

they then

one another as they ran.

the

away

broken

fled

that

conchs

thy

crushing

fear,

sides,

all

elephant. 8

and flying

warriors of

their

great

Then the vast host of the Pandavas,

impetuosity

Pandava host

Unable to

deprived of life.

fled

broken by king Calwa, suddenly

and blew

Agitated (by that animal), the hostile

army looked on every

foremost of

the

that one elephant look

gods had in days of yore beheld the elephant battle.

endure the

Vasava, the

The Pandavas,

like a thousand elephants careering around

foes

of yore, while the latter was

days

wielder of the in

him, even

any

notice

away

unable to

Beholding the

speed,

all

the

army worshipped king Calwa

white as

the

moon. 9

Hearing the

shouts of the Kauravas uttered in joy and the blare of their conchs, the commander of the Pandava and the Srinjaya forces, viz.,

the Panchala

wrath, endure it.

prince

(Dhrishtadyumna), could not, from

The illustrious Dhrishtadyumna then, with

great speed, proceeded for vanquishing that

elephant, even

the Asura Jambha had proceeded against Airavata, the of elephants that Indra rode, in course of his

Indra."

prince

encounter with

Beholding the ruler of the Pandavas impetuously

rushing against him, Calwa, that lion

urged his elephant,

O king,

for

the

among

kings, quickly

destruction

Drupadas

«alya tarva,

Varva.] son.'

The latter, seeing the animal approaching with

precipi-

tancy, pierced it with three foremost of shafts, polished by the

hands of the smith, keen, blazing, endued with

fierce

and resembling fire itself in splendour and

force.

energy,

Then that

illustrious hero struck the animal at the frontal globes with fivo

other whetted and foremost of shafts.

Pierced

therewith, that

prince of elephants, turning away from the battle, ran with great speed. 14

Calwa, however, suddenly checking that foremost of

and forced

elephants which had been exceedingly mangled

retreat, caused it to turn back, and with hooks and keen lances urged it forward against the car of the Panchala king, pointing it

animal. 18

out to the infuriate

Beholding the animal rush-

ing impetuously at him, the heroic Dhrishtadyumna, taking up

down on the Earth from

a mace, quickly jumped

limbs stupified with fear.' 6

his

car,

That gigantic elephant, meanwhile,

suddenly crushing that gold-decked car with

steeds

its

and

driver, raised it up in the air with his trunk and then dashed it

down on the Earth. 17

Beholding the driver of the Panchala

king thus crushed by that foremost of elephants, Bhima and

Cikhandin and the grandson of Cini rushed with great speed against that animal. 18

the

With their shafts they speedily checked impetuosity of the advancing beast. Thus received by

those car-warriors and checked by them in battle, the

began to waver. 19

Meanwhile king Calwa began

elephant shoot his

shafts like the Sun shedding his rays on all sides.

Struck with

those shafts, the (Pilndava) car- warriors began

fly

away. 90

Beholding that feat of Calwa, the Panchalas, the Srinjayas, king, uttered loud cries of oh and

and the Matsyas, that battle.

alas

All those foremost of men, however, encompassed

the animal on all sides.

The brave Panchala king then, tak-

ing up his mace which resembled the lofty crest of a mountain,

appeared there. foes,

king, that hero, that

Fearlessly,

22 rushed with speed against the elephant.

smiter

Endued with

Panchalas,

approaching,

began to strike with his mace that animal which

was huge as

great

the

activity,

prince

the

a hill and which shed its secretions like a mighty mass of pour-

ing clouds."

ing a loud cry

Its ;

frontal globes

suddenly

split

and vomiting a profuse quantity

open,

utter-

of blood,

the

MAHABHARATA,

[gdlya-badha

animal, huge as a hill, suddenly fell down, even as a mountain

during an earthquake. 2 *

falling down

elephants

While that prince of

was falling down, and while the troops of thy son

were uttering wails of woo at the sight, that foremost of warriors among the Cinis cut off the head

sharp and broad-headed arrow.

Calwa with a

of king

His head having been cut

off

by the Satwata hero, Calwa fell down on the Earth along with his prince of elephants, even like a mountain summit suddenly riven by the tials.'

thunder-bolt

hurled by

the chief of the

celes-

"»«

Section XXI. "Sanjaya said, assemblies, had

— 'After the heroic Calwa, that ornament of

been

slain,

thy army

speedily

broke like a

1 mighty tree broken by the force of the tempest.

the army broken, the

mighty car-warrior Kritavarman, poss-

essed by heroism and great strength, resisted the in that battle.

Seeing the

hostile

force

Satwata hero, O king, standing

in battle like a hill though pierced with

the Kuru heroes,

Beholding

who had fled away,

arrows (by

the

foe),

and came back. 8

rallied

Then, O monarch, a battle took place between the Pandavas

and the returned Kurus who made death itself their goal.* Wonderful was that fierce encounter which occurred between the Satwata hero and his foes, since alone he cible

army

of the

Pandavas.

When

resisted

accomplish the most difficult feats, friends,

the

filled

those

sounds the Panchalas,

with delight,

uttered leonine shouts that seemed to reach the very

invin-

were seen

friends

heavens. 8

O bull of

Bharata's race,

Safcyaki,

the grandson of

became inspired with

fear.

Then

Cini, approached

spot. 7

Approaching king Kshemakirti

of great

that

strength, Satyaki

with seven keen intelligence,

shafts.

despatched him to Yama's abode, Then the son of Hridika, of great

rushed with speed against that bull of

race, that mighty-armed warrior, as the

his whetted shafts.

latter

Cini's

came, shooting

Those two bowmen, those two foremost

of car-warriors, roared like lions

and encountered each other

with great force, both being armed with foremost of weapons.

calya parva.

Parva.]

The Pandavas, the Panchalaa, and the other Those two heroes of the Vrishni-Andhaka

two heroes. 11

race, like

son

of tracks, the

diverse kinds

heads.

calf-toothed

of Hridika

Cini's race soon afflicted each other

Tho shafts sped with great

with

ele-

arrows

Careering in

and that bull of

showers of arrows." the bows

from

force

two

long

phants filled with delight, struck each other with

and shafts e^uipt with

became

warriors,

spectators of that terrible encounter between the

of the

two

Vrishni lions were seen by us in the welkin to resemble flights of swiftly coursing

insects. *

of Hridika, ap-

Then the son

four

proaching Satyaki of true prowess, pierced the

steeds

The

long-armed Satyaki,

enraged at this like an elephant struck

with a lance, pierced

the latter with four

keen shafts."

Then Kritavar-

Kritavarman with eight foremost of arrows. *

man pierced Satyaki with three arrows whetted on stone and sped from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch and then cut off his bow with another arrow.

Laying aside

that bull of Cini's race quickly fixed on it.'

stringed

Having taken up

it,

foremost of all

that

took that

his

broken bow,

up another with arrow foremost of bows and

bowmen, that Atiratha of

mighty energy and great intelligence and great strength, unable to endure the cutting of his bow by Kritavarman, and filled with fury, quickly rushed against the

latter.

keen shafts that bull of Cini's race then struck

With ten

the

driver, the

At this, O king, and the standard of Kritavarman.' the great bowman and mighty car-warrior Kritavarman, be8* holding his gold-decked car made driverless and steedless, 1

steeds,

became

filled

he hurled

with

Cini's race,

with rage. all

desirous

the

Uplifting force

of slaying

pointed lance,

of his arm

him."

O sire,

that bull

Satyaki, however, of

the Satwata race, striking that lance with many

keen arrows,

cut it off into fragments and caused it to fall down, stupifying activity

and prowess).

With another broad-headed arrow he then struck

Kritavarman

Kritavarman of Madhu's race (with his in the

chest.

Made steedless and

driverless

that

battle

by Yuyudhana skilled in weapons, Kritavarman came down on 8 the Earth. ' The heroic Kritavarman having been deprived of his car by Satyaki in that single- combat, all the (Kaurava),

mahabhaiuta,

[palya-badha

troops became filled with a great fear."

A great sorrow afflict-

ed the heart of thy sons, when Kritavarman was thus made steedless and driverless and earless.

of foes made at

steedless

and

Beholding that chastiser

driverless, Kripa,

king, rushed

him

of despatching

that bull of Cini's race, desirous

Taking Kritavarman upon his car in the bowmen, the mighty-armed Kripa bore 29 After Kritavarman had him away from the press of battle.

Yama's abode.

very sight of all the

been made earless and the grandson of Cini had become powerful on

the

field,

whole army of Duryodhana once more

the

turned away from the

fight.

The enemy, however, did not

see it, for the (Kuru) army was

cloud.

All thy warriors fled,

dhana. 31

army was

then shrouded with a dusty

O monarch, except king Duryo-

The latter, beholding from a near point that his own quickly

routed,

enemy, alone resisting them warrior, filled

the

victorious

Fearlessly that

invincible

assailed

rushing, all.

with keen arrows

with rage, assailed

the

all

Pandus, and Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, and Cikhandin, and the sons of Draupadi, and the large bands of the "

33 84 and the Somakas With firm determination thy mighty son stood in battle, even as

Panchalas, and the

Kaikeyas,

sire,

a blazing and mighty fire on the sacrificial

platform, sanctified

Even thus, king Duryodhana careered all over 3 His foes could not approach him the field, in that battle. *

with mantras.

then, like living creatures unable

approach the Destroyer.

Then the son of Hridika came there, riding on another car."

Section XXII. •Sanjaya said, viz.,

— 'That foremost of car-warriors, O monarch,

thy son, riding on his car and

filled

despair, looked resplendent in that battle

of great valour.

the Earth

with the courage of like

Rudra himself

With the thousands of shafts shot by him,

became completely covered.

his enemies with showers of arrows

Indeed, he

drenched

like the clouds pouring rain

There was then not a man amongst the Pandavas in that great battle, or a steed, or an elephant, or a

on mountain breasts.

car,

who or which was not struck with Duryodhana's

arrows,*

calya parva.

JParva.]

Upon whomsoever amongst the warriors I then cast my

eyes,

O monarch, I beheld that every one, O Bharata, was struck by thy son with his arrows.*

The Pilndava army was then cover-

ed with the shafts of that illustrious warrior even as a

covered with the dust it raises while

The Earth then,

battle. s

host

marching or rushing to

was seen by me to

lord of Earth,

be made one entire expanse of arrows by thy son Duryodhana, that bowman possessed of great lightness of hands. 6

thousands upon

those

thousands of

Amongst

on the

warriors

seemed

field,

belonging to thy side or that of the enemy,

that Duryodhana was then the only man. 7

The prowess that

we then beheld of thy son seemed to bo exceedingly wonderful, since the Parthas, even uniting

He pierced

8 his single self.

together, could

Yudhishthira,

not

approach

bull

of Bhara-

with a hundred arrows, and Bhimasena with seventy,

ta's race,

And he pierced Nakula

and Sahadeva with seven. 9

and sixty, and Dhrishtadyumna with

five,

with four

and the sons of

Draupadi with seven, and Satyaki with three arrows. broad-headed arrow, he then, deva.

With a

O sire, cut off the bow. of Saha-

Laying aside that broken bow, the valiant son of

Madri, took up another formidable bow, and rushing against the king,

viz.,

that battle. 11

Duryodhana pierced him with ten shafts in The great bowman Nakula, possessed of courage, ;

then pierced the king with nine terrible arrows and uttered a loud roar. shaft

;

Satyaki struck the king with a single straight

the sons of Draupadi struck him with three and seventy,

and kinw Yudhishthira struck him with five. afflicted

the

king with eighty shafts.

from every side warriors,

with

Duryodhana

And Bhimasena

Though pierced thus

numerous arrows by these still,

illustrious

monarch, did not waver,

presence of all the troops who stood there as spectators.'

in the 4

The

quickness, the skill, and the prowess of that illustrious warrior

were seen by all the men there to exceed those of every crea1

ture. '

not

fled

Meanwhile the Dhartariishtras, far

O monarch, who

from that spot, beholding the king,

returned there, clad in mail. 16

rallied

had and

The noise made by them when

they came back, became exceedingly awful, like the roar of the surging ocean in the season of rains. 17

Approaching their un~

MAHABHARATA.

82'

[gallja-hadha

vanquished king in that battle, those great bowmen proceeded 18 against the Pandavas for fight.

that

The son of Drona resisted in

arch, that

With the arrows, O mon-

battle the angry Bhimasena.

were shot in that battle,

compass became completely shrouded,

all

the

points

so that the

of the

brave com-

cardinal from the subsidiary

batants could not distinguish the 20

As regards AcAvatthaman and Bhima Bhfirata, both of them were achievers of cruel feats. sena, Both of them were irresistible in battle. The arms of both points of the compass.

contained many cicatrices in consequence of both

having

re-

peatedly drawn the bowstring. Counteracting each other's feats,

they continued to fight with each other, frightening the whole universe. battle.

The heroic Cakuni assailed Yudhishthira in that The mighty son of Suvala. having slain the four

steeds of the king, uttered a loud roar, to tremble with fear.

causing all the troops

Meanwhile the valiant Sahadeva bore

away the heroic and vanquished king on his car from that 23 Then king Yudhishthira the just, riding upon anbattle. other car, (came back to battle), and having pierced Cakuni at

first

with

nine

arrows,

And that foremost of all bowmen then That

battle,

behold.

sire,

filled

loud roar.

uttered a

was,

became wonderful

spectators

with

delight

awful

the

pierced him with five.

once more

plauded by the Siddhas and the

Cliaranas.

measurable soul rushed against the in that battle, shooting showers

and was ap-

Uluka

of im-

mighty bowman Nakula,

of arrows

from every

side.

The heroic Nakula, however, in that battle, resisted the son Cakuni with a thick shower of arrows from every side. 27 Bjth those heroes were well-born and both were mighty

•of

oar-warriors.

They were seen to fight with each

highly enraged with the other. 28

Similarly

other,

each

Kritavarman,

king, fighting with the grandson of Cini, that scorcher of foes,

looked resplendent, like Cakra battling with the Asura Vala. off

Dhrishtadyumna's bow in that

bowless

30 antagonist with keen shafts.

Buryodhana, having cut battle,

pierced

his

Dhrishtadyumna then, in that encounter, having taken up a formidable bow, fought with the king in

bowmen,"

the sight of all the

The battle between those two heroes became ex-

Caiya pabvj.

Farva.]

the

encounter

between two wild and infuriate elephants with juicy

secretions

bull of Bharata's

ceedingly fierce,

trickling

adown their

limbs.

The

race, like

Gautama, excited

heroic

with rage in that battle, pierced the mighty sons

of Draupadi

with ninny straight shafts.

tween him and those

resembled that which takes place

between an

five

The battle that took

embodied being and

his

(five)

awful and exceedingly fierce and neither

senses.

side showed

Jvripa like the (five) senses afflicting a foolish man.

other hand, fighting with them,

controlled them Bhiirata,

wonderful,

place

be-

was

any con-

The (five) sons of Draupadi afflicted

sideration for the other. *

Even such and

He, on the vigor. 85

with

was that battle

It resembled the repeated combats,

between him and them.

O lord, between embodied creatures and their senses. 86 Men fought with men, elephants with elephants, steeds, with steeds,

and car-warriors with that battle became

car-warriors.

general

Once more, O monarch,

and awful. 37

Here an encounter

was beautiful, there another was awful, and there another was lord

exceedingly fierce,

Many and awful, O monarch, were

the encounters that took place in course of that battle.

Those

chastiscrs of foes, (belonging to both armies), encountering one

another, pierced and slew one another in that dreadful engage-

A dense cloud of dust was then seen there, raised by

ment. 89

the vehicles and the

Thick

animals of the warriors.

king, was the dust raised by the

running

steeds,

also,

a dust that

40 was carried from one place to another by the wind.

Raised

by the wheels of cars and the breaths of the elephants, tho welkin. 41

That

dust having been raised and the Sun himself having been

dim-

dust, thick as an evening cloud, rose into the

med therewith,

the

Earth became shrouded, and the heroic

42 Anon that dusfr and mighty car-warriors could not be seen. disappeared and everything became clear when the Earth;

O best of the Bharatas, became drenched with heroes.

allayed.

Indeed,

Then,

single combats,

that dense

and awful cloud

O Bhiirata, I could once more sec

the

blond

of dust

the

was

diverse

O Bhiirata, 44 that the combatants fought at

noon of day, each according to his strength and his rank,

which were exceedingly fierce.

nil

The blazing splendour of Ihohs

mahabharata,

[galya-badha,

monarch, appeared full in view. 45

feats,

Loud became the

noise of falling shafts in that battle, resembling

that made

a vast forest of bamboos while burning on every side.' "* 8

Section XXIII. "Sanjaya said,

— 'During the progress of that terrible and

awful battle, the army of thy son was broken by vas.

the

Piinda-

Rallying their great car-warriors, however, with vigor-

ous efforts, thy sons continued to fight with the Pandava army. 9

The (K.uru) returned.

warriors, desirous

Upon

of thy

their return, the

son's

battle

welfare, suddenly

once more became

exceedingly fierce, 3 between thy warriors and those of the foe,

resembling that between the gods and the Asuras in days of

Neither amongst the enemies nor amongst thine was there

old.

a single combatant that turned away from that

battle.*

The

warriors fought, aided by guess and by the names they uttered.

Great was the destruction that occurred as they thus fought

Then king Yudhishthira,

with one another. 5

filled

with great

wrath, and becoming desirous of vanquishing the Dhartarashtras and their king in that battle,

pierced the son of Caradwat

with three arrows winged with gold and whetted on stone,

and next slew with four others the four steeds of Kritavar-

man. 7

Then Acwatthaman bore away the

Hridika.

celebrated son

Caradwat's son pierced Yudhishthira in return with

eight arrows. 8

Then king Duryodhana despatched seven hun-

9 dred cars to the spot where king Yudhishthira was battling.

Those cars ridden by excellent warriors and endued with the speed of the wind or thought, rushed in that battle against the car of

Kunti's son. 10

Encompassing

every side, they

made him

clouds hiding the

Sun from the

Yudhishthira on

with their shafts like

invisible

view.

Then the Pandava

heroes headed by Cikhandin, beholding king Yudhishthira the just assailed in that way by the

rage and unable

Kauravas, became

put up with

it.

filled

with

Desirous of rescuing

Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, they came to that spot upon their cars possessed of great speed bells.

and adorned with rows of

Then commenced an awful

battle,

which blood

calya parva.

flowed as water, between the Pfmdavas

and the Kurus, that

Farva.]

increased the population of Yama's

hundred

seven

hostile

domains. *

car-warriors

Pfmdavas and the Panchalas once more 1

son and the Pfmdavas. its like.

whole

(the

resisted

There a fierce battle was fought between thy

Kuril army). ' 16

Slaying those

Kuru army, the

of the

We had never before seen or heard of

During the progress of that

battle

which no

consideration was showed by any body for any body, and while

the fast,

warriors 17

of thy

army and those of the

foe

were falling

and the combatants were all shouting and blowing their

conchs, and

the bowmen were roaring and uttering loud noises

18 while, indeed, the battle was raging fiercely of diverse kinds,

and the very vitals of the combatants were being struck, and the troops, speed,

sire,

desirous

were rushing with

of victory,

while, verily, everything on Earth seemed to be under-

going a woeful destruction, during that time when innumerable

ladies

of birth and beauty

were being made widows, 80

during,, indeed, the progress of that fierce engagement in

which

the warriors behaved without any consideration for friends and foes, awful portents appeared, presaging the destruction of every-

thing.

The Earth, with her mountains and forests, trembled,

making a loud noise.

Meteors like blazing brands equipt with

handles dropped from

the sky,

Earth as if from the solar disc. 28 all sides,

king, on

every side on

the

A hurricane arose, blowing on

and bearing away hard pebles along

its

lower course.

8 The elephants shed copious tears and trembled exceedingly. *

Disregarding all these fierce and awful portents, the Kshatriyas,

one another, cheerfully stood on the field

taking counsel

with

for battle acrain,

on the beautiful and sacred

Kuru,

the Gfmdhara king, said,

— Fight

endued with great

side that were advancing,

diverse sounds of delight. invincible

Pfmdavas,

called

after

Then Cakuni, the son of

all

of ye in front

ever, will slay the Pfmdavas from behind

warriors,

field

desirous of obtaining heaven. *

activity,

8* !

how-

— Then the Mudraka

amongst those on our

became filled with joy and uttered 26 The Others too did the same.

however, possessed of sureness of aim,

once more coming against us, shook their bows and covered

with showers of arrows.* 7 The forces of the Madrakas then were

mahabharata;

slain by the

foe.

Beholding

[galya-badhd troops of Duryodhana

the

this,

once more turned away from the battle.

The mighty king of

the Gandharas, however, once more said these words:

ye sinful ones flight?

Fight (with the foe)

— At that time,

the Gandharas

had

fighting with

bright

use

— Stop,

there of

bull of Bharata's race, the

king of

thousand horsemen capable of

ten

full

What

lances.

During the progress of that

great carnage, Cakuni, aided by that force,

and assailed the Pandava army

put forth his valor

the rear, slaughtering

The vast force of the Pandus then, O

with his keen shafts. 21

monarch, broke even as a mass of clouds is dispersed on all sides

by a mighty wind. 82

Then Yudhishthira, beholding from a own army routed, coolly urged the mighty

near point his

Sahadeva, saying, 38

— Yonder the son of Suvala,

rear, stayeth, clad in mail

hold that wicked wight, of Draupadi, proceed of Suvala

He slaughtered our forces

O son of Pandu 34

towards him and slay Cakuni the son

Supported by the Panchalas,

the elephants and all the horse and three

one, I

sinless

enemy 85

Let

thousand

Supported by these, slay Cakuni 86 !

Be-

Aided by the sons

will meanwhile destroy the car-force of the

ceed with thee

afflicting our

all

foot, pro-

— At

this,

seven hundred elephants ridden by combatants armed with the

bow, and five thousand horse, and the valiant Sahadeva, 87 and thousand

three

foot-soldiers,

and the sons of Draupadi, all

rushed against Cakuni difficult of defeat in battle. 88 son, however,

of great

valour,

Suvala's

O king, prevailing over the

Pandavas and longing for victory, began to slay their forces from the rear. 89 The horsemen, infuriate with rage, belonging to the

Pandavas endued with great

division of Suvala's son, riors.

activity, penetrated

prevailing over the

the

car-war-

latter's

Those heroic horsemen, staying in the midst of their

own elephants, covered the showers of shafts. 41

large

host of Suvala's

In consequence of thy

evil

king, dreadful was the battle that then ensued in

and lances were used and

son

with

counsels,

which maces

which heroes only took

part.

The twang of bowstrings was no longer heard there, for all the car-warriors stood as spectators of that fight. At that time no difference could be seen between the contending parties. 43

Both

calya parva,

Parva.]

the Kurus and the Pandavas,

bull of Bharata's race, beheld

the darts huried from heroic arms course like meteors

the welkin.

The entire

welkin,

through

monarch, shrouded with

falling swords of great brightness, seemed to become exceedingly

The aspect presented, O chief of the Bharatas, by Ihe lances hurled all around, became like that of swarms of beautiful.

locusts in the welkin. in consequence

limbs

Steeds, with

wounds

bathed in blood

by horsemen themselves

inflicted

wounded with arrows, dropped down on all sides thousands. 47

and

together,

many

to vomit blood

one

Ecountering

of them

hundreds

another and

huddled

A thick darkness came

there when the troops were covered with a dusty cloud.

that darkness shrouded everything,

combatants,

brave spot.

many

were seen to be mangled and

from their mouths.

When

O king, we beheld those

and men,

steeds

— move away from that

Others were seen to fall down on the Earth, vomiting

blood in

Many

profusion.

another by their

great strength, dragged one horses,

combatants,

locks, could

not

stir.

another from

entangled

with one

Many, endued with the backs of their

and encountering one another thus, slew one another

combatants in a

match. 51

Many

deprived of

life,

were borne away on the backs of the

steeds

they rode. 51

wrestling

Many men, proud of their victory, were seen to

fall

valor

and inspired with

down on the

Earth.

desire

The Earth

became strewn over with hundreds and thousands of combatants bathed in blood,

deprived of limbs,

and divested of hair. 53

In consequence of the surface of the Earth being covered with elephant-riders and horsemen and slain steeds and combatants

with blood-stained armour and others armed with weapons and others who had sought to slay one another with diverse kinds of terrible

weapons,

all

lying closely

huddled together

that

battle fraught with fearful carnage, no warrior could proceed far "

Having fought for a little while, Cakuni O monarch, went away from that spot with 5 Simithe remnant of his cavalry numbering six thousand. on his horse. 54 55

the son of Suvala,

larly

the

Pandava

force,

covered

with blood,

mals fatigued, moved away from that spot with consisting of six thousand b,orse, 57

and

its

remnant

ani-

The blood-stained horsemen

MAHABHARATA.

of the Pandava army then, with

hearts intent on

prepared to lay down their lives, said,

—

battle

and

no longer pos-

how much more

sible to fisjht here on cars ;

fight here on elephants

[£alya-badha

then to

difficult

Let cars proceed against

cars,

and

Having retreated, Cakuni is now staying within his own division. The royal son of Suvala 60 Then the sons of Draupadi will not again come to battle elephants against elephants

—

and those infuriate elephants proceeded to the place where the Panchala prince Dhrishtadyumna, that great car-warrior, was."

Sahadeva also, when that dusty cloud arose, proceeded alone to After all those had gone away,

where king Yudhishthira was."

Cakuni the son of Suvala, excited with wrath, once more fell upon Dhrishtadyumna's division and began to strike it.* 8

Once more a dreadful battle took place, in which the combatants were all regardless of their lives, between thy soldiers and those of the another.

foe, all

of whom

were desirous of slaying one

In that encounter of heroes, the combatants

eyed one another steadfastly, and then rushed, fell

upon one another

destructive

carnage,

king,

hundreds and thousands. severed with

heads,

with a noise like that of falling palmyra fruits.

and

In that

down Loud also be-

swords, 66

first

fell

came the noise, making the very hair to stand on end, of bodies falling down on the ground, divested of armour and mangled king, and of with weapons and of falling weapons also, 67 Striking brothers arms and thighs severed from the trunk. weapons, the combatants and sons and even sires with keen

birds, for

pieces

of meat 68

rage, thousands of warriors,

falling

upon one another,

were seen to fight

with

69 impatiently struck one another in that battle.

Excited

Hundreds and

thousands of combatants, killed by the weight of slain horse-

men while falling down from field.

fleetness,

Loud became the

their

noise

steeds, fell

down on the

of neighing steeds

of great

and of shouting men clad in mail, and of the

darts and swords,

king, of combatants

the vitals of one another in consequence, evil policy.

spent with

71 " 73

rage,

desirous

falling

of piercing

O monarch, of thy

At that time, thy soldiers, overcome with their

toil,

animals fatigued, themselves parched

with thirst, mangled with keen weapons, began to turn away

calya parva.

Parva.]

from the battle. 78

Maddened with the scent

of blood,

many

became so insensate Jthat they slew friends and foes alike, in 74 Large numbers of Kshatriyas, fact, every one they got at.

O king, inspired with desire of victory, were struck down with king, and fell prostrate on the Earth.

arrows,

make a loud noise.

In the 74

Wolves and

howl and scream

vultures and jackalls began to

suffered a great loss.

and

glee

very sight of thy son, thy army

The Earth,

O monarch, became strewn

with the bodies of men and steeds, and covered with streams the

of blood that inspired

timid with

terror.

Struck and

mangled repeatedly with swords and battle-axes and lances, thy Bhiirata, ceased to

approach

Striking one another according to the

measure

warriors, as also the Pandavas,

one another.

fighting to the last

of their strength, and

drop of their blood,

wounds.™

the combatants fell down, vomiting blood from their

Headless forms were seen, seizing the hair of their heads (with one hand) and with other).

uplifted

swords dyed with blood (in the

When many headless forms, O king, had thus risen

when the scent of blood had made the combatants nearly senseless, 81 and when the loud noise had somewhat subsided, up,

Suvala's son (once more) approached the large host of th% Pan-

small

with the

davas,

Pandavas, inspired

remnant

elephants and cavalry,

wall,

this,

the

with desire of victory and endued with

great activity, rushed towards

reaching: the

of his horse.

all

end of the

Cakuni, with foot-soldiers and

with uplifted weapons. 83 hostilities, the

Desirous of

Pandavas, forming a

encompassed Cakuni on all sides, and began to strike him

81 with diverse kinds of weapons.

thine assailed from every side, elephants, and

cars,

horse, foot,

rushed towards the Pandavas. 85

of great courage,

foot-soldiers

Beholding those troops of

the Kauravas, with

destitute

Some

of weapons, attacked

their foes in that battle, with feet and fists,

d )wn.

and brought them Car-warriors fell down from cars, and elephant-meu like meritorious persons falling down

from elephants, celestial vehicles

upon

from their

the exhaustion of their merits.

Thus

the combatants, engaged with one another in that great battle,

and brothers and friends and sons. 88

slew

sires

that

battle,

best

of the Bharatas, in

Thus occurred

which no consideration

— mahabharata,

SO was shown by anybody swords and arrows

[£alya-badha

for

anyone, and in which lances and

fell fast

on every side and made the scene " 89

exceedingly terrible to behold.'

Section XXIV. "Sanjaya said,

—'When the loud noise of battle had some-

what subsided and the Pandavas had slain large numbers of their foes, Suvala's son (once more) came for fight, with the remnant

horse

of his

numbering seven hundred. 1

Quickly

approaching his own soldiers and urging them to battle, he repeatedly said,

—Ye chastisers of

foes,

fight

cheerfully !"

is the king,

that great car- warrior ?

— Where — Hearing these words of

Cakuni,

bull

of Bharata's

they answered, saying,

And he asked

Kshatriyas present there, saying,

the

race,

8 Yonder stayeth that great car-warrior, viz., the Kuru king,

umbrella, of splendour equal to that of

there where that large

the full moon,

roar

of clouds,

— there where those warriors, clad — there where that loud noise, deep as the car-

is visible,

in mail, are staying,

being heard

king, cand thou wilt then see the

Proceed quickly thither, O

Kuru monarch 5 !

— Thus ad-

dressed by those brave warriors, Suvala's son Cakuni,

proceeded to that spot where thy

all

the

midst of that

Beholding Duryodhana Cakuni, gladdening

car-force,

said

these

Indeed, he said the following

words

those car-warriors of thine,

words unto Duryodhana.

king,

son was staying, surrounded

6 on all sides by unretreating heroes.

stationed in

king, cheerfully,

in a manner which showed that he regarded all his purposes

have been already achieved. (of the Pandavas)

unless one is prepared to lay down his

vanquished by

life

9 !

When

battle

that car-

force, protected by the son of

Pandu,

we shall then slay

elephants and foot-soldiers

others

10 !

all

— Slay, O king, the car-divisions

All their horse have been

Yudhishthira is incapable of being conquered

—

those

— Hearing these words of

will have been destroyed,

his,

thy

and

warriors, inspired

with desire of victory, cheerfully rushed towards the Pandava arrmy. all of

With quivers on their backs and bows in their hands, them shook their bows and uttered leonine roars.'* Oace.

calya parva.

Parva.]

O king, the fierce twang of bows and

more,

the

slapping

18 palms and the whiz of arrows shot with force was heard. Beholding those Kuru combatants approach the Pandava

army with uplifted bows, Kunti's son Dhananjaya said unto the son of Devaki these words *— Urge the steeds fearlessly 1

With my keen shafts I shall Today is the

and penetrate this sea of troops today reach the end of these

Janarddana, of this great battle that

day,

eighteenth

between the two sides

ra^inor

hostilities !'•

The army

of those

high-

souled heroes, which was literally numberless, hath been nearly 17 The army of Behold the course of Destiny as the ocean, was vast which Madhava, son, Dhritarashtra's

destroyed

hath,

O Achyuta, become, after encountering

the indent caused by a cow's hoof

18 !

ourselves, even

If peace

had been

Madhava, everything would have

made after Bhishma's fall, The foolish Duryodhana of weak understanding, been well 19 The words that were uttered however, did not make peace !

by Bhishma,

O Madhava, were beneficial and worthy

of adop-

Suyodhana, however, who had lost his understanding, did 80 After Bhishma had been struck not act according to them. tion.

and thrown down on the Earth, I do not know the reason why 21 I regard the Dhartarashtras to bo the battle proceeded !

foolish and of

weak understanding

every

continued the battle even after the

fall

way, since they

of Cantanu's

son

2a !

After that when Drona, that foremost of all uttcrers of Brahma, fell,

as also the son

not still cease !*•

Radha, and Vikarna, the carnage did

Alas,

when

small remnant

(Kaurava) army remained after the

men, viz., cease

Kama, with

his

Jalasandha of

Puru's

Calya, of

Calwa,

carnage did not

and of king Crutayudha,

race,

carnage did not still cease 98

of that

of the

among still

heroic Crutayush, of also

After the fall of even the

tho

After the fall of Bhuricravas, of

Janarddana, and of the Avanti heroes,

the carnage did not still cease of the

fall

sons, the

only tiger

86 r

Rakshasa Aliiyudha,

the carnage did not still cease

After the fall of Jayadratha,

of Valhika, and of Somadatta, 87 !

After the

fall

of the heroic

Bhagadatta, of the Kamvoja chief Sadakshina, and of Duscasana, the carnage did not still cease

ri \

BchQl&ng even divert

MAHABHARATA.

[Qalya-badfia

mighty kings, each owning extensive

heroic and

Krishna did not

slain in battle, the carnage,

territories,

still

cease !*'

Beholding evten a full Akshauhini of troops 9)ain by Bhimasena In battle, the carnage

did not

either the folly or the

covetousness

consequence of

cease, in

still

Dhartarashtras

of the

What king born in a noble race, a race especially Kuru,

save

fruitlessly

the

course

wage such

hostilities ?

possessed of reason and wisdom and

good from

evil,

would

that

him

foes to be superior to

that of

Duryodhana, would thus

foolish

fierce

s0 !

Who

there,

of discriminating

capable

thus wage war, knowing his courage ? sa

merit, strength, and

How could he listen to the counsels of another, when, indeed, he could not make up his mind to make peace with the Pandavas in obedience to the words uttered by thee ?

What medi-

acceptable to that person today who disregarded Bhishma the son of Cantanu, and Drona, and Vidura, while 34 How can he accept good they urged him to make peace ?

cine can be

O Janarddana, insolently disregarded

counsels who, from folly,

own well-meaning mother while ss JanardIt is evident, speaking beneficial words unto him ? his own aged sire as also his

dana, that Duryodhana race line,

took his birth

His conduct and

his

policy,

He will not give

lord!

my opinion,

Achyuta

38 !

for is

exterminating his to that

seen, point

kingdom yet

us our

This is

The high-souled Vidura,

told me many a time that as long as

life

remained

sire,

Dhrita-

rashtra'sson, he would never give us our share of the kingdom !"

Vidura further told me, live,

— As long also as Dhritarashtra

will

giver of honors, even that sinful wight will act sinfully

towards you

88 !

Ye will never succeed in vanquishing Duryo-

dhana without battle true foresight

often

— Even thus, O Mfidhava, did Vidura of speak to

me 39

wicked-souled wight, I now find, to souled Vidura had said

40 !

All

the

exactly

acts of that

the

high-

That person of wicked understand-

in" who, having listened to the beneficial and 1

proper words of

Jamadagni's son, disregarded them, should certainly be held as standing in the face

of destruction.

Many persons crowned

with ascetic success said as soon as Duryodhana was born, that the entire Kshatriya. order

would be exterminated

conse-

calya pauva.

Farva.]

qucnce of that wretch. 48

Those words of the sagos, O Janiird-

dana, arc now being realised, since the Kshatriyas are

going almost entire extermination dhana's acts

I shall,

under-

consequence of Duryo-

O Madhava, slay all the warriors today 4g !

have been slain and the (Kaurava)

After all the Kshatriyas will

camp made empty, Duryodhana will then desire battle with us for his own destruction. 44 That will end these hostilities

Exercising my

reflecting in my own

Madhava, and

reason,

thou of Vrishni's race, thinking of Vidura's words, and

mind,

taking into account the acts of the wicked-souled Duryodhana himself, I have come to this conclusion

army,

and his army today with

Penetrate the Bharata

wicked-souled Duryodhana

the

hero, for I shall slay

kcon shafts 4S 46 !

Slaying this

weak army in the very sight of Dhritarashtra's today do what is for Yudhishthira's good 47 !

"Sanjaya continued, of Dacarha's vast hostile

for

hand, fearlessly

battle.

bows (which the two heroes

That was a

And the

paths.

its

Cars

Kccava, as he entered

king, bearing Arjuna in battle,

many banners and Those

penons,

white steeds,

were seen careering everywhere,

urged by him of Dararha's race foes, viz.,

its

illustrious

resplendent. 80

exceedingly

forest of

Calvalry and infantry

trees.

that forest on that car decked with

looked

terrible

and elephants wer,e its mighty were its creepers.

penetrated that

Darts constituted

entered).

Maces and spiked bludgeons were

prickles.

shall

— 'Thus addressed by Savyasachin, he

race, reins

force

son, I

—

S1 !

Then that scorcher

Savyasachin, proceeded on his car, shooting hundreds

of keen shafts like a cloud pouring showers of rain.

Loud was

the noise produced by those straight arrows" as also by those

combatants that were covered with them in that battle by Savyasachin.

Showers of shafts, piercing through the armour of

the combatants, cliva, arrows,

fell

down on the Earth.' 8

Impelled from Gdn-

whose touch resembled that of Indra's thunder,

striking men and elephants battle with a noise like that

and horses, of winged

king, insects.

fell

Everything

was shrouded with those shafts shot from Gandiva. battle,

the

points

the

could not be distinguished,"

that

In that

compass, cardinal and subsidiary,

The whole world seemed

Mahabharata.

94 filled

[galya-bacUia

with gold-winged shafts, steeped in

polished by

oil,

hands of the smith, and marked with Partha's name. 55

the

Struck

with those keen shafts, and burnt therewith by Partha even as

Kaura-

a herd of elephants is burnt with burning brands, the vas became

bow and

languid and lost their strength. 87 *

blazing Sun, burnt

arrows, Partha, resembling the

the hostile combatants in that battle

suming a hoap

of dry

grass.

flames and great energy, (arising from the confines of a forest by

its

blazing

roaring

fire

of blazing

denizens, fast consumes

of great activity

creepers,

those

even

and fierce energy and

endued with prowess of weapons, and having shafts flames, quickly burnt all the troops

con-

fire

embers) cast away on

woods abounding with trees and heaps of dry so that hero possessed

Armed with

for

his

66 son from wrath.

of thy

His gold-winged arrows, endued with fatal force and shot with care, could not be baffled by any armour.

He had not to shoot

second arrow at man, steed, or elephant of gigantic size.

Like the thunder-wielding Indra striking down the Baityas, Arjuna, alone, entering that division

of mighty

car- warriors,

destroyed it with shafts of diverse forms."62

Section XXV. "Sanjaya said,— 'Dhananjaya, with his Gandiva, frustrated the purpose of those unreturning

and striking their foes.

heroes struggling in battle

The shafts shot by Arjuna, irresistible

and endued with great force and whose touch was like that of the thunder, were seen to resemble torrents of rain poured by a cloud.*

That army, O chief of the Bharatas, thus struck

by Kiritin, fled away

the

very sight of thy son.

deserted their sires and brothers ; others, their comrades. car-warriors were deprived of their animals. drivers.

king

Some had their poles

or yokes

broken,

Some were seen

Some, though unwounded, fled in a body,

* The Bombay edition reads the first differently,— T.

Others lost their

or wheels

The arrows of some were exhausted.

afflicted with arrows.

Some Some

half of the second line of 51

calya parva,

Parva.]

Some endeavoured

afflicted with fear."

rescue

their sons,

and animals. Some loudly called upon their sires, some upon their comrades and followers.' tiger among men, and Some fled, deserting their kinsmen,

having lost all their kinsmen

with, were seen

Others, taking for a while,

Many mighty car-

breatho

hard,

deprived

them up on their own cars,

of their

senses.'

and soothing them

and resting them and dispelling their

thirst

9 drink, once more proceeded to battle.

them

incapable

Piirtha's shafts and deeply pierced there-

warriors, struck with

offering

monarch 7

and other relatives,

brothers

of being

defeated

easily

battle,

Some,

deserting

the

more advanced to battle, desirous of obeying 10 Some, having slaked their thirst the behests of thy son.

wounded, once

or groomed their animals,

O chief of the Bharatas, brothers and sons and

more came to battle.

and some, having comforted their

sires,

and placed them

camp, once

Some, arraying their cars in the order, and inferiors, advanced against the Pan-

king, of superiors

davas once more

and some, wearing (fresh) armour, 11

battle.

for

Those heroes, (on their cars)

covered with rows of bells, looked resplendent like Daityas 14 and Danavas intent on the conquest of the three world*. Some, advancing with precipitancy on their vehicles decked with

gold, fought sions.

with Dhrishtadyumna amid the Pandava divi-

The Piinchala prince Dhrishtadyumna, and the great

car-warrior Cikhandin, and Catanika the son of Nakula, fought 16 with the car-force of the enemy.

filled

with rage and supported by a

The Piinchala prince then, large army, rushed against

17 thy angry troops from desire of slaying them.

son,

O ruler of men, sped many

rata, at the Piinchala prince

Then thy Bha-

showers of arrows,

thus rushing

at him.

Then, O

king, Dhrishtadyumna was quickly pierced with many arrows in his arms

and cheat by thy son fighting with

his

bow. 19

Deeply pierced therewith like an elephant with pointed lances, that great

then despatched with his shafts the four

bowman

steeds of Duryodhana

the regions of death.

With another

broad-headed arrow he next cut off from his trunk

the

head

Then that chastiacr of foes,

viz.,

kinj$

of his enemy's driver.

Duryodhana, having thus lost his car, rode on horseback and

mahabiiarata.

not

spot

retreated to a

remote. 81

[palya-badhd

army

Beholding his own

destitute of prowess, thy son, the mighty Duryodhana,

proceeded to

the

place

where Suvala's son was. 82

cars were broken, three thousand

Kaurava

encompassed those car-warriors,

viz.,

compassed by that elephant force,

When the elephants

gigantic

the five Pandavas. 88

En-

Bharata, the five brothers

O tiger among men, like the planets surround-

looked beautiful,

the clouds. 84

ed by

king,

Then the mighty-armed and white-steeded

Arjuna,

king, of sureness of aim and

his driver,

advanced on his

phants huge as

hills,

car.

having Krishna for

Surrounded by those

ele-

he began to destroy those animals with

his keen and polished arrows.

Each slain with a single arrow,

wo beheld those huge elephants fallen or falling down, mangled by Savyasachin. 87 The mighty Bhimasena, himself like an infuriate

elephant, beholding those elephants, took up his for-

midable mace and rushed at them, quickly jumping down from his car, like the Destroyer

of the

great car-warrior soldiers

armed with his club. 88 Pandavas with

Seeing that

uplifted

mace, thy

became filled with fright and passed urine and excreta.

The whole army became agitated upon beholding Bhimasena armed with mace. 89

We then beheld those elephants, huge as

running hither and thither, with their frontal globes split open by Bhima with his mace and all their limbs bathed in 80 Struck with Bhima's mace, those elephants, running blood. hills,

from him,

off

tains.

their falling

fell

down with cries of pain, like wingless moun-

Beholding those elephants, many

frontal globes split open, running hither

thy soldiers wore

down,

Yudhisht-hira

also,

filled

with

number,

with

and thither

inspired

with

wrath, and

the

fear.

Then

two sons of

Madri, began to slay those elephant-warriors with arrows equipt

with vulturine the

(Kurti)

wings. 88

king

Dhrishtadyumna,

in battle,

and after the

after

the defeat of

flight of the

latter

from that spot on horse-back, saw that the Pandavas had all been surrounded by the (Kaurava) elephants. 84 Beholding this,

monarch, Dhrishtadyumna the son of the Panchala king

proceeded towards those elephants, from desire

of slaughtering

Meanwhile, not seeing Duryodhana in the midst of the car-force, A<;waHhiimau and Kripa, and Kritavarman of them. 3 *

— calva parva.

Parva.]

Satwata

the

race,

asked

Where has Duryodhana gone been

have

they enquired after after the

fall

of his

38 ?

thorn, Baying,

— Not seeing the king

those great car-warriors

midst of that carnage,

thy son

Kshatriyas

the

all

Hence,

slain.

Some

him."

with sorrowful

persons

had gone

driver, he

faces,

them that

told

Suvala'a

the

thought)

all

son.* 5

Other Kshatriyas, present there, who had been exceedingly

— What need

mangled with wounds, said, dhana

See,

What

will

the

he is

yet

alive

king do to you ? 19

were exceedingly mangled,

Duryo-

there with

Do you all fight

unitedly !

— Other Kshatriyas, who

who had

lost

many

of their

kins-

men, and who were still being afflicted with the arrows of the enemy, said these words in indistinct these

forces

whom we

tones.

encompassed

are

— Let us slay Behold,

the

Pandavas are coming hither, after having slain the elephants

— Hearing these words of

theirs, the

mighty Acwatthaman, Panchala king, 4 *

piercing through that irresistible force of the

proceeded, with

Kripa and Kritavarman,

Suvala's son was.

leaving

Indeed, those

the car-force, repaired

After they had gone away, the

heroes, (in

41 !

the

those

spot

firm

where

bowmen,

Duryodhana). 48

Pandavas, headed by Dhrishta-

dyumna, advanced, O king, and began to slay

their

enemies. 4 *

Beholding those valiant and heroic and mighty car-warriors cheerfully rushing

the faces lives.

towards them, thy

many had turned

pale,

troops,

amongst

whom

became hopeless of their

Seeing those soldiers of ours almost deprived cf wea-

pons and surrounded (by the foe),

myself,

king, having

only two kinds of forces, and becoming reckless of life, 46 joined

our army, and

fought with

the

five leaders of

the

Panchala prince, posting our men on that spot whero

Ciradwat's son was stationed. 47 shafts of Kiritin.

tween us and the division of Dhrishtadyumna. allot"

forces

We had been ahHicted with the

Nevertheless, a fierce battle took

quished by the latter, I

the

place

be-

At last, van4

* us retreated from that encounter.

then beheld the mighty car-warrior Satyaki rushing against

With four hundred cars that hero pursued me in battle. 4 ' Having escaped with difficulty from Dhrishtadyumna whoso

us.

steeds had been tired, I fell among the forces of Madhavs even

mahabharata,

98 as

a sinner falleth

into hell.

took place for a short

while.

[£alya-badha

There a fierce and terrible battle 80

The mighty-armed Sasaki,

having cut off my armour, became desirous of taking me alive.

He seized me

while I lay

down on

ground insensible. 51

the

Then within a siiort while that elephant force was destroyed by Bhimasena with his mace and Arjuna with his arrows. 68 In consequence of those mighty elephants, huge as hills, falling

•down on every side with crushed limbs, the Pandava warriors -found their way almost entirely blocked up." Then the mighty

O monarch, dragging away those huge elephants,

Bhimasena,

made

way

the

for

Pandavas

come

Meanwhile

out.'*

Acwatthanran and Kripa and Kritavarman of the Satwata race,

not seeing that

chastiser of foes, viz.,

Duryodhana, amid the

Abandoning the prince spot where Suvala's

car-division, sought for thy royal son.

of the Panchalas, they proceeded to the •son was, anxious

'terrible carnage.'"

have a sight of the king during that

Section XXVI. "Sanjaya destroyed,

said,

— 'After that elephant division had been

O Bharata, by the son

Panda, and while thy

army was being thus slaughtered by Bhimasena beholding the latter,

— that chastiser of

all-killing Destroyer himself in rage

remnant

of thy

viz., thy

battle,

— careering

like the

armed with his

unslaughtered sons,

king, united together

foes,

those

club," the

uterine brothers,

that time when he of Kuril's race,

son Bury odhana, could not be seen, and rushed against

They were Durmarshana and Crutanta and Jaitra and Bhurivala and Ravi, and Jayatsena and Sujata and that

[Bhimasena.

slayer

of foes, viz., Durvishaha,

and he called Durvimochana,

and Dushpradharsha, and the mighty-armed Crutarvan.

them were accomplished uniting

battle. 8

together, rushed against Bhimasena and

all sides.

Then Bhima,

All of

These sons of thine, shut him up

monarch, once more mounting

on his own car, began to shoot keen shafts at the vital limbs 7 Those sons of thine, covered with arrows by of thy sons.

Bhimasena in that dreadful battle, began

to drag that

warrior.

calya parva.

Tavva.J

8 Excited' dragging an elephant from off a cross- way. of Durmarwith rage, Bhimascna, quickly cutting off the head

like men

shatia with a razor-headed arrow, felled it on the Earth.

Wit-h

another broad-headed arrow capable of penetrating every armour,

Bhima next slew

that

mighty

car-warrior, viz., thy

son Cru-

Then with the greatest ease, piercing Jay at sen a with a cloth-yarcT shaft, that chastiser of foes, viz., the son of Pandu; tanta. * 1

felled that scion of Kuril's race

king,

fell

from

down and immediately

his

The

car.

expired.*

prince,

thy son

this

Crutarvan, excited with rage, pierced Bhima with a hundred 1

straight arrows winged with vulturinc feathers. *

inflamed with rage, those

with

three,

three

resembling poison or

shafts

Those mighty car-warriors, thus struck,

down

(

by the axeman ).

with another

of foes,

Thus struck, that foremost

Then that scorcher

of car-warriors

car, like a tree growing

mountain when broken by the wind.'* struck thy other

their

season

the

broad : headed arrow of great keenness

struck Durvimochana and despatched him

ground from his

fire.

down from

fell

cars, like Kincwkas variegated with flowers in

spring cut

Then Bhima,

and Ravi and Bhurivala,

pierced Jaitra

Yama's

fell

abode."''

down on the

on the summit of a

The son of Pandu next

two sons at the head of their

forces,

viz.,

Dushpradharsha and Sujata, each with a couple of arrows in that battle.

Those two foremost of car-warriors, pierced withdown. 17

Beholding next another son of thine,

those

shafts, fell

viz.,

Durvishaha, rushing at him, Bhima pierced him

broad-headed arrow in that battle. sight of all

his car in the

very

many

brothers slain

of his

that battle, Crutarvan, under the

Bhima,

the single-handed

energy.

dreadful battle,

Bhima

influence of rage, rushed

stretching his formidable bow decked with

shooting a large fire in

That prince fell down from bowmen. * Beholding so

the

with a

gold

ill

and

number of arrows that resembled poison or Cutting off the bow of Pandu's son in that the Kuru

prince

pierced

the bowlegs

Bhima

Then Bhimasena, that mighty car warbow, sHrouded thy son with arrows up another rior, taking with twenty arrows.

and addressing him, said,— Wait, Wait !"— The battle that took place

between the two was beautiful and fierce,

like that which

maiiabharata.

100

had occurred

[galya-badha

days of yore between Vasava and the Asurct,

"With the keen shafts, resembling the fatal Jambha, O lord of Yama, sped by those two warriors, the Earth, the sky, !* s

rods

and

the

all

Crutarvan,

filled

chest.

the

king, with

full

many arrows on his arms and

monarch, by thy son armed with

Deeply pierced,

the bow,

Then

with rage, took up his bow and struck Bhima-

sena in that battle, 38

became shrouded.* 4

points of the compass,

Bhima became exceedingly agitated like the ocean at 36 Filled with wrath, Bhima then, or the new moon.

O sire, despatched with his arrows the driver and the four steeds

of thy son to Yama's abode.

Beholding him

earless,

Pandu's son of immeasurable soul, displaying the lightness of his hands, covered him with winged arrows.

tarvan then.O king, took up a sword and shield.

The earless CruAs the prince,

however, careered with his sword and bright shield decked with

a hundred moons, the son of Pandu struck

off his

his trunk with a razor-headed arrow and

felled

Earth.

head from it

on the

The trunk of that illustrious warrior, rendered headdown from his

less by means of that razor-headed arrow, fell car, filling the

Earth with a loud

that hero, thy troops, though

noise.

terrified,

against Bhimasena from desire

Upon

rushed

of fighting

the

fall

that

battle

with

him. 31

The

valiant Bhimasena, clad in mail, received those warriors rush-

ing quickly at him from among the unslain

ocean of troops.

remnant

of that

Approaching him, those warriors encompassed

that hero on all sides. 53

Thus surrounded by those warriors

thine, Bhima began to afflict them all with keen shafts him of a thousand eyes afflicting the A suras.* 3 Having

des-

troyed five hundred great cars with their fences, he once

slew seven hundred elephants in that battle.

Slaying next

ten thousand foot-soldiers with his mighty shafts, as also eight

hundred steeds, the son deed,

Pandu looked

Bhimasena the son of Kunti, having

battle, regarded his object achieved,

his birth accomplished.

lord,

resplendent. 3 * slain

thy sons

Inin

and the purpose of

Thy troops, at that time, O Bharata,

ventured not to even gaze at that warrior who was battling in that fashion and slaying thy men in the Kurus and slaying those

that

followers

way. 37

of theirs,

Routing

all

Bhima then

— lOl

CAlya parva,

Parva.]

huge elephants with the Then thy army, O monarch, which had the

slapped his arm-pits, terrifying noise he produced."

number of men, and which then consisted of " i3 king.' a very few soldiers, became exceedingly cheerless,

lost a very large

Section XXVII. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Duryodhana,

the only two of thy children

yet

king, and thy son Sudar<;a, unslain,

in the midst of the (Kaurava) cavalry.

the midst

staying in

of the

foes,

—kinsmen

son (Krishna)

cavalry, Devaki's

large number of

had received our protection,

that

There, that bull of Cini's

been slain.

were at that time

Beholding Duryodhana

son of Kunti,"— A

said unto Dhananjaya the

our

— have

race is returning,

hav-

Both Nakula and Sahadeva, O Bharata, are fatigued, having fought with the wretched Dhartarashtras and their followers !* Those three, viz., Kripa and ing taken Sanjaya captive

Kritavarman and the mighty car-warrior Aewatthaman, have left Duryodhana's side

and taken up their position elsewhere

Having slain Duryodhana's troops, the Panchala prince stayeth yonder, endued with great beauty, in the midst of the Prabhadrakas. 5

There,

O Partha, Duryodhana stayeth in the midst of

with the umbrella held over his head and himself T Having rcarrayed the (remnant flinging his glances all around his cavalry,

army, he stayeth in the midst of his

of his)

this one with thy 8

objects

keen

shafts,

Slaying

forces.

thou mayst achieve

As long as these troops do not

fly

all

thy

away beholding

thee, in their midst and witnessing also the destruction of their

elephant force, do thou,

Duryodhana !'

Let somebody go to the Panchala prince and

ask him to come hither.

O sire ing

10 !

O ehastiser of foes, endeavour to slay The (Kaurava) troops

are

all

tired,

escap-

The sinful Duryodhana will never succeed Having slain a large number of thy troops

battle

wears a proud aspect as

he be-

the son of Dhritarashtra lieves that the

u Pandavaa have boon vanquished !

Beholding

his own troops afflicted and slain by the Pandavas, the Kuru

king will certainly come to battle

fur

Thus addressed by Kribhna rha'guna ;

his

own

replied

destruction

unto him, suy-

Mahabharata.

10$ ing,

— Almost

the

all

sons of

alive !

giver

Only these two are yet

They, however, O Krishna, shall also meet with des-

truction today

Bhishma hath been slain, Drona hath been

Kama, otherwise

slain,

Dhritafashtra,

Bhima

honors, have been s^lain by

[galya-badha

been

Vaikartana, hath

called

slain !

Calya the king of the Madras hath been slain, and Jayadratha also,

O Krishna, hath been slain 14 !

Only five hundred horse !"

form the remnant of the troops of Cakuni the son of Suvala

O Janarddana

Of cars, only two hundred still remain,

elephants there remain only a hundred that are formidable, and of foot only three thousand

There remain also Acwattha-

man and Kripa and the ruler of the Cakuni and Kritavarman there

escape

Satwata race

of the

Madhava, form the remnant

and Uiuka and

Trigartas

of Duryodhana's

from death

Duryodhana

alive

will be freed from all

escape

Krishna,

foes

Even

yet slay

I shall

furious in battle,

17 !

place, behold,

Today king Yudhishthira, however,.

his

me, I ween 18

Truly,

anybody on Earth

for

None amongst the enemy will

they

be more than men,

those warriors today, however

all

only they do not fly away from the

field

Filled with wrath in today's battle, I shall, by slaying the prince

of Gandhara with

my keen shafts, dispel that sleeplessness

which the king has suffered

long

for

time!

110

win

shall

back all those valuable possessions which Suvala's son of wicked conduct won from us at the gambling match bly !"

the assem-

Hearing of the slaughter of their husbands and

at the hands of the Pandavas

battle,

all

city called after the elephant will utter loud

O Krishna, our task will be ended

also

of the

wails !"*

Today,

his

shall

dead,

Krishna, he does not today

away from the battle to be waged by me 34

life-breaths

Thou may>st take the foolish son of Dhritarashtra to be if,

sons-

the ladies

Today Duryodhana

abandon all his blazing prosperity as

O thou of Vrishni's race,

fly

Those steeds are

incapable of enduring the twang of my bow and the slaps of

my palms

These,

force

Although such a tremendous carnage has taken is still

Proceed thither,

Krishna, for I will slay them

* The true reading is Rotsyanti aui! uot VeUyanli— T.

2* !

galya parva.

Farva.]

103

— Thus addressed by Panda's son of great force of mind, he of O king, towards

Dacarha's race urged his steeds, of Duryodhana."

the

division

Beholding that force (within which Dur-

yodhana was), three mighty ear-warriors prepared themselves for assailing it, for Bhimasena and Arjuna and Sahadeva, O sire,

together

proceeded

against

with

from desire of slaying Duroydhana.

loud

leonine

roars

Beholding those three

warriors rushing quickly together with uplifted

bows, Suvala's

son proceeded towards that spot against those Panda va

foes.

Thy son Sudarcana rushed against Bhimasena. Sucarman and Cakuni encountered Kiritin. Thy son Duryodhana on horseback proceeded against Sahadeva. 93

Then thy

ruler

son,

men, with great speed and care, forcibly struck Sahadeva's head with a lance. 80

Thus assailed by thy son, Sahadeva

on the terrace of his

car, all

his

himself sighing like a snake. 81

down

sat

blood and

limbs bathed in

Regaining his senses then,

O king, Sahadeva, filled with rago, covered Duryodhana with keen arrows. 82

Kunti's son Dhananjaya, otherwise called Par-

tha, putting forth his prowess, cut off the heads of many brave

combatants

horse-back.* 3

arrows, destroyed that

Partha,

Indeed,

(cavalry)

division.

the steeds, he then proceeded against

the

cars

many

with

Having

felled

of the

3 tas. *

all

Trigar-

At this, the great car-warriors of the Trigartas uniting Arjuna and Yasudeva with showers of together, covered r

shafts**

Assailing Satyakarman

with

razor-headed

arrow,

the son of Panda, possessed of great fame, cut off his adversary's car-shafts.

With another razor-headed

arrow,

lord,

whetted on stone, that celebrated hero,

smiling the while,

cut off his antagonist's head adorned with

bright gold. 87

next attacked Satyeshu in the

the

a hungry lion,

sight

of all

warriors,

king, in the forest, attacking a deer. 38

ing slain him, Partha pierced Sucarman

He liko

Hav-

with three arrows

and then slew all those car-warriors adorned with ornaments of gold."

then proceeded against Sucarman

the

ruler

poison

Prashthala with great speed, vomiting the

virulent

his wrath cherished for many long years. 40

Covering him first,

O bull of Bharata's race, with a hundred arrows, Arjuna then slew all the steeds of that bowman, 41

Fixing then on his bow-

mahabharata.

104

[galya-badha

string a mighty arrow that resembled the rod of

Yama, Partha,

smiling the while, quickly sped it at Sucarman, aiming him.

Sped by that bowman blazing with wrath, that arrow,

reaching Sucarman, pierced through his heart in that battle. 43

Deprived of life,

O monarch, Sucarman fell down on the Earth,

gladdening all the Pandavas and paining

Having slain Sucarman in that

all

thy warriors. 4 *

Partha then, with hi3

battle,

shafts, despatched the five and thirty sons of that king,

were great car-warriors, to Yama's abode. 45

whom

all

Slaying

next all the followers of Sucarman with his keen arrows, the

mighty car-warrior Arjuna proceeded against the remnant of 46 the Bharata host.

Bhima, in that

O ruler of men, made thy smiling

arrows,

the

while.

his head with a razor-headed

life,

the

prince

off

his antagonist's trunk

from

De-

arrow of great sharpness.

fell

down on the Earth. 48

Upon encompassed Bhima

the fall of that (Kuru) hero, his followers in that battle, shooting

rage,

with his

with rage, the son of

Filled

Pandu, smiling the while, cut

prived

with

battle, filled

son Sudarc,ana invisible

showers of whetted arrows at him. 49

Vrikodara, however, with his keen arrows, whose touch resembled that of Indra's

thunder, covered

that

force

around him.

Bhima

slew

them

all,

Within a very short time, of Bharata's race

s0 !

many Kaurava leaders of great might,

nated,

proached Bhima and began to fight with him.*

Pandu, larly,

of the side.

king, covered all of them

thy warriors,

bull

Whilst they were being thus extermi-

with

Bharata, ap1

The son of

his. arrows.

Simi-

monarch, covered the great car-warrior3

Pandavas with dense showers All the warriors then, of both

of arrows sides,

from every

thus engaged in

battle with one another, became exceedingly agitated.* 8

Struck

by one another, the combatants of both armies, O king, began to fall down, wailing aloud for their (deceased) kinsmen.' "**

Section XXVIII. "Sanjaya said,

— 'During the progress of that battle which

was so destructive of men and steeds and elephants, Suvala's son Cakuni,

king, rushed against Sahadeva,

The valiant Sana-

Parva.]

va pakva.

165

deva, as Cakuni rushed quickly towards him, sped swift;

showers of

numerous as a Sight of

arrows at that warrior as

insects.

At that time Uluka also encountered Bhima and pierced him with ten arrows.' Oakuni meanwhile, O monarch, having pierced Bhima with three arrows, covered Sahadeva with ninety. 8

king, encountering

Indeed, those heroes,

one an-

other in that battle, pierced one another with many keen arrows

equipt with Ranka

and peacock

winged with gold,

feather?,

bowstrings drawn

whetted on stono, and sped from

arms,

their

a thick shower of rain poured from the clouds. 5 filled

to their

bows and monarch, shrouded all the points of the compass like

Those showers of arrows sped from

ears.*

Then Bhima,

with rage, and Sahadeva of great valor, both endued with

making an immense

great might, careered in that battle, nage. 6

That army,

arrows

welkin,

darkness. 7

O Bharata, was

those

two warriors.

many

parts

of the

consequence thereof, the

field,

became shrouded with

monarch,

consequence,

with arrows, dragging after them,

steeds,

covered

as they ran, a large

number

of slain combatants, the tracks on many parts of the

came entirely blocked

up. 8

their riders, with broken

Covered with steeds

and

shields

car-

covered with hundreds of

field

be-

with

slain

monarch, and

lances,

with swords and darts and spoars all around, the Earth

looked

variegated as if strewn with flowers. 9

The combatants,

O king,

encountering one another, careered in

battle,

and taking one another's with

heads,

beautiful

the filaments of the

with ear-riiurs and graced with in

wrath and

lips

bit

with wratli

Soon the field became strewn

life.'

filled

faces

in rage.

with

set

Covered

lotus,

adorned

eves

upturned

monarch,

also,

with the severed arms of warriors that resembled the trunks of

huge elephants, that were adorned with Angadaa and cased in leathern fences,

and that still

held

swords and lances and

battle-axes," and with headless bodies risen on their

feet

and

bleeding and dancing on the field,

and swarming with carnivor-

ous creatures of diverse kinds, the

Earth,

frightful aspect

13 !

lord,

presented

After the Bharata army had been reduced

to a small

remnant, the Pandavas,

dreadful

battle,

begau

filled

despatch

with

delight

the Kauravas

that

Yama's

3IAHABHARATA.

\§Z abode. 14

very

[pahja-badha

Meanwhile the heroic and valiant son of Suvala's son

forcibly

Sahadeva

struck

sat

a lance. 18

Avith

O monarch, in consequence of that blow,

Exceedingly agitated,

Sahadeva

head

the

down on the

terrace

of his

car.

Sahadeva in that plight, the valiant Bhima,

O Bharata, hold the whole Kuru army in

Beholding with

filled

check.

With

cloth-yard shafts he pierced hundreds and thousands warriors, and having

pierced

uttered a leonine roar.

them

that

so,

rage,

chastiser

Frightened at that roar,

his

of hostile of foes

the

all

fol-

lowers of Cakuni, with their steeds and elephants, precipitately fled away in fear.

unto them

said

morality

Fight

Beholding them broken, king Duryodhana

— Stop, ye Kshatriyas unacquainted !

What

is the use

M of flight

That hero

"who without showing his back casteth away his

with

life-breaths

battle, achieveth fame here and enjoy eth regions of bliss

after

son

ai !

here-

— Thus exhorted by the king, the followers of Suvala's

once more advanced against the Pandavas,

their goal. 82

Awful,

making death

O monarch, was the noise made by those

rushing warriors, resembling that of the this, -the field of battle became agitated

agitated

all

ocean.

around.

Behold-

ing those followers of Suvala's son thus advancing to battle, the victorious

Pandavas,

proceeded against them. 2 *

monarch,

Comforted a little, the invincible Sahadeva,

Cakuni with ten arrows and his steeds with greatest ease he then cut off the 25

bow

O monarch, pierced With

three.

of Suvala's

the

with

son

number of other arrows. took up another bow and pierced Nakula with sixty arrows Invincible in battle, Cakuni, however,

and then Bhimasena with seven." Uluka also, O king, desirous v,6f rescuing his sire in that engagement, pierced Bhima with 27 seven arrows and Sahadeva with seventy.

Bhimasena in that

many keen arrows and Cakuni and each of the other warriors who fought

encounter pierced Uluka with

with four and sixty,

around them, with three arrows. 28 shafts steeped "battle,

iyi oil,

the

Struck by Bhimasena with

Kauravas,

filled

with rage in that

covered Sahadeva with showers of arrows like lightning-

charged clouds

pouring rain on a mountain breast. 20

heroic and valiant Sahadeva then, 'broatf-headed arrow, the head of

monarch, cut

Uluka as the

off,

latter

The

with a

advanced,

him. 80

against

Slain

down on the Earth from

breaths, recollected the

moment with

for a

words of Vidura."

Having

reflected

eyes. Cakuni,

breathing

heavily,

tearful

Baffling those arrows sped

bow in

the son of Suvala it

with three arrows."

by Suvala's son with showers of monarch, cut off his antagonist's

shafts, tho valiant Sahadeva, 8

Seeing his bow cut off,

took up a

formidable

king,

Cakuni

and hurled

scimitar

The latter, however, with the greatest

at Sahadeva. *

car,

and drawing deep

tears

approached Sahadeva and pierced him

that battle. *

the.

his

Beholding his son slain, Caku-

81 limbs bathed in blood.

O Bharata, with voice choked in

ni,

gladdening

Uluka,

Sahadeva,

Pandavas in that battle, fell all his

ICT

CALYA PARVAi

Farm.]

ease,

O monarch, cut off in twain that terrible scimitar of Suvala's son as it coursed towards him

encounter. 86

in that

Beholding

Cakuni took up a formidable mace and hurled it at Sahadeva. That mace also, unable to achieve its

his sword cut in twain,

object, fell

down on the Earth. 37

After

som

Suvala's

this,

son of Pandu an awful dart that

with rage, hurled at the

rilled

resembled an impending death-night. 88

With the

greatest ease

Sahadeva, in that encounter, cut off, with his gold decked shafts* into three fragments, that dart

coursed swiftly

towards

Cut off into fragments, that dart adorned with gold down on the Earth like a blazing thunder-bolt from Mm

him. fell

firmament, diverging into

many flashes.*

baffled- and Suvala's son afflicted

away in fright.

Beholding that darb

with fear,

thy

all

vas then, eager for

victory, uttered

fight.*'

Seeing them so cheerless, tho

many thousand still

the

excellent

checked

shafts,

Then Sahadeva came upon was

fled

Suvala's

expectant of victory, was cavalry

king, that Cakuni,

of the

who had

As regards

loud shouts.

away from the

tho Dhartarashtras, almost all of them turned

with

troops

Suvala's son himself joined them.*' The Panda-

valiant

son

them

that battle.* 3

son

flying

the

of Madrij

latter,

who

away, protected by

Gandharas.**

Recollecting,

fallen to his share,

was still alive

Sahadeva, on his car adorned with gold, pursued that warrior.*' Stringing his formidable bow and drawing it with

great

Sahadeva,

Suvala and

filled

with

rage, pursued

.vigorously struck him with

tho

son

many shafts etjuipt

with

force,

vulburjcj

MAHABHARATA.

103 feathers and whetted

on stone, even

l^allfOr bctdhd like a person

lances. 48

mighty elephant with pointed

striking

Endued with great

energy of mind, Sahadeva, having afflicted his foe thus, addressed him, as if for calling back deeds), in these words riya, fight (with

mind

his

(his past mis-

— Adhering to the duties of a Kshat47

me) and be a man

—Thou hadst,

rejoiced greatly in the midst of the assembly, while

with dice

All

wicked-souled

those

had ridiculed us then have perished his

Duryodhana,

race, viz.,

maternal uncle 49 !

Today

gambling

thou of wicked understanding,

Receive now,

the fruit of that act

fool,

still

that

Only that wretch of

alive,

slay

shall

ones

and

thyself,

thee, striking

head with a razor-headed arrow like a person plucking a from a tree with a stick

50 !

his

thy

off

fruit

— Saying these words, O monarch,

Sahadeva of great strength, that tiger among men, filled with 81 Approaching his rage, rushed impetuously against Cakuni. enemy,

the invincible Sahadeva,

that

foremost

warriors,

forcibly drawing his bow and as if burning his foe with wrath, 8

Then

pierced Cakuni with ten arrows and his steeds with four.

cutting off his umbrella and standard and bow, he

a lion.

roared

His standard and bow and umbrella thus cut

Sahadeva, Suvala's son was pierced with his vital limbs.

Once again, O

many

off

arrows in

all

monarch, the valiant Saha-

deva sped at Cakuni an irresistible shower of arrows. 5 *

Filled

with rage, the son of Suvala then, single-handed, rushed with speed against Sahadeva in that encounter, desirous the latter with a lance adorned with gold.

of slaying

The son of Madri,

however, with three broad-headed arrows, simultaneously cut off,

without losing a moment, that uplifted lance as also the

well rounded arms of his enemy at the van of battle, and then uttered a loud roar. 87 Endued with great activity, the heroic Sihadeva then, with a broad-headed arrow made of

two

hard iron, equipt with

wings of gold, capable of penetrating

every armour, and sped with great force and care, cut off from his trunk his enemy's

head. 83

Deprived of his head by the

son of Pandu with that gold-decked arrow

and splendour like the

Sun's, Suvala's son

Earth in that battle,' 8

Indeed, the

son

of great fell

sharpness

down on the

of Pandu, filled

with

CALYA PART*.

Parva.]

100

off that, head which was the root of the evil p >liey of the lvurus, with that impetuous shaft winged with gold and whetted on stone. 60 Beholding Cakuni lying head-

rage, struck

less

ground and

the

limbs drenched with

his

all

gore,

thy warriors, rendered powerless with fear, fled away on all sides

with weapons in their hands. 61 cars,

elephants,

horse,

twang of Gandiva and

and fled

At that time thy

broken, heard

entirely

foot,

sons, with

the

away with colorless faces, afflicted

with fear and deprived of their senses. 63

Having thrown down

Cakuni from his car. the Pandavas, O Bharafea, became filled with delight.

Rejoicing with Kecava

among them, they blew

that battle, gladdening their troops. 63

their

conchs in

them,

with glad hearts,

All of

worshipped Sahadeva. and said,

good luck, O hero, Cakuni of wicked

man

soul, that

— '"

courses, hath, with his son, been slain by thee

— By

of evil

Section XXIX.

(Hrada-pravega Parva). "Sanjaya said,

— 'After

this, the

followers

O monarch, became filled with rage. dreadful

their lives in that

battle,

they

began to

Resolved to aid Sahadeva in

Pandavas. 1

of Suvala's

Frepared

lay

son,

down

resist

the

victory, Arjuna,

his

as also Bhimasena possessed of great energy and resembling an

angry snake of virulent poison in aspect, received those warriors.*

With his Gandiva, Dhananjaya baffled

those warriors who, armed with darts desired to arrows,

slay

cut

Sahadeva.

off

the

weapons in grasp, of those

foremost

Savyasachin,

fell

Vibhatsu, with

steeds, the

of those

heads,

his

of heroes

lances,

bn.ad-headed

and the arms, with

rushing combatants. 4

endued with

The

steeds

activiy, struck

down on the Earth, deprived

King Duryodhana, beholding that carnage

O lord, became

the purpose of

and swords and

of their

lives.'

own

troops,

of his

filled with rage. Assembling together the remnant of his cars which still numborcd many hundreds, 6 a abo his elephants and horse and foot, scorcher of foes, thy

mahabiiarata.

lid son said

words unto those warriors, 7

these

the Pandavas with their friends the prince

[Hrada-pravega

Panchala

also

and allies,

— Respectfully accept-

command of his, those warriors, difficult of defeat in

battle, proceeded

once more against the Parthas in that battle,

behest of thy

at the

all

and

battle,

with his own troops, and slaying

them quickly, turn back from the fight 8 ing that

— Encountering in this

son.

The Pandavas, however, covered

with their arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison alb those warriors, forming the remnant of the Kaurava army, that thus rushed quickly against them in that dreadful battle.

That army,

the Bharatas, as

chief of

came

battle,

was in a moment exterminated by those high-souled warriors,' 11 In consequence of the for it failed to obtain a protector. (Kaurava) steeds running hither and thither that were all covered with the dust raised by the army, the cardinal and tha subsidiary points of the compass could

Many

not be

distinguished.

out of the Pandava array,

warriors, issuing

slew thy troops in a moment in that battle. hinis,

Bharata, of troops

All those,

O lord,

O Bharata,

Eleven Akshau-

had been assembled for thy son

were slain by the Pandus and the Srin-

Amongst those thousands upon thousands of highmonarch, souled kings on thy side, only Duryodhana now,

jayas

exceedingly wounded, was seen to be alive

on all sides all his

1S !

Casting his eyes

and seeing the Earth empty, himself destitute of

troops while the Pandavas, filled Avith joy in that battle,

were roaring aloud in consequence of the accomplishment of all monarch, unable to endure the their objects, Duryodhana, whiz of the shafts shot by those high-souled heroes, became stupified

Destitute of troops and animals, he

on retreat from the field.' "Dhritarashtra said,

set

his

heart

16 " 18

— 'When my troops were

camp made entirely empty, what was

the

slain

strength,

and

our-

Suta,

remained to the Pandavas ? I desire to of the troops that Sanjaya, for thou art skilled know this. Therefore, tell me, still

(in

narration)

15 !

Tell

me also, O

Sanjaya, that which

was

done by my son, the wicked Duryodhana, that lord of the Earth, the sole survivor of so many men. when he saw his

army exterminated !''°

111

TaLYA PARVA,

Pavva.]

"Sanjaya continued,— Two thousand cars, sevon hundred 8 this elephants, five thousand horse, and ten thousand foot, '

—

was the remnant, O monarch, of the mighty host of the Pandavas! Taking care of this force, Dhrishtadyumna waited 2 chief of the Bharatas, king Meanwhile, in that battle. * Duryodhana, that foremost of car-warriors, saw not in that 3 Beholding his enemies battle a single warrior on his side." roaring aloud and witnessing the extermination of his own army, monarch, viz.. Duryodhana, without a comthat lord of Earth, panion, abandoned

and fled from the field with That lord of eleven Ahliauhinis, viz.,

slain steed,

his

face turned eastwards."

thy son Duryodhana, of great energy, taking up his mace, fled 24 Before he had proceeded far on foot, on foot towards a lake. the king recalled

the

words of the intelligent and virtuous

Vidura. 26

— Without doubt, this had been foreseen by Vidura

of great

wisdom,

of ourselves in

great carnage

viz., this

battle !"— Reflecting

of Kshatriyas

this,

the

and

king, with

heart burning in grief at having witnessed the extermination of his army, desired to penetrate into the depths of that lake.

monarch, with Dhrishtadyumna at

The Pandavas,

O king, rushed against (the small

their head, filled with rage,

remnant of) thy army.

With

his

Dhananjaya

Gdndiva,

baffled the purpose of the (Kaurava) troops, who, armed with

darts and swords and lances, were uttering loud ing,

Hav-

roars.-

with his sharp shafts, slain those troops with their

and kinsmen, Arjuna, as he stood steeds yoked unto

it,

his

looked exceedingly

the fall of Suvala's son along with

thy army looked like a large forest laid

and elephants,

low (by

of warriors, not

warrior was seen to be alive,

Upon

wind)."

the

monarch, which had numbered

In Duryudhaua's army then,

many hundred thousands

beautiful.

horse, cars,

allies

having white

car

save

tho

another great car-

heroic

son

Dronaj

and Kritavarman, and Kripa the son of Gotama, O monarch, and that lord of Earth, viz., thy bon s * Dhrishtadyumna, !

seeing mo, laughingly addressed Satyaki, saying,

use of seizing this oue

him

alive.

g randson

— What

the

Nothing will be gained by keeping

— Hearing these words of Dhrishtadyumna, the

of Cini, thai

great

oar-warrior, uplifting

his sharp

mahabharata,

112

sword, prepared to slay me. 56

[Hrada-pravegSi

Just at that juncture, the Island-

born Krishna of great wisdom, (viz., Vyasa), coming there, said,

— Let Sanjaya be dismissed alive slain '"—Hearing these

no means should he be

and then, setting me

of Cini joined his hands,

— Peace

words of the Island-born, the grandson unto

free, said

O Sanjaya, thou mayst go hence 88 — Permitted by him, myself then, putting off my armour and making over my weapons, set out on the evening on the road leadme,

to thee,

ing to the city,

my limbs bathed in blood. 39

about two miles,

alone, mace in hand, full

and exceedingly mangled. 40 His eyes were

and, therefore, he

of tears

cheerlessly before him.

recognising me. 41

After I had come

monarch, I beheld Duryodhana, standing could not see

me.

I stood

He looked accordingly at me

without

Beholding him standing alone on

the

field

and indulging in grief, I also, overwhelmed with sorrow, succeeded not for a little while to speak a single word. 42

Then I

said unto him everything about my own capture and my release

through the grace of the Island-born. 43

Having reflected for a

moment, and regained his senses, he enquired of me

after

brothers and his troops. 44

my eyes

I had seen everything with

and, therefore, told him everything, all

viz.,

his

that his brothers had

been slain and that all his troops had been exterminated. 45

I told the king that we had at that time only three car-warriors left

the Island-born had said so unto me when I set

alive, for

out (from the place where the Pandavas were). 46

Drawing deep

breaths and looking repeatedly at me, thy son touched me with his hand and said, 47

— Except thee,

Sanjaya, there

else that liveth, amongst those engaged in this battle

see another (on my side), while the Pandavas have living

S.iy,

none

I do not

their

allies

O Sanjaya, unto that lord, viz., the blind king

Dhritarashtra, that his son Duryodhana hath entered the depths of a lake

Destitute of friends such as those (I lately

deprived of sons and brothers, and seeing

by the Pandavas, who is there live

?*°

had),

kingdom taken me that would desire to

Say all this unto the king and

tell

his

him further that I

have escaped with life from that dreadful battle, and that, alive,

though exceedingly wounded, of this lake

81 :

within

the depths

— Having said these words unto me,

monarch,.

shall rest

•

CAI.VA PAR74.

FitVVa.]

That ruler of men, by

the king entered that lake. of illusion, then charmed

112

waters

the

of that

After he had entered

myself, without anybody

making a

lake,

space for him within them."

power

his

that

lake,

side, saw those three car-

warriors (<>f our army) coming together to that spot with

their

They were Kripa the son uf Caradwat, and Acwatthaman, that foremost of car-warriors, and

tired animals."

the

heroic

Kritavarman of

Bhoja's

them came together urged their steeds said,

spot. 5 *

greator

Mangled with

race.

that

— By good luck,

Beholding me, they all

Sanjaya, thou

them that the king was well in body.

king, having heard

thaman,

— All of

of men, saving.

—

pointed out

I also

had entered. 87

—

then told

them every-

I also told

thing that Duryodhana had said unto me.

king

yet !"

livest

Sanjaya ni

Duryodhana still alive,

to them the lake that the

speed and coming up to me,

them then enquired after thv son, that ruler Is our king

shafts, all

Then Acwat-

words from me, cast his

those

eyes on that extensive lake and began to wail in grief, saying. 88

— Alas, Alas, the king knew not that we are

still alive With him amongst us, we are still quite able to fight with our foes S5 Those mighty car-warriors, having wept there for a long time, tied away at sight of the sons of Pandu. 60 Those

—

three car-warriors that formed the

me up on the well-adorned to the

Kuru camp.

troops

forming the

thy

sons

remnant of our army took

of Kripa

The Sun had

had been

car

outposts

royal

then

proceeded

The

before.

little

camp, learning that

of the

wept aloud."

slain,

household,

set

the old men that had been appointed to of the

and

Then,

look

after

proceeded towards the

all

monarch, the

ladies

taking

city,

the princesses after them.' 8

Loud were the wails uttered by those crying and weeping ladies when they heard of the destruction of the whole army. * The women, king, crying 1

tcoaselessly, caused the

Earth to resound with their voices

a flight of she-ospreys. 6J I

They

tore

their

nails and struck their heads with their hands,

rbraids, indulging all the while in loud

j.with sounds such as ;

bodies

Oh and

Ithey cried aloud and wept

Alas, and

and

uttered

cries.'

their

and untied their 5

Filling

the air

thoir

breasts,

shrieks,

mon-

beating

led

with

mahabharata.

11*

[Hrada-pravega

Then the friends of Duryodhana, deeply afflicted and made voiceless by their tears, set ont for the city, taking the 58 The camp-guards ladies of the royal household with them. quickly fled towards the city, taking with them many white arch

beds overlaid with costly coverlets. 69

Others,

placing their

wives on cars drawn by mules, proceeded towards the

city.

Those ladies, O monarch, who while in their houses could not be seen by the very Sun, were now, as they proceeded towards

common people. 71 Those race, who were very delicate,

the city, exposed to the gaze of the

women, O

chief of Bharata's

now proceeded with speed towards the city, having lost their 73 The very cowherds and shepherds near ones and kinsmen. and common men, filled with panic and afflicted with the fear 73 Even these were filled of Bhimasena, fled towards the city.

Looking at one another,

with a crreat fear of the Parthas. of them fled towards

the

city.

all

During the progress of that

goneral flight attended with such circumstances of fear, Yuyutsn, deprived of his senses by grief, thought upon what he should 7 do in view of the emergency that had come. *

— Duryodhana

hath been vanquished in battle by the Pandavas of terrible prowess

He had eleven Akshauhinis

All his brothers have been slain

All the

by Bhishma and Drona, have perished of Destiny, only I have

Kurti camp

in the sides,

All

fled

Kauravas, headed

Through the influence

been saved 77

have

under him I

of troops

Alas, they

those

that

deprived of energy and destitute of .protectors!

a sight had never

been seen before

all

Such

with sorrow,

Afflicted

were

are flying

with eyes anxious in fear, they are flying away on all sides like a herd of deer, looking at one another

79 !

Those amongst the

counsellors of Duryodhana that are yet alive have fled

towards

the city, taking with them the ladies of the royal household lord,

that the time hath come when

city

with them,

after

Yudhishthira and Vasudeva!

— For

I think,

enter

the

also

King Yudhishthira,

who

should

taking the permission this

purpose

that

armed prince presented himself before both those always

compassionate,

80 I

of.

mightyheroes.

became

highly pleased with him. The mighty-armed Pandava embraced tkut child of a Yaicya mother and dismissed him affectionately.

calya parva.

Parva:]

rf5

Riding upon his own car, he urged his steeds to great speed.

IIo

then supervised the removal of the ladies of the royal household to the city. 83

With

The Sun was setting.

those

ladies,

Yuyutsu entered the city of Hastinfipura, with tearful eyes and 84 grief. He then saw Vidura of great wisdom, sitting with tearful eyes. He had come away from

with voice choked in

with great

Dhritarashtra, his heart having been afflicted

Bowing down unto Vidura, he stood

row. 3 '

voted to truth, Vidura addressed him, saying,

sor-

him.

De-

— By good

luck,

before

O son, thou livest amid this general destruction of the Kurus 68 !

Why, however,

come without king Duryodhana

thou

hast

—

company? Tell me in detail the cause of this 87 sire, with all Yuyutsu then said,— After the fall of Cakuni,

in thy

his

kinsmen and

friends,

king Duryodhana, abandoning the

steed he rode, fled away in fear towards the

people

king had fled away,

all the

ment, agitated with

fear, fled

east.

After the

(Kaurava) encamp-

the

Then

the'

protectors of the ladies, placing the wives of the king, as

al£o

towards the

city.

those of his brothers, on vehicles, fled away in fear.

Obtain-

ing the permission of king Yudhishthira and Kecava, I' set out

Hastinapura,

for

away

91 !

for

protecting

thus flying

people

the

— Hearing these words spoken by the son of DhrishtaVaicya

rashtra's

wife,

Vidura of immeasurable

sant with every usage and feeling

soul, conver-

what was proper

hour, applauded the eloquent Yuyutsu.

And he said,

— Thou

hast acted properly, having regard for what has come, in destruction

of this

all

the

that

view

Bharatas of which thou art

Thou hast also, from compassion, maintained the honor of thy race 9S By good luck we behold thee come back

speaking

with life from

this

terrible

battle

that

destructive

Sun possessed of blazing way the sole staff of every now in

heroes, like creatures beholding the

glory

Thou, O son, art

the blind monarch bereft of foresight, afflicted with Destiny,

and who,

could

abstain

from pursuing his evil policy ?

not

here for this day thira

calamity,

though repeatedly dissuaded,

struck by

Take rest

Tomorrow thou mayst return to Yudhish-

— Having said these words, Vidura, with tearful eyes,

took leave of Yuvutsu and entered the abode

of the

king,

mahabharata.

116

[Ilrada-prave^a

which resounded with cries of Oh and Alas uttered by

and

have

with

afflicted

villagers

seemed

lost

all

seemed to have deserted disorder.

Already

at that sight.

sorrowful

The

beauty

its

;

cheerless

citizens

mansion

comfort and happiness

It was all empty and pervaded by

it.

with sorrow, Vidura's grief increased

filled

Conversant with every duty, Vidura, with a

heart, entered

regards

woe.

the

palace,

drawing deep breaths."

Yuyutsu, he passed that night in his own abode.

Afflicted with woe, he failed to obtain any joy at the panegyrics

with which

of the terrible hands.'

was greeted.

passed the time, thinking

one another's

Bharatas at

destruction of the

" l0 °

Section XX "Dhritarashtra said,

— 'After

Kaurava troops had

the

all

of battle,

what

did those survivors of my army, viz., Kritavarman and

Kripa

been slain by the sons of Pandu on the

field

and the valiant son of Drona do ? What also did the wicked"2 ?' souled king Duryodhana then do 1

"Sanjaya high-souled

said,

— 'After the flight of the ladies of those,

Kshatriyas, and after

the

(Kaurava) camp had

become entirely empty, the three car- warriors (thou hast tioned) became filled

with anxiety.

men-

Hearing the shouts of

the victorious sons of Pandu, and beholding the camp deserted

towards the evening, those three warriors of our on

side, desirous

the

pro-

of rescuing the king, and

unable to stay

ceeded towards the lake.*

Yudhishthira, of virtuous soul, with

his brothers in that battle,

felt

the

field

from

desire

great joy

and wandered over

Duryodhana.*

of slaying

field,

Filled

with

wrath, the Panda vas, desirous of victory, searched for thy son. Though, however, they looked very carefully for him, they failed to discover the (Kuru) king.

Mace in hand, he had fled

with great speed from the field of battle

of his powers

that lake, having, by the aid fied its waters.

When at last

became very uruch tired, the

and penetrated into

the

latter

animals

of illusion, solidi-

of the

Pandavas

proceeded to their camp

—

— cai.va pahva.

Farva.]

117

and rested there with

their soldiers.*

retired to thoir camp,

Kripa and Drona's son and Kritavarman

Sabwata

of the

slowly

race,

Approaching the

lake within

thira

Pilrthas had

the

proceeded

towards that

which

the

dressed that invincible ruler of men saying,

After

lay

lake.'

king, they

asleep within

the

ad-

water,

— Arise, O king, and fight with us against Yudhish-

Either

obtaining

Duryodhana, have

them that

are

enjoy

victory

The

heaven I"

proceed to

forces

yet alive

have been

slain,

or,

Pandavas

by thee

been slain

all

Earth,

the

also,

Those amongst

mangled ia

exceedingly

They will not be able, O monarch, to bear thy impetuosity, especially when thou shalt b: protected by us Arise, there!

fore,

O Bharata'. — 13

—

"'Duryodhana said, By good luck, I among men, come back with life from this between the Pandavas and the Kauravas rested awhile and

exceedingly mangled

After we

fight

part,

ye heroes, are

wonderful, for your hearts are

noble

me is great

This, however,

Resting for this one night fight with the foe

have

we shall encounter the Ye also are tired and I myself am The army of the Pandavas is swelling

These exhortations on your

bulls

battle

For these reasons I do not

destructive

dispelled our fatigue,

enemy and conquer him with might

you, ye

sec

not

I shall,

not at

Your devotion time

the

now !'*

for

all

also

prowess M !

on the morrow, join you and

In this there is no doubt

"Sanjaya continued, — 'Thus addressed, the son of Drona

replied unto the king,

who was invincible

battle,

saying,

O king, blessed be thou, we shall yet vanquish the foe I swear by all my religious acts, by all the gifts I have made, by truth itself, and my silent meditations, O king, that I shall Arise,

!'•

today slay

the

Somakas M9

Let

not

obtain

the

delight

resulting from the performance of sacrifices, that delight which is felt

by all pious men,

this night passes away

without

slaying the

Pandavas

Panchalas,

I will not,

this truly.

Believe me,

O lord, put off my armour I tell thee " — O ruler of men Whilo they were

battle

!"°

Without slaving

the

weight,

the

thus conversing, a number of hunters came ¥ ith

all

meat they

there.

Fatigued

carried, thev came there, not

mahabharata.

118

[Hrada-pravsga

of any set purpose, for slaking their thirst.

lord,

Those huntsmen>

used every day, to procure, with great regard, bas-

meat for Bhimasena, O king 28

ketsful of

As they

cealed on the banks of that lake, those men heard

of that conversation between

con-

sat

every word warriors. * 2

Duryodhana and those

Finding the Kuru king unwilling to fight, those great bowmen, themselves desirous of battle, began to urge

adopt their counsels." rava

army,

him

greatly

and understanding that the king unwilling

fight was staying

Kau-

Seeing those car-warriors of the

86 and hearing that conwithin the waters

versation between those heroes and their master staying within

the depths of the

lake,

clearly perceiving that

— indeed,

monarch, the huntsmen,

was Duryodhana who was staying

within the lake, formed a resolution.

A little while before,

Pandu, while searching for the king, had met those 28 Remen and asked them the whereabouts of Duryodhana. the son of

collecting the words that

hunters, O

the

son

Pandu had

king, whisperingly said unto one another,

discover Duryodhana (unto the Pandavas) will then give us wealth

It is evident

brated king Duryodhana is here

80 !

—We

The

son of

that

Let us then,

all

those

said, 29

will

Pandu

the

cele-

of us, pro-

that ceed to the spot where king Yudhisthira is, for telling him of waters the within concealed the vindictive Duryodhana is this lake

Let us also, all of us, inform that great bowman,

Bhimasena, that the son of Dhritarashtra is 3 concealed here within the waters of this lake » Gratified with viz., the intelligent

us, he will give us much wealth

selves,

What need of fatiguing our-

day after day, with procuring meat and weakening our-

selves with such toil ?

men,

filled

with joy

— Having said these words, those hunts-

and longing

wealth, took

for

their 8*

baskets of meat and proceeded towards the (Pandava) camp. Possessed of sure aim and skilled in smiting, the Pandavas,

O monarch, not seeing in battle Duryodhana who was then concealed, (were resting in their camp). '

Desirous of reaching

the end of that sinful wight's evil policy,

they had despatched

spies in all directions on the field of battle.

All the soldiers, to

however, that had been despatched on that mission, returned just that the camp together and informed king Yudhishthira the

— 119

calya tarya,

Farva.]

no trace could be found of king Duryodhana.

Hearing these

words of the returned messengers, O bull of Bharata's race, king Yudhishthira becamo filled with great anxiety and began

While the Piindavas, O bull of Bharata's

to breathe heavily. race,

huntsmen,

were staying in such cheerlessness, those

lord, having come with great speed from the banks of that 39 arrived at the camp, filled with joy at having discovered lake,

Though forbidden, they still

Duryodhana. very

in the

of Bhimasena.

sight

entered

the

camp,

Having approached that

mighty son of Pandu, viz., Bhimasena, they represented every41 Then thing unto him about what they had seen and heard. Vrikodara, that scorcher of foes, wealth, represented

the just, saying,

everything

O king, giving them much unto king

—Duryodhana,

Yudhishthira th«

king, hath been 'dkcovered

by the huntsmen that supply me with meat

He,

O king, for

whom thou grievest, now lies within a lake whose waters have been solidified by him

his

— Hearing these agreeable words of

monarch, Kunti's son Ajataeatru became, with

Bhimasena, all

4S !

brothers,

filled

with joy. 44

Having

learnt

that

the

mighty bowman Duryodhana had penetrated into the waters of a lake, the king proceeded thither with great speed, with Janarddana at his head. 45 Then a tumultuous noise arose, O monarch, from amone: the Pandavas and the Panchalas all of whom wero filled

with joy. 46

The warriors uttered leonine

roars,

O bull

All

the

Kshatriyas

O king, proceeded with great speed towards

that

lake

Bharata's

race,

and shouted loudly.

called

The rejoicing Somakas all around loudly and The sinful son of Dhrilarashtra has ,4S The noise made by the cars of those impetubeen found ous warriors who proceeded with great speed, became very Dwaipdyana.*

repeatedly exclaimed, .

loud,

—

monarch,

an<J touched the

heavens.

Although

their

animals were tired, all of them still proceeded with speed behind king Yudhishthira who was bent upon finding out Duryo-

and Bhimasena, and the two sons of Madri by Pandu, and the Panchilla prinee Dhrishtadyumna, and tho

dhana. 50

Arjiina,

Unvanquished Cikshandin, 81 and Uttamaujas, and Yudhamanvu,

and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, thraupadi,

and

thos-c

and the

amongst tbc Panchalas,

(five)

sons

king, that

mahabharata,

120

[II vada-pravecoC

were yet alive, and all the Pandavas, and

their

all

elephants,

and foot-soldiers by hundreds upon hundreds, all proceeded with Possessed of great valour, king Yudhishthira

Yudhishthira." the just,

O monarch, arrived at the lake known its aspect

the ocean itself,

cool and transparent.

power of illusion,

Duryodhana, O Indeed,

with

the

was agreeable and

waters

its

were

Solidifying the waters by means of his

— by, indeed, a wonderful method, — thy son

Bharata, happened to be within that

within

those

mace,

who,

his

quished by lake,

name Wide as

Duryodhana then was.

of Dwaipayana within which

any man

lake.* 4.

lay, O lord, that king, armed O ruler of men, could not be van-

waters

ss !

Staying within the waters of that

king Duryodhana heard that tumultuous noise (of the

Pandava army) which resembled the very roar of the clouds.*' Yudhishthira then, lake

king, with his

brothers, repaired to that

from desire of slaying Duryodhana."

Raising a thick

dust, the son of Pandu caused the Earth to tremble with the

sound of his car-wheels and the loud blare of his conch." Hearing the noise made by the army of Yudhishthira, those great car- warriors, of Drona,

viz.,

said these

Kritavarman and Kripa and the son

words unto the Kuru king :* 9

with joy and longing for ing hither

victory,

— Filled

the Pandavas are com-

We will, therefore, leave this place.

Let

— Hearing those words of these heroes endued with great activity, he answered them, saying, — So be — and remained before) within the waters, having, O

known to thee 60 !

it I

lord,

(as

solidified them

headed by

by his powers of illusion.

Kripa,

filled

with

grief,

monarch, and went away to a place

took far

Those car-warriors of the

leave

king,

removed from that

sire, Having proceeded far, they beheld a banian, under whose shade they stopped, greatly tired, and exceedingly

spot."

anxious about the king and indulging in such thoughts as these."

— The mighty son of Dhritarashtra, having

waters of the

lay

stretched at

Pandavas have reached that

from

the

lake,

spot,

H >w will the battle take place

What

the

desire will

solidified

bottom. of

The

battle.**

become of the

How will the Pandavas find out the Kuru king ?"— king king, those heroes, viz., Kripa and Thinking of these things, ?

CaLYa PARVA,

Parva.]

121

the other?, liberated their horses from their cars and prepared to rest there for some time.'

" 68

S«( TION \ \ XI.

"Sanjaya said,

— 'After those three

car- warriors had left thaft

spit, the Pandavas arrived at that

dhana was resting himself.

Dwaipayana

lake within which DuryoHaving reached the banks of the

chief of Kuril's

lake,

receptacle of waters enchanted by thy son. 2 addressing Vasudeva, said,

hath applied his power

they

race,

waters

these

man

s !

Having invoked a

illusion, he is now within the waters

hath sought this

thunder-bolt

himself

Even if

him in Madhava, shall yet behold him slain today! 5 of the

aid

battle,

—

people,

" 'Vasudeva

said,

— With thy own powers of

illusion,

Bhiirata, destroy this illusion of Duryodhana who is in it

celestial

By an act of deception,

He shall not, however, escape me with life !*

wielder

the

every deception

that wight conversant with

Having

He can have now

enchanted the waters, he lieth within them.

refuge

that;

Then Yndhishthira,

— Behold, the son of Dhritarashtra

of illusion

no fear (of injury) from

beheld

an adept:

One conversant with illusion should be slain with

This is the

illu-

With acts and means and applying thy power of illusion to these waters, slay,

sion

Yndhishthira

truth,

O chief of the Bharatas, this Suyodhana who is the very soul of illusion

With

7 !

and means Indra himself slew the

acts

Daityas and tho Dcinavas high-sniled one,

(viz.,

Vali himself was bound

thati

Upendra), with the aid of many acts

ami means s

The great

other one,

Hiranyakacipu, was slain by the aid of many

viz.,

acts and moans.

Without doubt,

by the aid of acts of Pulastya's

Rama

display

Asiir<t

9 !

Eiranyaksha, as also

O king, Vritra also was slain

Similarly was

race, with

his

relatives

the

Rdkshasa Havana

and followers, slain by

Relying upon acts and contrivances, do thy

prowess !'•

Those

thafr

thou

also

two ancient Daityds,

viz.,

Taraka, and Viprachitti of great energy, were in ancient times,

O king, slain by the aid of acts and means 11 I

and Ilwala, and 10

Tri<;ira^,

lord,

Similarly VatSpi

and the Asaras Sunda and

MATI A BHARATA,

(/pasunda, were all slain by the aid

[Ui'ddu-prave^i

means

Indra him-

self enjoys heaven

by the aid of acts and means

very efficacious,

king, and

thira

nothing

else

so,

Acts are

O Yudhish-

Daityas and Dclnavas and Rdkshasas and kings have

Do thou take, there-

been slain by the aid of acts and means. help of acts

fore, the

—

''*

"Sanjaya continued,

—'Thus addressed by Vasudeva, Pan-

of rigid vows, smiling

d'l's son

thy son

arch,

great

the

O mon-

while, addressed,

might, who,

was then

Bharata,

within the waters of that lake, saying, 18

— Why,

Suyodhana,

done so these waters, after having caused

hast thou

all

the

Kshatriyas to perish and after having, O king, caused thy

own

annihilated ? 16

race to be

Why hast

thou entered into this

lake today, wishing to save thy own life ? fight

that

pride

Where, foremost of men, hath and that sense of honor which thou hadst now

king, thou hast enchanted these waters and art

now lying within them ? 18 a

hero.

All

thou art

since

that,

now

All men speak of thee in assemblies

however,

birth

entirely

within

concealed

O king, and fight, for thou art a race

How canst thou boast

untrue, I

think,

Arise,

these waters

Kshatriya born of a noble

Thou art a Kauraveya in particular ,2 °

O king, and

gone, since,

Arise,

O Suyodhana 17

us,

of thy

birth

Remember thy in

Kuril's

race

when thou concealest thyself within the depths of this lake, This is not tho having fled away from battle in fear ? 21 eternal duty of a Kshatriya, viz., staying away from battle

O king, is not the practice of those that arc How is it that withhonorable, nor does it lead to heaven !* Flight from battle,

out having attained to

the

end of this war, inspired though

thou wert with the desire of victory, thou stayest now within this lake, after having caused and witnessed the slaughter of thy sons and brothers and sires and relatives and friends and -

maternal uncles and kinsmen ?* s a * age, thou art, however, not a hero! thyself,

Ever boastful of thy courFalsely dost thou describe

O Bharata, when thou savst in the hearing of all men

that thou art a hero,

thou of wicked understanding

that are heroes never fly away

sight

of foes

*Q hero, about (the nature of ) that courage

2S !

They

Or, tell

us,

consequence of

t&LYA PA«Y#{

FarvaJ.

ftflS

Arise, O prince, and fight, which thou hast fled from battle Having caused all thy troops and thy casting off thy fears 25

Suyodhana," thou shouldst not, if thou

brothers to be slain,

art inspired with righteous

motives,

now

think

of saving thy

One like thee, O Suyodhana, that has adopted Kshatriyar 28 Relying upon Kama, as duties, should not act in this way also upon Cakuni the son of Suvala, thou hadst regarded thyself immortal and hadst, from folly, failed to understand thy own life!

self!

Having perpetrated such grievous

Bharata

()

How is it that flight from battle recommends itself

Surely, thou forgcttest thyself

to one like thee ?

that manliness of thine,

that pride cherished by

sire,

thee ?

which thou hadst weapons

Where is

Suyodhana, is

and where,

Where hath

prowess

that

thine now gone and where also that swelling and

now,

fight

sin,

Where is that accomplishment

S1 ?

of thine

Why dost thou lie within this lake now?

O Bharata, and fight, observing the duties Either rule the wide

Bharata, on the bare ground, slain by us

highest duty, as laid down by the illustrious

Arisej

Kshatriya!"

of a

Earth after vanquishing

oil

great energy*

us, or

sleep,

Even this

thy.

Creator himself!

Act as it has been laid down truly in the scriptures, and be king,

O great car- warrior

"Sanjaya continued, intelligent son of

—

— 'Thus addressed,

monarch, by

tho-

Dharma, thy son answered him from within

the waters in these words/ 5 " 'Duryodhana said,

—

It is

not at all

matter of surprise,

O king, that fear should enter the hearts of living creatures. As regards myself, however, O Bharata, I have not the field of battle actuated by the fear of life destroyed, killed

in battle

was not from

It was only in

thou,

from

car

was-

without a single follower to stand by

It was for this

that I

was not for the sake of saving my it

fled

my quivers were gone, and my pdrshni drivers were

I was alone, !

S6 !

desired life,

king, that

grief,

was not from

entered

consequence of fatigue that

son of Kunti,

Rising from this baLile !»•—

lake

little

these did

mo.

rest w

It fear,

waters 58 !

rest awhile with those that follow thee I

will

certainly

fight

all

of you

121

mahabhaiuta.

" 'Yudhishthira

said,

[Hrada-pravecct

— All of us have rested

sufficiently.

Rise For a long while we were engaged in a search after thee 40 Suyodhana, and give us buttle Either then, even now, !

slaying the Parthas in battle make this kingdom

with prosperity thy own, or slain by

those regions that are reserved for heroes f* " 'Duryodhana said,

that

swelleth

proceed

battle

—

— They amongst the Kurus, O son of

Kuru's race, for whose sake I desired sovereignty,

that, is,

O king, all lie dead on the field 48

brothers of mine,

those

I do not,

again, like to enjoy any longer the Earth that is now shorn

wealth and reft of superior

Kshatriyas, and that

become like a widowed lady 4S

fore,

Yudhishthira, after

vanquish thee,

however,

hath, there-

hope to

still

curbing the pride,

O bull

There

Pandus

of Bharata's race, of the Panchalas and the

when Drona and is, Kama have been quieted and when our grandsire Bhishma hath been slain 4S This shorn Earth, O king, now exists for What king is there that would like to rule a kingdom thee however, no longer any need

battle

for

divested of friends and allies ?

Having caused

seeing my kingdom wrested by ye,

who

47 that would like to live ?

deer-skins

into the woods

I have

Clad in

sires,

and

myself

would

retire

there

such

friends

as I had to be slain and even sons and brothers and

no desire for

kingdom, deprived as

Bharata 48

Reft almost entirely

I am of friends and allies,

of friends and allies, of horses and elephants, this Earth exists

O king

for thee,

for

myself,

clad

Do thou enjoy

Friendless as I am, I have no

Go,

now cheerfully! 49

shall

deer-skins,

her

desire,

the

woods

even

life

lord, for

50 !

O monarch, and rule the Earth destitute of lords, with-

out warriors, choosest

51 !

—

reft

of wealth,

and without

'•Sanjaya continued,— 'Hearing grief,

these

citadels,

words

the illustrious Yudhishthira addressed thy

dhana who was

within

still

utter such ravings of sorrrow,

those

sirc

thou

poignant

son

Duryo-

waters, saying, :

— Do not

from within the waters

for I do not, like Cakuni, feel any compassion for thee, O king, 53 Thou mayst now, O Suyodhana, be words as these

such

willing to make a gift of the Evtfth to me,

however, do not

CALYA PARVA,

ForVOj]

125

wish bo rule the Earth thus given by thee!' 4

I cannot sinfully

Eirthasagift from thee' Acceptance of a gift, 55 I do not, king, is not the duty laid down for a Kshatriya ih jrefore, wish to have the wide Earth thus given away by thee

accept this

on the other hand, enjoy the Earth

1 shall,

vanquishing

after

Thou art not now the lord of the Earth Why then dost thou desiro to make a gift of that over which thou hast no dominion ? Why, O king, didst thou not then give us the Earth when we, observant of the rules of righteousness 56

thee in battle

and desirous of the welfare of our

race,

had begged thee

for

our portion ? 87

Having first refused the request of the mighty Krishna, why dost thou now desire to give away the Earth ?

What is this folly of thine ?•• What king is there who,

assailed

son of Kuru's

by foes, would wish to give away his kingdom ? race, today thou art not competent to give away the Earth

59 !

Why then dost thou wish to make a gift of that over which Vanquishing me in battle, rule thou this Thou didst not formerly agree to give me even that

thou hast no power ? 60

Earth

much

Earth which would be covered by the point of a

of the

How then, O monarch, dost thou make me a gift of How is it that thou, who couldst not whole Earth

needle the

abandon even that much of land which the point of a * needle would cover, now wishest to abandon the whole Earth ? formerly

What fool is there that would, after having obtained such

pros-

perity and ruled the entire Earth, think of making a gift of that

Earth to his enemies impropriety

of this

65 ?

Stupified by folly, thou seest not the

Although thou desirest to give away the

Earth, thou shalt not yet escape

me with

life !"

Either rule

the Eirth after having vanquished us, or go to regions of 65 If both of us, that is, blessedness after being slain by us thyself and myself, be alive, then all creatures will remain in !

dmbt as to whom the victory belongs! 66

Thy

limited foresight, now depends upon me!

If I like, I can suffer

thee life

to 67

live,

Thou

life,

thou

but thou art n >t capable of protecting thy

own

hadst at one time especially endeavoured to burn

us to death and to take our lives by means of snakes and other kinds of poison and by sinking us in

wronged by

thee,

king,

water! 63

wore

also

by the deprivation of our kingdom,

12S

Mahabharata.

[Gaddyadha.

by the cruel words spoken by thee, and by thy maltreatment of Draupadi 63 For these reasons, O wretch, thy life must be I

taken

Rise, rise,

and fight us

That will benefit thee 70

"Sanjaya continued, —

'In this strain,

Pandavas,

with

the

viz.,

flushed

king, those

victory,

—

heroes,

spoke

repeatedly

there (rebuking and mocking Duryodhana).' " 71

Section XXXII.

(Gaddyuddha Parva). "Dhritarashtra said,

— 'Thus admonished (by his

foes),

how,

my heroic and royal He had son, who was wrathful by nature, then behave ?' never before listened to admonitions such as these He had, indeed, did that scorcher of enemies,

viz.,

again, been treated by all with the respect

king

that

due to a

He who had formerly grieved to stand in the shade

a !

an umbrella, thinking he had taken another's shelter,

— he who

Sun in consequence

could not endure the very effulgence of the

how could he endure these words of his Thou hast, with thy own eyes, O Sanjaya, seen the whole Earth, with even her Mlecchas and nomad tribes, depend upon his grace 4 Rebuked thus at that spot by the sons of Pandu in particular, while lying concealed in such a solitary of his sensitive pride, foes? 3

after

having been deprived of his followers and atten-

dants, alas,

what answer did he make unto the Pandavas upon

place

hearing such

bitter

and repeated taunts from

his victorious-

O Sanjaya, about it f " "Sanjaya continued, — 'Thus rebuked, O monarch, by Yu-

enemies ?

Tell me everything,

dhishthira and his brothers, thy royal son, lying waters,

very

within

those

king of kings, heard those bitter words and became

miserable.

Breathing hot and

long

sighs

repeatedly,

the king waved his arms again and again, and setting his heart

on battle, thus answered from son of Pandu.

" 'Duryodhana said,

®f friends, of cheerless,

within

the

waters, the

royal

1' 3

cars,

— Ye Parthas,

and of animals

all of !

yon are possessed

however,

without a car, and without an animal !'°

alone,

Alone as

CALYA PARVA.

Piirva."]

and destitue of weapons, how can I venture

I am,

foot, against

cars

127

numerous

at a time

foes

O Yudhishthira,

however,

you,

It is not

proper that

many endued with courage," without armour, fatigued,

to fight on and possessed of

well-armed

all

fight

one should in

when

especially

battle

that

one fight

one

i.s

with calamity, exceedingly

afflicted

mangled in his limbs, and destitute of both animals and troops lS !

O monarch, of either thee, or

I do not entertain the least fear,

Vrikodara the son of Pritha, or FhFilguna, or Vasudeva, or all the Panchalas,

or the twins, or Yuyudhana, or all the

troops thou hast resist all of

The fame, O

you

hath righteousness for its basis!

king, of all I say all this 16

vant of both righteousness and fame lake) I shall fight all

of you

gradually meets with

all

of you in fight !'

though

the

light

and steeds! 18

shall

this

meet with

stars at dawn, I

the

destroy

Today

from the debt I owe to the many

you, obser-

all

Like the Sun destroy-

weaponless and earless,

possessed of cars

Like the year that

seasons, I

of all

men

righteous

Rising (from

battle

Wait, ye Pandavas

ing by his energy the today,

other

Standing in battle, alone as I am, I shall

shall

all

free

shall

you

myself

Kshatriyas (that

illustrious

have fallen for me), to Valhika and Drona and Bhishma and the high-soulcd Kama, 19 to the heroic datta, to Ca!ya

to my sons,

the

ruler

Jayadratha and Bhaga-

Madras and Bhurieravas, 90

of the

O chief of Bharata's race, and Cakuni the son all my friends and well-wishers and kinsmen !"

of Suvala, to

Today with

I shall

thy

myself from

free

brothers !— Having

debt by slaying theo

that

these

words, the (Kurt)

luck,

Suyodhana, thou

said

king ceased speaking." 'Yudhishthira said,— By good

knowest the duties of a Kshatriya

By good luck, O thou of mighty arms, thy heart inclineth to battle 23 By good luck, !

thou art a hero,

thou of Kuril's

thou art conversant with wishest to meet all

taking whatever

of us

battle, in

battle

weapon thou

as spectators here !"•

wish of thy heart,

that

luck,

thou

likest

I grant thee

viz,,

by good

since, single-handed,

race, and,

Fight any one of us, All

thou

of us

will

stand

hero, this (other)

slayest

any one of us,

also,

—

MAHABHARATA.

128

thou shall; then become king! to heaven

26 !

Otherwise,

—

" 'Duryodhana said,

[Gadayiulha

— Brave as thou

mo the

option

I hold in

my hand is the weapon

only

of fighting

one

slain

thou grantest

of you,

this mace that

that

art,

one amongst you who thinks that he will be

occurred

Let any

select !"

my match come

forward and fight with me on foot, armed with mace

wonderful single combats have

us,

cars

28 !

Many

Let this

one great and wonderful combat with the mace happen today

Men

(while

desire

fighting)

29 !

Let the

change weapons.

manner of the fight be changed today, with thy O thou of mighty arms, I shall, with my mace, vanquish permission

thy younger brothers, as also

all

the

Panchalas and the Srinjayas and all the other troops thou

still

with

thee today

hast

all

I do not cherish the least fear,

Cakra himself!

M 'Yudhishthira said,

fight

— Rise,

Suyodhana

me,

thy mace

good care if

son

rise,

Alone as thou

of Gandhari, art,

and

us, en-

son of Gandhari, and fight with Be a man, Today thou shalt have to lay down thy life even

Indra becomes thy ally

83 !

—

— 'Sanjaya continued, 'That tiger among men,

could not

fight

O thou of great might, armed with

countering one at a time. 82

Yudhishthira, of even

bear

these

words of Yudhishthira.

long and heavy sighs from

snake from within

its

within

hole. 34

the

viz.,

thy son,

breathed

water like a mighty

Struck repeatedly with such

wordy goads, he could not endure it at all, like a horse of high breed that cannot endure

the

whip. 35

Agitating the waters

with great force, that valiant warrior rose like a prince of elej

phants from within the

lake, breathing

heavily

rage,

and

armed with his heavy mace that was endued with the strength 36 Piercing the solidified of adamant and decked with gold. waters, thy son rose, shouldering his mace made of iron, like 87 Endued the Sun himself scorching everything with his rays. with great strength, thy son, possessed of great intelligence, began to handle his heavy mace made of iron and equipt with a sling. 88

Beholding him armed with mace and resembling a

crested mountain or the trident-wielding

Rudra.

himself cast-

Pawn.]

2ALYA PAKVA,

ing angry

glances

129 they

creatures,

living

observed

that

Bharata chief to shed an effulgence around like the scorching

Sun himself in

the

sky.

Indeed,

that mighty-armed chastiser of foes, his

creatures then regarded

all

as ho

mace after rising from the waters,

troyer

stood

himself armed with his bludgeon. 8

*** 1

Panchalas then saw thy royal son to look

the

Cakra or the trident bearing Hara."

however,

rise from

thePfmdavas began to rejoice and

the

all

and as

directed towards him.

Desthe

all

thunder-

Seeing him,

Panchalas and

each other's

seize

Thy son Duryodhana regarded that action be an insult

the

Indeed,

wielding

within the waters,

shouldering

to look like

hands.**

of the spectators to

Rolling his eyes in wrath,

burning the Pandavas with his glances, 4 * and con-

tracting his brow into three furrows,

nether lip, he addressed

and repeatedly biting his

Pandavas with Kecava in their

the

— Ye Pandavas, ye shall have to bear the fruit Slain by me today, ye of these taunts with the Pan— chalas, have to repair to the abode of Yama — 'Sanjaya continued, 'Rising from the water, thy son midst, saying, 48

shall,

'**

Duryodhana stood

armed with mace, and with limbs

there,

Covered with blood and drenched with bathed water, his body then looked like a mountain shedding water in

blood.

from within it. 48 regarded him

As he stood armed with mace, the Pandavas the angry son of Surya himself armed

with his bludgeon called Kinfacra.***

great prowess,

With voice deep as that

roaring in joy, Duryodhana then,

of the clouds or of a bull

armed with

his

summoned

mace,

the Parthas

to battle.* "

Duryodhana said,

counter me one at a

— Ye

time

O Yudhishlhira, to en-

will have,

not

pr<per,that

one

hero

should fight with many at the same tinnc, 81 especially when that single warrior is divested

of armour,

fatigued

with

exertion,

covered with water, exceedingly mangled in limbs, and without cars, animals,

and troops 82 !

Let the gods in heaven behold me

fight single-handed, destitute of every equipment and deprived

of even

armour and weapons

,s !

I shall

certainly

* That is the name of Yaum'3 bludgeon,— T.

fight all

— MAHABHARATA,

ISO

you

[GiidwjXidllti

Thou shalt be judge, as thou hast the necessary quali-

fications, of the propriety and impropriety

" 'Yudhishthira said,

— How

of everything

O Duryodhana, that thou

is it,

hadst not this knowledge when many great car-warriors, unitbattle ? 88

ing together, slew Abhimanyu in

exceedingly

are

without the

least

compassion

Abhimanyu under

slay

Kshatriya duties

unmindful of all considerations, and

cruel,

how

Otherwise,

circumstances ? 8*

those

were acquainted with righteousness

could you All

yon

All of you were heroes I

down your lives in battle ! The high end declared for those that fight righteously is the

All of you were prepared to lay

attainment of the regions of Cakra !" viz.,

your duty,

If this

that one should never be slain by many,

why

then

that Abhimanyu was slain by many acting in accord with

counsels?

thy

when in difficulty, forget considerThey then view the gates of the other world Put on armour, O hero, and bind thy locks

All creatures,

ations of virtue. to be closed.

Take everything else,

O Bharata, of which thou standest in

need t0

This another wish of thine,

addition,

viz.,

that

O hero, I grant thee in

thou canst slay him amongst the five

Pandavas with whom thou wishest an encounter, thou then be king! to heaven I

shalfe

Otherwise, slain (by him), thou shalt proceed

Except thy life, O hero, tell us what boon we may

grant thee ?— ,81 -"

"Sanjaya continued,

— 'Then thy son, O king, cased

his body

with armour made of gold, and put on a beautiful head-gear

adorned with pure gold. 68

put on that li6ad-gear.

Clad in bright armour of gold, he

O king, thy son

Indeed,

resplendent like a golden

cliff.

then

looked

Clad in mail, armed with

mace, and accoutered with other equipments, thy son Duryo-

dhana then, all

O king, standing on the field of battle, addressed

the Pandavas, saying, 68

— Amongst you

any one fight me, armed with mace

(five) brothers,

Iefc

As regards myself, I am willing to fight either Sahadeva, or Bhima, or Nakula, 66 or Phalguna, or thee today, an encounter, I

will

O bull of Bharata's race

fight

Accorded

any one amongst

certainly gain the victory on the

field

the end of these hostilities

that

67 !

you and will Today I will reach

difficult

to reach, witb

calta parva.

Varm.]

131

O tiger among men, of my mace wrapped with cloth I think there is none to be my match in an With my mace I shall slay all encounter with the mace the aid,

of gold '*'

of you one after another

of you there

Amongst all

one who is competent to fight fairly with me for me to speak such words of pride

self!

I shall, 70

presence

my own

with respect to

however, make these words of mine true in your

Within this very hour, those words

It is not proper

either true or false

will

become

Let him amongst you take up tke naaca

that will fight with me !—

"7 * '

Section XXXIII. "Sanjaya said, ly roaring

— 'Whilst Duryodhana, O king, was repeatedstrain,

this

Vasudeva,

these words unto Yudhishthira.

with

filled

wrath, said

— What rash words hast thou

O king, to the effect that Slaying one amongst us be thou king amongst the Karus. — If, indeed, O Yudhishthira, spoken,

Duryodhana select thee for

battle,

Arjuna, or Nakula, or

Sahadeva, (what will be the consequence) slaying

O king,

Bhimasena,

these

for

2" s

From

thirteen

desire

years

hath

Duryodhana practised with the mace upon a statue of iron

How

O bull

then,

Bharata's race, will

4 !

our purpose be

From compassion, O best of kings, thou hast acted I do not at this moment behold a match with great rashness achieved

(for Duryodhana) except Prith&'s son agairc, with the

Vrikodara

His practice

mace, is not so great!* Thou hast, therefore, once

more allowed a wretched game of chance to commence

that

one in former days between thyself and Cakuni, O monarch 7 !

Bhima is possessed of might and however,

possessed of skill

prowess.

King Suyodhana,

between might and skill, he that is possessed of skill, king, always preking, thou hast, by thy words, pluced in vails ! Such a foe, is

a position of ease and comfort

Thou hast placed thy

however, in a position of difficulty. of this, been

placed

great

contest

ownself,

Wc have, in consequence Who is there that

danger

would abandon sovereignty within g rasp, after having vanquished all his foes and when he hath only one foe to dispose

—

[Gaddyudha

mahabhakata.

132

and that one plunged

off

difficulties ?

do not see

who

that man in the world today, be he a god, to vanquish the mace-armed

competent

Duryodhana in battle 11

Neither

thou, nor Bhima, nor Nakula, nor Sahadeva, nor Phalguna, King is capable of vanquishing Duryodhana in fair fight!

Duryodhana

How then, O Bha-

possessed of great skill !"

rata, canst thou say unto such a foe words such as these, viz.,

weapon, and if thou canst slay one amogst us, thou shqlt then be king? * If Duryodhana encounters Vrikodara amongst us wishing to fight fairly with him, even then our victory would be doubtful. DuryoFight, selecting the mace as

the

dhana

possessed

great

might and great

skill.

How

couldst thou say unto him,— Slaying only one amongst us be thou king ?— Without doubt, the

of Pandu

offspring

Kunti are not destined to enjoy sovereignty

They have been

the

born for passing their lives in continued exile in in mendicancy

15 !

Yadus,

the

— O slayer of Madhu, do

give

way

sorrow

reaching it, I shall today reach the

Without doubt,

pears,

by one and a half times grief!

pon

dare

fight

Let all of you,

end of these

Suyodhana

O delighter difficult

hostilities!

battle

1 *

ap-

This mace of mine is heavier than Duryodhana's

slay

shall

not,

However

Krishna, that the victory of Yudhishthira the just is

certain

woods or

—

"'Bhimasena said, of

and

encounter! 19

Madhava, give way to

Do not,

him, selecting

the

mace as the wea-

Janarddana, stand as spectators of the

What do you say

Suyodhana, I would fight

with the three worlds including the very gods, even if they be

— — "Sanjaya continued, 'After Vrikodara had said these words,

armed with every kind of weapon !'° Vasudeva, him,

filled wifch joy,

applauded him highly and said unto

— Relying on thee, O thou of mighty arms, king

Yudhishthira the just will, without doubt, get back his own blazing prosperity after the slaughter of all

hast slain all the sons of Dhritarashtra in battle

many kings and princes and elephants fate !"'

irners,

foes!"

his !

Thou

At thy hands

have met with then-

The Kalingas, the Magadha's, the Kuravas, the Westand the Gandharas, have

all

been slain in dreadful

Calta paiiva.

Tarva.]

132

battle,

O son of' Paifdll 24

Slaying Duryodhana then, O son **t

Kunti, bestow the Earih with her oceans upon Yndhishthira the just, like Vishnu (ionfering the sovereignty worlds) upon the lor^ of Cachi

of the thr«e

The wretched sun uf Dhrita-

rashtra, obtaining thee for a foe in battle, will, without doubt,

meet with his fate

'Thou wilt certainly accomplish thy vow

by breaking his bones 26

Thou

O son

however.

shouldst,

Pritha, always fight with care with the son

of Dhritarashtra

He is possessed of both skill and

and always takes

—

king, applauded the son Then Satyaki, The Panehalas and the Pfmdavas, also, headed

delight in battle! of Pandu. 28

by king Yndhishthira the

Bhimasena.

strength

•

applauded those

just, all

Then Bhima

of terrible

words of

might addressed Yu-

dhishthira who was staying amid the Srinjayas like the blazing

Sun

himself,

saying. 50

— Encountering this one

venture to fight with him

competent to vanquish me

battle,

wretch among men

This

fight

Today

that wrath which hath been nursed in my

bosom upon Suyo-

dhana the son of Dhritariishtra like Arjuna throwing the forest of

Khandava

38 !

O son of Pandu, that lay so long sticking to king, after I shall have laid

mace ss

Tuday I shall recover, O sinless

glory

and his kingdom

thy heart

low this wretch with ray

Tuday Suyodhana shall abandon

prosperity,

fire

pluck out the dart,

I shall today

happy, !

vomit

shall

not

wreath of

one, thy his

life-breaths, his

Today king Dhritarashtra also,

remember all those wrongs (that he did unto us) arising from the suggestions of Cakuni !*'

hearing of his son's slaughter,

will

—Having

that

words,

Bharata's

race,

possessed of great energy, stood up for battle, like Cakra

sum-

said

these

prince

moning Vritra (to an encounter). 8 ' Unable to endure that summons, thy son, of great energy, prooeeded to the encounter, like

one infuriate

proceeding

elepl>ant

The Pfmdavas beheld thy son, look like

the

crested

that mighty son

elephants separated

with delight. 83

mountain thine

assail

another."

came armod with mace,

of Kailasa.

standing

alone

Indeed, seeing

prince

fr»m the herd, the Pfmdavas became filled

Standing

battle

dhana had no fear, no alarm, no

pain,

like a very lion,

no anxiety.

Dury*Behold-

[Gad&yudhd

KAHABHARATA.

IS*

stand there with

ing him

saying,*

mace

uplifted

mountain of Kailasa, Bhimasena,

— Call to thy mind

the crested

O monarch, addressed him,

those wrongs that king Dhri-

all

tarashtra

and thyself have done unto us

happened

at Varanavata !*"

what

Recollect

Recollect how Draupadi, while in

and

her season, was maltreated in the midst of the assembly

how king Yudhishthira was defeated at dice through Cakuni's See now, O thou of wicked

suggestion !* 8

soul, the

terrible

consequence of those acts as also of the other wrongs that

Parthas !**

innocent

thou didst unto the

thee

for

that that illustrious chief of the Bharatas, the son of Ganga,

the grandsire of us all, lieth now on

down (by us)

!* 5

Drona

also

bed of arrows, struck

hath been slain

Kama hath

Yonder

Calya of great valour hath been slain Cakuni also, the root of these hostilities, hath been

been slain

battle

!**

Thy

heroic

brothers,

thy troops, have been slain

also

heroism, and never retreating from

with

all

also, possessed

thy sons,

Other kings

slain

battle,

have been

slain.*

These and many other bulls among Kshatriyas, as also the Prdtikamin, that wretch who had seized the tresses of Drau8 Thou alone art still alive, thou expadi,. have been slain !* of thy race, thou

terminater

wretch among men

I shall today slay with my mace

Thee

also

this there is no doubt !*

O king, I shall, in battle, quell all thy pride I shall destroy also thy hope of sovereignty, O king, and pay off all Today,

—

thy misdeeds unto the sons of Pandu " 'Duryodhana said,— What use is there of many words ? !

Fight now with me

Today,

thee thy desire for battle

!* 1

O Vrikodara, I shall beat out of Why dost thou not behold me, O

wretch, standing here for an encounter with the mace ?

not armed with a formidable mace that looks

Himavat ?**

What foe is there,

wretch, that

to vanquish me armed with this weapon ?

Am I cliff

would venture

If it be a fair fight,

Purandara himself, amongst the gods, is not competent for that end! 83 Fur all those wicked deeds of mine to which thou hast referred, thou injury

eouldst

By exereising my

not (hitherto) do me

the slightest

might, I caused ye to dwell in the

woods, to serve in another's dwelling; to conceal

youselves in

talya parva,

Parva.]

Your friends and allies also have been slain.

disguises !"

loss has been equal

If,

the cause !*'

Up to this day I

on the field of battle

your infamy will certainly will,

me by

If ye vanquish

fur ever

last

O son of Kunti, roar fruitlessly hast

Time will be

Or, perhaps,

have never been vanquished in

in battle

now

88 !

this

Show

water!

way

the

strength

all

— Hearing these words of

davas with the Srinjayas,

applauded them highly. 8 '

all

his,

not,

autumnal thou

the Pan-

with desire of victory,

inspired

deceit,

That act of yours

without doubt, be unrighteous and infamous !"

clouds uncharged with

Our

then, my fall take place in this battle,

that would be highly praiseworthy.

fair fight

1 35

men exciting an infuriate ele-

phant with clapping of hands, all of them then gladdened king

Duryodhana (with those praises and cheers). 60 that

The elephants

were there began to grunt and the steeds to neigh

The weapons

peatedly.

witjh desire of victory

of the

re-

Pandavas who were inspired

blazed forth of their own accord.'

Section XXXIV. "Sanjaya said,

— 'When that

about to commence, and when

monarch, was

battle,

fierce all

the

high-souled

Pandavas

had taken their seats,' indeed, having heard that that battle

between those two heroes, both of whom were his disciples, was about to begin, Rama, whose banner bore

the

device

of tho

palmyra palm, and who owns the plough for his weapon, came to

that spot.'

filled

Beholding him, the Pfvndavas, with

with joy, advanced towards him,

worshiped him with due rites. 3 king, said unto skill, in battle,

Ke^ava,

and receiving him,

Their worship over, they then,

him these words,

of thy two disciples !*

— Witness, O Rama, the

— Rama then, casting his

Krishna and the Pandavas, and looking at Duryo-

eyes on

dhana also of Kuru's race who was standing; there armed with mace, said, 8

— Two and forty days have passed since

back under £ravana. ing this

I left

home.

out under the constellation Pusliy<i and havu come

1 had set

I am desirous,

O Madhava, o( behold-

encounter with the mace between these two disciples

of mine !*

— At that time the

t>vo

heroes,

viz.,

Duryjdhana

mahabhakata.

136

[Gadayiulhya

and Vrikodara, looked resplendent as they stood on the field, both armed with maces. 7 King Yudhishthira, embracing him

owning the plough welfare viz.,

two

the

saluted

for

weapon, duly enquired about hia

his

and bade him welcome. 8 the

having the

hero

embraced h-im.

saluted

Rohini's

weapon and Madri and the five his

son of great strength and Bhimasen of great strength

monarch, both with uplifted maces (in their

arms), worshipped Valadeva. 11

by bidding him

with joy, cheerfully for

Similarly the two sons

sons of Draupadi

son,

filled

plough

stood (at a respectful distance). 10

and thy

Those two great bowmen,

Krishnas,

illustrious

The other kings honored him all of them said unto

welcome, and then

—

Rama, Witness this encounter, thou of mighty arms !— Even thus those mighty car-warriors said unto the highsouled son of R )hiui." Endued with immeasurable energy Rama, having embraced the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, enquired after the welfare of all

the

(other)

of them, approaching, enquired

all

after

kings. his

Similarly,

welfare. B 1

The

hero of the plough, having in return saluted all th,e high-souled Kshatriyas, and having made courteous enquiries

according to their

respective years,

Janarddana and Satyaki. after their

shipped

welfare."

affectionately embraoed

Smelling their heads, he enquired

Those two, in return,

king, duly wor-

him, thuir superior, joyfully, like Indra and Upendra

worshipping Brahman the Lord of the celestials. 16 rna's son, foes,

viz.,

about each

Then Dhar-

O Bharata, said these words unto that chastiser of the son of Rohini, — Behold, O Riima, this formidable

encounter between

the

two brothers

17 !

— Thus worshipped by

those great car-warriors, the elder brother of Kecava, of mighty

arms and great beauty, took his seafc amongst them. 18

Clad

blue robes and possessed of a fair complexion,

Rama, as he

sat

amidst those kings, looked resplendent

the Moon in

the

firmament, encompassed by multitudes

of stars.

Then

that dreadful encounter, making the very hair to stand on end,

took place between those two

sons

of thine,

king, for

minating the quarrel (that had raged for many years."'"

ter-

—

P*rva.]

Janamejaya said,

Section

XX\V\

'On

eve

the

great

of tho

(be-

battle

tween the Kurus and the P&ndus), tho lord Rama, with Kecava's leave, had gone away (from Dwaraka) accompanied by

many of the Vrishnis.

He had

Kecava,

unto

said

said these words,

like!'*

— Having

Rama, that resister of foes, had gono away.

behoveth thee,

go whithersoever

will

unto the

render aid neither unto the sun of Dhritarashtra nor sons of Panda, but

—

Brahmana.

tell

me everything about

Tell me in detail how Rama came to that spot, his return and how he witnessed the battle. In my opinion thou art !"

well-skilled in narration !"•

Vau;ampayana said,

— "After the high-souled Pandavas had

takon up their post at Upaplavya, they despatched the slayer of

Madhu to

presence, for the object of peace,

Dhritarashtra's

O mighty armed one,

and

good of

the

for

creatures.*

all

Having gone to Hastinapura and met Dhritarashtra, Kccava spoke words

of true

and especially

The

import. 8

beneficial

king, however, as I have told thee before, listened not to those

Unable to obtain peace, the mighty-armed Krishna,

counsels. 7

that

foremost of men, came back,

O monarch, to Upaplavya.*

Dismissed by Dhritarashtra's son, Krishna returned (to the

Pandava camp), and upon the failure

of his

among kings, said these words unto

tho

by fate, the Kauravas are for disregarding me, (to the

ye sons of Pandu, with out under the

fluid

Pushya!' 10

constellation

mission,

Pandavas: 9

tiger

— 'Urged

words!

Come,

of battle), setting

— After

this,

while tho

troops (of both sides) were being

mustered and arrayed, the

high-souled

foremost

son

of Rohini, that

dued with might, addressed

mighty-armed one, O slayer of Madhu, to

tho

Kurus

words of his. 13 illustrious

heart

son of Yadu's

filled

race,

viz.,

listen

with rage (at

all

the Yadavas, he set

out

thoso

this),

that

the wieluer of the plough,

then set out on a pilgrimage to the Saraswati. 18

—

let us render assistance

— Krishna, however, did not With

persons en-

of all

his brother Krishna, saying, "

ui.dcr tho

Acci mjanied

conjunction of the

138

maharharata.

asterism

The Bhoja

Maitra.

called

[Gaddyiuldim chief

however, ad >pted the side of Duryodhana.

(Kritavarman),

Accompanied by

Yuyudhana, Vasudeva adopted that of the Pandavas. 14 the

heroic

of Rohini had set out under the

son

Pashya, the slayer

Madhu, placing the Pandavas in his While proceeding, Rama

van, proceeded against the Kurus. 15

ordered his servants

the

way, saying,

— 'Bring

that are necessary for a pilgrimage, that use

Bring the (sacred) fire that

priests. cars,

Bring

gold,

After

constellation

silver,

kine,

every

is,

article

Dwaraka,

things

all

and our

robes, steeds, elephants,

mules, camels, and other draft cattle

Bring

all

these

necessaries for a sojourn to the sacred waters, and proceed with

great speed towards the Saraswati to be especially employed,

most Brahmanas

Bring also some priests

and hundreds upon hundreds of fore-

— Having given these orders to the servants,

the mighty Valadeva

set out on a pilgrimage at that

Kurus.

great calamity to the

Setting out

swati, he visited all the sacred places along her course,

panied by priests, friends, and as also with cars (if

many foremost

Diverse kinds

O bull

of necessaries of life

diverse countries

and worn, children and the

king, to solicitations.

Everywhere,

old, in

king,

of Rohini's

son,

were unto

response,

Brahmanas were

promptly gratified with whatever viands they desired.*

command

accom-

Brahmanas,

and with many vehicles drawn by kine and

given away, in large measures and in the weary

and elephants and steeds and servants,

Bharafca's race,

mules and etmels.

time of

towards the Sara-

At the

men, at different stages of the

journey, stored food and drink

large

quantities.

Costly

garments and bedsteads and coverlets were given away for the 8

gratification of Brahmanas desirous of ease and comfort. ' What-

ever

Brahmana or Kshatriya solicited whatever thing, that, O 86 All who

Bhai-ata, was seen to be ungrudgingly given to him.

formed the party proceeded with great happiness and lived

The people (of Valarama's train) gave away vehicles to persons desirous of making journeys, drinks to them that •were thirsty, and savoury viands to them that were hungry, as happily.

O bull of Bharata's race, to many 87 88 ""

also robes and ornaments,

Xiic

mi, Q king, along which the party, proceeded, looked res^

139

?alya r.vuvA.

Parva.] plendenfc,

O hero, and was highly comfortable

sembled heaven itself.*

for all,

There were

it, and savoury viands wore procurable everywhere.

shops and

stalls

and re-

There were rejoicings everywhere upon

and diverse objects exposed

for

sale.

The

whole way was, besides, crowded with human beings. And vb was adorned with various kinds of trees and creatures, and various kinds of gems.

The high-souled Valadeva, observant; the Brahmanas much wealth

of rigid vows, gave away unto

and plentiful sacrificial presents, O king, in diverse sacred 81 That chief of Yadu's race also gave away thousands spots. of milch kine covered with excellent cloths and having their sa horns cased in gold,

many steeds belonging to different many vehicles, and many beautiful slaves/ 3 Even thus did the high-souled llama give away wealth in diverse

countries,

excellent tirlhas on the

Saraswati.

In course of his

ings, that hero of unrivalled power and

at last came to Kurukshetra.'

Janamejaya said,

— "Tell me,

foremost

of men, the

tures, the origin, and the merits of the several tirlhas

Saraswati and the ordinances to be there

observed

Tell mo these, in their order,

3i !

with Brahma f M

Vaicampayana

said,

its entirety,

persons

O king, is very large.

them to thee.

O king !"

fea-

the

sojourning

acquainted

— "The subject of the features and

origin of all these tirthas, ever, describe

while

illustrious ono !

foremost of all

curiosity is irrepressible,

wander-

magnanimous conduct

J shall, how-

Listen to that sacred

account in

Accompanied by his priests and friends,

Valadeva first proceeded to the tirtha called Prabhasa.

Lord of the constellations

the

affected with phthisis,

energy there,

(viz.,

became freed from his curse.

O king, he now illuminates

because that foremost of tirthas on

buted it is,

invest

Thnv, who had been

Soma),

Soma

the

Regaining

universe.

And

Earth had formerly contri-

with splendour (after he had lost it),

therefore, called Prabhasa."**'* 3

Janamejaya said,

— "For what reason was the adorable

afflicted with phthisis ?

Si ma How also did he bathe in that tirtha ",0

How did he, having bathed energy

that sacred

Toll mo all thic in. detail

water, regain

O great.il/tttyt /"*'

hi.s

— [Gadayuddhz

mahabharata.

140 Vaic"ampayana

said,

king

daughters.

— "Daksha had seven

These he bestowed

and

twenty

marriage) upon

(in

Soma. 41

Connected with the several constellations, those wives,

O king,

Soma of auspicious

calculating

time.

served

deeds,

of large

Possessed

eyes,

Soma able

delight

great

She became very agree-

her.

him, and, therefore, he enjoyed

company (exclusively).

Soma lived long

other wives of his,

In those days

the pleasures of her

viz.,

For

tions, became displeased with that high-souled in<*

speedily

their

they said unto him,

sire

one.

Repair-

(Daksha), that Lord

of creation,

with us

He always

— 'Soma doth not

payeth court to Rohini only

live

All of us, therefore,

O Lord of

creatures, shall dwell by thy side, on regulated diet and

vant of austere penances

those

this,

were called the constella-

that

they

monarch,

of yore,

Rohini (exclusively).

with

of beauty,

The adorable

however, Rohini was the foremost of them all.** took

of them

all

In wealth

were unrivalled in beauty in the world.

men

help

obser-

Hearing these words of thciis,

Daksha (saw Soma and) said unto

— 'Behave equally

him,

to-

And Let not a great sin stain thee wards all thy wives Daksha then said unto those daughters of his, 'Go, all of ye, to the

presence

—

of Cacin.

At my command, he, (otherwise

called) Chandramas, will behave equally towards all of ye ft* Dismissed by him. they then proceeded to the abode of him having cool rays. Still the adorable Soma, O lord of Earth,

continued to act as before,

for

with

pleased

continued to live with her exclusively.

once more came together to their

Rohini alone, ho

His other wives then and said unto him,

sire

'Employed in serving thee, we will dwell in thy asylum Soma '* does not live with us and is unmindful of thy commands'' !

Hearing these words

of theirs,

Daksha once more

Soma, — 'Behave equally towards

O Virojhana, words of

course

thce!'

Daksha, the adorable

all

thy

wives

Disregarding,

Soma

said

unto

not,

Let

however, these

continued

live

with

Rohini alone. At this, his other wives became once more Repairing to their sire, they bowed unto him by angry. 1 *

lowering their heads, and s.aid,— Suma doth not live

Give us thy protection M !

with

The adorable Chandramas always

CVLYA PAKVA,

FdVVa.] lives

with Rohini exclusively

141

Ho sots no importance

words, and does not wish to show us any affection s:ivo U3 so

words,

S una may accept

th.it

Daksha,

the adorable

king,

all!'

Therefore,

Hearing these

became angry and

curse of phthisis upon

consequence thereof hurled the

thy

Soma.

Thus did that disease overtake the L»rd of the stars. 87

Afflict-

ed with phthisis, Cacin began to waste away day

by day.

made many endeavours for freeing himself from

that disease 5 '

by performing diverse

sacrifices,

not free

himself from

night, however, could

tho other tion.*

hand,

lie

monarch

The maker of

that

In consequence, however, of the wasting of Soma, the

deciduous herbs failed

thoy became

and

tasteless,

their virtues. 60

Their juices dried up and

grow.

all

And in consequence

them became deprived of decadence

of this

of tho

deciduous herbs, living creatures also began to decay.

owing

curse.

continued to endure waste and emacia-

emaciated.

wasting

the 61

Then

all

king, asked him, saying,

Soma, all creatures began

the

whence hath proceeded

this

answer, we shall do what

coming

celestials,

— 'Why

and resplendent

so beautiful

Indeed,

(as before) ?

Soma,

thy

that

form

not

Tell us the reason

great calamity !•

Hearing thy

needed for dispelling thy

fear!'

Thus addressed, the god having the hare for his mark, replied unto them and informed them of the cause of the curse and of the phthisis with which he was afflicted. 63

The gods then, hav-

ing heard those words, repaired to Daksha and said, fied,

O adorable one, with Soma

withdrawn

e !

Let this curse of thine be

Chandrainas is very emaciated

portion of his may be

seen

— 'Be grati-

Only a small

consequence

of his

O Lord of the celestials, all creatures also are wasting pers and herbs of diverse kinds

waste we ourselves also arc us,

what will this universe be?

the universe,

blessed

ones,

emaciation

Knowing

this,

Creetheir

Without master of *'"

that Lord of creatures, said these

unto the celestials: —

words become 5*0

wasting

behoveth thee to be gratified (with Soma)

—Thus addressed, (Daksha) word-s

are also

suffering

wasting, !

'It

impossible

make

By some contrivance, however, mv words miv be withdrawn! Let Cacin

otherwise

MAHABHARATA.

141

[Gaddyuddha

always behave equally towards all his wives also in

that

foremost

of tirthas

Having bathed

on the Saraswati, the god

having the hare for his mark shall, ye gods, grow once more

These words of mine are true •wane every day, and fur

wax every day

For half the month Soma shall

month

half the

(following)

These words of mine are true

to the western Ocean at the spot where the

70 !

he will

Proceeding

Saraswati mingles

with the Ocean, that vast receptable of waters, let him adore that God of gods

(Mahadeva) there

form and beauty f 71 (Daksha),

Soma then proceeded to the 7'

Saraswati.

his

He arrived

Prabhasa belonging

at that foremost of tirthas called

Saraswati.

He will then regain

At this command of the (celestial) Rishi to

the

Bathing there on the day of the new moon, that

god of great energy and great effulgence got back his

cool

All

rays and continued once more to illumine

the

monarch, having repaired

the creatures also,

returned with Soma amongst them to the place was. 7 *

worlds. to

Prabhasa,

where Daksha

Lord of creatures then Pleased with Soma, the adorable Daksha once

(Receiving them

dismissed them.

more addressed him,

duly)

that

saying, 78

— 'Do

not,

son,

disregard

Go, and attentively women, and never disregard Brahmanas 7S Dismissed by him, Soma came back obey my commands !

to his own abode. live as before.

All creatures, filled with joy, continued to I have thus told thee everything about how

the maker of the night had been cursed, and how also Prabhasa

became the foremost of all tirthas. 13

every securring day

O monarch, the god having the hare for

of the new moon,

his

mark bathes in the excellent tirtha of Prabhasa and regains his form and beauty.

It is for this reason,

O lord of Earth, that

that tirtha is known by the name of Prabhasa, since

bathing

80 Chandramas regained his great (Prabhd) effulgence. After this, the mighty Valadeva of undecaying glory proceeded to C hamasodbheda that is to that tirtha which is called

there,

by that name. 81

Giving away many costly gifts at that place,

the hero having the plough for his

weapon passed one night

Ke;;ava then procecdod quickly •Saraswati seems to be

lost

The elder brother of Udapana. Although the

there and-perforined his ablutions duly.

there, yet

persons

crowned with

—

CALYA parva.

Parva.]

ascetic success, in consequence of their

143 obtaining great

merits

and great blessedness at that spot, and owing also to the coolness of the herbs and of the

land

Earth there." 4

the

that tho river

monarch, through the bowels of

an invisible current,

lias

know

there,

" 34

Section XXXVI.

Vaieampayana said,

—'Valadeva,

(as already said) proceed-

Udapana

ed next to the tirtha called

the

Saraswati, that

king, of the illustrious had formerly been the residence, Hiving away much wealth and worTrita. t'iven (ascetic) 1

shipped the Brahmanas, the hero having

plough

the

his

for

weapon bathed there and became filled with joy. 8 Devoted to While righteousness, the great ascetic Trita had lived there. one had drunk

in a hole, that high-soulod

Soma juice. 8

the

His two brothers, dashing him down into that turned to their home. Trita,

pit,

had

That foremost of Brahmanas,

reviz.,

had thereupon cursed them both."*

Janamejava said,

—"'What

did the great ascetic

(Trita)

fall

that foremost of

Brahmanas

How

the origin of Udapana ? into a pit

"Why was

there ?

thrown into that

pit

his

How did his brothers, after throwing him into that How did Trita perform his sacrihole, return to their home

brothers ?

fice,

and how did he drink Soma

mana,

Tell me all

thou thinkest that I can listen to

Brah-

this,

without impro-

priety !"*

Vaieampayana continued,

'In

former

Yuga,

king,

They were called

there were three brothers that were ascetics.

Ekata Dwita, and Trita, and all three were endued with effulgence like that of the Sun. 7

They were

creation and were blessed with children.

Lords of the

Utterers of Brahma,

they had, by their penances, acquired the privilege of attaining

the

regions

Brahman

(after

death).

With

their

and self-restraint, their sire Gautama, who was ever devoted to virtue, became highly and always pleased

penances, vows,

with them. 9

Having obtained great joy in consequence

s^ns, th" aLra^Ie

Gi'ijaaa; after passing

Ions

life

of his here,

— mahabhah.vta.

144

[Gudayuddhm

went at last to the region (in the other world) that was

for

fit

Those kings, however, O monarch, that had been the

him. 10

Yaj'imcinas of Gautama, continued to worship Gautama's sons after the sire had proceeded to heaven.

Amongst them, how-

over, Trita, by his acts and study (of the Vedas

king, be-

»,

came the foremost, even like his sire Gautama. 12 highly blessed ascetics, characterised

Then all the

by righteousness, began

to worship Trita as they had worshiped his sire Gautama before

Once Upon a time, the two brothers Etaka and Dwita

him."

thought of wealth.

performing a

and became anxious

sacrifice

The plan they formed, O scorcher

take Trita with them, and calling upon

number

and collecting the needful

all

of foes, was

Yctjamanas

would

of animals, * they

merits

Calling upon all their

Yajamdnas for (obtaining) animals, and number

assisting them in their sacrifices and receiving a large

of animals from them, and having duly accepted

consequence

those

priestly

dered, those high-souled and great 17- ' 8

king, with a

Trita,

up the animals. 19 property

which they ren-

was walking

heart

cheerful

his

rear,

bringing

how they two

could

appropriate

without giving a share unto Trita. 20

what those two

sinful

wretches,

They said,

'Trita is skilled in assisting at sacrifices.

Trita

the Vedas.

many

of earning

capable

Hear,

Ekata and

viz.,

Dwita, said while conversing with each other 21

Trita

gift

Beholding that large herd of animals,

they began to reflect as

king,

services

them

Rights came towards the

Ekata and Dwita were in

before them.

that

The three brothers then, O monarch, did as settled. *

sacrifice.

East.

their

joyfully drink the Soma juice and acquire the great

for

devoted to

other

kine.

Let us two, therefore, go away, taking the kine with us Trita go whithersoever he chooses, without being in

Let

our com-

pany !'* 3 way.

As they proceeded, night came upon them on the They then saw a wolf before them. Not far from that

spot was a deep hole on

bank

the

of the

Saraswati. 2 *

who was in advance of his brothers, seeing 2

fright and fell into that hole. '

the

king, that

best

That hole was fathomless and

terrible and capable of inspiring all creatures with fear. Trita,

Trita,

wolf, ran

of a/.eetic?

from

within

that

Then hole,

— CALTA PARTA,

Pttrra.]

14j

began to utter wails of woe. His two brothers heard his cries.** Understanding that ho had fallen into a pit, his brothers

Ekata and Dwita, moved by

the

fear

wolf

by his two brothers who

moved by

were

appropriating those animals, the

while within that lonely well

into hell

tas,

king,

and herbs Bhara-

chief of the

sinful wretch.*'

itself like a

Trita,

with dust"

covered

and creepers, thought himself plunged,

also

temptation

the-

ascitic

great

Thus deserted

7 temptation, went on, deserting th«ir brother.*

feared

die

inasmuch as he had not earned the merit of drinking the Soma. Possessed of great wisdom, he began to

juiee.

Soma even there. 10 into it in course of

drinking

While thinking on that subject, the gread

standing in that

ascetic,

with the

reflect

aid of his intelligence as to how he could succeed

its

beheld a creeper hanging down

pit,

growth. 81

Although the

was drv,

pit

the sage imagined the existence of water and of sacrificial fires

Constituting himself the Hotri (in imagination), 88 the

there.

great ascetic imagined the creeper he saw to be the Soma plant.

He then

mentally

uttered

Yayushes and the

the Ricks, the

Scimans (that were neccessary for the performance of a sacri8 The pebbles (lying at the bottom of the well) Trita fice).* * converted into grains

He then, He conceived the be clarified butter. * He allotted

of sugar

(in

imagination).

king, (mentally) performed his ablutions.

water (he had imagined) to to

the

celestials

their

respective

shares (of those sacrificial

offerings).

Having next (mentally) drunk Soma, he began

to utter

loud

by the

sacrificing Rishi, penetrated

completed

noise.

that

sacrifice

uttorers of Brahma.** of the

high-souled

became agitated. pati

Those sounds.

after

the

king,

manner

sacrifice

whole region

of the

celestials

the

cause.

Vrihas-

Trita, the

None knew,

h »wever,

that loud muse

(made

The priest of the celestials said unto the latter.

must go there, ye goda '"

Endued with great ascetic merit, if angry, he

Hymns from the three Vcdas. — T. 10

laid

Trita

down by

of that

Trita is performing a sacrifice.

uttered

first

heaven, and

During the progress

(the preceptor of th« gods) heard

by Trita). 84

into

competent to

— mahabharata.

14(3

croate

the

other

gods n '

gods, united

sacrifice of

Trita

gods

spot, the

[GaddyuJUha

— Hearing these words of Vrihaspati,

all

together, repaired

was going on. 89

Having proceeded to that

beheld

the

that spot

where the

high-souled Trita installed in the

performance of his sacrifice. 40

Beholding that high-souled one

resplendent with beauty,

gods

the

addressed

him, saying,

'We have come hither for our shares (in thy offerings) 4 The Bishi said unto them, 'Behold me, ye denizens of heaven, !'

—

fallen into this terrible well,

Then Trita,

almost deprived of my senses

monarch, duly gave unto them their shares with

proper mantras.

The gods took them and became very

Having duly obtained

their

allotted

shares, the

glad.

denizens

heaven, gratified with him. gave him such boons as he desired. 44

The boon, however, that he solicited was that the gods should 48 He •relieve him from his distressful situation (in the well). 'Let him that bathes in this well, have the end that also said, 4 At these is attained by persons that have drunk Soma

—

king, the Saraswati

words,

that well.

with her v/aves appeared within

Raised aloft by her, Trita came up and worshipped

the denizens it

—

47 of heaven.

thou wishest

The gods then said unto him, 'Be All of them then, O king, went to the

place whence they had come, and Trita, filled with joy, proceed48

Meeting with those two Eishis, viz., his ed to his own abode. with them. Possessed of great enraged became he brothers, ascetic merit, he said certain harsh words unto them and cursed •them, saying,

— 'Since, moved by covetousness, ye ran away,

deserting me, therefore,

ye shall become

fierce

wolves with

sharp teeth and range the forest, cursed by me in consequence of so The offspring also that ye shall have

that sinful act of yours

!' will consist of leopards and bears and apes

said these words,

After Trita had

O monarch, his two brothers were seen to be

very soon transformed into those shapes in consequence of the 81 Of immeasurable prowess, Valawords of that truthful sage.

deva touched the waters of Udapana. And he gave away diverse 52 Be'kinds of wealth there and worshipped many Brahmanas. holding Udapana and applauding it repeatedly, Valadeva next ft tc«eded to Yinacana which also was on the

Saraswati," 88

JVrM.J

Section XXXVII. Vaicampiiyana

said,

— "Then Valadeva,

king, proceeded

Saraswati hath become invisible in con-

to Vinacana whore the

And

•equence of her contempt for Cudras and Abhiras. 1

consequence

the Saraswati, in

of such contempt,

that spot, the Rishis, for that reason,

always name

the

place

lost

at!

O chief of the Bharatas, Having bathed

Vinacana.*

since

that tirtha of the Saraswati, the mighty

Valadeva then pro-

ceeded to Subhumika situate on the excellent bank of the same

There many fair-complexioned Apsaras, of beautiful faces, are always engaged in sports of a pure character withriver.*

The gods and the Gandharvas, every

out any intermission.*

ruler of men, repair to that sacred tirtha which is the

month, resort

Brahman

himself.*

tribes

Apsaras

are

The Gandharvas and diverse

seen

there,

together and passing the time as happily as

O king, assembled they

the gods and the Pitris, sport in joy, with picious

flowers

creepers

also

rained

repeatedly

over

like.*

There-

sacred and

aus-

them,

and

all

the

And because,

were adorned with flowery loads.

O king, that spot is the beautiful sporting ground of those Apsaras, therefore

tirtha

that

the Saraswati called Subhumika.'

the

excellent bank of

Valadeva of Madhu's

having bathed in that tirtha and given away much

race,

wealth

unto the Brahmanas, heard the sound of those celestial songs

and musical instruments.'

also saw there

of gods, Gandharvas, and Rdkshasas.

proceeded to the

GandJiarvas,

kind."

The son of Rohini then

Gandharvas. 10

There many

headed by Vie wavasu and possessed of ascetic

merit, pass their time

ing

of the

tirtha

many shadows

dance and song of the most charm-

Giving away diverse kinds of wealth

unto

th©

Brahmanas. as also goats and sheep and kinc and mules and camels and gold and

silver,

and feeding many

Brahmanas

and gratifying them with many costly gifts that were desired

by them, Valadeva of Madhu's race proceeded thence, accompanied by many Brahmanas and eulogised by them. ' 1

that tirtha

resorted

Leaving

Qandharvaei that mighty-armed

T 3 *S

MAHABHARATA,

chastiser of foes, having

the

but one

[GaddfilddhyeL

ear-ring, then

famous tirtha called Gargagrota.'*

tirtka

Saraswati,

of the

years and soul

the

proceeded to

There, in that sacred

illustrious

Garga

of venerable

by ascetic penances,

cleansed

Janamejava,

had acquired a knowledge of Time and its course, of the deviations

luminous bodies (in the firmament), and of all aus-

picious and

inauspicious

portents.'

reason, came to be called after his

8- "

That

tirtha, for

name as Gargacrota.

this

There,

O king, highly blessed RisJiis of excellent vows always waited upon Garga,

lord,

obtaining a

for

knowledge of Time. 17 *

Smeared with white sandal-paste O king, Valadeva, repairing to that

tirtha, duly gave away wealth

cleansed

souls.

Having given

also

many

unto

ascetics

many kinds

of.

of costly

viands unto the Brahtnanas, that illustrious one attired in blue robes then proceeded

on the bank

Saraswati, that mighty

of the

the

tirtha

Cankha. '

called

palmyra on his banner beheld a gigantic

hero

tree,

There,

having th»

called

Mahd-

$ankha,

tall

Meru, looking like the White-mountain, and

resorted

many Riahis**

Vidyddharas, J

l igdchas

observe

Ra.hah.a8aa

There dwell of

Yakshas, and

immeasurable energy, and

immeasurable might, and Siddhas, numbering in

thousands.*

and

All

of them,

abandoning other kinds of food,

vows and regulations, and take at due seasons the

fruits of that lord of the forest for their sustenance and

beings!

wander

O foremost of human That monarch of the forest, O king, is known for this

separate

bands, unseen

throughout the world ?'l

~* s

by men,

That tree is the cause of this cele-

brated and sacred tirtha in the Saraswati. in that tirtha

Having given away

many milch cows, and vessels of copper and iron,

and diverse kinds of other vessels, that tiger of Yadu's race, 1 * viz., Valadeva, having the plough for his weapon, worshipped the

Brahmanas and was worshipped by them in return. king, pr iceeded

to the

Dwaita lake.* 6

He then,

Arrived there, Vala

saw diverse kinds of ascetics in diverse kinds of atlire.

Bath-

* Garga was a celebrated astronomer and aatiologer of ancient India. Certain horoscopes left by him

have furnished

Oriental

iuiDuvtaut landmarks uii the subject of Hindoo eluouology.

scholars

—

wiiii

calya parva.

Parva.1 ing in

waters, he

its

Valadeva then;

profusion.

Rama

of virtuous

soul

along

the

The mighty armed

and

and unfading glory

then

Swarming

Ndgadhanwdna."

called

tirtha

proceeded to the

enjoyment

articles of

king, proceeded

87 southern bank of the Saraswati.

illustrious

Having

Biahmanas."

'worshipped the

given away unto the Brahmauas diverse in

O monarch, it was the abode of Vasuki

with numerous snakes,

of great splendour, the king

of the

ten thousand Rishis also had

their

four

and

permanent home.* 9

The

There

snakes.

celestials, having come there (in days of yore), had. according to

due rites, installed the excellent snake VFAsuki the snakes.

There is no fear of snakes

of Kuril's race

king

of all

thou

place,

that,

Duly giving away many valuables there unto

!*°

the Brahmauas, Valadeva then set out with

towards

face

the

east and reached, one after another hundreds and thousands of 81 Bathing in all famous tirthaa that occurred at every step. those ti/rthas, and observing fasts and other vows as directed by the Rishis, and giving away wealth in profusion," and

saluting all

who had taken up

ascetics

the

residence

their

there, Valadeva once more set out, along the

way

tint

ascetics pointed out to him, for reaching that

spot

where

those t

Saraswati 88 turns in an eastward direction, like torrents of rain

The river took that course f>>r

bent by the action of the wind. beholding the

Naimisha.

high-souled

Rishis

dwelling

Always smeared with

white

the

forest

sandal- paste, Val a,

having the plough for his weapon, beholding that foremost of king, filled with wonder."

rivers change her course, became,

Janamejaya said,

— 'Why,

bond her course there

Brahmana. did the Saraswati

an easterly

direction ?

best

me everything relating to

Addharyus, it 38 For what reason was that delightcr of the Yadus file d this behoveth thee to tell

with wonder

alter her course

Why, indeed, did that foremost of rivers '!'

Vaicampayana said,

— "Formerly,

the ascetics dwelling in

in the

O king, that came to that sacrifice. rites,

the

Krita age,

Naimisha were engaged

Many were

sacrifice extending for twelve vears."

ing to due

thus

the

king,

grand

Rishis,

Passing thi ir days, accord-

perf--rmai.ee

of that

sacrifice,

these

HAHABHARATA,

1S(T

[Gadciyuddhct

highly blessed ones," after the completion of that twelve years, sacrifice at Naimisha, set out

to tirthas.*

in large

numbers

for

sojurning

In consequence of the number of the Rishis,

king, the tirthas on the southern banks

looked like towns and cities.*'

Saraswati

of the

all

Those foremost of Brahmanas,

O tiger among men, in consequence of their eagerness for enjoying the merits of tirthas, took up their abodes on the bank of the river up to the site of Samantapanchaka. 48

region seemed to resound with

the

those Rishis of cleansed souls,

all

tions

sacrificial

fires.

Yedic recitations of

loud

employed

pouring

That foremost of

exceedingly beautiful with those blazing

The whole

rivers

liba-

looked

homa fires all around,

over which those high-souled ascetics poured libations of clarified

butter. 44

nas,

Samprakshyanas and other ascetics, 45 * as also those that

Valikhillyas

and Acmakuttas, Dantolukhali-

subsisted on air, and those that lived on water, and those

that

lived on dry leaves of trees, and diverse others that were obser-

vant of diverse kinds of vows, and those for the bare and hard

earth, 4S all

vicinity of the Saraswati.

exceedingly

rivers

that

came

And they made

beautiful, like

the

foreswore

beds

spot

the

that

that foremost of

celestials

(with their presence) the heavenly stream

called

beautifying

Mandakini. 4T

Hundreds upon hundreds of Rishis, all given to the observance of sacrifices,

came

thither.

Those practicers of high vows,

however, failed to find sufficient room on the banks of the Saraswati. 48

Measuring small plots of land with their sacred threads,

they performed their Agnihotras and diverse other rites. 49 river

Saraswati beheld,

The

O monarch, that large body of Rishis

penetrated with despair and plunged into anxiety (for want of a

broad thirtha wherein to perform their rites.

For their sake,

that foremost of streams came there, having made many abodes for herself in that spot,

through kindness for those Rishis of

* The first were diminutive little creatures, not bigger than the thumb the second were probably those that husked their corn with ;

only two pieces of stone without using the usual convenient appliances

;

the third were person9 that lived on raw corn, using their teeth for husk-

ing it.

have no idea of who the fourth were.— T.

CALYA PARVA,

PiXVVa.]

Having

Janamejaya !"

sacred penances,

lot

monarch,

thus,

foremost

Saraswati, that

turned her course for their sake, the

of rivers, once more flowed in a westerly direction," as said,

she

— must go hence, having prevented the arrival of these I

Rishis from becoming futile

This wonderful

king,

feat,

Even thus those

was accomplished there by that great river.*'

receptacles of water, O king, were formed in Naimisha.

at Kurukshetra,

form grand

foremost one of Kuril's race, do

sacrifices

and

those

many

of rivers

turn

Beholding

rites !**

receptacles of water and seeing

that

foremost

her course, wonder filled the heart of the

There,

thou per-

high-souled Rama. 8 *

Bathing in those tirthas duly and giving away wealth and diverse other articles of enjoyment unto the

delighter of Yadu's

food and diverse

race 1 *

desirable

also

articles

by those regenerate ones, Vala, foremost of all ewat).

Brahmanas, that

gave away diverse kinds of unto them.

Worshipped

king, then set out from that

Saraswati,

(viz.,

Sapta-Sdra,'

Numerous feathery creatures have

their

home

tirthas

the

there.

And it abounded with Vadari, Tnguda, Kdpnaryya, PlaJcsha, Agwattha, Vibhitaka, Kakkola, Pallga, Karira, diverse other kinds

Saraswati. 1

"* 9

of trees

Pilu,

grow on the banks

that

and

of the

And it was adorned with forests of K arushakets,

and Amratakas, and Atimuktas and Kdshandas and

Vilivas,

Parijcitas.*

Agreeable

the

sight and

abounded with forests of plaintains. •diverse tribes of ascetics,

most charming, it And it was resorted to by

some living on

air,

some on water,

some on fruit, some on leaves, some on raw grain which they husked with the aid only of stones, and some that were called

And it resounded with the chaunting of the Vedas, " and teemed with diverse kinds of animals. i8 And it was the favourite abode of men without malice and devoted to righteVdneyas.

Valadeva, having the plough for his weapon, arrived

ousness. at

that

ascetic

tirtha, called

the Sopta-Sdrasicat, where

Mankanaka had performed

crowned with success.' 89

his

the great

penances and became

[Gadayuddhd

Section XXXVIII.

—

Janamejaya said, "Why was that tirtha called Sapta-Sara* How did that swat! Who was the ascetic Mankanaka ? adorable one become crowned with

What

success ?

In whose race was

vows and observances V

books did that best of regenerate ones study ?

were his

What

born ?

I desire to hear

foremost of regenerate ones !"*

all this,

Vaieampayana said. this Universe

— '0 king, the seven Siraswatis cover

Whithersoever the Saraswati was summoned

8 by persons of great energy, thither she made her appearance. These are the seven forms of the Saraswati, viz., Suprabha,

Surenu, and Vic^ala, Manorama. Oghavati, The Supreme Grandsire had at one time performed a great sacrifice. While that sacrifice was in course

Kanchanakshi,

Vimalodaka.*

of performance on

ground selected, many regenerate ones

the

crowned with ascetic success came there.

The spot resounded

with the recitation of sacred hymns and the chaunting of the Vedas. In the matter of those sacrificial rites, the very gods lost their coolness, (so

O monarch,

grand were

There,

the preparations).*

while the Grandsire was installed in

the

sacrifice

and was performing the grand ceremony capable of bestowing prosperity and

every

many

wish, 7

ones conversant

notable

with righteousness and profit were present.

As soon

thought of the articles, of which they stood

monarch,

the

immediately appeared before

8 (amoncr the guests) that came there.

regenerate

And

upon many celestial instruments for all the time. of

provisions

gods.

procured

What shall I say

celestials

became

nuance of that

filled

wonder':'

not be said

possess

of rivers, viz, Saraswati,

the

very

The very

During the

conti-

Pushkara and in the presence of

O king, said,— 'This

high

The wealth

human beings?

then

sacrifice

ones

they played

satisfied

sacrifice

with

the Grandsire, the Rishis,

they

The Gandliarvas sang

and the diverse tribes of Apsaras danced. that

need, these,

attributes,

not to be

these words, the divine Brahman

sacrifice

since that

seen

cheerfully

can-

foremost

here !'— Hearing

thought of Sara-

Parva.]

cilya paiiva.

swati."

Summoned at Pushkara by the Grandsire engaged

the

performance of a

ed that sacrifice highly. * Saraswati,

Munis esteem-

Grandsire, the

Even thus thai foremost of rivers,

the

made

appearance at Pushkara for

her

the sake of the Grandsire and for gratifying the

another time),

king,

king, appeared

Beholding Saraswati

Suprabha. 1 '

quickly pay that regard to the

viz.,

Saraswati,

sacrifice,

name

under the

there,

153

Munis. *

many Munis, mustering

Naimisha, book up their residence there. tions occurred among them,

king

together at

Delightful

about the

(At

disquisi-

Veritas.

Thera

where those Munis, conversant with diverse scriptures, took

up their abode, there they thought thought of,

Saraswati. 17

of the

Thus

monarch, by those Rishis performing a sacrifice,

tha highly blessed and sacred Saraswati, for rendering assistance,

O king, to those high-souled Munis assembled together, made her appearance at Naimisha and nakshi.'*""

That foremost

came there,

Bharata!

came

Kancha-

called

of rivers, worshipped

thus

all,

While (king) Gaya was engaged

the performance of a great sacrifice at Gaya.

foremost of

the

summoned at Gaya's sacrifice, (made her there). The Rishis of rigid vows that were there, appearance named this form of hers at Gaya as Vicala,." That river of rivers.

Saraswati,

swift current

had also,

from

flows

the

sides

Bharata, performed

coursi of Munis had

Hi ma vat.

A large con-

sacrifice."

was on that

the northern part of Korali,

king, that

high-souled Ouddalaka was

performed. JI

viz.,

that

of the

been gathered there.

B3fore Ouddalaka began his sacrifice, he

had thought of tha

That foremost of rivers came

Saraswati.

Ouddalaka

sacred region, sacrifice

the sake of those Rishis.**

that

Worshipped by

all

region

those

for

tin is

clad in barks and deer-skins, she became known bv the name of 2

Manorama as those Rishis mentally called her. ' the high-souled

Kuru was engaged

While, again,

sacrifice

kshetra, that foremost of rivers, the highly blessed

Kuru-

Saraswati,

Summoned, O monarch, by the high-souled Vacishtha (who assisted Kuru in his sarrifW), made her appearance there. 26 the Saraswati,

full

of celestial water, appeared at Kurukshetra

under the name of Oghavati."

Daksha at one time performed

[GaddyuddhM

JfAHABHARATA.

154 a sacrifice at the

source

there under the

name

again, while

Ganga.

of the

fast

The Saraswati appeared Once

Surenu."*

flowing

Brahman was engaged in a sacrifice on the sacred

forest of the Himavat mountains, the adorable Saraswati,

moned (by him), appeared there. 19

sum-

All these seven forms then

came and joined together in that tirtha where Valadeva came.

And because the seven mingled together at that spot, therefore is that tirtha known

swuti.*

on Earth by the name

Thus have I told thee

cording to their names.

of Sapta-sara-

seven Saraswatis, ac-

of the

have also told thee of the sacred

tirtha called Sapta-sciraswat.*

Listen now to a great feat of

Mankanaka, who had from his youth led the life of a Brahma•charin. •river,

While employed in performing his ablutions he beheld (one day),

O Bharata, a woman of faultless

limbs and fair brows, bathing in the river at uncovered.

this

sight,

the

monarch, the

will,

her person

vital seed of the

The great ascetic took it up Kept within that vessel, 84 From those seven the fluid became divided into seven parts.

Mishi fell unto the Saraswati.

and placed it within his earthen pot.

portions were born seven Rishis, from whom sprung the

(nine

The seven Rishis were named Vayuvega,

and forty) Maruts. Vayuhan, Vayumandala, 85 Vayujata, Vayuretas, and Vayuchakra of great energy. Thus were born these progenitors of the diverse Maruts}* Hear now a more wonderful thing,

O king, a fact exceedingly marvellous on Earth, about the conduct of that great Rishi, which is well known in the three In days of yore, after Mankanaka had become crownworlds. 87 ed with success,

king, his

one occasion, became

hand, on

pierced with a Kuga blade.

Thereupon a vegetable juice came

out of the wound (and

red

not

blood). *

Seeing that

vege-

table juice, the Rishi became filled with joy and danced about * Afer the 25th verse, almost

all

the editions have a single

noticed by Nilakantha in his gloss>, about the Surenu.

line,

evidently

an interpolation. In the first enumeration of the seven Saraswatis, Surenu comes after Oghavati. The occurrence of this one line, therefore, mentioning Surenu before Oghavati, and assigning it a place different

from that which is assigned to it in veree 29, leaves little room for doubt, that it i9 au interpolation.

— T,

—

calya p art a,

15S

Seeing him dance, all

mobile and immobile

?arva.}\

on the

spot.

O hero, stupified by his

creatures,

energy, began

dance."

head, and

the

Rishia

Maha-

Then the gods with Brahman at

their

possessed of wealth of asceticism,

O king, all

went

deva and informed him of the act of the Rishi (Mankanaka). And they said unto him, 'It behoveth thee, god, to do that

which may prevent the Rishi from dancing f 4 *

— Then Maha-

deva, seeing the Rishi filled with great joy, and moved by the

—

desire of doing good unto the gods, addressed

him, saying, 41

'Why, O Brahmana, dost thou dance in

way, acquainted

this

What grave cause

as thou art with thy

duties ?

such joy of thine,

sage, that, ascetic as thou art,

there for

best

Brahmanas, and walking as thou dost along the path of virtue thou shouldst act in this way ?'** "The Rishi

said,

— 'Why,

that a vegetable juice is

Seeing this,

thou

seesfc

flowing from

Bhahmana, wound of mine ?

not,

this

am dancing in great joy f * 4

lord, I

Laughing at

the Rishi who was stupified by passion, the god said,

O Brahmana, at all wonder at this said this

Behold me

— T do — Having

not,

unto that foremost of Rishis, Mahadeva of great in-

telligence struck his thumb with the end of

Thereupon,

wound.

king, ashes, white

one of his fingers. 48

snow, came out

Seeing this, the Rishi became ashamed,

and fell at the feat of the god. 4 * be none else than Mahadeva.

of that

O monarch,

understood the god to

Filled with wonder, he said,

do not think that thou art any one else than Rudra, that great

and Supreme being 4T !

O wielder of the trident, thou art

refuge of this universe consisting

wise say

that

this

universe

of gods

hath

and Asuras

been created by

the

The

thee! 48

At the universal destruction, everything once more enters thee Thou art incapable of being known by the gods, how then * All forms of being that are canst thou be known by me 4 The gods with Brahman at in the universe are seen in thee ,c their head worship thy boon-giving self, O sinless one Thou art everything the creator of the gods and Thou art it wasthou who hadst caused them to be created Through thy !

grace, the gods pass their time in joy and perfect

fearlessness !'

Having praised Mahadeva in this manner, the Rishi bowed

hahabharata.

1.36

him. 5

—

'L'3t

not

absence of

this

I pray to thee for this

—

gravity, ridiculous

the

O god, destroy my ascetic merit

extreme, that I displayed, !'*'

[Oadayuddkti

— The god, with a cheerful heart, once

more said unto him, 'Let thy asceticism increase a thousandI shall also always dwell fold, O Brahmana, through my grace !

The man that will worship me in

with thee in this asylum !"

this tirtha, viz., Sapta-saraswat, there will be nothing unattain-

Without doubt, such a one shall ''** Even go to the region called Saraswat (in heaven), after death able by

him here or hereafter.

this the history of Manhanaka of abundant energy.

He was a

eon begotten by the god of wind upon (the lady) Sukanya."'

Section XXXIX.

Vaicampayana

Kama, having

said,

the

— 'Having passed one night there,

plough

for

weapon, worshipped the

his

dwellers of that tirtha and showed his regard for

Mankanaka.

Having given wealth unto the Bramanas, and passed the night; for

his

weapon was wor-

Rising up in

the

morning,* he took

there, the hero having the

shipped by the Munis. leave of all

plough

the ascetics, and having touched the sacred water,

Bharata, set out quickly for other tirthasS Valadeva then went to the tirtha known by the name of Uganas. It is also

called

Formerly, Rama (the son of Daca-

Kapalamochana.

ratha) slew a Rdkshasti and hurled his head to a great distance,

That head,

king,

fell

upon the thigh of a great sage named

Mahodara and stuck to it. Bathing in this tirtha, the great Rishi became freed from that burthen. The high-souled Kavi 4"6 It was (Cukra) had performed his ascetic penances there. there that the whole science of politics and morals (that

goes

by Cukra's name) appeared to him by inward light. While residing there, Cukra meditated upon the war of the Daityas

and the Danavcts (with the gods).'

Arrived at that foremost

king, duly

male presents unto the

of tirthas, Valadeva,

high-souled Brahmanas."

Janamejaya said,— 'Why is it called Kapalamochana, where the great Muni became

For

freed

(from

the

lidLshdsa's

hoad) ?

?"• what reason and how did that head stick unto him

CALYA PARVJL

Parva.]

Vai<;ampavana said,

—"Formerly,

157 tiger among kings, the

high-souled Kama (the son of Dacaratha) lived (for sometime)

Dandaka, from desire of sla} ing the JidJcaha-

in the forest of sas.

At Janasthana he cut

head of a wicked-souled

off the

Rakshasu with a razor-headed shuft of great sharpness. That head fell in the deep forest. 10 That head, coursing at will (through the welkin)

thigh,

fell

upon the thigh

Mahodara while

wandering through the woods.

the latter wa?

O king, it stuck to it and remained

Piercing

there.

his

In conse-

quence of that head thus sticking to his thigh, the Brahmana

(Mahodara) of great wisdom could not (with ease) proceed to Airlicted with great pain and tirthas and other sacred spots. * 1

with putrid matter flowing from his thigh, he went to tirthas of the Earth

all

the

(one after another), as heard by us."

went to all the rivers and to the ocean also.

(Not finding any

relief), the great ascetic spoke of his sufferings to many liishis

of cleansed souls * about his having bathed in 1

without having found the relief he sought.

all

the

tirthas

That foremost

Brahraanas then heard from those sages words of high import" about this foremost of tirthas situate on

known by

name

the

of Ucanasa,

the

Saraswati, and

which was represented as

competent to cleanse from every sin and as an excellent spot for

attaining

That Brahmana then,

success."

(ascetic)

repairing to that Oucanasa tlrtha, bathed in its waters. this, the Rakshasa's head,

Upon

leaving the thigh, fell into the water. 17

Freed from that (dead) head, the Rishi felt great happiness. regards the head itself, then,

king, freed from

was lost in the waters. " 1

the

Rdksliasa's

Mahodara

head, cheerfully

re-

turned, with cleansed soul and all his sins washed away, to his

asylum nfter achieving success."

The great ascetic, thus freed,

after returning to his sacred asylum,

pened

th »se

Rishis

spoke of what had hap-

cleansed souls. 80

The assembled

Rishis, having heard his words, bestowed the namo of Kapalctr

mochana on the tirtha.*

The great Rishi Mahodara, repair-

ing once more to that foremost of tirthas, drank its water and attained to great ascetic success.**

He of Madhu'a race, having

given away much wealth unto the

Brahmanas and worshipped

them, then proceeded

the

asylum

»f

Rushatgu."

There,

Uahabharata,

158

O Bharata, Irshtishena austerest

of penances.

[GadayUddk*

had in former days undergone the

Muni Vicwamitra

There the great

(who had before been a Kshatriya) became a Brahmana.** That great asylum is capable of granting the fruition of every wish.

It is always,

anas. 88

O lord, the abode of Munis and Brahm-

Valadeva of great beauty, surrounded by Brahmanas,

then went to that spot,

O monarch, where Rushangu

old Brahmana who was

always devoted to ascetic penances.

Resolved to cast off his body, he reflected

Endued with great ascetic

merit,

sons and told them

abundant. 28

ascetics,

Those

had, in

Rushangu, O Bharata, was an

former days, cast off his body.* 6

take

for

long while."

he then summoned

all

his

him to a spot where water was knowing their sire had become

very old, took that ascetic to a tirtha on

Saraswati.**

the

Brought by his sons to the sacred Saraswati containing hundreds of tirthas and on whose banks dwelt Rishis unconnected 80 of austere penances with the world, that intelligent ascetic

bathed in that tirtha according to due rites, and conversant as that foremost of Rishis was w'.th the merits of tirthas, then cheerfully said,

tiger among men,

unto all his sons who were

dutifully waiting upon hitn these words off his body on

S1 :

— 'He that would casl

the northern bank of the Saraswati containing

much water, while employed in mentally reciting sacred tras, would never again be afflicted with death

ous-souled Valadeva, touching

the

water of that tirtha and

Brahmanas,

bathing in it, gave considerable wealth unto the devoted as he was to them.

man-

The righte-

Possessed

of great

great prowess, Valadeva then proceeded to

that

might and

tirtha

where

the adorable Grandsire had created the mountains called Loka-

where that foremost of Rishis, viz., Arshtishena of thou of Kuru's race, had by austere penances rigid vows, loka,

Brahmanhood, where the royal sage Sindhudwipa, and the great ascetic Devapi, and the adorable

acquired

the

status

and illustrious Muni Vicwamitra of austere penances and fierce energy, had all acquired a similar status

"84-8S

— Farvc]

Section XL.

Janamojaya said,

—"Why did the adorable Arshtishena un-

How also did Sindhudwipa How also did Devapi, acquire the status of a Brahmana best of men, acquire Vic,wamitra, how O Brahmana, and

dergo the austerest of penances ?

the same status?

Tell me all this,

one

adorable

Great

my curiosity to listen to all this !"* Vaicampayana said,

— "Formerly,

in the

Krita age,

Arshtishena.

there was a foremost of regenerate persons called

attended to

Residing in his preceptor's house, he every day.

king, he resided long in

Although,

disappointment, austere penances. tery

the

king,

great

his

lessons

the

abode

mastery of any

of his preceptor, he could not still acquire the

monarch !*

branch of knowledge or of the Vedas,

ascetic

By his panances he then

Vedas than which there

king,

great

performed very

acquired the mas-

nothing superior. 1

Acquiring great learning and a mastery of the Vedas, that foremost of Rishis became crowned with success in that tirtha.

He then bestowed three

boons on

that

'From this day, a person, by bathing 7 !

(He

said)

tirtha

this

of the

obtain the great fruit of a horse

great river (Saraswati), shall sacrifice

place.

From this day there will be no fear in this tirtha By small exertions, again, one

from snakes and wild beasts

Having said

shall attain to great results here!'*

that Miutii of great energy

these

proceeded to heaven.

words,

Even thus

the adorable Arshtishena of great energy became crowned with success.

of great

In that very tirtha, in the Krita age, Sindhudwipa energy, and

the high status

Devapi

devoted to ascetic penances acquired

the

status

directed austerities.

over the world,

also,

Brahmanhood. 10

monarch, had acquired Similarly

Kinjika's

son,

and with his senses under control,

Brahmanhood by

practising

well-

There was a great Kshatriya, celebrated

known by

the name of Gadhi.

He had a son

born to him, of the name of Vic,wainitra of great prowess."

King Kaucika became

great

ascetic.

Possessed

of great

[Gadayuddh*

mahabharata.

100 his

throne, 18

himself having resolved

His

subjects,

bowing unto him, said,

awav,

cast

body.

off his

—'Thou shouldst not go

O thou of great wisdom, but do thou protect us from a

great fear

Thus addressed, Gadhi replied unto his subjects,

—'My son saying,

will

of the wide uni-

become the protector

Having said these words, and placed Vicwamitra (on verse king, went to heaven, and Vicwamitra the throne), Gadhi, !' 18

He could not, however, protect the Earth with

became king.

fear

of a great

kinds

four

The king then heard of the existence With his of Rfikshasaa (in his kingdom).

even his best exertions.

of forces, he

went out

of his

capital.

Having

proceeded far on his way, he reached the asylum of Vacishtha. king, caused much mischief there.

His troops,

able Brahmana Vacishtha, when he came

Rishis,

viz.,

Vacishtha,

with ViQwamitra. \

swarm

encountered the army

That best of

O king, became angry,

men

of tirthas

visages.

These cause

Seeing this, the troops fled away. however,

austerities highly efficacious, set his heart

foremost

cow, say-

Thus addressed,

of frightful

Vicwamitra the son of Gadhi, this

monarch,

Vicwamitra and began

great carnage everywhere."

ador-

asylum, saw

He commanded his own (homa)

— 'Create a number of terrible Cavaras

the cow created a

The

to his

of destruction.

the extensive woods in course

regarding ascetic

upon them."

king, he began

of the Saraswati,

to emaciate his own body by means of vows and fasts with fixed

He made water and air and (the fallen) leaves of He slept on the bare ground, and observed trees his food.

resolve.

other vows (enjoined for ascetics).

The gods made repeated

him in the observance of his vows. His attempts heart, however, never swerved from the vows (he had proposed for impeding

to himself ). ties

Then, having practised diverse kinds of austeri-

with great devotion, the son

Sun himself in great

energy,

effulgence,

resolved

of Gadhi

became

the

The boon-giving

Grandsire, of

Vicwamitra,

when he had

to grant

become endued with ascetic merit, the boon the latter desired."

The boon that Vicwamitra solicited was that he should be permitted to become a Brahmana. Brahman, the Grandsire 8 Having by of all the worlds, said unto him,— 'So be it.'*

GALYA PARYA,

2*(*mi.]

penances acquired the status of Bruhmanhood,

austere

his

161

the illustrious Vicwiimitra, after

attainment of his wish,

tho

Giving away

wandered over the whole Earth like a celestial."

Rama also

diverse kinds of wealth in that foremost of tirthas,

cows and vehicles and beds, and k ng, unto

cheerfully gave away milch

ornaments, and food and drink of the best kinds,

many foremost of Brahmanas, after having worshipped them duly."" 11

O king, Rama

Then,

proceeded to the asylum

Vaka which was not very distant from where he was, that

asy-

lum in which, as heard by us, Dalvya-vaka had

tha

augterest of penances."

pracfciied

Section XLI. Vaic.ampayana said,

— "That delighter of the Yadus then

proceeded to the asylum (of Vaka) which resounded with tht

chaunting of

There the great

Vcdas.

the

ascetic,

king,

named Dalvya-vaka, poured the kingdom of Dhritarashtra the 1

son of Vichitravirya as a libation (on the sacrificial practising very austere penances ho emaciated

fire).

own body.

his

Endued with great energy, the virtuous Rishi, filled with 8 In former times, the Rishis great wrath, (did that act). residing in the Naimisha forest had performed

tending for twelve

In course of that

years.

one called

a particular

sacrifice

Vi$wajit had been completed,

Rishls set out for the country of the Panchalas.

sacrifice

ing

be given away

they had completed).*

those

Rishis), said

Rishls,

at the presence

animals of him.

!' 6

Vaka of great energy,

nas, then proceeded to the of

strong (in

the (call-

— 'Do you divide those

Giving away

I shall solicit a great king (for some) all those

Dakshind

Dalvya-vaka, however,

unto them,

animals (of mine) among ye

the

Arived there,

they solicited the king for giving them one and twenty

and healthy calves to

ex-

sacrifice, after

(unto ye),

these

Having said

that best

Brahma-

Arrived

abode of Dhritarashtra.

unto

king Dhritarashtra, Dalvya begged some

That best

of kings,

however, seeing

that

s>me of his kino had died without, any cause, angrily ^aid unto him,—'Wretch of a Brahman.^ take, if thou likest, .the,s^ 21

[Qad&yuddhn

MiHABHAR-ATi,

Iti2

animals that (are dead) !'

Hearing these words, the Mishi,

conversant wtih duties, thought, that have been addressed to reflected in this

strain, that

— 'Alas, cruel are the words in

best

the assembly of

Brahmanas,

wrath, set his heart upon the destruction

of king

!' 9

Having

filled

with

Dhritarash-

Cutting the flesh from off the dead animals, that best of sages, having ignited a (sacrificial) fire on the tirtha of the tra.

Sarasvvati, poured those pieces as libations for the

destruction

Observant of rigid vows, of king Dhritarashtra's kingdom. the great Dalvya-vaka, O monarch, poured Dhritarashtra's

kingdom as a libation on the fire, with the aid of those pieces 12 of meat. * Upon the commencement of that fierce sacrifice monRecording to due rites, the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, 18 kingdom the Indeed, lord, of away. O waste to began arch, that monarch began to waste away even as a large forest begins to disappear when men proceed to cut

down with th8

Overtaken by calamities, the kingdom began to

lose

its

axe.

pros-

perity and life. *

Seeing his kingdom thus afflicted, the puis-

sant monarch,

king,

became very cheerless and thoughtful."

Consulting with the Brahmanas, he began to make great en-

deavours fur freeing his territories (from affliction). No good, however, came of his efforts, for the kingdom continued to waste away. 18 also,

The king became very cheerless. The Brahmanas became filled with grief. When at last the

sinless one,

17 he asked his counselors, king failed to save his kingdom, O Janamejaya, (about the remedy). The counselors reminded

him of the evil he had done in connection with the dead kine." And they said, 'The sage Vaka is pouring thy kingdom as a

—

libation on the firo with the aid of the flesh (of those animals). 19 This is the Thence is this great waste of thy kingdom consequence of ascetic rites. Thence is this great calamity !

Go,

king, and gratify that Rishi by the side of a receptacle

!'*° Repairing to water on the bank of the Saraswati the bank of the Saraswati, the king falling at his feet and

touching them with his head, joined his hands and said, O thou

fire

calya parti.

Parva.]

Bharata's race, these words, forgive my offence !"

with avarice it

Thou

art

thus overwhelmed with these,

kingdom. 18

— gratify thee,

adorable

I am a senseless fool, a

refuge, thou

me thy

behoveth thee to show

163

grief

wretch

my protector

art

grace !'"

Beholding

and indulging

one,

inspired

him

lamentations

Vaka felt compassion for him and freed hisThe Rislti became gratified with him, having

dismissed his angry

feelings.

For freeing his kingdom, the 4

Having freed the kingdom (from calamities) and taken many animals in gift,

sage again poured libations on

the

fire.*

he became pleased at heart and once more proceeded to the

Naimisha woods.**

The liberal-minnded king Dhritarashtra

also, of righteous soul,

with a cheerful heart, returned

hia

own capital full of prosperity." "In that tirtha, Vrihashpati also, of great

intelligence, for

the destruction of the Asuras and the prosperity zens of heaven,

the aid of flesh.

poured libations on the

of the deni-

sacrificial

fire,

with

Upon this, the Asuras began to waste away

and were destroyed by the gods, inspired with desire of victory, in battle.

Having with due rites given unto the Brahmanas

steeds and elephants and vehicles with mules yoked, unto

and jewels of great value and much the illustrious and

mighty-armed

king, to the tirtha called

wealth

Rama

Yayata}***

sacrifice of the high-souled

them and much corn,

then

proceeded,

monarch, at

There,

Yayati the son of Nahusha, the

Saras wati produced milk and clarified butter."

That

tiger

among men, viz., king Yayati, having performed a sacrifice there, went cheerfully to heaven and obtained many regions of blessedness. 88

Once again, O lord, king Yayati performed

a sacrifice there. Beholding his great magnanimity of soul and his immutable devotion to herself, the river Saraswati gave unto the Brahmanas (invited to that sacrifice) everything for

which each of them cherished only a wish

his

heart. 8 *

That foremost of rivers gave unto each where he was, amongsfc those that were invited to the

sacrifice,

houses and beds and

food of the six different kinds of taste, and diverse other kinds of

things.**

made

The Brahmanas regarded those valuable gifts them by the king. Cheerfully they rraised

MAHABHAUATA,

164

[GadSl/udcih*

monarch and bostowed their auspicious blessings upon him. The gods and the Gandharvas were all pleased with

the

the profusion of articles in that

sacrifice.

As regards human

beings, they were filled with wonder at sight of that profusion.*'

The illustrious Valadeva, of soul subdued and cleansed, having the palmyra on

his

great righteousness, and ever giving away things, then proceeded to that Yag ishthapavaha." 97 *

restrained

and

banner, distinguished by

tirtha

the

most valuable

of fierce

current called

Section XLII.

Janamejaya said,

— "Why

is the current

of (the tirtha known

by the name of ) Vac/ishthapavaha so rapid ? For what reason What, did the foremost of rivers bear away Vacishtha V

O lord, was the cause of the dispute between Vacishtha and Questioned by me,

Vicvva mitra ? tell

all

this

thou of great wisdom,

I am never satiated with hearing thee !"'

Vaicampayana said,— "A great enemity §wamitra and Vacishtha,

Bharata, due

respect of ascetic austerities.

was in the tirtha called Siraswati.

arose to

between Vi-

their

rivalry

The high abode of Vacishtha Sthanu on the eastern bank of the

On the opposite bank was the asylum of the intelli-

gent Vicwamitra. 4

There, in that tirtha, monarch, Sthanu (Mahadeva) had practised the austerest penances. Sages still speak of those fierce feats. 5 Having performed a sacrifice there

and worshipped the river Saraswati, Sthanu established that Hence it is knov/n by the name Sthanu-tivtha, tirtha there.

O lord. In that tirtha, the celestials had, in days of yore, O king, installed Skanda, that slayer of the enemies of the 6

* JJahdddnanitycts,

— certain classes of gifts are called Mahadana

BHch as horses, elephants, houses, boats, &c. None but the most superThe theory is that rior classes of Brahraanaa could accept such gifts, unless the receiver be pure, he cannot but be contaminated by acceptance.

this

day,

frdddhas of Hindoos, such valuable gifts are

not accepted by good and respectable BiShmanas but are taken by per-sous- who have' lot

their 'social position.— TV

165

Calya parva;

Parva.]

7 Unto that supreme command of their army. tirtha of the Saraswati, the great Rishi Vicwamitra, by the

gods, in the

penances, brought

austere

aid of his

The two

that history.*

ascetics

Listen

Vaicishtha.

Vicwamitra and Vacishtha,

O Bharata, evory day challenged each other very earnestly of their

superiority

of the

in respect

penances.*

The great

Manl Vicwamitra, burning (with jealousy) at sight enerery of Vacishtha,

of the

began to reflect on the matter." Though

devoted to the performance of his duties, this, however, is the Bharata, that he formed, viz., 'This Saraswati resolution,

—

bring, by

quickly

shall

of ascetics,

viz.,

Vacishtha, to

have been brought hithor, foremost

of her

force

regenerate

shall,

onos.'

foremost

current, that

shall

without doubt, slay

that

Having

the

After

presence.

settled

this,

illustrious and great Rishi Vicwamitra, with eyes red in wrath,

Thus remembered by the The fair lady, howascetic, she became exceedingly agitated.

thought of that foremost of rivers."

ever, repaired to that Rishi of great energy and great

and trembling, Saraswati, with joined hands, appeared

Pale

lady was much who has lost her mighty And she said unto that best of sages, 'Tell me what is

before that foremost of sagos."

Indeed, the

afflicted with grief, even like a woman

lord.

there that I shall do said unto her, I

wrath. 14

may

slay

agitated."

for thee !'"

—

Filled with rage, the

ascetie

— 'Bring hither Vacishtha without delay, so that

Hearing these words, the river became With joined hands the lotus-eyed lady began to

him

tremble exceedingly in fear, like a creeper shaken by the wind."

Beholding the great river in that plight, the ascetic said unto her,

— 'Without my scruple, bring Vacishtha into my presence

!'"

Hearing these words of his, and knowing the evil he intended to do, and acquainted also with the prowess of Vacishtha that

was unrivalled on Earth, 30 she repaired formed him her.

Vacishtha and in-

what the intelligent Vicwamitra had said unto

Fearing the curse of both, she trembled repeatedly. In-

deed, her heart was on the grievous curse (that either of

might denounce on her). She stood in terror of both."

them

Seeing

her pale and'plunged into anxiety, .the righteous-souled Vacishtha, that foremost of men,

king, 'said those Words unftTh-er."*

— 16$

HAHABHARATA,

"Vatjishtha laid,

— '0 foremost of

[Qaddyuddhy^t save

rivers,

thyself

thou of rapid current, bear me away, otherwise Vicwamitra will curse thee

Do not

feel

any

scruple.'

Hearing these

word? of that compassionate Rislti, the river began to think, O Kauravya, as to what course would be best for her to fol3

Even these were the thoughts that arose in her mind,

low. *

'Vacishtha showeth great compassion for me!

me that I should serve him

!'* 6

proper for

It is

Beholding then that best of

Rishis (viz., Vacishtha) engaged in silent recitation tras) on her bank, and seeing Kucika's son

engaged

homa, Saraswati thought, 97

opportunity

Then that foremost

washed away one of her banks. 28

(of

— 'Even this

of rivers,

by her current,

In washing away that bank,

While being borne away,

she bore Vacjshtha away.

man-

(Vicwamitra) also

king,

Vacishtha praised the river in these words ;89

—'From the Grand-

sire's (manasa) lake

This whole universe

thou hast taken thy with

filled

Wending through the firmament, thy waters to the clouds

rise,

Saraswati !

thy excellent

waters

goddess, thou

impartest

All the waters are

thee

80 !

Through-

Thou art Pushti, !* Thou art Speech, and and Dytdi, Kirti, and Sidclhi and Umcl

thee we exercise our thinking

faculties!' 1

thou art Swaha !f This whole universe is dependent on thee is

thou that dwellest in all creatures,

praised by that great Rishi, Saraswati,

that 'Brahmana towards the

four

forms !'"

— Thus

O king, speedily

asylum of Vicwamitra and

bore re-

peatedly represented unto the latter the arrival of the former.**

him by Saraswati,

Beholding Vacishtha thus brought before

Vicwamitra, filled with rage, began to look for a weapon wherewith to slay that Brahmana. 3 * Seeing him filled with wrath, the

from

river,

fear of (witnessing

slaughter, quickly

bore

and aiding in) a Brahmana's

Vacishtha away to her eastern bank

once more. She thus had obeyed the words of both, although she deceived the son of Gadhi by her Rishis,

viz.,

act.*'

Vacishtha, borne away,

Seeing that best of the

vindictive

Vic,wa-

* The respective embodiments of growth, splendour, fame, and ; T. the last is the supreme goddess, Civa's spouse.

euccese

—

;

t A rnanfrd of great cffioacj.

— T-

«alta parya,

Farm.] mitra,

filled

with wrath, addressed Saraswati, saying,"

O foremost of rivers, thou me,

let

107

gone away, having

hast

— Since,

deceived

thy current be changed into blood that is acceptable to intelligent

Vicwamitra,

Saraswati flowed for a whole year, bearing blood

mixed with

Jlxkshasas !'"

Then, cursed by the

The gods, the Gandfairvas, and the Apsaras, beholding the Saraswati reduced to that plight, became filled with great king, the tirtha came to be called sorrow. 89 For this reason, water. 8 '

The foremost of rivers,

Vagisldhapavclha on Earth.

however,

once more got back her own proper condition." 4 '

Section XLIII.

Vaicampayana said, mitra in

awger,

— "Cursed by the intelligent Vi<jwa-

Saraswati,

that

tirthas, flowed, bearing blood in her current.

many Rilcshasas came, O drinking the blood that

Bharata, and

Then,

king,

happily

there,

Exceedingly gratified with

flowed.*

that blood, cheerfully and without anxiety

any kind, they

have (by merit)

After some time had passed

Rishis, possessed of wealth of asceticism, king, on a sojourn to her tirthas.*

swati,

lived

danced and laughed there like persons that attained to heaven. 1

and best of

auspicious

came

away, some to

the

Sara-

Those foremost of

Munis, having bathed in all the tirthas and obtained great happiness, became desirous of acquiring more merit. Those learned

persons at

the Saraswati

last

came,

O king, to

that tirtha

where

current.

Those highly blessed

ones, arriving at that frightful tirtha*

saw the water of the

ran

bloody

Saraswati mixed with blood and that innumerable Rdkshasas,

O monarch, were drinking it.

Beholding those Rdkshasas,

O king, those ascetics of rigid vows made great endeavours for rescuing thf\ Saraswati from that plight.*

Those blessed ones

of high vows, arrived there, invoked

that

and said these words unto her: 9

us the reason,

—

'Tell

foremost of rivers auspi-

cious lady,

why this lake in thee hath been afflicted with such

distress

Hearing it, we shall endeavour (to restore

its

proper condition).'

Thu3 questioned, Saraswati, trembling us

she spoke, informed

them

of everything

that

hod

occurred

— W*

MAHabharata.

[Gaddyuddha

—

Seeing Jier afflicted with woe, those ascetics told her, 'We have heard the reason. We have heard of thy curse, O sinless 1 '

lady!

All of us shall exert ourselves !' ia

Having

said

these

words unto that foremost of rivers, they then consulted with one another, 'All of us shall emancipate Saraswati from

—

her curse.'

Mahadeva,

Then all those Brahmanas, O king, worshipping that Lord of the universe and protector of all

creatures, with penances and vows and fasts and diverse

kinds

of abstenances and painful observances, emancipated that fore-

most

of rivers, viz., the

Saraswati. 18

divine

Beholding the

water of Saraswati purified by those Munis, the Rdkshasas (that had taken up there abode there), afflicted with

sought

ger,

the

protection

Munis

those

Afflicted with hunger, the Rdkshasas, with joined

peatedly said unto those ascetics words,

viz.,

will

We have swerved from

That we are sinful in behavior is not of our free Through the absence of your grace and through our own

eternal virtue 19

hands, re-

with compassion, these

filled

— All of us are hungry

hun-

themselves. 17

evil acts, as also

through the sexual sins of our

women

our

we have become Brahma- Rdkshasas !

demerits increase and

So amongst Vaicyas and Cudras, and Kshatriyas, those that 20 " il Ye best of hate and injure Brahmanas became Rdkshasas.

Brahmanas, make arrangements then for our relief! Ye are Hearing these words of

competent to relieve all the words !'* 8

—

theirs, those ascetics praised the great

of those

For the rescue

river.

minds

Rdkshasas, with rapt

those

— 'The food over which one sneezed, that

ascetics

insects,

that

which may be mixed

of dishes,

that

which

trodden

shall

ed man, knowing all of food.

this,

those

Rdkshasas.'1 1

carefully

tft-

any that

avoid these kinds

— Having purified the

assume

tirtha,

that river for the

Understanding the views of

those great Rishis, that foremost bull among men,

with hair,

thus solicited '

with

such food shall be regarded a3

eating the food of Rdkshasas /'-"

relief

which

shall

He that shall take

in this way," those ascetics

mixed

mixed with tears, these Rdkshasas /' The learn-

upon, that

form the portion

which there are

leavings

worms and

said,

of rivers

caused .her body,

new shape

called .ArunaY'.

1G9

cai.ya pakva,

Parva.]

Bathing in that new

river

branch

of the

Saraswati) th«

Rikshisus cist off their bodies and went to heaven." this,

taining all

chief of the

the

Ascer-

Indra) of a

celestials, (viz.,

bathed in that foremost of tirthas end be-

hundred sacrifices,

came cleansed of a grievous sin." Janaincjaya said, ''For what reason was

—

with

the

sin

Brahmanicide ?

How

also

Indra tainted

become

did

?"" cleansed by bathing in that iirtha

Vaicampayana said,

— "Listen to that history,

ruler

Listen to those occurrences as they happened Hear men how Vasava, in days of yore, broke his treaty with Namu(The Asuva) Namuchi, from fear of Vasava, had chi !" entered a ray of the Sun. Indra then made friends with Namu!

chi and entered into a covenant

with

him, saying,"

slay

thee,

thing that is wet or with anything

that

most of Asurcts,

not

shall

slay thee in the night or in the day

truth '"

— '0 fore-

friend, with is

dry

anynot

I shall

I swear this to

thee

Having made this covenant, the lord Indra one day

beheld a fog.

He then,

king, cut off

Namuchi's head, using

The severed head of the foam of water (as his weapon)." Namuchi thereupon pursued Indra from behind, saying unto

—

slayer of a friend, him from a near point these words, O wretch !'•• Urged on incessantly by that head, Indra repaired to the Grandsire and informed him, in grief, of what

had occurred." The Supreme Lord of the universe said unto chief of Performing a sacrifice, bathe with due rites, him, which saveth from the fear the celestials, in Arunii, that tirtha

—

of sin

Munis 1

was concealed. 3 '

The divine Saraswati, repaired to the

Aruna, and flooded

with her waters. This confluence of Sara-

swati and Aruna is highly sacred :*° celestials,

perform a sacrifice

sin

profusion !

freed

from thy

Thus addressed, Cakra, at these words

O Janamejaya, performed in Giving .away

sacrifices." tirtha,

O chief of the

Thither,

Give away gifts

Performing thy ablutions there, thou shalt be \' il

made

Formerly the presence of that river at

sacred by the its site

Cakra, hath been

The water of that river,

of a

hundred

Brahman,

that abode of Saraswati diverse

many

gifts

sacrifices, viz.,

and bathing the

piercer

that

of Vala,

mahamueata.

170 performed certain

duly

Aruna.

that

tirtha

— "The high-souled Valadeva, havand given away many kinds of

Of righteous deeds, he then

obtained great merit.

gifts,

ceeded to the great tirtha of Soma.

Soma himself,

G best of kings, that granted every \yish." 4S

Vaicampayana continued. in

Namuchi also fell Asara obtained many

Bharata, and the

into that stream,

There, in days

gifted with great intelligence,

of yore,

Brahmanas,

became the Hotri in that grand

Upon the conclusion of that sacrifice, a great

sacrifice.

pro-

king of kings, had performed the Rajasuya

The high-souled Atri, that foremost

sacrifice.

out of the

arising

sin

The head

heaven with a joyful heart. *

ing bathed

the

The lord of heaven then returned to

slaughter of a Brahmana.

eternal regions,

and then plunged

sacrifices

He became freed from

[Gaddyuddha

took place between the gods (on the one side) vas, the Daiteyas,

and the Dana-

and the Rakshasas (on the

fierce battle is known after the name

of (the

In that battle Skanda slew Taraka. 45

battle

That

other).

Asura) Taraka.

There, on that occasion,

(Skanda, otherwise called) Mahasena, that destroyer of Daityas, obtained the command of the celestial forces.

Under its

a gigantic AgiuatUta tree.

In that tirtha is

shade, Kartikeya, other-

wise called Kumara, always resides in person." 4 '

Section XLIV.

Janamejaya said, Saraswati,

—"Thou hast described the merits of the

best of Brahmanas

It behoveth thee,

ate one, to describe to me the investiture gods).

Great is the curiosity

therefore, about the time

feel.

regener-

Kumara (by the Tell me everything, of

when and the

place where and the manner in which the adorable and puissant lord Skanda was in-

vested (with the command also,

of the

celestial

forces)!

Tell

O foremost of speakers, who they were that invested him

and who performed the actual

rites,

and how the

celestial "

generalissimo made a great carnage of the Daityas !" 2 1

Vaicampayana said,

—"This curiosity that thou

worthy of thy birth in Kuril's raca. speak, will,

feelest

The words that

Janamejaya, conduce to thy pleasure 4 !

shall

I shall

calya parva,

j?arva.]

invostituro

narrate to thco the

Kumara and

the prowess

O ruler of men, thou wishest to

of that high-soulcd one, since,

hear it

In days of yore the vital seed of Mahegwara, coming

out, fell into a blazing fire.

the adorable Agni, could

The consumer of everything, viz.,

not

burn that indestructible

seed.

On the other hand, the bearer of sacrificial libations, in consequence of that seed, became possessed of great energy and

He could

splendour.

not

himself that

within

bear

seed

At the command of Brahman, the lord Agni,

mighty energy.'

approaching (the r; er) Ganga, threw into her that divine seed \

possessed of the effulgence to hold it, cast is

the

»f

to grow

there,

Meanwhile splendour.

overwhelming

(the

Thereupon Agni's son began worlds

the

all

beheld

Krittikiis

six)

breast

beautiful

worshipped by the celestials. 9

Ganga also, unable of Himavat that

Sun. 8

the

Seeing that puissant

that

all

child

fiery

high-souled son

lord, that

of Agni, lying on a clump of heath,

energy.

his

the six

—

Kirttikas,

who

were desirous of a son, cried aloud, saying, 'This child is mine, this 'hild is mine u Understanding the state of mind of !'

those six mothers, the adorable lord Skanda sucked the breasts of all, having assumed six mouths."

Beholding that puissance

of the child, the Krittikas, those goddesses of beauti 'ul forms,

became filled with wonder.' 3

And since the adorable child had

been cast by the river Ganga

upon the summit

that mountain

looked

having,

beautiful,

Kurus, been transfomed into gold 14 !

mountains (from

gold."

that time)

Himavat, of the

With that growing child

the whole Earth became beautiful, and that

delighter

came

was to

for this reason

producers

Possessed of great energy, the child came to be

called

by the name of Kiirtikeya.

At first he had been called by the name of Gangeya. He became possessed of high ascetic powers. * Endued with self-restraint and asceticism and great energy, 1

the child grew up,

monarch, into a person

able features like Soma himself. 17

the child lay on

that

excellent

Possessed

agree-

of great

beauty,

and golden clump of heath,

adored and praised by Oandharvas and girls,

of highly

ascetics.

Celestial

by thousand-;, conversant with celestial music and dance,

and of very beautiful features,

praised him

and danced

bcfofl&e

MAHABHARATA.

172 him. 18

The foremost

The Earth

that god.

child (on her lap).

of all also,

[Gaddyuddha,

rivers, viz.,

Ganga, waited upon

assuming great beauty, held the

The celestial priest Yrihaspati performed The Vedas,

the usual rites after birth, in respect of that child.

assuming a fourfold form, approached the child with joined 31

The Science of arms, with its four divisions, and all the weapons, as also all kinds of arrows, came to him." One hands.

child, of great

day, the

energy, saw that

the lord of Uma, seated with the 3 a swarm of ghostly creatures.*

god of gods, viz.,

daughter of Himavat, amid

Those ghostly creatures,

emaciated bodies, were of wonderful features.

They were ugly

and of ugly features, and wore awkward ornaments and marks.** Their faces were like those of tigers and lions and bears and cats and makaras. Others were of faces like those of scorpions ; other's of faces like those

of elephants

and camels and owls.

88 And some had faces like those of vultures and jackals.

And

some there were that had faces like those of cranes and pigeons and Kurus. And many amongst them had bodies like those of dogs and porcupines and iguanas and goats and sheep and And some resembled mountains and some oceans, and

cows.

some stood with uplifted

discs

and maces

for their

weapons

And some looked like masses of antimony and some like white mountains.

monarch.

The seven Mdtris

also

were present there,

And the Sdddkyas, the Vicivedevas, the Marnts,

the Vasus, the Pitrls, the Rudras, the Adityas, the Slddlias, 8 the Ddnavas, the birds,* the self-born and adorable

with his sons,

and Vishnu, and Cakra,

all

Brahman

went thither

for

And many of the

beholding that child of unfading glory.*' foremost of celestials and Gandharvas, headed by Narada. and

many celestial Blshis and Siddhas headed by Vrihaspati,

and

the fathers of the universe, those foremost ones, they that are

regarded as gods of the gods, and the Ycimas and the Dhamas, all

went there. 81

Endued with great strength, the child

poss-

essed of great ascetic power, proceeded to the presence of that

Lord of the

gods, (viz.,

Mahadeva), armed with trident and

Seeing the child coming, the thought entered the mind of £iva, as it did that of Himavat's daughter and that of

Pindka. 1 *

Gancra and of Agni, 88 as to whom amongst the four

the

child

calya parva,

Parva.]

173

would first approach for honoring him or thought,

— 'He

her. Each of them come to me !'* Understanding that this was

will

the expectation cherished by each of those four, he had recourse to his

Yoga powers and assumed at the same time four different

forms. 85

Indeed, the adorable and puissant lord assumed those

The three forms that stood behind The adorable and

four forms in an instant.

were Ciikha and Vicakha and Naigameya." puissant one, having

divided

ceeded towards the four that

his

sat

self into

four

expecting

him).

called Skanda of wonderful appearance

where Rudra was sitting. 87 the divine daughter

which

Naigameya, that child presence of Ganga. ance,

endued

were

of fiery

All those four forms, of similar

with

spot

towards Agni.

splendour, proceeded

great

The

effulgence.

proceeded calmly to the four gods and goddesses tioned).

the

The adorable Cakha,

Vdyu, form, proceeded

Kartikeya's

proceeded

The form to

Vicakha went to the spot where

Himavat was.

forms, (pro-

All this seemed exceedingly

the Ddnavas, and the RdJcshasas,

appear-

forms

four

(already

wonderful. 9

the

The

mengods,

made a loud noise at sight making the very hair

of that exceedingly wonderful incident to stand on

Then Rudra and the goddess

end.*

Agni, and Ganga, the Universe. 41

all

bowed unto the Grandsire, that Lord of

Having duly bowed unto him,

kings, they said these words,

good unto

Kartikoya 41 :

gods, to grant to this

some kind

—

'It

— At

this,

bull

among

monarch, from desire of doing

behoveth

youth, for

of s >vereignty that

he may desire

Uma and

the

thee,

Lord

of our

sake

of the

happiness,

may be suitable to him and that

the adorable

Grandsire

worlds, possessed of great intelligence, began to his mind as to what he should bestow upon

of all

think

the

within

that youth. 4 *

had formerly given away unto the formless ones (gods)

He all

kinds of wealth over which the high-souled celestials, the Gem-

dharvas, the

Rctk*h<isas, ghosts,

have dominion.

Brahman,

Yakshas, birds, and

therefore, regarded that

be fully entitled to that dominion (which

had boon

upon

for

the gods). 4 '"**

Having

reflected

Grandsire, ever mindful of the welfare

upou him the status

of the

of a generalissimo

snakes

youth

bestowed

moment,

the

gods, bestowed

among

all

creatures,

makabharata,

17-i

[Gadayuddlix

O Bharata 47 And the Grandsire further ordered all those !

gods that were regarded as the chief of the celestials and other formless beings

upon him. 4 *

wait

Then the gods headed youth with them, together came to

by Brahman, taking that Himavat. 4 '

The spot they selected was the bank of the sacred

and divine Saras wati, that foremost of rivers, taking her

rise

from Himavat, that Saraswati which, at Samantcqifmchaka, is

over

celebrated

the

worlds.

three

There, on the sacred

bank, possessing every merit, of the Saraswati, the gods and the

Gandharvas took

their seats with hearts well pleased in

consequence of the gratification of all their desires." 51

Section XLV.

Vaicampayana said, in the scriptures for

— "Collecting ceremony

the

all

duly poured libations on the blazing fire.

which was adorned with many

articles

laid down

of investiture, Vrihaspati

costly

Himavat gave a seat

gems. Kartikeya was

made to sit on that auspicious and best of seats decked with excellent gems.* The gods brought thither all kinds of auspicious with due rites and mantra*, that were necessary

articles,

a ceremony of the kind.

The

diverse

for

Indra and

gods, viz.,

Vishnu, both of great energy, and Surya and Chandramas, and 4 Dhatri, and Vidhatri, and Vayu, and Agni, and Pushan, and

Bhaga, and Arvaman, and Anca, and Vivaswat, and Eudra of great intelligence, and Mitra, 5 and the (eleven)

Eudras, the

(twin)

Acwins, the

Vasus, the

(eight)

Adityas, the

(twelve)

Vicwedevas, the Maruts, the Saddhyas, the dharvas, the nagas,

celestial

Valikhillyas, those others

the

Gan-

Yakhas, the Eakshasas, the Pan-

Apsaras, the

innumerable

Pitris,

Rishls, 7

the

Vaikhanasas, the

(among Rishis) that

air and those that subsist on the rays of the

subsist

only

Sun, the des-

cendants of Bhrigu and Angiras,

many high-souled Yatis, 8 all

the Vidyadharas,

were crowned with ascetic

success,

the

all

those

Grandsire,

that

Pulastya,

Pulaha of great ascetic

merits, Angiras, Kacyapa, Atri, Marichi, Bhrigu, Kratu, Hara,

Prachetas, Manu, Daksha, 10 the Seasons, the Planets, and the luminaries.

monarch, -all

the

rivers

their

all

embodied

calya tauya,

Parva.]

Vedas, 11 the

forms, the eternal

Tirthas,

Earth,

the

Lakes, the

Seas, the

Sky, the

the

k;>

points of tha.cornpass, and all the Trees,

mother of the gods, Hri,

diverse

and Subsidiary

Cardinal

kinjr,

Aditi

the

Uma, Cachi

Cri, Swahii, Saraswati,

Anumati, Kuhu," the Day of the new Moon, the Day of the full Moon, the wives of the denizens of heaven, Himavat, Vindhya, Meru of many summits, 14 Airavat with

Sinivali,

all

his followers, the Divisions

time

of steeds,

viz.,

Kala, Kashtha,

called

Fortnight, the Seasons, Night, and Day,

Ucchaicravas, Vasuki the

king, ' the

king

prince

of the Snakes,

Aruna, Gadura, the Trees, the deciduous herbs," and the adorall came there together. And there came Yama, Mrityu. and the followers of Yama. 1T From

able god Dharma, also Kala,

fear of swelling the list I

gods that came there.

All of

investing Kartikeya with

the denizens

the

them came to that ceremony

the

of generalissimo. 18

status

king, brought

of heaven,

neccessary for

mention the diverse other

not

every

there

ceremony and every auspicious

Filled with joy, the denizens of

for

All

thing

article.

1 '

heaven made that high-souled

youth, that terror of the Asuras, the generalisimo of the celestial forces,

after pouring upon his head the sacred and excellent

water of the Saraswati from golden jars

that

sacred articles needed for the

"* 1

the worlds,

viz.,

purpose.'

contained

other

The Grandsire of

Brahman, and Karyapa of great energy, and

the others (mentioned and)

upon Skanda even as,

not

mentioned,

all

poured water

monarch, the gods had poured water

on the head of Varuna, the lord

of waters, for

Brahman

investing

him

with dominion.*"

The

heart, gave unto

Skanda four companions, possessed of great

lord

might, endued with speed ascetic success,

that

then, with

gratified

the wind, crowned

with

and gifted with energy

which they could inThey were named Nandisena and Lohitaksha and Ghantakama and Kumudamalin." The lord Sthanu, O crease at will."

m march, gave unto Skanda a companion impetuosity,

capable

possessed

of great

of producing

a hundred illusions, and endued with might and energy that he could enhance at will. And he was the great destroyer of Asura&S* In the great

Mlile freiwoea th: goft and theJ-surcw, this companion that

mahabharata,

176 Sfchanu gave,

with

filled

[Gadayuddha

wrath, slew, with

his

fourteen millions of Daityas of fierce deeds. 28

made over to Skanda the

hands alone,

The gods then

host, invincibly abounding

celestial

with celestial troops, capable of destroying the enemies of the

and of forms like that of Vishnu.* 7

The gods then, with Vasava at their head, and the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the gods,

llakshasas, the Munis, and the Pitris, (to Skanda)

shouted,

all

— 'Victory

Then Yama gave him two companions, both of

!'* 8

whom resembled Death, viz., Unmatha and Pramatha, possessEndued with great

ed of great energy and great splendour." prowess, Surya, with a gratified

unto Kartikeya

heart, gave

two of his followers named Subhraja and Bhaswara. 8 * also gave him two companions'

viz.,

Soma

Mani and Sumani, both of

whom looked like summits of the Kailasa mountain and always used white garlands and

white unguents.*

Agni gave unto

him two heroic companions, grinders of hostile armies, who 88 Anca gave unto Skanda were named Jwalajihbha and Jyoti. of great intelligence five companions, viz., Parigha,

and Vata,

and Bhima of terrible strength, and Dahati and Dahana both of

whom

energy.

Agni's

were exceedingly

fierce

and

possessed

great

Vasava, that slayer of hostile heroes, gave unto

two

son

who were armed These had

TJtkroca

and Panchaka

companions,

viz.,

respectively

with thunder-bolt and

8* innumerable enemies of Cakra.

slain

battle

club.

The illustrious Vishnu gave unto Skanda three companions, * The viz., Chakra and Vikrama and Cankrama of great might. 8

Acwins,

O bull of Bharata's race, with

unto Skanda two companions,

who had mastered all

the

viz.,

five

hearts,

gave

Vardhana and Nandana

The

sciences. 3 *

gave unto that high-souled one

gratified

illustrious

Dhatri

companions, viz., Kunda,

87 Tashtri gave Kusuma, Kumuda, Damvara and Adamvara. unto Skanda two companions named Chakra and Anuchakra 8 both of whom were endued with great strength. * The lord

Mitra gave unto the high-souled

Kumara two illustrious com-

panions named Suvrata and

Satyasandha both of whom were

learning

and ascetic merit, possessed of

endued with

great

agreeable features, capable of granting

over the three worlds,"

Vidhatri gave

boons, and

celebrated

unto Kartikeya

two

Parva.]

CaLTA taiiva.

companions of great celebrity,

the high souled Suprabha Pushan gave him, O Bharata, two comPanitraka and Killika. both endued with great

and Cubhakarman. fo.mions,

viz.,

177

p>wers of illusion. 41

two companions,

viz.,

Vayu gave him, Vala and

viz.,

best of the Bharatas,

Ativala,

might and very large mouths. 4 *

endued with great

Varuna, firmly

adhering

him Ghasa and Atighasa of great might and possessed of mouth like that of the Timi.** Himavat gave gave

truth,

unto Agni's son two companions, Ativarchas.

king,

Suvarchas and

viz.,

Bharata, gave him two companions named

Meru.

Kanchana and Meghamalin. 48

Manu

also

gave unto Agni's

son two others endued with great strength Sthira and Atisthira. 46

and prowess, viz., Vindhya gave unto Agni's son two

companions named Ucchrita and Agnigringa both of whom fought with large stones. 47

Ocean gave him two mighty com-

panions named Sangraha and Vigraha both armed with mace. 4 *

Parvati of beautiful features gave unto Agni's son Unmada and

Pushpadanta and Canknkarna.* tiger among men,

snakes,

Vasuki the king

gave unto the son

snakes named Jaya and Mahajaya. 50

the

of Agni

two

Similarly the Saddhyas,

the Riulras. the Vasus, the Pitrls, the Seas, the Rivers, and

endued with great might," gavo commanders of forces, armed with lances and battle-axes and decked the

Mountains,

all

with diverse kinds of ornaments."

Listen

now to

the

names

of those other combatants armed with diverse weapons and clad

kinds of robes and ornaments, that Skanda proThey were Cankukarna, Nikumbha, Padma. Kumud, Ananta, Dwadacabhuja, Krishna, Upakrishnaka, 54 Ghranacrain diverse

cured."

vas,

Kapiskandha, K&nchanaksha, Jalandhama,

jana,

Kunadika,

Tamobhrakrit,*

Ekaksha,

Akshasantar-

Dwadacaksha,

Ekajata, Sahacravahu, Vikata, Vyaghraksha, Kshitikampana,"

Punyanaman, Sunaman, Suvaktra, Priyadarrana, Paricrufca, Kokonada, Priyamalyanulepana," Ajodara, Gajaciras, Skandhaksha, Hari,"

Catalochana, Jwalajihbha, Karala,

C&takeca,

Kriahnakeca, Jatadhara, Chaturdanshtra,

.Meghanada, Jathara,

Prithugravas, 19

Vidyutaksha,

Jati,

Ashtajibha,

Dhanurvaktra,

Bfarufcaqsana, Udaraksha, Ratbaksha, Yajraniibha, Vasuprabha, 60 Samudravega. Cailakampin, Yrisha, Meshapra-

MAHABHARATA,

173

61 vaha, Nanda, Upanandaka.

[GitdaljUd-dha

Dhumra, Cweta, Kalinga,

Sid-

2 dhartha, Varada, Priyaka, Nanda, Gonanda,* Ananda, Pramoda,

Swastika,

Dhruvaka, Kshemavaha,

Govraja,

Kanakapida,

Gayana,

Siddhapatra, 8 '

Suvaha,

Hasana,

Vaitali, Atitali, Kathaka, Vatika, Hansaja,

Vana,

Khadga,**

Pakshadigdhanga,

Sxmudronmadana, BS Ranotkata, Prahasa. Cwetasiddha, Nandaka, Kaiakantha, Prabhasa, Kumbhandaka," Kalakaksha, Cita, Bhutalonmathana, Yajnavaha, Pravaha, Krafcha,

Madhura,

Suprasada, Kiritin, Vatsala,

dara, '

Chitradeva,'*

Madhuvarna,

Kalaso-

Dharmada, Man math akara, Cuchivaktra, Cwetavaktra, Charuvaktra,

Suvaktra, Rajas,

Tuhara,

Kratha,

'Majjala,

Somapa, 6T

Devajaji,

Pandura, 79

Kanakaksha,

Achala,

Kokilaka,

Dandavahu,

Suvahu,

Va'.akarakshaka,™

Sancharaka, Kokanada, Gridhrapatra, Jamvuka,

Lohajvaktra,

Javana, Kumbhavaktra, Kumbhaka,™ Mundagriva, Krishnaujas, Hansavaktra,

Chandrabha, Panikurchas, Camvuka, Pancha-

vaktra, Cikshaka, Chiisavaktra,

Kunchaka.

Besides

Jamvuka,

many

these,

Kharavaktra,

and

other high-souled and

mighty companions, devoted to ascetic austerities and regardful of Brahmanas, were given unto him by the Grandsire.'*

Some of them were in youth some were old, and some,

Jana-

;

mejaya, were very young in years.

They were possessed

of such came to Kartikeya."

kinds of faces.

them

Some

those of cocks.

Listen

Thousands upon thousands

me,

had faces like those

Janamejaya, as of tortoises,

of diverse I

describe

and some

The faces of some were very long,

Bharata.**

S)tne again, had faces like those of dogs, and wolves, and hares,

and owls, and asses, and camels, and hogs. 77 Some had human faces and some had faces like those of sheep, and jackals.

Some were terrible and had faces like those of makaras and 78 Some had faces like those of cats and some like porpoises. those of biting flies

;

and the

faces

some were very

long.

Some had faces like those of the mungoose, the owl, and the 79 Some had faces like those of mice and peacocks and crow. fishes and goats and sheep and buffaloes.

The faces

of some

resembled those of bears and tigers and Jeopards and lions.

Some had

faces like those of elephants and crocodiles. 81

The

faces K)i some resemble^ those of Gudura and the rhinoceros and

CALYA PARTA.

JPavva.}

Some had faces lika

tho wolf.

camels and cats.**

173

those of cows

and niule3 and

Possessed of large stomachs and

and limbs, tho eyes of some were like stars. resembled those of pigeons and bulls. 8 *

Others had faces

those of kokilas and hawks and Tittiris and lizards. clad in white robes.'*

Some had

large legs

The faces of soma

faces

Some were

those of snakes;

lika

The faces of some resembled those of porcupines. Indeed, some had frightful and some very agreeable faces some had snakes for their clothes. The faces as also the noses of some resem;

S)me had large and protruding stomachs

bled those of cows.* 4

but other limbs very stomachs.

lean

some had

;

limbs but

large

The necks of some were very short and the

lean

ears

Some had diverse kinds of snakes for Some were clad in skins of large elephants*

some were very large. their ornaments. 8 *

The mouths of some were on mouths Some had on their stomachs, some

and some in black deer-skins. shoulders. 87

their

on their backs, some on their cheeks, some on their calves, and some on their flanks, and the mouths of many were placed on other parts of their bodies. 88

The faces of many amongst thosa

leaders of troops were like those

mouths

of insects

and worms.

The

many amongst them were like those of diverse Some had many arms and some many heads.*'

beasts of prey.

The arms of some resembled trees, and the heads of some were on their loiti3.

The faces of some were tapering like the bodies

Many amongst them had their abodes on diverse f0 Some were clad in rags, some in kinds of plants and herbs. of snakes.

diverse kinds of bones, some were diversely clad, and some were

adorned in diverse kinds of garlands and diverse kinds of unguents. 91

Dressed diversely, some had skins for their robes.

Some had head-gears lines

the

;

shells

;

necks

;

the brows of some

some bore marks

were

furrowed into

those

some were possessed of great effulgence."

diadems, some had five tufts of hair hair of some were very hard.

and some seven.

Some had

their

conch*

Some

had

heads, and tho

Some had two tufts, some three, feathers

their

heads,

some

had crowns, some had heads that were perfectly bald, and some had matted lands,

locks.

Some were adorned with

and the faces of some were

very

beautiful gar-

hairy.**

Battle

was

mahabhaRata.

ISO

which they took great delight, and

the one thing in

them were gods. tial

[Gaddijiuldhct,

invincible

all

by even the foremost ones amongst the

Many amongst thein were clad in diverse kinds of celesSome were of dark All were fond of battle. ' robes. 8

and the faces of some had no

complexion,

Some had

very

of some

backs

on them.

flesh

The

long backs, and some had no stomachs.

were

very

while

large

those

some were

limbs of some

very short.

Some had long stomachs and

were long. 35

The arms of some were long while those

the

some

Some were dwarfs of short limbs. Some were were haunch-backed. Some had short hips. The ears and heads of 97 Some had noses like some were like those of elephants. wolves. Some had long of like those those of tortoises, some short.

some had long hips, and some were frightful, having their 93 Some had very large teeth, some had very faces downward-. lips,

short teeth, and some had only four teeth.

them

king,

were exceedingly

furiate elephants of gigantic size.

limb3, possessed

ments.

of great

Some had

Thousands among looking

terrible,

in-

Some were of symmetrical with orna-

splendour, and adorned

yellow eyes, some

had ears

arrows,

10 °

Some had broad Bharata some had noses like gaviuls, green hair. Possesssome had and lips, teeth, some had broad ed of diverse kinds of feet and lips and teeth, they had diverse 101 Clad in diverse kinds of skins, kinds of arms and heads. they spoke diverse kinds of languages,

in all provincial dialects, those puissant

ones

one another.'

Bharata!

Those mighty companions,

conversed with filled

with joy,

gambolled there, cutting capers (around Karlikeya). •were long-nocked, some long-nailed, some long-legged.

amongst them were large-headed and

some

Skilled

Some Some

large- arixed.

103

The eyes of some were yellow, the throats of some were blue, and the ears of some were long, O Bharata. The stomachs of 104

The eyes of some were some were like masses of antimony. white, the necks of some were red, and some had eyes of a king, were tawny hue. Many were dark in color and many,

Many had ornaments on their Some bore white streaks on Some were of diversitheir bodies, and --some bore red .-streaks, of diverse colors,

Bharata.

persons that looked like yak-tails.

calya parva.

Farva.]

J SI

colors and some had golden complexions, and some were endued with splendours like thoso of the peacock. 104 I shall fieri

describe fco thee the weapons

came last

Kartikeya.

on their uplifted arms.

and asses. blue,

were taken by tho?o thai

that

Listen

me. 107

Some had

noses

were like those of tigers

Their faces

Their eyes were on their backs, their throats were clubs. 108

and their arms resembled spiked

Some wero

armed with patcighnU and discs, and some had heavy and short

Some had swords and

clubs.

sizes and great strength,

some were armed

mallets and

O Bhilrata. 109

with bludgeons,

Some,

possessed of gigantic

were armed with lances and scimitars.

Some were armed with maces and Bhucundis and some had spears on their

hands.

110

and great

of high souls

Possessed

strength and endued with great speed and

impetuosity,

great

those mighty companions had diverse kinds of terrible weapons their

arms. 111

Beholding

the

installation

Kartikeya,

those beings of mighty energy, delighting in battle and wearing

on their persons rows of tinkling joy.

118

These and many

bells,

danced around him in

other mighty

came to the high-souled and

illustrious

belonged to the celestial regions,

companions, O king, Kartikeya. ,1S

some to the

them were endued with

to the regions of the Earth.

All

speed like that of the wind.

Commanded by

Some

and some

aerial,

the

gods, those

brave and mighty ones became the companions of Kartikeya. 11 *

Thousands upon thousands, millions upon millions, of such beings came there at the installation of the high-souled

keya and stood surrounding him."

Karti-

11 '

Section XLVI.

Vaicampayana said,— "Listen now to the large bands of the O hero, that became the com-

mothers, those slayers of foes,

panions of Kumiira, as I

mention their names.

Bharata, to the names of those illustrious mothers.

Listen,

The mobile

and immobile universe is pervaded by those auspicious

They

ones.

Prabhavati,

Vic&lakshi,

Palita,

Gonasi,

Vahula,

Vahuputrika, 8

Apsujata,

Gopali,

Vrihadamvalika,

Jayavati,

Malatika;

are

DhruvaratmV Bhayaukarl*

Crimati,

Yasudfuniv

kahabharata

18 1

Sudama, nemi,

jaya,

Ekachuda, Mahachuda, Chakra*

Nandini,

Vit^oka,

[GadayuddK*

Ubbejana, Jayafcsena,

Kamalakshi,

Krodhana,

Khari,*

Calabhi,

Cobhana,

Magadhi,

Catrun-

Cubhavaktra,

Tirbhaseni, Gitipriya, Kalyani, Kodruroma, Amiba^ana., 7 Hegha-

swana, Bhogavabi, Subhru,

Kanakavabi, Alabakshi, Viryavati,

Viddyubjihbha, 8 Padtnavabi, Sunakshabra, Kandara, VahuyojanJr,

Smtanika, Kamala, Mihavala, 9 Sudama, Vahudama,

Supra-

Cabolukhalamekhala, 10

Caba-

bha,

Ja9asvvini,

Nribyapriya,

ghanta, Cabananda, Bhagananda, Bhavini, Vapusmati, Chandra9ita, Bhadrakali, 11 Jhankarika,

Sumangala,

vasini,

Nishkunbika,; Vama, Chatwara-

Vriddhikama,

Swasbimabi,

Jayapriya, * 1

Ghanada, Suprsada, Bhavada, Janeswari, Edi, Bhedi, Samedi, Vebalojanani/ 3 Kanduti, Kalika, Devamitra, Taravusi, Ketaki, Chibrasena, Achala, * Kukkubika, Cankshalika, Cakuuika, Kun1

darika, Kokilika,

Kumbhika,

Cabodari, 1 *

Utkrathini,

JaVa,

Mahavegii, Kankana, Manojava, Kantakini, Pradhasa, Pubana, *' 1

Khe9aya, Anbarghati, Vama, KroQana, Taditprabha, dari,

Tuhundi,

Meghavahini, 17

Kotara,

Subhaga,

Lamva, Vasuchuda, Vikathini, Urddhavenidhara, Lohamekhala, 18

Prithuvaktra,

Madhulika,

MandoLamvini,

Pingakshi,

Madhukurnbha,

Yakshalika, Matsunika, Jarayu, Jarjjaranana," Khyata, Daha-

Dhamadhama, Khandakhanda, Pushana, Manikutbibka, 49 Amogha, Lamvapayodhara, Venuvinadhara, Pingakshi, Lohadaha,

mekshala, 41 Cagolukarnukhi; Krishna, Kharajangha, Mahajava,

Cicjumaramukhi, Cweba,

Kamachari, Mukuba,,

Dirghajihbha, Ljhitakshi,

Vibhishana, 44 Jatalika,

Lohibakshi,

Valotkata,

Mahakaya,

Kalehika, Vamanika,

Haripinda,

Ekatwacha,

Sukusuma, Krishnakarni, 44 Kshurakarni, Chabushkarni, Karna« pravarana,

Chatushpathaniketa,

Kharakarni,

Mahakarni,

kumbha^ava,

Bhagada,, 46

Gokarni,

Mahishanana, 4 *

Bheriswanamahaswana,

Canksha-

Sugana,

Kamada,

Gana,

Chabuspabharata, Bhubirtha, Anyagochara,

Bhini,

Pallida, Vibtada*

Sukhada, Mahaya9a, Payoda, Gomahishada, Suvi9ala, 48 Pratishbha,

Suprabishbha,

Mukhakarni,

V^ira,,

Rochamana, Manthini,

Surochana, Ekavakbra,

Naukarni,

Megharava,

Meghamala, and Virochana." These and many obher mobhers, O bull of Bharaba's race, numbering by bhousands, of diverse forms,

became the followers of Kartikeya, 80

Their aails ^vere

oalya parya.

Parva.] long, their

were

teeth

were protruding.

183

and their lips also, O Bharata,

large

Of straight forms and sweet features, all

them, endowed with youth, were decked with ornaments.* 1 Possessed of ascetic merit, they were capable of assuming any

form at will. Not having much flesh on their limbs, they were of fair complexions

and endued with splendour

that of

gold."

Some amongst them were dark and looked like clouds

in hue,

and some were of the color of smoke,

ta's

race.

bull of

Bhara-

And some wore endued with the splendour of the

morning sun and were highly tresses, they were clad in

blessed.

robes of white."

Possessed

long

The braids of some

were tied upwards, and the eyes of some were tawny, and some

had girdles that were very long. Some had lone stomachs, some had long ears, and some had long breasts."

Some had coppery

eyes and coppery complexions, and the eyes of some were green.

Capable of granting boons and of sojourning at will, they were

always cheerful." Possessed of great strength, some amongst them partook of the nature of Yama, some of Rudra, some of Soma, some of Kuvera, some of Varuna, some of Indra, and some of Agni, scorcher of foes. 8 And some partook of the '

nature of Vayu, some of

Kumara, some of Brahman, O

Vishnu, and some of Surya,

of Bharata's race, and

some

and some of Varaha."

Of charming and

they were beautiful like the Apsaras.

delightful

voice

features,

they

bled the kokila and in prosperity they resembled the

Treasures."

bull

resem-

Lord of

In battle, their energy resembled that of Cakra,

In splendour they resembled fire. spired their foes with terror. 89 at will, in fleetness they

In battle

they always in-

Capable of assuming any form

resembled the very

wind.

ceivable might and energy, their prowess also

Of incon-

was inconceiv-

They have their abjdes on trees and open spots and crossings of four roads. They live also in caves and crematoriable.*

ums, mountains and springs. 41

Adorned

diverse

kinds of

ornaments they we\r diverse kinds of attire, and speak diverse languages. 41 all

capable

These and many other tribes (of the mothers), of inspiring

foes

with

souled Kartikeya, at the command tials,

dread, followed of the

Tho ad arable chustiser of Paka,

the high*

chief of the

celes-

tiger among

kings,

[Gaddyuddha

mahabharata.

184

gave unto Guha (Kfirtikeya) a dart for the destruction of the enemies of the gods.** That dart produces a loud whiz and adorned with many large bells. Possessed of great splendour, And Indra also gave him a light. it seemed to blaze with

banner effulgent as the morning sun.*' Civa gave him a large army, exceedingly fierce and armed with diverse kinds of weapons, and endued with penances.*

great

begotten

energy

of ascetic

Invincible and possessing all the qualities of a good

army, that force was known by the name of Dhananjayd. It was protected by thirty thousand warriors each of whom was possessed of might equal to that of Rudra himself.

knew not how to fly from battle.*

That force

Vishnu gave him a trium-

Uma gave

phal garland that enhances the might of the wearer.

8 of cloth, of effulgence like that of the Sun.*

him two pieces With great pleasure Ganga gave unto Kumara a celestial waterpot, begotten of stick.*

amrita, and Vrihaspati gave him

a sacred

Gadura gave him his favorite son, a peacock of beautiAruna gave him a cock of sharp talons. The

ful feathers.'

royal Varuna gave him a snake of great

energy and might."

The lord Brahman gave unto that god devoted a black

deer-skin.

And

the

Creator

gave him Victory in all battles.'

of all

the

Brahma

worlds also

Having obtained the com-

Skanda looked resplendent like 58 Accompanied by those comflames. of bright fire a blazing

mand of the celestial

forces,

panions and the mothers, he proceeded of the

Daityas, gladdening

That

terrible

host

all

the

celestials,

for

the destruction

foremost of the gods. 54

furnished with

standards

adorned with bells, and equipt with drums and conchs and cymbals, and armed with weapons, and decked with many banners, looked beautiful like the autumnal firmament bespangled

with planets and stars."

Then that vast assemblage of celes-

tials and diverse kinds of creatures began cheerfully to beafc their drums and blow their conchs numbering in thousands." And they also played on their Patahas and Jliarjharas and

KrUcachas and cow-horns and Xdamvaras and Gomulchas and Dlndimas of loud sound. 57 All the gods, with Vasava at their head, praised

Kumara.

The celestials and the Gandhar-

vas sang and the Apsaras danced."

Well pleased (with thesj

— OALYA PAUVA.

Parva.]

18i

attentions) Skanda granted a boon unto all tho gods, saying,

your — them, that that desire to slay — Having obtained this boon from that best of gods,

I shall slay all

you

$9 !

foes,

the illustrious slain.

is,

regarded

celestials

After Skanda had

arose from all those three worlds.

already

granted that boon, a loud sound

creatures

inspired

with joy,

tho

filling

Accompanied by that vast host, Skanda then the Daityas and the

set out fur the destruction of

of the

foe3

their

denizens

heaven. 62

and Success,

Righteousness,

and the Scriptures,

and Victory,

Exertion,

and

and Prosperity, and Courage,

(in their embodied forms)

van of Kiirtikeva's army.

protection

king!"

proceeded in the

With that terrible

force,

which was armed with lances and mallets and blazing hands and maces and heavy clubs and arrows and darts and spears,

and which was decked with beautiful ornaments and armour,

and which uttered roars like those of a proud lion, the divine "

Guha set out.* 4 85 Beholding him, all the Daityas and Rakshasas and Ddnavas, anxious with fear,

Arm 3d

with

fled

away on

weapons, the celestials

diverse

all sides.

pursued

them.

Seeing (the foe flying away), Skanda, endued with energy and

might, became inflamed with wrath. 87

repeatedly

weapon, viz., the dart (he had received from Agni).

his terrible

The energy that he then displayed resembled libations of clarified butter.

hurled by Skanda king,

hurled

fell

fire

fed

immeasurable energy, meteoric

upon the Earth. 89

with

While the dart was repeatedly Thunder-bolts

also,

flashes,

with

tre-

mendous noise, fell upon the Earth. Everything became as frightful, king, as it becomes on the day of the universal destruction.

When that terrible dart was once hurled by the

son of Agni, millions of darts issued from it, ta's race.

at last

The puissant and adorable Skanda,

slew Taraka, the

great might and prowess,

slew

Bhara-

with joy,

Daityas, endued with

chief of the

and surrounded

(in that battle)

then,

Mahisha who was surrounded by

eight!

a hundred thousand heroic and in that battle,

bull of filled

Padmas* of Daityas.

mighty

He next slew

Daityas.''

Tripada who was sur*

A very large number.— T, 84

[Gaddyuddha

kahabha-kata.

I5G

The puissant

rounded by a thousand Ajataa of Daityas.™

Skanda Nikhavvas

then

slew

with

of Daityas,

weapons.

diverse

Hradodara, who was surrounded by ten

Filling

the followers of Kumara,

the

his

all

ten

followers

points

armed with compass,

the

made a loud

king,

while

noise

those Daityas were being slain, and danced and jumped

laughed in joy. 7 *

with the flames that issued from lcreathed their last, terrified

The

diers.

foes

Many

Skanda,

burnt

Skanda's dart, while

others

by the roars of Skanda.

three worlds were frightened

the yawns

Earth.

the

sol-

were consumed with flames produced by

were

by his roars alone. 77

slain

Some, frightened by the sounds of

The

7 *

of Skanda's

down, deprived of life.

Some,

of bells,

fell

Some

were slain.

amongst the foes of the gods, struck with banners, surface

and

king, were

Thousands of Daityas,

down on the

mangled with weapons,

fell

In this way the heroic and mighty

Kartikeya slew innumerabte foes of the gods, possessed of great strength, that came to

fight

son Vana of great might, getting upon tain,

battled

him. 79

with

the

with the celestial host. 60

intelligence, the great

that foe of the gods.

Then

Vali's

Krauncha moun-

Possessed of great

generalissimo Skanda rushed against

From fear of Kartikeya, he took shelter

81 within the Krauncha mountain.

Inflamed with rage, the

adorable Kartikeya then pierced that mountain with that dart

given him by (crane)

Agni.*

The mountain was

called

Krauncha

because of the sound it always produced resembled the

That mountain was variegated with fata The apes and elephants on it were afrighted. The

•cry of a crane.**

trees.

birds that had their abode on it rose up and wheeled around in

the welkin.

The snakes began to

resounded also with the cries

dart

of leopards

down

its

sides.

and bears

large

numbers that ran hither and thither in fear. Other forests on it rang with the cries of hundreds upon hundreds of animals.**

Qarabhas and lions suddenly ran out. In consequence of all this, that mountain, though it was reduced to a very pitiable * In verse 44 of the previous sectiou ic is said that Iadra gave hira tUis dart,—T,

«?alya pak?i.

Parva.) plight,

tS7

dharas dwelling on

summits soared into

its

Kinnaras also becamo very

air.

Tha-

the

fear

then,

The Daityas

hundreds and thousands, came out of that all

the

anxious, distracted

caused by the fall of Skanda's dart. 84

Vid yet*

The

assumed a very beautiful aspect."

still

blazing

mountain,

The followers of

clad in beautiful ornaments and garlands.

Kumara, prevailing over them in battle, slew them all," The adorable Skanda, inflamed with rage, quickly slew the son of the Daitya chief (Vali) along with his younger brother; even as Indra had slain Vritra (in days before). 88 of hostile

Agni's

heroes, viz.

Krauncha mountain, dividing

son, ^"erced his

own

with his dart the

sometimes into

self

many and sometimes uniting all his portions

That slayer

into

peatedly hurled from his hand, the dart repeatedly

one. 8 '

Re-

come back

Even such was the might and glory of the adorabla s0 With redoubled heroism, and energy and fama son of Agni. and success, the god pierced the mountain and slew hundreds

him.

of Daityas.

The adorable god, having thus slain the enemies worshipped and honored by the

of the celestials, was arnd

obtained' great joy. "

latter

After the Krauncha mountain had

Chanda had been slain; drums were beat, O king, and conchs were blown." The celes-

been pierced and

ladies

lord

of Yogins. *

Auspicious breezes began

fices."

The Gandkarvas hymned

celestial perfumes.

great

rained floral showers in succession upon that divine

tial

also

the son

after

blow, bearing his praises

Some speak of him as the puissant son of

sire, viz.,

as-

Rlikis always engaged in the performance of sacrithe

Grand 4

Sanatkumara, the eldest of all the sons of Brahman.'*

Some speak of him as the son of Mahecwara, and some as that Some again describe him as the son of Uma or of of Agni. Hundreds and thousands of of blazing form and Yogins, of Lord people speak great might, as the son of one of those, or of either of two of the

Krittikas

or of

those, or of

Ganga."

that

any one of four of those.* 8

"I have thus told thee, stallation of Kartikeya.

king, everything

in-

Listen now to the history of the sac-

Saraswati."

That

monarch, after the enemies of the

gtfb

redness of thai foremost of tirthas on the

foremost of tirthas,

about the

MAHABHARATA,

185

[Gadayuddhyb.

had been slain, becarao a second heaven. " The puissant son of Agni gave unto each of the foremost ones among the celestials diverse kinds of dominion and affluence and at last the 1

sovereignty of the

three

101

worlds.

Even

O monarch,

thus,

was that adorable exterminater of the Daityas installed by the 102 bull of That other tirtha, gods as their generalissimo. Bharata's race, where in days of yore Varuna the Lord of celestials, is known by the Having bathed in that tirtha and adored

waters had been installed by the

name of Taijasa. 103

Rama gave unto the Brahman as gold and clothes and

Skanda,

ornaments and other things. 104 slayer

Passing one night there, that

Madhava, praising that foremost

of hostile heroes, viz.,

of tirthas and touching its water, became cheerful and happy. 10 * I have

now

enquired,

assembled gods

everything about which thou hadst

thee

told

viz.,

how

the

divine

Skanda was

by the

installed

!" 10s

Section XLVII. Janamejaya said,

— "This history, O regenerate one, that I

have heard from thee is exceedingly wonderful, viz., this narration, in detail,

Skanda

l !

of the installation, according to due

O thou possessed of wealth

myself cleansed by having listened to this account stands on end and my mind hath

rites,

become cheerful !*

deem

of asceticism, I

hair

Having

heard the history of the installation of Kumara and the destruction of the Daityas, great hath

been

my joy

curiosity, however, in respect of another matter

feel

How

s !

was

the Lord of the waters installed by the celestials in that tirtha in days of yore ?

O best of men, tell me all that, for thou art

possessed of great wisdom and art skilled in narration !"*

Vaicampayana

said,

— "Listen,

king, to

yore, in the Krita

age,

king,

proaching Varuna, said unto him

all

the

these

celestials,

words :'

residest

all

god, in the Ocean, that

th6

rivers !*

home

davs of duly

ap-

— 'As Cakra,

the Lord of the celestials, always protects us from similarly be thou the Lord

wonderful

this

history as it transpired truly in a former kalpa !

every

fear,

Thou always

makaras !

This

CALYA PARTA.

favva.]

189

dominion

Ocean, the lord of rivers, will then be under thy

T !

—

(Thus addressThou shalt then wax and wane with Soma 8 All the 'Let it bo so saying, answered them, Varuna ed) Varuna having his celestials then, assembling together, made !'

—

Lord of all the waters, according to Having installed Varuna the rites laid down in the scriptures.

abode in the Ocean the

as the

Lord

and worshipping him

creatures

acquatic

of all

the illustrious Varuna began

stalled by the celestials,

In-

duly

abodes.

respective

duly, the celestials returned to their

protect seas and lakes and rivers and other receptacles of water as Cakra protects the gods.

giving away

diverse

Bathing in that tirtha

also

and

of gifts, Valadeva, the

slayer

kinds

Pralamva, possessed of great wisdom, then proceeded to Agni

where the eater of clarified butter, dis-

tirtha, that spot, viz,

appearing from the view, became concealed within the entrails

When the light of all

of the £ami wood. * 1

disappeared, sire of the

And

they

Janamejaya said,

— 'The adorable Agni Let not

puissant Lord

Create fire,

all

" l*

How also was he discovered

Tell me all this in detail I"

Vaicampayana said,

— "Agni of great energy became very

much frightened at the curse of Bhrigu.

Concealing himself

within the entrails of the f ami wood, that adorable

appeared from the view.'* all

thus

—'For what reason did Agni, the Creator

the worlds, disappear ?

the gods ?

said,

We do not know the reason.

croatures be destroyed

all

worlds

sinless one, the gods then repaired to the Grand-

universe."

has disappeared.

the

the gods, with Vasava

Upon

the

disappearance

head, in

their

great

god

dis-

of Agni, affliction,

Finding Agni then, they saw

searched for the missing god. 17

that god lying within the entrails of the

£ami

wood. 18

The

celestials, O tiger among kings, with Vrihaspati at their head,

having suoceeded in finding out the god, became

with Vasava amongst them." places they had come from.

very glad

They then returned

Agni

became an eater of everything

also,

from

Bhrigu,

the

Bhrigu's curse, that

utterer

The intelligent Valarama, having bathed there, then proceeded to Brahmayoni where the adorable

Brahma, had said."

Grandsire of all

the

worlds

had

exercised

his

functions

ISO

Hahabharata,

creation.' 1 all

[GadayUddhtx

In days of yore, the Lord Brahman, having with

the gods bathed

that

tirtha, created

according to due rites, for the celestials."

the

all

tirthas,

Bathing there and

giving away diverse kinds of gifts, Valadeva then proceeded to the tirtha

called

Kaiivera where the puissant Ailavila,

having practised severe auterities, obtained, Oking, the Lordship over all treasures. 88 austerities), all

While he dwelt there (engaged in kinds of wealth and all the precious gems^

came to him of their own

Valadeva, having repaired

accord.

to that tirtha and bathed in its waters, duly gave much wealth

unto the Brahmanas. 84

woods of Kuvera.

Rama beheld at that spot the excellent

In days of yore, the high-souled Kuvera,

the chief of the Yakhas, having practised the severest austerities there, all

obtained many boons. 85

There were the lordship of

treasures, the friendship of Rudra possessed

immeasur-

able energy, the status of a god, the regency over a particular

point of the compass

kuvara. there,

(viz.,

the north), and a son named Nala-

Yakshas speedily obtained

These the chief of the

O thou of mighty arms

8 !

The Maruts, coming

installed him duly (in his sovereignty).

He also

there,

obtained fur

a vehicle a well-equipt and celestial car, fleet as thought, as also 87 Bathing in that tirtha and giving the affluence of a god.

all

away much wealth, Vala using white unguents thence proceeded quickly to another tirtha.

Populous with all kinds of

creatures, that tirtha is known by the name of Vadarapachana.

There the fruits of every season are always to be found and 2' flowers and fruits of every kind are always abundant."

Section XLVIII.

Vaicampayana said,

— "Rama (as already said) then pro-

ceeded to the tirtha called Vadarapachana where dwell many There the daughter of Bharadwaja, unascetics and Siddhas. rivalled on Earth for beauty, named Cruvavati, practised severeausterities.

charini.

She was a maiden who led the

life

That beautiful damsel, observing

of vows, practised the

austerest

of penances,

of a

Brahma-

diverse

kinds

moved by

desire of obtaining the L®rd of the celestials fur her

the.

husband.

8 ,*

191

calya parva,

fparva.]

Many years passed away, O perpetuater of Kuril's race, during which that damsel continually observed those diverse kinds of vows exceedingly difficult of being practised by women.* The adorable chastiser of Paka at last became in consequence of that

with

gratified

her

conduct and those penances of hers

and that high-regard she

showed

The puissant

him. 8

for

Lord of the celestials then came to that hermitage, having assumed the form of the high-souled and regenerate Rishi 6 Beholding that foremost of ascetics, viz., VacishVacishtha. austerest penances, she worshipped him, O tha, of tho 7 Conto the rites observed by ascetics. according Bharata, sweet-speeched damsel

versant with vows, the auspicious and

addressed him, saying,— cetics, tell

me thy commands, O lord!

vows, I shall

might

serve

my regard for Cakra

thou of excellent

the

measure of

thee

hand, in

thee, according

I will not, however, give

quence of

O tiger among as-

adorable one,

I am gratifying Cakra, the

9 !

lord of the three worlds, with vows and rigid observances ascetic penances

Thus

god, smiling as he cast

observances,

addressed by

his

addressed her

eyes

sweetly,

her, the

her,

thou of excellent vows

and knowing her saying, 11

This is known

picious one, * shall,

Everything is attainable by penances.

rests on penances.

thou

obtained by

Penances are the root of great happiness. 14

men that cast off their bodies after having these

words of mine

damsel, boil these

five

l !

jujubes,

thou

Bear

now,

blessed

excellent

vows!'

thou of

Those

practised austere

auspicious one

penances, obtain the status of gods, in mind

Everything

All those regions of blessedness,

of beautiful face, that belong to the gods can be

penances.

aus-

thou of beautiful face, be accomplished

—

That object also, cherished

in thy heart, for the attainment of which thou strivest,

for thee

and

illustrious

O Bharata,

'Thou practisest penances of the austerest kind to me,

conse-

Having said these words, the adorable slayer

of Vala

away, taking leave, to mentally recite certain

mantras u

an excellent tirtha not far from that hermitage.

went at

That tirtha

came to be known in the three worlds after the name of Indra,

# gWer of hgaqga I"

Indeed,

was for the purpose of test-

—

;

MAHABHARATA.

IS *

[GW<lJ/U<i<tfi«

ing the damsel's devotion that the Lord of the celestials acted in that way for obstructing the boiling of the

damsel,

having cleansed

king,

herself,

jujubes. 18

The

began her task

restraining speech and with attention fixed on it, she sat to her

Even thus

task, without feeling any fatigue."

damsel

that

tiger among kings, began to boil those jujubes.

of high vows,

bull among men, day

As she sat employed in her task,

waa

about to wane bub yet those jujubes showed no signs of having been softened. 80

The fuel she had there was all consumed. want of fuel, she

Seeing the fire about to die away owing to

began to burn her own

limbs.

The beautiful maiden

first

The sinless damsel sat still while The faultless girl did not

thrust her feet into the fire.

her feet began to be consumed. 8 ' at all mind her burning feet.

Difficult of accomplishment, she

did it from desire of doing good to the Eishi (that her guest). 83

Her

had been

change under that

face

did

not

painful process, nor did

she

feel

any cheerlessness on that

account.

all

Having thrust her limbs into the

much joy as if she had dipped them 8S

Bharata

she

water.

cool

into

Cook these jujubes well

words of the Rishi, viz., in her mind,

fire,

felt 84

The

— were borne

The auspicious damsel, bearing

those words of the great Rishi in

mind, began to cook

her

king, showed no signs of The adorable Agni himself consumed her feet.

those jujubes although the latter, softening.

For this, however, the maiden did not feel the slightest pain.** Beholding this act of hers, the Lord of the three worlds be-

He then showed

came highly gratified.

proper form to the damsel.

vows, saying,

austere

thy devotion, thy

penances, and

auspicious one, that

The wish, therefore, shall be accomplished

30 !

thy

—

am !

O blessed one,

This the

world, capable

thou of fair eye-brows, and shall be

known by the name of Vadarapdchana.

It shall be celebrated

in the three worlds and shall be praised by great Rishis. this very tirtha,

vows 89

hermitage, again,

shall become the foremost of tirthas in

cleansing from every sin,

own

thou cheerishest

Casting off thy body,

thau shalt in heaven live with

his

The chief of the celestials then

addressed that maiden of very gratified with

himself in

auspicious, sinless, and highly blessed one,

— 193

calya parva,

Parva.]

the seven Rlshia had, on one occasion, left Arundhati (the Those highly of one of them) while they went to Himavat." wifa

had gone there for gathering

blessed ones, of very rigid vows,

While they thus lived

fruits and roots for their sustenance." in

forest

Himavat

sustenance,

their

procuring

fur

Those

ascetics,

drought occured extending fur twelve years. having made an asylum for themselves, continued to live there.

Meanwhile Arundhati devoted herself to ascetic penances (at 3 Beholding Arundhati the spot where she had been left). * devoted to the austerest of vows, the boon-giving and Threeeyed deity

86 (Mahadeva), highly pleased, came there.

Tha

illustrious Mahadeva, assuming the form of a Brahmana, came 87 The I desire alms, O auspicious one to her and said,

—

beautiful Arundhati said unto him,— Our store of food hath Brahmana Do thou eat jujubes '."—Mahabeen exhausted, !

thou of excellent vows

deva replied,— Cook these jujubes,

After these words, she began to cook those jujubes for doing

what was agreeable to that Brahmana." Placing those jujubes on the fire, the celebrated Arundhati listened to diverse excellent and charming and sacred discourses

That twelve

Mahadeva).

(as if it were a single

day).

Without

those

in cooking and listening to

(from the

and employed

food,

auspicious

discourses, thata

terrible period passed away as if it were a single day

Then

the

seven

having procured

Rishie,

that

fruits

highly pleased with

4 Arundhati, said unto her, '

Rinltis,

spot.

one

righteous

gratified with thy penances and vows

then stood confest in his own form.

to her."

from tha

The adorable Mahadeva,

mountain, returned formerly, these

lips

drought then passed away

years'

4S !

— Approach, have been

— The adorable Hara

Gratified, he spoke unto 4*

them about the noble conduct of Arundhati (in these words), The ascetic merit, ye regenerate ones, that this lady hath

—

earned,

is,

I think,

much greater than what

on the breast of Himavat lady have

been exceedingly

austere, for

years in cooking, herself fasting

Mahadeva

have earned

The penances practised by all

the

passed

she

while

4e !

this

twelve

— The divina

then, addressing Arundhati, said unto her,— Solicit!

thgu the boon, 25

auspicious dame, which h in

thy heart

4T !

mahabharata,

J94>

Then that

of large eyes

lady

that

[Gadayuddh® were of a reddish hue

addressed that god in the midst of the seven Rishis, saying,— If,

O divine one, thou

art

gratified

spot be an excellent tirtka !

with me, then

this

let

Let it be known by the name of

Vadarapachana and let it be the

favorite

resort

of Siddhas

and celestial Rishis /4$ So also, O god of gods, let him who observes a fast here and resides for three nights after having .

cleansed himself, obtain the fruit of a twelve years'

The god answered her,

saying,

— Let

be so

fast!

—

— Praised by the

seven Rishis, the god then repaired to heaven. 50

Indeed, the

Rishis had been filled with wonder at sight of the god and

upon beholding the chaste Arundhati herself unspent and still

possessed

of the

hunger and thirst. 81 in

hue of health and so capable of bearing

Even thus the pure-souled Arundhati,

days of old, obtained the highest success,

highly blessed lady, for my sake,

Thou, however, ances

O damsel of rigid vows 88 I

O amiable maiden, hast practised severer pen-

Gratified with thy vows, I shall also

especial boon,

thee,

grant

thee

this

O auspicious one," a boon that is superior to

Through the power of the high-souled god who had granted that boon to Arundhati and what was granted

to Arundhati

through the energy of thyself, grant thee another boon now,**

amiable one, I shall duly viz., that the person

reside in this tirtka for only one night

soul fixed

(on

meditation), will, after

who

and bathe here with casting

off his

obtain many regions of blessedness that are difficult 5S sition (by other means) !'

will

body,

of acqui-

— Having said these words unto the

cleansed Cruvavati, the thousand-eyed Cakra of great energy

then went back to heaven. 68 bolt,

After the wielder of the thunder-

O king, had departed, a shower of celestial flowers of O chief of Bharata's race !" Celes-

sweet fragrance fell there, tial

kettle-drums also, of loud sound, were beat there.

cious and perfumed

breezes

also

blew there, O monarch !••

The auspicious Cruvavati then, casting the spouse of Indra.

Auspi-

off

her body, became

Obtaining that status through austere

penances, she began to pass her time, sporting

with him

for

ever and ever."' 3

Janamejaya said,—"Who was the mother of CruvaYati,

Calya parva.

jParva."!

and how was that fair damsel reared

195 hear

I desire to

this,

O Brahmana, for the curiosity I feel is great !"'°

—

Vaicampayana said, "The vital seed of the regenerate and high-souled Rishl Bharadwaja fell upon beholding the largeeyed Apsard Ghritachi as the latter was passing at one time." That foremost of ascetics thereupon held it in his hand. It was then kept in a cup made of the leaves of a tree. In that cup was born the girl Cruvavati." Having performed the usual post-genital rites, the great ascetic

Bharadwaja, endued

with wealth of penances, gave her a name." righteous-souled

The name the

her in the presence of the

It i ski gave

gods

and Rishis was Cruvavati.

Keeping the girl in his hermitage,

Bharadwaja repaired to the

forests of

Himavat. 64

That fore-

most one among the Yadus, viz., Valadeva of great dignity, having bathed in that tirtha and given away much wealth

unto many foremost of Brahmanas, then proceeded, with soul well fixed on meditation, to the tirtha of Cakra.""

Section XLIX.

Vaicampayana said,

—'The mighty chief of the Yadus, hav-

ing proceeded to Indra's tirtha, bathed there according to duo rites and gave away

wealth and gems unto the Brahmanas. 1

There the chief of the

celestials

had performed a hundred

horse-sacrifices and given away enormous wealth unto Vrihaspati.*

sant there,

Indeed, through the assistance

with the

Vedas, Cakra

according to

sacrifices

Brahmanas converall

those

sacrifices

ordained (in the scriptures).

Those

were such that everything in them was unstinted.

Steeds of all kinds

manas were profuse.' sacrifices,

rites

performed

were

brought there.

The gifts

to Brah-

Having duly completed those hundred

O chief of the Bharatas, Cakra of great splendour

came to be called by the name

of £atakratu.

cious and sacred tirtha, capable of cleansing

That auspi-

from

every

sin,

thereupon came to be called after his name as Iadra-L'irtha.* Having duly bathed there, Valadeva worshipped the Brahmanas with presents of excellent food and robes.

ceeded to that auspicious and

foremost of tirthaa

then

pro-

called

after

190

MAHABHAItATA,

The highly blessed Rama

the name of Rama.' race,

[GadaguddkH of Bhrigu's

endued with great ascetic merit, repeatedly subjugated

the Earth and slew

all

of Kshatriyas. 7

the foremost

(After

achieving such feats) Rama performed in that tirtha a

and a hundred

"peya sacrifice assistance

Rama gave

There, as sacrificial fee,

whole Earth with her oceans. 8

through the

horse-sacrifices

Kacyapa,

preceptor

of his

that

best

Munis,

unto his preceptor the

The great Rama, having duly

O Janame-

bathed there, made presents unto the Bramamanas, jaya, and worshipped them thus. 9

sents consisting of diverse

Vaja-

Having made diverse

kinds of gems

pre-

kine

and

elephants and female slaves and sheep and goats, he

then

retired into the woods.

also

Having bathed in that sacred and

foremost of tirthas that was the resort of gods and regenerate Rishis, Valadeva duly

worshipped the ascetics there, and then

proceeded to the tirtha called Yamuna. 11

Endued with great

Varuna, the highly blessed son of Aditi, had in

effulgence,

days of yore performed in that tirtha the Rajasuya

O lord of Earth

sacrifice,

Having in battle subjugated both men and and Gandharvas and Rakshasas, Varuna, O king, * !

celestials

that slayer of hostile heroes, performed his grand

Upon

that tirtha. sacrifices, a

battle

commencement

the

of that foremost of sacrifices, battle,

sacrifice

foremost of

ensued between the gods and the Danavas,

Inspiring the three worlds with terror. 14

a terrible

of that

viz.,

the

After the completion

Rajasuya (of Varuna),

O Janamejaya, ensued

amongst the Ksha-

triyas. 15

The ever liberal and puissant Valadeva, having worthe RisJiis there, made many presents unto those that shipped 15 Filled with joy and praised by the great Rishis, dosired them. '/aladeva, that hero ever decked with garlands of wild

and possessed of eyes like lotus tirtha called

Aditya. 17

leaves, then

There,

best

flower3

proceeded to the

of kings, the

adorable

Surya of great splendour, having performed a sacrifice, obtained the sovereignty of all

luminous bodies

acquired also his great energy. 15

the

Apsaras,

and

all

the gods

with Vasava at their

the

Ma ruts,

the

Gandharvas, the

the Island bom (Vyasa), Cuka,

Krishna the slayer

on the bank of that river, head,

(in the universe)

There, in that tirtha situate

Vigtvedevas,

197

CALYA PARVA,

Panw.]

Yahhas, the Rakshasas, and the Pi$achas, O king," and diverse others, numbering by thousands, all crowned

of Madhu, the

Indeed, in that auspicious

with ascetic success, always reside.

and sacred tirtha of the Saraswati, Vishnu himself, having in

Madhu and Kaitabha, had, O

days of yore slain the A suras

chief of the Bharatas, performed his ablutions.

born (Vyasa) also,

high success.*

rapt in high

The Island-

Yoga powers and attained

Endued with

Asita-Devala also, having

O Bhiirata, having bathed

of virtuous soul,

obtained great

in that tirtha,

Rishi

great ascetic merit, the

bathed in that very tirtha with soul

Yoga meditation, obtained great Yoga powers."**

Section L. Vaicampiiyana said, virtuous

a Rishi of

— "In that tirtha lived

duties of domesticity.

of the

and

of purity

named

soul,

self-restraint.

he was compassionate unto

days of yore observant

Asita-Devala,

Devoted to virtue, he led a life Possessed of great ascetic merit, all

creatures

and never injured

In word, deed, and thought, he maintained an equal

any one.

and praise were equal to him.

censure

monarch,

Without wrath,

behaviour towards all creatures.*

Of equal

attitude

towards the agreeable and the disagreeable, he was, like Yama The great ascetic looked with himself, thoroughly impartial.*

an equal eye upon gold and a heap of pebbles.

daily

worshipped the gods and guests, and the Brahmanas (that came to him). Ever devoted to righteousness, he always practised

the

intelligent

vow

ascetic,

Once upon a time, an

Brahmacharya *

O monarch, of the name of Jaigishavya,

devoted to Yoga and rapt in meditation and leading the life of a mendicant, came to Devala's asylum. 5

Possessed

splendour, that great ascetic, ever devoted to Yoga,

groat

monarch,

while residing in Devala's asylum, became crowned with ascetic success.

there,

Indeed, while the great

Muni

Jaigishavya

Devala kept his eyes on him, never

any time.

by the two

Thus,

monarch,

days of yore.

sight of Jaigishavva, that foremost

long

resided

neglecting

time was

him

passed

one occasion, Devala lost of ascetics.

At the hour,

19S

KABABHARATA.

Janamejaya, the intelligent and righte-

however, of dinner,

ous ascetic, leading a for soliciting alms.

[Gadayuddha-

of mendicancy, approached Devala

life

Beholding that great ascetic re-appear in

the guise of a mendicant, Devala showed him

and expressed milch

great honors

And Devala

worshipped

Bharata, according to the measure of his abilities,

his guest,

the rites

after

gratification.

down

laid

by the Rishis and with

great

One day, however, O Muni, a deep anxiety perturbed the 11 The latter thought within heart of the high-souled Devala. years have I passed in worshipping thishimself, 'Many

many

attention for

years.

king, in

the sight of that great

—

This idle mendicant, however, hath

ascetic.

to me a single word f

—

Having thought

not yet spoken

of this, the

blessed

Devala proceeded to the shores of the ocean, journeying through the welkin and bearing his earthen jug with

him. 1 *

at the coast of the Ocean, that lord

O Bharata, the

righteous-souled Devala saw

of rivers,

Arrived

Jaigishavya arrived there before

The lord Asita, at this sight, became filled with wonder 'How could the mendicant come

him. *

and thought within himself,

—

to the ocean and perform his ablutions even before my arrival ?'

Thus thought the great Rishi

Asita.

Duly performing

his

ablutions there and purifying himself thereby, he then began to silently recite

ablutions

and

to his asylum,

the

silent

sacred mantras. 17 prayers,

Having finished

the blessed Devala

O Janamejaya, bearing with him

vessel filled with water.

his

returned earthen

his

As the ascetic, however, entered his

own asylum, he saw Jaigishavya

seated

The great

there. '

ascetic Jaigishavya never spoke a word to Devala but

lived in

the latter's asylum as if he were a piece

Having

of wood.*

beheld that ascetic, who was an ocean of austerities, plunged in the waters of the

sea (before his own

arrival there), Asita-

now saw him returned to his hermitage before his own turn."

Witnessing this power, derived through Yoga, of Jaigi-

shavya's penances, Asita-Devala, intelligence,

O king, endued with great

82 began to reflect upon the matter.

best of ascetics,

age

Indeed, that

monarch, wondered much, saying,

could this one be seen in the ocean and again ?'••

re-

— 'How hermit-

While employed in such thoughts, the ascetic Devala,

calya parva,

Parva.]

199

monarch, from

conversant with mantras, then soared aloft, into the sky,

his hermitage

for ascertaining

who Jaigishavya

Devala saw crowds

of sky-ranging Siddhas rapt in meditation,

and he saw Jaigi-

wedded to a life of mendicancy really was.

Firm

shavya reverentially worshipped by those Siddhas.**

obervance of his vows and Devala became filled with wrath at the sight. He then saw 6 He next beheld him proceed Jaigishavya set out for heaven.* persevering

the

the region of Yama.

his

efforts),

Devala saw him then proceed to

Pitris.

to the region of the

(in

From Yama's

region

the great ascetic

Jaigishavya was then seen to soar aloft and proceed to the abode of Soma.

He was then seen to proceed to the blessed regions

(one

another) of the

fices.

after 88

performers

of certain

rigid sacri-

Thence he proceeded to the regions of the Agnihotris

and thence to the region of those ascetics that perform the Darca and the Paurnamasa sacrifices. 89 The intelligent Devala then saw him proceed from those regions of persons performing sacrifices by killing animals to that pure

shipped by the very gods. 80

region which is

wor-

Devala next saw the mendicant perform the sacri-

proceed to the place of those ascetics that

fice called Chdtarmdsya and diverse others of

the same

kind.

Thence he proceeded to the region belonging to the performers of the

Agnishtoma

sacrifice.

Devala then saw

repair to the place of those ascetics that perform called

Agnishutta."

Indeed,

his guest

the

sacrifice

Devala next saw him

the

regions of those highly wise men that perform that foremost of sacrifices,

viz.,

Vdjapeya, and that other sacrifice in which a

profusion of gold is necessary. 58

Then he saw Jaigishavya in the region of those that perform the Rdjasuya and the Fundarilca.** He then saw him in the regions of those foremost of

men that perform the horse-sacrifice and the sacrifice in which human beings are slaughtered. 81 Indeed, Devala saw Jaigishavya in the regions also of those that perforin the called Sautrdmani and that other in

cult to

procure,

all

living

sacrifice

which the flesh, so

animals

required.

diffi-

Jaigi-

shavya was then seen in the regions of those that perform the sacrifice

called

ttanrcteri*

Dddacdlta and diverse others of

similar

Asita next saw his guest sojourning in the region

— mahabhar&ta.

200

[Gadayuddhd

of Mitravaruna and then in that of the Adityas.

Asita then

saw his guest pass through the regions of the Rudras, the Vasus, and Vrihaspati. 89

Having soared next into the blessed region

called Goloka, Jaigishavya was

Having by

of the Brahmasatris.*

three other regions, he was

of foes, lost

his energy passed through

seen to proceed to

women that

that are reserved for their husbands.

next seen to pass into these

chaste

are

Asita, however,

at this

of Jaigishavya, that

sight

those

regions

and devoted to

point,

O chastiser

foremost of ascetics,

who, rapt in Yoga, vanished from his sight." The highly blessed Devala then reflected upon the power of Jaigishavya and the excellence of his vows as also upon the unrivalled success of his

Then the

Yoga? 1

self-restrained Asita, with

joined hands and in a reverentialspirit, enquired of those fore-

most of Siddhas in the regions of the Brahmasatris, say14 Tell me where that ascetic 'I do not see Jaigishavya ing/

—

of great energy is curiosity

I desire

hear

this, for

great

'•The Siddhas said,— Listen,

speak to thee the truth region of Brahman

Devala of rigid vows, as wq

Jaigishavya hath gone to the eternal

"4 *

Vaicampayana continued,

— "Hearing these words of those

Siddhas residing in the regions of the Brahmasatris, Asita 47 The Sidendeavoured to soar aloft but he soon fell down. dhas then, once more addressing Devala, said unto him, Devala, art not competent to proceed thither, viz., •Thou, " 48 the abode of Brahman, whither Jaigishavya hath gone !'

— Vaicampayana continued, "Hearing those words of the

Siddhas, Devala came down, descending from one region to 49 Indeed, he repaired to his own sacred another in due order.

asylum very quickly,

winged

insect.

As soon

80 entered his abode he beheld Jaigishavya seated there.

Devala, beholding the power derived through

Yoga

Then

of Jaigi-

shavya's penances, reflected upon it with his righteous under81 king, with and approaching that great ascetic, standing, humility, addressed

the

high-souled Jaigishavya, saying,— 'I

adorable one, to adopt the religion of Moksha (EmanHearing these words of his, Jaigishavya gave cipation) desire,

!'»"

^lyi parva.

Parva.]

20!.

him lessons. And he also taught him the ordinances of Yoga 83 The and the supreme and eternal duties and their reverse. great ascetic, seeing him firmly resolved, porformed all the acts that

(for his admission into

ordained for that end.

according

religion)

Moksha,

henceforth

give us

creatures

that

Devala resolved to adopt the religion

began

weep, saying,

— 'Alas, who

He uring these lamentations

food!'"

will

of all

points, Devala

sounded through the ten

renouncing the religion of Mok*ha. Si

and

fruits

his

set

Then all kinds

re-

upon

heart

of sacred

Bharata, and flowers and deciduous herbs,

roots,

in thousands,

rites

Then all creatures, with the Pitris

beholding to

the

began

weep, saying, 97

— 'The wicked hearted

and mean Devala will, without doubt, once more pluck and cufi us!

Alas, having

assured

once

creatures

all

of his

perfect]

harmlessness, he sees not the wrong that he meditates to do

At this, that best of ascetics began to reflect with the

aid

— 'Which amongst these two, his understanding, saying, the

religion

Moksha

me ?*'

s:)

Reflecting

upon

viz.,

be the

of Domesticity, will

that

Devala,

best of

better

for

kings,

abandmod the religion of Domesticity and adopted thai] Having indulged

of Moksha.* in

consequence

of that

those

reflections,

Devala,

resolve, obtained the highest success,

and the highest

Bharata,

this,

Yoga.*

The

celestials

then,

headed by Vrihaspati, applauded Jaigishavya and the penances 6

of that ascetic. '

addressing I

the

Then that foremost of ascetics, viz., Narada, gods, said,

— 'There

ascetic

Jaigishavya since he rilled Asita with wonder !'" of

heaven

then, addressing

Xarada who

said

penance in

— The denizens such frightful

— words, told him, 'Do not say so about the great ascetic Jaigishavya! 51 high-souled

one

There is no one superior or even equal to in

force of energy and penance and

Even such was the power

of Jaigishavya

also

this

Yoga !'** of Asita.

This is the place of those two, and this the tirtha of those two

* The guests,

religion

Domesticity requires the

and the performance

of sacrifices.

require the performance of these or any

That

of godfl and Moksha does not

worship of

other duties, abstention

from

injury to creatures and meditation being its chief characteristics.— X,

[Gadayuddhn

262

MA.EABHARATA,

high-souled persons."

Bathing there and giving away wealth

unto the Brahmanas, the high-souled wielder of the plough, of noble deeds, earned great merit, and then proceeded to the tirtha of Soma."*

Section LI.

Vaicampavana said,— "There, in that had

where the Lnrd of stars

O Bharata,

tirtha,

former days

performed the

Rctjasuya sacrifice, a great battle was fought in which Taraka Bathing in that tirtha and making was the root of the evil. 1

many presents, the virtuous Vala of cleansed soul proceeded There, during a to the tirtha of the Muni named Saraswat. drought extending

for

many

former days, taught the Vedas unto

man as.

Saraswat. in

sage

the

twelve years,

foremost

Brah-

"2-8

Janamejaya said,

— "Why did the sage Saraswat,

thou of

ascetic merit, teach the Vedas unto the Mishis during a twelve

years, drought ?"*

—

monarch, Vaicnmpayana continued, "In days of yore, He was merit. there was an intelligent sage of great ascetic Possessing a complete celebrated by the name of Dadhicha. life of a Brahviacharin* the led senses, he his over control Cakra was austerities ascetic In consequence of his excessive afflicted

(away

with a great

The sage could

by the offer

chastiser

of rewards.

the

fear.

from his penances) 8

last

the

despatched unto him

saqe,

Paka,

the

for

Thither where on

was engaged

the banks of the Saraswati the high-souled sage the

above,

ace

of gratifying the gods,

the celestial damsel named

8 monarch, made her appearance.

damsel of beautiful limbs, the cleansed soul

came

out.

vital

Having

the latter held it with care.

seed

fallen

Beholding that

of that

into

the

thaj it mi^ht b? inspired

ascetic

Saraswati,

Indeed, O bull among men, the

River, beholding that seed, held it in her womb.

seed developed into a fcetus

tempting beautiful

exceedingly

7 and celestial Apsara by name Alamvusha.

be turned

not-

even diverse kinds

In time the

and the great river held

with

life

child,"

When

the

CALYA PARVA,

Farva.]

203

time came, the foremost of river.s brought forth that child and

then went,

taking it with

lord,

holding that best of Jlishis in a arch, while

making over the

regenerate

Rishi,

this

that

son

mon-

through

held

—

That seed of tbine, which fell at sight

devotion for thee!

Alamvushil." had been held by me

the ApsarS

Be-

words :'*

these

whom

JtisJii.

conclave, Saraswati, child, said

thy

her,

my womb,

regenerate Rishi, through devotion for thee, and well know-

ing that that energy of thine would never suffer destruction !'*

Given by me, accept this addressed by her, the 1

joy. *

Through

faultless

own

of thy

child

Rishi accepted the child and

affection,

that

foremost

Thus

great

felt

Brahmanas then

smelt the head of his son and held him in a

embrace, O

foremost one of Bharata's race, for some time.

Gratified with

the River, the great ascetic Dadhicha then gave a boon to her, saving.

— The Vicwedevas, the R shis, and ;

the Gandharvas and the Apsara*, will one, derive great; happiness when

presented unto them

!' 17

the

all

tribes

of thy

oblations

blessed

henceforth,

water

are

Having said so unto that great river,

the sage, gratified and filled with joy, then praised her in these Listen

words.

thy rise,

thorn

king! 18

duly,

highly blessed one, from the lake

days of old.

All ascetics of rigid

of rivers!"

Always

great g >od

— 'Thou hast taken

plexion, will

vows know thee,

foremost

of agreeable features, thou hast done me

O thou of the fairest com-

This thy great child, be

Brahman

known by

the

name

This

of Saraswati*

thy son, capable of creating new worlds,

become known

will

name Indeed, that great ascetic will bo known by the name of Saraswat !*' During a drought extending for after thy

twelve

years, this

Saraswat.

Vedds unto many foremost of Brahmanas!" swati, through

my grace, thou shalt, O

become the foremost of all sacred rivers great

River praised by the sage after

her boons.

O blessed

beautiful !'

teach

one, will

blessed

the

with

her

Sara;

one, always

Even thus was the had granted

latter

The River then, in great joy, went away,

of Bharata's race, taking

the

that child.

on the occasion of a war between the gods and

bull

Meanwhile,

the

Cikra wandered through the three worlds in search

Dd'.iaias, of

weap-

MAHABHAIUTA.

204 2S ons."

[Gadayuddka

The great god, however, failed

such weapons Cakra then said

find

as were fit to slay the foes of the celestials. 28

unto the gods,

— The great Asuras are incapable of being dealt

with by me

Indeed, without the bones of Dadhicha, our foes

could not be

slain

best

of celestials, repair, therefore,

to that foremost of Rishis and solicit

O Dadhicha, thy bones Beseeched by them

him, saying,

— Grant us,

With them we will slay our foes

for

his

foremost

bones, that

many regions

inexhaustible

the

gods, the

merit.

—

of Rishis,

O chief of Kuru's race, unhesitatingly gave up his life. ing done what was agreeable

obtained

sage

With

Hav-

his

bones,

meanwhile, Cakra joyfully caused to be made many kinds of

heavy maces, and many

weapons, such as thunder-bolts,

disci,

kinds of clubs and bludgeons. 80

Equal unto the Creator him-

self,

Dadhicha, had been begotten by the great Rishi Bhrigu,

the son of the Lord of all creatures,

with the aid

aus-

of his

penances.* 31

Of stout limbs and possessed of great energy, Dadhicha had been made the strogest of creatures in the world. The puissant Dadhicha, celebrated for his glory, became tall like the king of mountains. The chastiser of Paka tere

had always been anxious on account the thunder-bolt born

of his

energy. 82

Brahma energy, and

With

inspired

with

Bharata, Indra made a loud noise when he hurled

'mantras,

and slew nine and ninety heroes among the Daityas. 11 After a long and dreadful time had elapsed since then, a it,

drought,

O king, occurred

that

Daring that drought extending

extended for

for

Reholding them scattered in

Saraswat also set his heart on then said unto him, 36

years. 3 *

twelve years, the great

Jiishis, for the sake of sustenance, fled away, sides.

twelve

flight.

monarch, on all

directions, the

all

The

river

sage

Saraswati

— 'Thou needst not, O son, depart hence,

for I will always supply thee with food even here by giving the*

large fishes

Stay

thou, therefore, even

dressed (by the river),

the sage continued

here to

live

Thus

ad-

there and

got

also his daily food and thus continued to support both his

life-

offor oblations of food

unto the Rishis and the gods.

* Nilakaiitha seems to rue to misunderstand this verse

— T,

Parva.]

galya parva.

205

breaths and the gods. 38

After that twelve years' drought

had

passed away, the great Rishis a ilicited one another for lectures

on the

Vedas.*'

While wand) ring with famished stomachs,

the Rishis had lost the knowledge of the indeed,

not

scriptures.*

one

There

Vedas.

amongst them that could understand the amongst them encoun-

It chanced that some one

tered Saraswat, that foremost of Rishis, while the

reading the

back

latter

41 Vedas with concentrated attention.

to the conclave of Rishis,

Vedas in a solitary

furest.

was

Coming

he spoke to them of Saraswat

of unrivalled splendour and god-like mien engaged in

the

was,

Then

the

all

reading

Rishis

great

came to that spot, and jointly spoke unto Saraswat, that best 48 Unto them sage 'Teach us, of ascetics, .these words

— — 'Become ye my disciples duly!' the ascetic replied, saying, — The conclave of ascetics answered, '0 son, thou art too young — must act Thereupon he answered the in years!' !'

ascetics,

in such a way that my religious merit may not suffer a diminu-

tion

4S !

He that teaches improperly, and he that learns impro-

perly, are b)th lost in no time and come to hate

each

It is not upon years, or decrepitude, or wealth, or

of kinsmen,

that

Rishis found

claim

their

number

the

merit

am mgst us is great who is capable of reading and

other

understand-

Hearing these words of his, those Munis duly became his disciples and obtaining from him their Vedas 47 ing the Vedas /'

once

more began

practise

their

rites.

thousand

Sixty

Munis became disciples of the regenerate Rishi Saraswat the sake of acquiring their Vedas dience to that agreeable

from

him.

Owning

brought a handful of grass and offered it to him for his

seat.

of Kecava, hav-

ing given away wealth in that tirtha, then joyfully to another where lived (in days of yore) an

obe-

Munis each

Rishi though a boy, the

The mighty son of 11 >hiui, and elder brother

for

old

having passed through the ceremony of marriage.

proceeded

lady

without

Section LII.

Janamejaya said, j

— "Why,

regenerate one, did that man.

ike herself to ascetic penances in days

of old ?

For what

[Gaddyuddha.

1IAHABHARATA,

20G

?* reason did she practise penances, and what was her vow Unrivalled and fraught with mystery is the discourse that

I have already heard from thee

culars in

regarding

detail

Tell me

how

(now) all the parti-

maid employed

that

herself

in penances."*

abundant

said,— "There was a Rishi of

Vaicampayana

That foremost

energy and great fame, named Kuni-Garga.

king, 9

of ascetics, having practised the austerest of penances,

created a fair-browed daughter by a

of his

fiat

ing her, the celebrated ascetic Kuni-Garga became

He abandoned

joy.

heaven.

his

body,

with

filled

and then went

That faultless and amiable and fair-browed maiden,

meanwhile,

eyes

lotus

petals,

continued -to practise

She worshipped the Pilris and

severe and very rigid penances.

the

king,

Behold-

will.

In the practice of such severe penances

gods with fasts. 5

a long period elapsed.

Though

her

sire

had been

giv-

for

ing her away to a husband, she yet did not wish for marriage, 8 for she did not see a husband that could be worthy of her.

Continuing to emaciate her body with austere penances, she devoted herself to the worship of the Pitris and the gods in that solitary forest.

Although engaged in such

mon-

toil,

and although she emaciated herself by age and austeri8 At last when she (beties, yet she regarded herself happy.

arch,

came very old so that she) could no longer move even a

single

step without being aided by any one, she set her heart upon 9 Beholding her about to cast departing for the other world. off

her body,

Narada

unto her.

said

— "0 sinless one, thou

hast no regions of blessedness to obtain in consequence of thy

not having cleansed thyself by the rite of marriage of great vows,

we have heard

been thy ascetic

this

heaven

thou

Great hath

austerities, but thou hast no claim to regions

Hearing these words of Narada, the old shall give lady went to a concourse of liishis and said,— "I !'" marriage in him half my penances who will accept my hand of blessedness!'

After she had said those words, Galava's

son, a

Rishi known

by the'namo of Cringavat, accepted her hand, having proposed this compact to her

18 :

— 'With

I shall accept thy hand, viz.

this compact,

beautiful

that thou shalt live with ;

lady,

fvi

CAI.VA PART*,

f&rva.] only one night

Having agreed

207

compact, she gave

that

Indeed, Galava's son, according to the ordi-

him her hind.'*

nances laid d iwn mid having duly poured libations on the it

ipted her hand and married her."

fire,

On that night, she became

young lady of the fairest complexion, robed in celestial attire and decked in celestial ornaments and garlands and smeared a.

with celestial unguents and perfumes."

Beholding her blazing

with beauty, Galava's son became very happy and passed

At morn she

night in her company.

foremost of ascetics

leave thee!' 18 said.

him. 17

— 'He that

Blessed be

thou, I

After obtaining his permission, she rapt attention, pass

with

will,

water,'

ful-

now once more shall

one night in

this tlrtha after having gratified the denizens of heaven

ablations

one

— 'The

Brahmana, I had mr.de with thee, hath been

compact, filled,

said unto

with

shall obtain that merit which is his who

observes the vow of Brahmacharya fcr eight and fifty years

!'••

Having said these words, that chaste lady departed for heaven, The Rishi, her lord, became very cheerless, by dwelling upon In consequence of the compact

the memory of her beauty.*

he had mala, he accepted

with

difficulty

Casting off his body he soon followed

her,

half her

penances,

moved by

O chief of Bharata's race, and forced to it by

her beauty."

Even this is the glorious history of the old maid that told thee

Even this

the

account of her

and her auspicious departure Valadeva heard presents unto the

Brahmanas

scorcher

of foes, for

Pandavas in battle.** out of

the

have

Brahmacharya

heaven! 23

for

the slaughter

sorrow,

While there, Having made he gave away to grief,

there,

Calya.

Calya who had been

slain

by the

Then he of Madhu's race, having come

environs of

Samantapanchaka, enquired of the

Jilshis ab)ut the results of the battle at Kurukshetra."

Ask-

ed by that lion of Yadu's race about the results of the

battle

at Kurukshetra. those high souled as it had happened.'"

ones

told

him everything

[Gaddyuddha

Section XLIII. "The Risliis said,

— '0 Rama, this Samantapanchaka

to be the eternal northern altar

Brahman

denizens

heaven,

creatures.

There

the

Lord of all

those

givers

great boons, performed in days of yore a great sacrifice.

foremost of royal sages,

viz.,

the high-souled

That

Kuril, of great field

Hence it came to be called Kunikshetra (the

for many years.

Kuru)

had cultivated this

intelligence and immeasurable energy,

field of

is said

!' s

"Rama said,

— 'For what reason did the high-souled Kuru I desire to have this narrated by you, ye

cultivate this field \

!' 8

liishis possessed of wealth of penances

"The Rishis said,

—'In days of yore, O Rama, Kuru was

engaged in perseveringly tilling the

soil

of this

field.

Cakra,

coming down from heaven, asked him the reason, saying, 4

Why,

king, art thou employed

What is thy

severance ?

with such per-

(in this task)

royal

purpose,

sage, for

complishment of which thou art tilling the soil?"

upon

replied, saying,

—

thou of a hundred

the

ac-

— Kuru there-

sacrifices,

they

that will die upon this plain shall proceed to regions of blessedness after being cleansed of their sins

— The lord Cakra,

6 !

ridi-

The royal sage Kuru, how-

culing this, went back to heaven.

ever, without being at all depressed, continued to till the soil. 7

Cakra repeatedly came

him and repeatedly receiving the same reply went away ridiculing him. Kuru, however, did not, on

that

the soil with celestials

account, feel

depressed. 8

Seeing the king

till

summoned

the

perseverance, Cakra

unflagging

and informed them of the monarch's occupation. 9

Hearing Indra's words, the celestials said unto their chief of a thousand eyes,

— Stop the royal sage, O Cakra, by granting

him a boon, if thou canst 10 !

to come to heaven,

If men, by only dying there were

without having performed

sacrifices to us,

— Thus exhorted, Cakra then came back to that royal sage and — Do nut any our very existence will be endangered !"

said,

Act according to my words

die here, having

abstained

from

ia !

food

toil

Those men with

all

that

their

will

senses

— 209

CALTA PARVA,

P^vva.]

awake, and those that will perish hero in battle, shall, thou o^ great soul, shall come to heaven !* They;

O monarch !— Thus

of heaven,

the blessings

Kuru answered Cakra, saying, went back

heart, quickly

addressed, king

— Taking Kuru'a

heaven.

a joyful

with

Cakra, then,

of Vala, viz.,

slayer

the

leave,

— So be

!'*

king,

enjoy

Even

thus,

fore-

most one of Yadu's race, that royal sage had, in days of yore, tilled this plain and Cakra had promised great merit unto here. 11

those that would cast off their life-breaths

Indeed,

was sanctioned by all the foremost ones, headed by Brahman,"

among the gods, and by the sacred lUsJiis, that on Earth there 7 Those men that should be no more sacred spot than this!' perform their

austere

penances

go to

bodies,

would

hore,

all, 18

Brahman's abode.

casting

after

off

Those meritorious

men, again, that would give away their wealth here, would 19 They, again, that will, in soon have their wealth doubled. expectation of good, reside

constantly

never have

here, will

Yama. 10 Those kings that will perform

to behold the region of

great sacrifices here will reside as long in heaven as Earth herself will

last.

The

chief of the celestials,

himself composed a verse here and sang

Cakra, had

viz.,

Listen

it,

The very dust of Karukshetra, borne away by

Valadeva !"

'persons

cleanse

zo in J, shall

the

it.

them to heaven !*

and

of wicked acts

bear

— The foremost ones amongst the gods, as Brahmanas, and many foremost ones

also those amongst the

among the kings of the Earth such as Nriga and

others, hav-

here, have, after

abundoning

ing performed costly

sacrifices

their bodies, proceeded to

heaven.**

The space between the

Tarantuka and the Arantnka and the lakes of Rama and Chamachakra,

known

Kurukshetra.

called the northern (sacrificial) altar of all

creatures. 48

Auspicious and highly

Samantapanchaka

Brahman, the Lord of sacred and

much

re-

garded by the denizens of heaven is this spot that possesses all

attributes.

is for

this that

Kshatriyas slain

here obtain sacred regions of eternal blessedness.'*

batfeli

Even this

by Cakra himself about the high blessedness cf Kurukshetra. All that Cakra said was again approved ai.d

was

said

sanctioned by Brahman, by Viehnu, and by Mahetjwara.*"** 27

[Qadayuddhyst

Section LIV.

Yaic^mpayana

said,

—"Having visited Kurulcshetra and

given away wealth there, he of tho Satwata race then proceeded,

O Janamejaya, to a large and exceedingly beautiful her-

mitage.

That hermitage was overgrown with Madhuka and

mango trees, and abounded with Plakshas and Nyagrodhas, And it contained many Vilwas and many excellent jack and Arjuna trees. 8 Beholding that goodly asylum with many marks of sacredness, Valadeva asked the Rishis it

was.

deva,

Those high-souled ones, O

king,

said

whose

unto Vala-

— 'Listen in detail, O Rama, as to whose asylum this Here the god Vishnu in days

was in days of yore !*

performed austere penances.

Here he performed duly

of yore all

the

Here a Brahmani maiden, leading from youth the vow of Brahmacharya, became crowned with asce-

eternal

tic

sacrifices.*

success.

Ultimately, in the

possession

Yoga powers,

that lady of ascetic penances proceeded to heaven.'

souled Candilya, chaste,

The high-

O king, got a beautiful daughter who was

wedded to severe vows, self-restrained, and observant

of Brahmacharya.

Having performed the

severest

of pe-

nances such as are incapable of being performed by women, the blessed lady at last went to heaven, worshipped by the gods

and Brahmanas

Having heard these words of the Rishis,

Valadeva entered that

asylum. 8

Rishis, Valadeva of unfading

Bidding a farewell to the

glory went through the perfor-

mance of all the rites and ceremonies of the evening twilight on the side of Himavat and then began to his ascent of the mountain.* The mighty Valarama having the device of the palmyra on his banner had not proceeded far in his ascent when he beheld a sacred and goodly tirtha and wondered at the si^ht.

tirtha called

Beholding the glory of the Saraswati as also the Plakshapracravana, Vala next reached another

excellent and foremost

of tirthas

called

Karavapana. 11

The

hero of the plough, of great strength, having made many presents there, bathed in the cool, clear, sacred, and sin-cleansing 1

w*fc*r (of that tirtha). *

Passing one

night

there

with the

salt a parva.

Parva.] ascetics

Ill

and the Brahmanas, llama then proceeded to the

From

sacred asylum of the Mitravarunas. 1 "

proceeded to that spot on the Yamuna where

Agni and Aryaman

Indra and

days of yore

had obtained great happi-

Bathing there, that bull of Yadu's

ness. *

Karavapnm

race, of righteous

The hero then sat himself soul, obtained great happiness. down with the Rishis and the Siddhas there for listening to There where Rama sat in the midst of

their excellent talk. * 1

came (in course

Covered with matted locks and attired

that conclave, the adorable Rishi Narada 1

his wanderings). *

golden rays, he bore in

hands,

his

O king, a stalf made

gold and a waterpot made of the same

complished

song

made

of the

Ac-

and dance and adored

by gods and

Vina

of melodious

Brahmanas, he had with hira a beautiful notes,

metal. 17

precious

tortoise-shell.

A provoker of quarrels

and ever fond of quarrel, the celestial Rishi came to that spot where the handsome Rama was resting. * Standing up and 1

sufficiently

honoring the celestial Risk:

of regulated

vows,

Rama asked him about all that had happened to the Kurus.*' Conversant with every duty and usage, Narada then,

king,

told him everything, as it had happened, about the awful

Kurus.*

the

termination of

The son

sorrowful words, enquired of the

How are

state of the field t 1

sembled there? *

Rohini then, in

Rishi, saying,

those kings

ex-

— 'What

now

the

that had

as-

have heard everything before, O thou

that art possessed of the wealth of penances, but my curiosity !'*'

is great for hearing it in detail

"Narada said,

— 'Already Bhishma and Drona and the lord

of the Sindhus have fallen

Vikartana's son Kama also hath

Bhuricravas

fallen,

with his sons, those great car- warriors !**

too,

son of Rohini, and the valiant chief of the Madras have

fallen

These and many other mighty to

victory of Duryodhana,

— these kings and princi

from battle,

— have

lay

all fallen

!**

life

as-

fur

th«

unreturning

Madha-

army

of Dhrita-

rashtra's

of hosts

three

had

Listen now to me,

va, about those that are yet alive !

son, only

that itself

heroes

down dear

sembled there,** ready

grinders

the

are

yet

alive

,f i

They are Kripst and Kritavarraan and the valiant son of Drcna

JtAHABHARATA,

212

These also, O Rama, have from p tints of the compass " 1

fear

[Qad&yuddka away

fled

After Calya's fall and

the

Kripa and the others, Daryodhana,

in great grief,

the depths of the Dwaipayana lake.

bottom of the lake

for rest at the

the

ten

flight

had entered

While lying stretched

after

stupifying

its

waters,

Daryodhana was approached by the Pandavas with Krishna and pierced by them with their cruel words. 80 Pierced with wordy dirts, O Rama, iiom every side, the mighty and heroic Daryodhana hath risen from the ;ake, armed with his heavy mace. 51

He hath come

present.

Their terrible encounter,

today

81 !

dhava,

forward for fighting

If thou feelest any

curiosity, then

without tarrying here

Bhima

O Rama, will Go,

for

take

Vaicampayana continued, rada,

Ma-

hasten,

thou wishest,

witness that terrible battle between thy two disciples !'

the

plac8

and

— "Hearing these words of Na-

Rama bade a respectful

farewell

those foremost of

Brahmanas and dismissed all those that had accompanied him (in his pilgrimage).

he ordered his attendants, say-

Indeed,

— 'Return ye to Dwaraka ing,

He then descended from that mountains and that fair hermitage called Plakshaprince of !'

Having listened

.pracrayana,"

to the discourse

about the great merits of tirtlias,

sang this verse .else is such

the

Rama

of the

sages

of unfading

glory

midst of the Brahmanas

— Where

happiness as that in a residence by the Saraswati ?

Where else such merits as those in a residence by the Sarawati ? Uen have departed for heaven, having approached the Saraswati is

All should ever remember the Saraswati

the most sacred of rivers!

greatest

happiness on

men

Men,

after

approaching the

their sins

either

Repeatedly casting his eyes with joy

Saraswati, that scorcher of foes then car unto which

Saraswati

Saraswati always bestows the

Saraswati, will not have to grieve for or hereafter!' *

87 !

ascended an

were yoked goodly steeds. 89

here the

excellent

Journeying then

on that car of great fleetness, Valadeva, that bull of Yadu's race, desirous of

beholding the approaching encounter of his

two disciples, arrived on the field."*'to

— /arret]

Section LV.

Vaicampayana said,

— "Even thus,

Janamejaya, did that

King Dhritar&shtra,

terrible battle take place.

row, said these words with reference to it.

"Dhritaraahtra said,

"Sanjaya

— 'Beholding the presence of Kama, thy

valiant son

Duryodhana

became

of joy. 8

Yudhishchira,

mighty arms, desirous of battle,

hero

of the

plough, king

Bharata, stood up and

duly

honored him,

Seeing the

He gave him a seat and enquired

feeling great joy the while.

about his

Sanjaya,

happen, how,

Bhima ?'*

said,

full

sor-

— 'Beholding Rama »ppr< ach that spot

when the mace fight was about did my son fight

great

Rama then

answered Yudjiishthira.

these sweet and righteous words that were highlv beneficial

welfare.*

heroes, viz..*

— I have heard

said by the

spot, equal to

heaven itself, adored by

high-souled Brahmanas .*

O best of

Itishis,

kings, that Kurukshetra is a highly sacred

and sin-clean?ing

gods and liishis and

Those men that cast off their bodies

while engaged in battle on this field, are sure to reside,

O sire,

king,

in heaven

with

Cakra himself!

shall,

speedily proceed to Samantapanchaka.

for

this,

In the world

of gods,

that sp <t is kn >\vn as the northern (sacrificial) altar of Brahman

eternal

and

sure to

obtain

in tst

Kunti's brave

He that

the Lord of all creatures

sacred

heaven'. 9 son, the

Samantapanchaka. 10

sp its

Saying.

dies in

buttle

the

— So be

it,

also,

that is

— O monarch,

lord Yudhishthira, proceeded

King Duryodhana

worlds,

three

taking

towards

up his

gigantic mace, wrathfully proceeded on foot

vas."

with the PandaWhile proceeding thus, armed with mace and clad in

armour, the celestials in the welkin applauded Excellent,

Excellent

the Ivuru king,

— The Charan'aa

became filled with

the Pandavas, thy son, the

Kuru

fleet

delight.

him, saying, as

air * seeing

Surrounded by

king; proceeded, assumii \g

* Nilakantha explains that Ydrtikas means a class- of- Cftd.ran.oCS that

coved with great celerity like that of the air itself. — T^

•'••*

hahabhakata,

214

the tread of an infuriate elephant. 11

[QadZyuddha

All the points of the com-

pass were filled with the blare of conchs and the loud peals of

Proceeding with face

drums and the leonine roars of heroes. * 1

westwards to the appointed spot, with thy son (in their midst), they scattered themselves on

every

side

when they reached

That was an excellent tirtha on the southern side of the Sara3wati. The ground there was not sandy and was,

it.'*

therefore, selected for the

Clad in armour, and

encounter.* *

armed with his mace of gigantic thickness, Bhima, O monarch, assumed the form of the mighty

Garuda. 17

fastened on his head, and wearing

an armour made of gold,

mouth,

O monarch, with eyes red

licking the corners of his

With head-gear

and breathing hard, thy son, on that field, king, looked resplendent like the golden Sumeru." Taking up his in wrath,

mace, king Duryodhana of great energy, casting his glances

on Bhimasena, challenged him to the encounter

phant challenging a

rival

elephant."

Similarly, the

ele-

valiant

Bhima, taking up his adamantine mace, challenged the king like

lion

challenging a

Duryodhana and Bhima,

lion.*

with uplifted maces, looked in that battle like two mountains with tall summits.*

Both of them were exceedingly angry ;

both were possessed of awful prowess

mace

;

in encounters

with the

both were disciples of Rohini's intelligent son ;** both

like Maya and Both endued with great strength, both resembled Varuna in achievements.* 8 Each resembling Vasudeva, or Rama, or Vicravana's son (Ravana), they looked, O monarch,

resembled each other in their feats and looked

Vasava.

like Madhu and Kaitabha.* 4

Each like the other in feats, they

looked like Sunda and Upasunda, or Rama and Ravana, or Vali

and Sugriva.*' Those two scorchers of foes looked like Kala and Mrityu.

They then ran towards each other like two infuriate

elephants,*' swelling

season of autumn

she-elephant in

with pride and mad with

and longing

her

time.

for

Each seemed

other the poison of his wrath like

passion in the

the companionship of a

two

fiery

vomit upon the snakes.* 7

* Both 15 and 16 are differently read in the Bombay Bengal reading, however, is preferable.—-T,

Those

edition,

The

calta parya.

Parva.]

two chastisera other.

of foes cast the

Both were

tigers

angriest

of glances

Bharata's

race,

those two scorchers of foes were irmncible like

O bull of Bharata's race, inspired with desire looked like

two

infuriate

elephants. 11

upon each

and each was with the mace,

In encounters

prowess."

possessed of great

Indeed,

lions.

of victory, they

Those heroes were

unbearable like two tigers accoutered with

teeth

and claws.

They were like two uncrossable oceans lashed into fury and 10 or like two angry bent upon the destruction of creatures, Suns risen for consuming everything. Those two mighty carwarriors looked like an Eastern and a Western cloud agitated by the wind, 11 roaring awfully and pouring torrents of rain Those two high-souled and mighty in the rainy season. heroes, both

possessed

truction.

Looking like two

splendour and effulgence,"

great

looked like two Suns risen at the

of the Universal

hour

enraged tigers or like two

des-

roaring

masses of clouds,** they became as glad as two maned

Like two angry

elephants or two

blazing

lions.

fires," those

with

high-soulcd ones appeared like two mountains

tall

two

sum-

With lips swelling with rage and casting keen glances upon each other, 8 * those two high-souled and best of men,

mits.

armed with maces, encountered each other.

Both were

with joy and each regarded the other as a worthy

filled

opponent.**

and Vrikodara then resembled two goodly steeds neighing at each other, or two elephants grunting at each other." Those two foremost of men then looked resplendent like a couple of monarch, Ddityas swelling with might. Then Duryodhana, said these proud words unto Yudhishthira in the midst

of his

brothers and of the high-souled Krishna and Rama of immeasurable energy,'*"*'

— Protected by the Kaikeyas and the Srin-

jayas and the high-souled Panchalas, behold ye with all these

foremost of kings, seated together, to take place between me and

this battle

Bhima

that

about

— Hearing these words

40 "" Then that large of Duryodhana, they did as requested. concourse of kings sat down and was seen to look resplendent

like a conclave of celestials in heaven.*

In the midst of that

concourse the mighty-armed and handsome elder brother of Kecava, O monarch, as he sat down, w;;s >yor?hipped by all

haHabharata,

2l(j

[Gud&ijuddk*

In the midst of those kings, Valadeva clad in

around him. 4 *

blue robes and possessed of a fair complexion looked beautiful like the

moon at full surrounded in

goading each other wir.h fierce speeches.* each

other in

thousands

night by

the

Meanwhile those two heroes, armed with maces and both unbearable by

monarch, both

of stars.**

foes, stood

there,

Having addressed

disagreeable and bitter words, those two foremost

of heroes of Kuril's race stood, casting angry glances upon each "* 6

other, like Cakra and Vritra in fight.'

Section LVI.

Vaic^mpayana said,

—"At the outset.

Janamejaya, a fierce

With

wordy encounter took place between the two heroes. respect

that, king

this, — 'Oh, 1

fie

filled

with

grief,

said

such an

end

son,

Dhritarashtra,

man, who hath

O sinles? one, had been the lord of eleven chamus of troops!* He had all the kings under

his command and had enjoyed

the

had been

so,

sovereignty of the whole Earth

was now a warrior proceeding his mace

s !

Alas, he that

battle,

My poor son, who had before

of the universe,

foot,

been

shouldering the protector

was now himself without protection

Alas,

he had, on that occasion, to proceed on foot, shouldering his Sanjaya, great What can it be but Destiny ?* Alas, mace !

Having uttered was the grief that was felt by my son now woe, became great with afflicted these words, that ruler of men, !'

silent.*

"Sinjaya said,— 'Deep-voiced like a cloud, Duryodhana then roared from joy like a bovine bull. Possessed of great energy, he challenged the son souled

king

the

of Prifcha to battle.*

When the

Kurus thus summoned Bhima

encounter, diverse portents of an awful

kind became

highto

the

notice-

intervals, able. Fierce winds began to blow with loud noises at becompass the and a shower of dust fell. All the points of 7

came envelopod in a thick gloom."

Thunder-bolts of loud peal

the on all sides, causing a great confusion and making bursting fell, meteors very hair to stand on end. Hundreds of fell

with a loud -noise from the welkin.*

Rahu swallowed the Sua

cai.ya fauva,

Parva.}

most untimely,

O monarch

The Earth with her forests and Hot winds blew, bearing showers of hard '

trees shook greatly.

pebbles along

ground.

the

The summits

down on the Earth's surface. seen

run

217

fell

Animals of diverse forms were and

Terrible

directions.

all

of mountains

fierce

jackals,

with blazing mouths, howled everywhere. 18 reports were heard on every

side,

Loud and terrific making the hair to stand

The four quarters seemed

on end.

ablaze

and many

The water-

were the animals of ill omen that became visible. in the wells

every

swelled

side

Loud sounds came from every creatures to utter them.

Vrikodara said unto the

just,

side,

up of their own accord. without,

king, visible

Beholding these and other portents, king Yudhishthira

brother,

eldest

his

— This Suyodhana of wicked soul

petent to vanquish me in

battle!

wrath, which I have been cherishing for a

my heart,

secret recesses of

Arjuna throwing

not com-

today

shall

long

vomit that

while

upon the forest of Khfmdava!

fire

the

upon this ruler of the Kurus like Today,

O son of Panda, I shall extract the dart that lies sticking to Slaying with my mace this sinful wretch of thy heart !I7

Kuril's race, I shall today place around thy neck the garland of 18

Fame

Slaying this wight of sinful deeds with

on the field of battle,

I shall

mine, break his body

into

today, with

this

a hundred fragments

not have again to enter the city

called

the

after

my mace

very mace of

He shall

elephant

10 !

The setting of snakes at us while we were asleep, the giving of poison to us while wo ate, the casting of our body into the water at Pramanakoti, the attempt to burn us at the house la?,

the

all our

possessions, the whole year of our living in concealment,

our exile into the

best

woods,

of Bharata's

bull of Bharata's line

O sinless

race, !

one,** of all

shall today

Slaying this

life,

s -nil,

of this

hath reached its close,

chief of the at

monarch, the happiness 28

ig !

woes,

these the

end, in

shall,

one

Today, the peril <1

wicked son of Dhritarashtra, of uncleansed

this day he shall not again look

Today,

reach

wretch, I

single day, pay off all the debts I owo him

us at the assembly, the robbing us of

insult offered

his

Bharatas

father

of this

After

and mother !"•

wicked king of the

[QaddyuMha

mahabharata,

21*

After this day,

monarch,

he shall not again cast his eyes on female beauty !**

Today this

Kurua hath come disgrace

an end

Cantanu's line shall sleep on the bare Earth,

abandoning his life-breaths, his prosperity, and his kingdom !"

Today king Dhritarashtra

hearing

also,

the

fall

his r

son, shall recollect all those evil acts that were born of Cakuni s

brain!"

— Having said these words, O tiger among kings,

Vrikodara of great energy, armed with mace, stood for fight, 18 Beholding Duryolike Cakra challenging the Asura Vritra.

dhana also standing with uplifted mace like mount Kailasa graced with its summit, Bhimasena, filled with wrath, once

—

more addressed him, saying, 3 ' Recall to thy mind that evil act of thyself and king Dhritarashtra that occurred at Varnaso Remember Draupadi who was ill-treated, while in vata !

her season, in

the

midst of the assembly

Remember the

deprivation of the king through dice by thyself and Suvala's

son

Remember that great woe suffered by us, in consequence

of thee, in the forest, as also in Virata's city as if we had once

more entered the womb! I shall avenge them all today! By good luck, O thou of wicked soul, I see thee today 8 * Ife !

sake that that foremost of car-warriors, viz., the

thy

is for

son of Ganga, of great prowess, struck down by Yajnasena's Drona also hath been son, sleepeth on a bed of arrows !"

and Kama, and Calya of great prowess

slain,

Cakuni slain

too, that

of this

root

Suvala's

of hostilities,

fire

son

hath been

The wretched Pratikamin, who had seized Draupa-

di's tresses,

hath been slain

All

thy brave brothers s

also,

These who fought with great valour, have been slain and many other kings have been slain through thy fault !

Thee too I shall slay today with my mace slightest doubt in this I

prowess answered him, saying,

brag ?

Fight me, O Vrikodara

day

shall

as thou art,

destroy

fearless

O wretch of thy race, to-

thy desire of battle! 88

ordinary person, of being terrified by I

son of true

— What use of such elaborate

know that Duryodhana

For a long time have

There is not the

— While Vrikodara, O monarch, was

uttering these words in a loud voice, thy

Mean vermin

not capable, like an

person

cherished this desire

thee

89 !

For a long

calyjl parta.

Parva.]

time hath this wish been in

gods have at

brought

last

211

heart

about,

By good

viz.,

luck

What use of long speeches and empty

with thee !*°

wicked-souled one

Accomplish these words of thine

the

mace-encounter

brag, in

acta

Do not tarry at all !*' — Hearing those words of his, tho Somakas and the other kings that were present there all applauded Applauded by all, Duryodhana's hair stood

them highly. 41

erect with joy and he firmly

his

set

heart on battle. 48

Tho

kings present once again cheered thy wrathful son with claps persons exciting an infuriate elephant to an encounter.**

of Pandu then, uplifting

The high-souled Vrikodara the son mace, rushed furiously

his

thy

high-souled

son.

The

elephants present there grunted aloud and the steeds neighed

The weapons

repeatedly.

of the

Pandavas who longed

for

victory blazed forth of their own accord.' "*'

Section LVII. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Duryodhana, with heart undepressed, be-

holding Bhimasena

that

him, uttering a loud roar. 1

two

bulls

state,

rushed furiously against

They encountered each other like

encountering each

other

with

their

horns.

The

strokes of their

maces produced loud sounds

thunder-bolts.*

Each longing for victory, the battle that took

thoso

place between them was terrible, making the very hair to stand

on end,

that

limbs bathed in energy,

between Indra and Prahlada. 8

blood,

All

their

the two high-souled warriors of great

both armed with maces, looked like two Kingukas

decked with flowers. 4

During the progress of that great and if it swarmed After that fierce and terrible battle had

awful encounter, the welkin looked beautiful as

with

fire-flies.**

lasted

for

fatigued.'

some time, both those chastisers of foes became Having rested for a little while, those two scorchers

of foes, taking up their handsome maces,

ward off each other's

attacks. 7

Indeed,

* This was due to the innumerable -parks of repeated clash oi the maces.— T,

once again began to

when those two war-

fire

generated by the

mahabharata.

220

[Gaddyuddha

two foremost of men, both possess-

riors of great energy, those

ed of great might, once more encountered each other after

having taken a infuriate

they

rest,

little

looked

the

two elephants

with passion and attacking each other for obtaining

the companionship of an elephantess those

season. 8

Beholding

two heroes, both armed with maces and each equal to

ether

energy, the gods and Gandharvas and men be-

Beholding Duryodhana and Vrikocame filled with wonder. dara both armed with mace, all creatures became doubtful as 10 Those two to who amongst them would be victorious. cousins, those two foremost of mighty men, once again

other

and desiring to take advantage

ing at

each

other's

laches, waited each

tors,

king, beheld

was heavy, fierce,

watching the other. 11

rush-

of each

The specta-

each armed with his uplifted mace, that

and murderous, and that resembled the

bludgeon of Yama or the thunder-bolt of Indra. * 1

While

Bhimasena whirled

his weapon, loud and awful was the sound

that it produced. 18

Beholding his foe, the son of Pandu, thus

whirling his mace endued with unrivalled impetuosity, Duryo-

dhana became Vrikodara,

filled

amazement. 14

with

O Bharata, as he

sented a highly beautiful spectacle. protecting

themselves, as

Indeed, the heroic

careered in diverse courses, pre15

Both bent upon carefully

they approached,

they repeatedly

mangled each other like two cats fighting for a piece of meat.

He coursed He dealt blows

Bhimasena performed diverse kinds of evolutions. 17 in beautiful circles, advanced, and receded.

and warded off those of his adversary, with wonderful activiHe took up various kinds of position (for attack and

ty.

He delivered attacks and avoided those of his He ran at his foe, now turning to the right and antagonist. now to the left. 18 He advanced straight against the enemy. He made ruses for drawing his fue. He stood immovable, defence).

prepared for attacking his foe

soon

the

latter

would

He circumambulated his foe, and circumambulating him. He avoided

expose himself to attack. prevented his foe from

the blows of his foe by

jumping aloft. 19

moving away

bent postures

He struck, coming up to his foe face to face,

or dealt back-thrusts

while

moving away from him.

Both

calya part a.

Parva.]

}{l

accomplished in encounters with the mace, Bhima and Duryo-

dhana thus careered and fought, and struck each other.' Those two foremost ones of Kuril's race careered thus, each avoiding the other's blows.

Indeed, those two mighty warriors

thus coursed in circles and seemed to spurt with each Displaying in that encounter their

two

battle, those

skill

other.

chastisers of foes sometimes suddenly attacked each other with

their weapons," like two elephants approaching and

Covered with blood, they looked

each other with their tusks.

O monarch, on the field."

very beautiful,

attacking

Even thus occurred

that battle, awfully and before the gaze of a

large

towards the close of the day, like the

between

and Vasava.

Armed with

began

maces, both

multitude,

Vritra

career

monarch, adopted the right man-

Duryodhana,

circles.**

battle

dala, while Bhimasena adopted the

Bhima was thus careering

circles

mandala. n *

left

the

While

of battle,

field

Duryodhana, O monarch, suddenly struck him a fierce blow 24 Struck by thy son, sire, Bhima on one of his flanks. began

whirl

terrible

bludgeon."

Seeing

ing his own terrible

Indra's

thunder-bolt

Bhima

whirl

his

Yama's

So quick was that descent that

fire in

the welkin.

Coursing

again.*

Loud was

of thy

son's

generated a flame

diverse

uplifted

mace, thy son, uplift-

him

weapon, struck

the sound, O Bharata, produced by the descent

mace.

that blow."

returning

for

monarch, beheld that mace of Bhimasena

The spectators, look as

heavy mace

his

kinds

of circles,

adopting each motion at the proper time, Suyodhana, possessed of great energy, once more seemed to prevail over Bhima. 11

The massive mace his whole force,

sparks

Bhimasena,

meanwhile, whirled with

produced a loud sound as

and flames of fire. 8 *

Suyodhana also whirled his

his mace,

also

smoke and

Bhimasena whirling heavy and adamantine

Beholding

weapon and presented a highly beautiful aspect."

e ,

Duryodhana wheeled around, always turning

while his adversary wheeled around, turning to his left. batants advanced towards the centre

around.— T.

of the

lists

Marking

bis right,

Both the com-

as they thus

wheeled

Kahabharata,

21* the violence of the

[Qaddyuddha

wind produced by the whirl of Duryothe Pan-

dhana's mace, a great fear entered the hearts of all

dus and the Somakas. 84 foes,

Meanwhile those two

displaying on every side their

to strike each other

skill

with their maces, 8 '

chastisers

two elephants

approaching and striking each other with their tusks. of

them

ful.

battle, continued

Both

monarch, covered with blood, looked highly beauti-

Even thus progressed that awful battle before the gaze of

thousands of spectators at the close of day, like the fierce battle that took place between Vritra and Vasava. 87 Beholding Bhima firmly stationed on

the

thy mighty son, careering in

field,

more beautiful motions, rushed towards that son of Kunti." Filled with wrath, Bhima struck the mace, endued with great impetuosity and adorned with gold, of the angry Duryodhana. 8 *

A loud sound with sparks of fire was produced by that clash of the two maces which resembled the bolts from opposite

directions.

impetuous mace, as it

fell

clash

of two

thunder-

Hurled by Bhimasena, his

down, caused the very Earth to

The Kuru prince could not brook to see his own mace thus baffled in that attack. Indeed, he became filled with rage

tremble. 41

like an infuriate elephant at the

Adopting the

left

mandala,

mace, Suyodhana then,

sight

of a

rival

O monarch, and whirling his struck

resolved,

firmly

Kunti on the head with his weapon of terrible struck by thy

son,

Bhima

the

elephant. 4 "

son of Pandu

the son

force.

Thus

trembled not,

O monarch, at which all the spectators wondered exceedingly. 4 * That amazing patience, O king, of Bhimasena, who stirred not an inch though struck so all

the combatants present

violently,

there.

prowess hurled at Duryodhana his

was applauded by

Then Bhima of terrible own heavy and blazing

mace adorned with gold. 4 ' That blow the mighty and fearless Duryodhana warded off by his activity. Beholding this, great was the wonder that the spectators felt. 47 That mace, hurled by Bhima, O

king, as

fell

baffled

of effect,

produced a

loud sound like that of the thunder-bolt and caused the very

Earth to tremble. 48

Adopting the mancevre called Kaugika,

and repeatedly jumping up, Duryodhana, properly marking the descent of Bhima's mace, baffled the latter, 43

Baffling Bhima'

calya parva.

Farva.] Kuril

8Gna thus, tho

last in rage struck

forcibly

thy

endued with great strength, at

king,

former in

the

son

became stupified and

for

the

chest.

dreadful

that

223

Struck very

Bhimasena

battle,

timo knew

what

not

do. 11

At that time, O king, the Somakas and the Pandavas became greatly disappointed and very cheerless." Filled with

Bhima then rushed

rage at that blow,

Bhima rushed

mace,

lifted ft

with

up-

Duryodhana

Indeed,

furiously at

Approaching the

rushing against a wild elephant.'*

lion

Kuru king, the son of

aim

thy vson."

the

Earth,

loud cry arose

world !"

began

whirl

weapon, taking

his

knees.' 8

fell

upon

his

supporting himself

one of

that foremost

Pandu, O monarch, accomplished in

Bhimasena then struck Duryodhana on Stupified at that blow, the latter fell down

one of his flanks.

on the

mace,

the use

bull

thy son like an

elephant.* 5

elephant rushing against an

from among

Hearing

race

Kuril's

the Srinjayas,

uproar of

loud

that

among men, thy son became

filled

the

Srinjayas,

with rage. 68

mighty-armed hero, rising up, began to breathe

of the

ruler

The

like a mighty-

snake, and seemed to burn Bhimasena by casting

upon him."

When

knees,

his

glances

That foremost one of Bharata's race then

rushed

at Bhimasena, as if he would that time crush the head of his

antagonist in that

battle.

The high-souled Duryodhana

terrible prowess then struck the high-souled

forehead.

The

latter,

Thus struck

O monarch,

looked

profusely, like an elephant of rent tions

trickling

adown. 8 '

The

of iron

beautiful,

that

brother

his

battle,

as he

temples with juicy

elder

then, that crusher of foes, taking

made

Bhimasena on the

however, moved not an inch but stood

immovable like a mountain. 81 the son of Pritha,

bled scere-

Dhananjaya macs

hero-slaying

and producing a sound loud as that of the

thunder-bolt, struck his adversary with great

by Bhimasena, thy son fell down, by the violence of the tempest.

Struck

his frame trembling all over,

like a gigantic (pdla in the forest, decked 8*

force.

with flowers, uprooted

Beholding thy son prostrat-

ed on the Earth, the Pandavas became exceedingly glad and uttered

loud

cries.

Recovering his consciousness,

thy

son

MAHABHARATA,

224

[GadSyuddhi That ever-wrathful

then rose, like an elephant from a lake.**

monarch and great car-warrior then, careering with great skill, At this, the struck Bhimasena who was standing before him. son of Paudu, with weakened limbs,

fell

down on the Earth."

Having by his energy prostrated Bhimasena on the ground, the

Kuru prince uttered a

leonine

roar.

the

descent

of his

mace, whose violence resembled that of the thunder, he had, fractured Bhima's coat

of mail.

loud

uproar was

then

heard in the welkin, made by the denizens of heaven and the

Apsarus.

A flora! shower, emitting great fragrance, fell, rained

by the celestials. 63

Beholding Bhima prostrated on the Earth,

and weakened in strength, and seeing his coat of mail laid open, 69 Recovering his a great fear entered the hearts of our foes. senses in a moment, and wiping his face which had been

dyed

with blood, and mustering great patience, Vrikodara stood up,

with rolling eyes, steadying himself with great effort.

70 '

Section LVIII. "Sinjaya said,

— 'Beholding that fight thus raging between

those two foremost heroes of Kuril's

race,

Arjuna said unto

— Between these two, who, in thy opinion, Tell me Who amongst them hath what meirt — Janarddana — The instruction received by them hath 'Vasudeva

Vasudeva,'

superior? this,

said,

Bhima, however, is possessed of greater might,

been equal. while

the son of Dhritarashtra

and hath laboured more. 8 sena

will

never succeed in

e\er,

fights

])uryodhana.*

Amras

with the aid of deception.

winning the he

unfairly,

The

possessed of greater skill

he were to fight fairly, Bhima-

surely

will

were

victory.

able

vanquished by

We have

heard

If,

this.

how-

slay

the

gods

Virochana

8 The was vanquished by Cakra with the aid of deception. acfe an by energy his of Vritra deprived slayer of Vala prowhis Therefore, let Bhimasena put forth of deception.

ess,

aided

by deception !'

Dhananjaya, Bhima with his mace in

At the time

of the

gambling,

vowed to break the thighs of Suyodhana

battle.

Let this crubher of foes,

therefore,

accomplish

vow

that

of his

hav«

great danger.

incur

son of Panda, listen to

king Yudhishthira alone

Bhima, depend-

the

fault

more over-

danger hath once

that

again,

thee

I tell

through

feats by the slaughter of

Having achieved great

taken us !'°

were to fight fairly, king Yudhish-

ing upon his might alone, will

Let him, with deception, alay

who is full of deception."

the Kuru king

thira

225

calya pauva.,

Parva.]

Bhishma and the other Ivurus, the king had won

victory and

fame and had almost attained to the end

hostilities.

Having thus obtained the

placed himself once

victory, he

This has been an

more in a situation of doubt and peril. of great

folly

act

Pandava, " 1

Yudhishthira,

part

the

made the result of the battle depend upon the Suyodhana is the defeat of only one warrior!

since he hath

victory or

accomplished, he

hero; he

again

This old verse uttered

by Ucanas hath

L'sfeen to me as I recite

ing !'*

resolved."

firmly

heard by

been

us.

to thee with its true sense and mean-

— Those amongst the remnant of a hostile force broken

flying away for life that

rally

should always

have

purpose !*"

but

one

feared, for

and come back to the they

firmly

are

fight,

and

resolved

— Cakra himself, O Dhananjaya,

cannot stand before them that rush in fury, having abanduned all

hope of life."

This Suyodhana had broken and

his troop3 had been killed. lake.

He had been

to retire into the woods,

his kingdom.

He had entered

defeated

and,

the

fled.

All

depths

of a

had desired

therefore, he

having become hopeless of retaining

What man is there,

possessed

that would challenge such a person

any wisdom,

single-combat? 17

do not know whether Duryodhana may not succeed in snatching the

kingdom that had already become ours

thirteen years he practised with tion.

Even now,

for

slaying

Bhimasena,

(* c f. Lord Byron's lines in the Corsair

For full

mace with great resolu-

the

he jumpeth

—

•And flame for flune and blo<> d r lood nwst fell, The tide of triumph ebbea that flow'd too well — t

When wrath returns to renovated strife, And all those who fought for conquest strike for 23

fe,"~

kababharata,

226 and ieapeth transversely

If the

{Gaddyuddha

mighty-armed Bhima do

not slay him

unfairly, the son of Dhritarashtra will surely re-

main king r '

— Having heard those words of the high-souled

Kecava, Dhananjaya struck his own left thigh before the eyes Understanding that sign, Bhima began to of Bhitnasena.**

making many a beautiful circle

career with his uplifted mace,

and many a

Yamaha and other kinds of manoeveres. 81

times adopting the right mandala, sometimes the

Some man-

left

data, and sometimes the motion called Oomutraka, the son of

Pandu began to career, O thy

larly,

son,

king, stupifying

his

Simi-

foe."

O monarch, who was well conversant with

encounters with the mace, careered beautifully and with greafe activity, for slaying

Bhimasena." Whirling their terrible maces

which were smeared with sandal paste and other perfumed

two heroes, desirous of reaching th© end of 8* their hostilities, careered in that battle like two angry Yamas. unguents,

the

Desirous of slaying each other, those

two fojemost of men,

possessed of great heroism, fought like

two Gaduras desirous

of catching the

same

While the king and Bhima their maces clashed, and sparks

snake.**

careered in beautiful circles,

Those two

of fire were generated by those repeated clashes.*'

and

heroic

mighty warriors struck each other equally in that monarch, two oceans agitated

They then resembled,

battle.

7 by the tempest.*

equally

Striking each other

two

in-

furiate elephants, their clashing maces produced peals of thunder.*

During the progress of that dreadful and

fierce

battle

at close quarters,

both those ehastisers of foes, while battling,

became

fatigued.*

Having

scorchers of foes, filled

once more began to repeated descents

rested

for

while,

two

those

with rage and uplifting their maces,

battle with each

of their maces,

other. 89

When by the

O monarch, they mangled

each other, the battle they fought became exceedingly dreadful

and perfectly unrestrained. 81

Rushing at each other

encounter, those two heroes, possessed

of eyes

that

those

bulls and endued with great activity, struck each other fiercely }ike

two baffaloes in the mire.**

All their

limbs mangled and

bruised, and covered with blood from head to foot, they looked like- a

couple of Kincukcw on the breast of Hiraavat,"

During

<balya parva,

Parva.] the progress

of the

227

when Vrikodara

encounter,

ruse)

(a» a

seemed to give Duryodhana an opportunity, the latter, smiling Well-skilled in battle, the mighty

a little, advanced forward.**

Vrikodara, beholding his adversary come up, suddenly his mace at

him."

hurled

Seeing the mace hurled at him, thy son,

O monarch, moved away from that spot at which the weapon fell

down

baffled

thy son,

blow,

struck Bhimasena

the

violence

Having warded

Earth.'*

one

foremost

of Kuril's

with his weapon."

itself of

the

In consequence of the

Bhimasena

blow,

owing to.

of immeasurable

Duryodhana, however, knew

energy seemed to be stupified." not that the son of Pandu

off that

race, quickly-

of blood drawn by that blow, as also

quantity

large

the

that

was

so afflicted at that moment.

Though deeply afflicted, Bhima sustained himself, summoning 59

Duryodhana, therefore, regarded him to be unmoved and ready to return the blow. It was for this that 4 thy son did not then strike him again. ' Having rested fur a little while, the valiant Bhimasena rushed furiously, O king, 41 Beholding Bhima at Duryodhana who was standing near. all his

patience.

sena of immeasurable

towards him, thy

energy,

filled

high-souled son,

with rage and rushing

O bull of Bharata'a

race,

desiring to baffle his blow, set his heart on the manoevre called

He, therefore, desired to jump upwards, O mon-

Avasthana.

4 *" 48

Bhimasena fully understood

adversary.

Rushing, therefore, at him.

arch, for beguiling Vrikodara.

the intentions

of his

with a loud leonine roar, 44 he fiercely hurled his mace at thighs of the

Kuru king

baffling the first aim.

the

the latter had

That mace, endued with the

thunder and hurled by Bhima of terrible

the two handsome thighs of Duryodhana. 4 '

th<s

jumped up force

fur

feats, fractured

That tiger among

men,

viz.,

thy son, after his thighs hcd been broken by Bhima-

sena,

fell

down, causing

the

Earth to echo with

his

fall.

Fierce winds began to blow, with loud sounds at repeated tervals. Showers of dust fell.

hero

in-

The Earth, with her trees and

plants and mountains, began to

that

tremble. 41

Upon the

who was the head of all monarchs on Earth,

fall

£eue

and firy winds blew with a loud noise and with thunder falling frequently,

Indeed., when that lord of Earth fell, large meteors

MAHABHA2UTJL

22S

[Saddyuddha

were seen to flash down from the sky.*' also showers

of dust,

fell,

O Bharata

Magavat, upon the fall of thy son

Bloody showers, aa

These were poured by

A loud noise was heard,

50 !

O bull of Bharata's race, in the welkin, made by the Yakshas, and the R.lkshasas and the Pipcichas.* At that terrible sound, animals and birds, numbering in thousands, began to utter a more frightful noise on every side." Those steeds and ele1

phants and human beings that formed the (unslain) remnant of the (Pandava) host uttered loud cries when thy son fell. also

Loud of drums and

became the blare of conchs and the peal A terrific noise seemed to come from with the

cymbals."

Upm the fall of thy son, O monarch,

bowels of the Eirth.

headless beings of frightful forms, possessed of many legs and

many

arms, and inspiring all

creatures

dance and cover the Earth on all sides.

that stood with standards or weapons in tremble,

king,

when thy son fell. 65

opposite directions.

Combatants,

king,

their arms, began to

Lakes and wells,

best

Rivers of rapid currents flowed

of kings, vomited forth blood.

with dread, began to

Women seemed to

look

men,

and men to look like women, at that hour, O king, when thy S7 Beholding those wonderful portents, son Duryodhana fell !

the

Panchalas and the Pandavas,

became filled with anxiety. 53

bull

of Bharata's

race,

The gods and the Gandharvas

went away to the regions they

desired, talking, as

they pro-

Similarly

ceeded, of that wonderful battle between thy sons.

the Siddhas, and the Chdranas of the fleetest course, went to

those places

from which

two lions among men.'

they

had come, applauding those

" £0

Section LIX. "Sanjaya said,— "Beholding Duryodhana felled upon the Earth like a gigantic Cala uprooted (by the tempest), the

Pandavas became filled with joy. with hair standing on end, the Earth like an infuriate elephant

The Somakas also beheld, Kuru king felled upon the felled

lion.

Having

struck Duryodhana down, the valiant Bhimasena, approaching

Jh$ Kuru chief, addressed him, saying.*—

wretch, formerly

— 229

calta parva,

parva.]

laughing at the disrobed, Draupadi in the midst of the assemfool, addressed us as— Cow, Cow /*— Bear bly, thou hadst, the fruit of that insult !— Having said these words, he touched the head of his fallen foe with his left foot. Indeed, ho

now

struck the head of that lion among kings with his foot.

With

eyes red in wrath, Bhimasena, that grinder of hostile armies,

O monarch

Listen to them,

once more said these words.

insultingly, saying,— Cow, Cow,— we

They that danced at us Cow, shall now dance at them, uttering the same words, viz.,—

Cow! 7 tion

— We have no

no fire, no match at dice, no decep-

guile,

Depending upon the might of our own arms we resist and

check our foes!*

— Having attained

to the

other shores of those

Vrikodara once more laughingly said these words slowly unto Yudhishthira and Kecava and the Srinjayas fiorce hostilities,

and Dhananjaya and the two sons of Madri.

— They that had

dragged Draupadi, while ill, into the assembly, and had disrobed her there, behold those Dhartarashtras slain in battle by through

the Pandavas

the

ascetic

penances of Yajnasena's

Those wicked- hearted sons of king Dhritarashtra daughter who had called us Sessame seech without kernel, have all It matters been slain by us with their relatives and followers 10

little

deeds) we go to

whether (as a consequence of those u Once more, uplifting the mace fall into hell

heaven or

that lay on his

—

shoulders, he

struck

with

his

foot

left

the

head of the monarch who was prostrate on the Earth, and addressing the deceitful Duryodhana, said theso

words.'*

of the foremost warriors among the Somakas,

who were

righteous souls,

beholding the foot of the rejoicing

Many all

of narrow heart placed upon the head of that foremost one

Kuru's race, did not at all approve of it. after having struck down

thy son, was thus bragging and danc14

hast paid off thy hostility (towards Duryodhana) and

vow by a

thy

Bhima!"

While Vrikcdara,

ing madly, king Yudhishthira addressed him, saying,

plished

Bhimasena

fair or an unfair act

Cease

— Thou acc( m-

now,

Do not act Do not crush his head with thy foot kinsman thy He is, again, Duryodhana is a king !

sinfully

He is fallen proper 1"

This

conduct

of thine,

Duryodhana Tras th«

lord

sinless

of eleven

one, is

not

Akthauhinu

230

MAHABHARATA.

Ha was the king of the Kurus Do not,

of troops

Bhima,

touch a king and a kinsman with are slain

[Gaddyuddha

thy

foot

His kinsmen

His friends and counsellors are gone

His trocps

He has been struck down in battle He is to be pitied in every respect He deserves not to be insulted, for remember that he is a king 18 He is ruined His have been exterminated

friends and kinsmen have been slain

His brothers have been

His sons too have been slain

killed!

been taken away

He is our brother

unto him is not proper

His funeral cake hath

This that thou doest

Bhimasena is a man of righteous

19 !

behaviour ! People used to say this before of thee

Why then,

O Bhimasena, dost thou insult the king in this way ?*° — Having said these voice

choked

Yudhishthira, with

words unto Bhimasena, tears,

and

afflicted

with

grief,

approached

Duryodhana, that chastiser of foes, and said unto him, 81

—

O sire, thou shouldst not give way to anger nor grieve for thyself! Without doubt, thou bearest the dreadful consequences this sad and woful

Without doubt,

of thy own former acts !"

result had been ordained by the Creator

himself,

Through thy own

that we

foremost one

should injure thee and thou shouldst injure us, of Kuru's race

viz.,

fault this great calamity

has come upon thee, due to avarice and pride and folly, O Bha-

Having caused thy companions and brothers and sires and sons and grandsons and others to be all slain, thou comest

rata !**

now by thy

-own death !"

In consequence of thy fault thy

mighty car-warriors

brothers,

been slain by us

I think all this to be the

sinless one, is enviable

It is

to be pitied in every respect,

Kaurava

<3rag on a miserable existence,

reft of all

kinsmen !"

work

have

of irresist-

On the other hand,

Thou art not to be pitied!

ble Destiny !*•

thy death,

and thy kinsmen,

all,

we that deserve

We shall

have

our dear friends and

how shall I behoid the widows, overwhelm-

Alas,

ed with grief and deprived of their senses by

sorrow, of my

brothers and sons and grandsons

king, departest

from this world

heaven

Thou

Thou,

!**

art sure

have thy residence

We, on the other hand, shall be reckoned as creatures 8'

of hell, and shall continue to suffer the most

poignant grief!

The griefrafflicted wives

sons and grand-

of Dhribarashtra's

calta part*,

farva.] 80113,

those widows

curse us all

80 :

231

sorrow, will, without doubt,

crushed with

— Having said these words, Dharma's royal son

Yudhishthira, deeply hard and indulge

afflicted

with

grief,

began

breathe

"" in lamentations.'

Section LX. "Dhritarashtra

said,

Suta, did the mighty

down unfairly, what, one

foremost

— 'Beholding the (Kuru) king struck

Madhu's

say ?*

race,

Tell

Valadeva, that

me,

Sanjaya,

encounters with

what Rohini's son, well-skilled in

mace

the

and well acquainted with all its rules, did on that occasion "Sanjaya said,

!'*

— Beholding thy son struck at the thighs,

the mighty Rama, that foremost of smiters, became exceedingly

Raising his arms aloft, the hero having the plough

angry.*

deep sorrow, said in the midst of

for his weapon, in a voice of

— Oh,

those kings,

in such a fair

fie

fi>ht

on Bhima,

on Bhima !*

fie

Oh,

fie,

that

a blow hath been struck below the navel

Never before hath such an act as Vrikodara hath done been witnessed in an encounter with the mace !' No limb below This is the precept laid down in

the navel should be struck.

ignorant wretch, un-

acquainted with the truths of treatises!

He, therefore, acteth

treatises

as he likes

This Bhima, however,

6 !

— While uttering these words, Rama gave way to

The mighty Valadeva then, uplifting his plough, The form of that high-souled like that of the gigantic became warrior of uplifted arms then

great wrath.

rushed towards Bhimasena

mountains of Ivailasa variegated with diverse kinds of metals.* The mighty Kec,ava, however, ever bending with humility, seized the rushing Rama,

and well-rounded arms. race, the one

dark

encircling him with his massive and

Those two foremost heroes of Yadu's and the other

complexion

exceedingly beautiful at that moment,

Moon, O king, on the evening sky

Rama, Kec,ava addressed him, saying, of

like the

vancement, the advancement

looked

Sun and the

For pacifying the angry

— There are six kinds

advancement that a person may have, of. one's

ment of. one's friends' friends, the

fair,

deegty

viz.,

one's

friends, the of oue'-s. .

own

ad-

advance-

enemy- th.s

mahabiurata,

232

and the decay of one's enemy's

of one's enemy's friends,

dec;!)'

friends' friends."

[Gaddyuddha

When reverses happen to one's own self or

to one's friends, one

should then understand that one's

fall

at hand and, therefore, one should at such times look for the ,a means of applying a remedy.

The Pandavas of unsullied They are the children of our

prowess are our natural friends.

They had been greatly afflicted by their own sire's sister 9 of one's vow is one's duty. accomplishment The foes Formerly Bhima had vowed in the midst of the assembly that he would in great battle break with his mace the thighs of !

The great Rishi Maitreya

Duryodhana. *

O scorcher of

also,

had formerly cursed Duryodhana, saying,— Bhima will, with his mace, break thy thighs! * In consequence of all foes,

—

this, I do

not see any fault in Bhima

Do not

way

give

Our relationship with the Pralamva blood as also upon an and birth upon Pandavas is founded

wrath,

slayer

attraction of hearts."

their

growth

bull among men

not, therefore, give way to wrath,

ing these words of Vasudeva. the wielder of the

was conversant with rales of morality, practised

well

afflicted by

by the

two things,

by those that covet it,

and

Profit,

who

— Morality is

always

entertained

the desire

for

Profit

fur

Pleasure

cherished

Whoever without

afflicting

and Pleasure,

Pleasure

viz.,

Profit, or

followeth

— Hear-

and the desire

by those that are wedded Morality

said,'

plough,

however,

Morality,

good.

our growth.

to it.'

Morality

all

three,

Morality, Profit, and

viz.,

19 In Pleasure, always succeeds in obtaining great happiness. Bhimaby consequence, however, of morality being afflicted

sena, this harmony of which I have spoken hath been disturbed,

whatever,

replied, saying,

Govinda,

thou

maj st

tell

me '."—Krishna

— Thou art always described as bereft of wrath,

and rightoous-souled and devoted to righteousness! 21 thyself, therefore, and do not give way to wrath!

Remember also the vow made

that the Kali age is at hand.

by the son of Pandu

Let, therefore, the

regarded to have paid off the debt he

and to have fulfilled •'

Sanjaya

Calm

Know

— '" his vow

owed

son

of Pandu

his

hostility

fallacious

discourse

continued,— 'Hearing

this

233

3ALYA parya.

Parva.]

O king, Rama

from Keeava,

become cheerful.

He then said in

unfairly slain king

Suyodhana

dispel

failed

and

wrath

hia

assembly,"— Having

that

son

soul, the

of righteous

warrior !'*

Pandu shall be reputed in the world as a crooked The righteous-souled Duryodhana, on the other hand, shall Dhri tar a antra's royal son, thati ruler of men, who hath been struck down, is a fair warrior!" blessedness

eternal

obtain

Having made every arrangement

the

for

of battle

Sacrifice

and having undergone the initiatory ceremonies on

the

and, lastly, having poured his life as a libation upon

represented by his foes,

glory '."—Having

said

words, the

these

Dwaraka.* 7

the Vrishnis, as also the Pandavas, cheerless

Kama had

after

set

fira

the

attainment!

son

valiant

white cloud, ascended hia

Rohini, looking like the crest of a car and proceeded towards

the

completed hia

Duryodhana has fairly

Sacrifice by the final ablutions represented by

field*,

The Panchalas with

O monarch, became rather

out

for

Then,

Dwaravati."'

Vasudeva, approaching Yudhishthira who was exceedingly melancholy and filled with anxiety, and who hung down hia head and knew not what to do in consequence of his deep affliction,

said unto

-Vasudeva said,

him these words. 49

—

Yudhishthira the just, why dost thou

sanction this unrighteous act, since thou permittest of the insensible and fallen

have

friends

with

his

morality,

be thus

Conversant as thou

foot?

why

difference?—

been slain

all

dost

the

head

Duryodhana whose kinsmen and

thou,

struck

Bhima ways of

art

with

the

king, witness

this

act with

in-

so - 3i

"'Yudhishthira answered,

— This

Krishna, done from

act,

wrath, of Vrikodara's touching the head of the king

with

hia

me, nor am I glad at this exterminaBy guile were we always deceived by tho Many were the cruel words they Dhritarashtra

foot, is not agreeable to

tion of

sons

my race!

We were again exiled into the woods by

spoke to us.

them. 88

Great is the grief on account of all those acts that is in BhimaReflecting on all this,

sena's heart!

thou of Vrishni's race,

Having

slain

the

covetous

Duryodhana bereft of wisdom and enslaved by

his

passion?,

I looked on

with indifference

— let

[Gadayuddfm

makabhaiuta.

234

the son of Pandu gratify his desire, be

— or unrighteousness

by righteousness

'**

"Sanjaya continued,

— 'After Yadhishthira had said this,

Vasudeva, that perpetuator of Yadu's race, said with difficulty, Let it be so !$ Indeed, after Yasudeva had been addressed

— in

—

words by

thoso

wished what was

approved

all

those

Having struck down thy son

beneficial

for

Bhima,

Bhima had done

battle.

that

acts

who, always

former,

the

Yudhishthira, agreeable

and

Bhima-

wrathful

battle, the

joy, stood with joined hands

sena, his heart filled with

Yudhishthira and saluted him

form. 33

proper

befor«

With eyes

expanded in delight and proud of the victory he had won, king, addressed his eldest brother,

Vrikodara of great energy, saying,"

—The Earth

today

to disturb her and with all

king, without

thine,

thorns removed

her

ker, O monarch, and observe the

of thy

duties

brawls

Rule over

order I

who was the cause of these hostilities and who fomented them by means of his guile, that wretched wight fond of deception, lieth,

struck down, on

the

bare

All those wretches headed by

ground,

Dusc;asana,

O lord of Earth 41 !

who used

utter

cruel words, as also those other foes of thine, viz., the son

Radha, and Cakuni, have been

slain

kinds of gems, the Earth, with her

Teeming with

forests and

of all

mountains, O 4!

—

monarch, once more cometh to thee that hast no foes alive •"Yudhishthira said, Hostilities have come to an end! !

—

King Suyodhana hath been struck down

The Earth hath

been conquered (by us), ourselves having acted according to By good luck, thou hast paid off the counsels of Krishna 44 !

thy debt to thy mother and fehou hast been victorious, " thy foe hath been slain f

thy

wrath

By good

luck,

O invincible hero, and by good luck, 4*

Section LXI. "Dhritarashtra said, in battle by

—'Beholding Duryodhana struck down

Bhimasena, what,

and the Srinjayas do V "Sanjaya said, seaa iu battle,

Sanjaya, did the Pandavas

— 'Beholding Duryodhana

slain

king, like a wild elephant

shun by a

by Bhimalion,

CAL7A PACTA.

pdrva.']

Krishna became

the Pandavas with

83$

Th« Kuru

with

delight.

Panchalas and the Srinjayas also, upon the fall

of the

king, 8 waved their upper

and uttered

filled

garments

(in the air)

The very Earth seemed to be unable

leonine roars.

bear

Some stretched their bows others drew their bowstrings. Some blew their huge conchsi others beat their drums* Some sported and jumped about, while some amongst thy foes laughed aloud. Many heroes repeatedthose rejoicing warriors.*

;

Bhimasena:

unto

ly said those words

— Exceedingly

difficult

and great hath been the feat that thou hast achieved today in Kuru king, himself a battle, by having struck down the

mace! 7

great warrior, with thy slaughter of the foe

Indra himself

All

these

Who else, save

3 !

slay the heroic

by thee

men that

regard

this

of Vritra

O Vrikodara, could

thyself,

Duryodhana while careering

kinds

diverse

of motion and performing all the wheeling manoevres (characteristic

encounters) ? 9

of such

Thou

other shore of these hostilities, that else could reach

This feat that thou

capable of being achieved by any luck, thou

O hero, like

hast,

now reached

hast

achieved

hast

other warrior

the

which none

other shore

in-

By good

elephant, crushed

infuriate

with thy foot the head of Duryodhana on the field of battle !"

Having fought

one, thou hast

quaffed

wonderful the

by good

battle,

blood

quaffing the blood of a buffalo

l !

luck,

By good

luck,

by thy own energy, placed thy foot on the head that had

injured

In consequence

having

the

rightcous-souled

of having

slain Duryodhana,

vanquished thy

world

!'*

of all

those

foes

and of thy

O Bhima, thy

fame

Bards and eulogists

now

applauded Cakra after the fall of Vritra even as we are applauding thee,

Bharata,

after

lion

thou hast,

king Yudhishthira '"

by good luck,

whole

hath spread over the

O sinless

of Duscasana, like

the

of thy

fall

foes!"

Know, O Bharata, that the joy we felt upon the fall of Duryodhana hath not yet abated in the least — Even thos<> were tha words addressed to Bhimasena by the assembled Whilst those tigers among men, eulogists on that occasion € !

viz.,

the Panchalas and the Pandavas,

were indulging in

sucJi

language, the

all filled

with d

slayer

of Mad: u

Lights

ai-

Mahabharata.

236 dressed them, saying, 17

[Gadayuddha

— Ye rulers of men,

slay a slain foe with such cruel

speeches

it is

not proper to

repeatedly

uttered

This wight of wicked understanding hath already been slain

!' 8

This sinful, shameless, and covetous wretch, surrounded by sinful counsellers and ever regardless of the advice of wise friends,

met with

death even then' 9

his

repeatedly urged to the contrary

when he

refused,

though

by Vidura and Drona and

Kripa and Sanjaya, to give unto the sons of Pandu their paternal share in the kingdom which they had solicited at his

hand I"

This wretch is not now fit to be regarded either as a

friend or a foe

What use in spending bitter breath upon one

ivho hath now become a

piece

wood ai

Mount your

quickly, ye kings, for we should leave this luck, this sinful

place

cars

By good

wretch hath been slain with his counsellers

—

and kinsmen and friends !" Hearing these rebukes from monarch, gave way to wrath Krishna, king Duryodhana, and endeavoured to rise. 88

Sitting on his haunches

porting himself on his two arms, he contracted

and cast angry glances

Vasudeva.* 4

and supeye-brows

his

The form then

Duryodhana whose body was half raised, looked like that of a poisonous snake, his

O Bharata, shorn of its tail. 25

afflict

Vasudeva with keen and

Kansas slave, thou hast, it

Disregarding

Duryodhana began

poignant and unbearable pains,

bitter

seems, no

forgotten that I have been struck down

words. 26

shame,

most

—

son

hast

for

unfairly,

thou

judged

by the rules that prevail in encounters with the mace ? It was thou who unfairly caused this act by reminding Bhima with a hint about the breaking of my thighs

Dost thou

think I did not mark it when Arjuna (acting under thy advice) hinted it to

Bhima ? 27 " 28

Having caused thousands

of kings,

who always fought fairly, to be slain through diverse kinds unfair means, feelst thou no shame or no ab here nee

for

those

acts ? 2S

Day after day having caused a great carnage of heroic

warriors,

thou causedst the grandsire to be slain

Cikhandin to the fore

!0 !

by plaicing Having again caused an elephant of

the name of Acwatthaman to be slain, O thou of wicked understanding, thou causedst the preceptor to lay aside his weapons

Thiukest thou thai this is u'ot known

me n 7 .

"While

again

— oalya parva.

Parva.]

237

that valiant hero was about to bo slain by this cruel Dhrishtadyumna, thou didst not dissuade the latter !" The dart that

had been begged (of Cakra as a boon) by Kama for the slaughter of Arjuna, was baffled by thee through Ghatotkacha

Who is there that is more sinful than thou ?" 8

Similarly, the off

and

while observant of the Prctya vow, was caused to be slain

mighty Bhuricravas,

one

with

arms lopped

of his

Kama

84 thco through the agency of the high-souled Satyaki.

Thou, however,

had done a great feat for vanquishing Pfirtha. causedst Aewasena, the

achieving

Takshaka.) to be baffled in

of snakes

prince

that

son of

purpose

his

(viz.,

When

!"'

Kama's car sank in mire and Kama was

again the wheel of

calamity and almost vanquished on that account,

afflicted with

— when, indeed, that foremost of men became anxious to liberate his wheel,

— thou causedst that Kama to be then

If ye had fought me and

E$ !

Kama and Bhishma and Drona by doubt, would

then, without

means, victory

fair

slain

have

never

By adopting the most crooked and unrighteous been yours of means thou hast caused many kings observant of the u ditties of their order and ourselves also to be slain !

" 'Vasudeva

slain with thy

said,

— Thou,

only in consequence of the trod

89 !

son

path

sinful

Through thy evil acts those two

ma and Drona, have been slain for

of Gandhari, hast

which thou hast

heroes,

viz.,

Bhish-

Kama too hath been slain

having imitated thy behaviour

thou didst not,

been

brothers, sons, kinsmen, friends, and followers,

Solicited by me,

O fool,

from avarice, give the Pandavas their paternal

share, acting according

counsels

the

Cakuni

41 !

Thou

Thou hadst also,

thou of wick-

ed understanding, endeavoured to burn all the

Fandavas with

gavest poison to Bhimasena

their mother at the palace of lac !*"

On the

the gambling, thou hadst persecuted

the

sena,

while

her

Shameless as thou being slain

48 !

season,

art,

even

the

then

occasion

also

daughter of Yajna-

midst of the

assembly

thou becamest worthy of

Thou hadst, through Suvala's son

well-versed

in dice, unfairly

vanquished the virtuous Yudhishthira who

was

unskilled

gambling

For

that

art

thou slain

44 :

Through the sinful Javadratha again, Krishna was en another

—— mahabharata,

238

occasion persecuted when the

[GaddyxiddUad

Pandavas, her

lords,

had gone

Causing

out ahunting tawards the hermitage of Trinavindu

who was a child and alone, to

Abhimanyu,

be surrounded by

It is in consequence

many, thou didst slay that hero.

of that

those

un-

righteous acts that thou sayest have been

perpetrated by

us,

have in reality been perpetrated by thee

consequence

sinful wretch, that thou

fault,

thy sinful nature

47 !

Thou hadst never

All

Thou hadst never listened to the counsels

of Vrihaspati and Ucjanas old

slain !*'

art

Thou hadst never waited upon the

heard beneficial

words 48

Enslaved

of gain, thou

by ungovernable covetousness and

thirst

perpetrate many unrighteous acts

Beat now the consequences

of those acts of thine

didst

49 !

" 'Duryodhana said,

— I have studied, made presents accord-

ing to the ordinance, governed the wide Earth

with

her seas,

Who is there so forand staid over the heads of my foes 80 That end again which is courted by tunate as myself! !

Kshatriyas observant of the duties of their own order, death

fortunate

hath become mine

battle,

81 as myself?

Human

viz.,

Who, therefore, is

enjoyments such as were

worthy of the very gods and such as could with difficulty be obtained by other kings, had been mine. Prosperity of the very highest kind had been attained by me fortunate

myself?"

younger brothers, glory

With

all

Who then

well-wishers,

I am going to heaven,

thou

and

of unfading

As regards yourselves, with your purposes unachieved

and torn by grief, live ye in this unhappy world "Sanjaya continued,

— '"

— "Upon the conclusion of these words

of the intelligent king of the Kurus, a thick

shower of frag-

The Gandharvas beat many

rant flowers fell from the sky."

charming musical instruments. The Apsavas in a chorus sar.g the glory of king Duryodhana." The Siddhas uttered loud sounds to the

effect,

Praise

kkig Duryodhana !

rant and delicious breezes mildly blew on every side. quarters became clear and the firmament looked lapis lazuli. 66

blue

— FragAll

the

Beholding these exceedingly wonderful things

and this worship offered to Duryodhana, the Pandavas headed 57 Hearing (invisible beings by Vasudeva became ashamed.

oalya parva.

239

cry out) that Bhishma and Drona ami

Kama ami Bhuricravaa

parva.]

ware slain unrighteously, they

wept in sorrow. 88

became afllicted with grief ami

Beholding the Pandavas filled with anxiety

and grief, Krishna addressed them in a voice deep as that of 89 the clouds or the drum, saying,— A11 of them wero great car-warriors and exceedingly quick in the use of weapons !

If ye had put forth

your prowess, even then ye could never

all

have slain them in battle by

dhana also could never be

fighting slain

fairly!

fair

King Duryo-

encounter

The

same is the case with all those mighty car- warriors headed by Bhishma 51 From desire of doing good to yon, I repeatedly !

applied my powers of illusion and caused them to be

slain

diverse means in battle."

If I

ways

would never have been yours, nor

battle,

victory

kingdom, nor wealth

had not adopted such deceitful

high-souled

Those four were very

warriors and regarded as Atirathas in

the

The very

world.

£4 Regents of the Earth could not slay them in fair fight Similarly, the son of Dhritarashtra, above fatigue as he was, !

when armed with the mace, could not be slain in fair fight by Yama himself armed with his bludgeon !' Ye should not take it to heart that this foe of yours hath fully

When the number of one's

destruction should be effected by

foes

been slain deceit-

becomes

great, then

contrivances and

means !•

The gods themselves, in slaying the Asuras, have trod in the same way! That way, therefore, that hath been trod by the g .)d.s, may be

trod

all

have been crowned with

We had better retire to our tents.

It is evening.

success.

67 !

Let us all, ye kings, take rest, with our steeds and elephants '"Hearing these words of Vasudeva, the Pandavas and cars '

—

and the Panchalas, of lions. self

All of

filled

them blew their conchs and Madhava him-

blew Panchajanya,

at the sight of

with delight, roared like a multitude

filled

with joy,

among men,

bull

Duryodhana struck down in battle.'

Section LXII. "Sanjaya said,— 'All

those

resembled spiked bludgeons,

;

king?,

then

possessed

proceeded

arms that

toward*

their

mahabharata.

24Q tents, filled with joy

The Pandavas also,

The

ment.

Satyaki,

and blowing their concha on their way. 1 monarch, proceeded towards our encamp-

bowman Yuyutsu

great

[Gadayuddka

them, as also

followed

and Dhrishtadyumna, and Cikhandin, and the

five

The other great bowmen also proceeded 8 The Parthas then entered the tent of towards our tents.

sons of Draupadi.

Duryodhana, shorn of its splendours and

been deserted a

Indeed, that pavilion looked like

by spectators.*

city

reft

swarmed

It then

of festivities, or a lake without its elephant.

and

lord

of its

reft

looking like an arena of amusement after it has

8 Durwith women and eunuchs and certain aged counsellors. yellow, yodhana and other heroes, attired in robes dyed in

king, to wait reverentially, with joined hands,

formerly used,

Arrived at the pavilion of the Kuru

on those old counselors. 8

7 arch, dismounted from their cars.

gaged,

of Bharata's

bull

race,

At that

the good

always en-

time,

of his

Kecava, addressed the wielder of Gdndiva, saying,

dismount

thee,

after

down, for this

is for

best

thy good,

Dhananjaya, did

one

sinless

shall

Get thee

— Pandu's brave

10 he was directed.

Bharatas

of the

friend,

— Take down

thy Gdndiva as also the two inexhaustible quivers.

son

mon-

Pandavas, those foremost of car-warriors,

king, the

The

intelligent

Krishna, abandoning the reins of the steeds, then dismounted

from the car of Dhananjaya.' all

After the high-souled Lord of

creatures had dismounted from that

the

car,

celestial

Ape

that topped the standard of Arjuna's vehicle, disappeared there

and then. 12

That great vehicle then, which had before been

burnt by Drona and Kama with their celestial weapons, quickly

king, without

blazed forth into flames,

having been applied to with

it.'

duced to ashes.

car

Indeed, the

its quivers, reins, steeds, yoke,

and

any

visible

fire

of Dhananjaya,

shaft, fell

down, re-

Beholding the vehicle thus reduced to ashes,

O lord, the sons of Pandu became filled with wonder, and Arjuna, O king, having saluted Krishna and bowed unto him, said these

words,

voice,— O Govinda,

with joined hands and divine one, for

car been consumed by fire ? ful incident that

,5_1S

What is this

has happened before

an affectionate

what reason hath highly

our eyes ?

this

wonder-

thou of

Parva.]

pat.ya parva.

might}' arms,

thou thinkest that I can listen

harm, then tell ine everything "

241

'Vasudeva said,

— "That

—

car,

without!

it,

Arjuna, had

been

before

consumed by diverse kinds of weapons. It was because I had sal upon it during battle that it did not fall into pieces, O scorcher of foes

Brahma

weapons,

Previously

consumed by the energy of

has been

reduced thco

Then, with a little pride, that slayer

of foes, viz., the

of thy

Kccava, embracing king Yudhishthira, said

good luck, thou hast won the victory, good luck, thy foes have

been

son

vanquished

objects

unto

Kunti

Gandiva and Bhimasena

and thyself,

king, and the two sons of Mfidri, have

with life from this battle so

destructive

Upaplavya,

!* 3

thee

had

with

the

After

approaching me,

thyself,

escaped

and hava

Quickly do that,

Bharata, which should now be done by arrived

son

of heroes,

escaped after having slain all your foes

By luck,

of Piindu,' 1

the wielder of

the

—

— By

By good

19 !

divine

him."

upon

ashes

abondoning it after attainment by

Gandiva in thy company, gavest me honey and the;

wielder of

and saidst these words,

customary ingredients, this Dhanavjaya,

Krishna,

thy

brother

lord,

—

and friend I

He should, therefore, l>e 'protected, by thee in all dangers /*•— After thou hadst said these words

— That Savyasachin

Victory also hath been thine,

hath

answered thco, saying, been

protected

—

by me.

With his brothers, O

king !' 6

king of king-, that hero of true prowess hath come out of this dreadful bittlc, s) destructive of

heroes, with life !"

— Thus ad-

dressed by Krishna, king Yudhishthira the just, with hair stand-

O monarch,

ing on end,

'"Yudhishthira said, foes,

not excepting

the

said these words unto Janarddana.

— Who else save thee, O grinder of* thunder wielding Purandara himself,

could have withstood the Brahma

and Kama!

weapons hurled by Drona

It was through thy grace

ttas were vanquished !

that

the

Samsapia-

was through thy grace that Fartha

had never to turn back from even the fiercest of encounters Similarly,

that I

was through

myself,

with

thy

mighty-armed one,

by accomplishing

diverse acts one after another, obtained the

have,

grace,

posterity,

auspicious

end of

prowess and energy

Dwaipayana ness

[Oadayuddha

mahaeharata,

242

told

me that thither is Krishna where righteous-

and thither

is,

At Upaplavya, the great Rishi Krishna-

victory where Krishna is

—

— "Sanjaya continued, 'After this conversation, those heroes

entered thy encampment and

obtained the

military

chest,

And they also obtained silver and gold and gems and pearls and many costly orna-

many

jewels,

and much wealth.' 3

8 ments and blankets and skins, * and innumerable slaves male and female, and many other things necessary for sovereignty.

Having obtained that inexhaustible wealth belonging

O bull

loud

foes had been slain, uttered

cries

of exultation.

great renown said,

thee,

themselves.

Hav-

Satyaki remain-

ing unyoked their animals, the Pandavas and

ed there awhile for resting

those highly-blessed ones, -whose

of Bharata's race,

Then Vasudeva

— We should, as an initiatry act of blessed— Answering,— night 87

ness, remain out of the camp for this

—

the Pandavas and Satyaki, accompanied by VasuS) be it deva, went out of the camp for the sake of doing that which 58 Arrived on the banks was regarded as an anspicious act. !

of the sacred stream Oghavati,

O king, the Pandavas, reft of

despatched Kegava of Yadu's race to

They then Hastinapura. Vasudeva

foes, took up their quarters there for that night

of great prowess, causing Daruka to get upon his car, proceeded

very quickly to that place where the royal son of Amvika was.

While about to start on his car having Caivya and Sugriva (and the others) yoked unto it, (the Pandavas) said unto him, Comfort the helpless Gandhari who hath lost

all

her sons !"

—Thus addressed by the Pandavas, that chief of the Satwatas then proceeded towards Hastinapura and arrived at the presence of Gandhari who had all her sons slain.'"

Section LXIII. Janamejaya said, kings,

viz.,

— "For what reason did that tiger among

Yudhishthira the

just,

despatch

foes, viz.,

Vasudeva, unto Gandhari ?

gone to

the

Kauravas

for

the

that

scorcher of

Krishna had at

first

sake of hinging about peace*

He did not obtain the fruition of his wishes,

consequence

Parva.]

calya parva,

of this the battlo took

place."

When

the warriors

all

slain and Dnryodhana was struck down,

when

consequence

of the battle the empire of Pandu's son becamo

were

perfectly

foe-

when all the (Kuru) camp becamo empty, all its inmates having fled, when great renown was won by the son of Pandu,

less,

O regenerate one, was the cause for which

what,

once again to go (to Hastinapura)

Krishna had

seems to me,

Brahmana, that the cause could not bo a light one since it was Janarddana of immeasurable soul had himself to make the journey! 5

O foremost of all Adhyavyus, tell me in detail

what the cause was for undertaking such a mission !" a

Vaicampayana king,

said.

— 'Tho question thou askest me, O

indeed, worthy of thee

is,

truly as it

occurred,

bull

you everything

I will tell

of Bharata's

race

Beholding

Dnryodhana, the mighty son of Dhritarashtra, struck down by Bhimasena in contravention of the rules of fair fight, 3 in Yudhishthira, the

Kuru king

beholding the

fact,

thought of

O Bharata,

unfairly,

slain

monarch, became filled with great highly-blessed

the

Gandhari

possessed

fear,

— 'She hath undergone severe ascetic austerities ascetic merit. and can, therefore, consume the three worlds,' — even thus 10

thought the son of Pandu. blazing: with wrath,

own arrival. 11

sending

Krishna, Gandhari,

would be comforted before Yudhishthira'^

— 'Hearing of the death of her son brought to

such a plight by ourselves, she will, in wrath, with the fire of her mind, reduce us to ashes! *

How

will

Gandhari endure

such poignant

hears

her

son,

fought

grief,

fairly, slain

after

she

,? unfairly by us?'

who always

— Having

this strain for a long while,

king Yudhishthira the

with fear and

these

grief,

'Through thy grace, of thorns

O Govinda, my kingdom hath now become

Before my eyes,

ours,

been

—

reft

imagination even

thou

of unfading

O mighty-armed one, in battle, mak-

ing the very hair to stand on end,

thou hadst to bear,

just, filled

words unto Yiisudeva. 14

That which we could not

aspire to obtain hath

glory

said

reflected

violent were the blows

~ 18 delighter of the Yadavas u

battle between the gods and the

Asxiras, thou

that

the

hadst, in

aajfe

of old, lent thy aid for the destruction of the foes

of the

gods

MAHABHARATA,

and those foes were

slain !"

[Gaddyuddka same way,

the

mighty-

thou of unfading glory

armed one, thou hast given ua aid,

By agreeing to act as our charioteer, O thou of Vrishni's race, thou hast all along protected us

thou hadst not been

the protector of Phalguna in dreadful battle, this sea of troops been capable of being

many were

mace, and

lvere the blows of the

how could then Many

vanquished ? 19 the

strokes

spiked bludgeons and darts and short arrows and lances and battle-axes, that have been endued by thee

For our sake,

O Krishna, thou hadst also to hear many harsh words and endure the fall, violent as the thunder, of weapons in battle

In consequence

of Duryodhana's

been fruitless,

thou of unfading glory

slaughter,

all

this has

not

Act thou again

J1 !

such a way that the fruit of all those acts may not be destroy-

Although victory hath been ours, O Krishna, our heart,

ed !"

however,

trembling

yet

that Gandhari's wrath,

voked 83

doubt

Madhava,

Know,

mighty-armed one, hath been

pro-

That highly-blessed lady is always emaciating her-

self with the austerest of penances

of her sons and grandsons, she

us to ashes

Hearing of the slaughter

will,

without doubt, consume

hero, I think, for pacifying

It is time,

her

24 !

Except thee, O foremost of men, what other person is there that is

able

even

behold that

lady of eyes red like copper in

ivrath and exceedingly afflicted with the ills that have befallen

her children? 28

That thou shouldst go

there,

Madhava, is

what I think to be proper, for pacifying Gandhari,

chastiser

who is blazing with wrath Thou art the Creator and the Destroyer Thou art the first cause of all the worlds, thyself being eternal 26 By words fraught with reasons, visiof foes,

ble and invisible,*

quickly,

that are

all

the

result

of time, thou

wilt

O thou of great wisdom, be able to pacify Gandhari 27

Our grandsire, the holy Krishna-Dwaipayana, will

there.

O mighty-armed one, it is thy duty to dispel, by all means in thy power, the wrath of Gandhari ? %

king Yudhishthira *

<?.,

the

just,

the

— Hearing these words perpctuator of Yadu's

illustrations drawn from risible objects and those based

HKii articles of faith as arc not addressed to the eenses.r-T.

upon

Calva parva.

Parva]

245

—

summoning Daruka. said, 'Let my car be equipped 139 Having received Kecava's command, Daruka in great haste,

race,

returned and represented tho

was ready.

ear

Yadu's race,

viz.,

unto

his

high-soulcd master that

That scorcher

proceeded with great haste to tho city

car,

and chief of

foes

Keeava, having mounted upon the

the lord

of the

Kurus. 31

The adorable Madhava then, riding on his vehicle, proceeded, and arriving at the city called after the elephant entered

it.*

Cau sing the city to resound with the rattle of his car-wheels as he entered it, he sent word to Dhritarashtra and then alighted from his vehicle and entered the palace of old king. 38 there

beheld that best of Rishis,

before

him.

Dwaipayana), arrived

(viz.,

Janarddana, embracing the feet of both Vyasa

Then the

and Dhritarashtra, 8 * quietly saluted Gandhari also.

Vishnu, seizing Dhritarashtra

foremost of the

Yfidavas,

by the hand,

monarch, began too weep melodiously."

shed tears

for

viz.,

while from

he washed his eyes and

rules.

That chastiser of foe's

sorrow,

his face with water according to

Having

then said these softly flowing words unto Dhritarashtra. 87 'Nothing is unknown to thee, the future of time

Thou art well-acquainted, O lord, with the course, From a regard for thee, the Fandavas had en-

33 !

deavoured to prevent the destruction extermination

of Kshatriyas,

understanding with his

had

lived

unfair dice attired

—

Bharata, about the past anc}

peacefully.

brothers,

of their

Bharata !" the

race

and the

Having made an Yudhishthira

virtuous

even went (id exile after defeat afc.

40 !

With his brothers he led a life of concealment, various disguises. They also endured every day

diverso other woes as if they were quite helpless

41 !

On the eve

men begged of thee only five villages. Afflicted by Time, and moved by. ovotousness, thou didst not grant my requost. Through thy of battle I myself came and in the presence of

all

fault,

king, all the Kshatriya race hath been exterminated !*'

Bhishma, and Somadatta, and Valhika, and Kripa. and Drona, and his son, and the wise Vidura always solicited thee for peace. Thou didst wot, however, follow their counsels !** Every one, it

seems,

when

since even thou,

afflicted

by Time,

king, as regard.-

this

stupified,

Bharata,

matter, didst

act

[Gaddyitddka

MA.HABUARA7A.

245

What else can it be but the effect of Time ? In' Do not, thou of great wisdom, deed, Destiny is supreme

foolishly

impute any fault to the Pandavas

The

smallest

transgres-

sion is not discernible in the high-souled Pandavas, judged by

the rules of morality

scorcher foes

reason or affection,

47 !

Knowing all this to be the fruit of thy own fault, it behoveth thee not to

cherish

any

Race,

funeral

cake,

line,

ill

towards the Pandavas 48

feeling

and what

else

depends upon

off-

spring, now depend on the Pandavas as regards both thyself and Gandhari 49 Thyself, O tiger among the Kurus, and !

the renowned Gandhari also, should not harbour malice towards the Pandavas !*° Reflecting upon all this, and thinking also of thy own transgressions, cherish

the Pandavas, I

bow

thee,

good feelings towards

O bull of Bharata's race

Thou knowest, O mighty-armed one, what the devotion kino- Yudhishthira and what

O tiger among kings

his

affection

51 !

towards thee,

Having caused this slaughter of even day and night, and

!**

foes that wronged him so, he is burning

ss That tiger hath not succeeded in obtaining peace of mind among men, grieving for thee and for Gandhari, faileth to !

obtain any happiness.

Overwhelmed with shame he cometh

not before thee that art burning with grief on

account of thy

children and whose understanding and senses have been !•' Having said these words unto agitated by that grief Dhritarashtra, that foremost one of Yadu's race, O monarch,

—

addressed the grief- stricken Gandhari in these words

import

of high-

—'0 daughter of Suvala, O thou of excellent vows,

listen to what I say

lady like thee in the

is now no Thou rememberest, O queen,

auspicious dame, there

world !"

those words that thou spokest in the assembly in my presence, words fraught with righteousness and that were those auspicious lady,. beneBcial to both parties,— which thy sons, 8" 5 ' victory was coveted Duryodhana who did not obey I*

Thou

addressed by thee in bitter words.

him then—

toldst

is fool, to these words of mine, viz., thither Listen, i0 O thine, of Those words victory where righteousness is ? Knowing all this, princess, have now been accomplished! 61 Let not sorrow on heart O auspicious lady, do not set thy

—

calya tab^a,

Parva.]

thy heart incline towards

tho

247

Pandavas]

of Ihc

destruction

In consequence of the strength of thy penances, thou art able, burn, with

highly blessed one, to

rage, the whole Earth with

tures 'It is

with

kindled

eyes

thy

and immobile crea-

mobile

her

Hearing these words of Vasudeva, Gandhari said,

even so, O Kecava, as thou

ing in grief, had been nnsteadied

O Janarddana,

that

steady: 6 *

As regards the blind old

less,

thou,

sons

foremost of men, with

Pandu, hast become

now become 65 !

child-

heroes, viz., the

those

refuge

his

words,

become

again

hath

king,

—

heart, burn-

After hearing thy

however,

heart,

sayest !"

— Having said so

much, Gandhari, burning in grief on account of the death of her sons, covered her face with her cloth and began to weep aloud !**

The mighty-armed lord Kecava then comforted the

grief-stricken

with

princess

fraught with-

words that were

reasons drawn from visible and invisible

instances.

Having

comforted Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, Kecava of Madhu's

was meditated

race came to know (by intuition) the evil that

by Drona's son. feet of

Rising up in hasto after worshipping the monarch, Vyasa with a bend of his head, Kecava,

addressed Dhritarashtra, saying, 69

most one of Kuril's race!

—

take thy

set

thy

The son of Drona bears an evil purpose.

1 rise so suddenly

70 !

not

leave,

this

for

It seems that he has formed the

of destroying the Pandavas during the night

words, both Gandhari and Dhritarashtra

fore-

on grief!

heart

that

project

— Hearing these

said

unto Kecava,

— 'Go quickly, that slayer of Kecin, these words

mighty-

armed one, and protect the Pandavas 7, 7 * Let me soon meet Then Kecava of unfading glory thee again, O Janarddana 78 After Vasudeva had departed, O proceeded with Daruka. !

king, Vyasa, that adored

able soul, began

—

of the

whole world, of inconceiv-

7 to comfort king Dhritarashtra. *

ous souled Vasudeva departed, having

achieved his mission

successfully, from Hastinapura, fur seeing the

Pandavas.

The righte-

camp and

Arrived at the camp, he proceeded to

sence of the Pandavas.

Telling them everything

mission to the citv), he took his seat with them.'"

7 *

the

pre-

(about

his

[Qadaywddkya Section LXIV. said,— 'Kicked at the head, his thighs broken, prostrated on the ground, exceedingly proud, what, O Sanjaya, did my son then say V King Duryodhana was " Dhritarashtra

Panda

When, therefore, this great calamity

over-

exceedingly wrathful and his hostility

was deep-rooted.

sons

the

took him, what did he next say on the field?'* monarch, "Sanjayaa said, 'Listen to me,

—

thee

what happened

broken, the

king,

monarch,

calamity

With

he began

Having with

sigh

while like an

He struck infuriate

and crnashing his of

Pandu.

i^o-/

his

arms against the Earth

elephant.

teeth, he

snake.

eyes, he

Filled with rage and with tears flowing fast from his

looked at me.

thighs

his

dust, gathered

covered with

his flowing locks, casting his eyes on all sides. difficulty gathered his locks,

what Duryo-

king, to

Listen,

dhana said when overtaken by

describe

Shaking

his

for

loose

locks,

began to censure the eldest son

Breathing heavily, he then addressed me, say-

Alas, I who had Cantanu's

foremost

son

Bhishma

for

pro-

wieldcrs of weapons,

and Kama, and Gotama's son, and Cakuni, and Drona, that first of all 7 wielders of arms, and Acwatthaman, and the heroic Calya, It and Kritavarman, alas, even I have come to this plight

tector,

that

of all

s I was the lord of eleven seems that Time is irresistible come to this plight have yet I and Champs of troops 9 Those mighty-armed one, no one can rise superior to Time! I

my side that have escaped with life from this battle should

be informed how I have been struck down by contravention of the rules

of fair

fight

10 !

Bhimasena

Many have been

the very unfair and sinful acts that have been perpetrated to-

wards Bhuricravas, and Bhishma, and Drona of great prosThis is another very infamous act that the cruel perity !"

Pandavas have perpetrated, for which, I am certain, they will 12 What righteous men incur the condemnation of all !

pleasure can a righteously

disposed person

enjoy

having

What wise man, again, is

gained a victory by unfair acts ? trhere that would accord his approbation to a person contraven-

Parva.]

ya pabva.

c -i

ing the rules of fairness ? f "

243

What learned man is

would rejoice after having won victory by that sinful wretch,

viz,,

there

thafr

unrighteousness as

Vrikodara tho son of Pandu, rejoices ? x*

What can be more amazing than this, viz., that Bhimasena

wrath should with his foot touch the head of one like me while lying with my thighs

broken ?'•

that person,

Sanjaya,

worthy of honor who belnveth thus towards a man possessed of glory,

ray

endued with prosperity, living in the midst of friends ? u

parents

not

are

structed by me,

words

grief these

ignorant of the

Sanjaya, 17

duties

of battle.

In-

afflicted

with

them that are

tell

— have perfurmed sacri6ces, supported a I

large number of servants properly, governed the whole

Earth

with her seas

foes !"

I stayed

I gave wealth to

on the

living

kinsmen to the extent of my

and I did what was agreeable foes.

heads of my

friends.

abilities,

withstood all my

Who is there that is more fortunate than

myself?" I have mada progresses through hostile kingdoms and commanded kings as loved

slaves.

have acted handsomely towards

all

Who is there mere fortunate than myself

and liked.

!<> ?

my kinsmen and attended to the welfare of all my dependants. I have attended to the three ends of human

honored

existence,

all

viz.,

Religion, Profit, and Pleasure

more fortunate than myself ?* kings,

I laid

Who is there

my commands on great

and honor, unattainable by others, was mine.

made my journeys on the very best of more fortunate than myself? 2 *

I studied

always

Who is there

steed3.

the Vedas and made

My life has passed in happiBy observance of the duties of my own order, I have liess. Who is there obtained many regions of blessedness hereafter.

gifts according to the ordinance.

more fortunate than myself ;"

By good luck, I have not been

vanquished in battle and subjected to the necessity

my foes as masters.

By good luck,

lord,

it is

only after my

death that my swelling Prosperity abandons

good

upon another

a* !

That which

desired

observant of the duties of their order, that death,

Who is there so fortunate

of serving

waiting

Kshairivas is

obtained

myself? 81

By good away from luck, I did not suffer myself to be turned the path of by me

hostility

and to be vanquished like an ordinary persua! 32

mahabharata,

250 good luck, base act

8 !

have not been vanquished after I had done some

I *

[Gadayuddh*

Like the slaughter of a person that

that is heedless, like the tration of poison,

slaughter of one

asleep

by the adminis-

my slaughter hath taken place, for I have

been slain aa unrighteously, in contravention of the rales of fight !"

fair

The highly

varman of the Satwata

Ac^vatthaman, and Krita-

blessed

and Caradwabs

race,

should be told these words of mine, viz.,

Kripa,

son

— You should never

repose any confidence upon the Pandavas, those violaters rides, who have perpetrated

many unrighteous

acts /*'

— After

thy royal son of true prowess addressed our message-

this,

bearers in these words:

— I have, in battle, been slain by Bhima-

sena most unrighteously I 8 *

am now

wayfarer and shall follow in the wake of Drona

moneyless

who

has

al-

ready gone to heaven, of Kama and Calya, of Vrishasena of great energy, of Cakuni the son great

valour, of king

of Suvala, of Jalasandha

Bhagadatta, of Somadatta's son,

that

mighty bowman, of Jayadratha the king of the Sindhus, of all my brothers headed by Duscasana and equal unto myself, of Duscasana'a son of great

prowess, and of Lakshmana

fought for me

and thousands of others that

son,

how shall my sister, stricken with woe, slaughter

hearing of the

81 " 8 *

Alas,

live sorrowfully, after

of her brothers and her husband

Alas, what shall be the plight of the

old

king,

8i !

my sire, with

and his daughters-in-law and grand-daughter- in3* doubt, the beautiful and large-eyed mother Without law of Lakshmana, made sonless and husbandless, will soon meet

Gandhari, !

with her death is

If Charvaka, the mendicant devotee who

a master of speech, learns everything, that blessed

will certainly field

87 !

shall

avenge my death

38 !

Samantapanchaka, celebrated over the three worlds, certainly

obtain

many

eternal regions! 89

sire, thousands of men, with eyes all

directions,

full of tears,

— Then, O

fled

away in

having heard these lamentations of the king. 40

The whole Earth, with her mobile

man

By dying upon the sacred

forests

and seas, with

all

her

and immobile creatures, began to tremble violent/y,

and produce a loud

became murky, 4I

noise.

All

the

points of the compass

The messengers, repairing to Drona's soa,

251

calya parva,

Parva.] represented

him

that

all

happened regarding tho

had

conduct of the mace-encountcr and the

Having represented everything unto Dmna's all

them

remained in

while and then went away,

son,

O Bharata,

mood for

thoughtful

king. 4*

of the

fall

a long

the places they

grief stricken, to

came from.' "*•

Section LXV. "Sanjaya said,

—"Having heard of Duryodhana's

the messengers, those mighty

from

fall

car-warriors, viz., the

unslain

remnant of tho Kaurava army, 1 exceedingly wounded with keen shafts, and maces and lances and darts, those three,

—

Aawatthaman and Kripa and Kritavarman of the Satwata race,* came quickly on their fleet steeds to the field of They beheld there the high-souled son of Dhritarashbattle. 8 like a gigantic £dla tree laid tra prostrate on the ground low in the forest by a tempest. They beheld him writhing on viz.,

the bare ground and covered with bloood* even like a mighty

elephant in the forest laid low by

weltering in agony and bathed

profuse

They saw him

hunter.

streams of blood.*

him lying on the ground like the Sun dropped on the Earth or like the Ocean dried by a mighty Indeed, they saw

wind,* or like the full

Moon in the firmament with

shrouded by a

Equal

fog.

possessed of long arms, the

with dust.

king lay

Around him were many

carnivorous animals, like

a monarch in state.*

the

that tiger

disc

terrible

Earth, covered creatures

and

wealth-coveting dependents around

His forehead was contracted into

rows of rage and his eyes were rolling in wrath. the king,

his

an elephant in prowess and

among men, full

9 struck down (by hunters).

fur-

They beheld

of rage, like

a tiger

Those great bow-men, viz., Kripa

and others, beholding the monarch laid low on the Earth, became stupified. 10 Alighting from their cars, they ran towards the king. Seeing Duryodhana, all of them sat on the Earth around him. 11

Then Drona's

son,

monarch, with

tearful eyes and breathing like a snake, said these words

unto

the

kings

that chief of Bharata's race, that foremost

of all

252

mahabharata,

on Earth

18 :

— Truly, there

men, since thou,

[Qaddyuddh*

nothing stable in the

world

among men, liest on the bare Earth, Thou wert a king who had laid thy

tiger

stained with dust !"

commands on the whole Earth!

Why

tlnn,

foremost of

monarchs, dost thou lie alone on the bare ground in such a lonely

wilderness ? 14

do not see

Duscasana beside

thee,

nor the great car-warrior Kama, nor those friends of thine

numbering in hundreds Without doubt, it since thou,

What is this,

difficult

bull among

ground, stained with dust

to walk at the head of all

ways

the

learn

O lord of all the worlds, thus

men ? !i

of Yama,

the

bare

Alas, this scorcher of foes

used

liest

Kshatriyas that had their locks

sprinkled with holy water at ceremonies of coronation

he now eateth the dust bringeth on its course

Ala3,

Behold the reverses that Time

Where is that pure white umbrella

thine ? Where is that fanning yak-tail also, O king Where hath that vast army of thine now gone, O best of monarchs ? 18 The course of events is certainly a mystery when causes other than those relied upon are at book, since of

even thou that

wert

reduced

plight

all

this

master of

the 19

the

world

been

hast

Without doubt, the prosperity of

mortals is very unstable, since thou

that wert

unto

equal

Cakra himself hast now been reduced to such a sorry plight

— Hearing these words of the sorrowing Acwatthaman, thy son answered him occasion.

He wiped

of grief anew.

words that were suited to the

these

his eyes with his hands and

shed tears

The king then addressed all those heroes head-

ed by Kripa and said, 22

— This

death (of all

liability to

living

creatures) is said to have been ordained by the Creator himself.

Death comes to

all

beings in

Time 2S

course of

hath now come to me, before the eyes of ye all

That death

I who reigned

over the whole Earth have now been reduced to this

plight

By good

whatever

luck, I

never

calamities overtook me

turned back from

By good luck, I have been

those sinful men, by the aid particularly

good

luck, while

engaged

courage and perseverance

along with all »v

battle

slain

of deception

hostilities, I

a* !

always displayed

By good luck, I am slain in battle,

kinsmen and

friends

8* !

By good

luck, I

cilya parva.

parva.] behold you escaped with safe and sound

from

life

25S

This is highly agreeable

from affection, grieve

for

death

slaughter, and

great

this

me JT

authority, I have certainly acquired many

not,

Vedas are any

If the

eternal regions!" I

am not ignorant of the glory of Krishna of immeasurable energy. He hath not caused me to fall off from the proper observance On no account I have obtained him of Kshatriya duties!" Ye have done what persons should any body grieve for me Ye have always striven for my success. like ye should do !

Destiny, however,

ing said this

eyes

king, with

much, the

frustrated

of being

incapable

— Hav-

with

laved

tears,

with agony.* 1

became silent, O monarch, agitated a3 he was Beholding the king in tears and grief, Drona's son flamed up in angrer like the fire that

Overwhelmed

tion."

with

and addressing the king words :*

said these

seen

— My

voice

That

O king!

utter,

Listen

have won

gifts,

the

abode of Yama

grant me permission

BI !

of water!

religious

merits I

very

presence

of Vasu-

by all means

and approached the king. manas, blessed be thou,

his

son

full

of water

foremost of Brah-

thou wishest to do mo good, be at 89 !

At the command

Brahmana may fight, especially one that

has adopted Kshatriya practices this !*°

without delay

monarch, said

then,

of Drona,

my command installed as generalissimo

tures say

my power,

Kuru king ad-

heart, the

brought a vessel

Thy

Kripa,— Lot the son

of the king, even a

monarch, to

thee,

— At these words of the king, that

foremost of Brahmanas soon

unto

and by all my acts of

preceptor, bring me

dressed Kripa, saying,— full

not

— Hearing these words of Drona's son,

that were highly agreeable to

a pot

and the

behoveth

doth

however,

act,

the

deva, despatch all the Panchalas, !

wretchea

lord,

religion,

today, in

I shall

tears,

those

swearing by Truth itself,

piety, all my

with

which thou hast been these words of mine that I

burn me so keenly as this plight reduced,

hoarse

was slain

sire

with a cruel contrivance

destruc-

he squeezed his hands,

rage,

universal

the

Those learned in the scrip-

— Hearing these words of the king, Kripa.

the 3on of Caradwat. installed Drona's son

generalissimo

•254

M1HABHARATA.

at the king's command!

The

[GadSyuddh*

installation

having caused the riara.*'

ten

points

That foremost of kings,

left

resound with viz.,

monarch,

over,

A.cwatthaman embraced that best of kings and

the spot,

his

leonine

Duryodhana, -profusely

covered with blood, began to pass there that night so fright-

of battle,

Wending away quickly from

the

field

king, those heroes, with hearts agitated by

grief,

ful to all creatures.*

began to reflect anxiously and earnestly.'

"**

FINIS CALYA PAR?A.

TABLE of CONTENTS. CALYA PARVA. PAGE.

Janamejaya enquires what the Kauravas did after the of

Kama

...

Suyodhana's sorrow at Kama's slaughter

...

Ditto resolves on continuing the battle

...

Calya made commander of the Kuru army

...

Calya slain at midday by Yudhishthira

...

fall

...

The flight of Duryodhana from the field ... Duryodhana slain by Bhimasena ... ... Ac watthaman and Kripa and Kritavarman exterminate the Panda va army during the night

Sanjaya returns to the Kuru city

...

The grief of the citizens upon hearing of Duryodhana's fall ...

...

Sanjaya presents himself before Dhritarashtra and in...

...

Dhritarashtra orders the ladies to retire

...

Vidura comforts Dhritarashtra

...

forms him of the universal destruction Dhritarashtra's grief

Dhritarashtra's lament

...

... ...

Ditto enquires of Sanjaya about the details of the battle

Sanjaya begins his narration

...

The fear of the Kurus upon the fall of Kama The state of the Kuru army after Kama's fall

••• ...

...

Duryodhana's resolution about withstanding the vietors

Bhima and Dhrishtadyumna cause a great carnage

Dhunanjaya and the other Pandava heroes attack •••

The Kuru army breaks and flies away ...

•••

J&iryodhaoa's spirited address to his flying troops

...

the Kurus

...

... The Kurus rally and rush to battle Kripa addresses Duryodhana and urges him to make «•• ... peace with the Paudsvas •

•

CONTENTS. page.

Duryodhana rejects Kripa's counsels,

...

The Kara warriors pass the night on the table land of the Himalayas ... ... They urge Duryodhana to continue the battle

...

Sanjaya describes the merits of Acwatthaman

Duryodhana asks Acwatthaman's advice as to who should be made th3 commander of the Kuru forces

Ac/vatthaman indicates Calya

...

Duryodhana asks Calya to take the lead of the army

Calya accepts the command ...

...

Duryodhana asks Calya to slay his foes...

...

Calya promises to slay the Pandavas and the Somakas

The Kuru army inspired with cheerfulness

...

Calya resolves to slay or be slain

...

Yudhishfchira asks Krishna his advice

...

Krishna thinks Yudhishthira only to be a match for

Calya

...

Krishna urges Yudhishthira to himself proceed against Calya and slay him

...

... The Kuru army prepares for batile The Kuru leaders resolve to fight unitedly

...

Dhritara3htra asks Sanjaya the details of Calya's

fall

Sanjaya begins his narrative

...

The order in which the Kuru army proceeds to battle

Dhritarashtra enquires after the relative strength of the two armies

Sanjaya's answer

...

The commencement of the battle

The fierce slaughter on both sides ... ... The Kuru army breaks and flies away ... ... The Kuru leaders endeavour to rally their troops ... Calya proceeds against the Pandava3 ... ... Nakula encounters Chitrasena the son of Kama and slays him

...

S3 ib

...

34»

Nakula encountered by Chitrasona's brothers Satyaseno and Sushena

Nakula slavs Satvsena

...

,.,

...

-35 .

ONTENTS,

PAGE, Ditto slays Sushena

...

•••

2t5

Rallied by Calya the Ivuru tinny fighta tho Pandavaa ••

...

Calya encounters all the Pandava loaders

...

Calya attacks Yudhishthira

•.

Calya encountered in return by the Pandava leaders

bravely

...

A great slaughter takes place on both siJc3 Calya fights his foes with great heroism The portents on Earth and in the welkin

...

Diverse encounters between diverse leaders

...

Kritavarman flies away before Bhima

...

Bhima, armed with his mace, proceeds against Calya Bhima and Calya assail each other with their maces

Bhima and Calya both become insensible

...

44i

Kripa takes up Calya on his car

...

Bhima, recovering his senses, challenges Calya

...

Duryodhana slays Chekitana

•••

...

Diverse encounters between diverse heroes

The dust raised by the combatants conceals everything from the view

...

Calya assails Yudhishthira Yudhishthira repels Calya

...

Yudhishthira worsted by Calya

...

•••

...

The Pandava leaders unitedly assu.il Calya Calya's extraordinary heroism

...

Calya agitates the whole Pandava army

The gods and the Gandkarvaa are filled with at Calya's energy

...

wonder •••

Arjuna encountered by Ac watthaman and tho Trigartas

The fierce battle between Arjuna and A9 watthaman

Ac,watthaman encounters the Panchala hero Suratha

and slays him

...

•••

Arj una's heroism

...

•

•••

"»

Duryodhana worsted by Dhrishtadyumna

...

Cikhandin fights Kripa and Kritavarman

...

Cal^a encounters Satyaki

••

•••

...

•••

...

The Pandavas afflicted by the Kurus

S 'J

CONTENTS

If.

PAGE,

Dhananjaya covers I$ripa and Kritavarman with shafts

Yudhishthira withstands Calya

...

The Pandavas fly away before Calya

...

Yudhishthira's address to his brothers and Krishna

about his resolution to slay Calya

...

Yudhishthira, properly supported, encounters Calya

The extraordinary feats of Yudhishthira in battle...

Calya worsted in the fight ...

...

Acwatthaman bears Calya away on his car

... ...

Calya, riding on another car, comes again to battle

The Pandava leaders assail him

...

Yudhishthira fights Calya

...

Calya slays Yudhishthira's steeds

...

Bhimasena cuts off Calya's mail

...

Yudhishthira slays Calya with a celestial dart

Yudhishthira encountered by the younger brother -•

The younger brother of Calya slain by Yudhishthira ... The Kauravas fly away before Yudhishthira ... Satyaki pursues the flying Kauravas ...

Kritavarman encounters Satyaki

...

Kritavarman worsted by SSiyaki

...

Kripa rescues Kritavarman...

...

of Calya

...

•

...

Duryodhana withstands the Pandava leaders

...

The heroism of Duryodhana

...

Kritavarman returns to the fight on another car

...

Yudhishthira makes Kritavarman earless

...

Ac^vatthaman rescues Kritavarman

...

Kripa encounters Yudhishthira

...

The Pandavas blow their conchs in joy

The followers of Calya resolve to avenge the slaughter of their master

...

Duryodhana commands them not to proceed to battle Disregarding the commands of Duryodhana they attack Yudhishthira

The Pa-idava leaders assail the Madrakas and slaughter

them furiously

...

•«

»<*

ib ib

CON'li

PAGE.

Cakuni urges Duryodhana to proceed to the rescue of the Madrakas

...

The Kaurava heroes proceed to the rescue of the Madrakas The remnant of the Madrakas exterminated by the Pandavas

...

Duryodhana turns away from the field... ... The Kuru army flies away from the field after Calya s fall The Pandavas and the Panchalas congratulate one another

G!)

70 71 ib

ib ib

Duryodhana's spirited address to his driver upon seeing his troops fly away ... ... ... The remnant of the Kuru army rallies for the fight They are slaughtered by Dhrishtadyumna ... Duryodhana withstands the Pandavas ... ... Duryodhana rallies a small force ... ... The Pandavas rush against that small force ... The Mleccha ruler Calwa proceeds against the Pandavas

Calwa's heroism

...

73 ib

74 ib

75 ib

7G ib'

The Pandavas fly away before Calwa ... ... Calwa rushes on his elephant against Dhrishtadyumna

Calwa's elephant breaks Dhrishtadyumna's car

...

Bhima and Satyaki check the animal ...

...

Dhrishtadyumna attacks Calwa's beast with his mace

Calwa's elephant slain by Dhrishtadyumna

...

Satyaki cuts off Calwa's head

...

Kritavarman, rallying a portion of the Kuru army, withstands the Pandavas

Satyaki slays Kshemakirti

...

,..

Encounter between Satyaki and Kritavarman

...

Kritavarman made steedless and driverless and carless by

Satyaki

*..

...

Kripa bears Kritavarman away upon his car

...

The entire Kuru army once more breaks and flies away ... Duryodhana alone resists the Pandavas ... The extraordinary heroism of Duryodhana Seeing Duryodhana's feats, Uhe Kuru army once more rallies and returns to the fight

Cakuni makua Yudhishthira earless

...

ib ib ib

CONTENTS, tage.

Sahadeva rescues Yadhishthira

Yudhishthira returns to battle on another car

Diverse encounters between diverse leaders

The Kuril warriors suddenly return to battle

Kritavarman worsted by Yudhishthira

Acwatthaman rescues Kritavarman

Yudhishthira encountered by seven hundred (Kuril) car- warriors

The Pandava leaders proceed to Yudhishthira's rescue The seven hundred Kuru warriors slain by the Pandavas The Panchalas and the Pandavas encounter the entire Kuru array ... Fierce portents in Nature

...

ib ib

Cakuni fights with great heroism

Yudhishthira urges Sahadeva to slay Cakuni

The Pandava horse assail Cakuni with great vigor

Cakuni at the head of six thousand horse moves away from the spot

Cakuni attacks Dhrishtadyumna's division

The fierce battle that ensues upon this...

Cakuni enquires after Duryodhana

Duryodhana urged by Cakuni to attack the Pandavas The remnant of the Kuru army attacks the Pandavas Arjuna desires to exterminate the Kurus

Arjuna's address to Krishna recounting the loss sustained by the Kurus

Arjuna proceeds against the remnant of the Kuru army The arrows of Arjuna fall like dense clouds

The great slaughter caused by Arjuna ...

Dhrishtadyumna makes Duryodhana earless

Duryodhana escapes on horse-back

Three thousand (Kaurava) elephants encompass the

Pandava brothers

Bhima slays those elephants with his mace

Dhrishtadyumna also proceods against those. elephants

Acwatthaman and Kripa and Kritawman enquire after t'U9 whereabouts of Duryodhana

9'7

CONTLM

Vii

I'AJE.

Ac,watthaman and Kripa and Kritavarman rush against, the

Panchalas ...

...

Those three Kuru leaders then repair in search of

Duryodhana

...

The Panchalas fiercely assail the Kurus Sanjaya, having escaped from Dhrishtadyumna,

... ... made captive by Satyaki The Pandavas exterminate tho Kaurava elephants

98 ib

Bhimasona slays eleven of the remaining sons of Dhritarashtra

...

Bhimasena next slays five hundred car warriors, ten thousand foot, seven hundred elephants, and eight hundred horse

...

100

Krishna urges Arjuna to destroy the remnant of Duryodhana's troops for forcing Duryodhana to

come to battle

...

101

...

102

Arj una's reply to Krishna about his resolution to

exterminate the Kauravas

...

Arjuna destroys the remnant of the Kaurava horse

103

Ditto proceeds against the Trigarta cars

...

Ditto slays Satyeshu

...

Ditto slaye Susarman

...

104

Bhima completes the destruction of the Kaurava army

Cakuni rushes against Sahadeva

...

Struck by Cakuni, Sahadeva sits down on his car

106

Bhima and Sahadeva rush furiously against Cakuni's men

Cakuni's followers fly away from the field

...

The followers of Cakuni, rallied by Duryodhana, como back to battle

...

Uluka aids his sire Cakuni

...

Sahadeva slays Uluka

...

Cakuni assails Sahadeva with great vigor

...

107

Cakuni's division flies away

...

Cakuni himself flies away ...

...

Sahadeva pursues Cakuni

...

Cakuni slain by Sahadeva ...

...

108

Sahadeva with fury

](K»

...

TiiQ foHowers of Oftkuai attack

Ilrada-p mvega Parvd. PAGE. Arj una slays them speedily...

...

109

...

110

The last remnant of Kaurava troops slain by the Pandavas

...

Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya about the strength of the

Pandava army after the Kaurava army had been exterminated

...

Sanjaya recounts the numbers

...

Ill

Having witnessed the extermination of his army, Duryodhana abandons his slain steed, and flies away from the field without a companion

...

Dhrishtadyumna urges Satyaki to slay Sanjaya

...

Sanjaya set free by Satyaki at the command of Vyasa

112

Sanjaya meets with Duryodhana

...

Duryodhana's message, through Sanjaya, to his old sire

Sanjaya meets with Acwatthaman and Kripa and

Kritavarman

...

113

... The grief of the women in the Kuru camp The women and the servants fly to Hastinapura ... Yuyutsu's reflections upon what he should do in view of

114

the total destruction that had overtaken the Kauravas

Yuyutsu solicits Yudhishthira's permission to go to Hastinapura

...

•••

Yuyutsu supervises the removal of the royal ladies to the city

...

•••

... Yuyutsu goes to Hastinapura and sees Vidura Hastinapura at night that Yuyutsu to stay Vidura asks Yuyutsu passes the night in his own abode in great sorrow Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya as to what Acwatthaman and

H«> ib ib

116

Kripa and Kritavarman did after the flight of b

••• ... Duryodhana The Pandavas wander over the field in search of ••• ... ... Duryodhana

Tired, they take rest in their camp, with all their troops

117

••••

The three survivors of the Kuru army proceed to the shores of the lake within which Duryodhana lies -concealed for taking rest

...

-..,

PAGE,

They ask Duryodhana to come out and fight ... Duryodhana answers them, saying that he would rest for that night and fight on the next morning

...

117

Acwatthaman vows to slay all the Pandavas and the Panchalas

...

Certain hunters overhear the conversation between

Duryodhana and the three Kuru leaders

...

118

These carry the news of Duryodhana's whereabouts to Bhimasena ... ... ... The Pandavas all start for the side of the lake ... At sight of the Pandavas coming towards that direction,

the three Kuru heroes leave the side of the lake

120

The Pandavas arrive at the shores of the lake and find its

waters stupified by illusion

...

121

Vasudeva counsels Yudhishthira to slay Duryodhana by putting forth his powers of illusion

...

Yudhishthira tauntingly addresses Duryodhana for

having fled from battle ...

...

122

Duryodhana answers that his having entered the depths of the lake

was due not to fear but to the

desire of taking rest

...

123

Yudhishthira asks Duryodhana to come out immediately and fight his foes ...

...

124

Duryodhana answers that his kingdom might be taken by his foes, his own desire being to enter the woods and retire from the world

...

Yudhishthira taunts him for such an answer, refusing to take the kingdom in gift from one who was

unable to retain it by might

...

125

Gadayuddha Parva. Duryodhana agrees to fight his foes one at a time

12G

Yudhishthira grants Duryodhana's request, adding if he could slay even one among the five Pandavas, ...

•••

127

Duryodhana rises from the lake

...

128

Ditto challenges the Pandavas

...

120

he would continue king...

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Ditto proposes to fight fairly with one of the five Pandavas at a timo, in the presence of all the Kshutriyas

129

Yudhishthira taunts Duryodhana for his unfair conduct in slaying Abhimanyu

...

Duyodhana, armed with mace, stands ready for battle

130 131

Krishna reproves Yudhishthira for his rashness in staking everything on the result of such a single combat with

Duryudhana

...

Bhimasena assures Krishna that Duryodhana would be no 132 match for him even in an encounter with the mace slay urges him to and applauds Krishna Bhima

Duryodhana

...

133

Duryjdhana's dignified reply

...

Bhima's boastful address

...

134

Valarama makes his appearance on the field when ... Bhima and Duryodhana are about to fight

135

Rama desires to witness the fight

136

...

Janamejaya enquires of Vaic,ainpayana how Rama

came there ...

...

137

Vaicampayana begins the narrative of Rama's pilgrimage to various tirthas on the Saras wati

...

Origin and history of Prabhcisa

...

139

Daksha's curse on Soma

...

141

...

Soma regains his solcndour after bathing in Pvabh'isM,

142

The history uf Udapana ... The history of Vinacana ... Ditto of Subhumika ...

...

14i>

...

147

...

Ditto of Garga^rotu

...

14S

Ditto of Cakha

...

Ditto uf Saptasaraswat

...

152

Ditto of Ucanas

...

15(5

The origin of the name Kapalamochana

...

How Arshtisena, Sindhudwipa, Devapi, and Vic^vamitra acquired the status of Brahmanas ... ... The story uf Dalvya vaka ... The story of the tirtha called Yayata ...

Ditto of ditto called Ya'c/isfchapaYaha

...

159

...

161

...

163

,..

164

CONTENTS.

PAGE. ...

163

...

170

...

•••

171

•••

173

Tha story of Indra'a curse and hii expiation

Th story of the installation of

Kartikeya in the

command of the celestial army Kartikeya's birth

Uma

...

and others ask Brahman to give some kind of

sovereignty to Kartikeya

...

Brahman makes Kartikeya the celestial generalissimo The investiture of Kartikeya ... ... ... The gods give Companions to Kartikeya The celestial mothers that assembled round Skanda

174 175 181

Skanda, a3companied by the celestial force, proceeds against the Daityas and slays Taraka and Mohiaha

Ditto slays other Daitya leaders

...

185 186

Story of the tirtha called Taijasa and that of the installation of

Varuna

...

188

...

189

Story of the Kauvera and Vadara-pachana tirthas...

190

Story of the tirtha called after Indra

195

Story of Agni-tirtha

...

The other tirthas visited by Valadeva The story of Asita-Dcvala and Jaigishavya Devala adopts the religion of Mokaha ...

... ...

196

...

197

...

201

... The story of the Rishi called Saraswat maiden the old ... ... The story of The history of Samantapanchaka ... ... Valadeva meets with Narada on the heights of Himavat Narada gives Valadeva a brief history of the great

battle, including the

that have fallen

202 205

208 211

names of those chiefs ...

...

.ib

Narada asks Valadeva to go to the field for witnessing the mace-encountar between Bhima and Duryodhana

Valadeva's praise of the Saraswati

...

212 i&

Valadeva comes to the spot selected for the encounter between Bhima and Duryodhana ... ... Bhima and Duryodhana as they look on the eve of the encounter

...

218

214

The Kshatriya chiefs take their seats as Bhima and Duryodhana prepare for the fight

...

215

CONTENTS

PAGE.

216

The word}' encounter between the two heroes

...

The commencement of the fierce encounter ... The progress of the encounter

...

210

...

220

Arjuna enquires of Krishna about the relative merits ... of the two combatants and Krishna's answer

224

Arjuna slaps his own thigh for reminding Bhimasena of his vow

...

22G

...

Bhimasena breaks the thighs of Duryodhana by a ruse

227

The portents upon Duryr.dhana's fall

...

the Pandavas and the Snmakas

5himasena strikes Duryodhana's head with

...

his left foot

229

Ya Ihishthira forbids Bhimasena to offer such insult ...

...

Yudhishthira's grief at Duryodhana's fall

...

230

below the navel and he rushes for slaying Bhima

231

to his fallen foe

...

Valad^va's wrath up >n seeing Duryodhana struck

Krishna seizes

Valadeva and pacifies him with soft words

Valadeva praises Duryodhana and curses Bhimasena Bhima addresses Yudhishthira asking him to take the sovereignty of the Earth

233

...

234

...

235

...

The joy of the Pandava warriors at seeing Duryodhana's full ...

...

Bhima praised by the Pandava warrnrs Krishna asks the r^ndava warriors to forbear insulting Duryodhana

...

Duryodhana's angry reply to Krishna, charging him with every unfair act in course of the battle

...

236

Krishna reminds Duryodhana of his own evil acts and refers to his miserable end as the inevitable conse-

quence of those acts

...

237

...

238

...

23£

...

240

Duryodhana's boast wiuh his reference to his end

which he pronounces to be most glorious Celestial showers decend on Duryodhana's head Krishna justifies the use of unfair means for the s'aughter of the Kuru warriors

...

The Fauiuuva warriors proceed to the Kuru camp which is entirely deserkd

,.,

CONTENTS.

XIII

Krishna congratulates Yudhishthira on his victory

241

Yudhishthira attributes that victory to Krishna's power

The Pandavas with Satyaki, at Krishna's suggestion, resolve to pans the night at a spot outside the camp

04.0

Yudhishthira despatches Krishna to Eastinapura fer pacifying the wrath of Gandhari

Krishna arrives at Dhritarashtra's palace

245

Krishna comforts Dhritarashtra

Krishna addresses Gandhari

246

Gandhari's reply

247

Krishna takes a hasty leave of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari

Dhritarashtra and Gandhari ask Krishna to protect the

Pandavas from the wicked designs of Acwatthaman

Krishna comes back to the Pandavas

...

ib ib

Sanjaya narrates to Dhritarashtra the lamentations of

Duryodhana while lying on the field with his thighs broken

248

Duryodhana's message to the three survivors of the Kuril army...

250

His instructions to the ordinary message-bearers of hi3 court...

He commands his men to inform his friend Charvaka of the circumstances of his death

...

The messengers inform Drona's son of Duryodhana's last words

251

...

The three survivors of the Kuru army come to Duryodhana where he lies wounded Acwatthaman's lament at the sight of the fallen

monarch and Duryodhana's reply

...

252

Acwatthaman vows to slay all the Panchalas and solicits the king's permission

Duryodhana commands Kripa to install Acwatthaman as the Kuru generalissimo ...

The three Kuru heroes take leave of Duryodhana... Duryodhana left alone on the spot where he fell ...

FINIS*

253

254 ib

THE MAHABHARATA OF

KRISHNA-DWAIIAYANA VYASA

TRANSLATED INTO

ENGLISH PROSE.

Published and distributed chiefly gratis

PRATIPA CHANDRA RAY,

SA UPTIKA P ARV A.

CALCUTTA

BHaRATA PRESS. No.

Raja Gooroo Dass' Street. 1890,

( The right of translation is reserved. )

THE M A A B HA RATA II

SAITTIKA PARVA.

lh»N

Having bowed down unto Ndrdyana, and JSTara the most exalted of main beings, and. a,*'* the goddess Sa ran teat i, must the word Java be uttered "Sanjaya said,

wards the smth.

— 'Those heroes then together proceeded toAt the hour of sunset they reached a spot

near the (Kuru) encampment.

Letting their

they became very much frightened.

they secretly entered it.* at no great distance

Reaching then a

They took up

their

the

Pandavas. 1

forest,

quarters

there

Cut and mangled

from the encampment.

with many keen weapons, they breathed

thinking

animals loose,

long

and hot

sighs,

Hearing the loud noise made

by the victorious Pandavas, they feared a pursuit and therefore

fled

towards the

east.

Having proceeded for sometime,

their animals became tired and they themselves became thirsty,

Overp nvered by wrath and vindictiveness, those great bow-

men could not put up with what had occurred, burning as they did with (grief tit) the slaughter of the king.

took rest for a while.*

"Dhritarashtra said,

— 'The

feat,

They, however,

Sanjaya, that

Bhimfl

achieved seems to be incredible, since my son who was struck

down p >ssessed the strength

of ten

manhood's prime and possessed

was not capable of being

slain

thousand elephants.'

adamantine frame, ho

of an

any creature

Alas, ev- u

that son of mine was struck down by the Pandavas in

Without doubt, O Sanjaya, my heart

made

since it breaks not into a thousand fragments even

ing of the slaughter . f

my hundred sons

b;ittle !

of adamant;, after

hear-

Alas, what ffUl ba

MAHABHARATA,

the plight of myself and my spouse, an old couple destitute o? children

dominions of Pandu's son

I dare not dwell in the

T-l5> !

Sanjaya, Having been the sire of a king and a king myself, how shall I pass my days as a slave obedient to the commands 11 Having laid my commands over the whole of Pandu's son! Sanjaya, how Earth and having staid over the heads of all, shall I live now as a slave in able,

How shall I be

wretchedness ?'*

endure the words of Bhima who hath,

Sanjaya, to

The words

single-handed, slain a full hundred sons of mine ?'* of the high-souled Vidura have come to be realised son,

Sanjaya, did not listen to those words

14 !

Alas,

What, how-

ever, did Kritavarman and Kripa and X>rona's son do after

11 son Duryodhana had been unfairly struck down ?" king, when "Sanjaya said, "They had not proceeded far,

—

they stopped, for they beheld a dense forest abounding with

Having rested

trees and creepers."

for

entered that great forest, proceeding on

their

their excellent steeds whose thirst had been

while, they

little

cars

forest abounded with diverse kinds of animals, and

creatures.

That teemed

by numerous carnivorous

trees and creepers and was infested *

And it was covered with many

with various species of birds.

drawn by

assuaged. 17

Covered with many pieces of water and adorned

with various kinds of flowers,

had many lakes overgrown

Having entered that dense forest, they cast their eyes about and saw a gigantic banian with thouwith blue lotuses.

sands of branches.

Repairing to the shade

those great car- warriors,

king, those

that that was the

tree

biggest

of that

banian,

foremost of men, saw

that

forest.*

Alighting

from their cars, and letting loose their animals, they cleansed themselves duly and said their evening prayers." The Sun then reached the Asta mountains, and Night, the mother of the universe, came.

The firmament, bespangled with planets

and stars, shone like an ornamented piece of brocade and preagreeable spectacle.* 4 Those creatures that

sented a highly

walk the night began

to howl

and utter their cries at will,

while they that walk the day owned the influence of sleep."

Awful became the noise

the

night-wandering animals.

Ta9 carnivorous creatures bacame. full of glee, aud

tihe

nig'ht,

SAUPTIKA PARV1,

grief and all

sat

together.* 7

began to give expression very matter,

Seated under

with

they

that banian,

sorrow in respect of that

their

destruction

the

viz.,

hour, filled

and Kripa and Drona's sua

sorrow, Kritavarman

down

At that

became dreadful."

as it deepened,

had taken place of

that

Heavy with sleep, they They had been exmangled with shafts.* The two

both the Kurus and the Pandavas.** laid themselves down

on the bare earth.

ceedingly tired and greatly

great car-warriors, Kripa and Kritavarman, succumbed to sleep.

However deserving

and undeserving of misery,

of happiness

they then lay stretched on the bare ground.

O mon-

Indeed,

arch, those two who had always slept on costly beds now like

helpless

and grief. 11

persons, on

the

slept,

bare ground, afflicted with toil

O Bharata, yielding to the

Drona's son, however,

influence of wrath and revenge, could not sleep, but continued

Burning with rage he could not of mighty arms cast his

to breathe like a snake."

That hero

get a wink of slumber. eyes

8 on every side of that terrible forest. *

that forest peopled with diverse

As he surveyed

kinds of creatures, the great

warrior beheld a large banian covered

with crows.* 4

that

Each perch-

banian thousands of crows roosted in the night.

ing separately from its neighbour, those crows slept at ease,

O Kauravya

however,

As,

!*'

those

were sleeping

birds

securely on every side, Aijwatthamau beheld an ble aspect suddenly make its appearance cries and gigantic body, its

nose

was

the speod with

very

which

there.

owl

of terri-

Of frightful

with green eyes and tawny plumage,

and

large it

its

And

were long.

talons

came resembled that of Garuda."

Uttering soft cries, that winged creature,

O Bharata, secretly

approached the branches of that banian.* 8

That ranger of

the sky, that slayer of crows, alighting on one of the branches enemies. 8 '

of the banian, slew a large number of his sleeping

He tore the wings

of some

and cut

with his sharp talons and broke

the

legs

with great strength, he slew many that eyes.

With the limbs and

crows, the ground covered by

bodies,

the

banian became thickly strewn on

heads of others

off the

of many.

fell

before

monarch, of the

spreading every

down

Endued

side,

branches 41

his slain

of the

— MAHABHARATA,

those crows, the owl became filled with delight like a slayer of foes after having behaved

pleasure.

towards his foes according to his

Beholding that highly suggestive deed perpetrated

in the night by the owl, Drona's son

began

reflect

it,

desirous of framing his own conduct by the light of that example.

battle.

He said unto himself, — This owl teaches me a lesson in Bent as I am upon the destruction of the foe, the time

for the deed has come

44 !

ble of being slain by me

The victorious Panda vas are incapaThey are possessed of might, endued

with perseverance, sure of aim, and skilled in smiting. 48 In the presence, however, of the king I have vowed to slay them.

I have

thus pledged myself to a self-destructive act

like an insect essaying to rush into a blazing fire

to fight fairly with them, I shall, without

down my life

If I were

doubt, have

to lay

By an act of guile, however, success may yet be mine and a great destruction may overtake my foes !*' !

People generally, as also those versed in the scriptures, always

means which are certain over those which Whatever of censure and evil repute this are uncertain.

applaud those

act

may provoke ought

observant

incurred by a person that

Kshatriya practices.

The Pandavas

tin-

ugly

and

As regards

this

cleansed souls have, at every step, perpetrated very censurable acts that are again full of guile.* matter, certain ancient

verses, full

heard, sung

of truth, are

by truth-seeing and righteousness-observing persons,

them after a careful consideration of the demands Those verses are even these

who sang

of justice.*

The enemy's force, even ivhen

fatigued, or wounded with iveajxms, or employed in eating, or when retiring, or wlten resting within their cam}), should he smitten.*

They should be dealt with in the same way wlten

afflicted with sleep at

dead of night, or when

reft

of com-

manders, or when broken, or when under the impression of an Having reflected in this way, the valiant son of Drona error.*'

—

formed the resolution of slaying during the night the slumbering Pandavas and the Panchalas.'

Having formed this wicked

resolution and pledged himself repeatedly to its execution, he

uwoke both his maternal uncle and

Awakened

from

sleep,

those

the

chief of the

Bhojas."

two illustrious and mighty

Sauptika pauva. Kripa and the Bhnja chief, heard Ac,watthaman'a

persons,

viz.,

scheme.

Filled

giving

with shame,

both of thorn

abstained

from

Having reflected for a short while, Acwatthamau said with tearful eyes, King Duryodhana, that suitable reply.*'

—

one hero of great might,

whose sake we were waging hosti-

for

lities

with

Pandavas,

hath

been

alone,

though he was the

lord

the

Bhimasena and

gether in battle

the

cries

large

57 " s *

Akuliauidnis of

number

banded to-

of wretches

Another wicked act hath been perpetrated

Vrikodara,

vile

the

for

latter

hath touched with his

head of a person whose coronal locks underwent the

foot the

sacred

Deserted and

hero of unstained prowess hath been struck down

troops, that

alain

eleven

bath

The Panchalaa

and indulging

loud roars and

uttering

are

bursts

loud

of laughter.

drums !'°

joy, they are blowing their conchs and beating their

The loud

p?al of their instruments,

conchs,

frightful to

filling all

the

made by

their

points

the

ear,

of the

compass. 61

frightful

That deafening noise made by the

their

clatter of their car- wheels,

rejoic-

quarters, as

also

comes to us from tho

been the havoc made by the Pandavas

So great hath

east."

Loud also is the din

and grunting elephants and

ing warriors as they are inarching the

mingled with the blare of

and borne by the winds, is

neighing steeds

roaring warriors

with

Filled

on the Dhartarashtras that we three are the only survivors of that great carnage

c !

Sjtne were endued with the might of a

hundred elephants, and some were masters of all weapons. have they been slain an

instance

Truly, this

by the sons of Pandu

of the

the

reverses

end to

Yet

regard this to

brought about by Time 6S !

which such acts leads!

Truly,

al-

though the Pandavas have achieved such difficult feats, even this should bo the result of those feats !"* If your

wisdom hath

not been driven away by stupefaction, then say what is proper for us to do in

* it

view of this calamitous and grave affair

Acwatthaman seem3 to justify his own cruel purpo e bv regarding

as a just consequence of the dreadful slaughter

vas,

—

The verse seeuir: to be ybstiue.— T.

made bv

the

P&u

Section IT. " 'Kripa said,

puissant one

— We have heard

all

that

thou

Listen, however, to a

few

words of mine, O

mighty-armed one

hast

said,

All men a-re subjected to and governed by

these two forces, viz., Destiny and Exertion.

higher than these two. 8 *

There is nothing

Our acts do not become

successful

O be3t

in consequence of destiny alone, nor of exertion alone,

of men

Success springs from

the

union of the two. 8

All

purposes, high and low, are dependent on a union of those two.

In the whole world,

is-

through these two that men are

seen to act as also to abstain.*f

What

by the clouds pouring upon a mountain ?

result

produced

What results

not produced by them pouring upon a cultivated field ?* tion,

where destiny

are

Exer-

not auspicious, and absence of exertion

where destiny is auspicious, both these are

fruitless

What I

have said before (about the union of the two) is the truth.':}: the rains properly moisten a well-tilled soil,

Human success is of this

great results.

the seed produces

nature. 7

Sometimes,

destiny, having settled a course of events, acts of itself (without

have recourse to exertion. 8

bull among men, are

accomplished by the aid of those two

succeeds through destiny.

attains

acts,

wise, aided

men are seen to

Recourse may be had to exertion.

who

that one

skill;

Influenced by these two,

together. obstain.

All the purposes of human

For all that, the

waiting for exertion).

It is in consequence also of destiny

himself to work, depending on exertion,

sets

success.

strive

But exertion

The

exertion, however, of even a com.-

* Nilakantha Beems to suppose that there is adistinctoin between th6 d and ni in the words dbctdhd* and nibadhds. The distinction, however, that he makes,

is more fanciful

than real.

—T.

+ I do not accept Nilakantha'a gloss of the second

line

of verse. 4'.

"What Kripa wishes to inculcate is that both action and inaction (success and failure) spring from these two, viz., destiny and exertion. Jf there

and destiny be auspicious, there is success. If there is no exertion, even though destiny be auspicious, or if there is exertion but is exertion,

inauspicious Destiny to contend with, success cannot be achieved. % I prefer the reading

Nilakantha'a gloss,— X,

Utthdnanchdpi/adaivaf^a,

— T.

therefore, reject

SAUPTIKA PARVA.

when well-directed, is, without the concur-

petent man, even

rence of destiny, seen fruit.'

Those,

the

world to

unproductive of

among men,

therefore,

that

without intelligence, disapprove of exertion. not

the

opinion

the

wise.

are

and

idle

This, however,

an act per-

Generally,

formed is not seen to be unproductive of fruit in the world.

The absence grave

of action, again,

misery.

person

without having made any

seen

obtaining something of

efforts, as

anything even after exertion,

productive of

one

also

not

One who

not be seen. *

itself

obtaining is

busy in action is capable of supporting life.

He, on the other

hand, that is idle, never obtains happiness.

In this world of

men it is generally seen that they that are addicted are always inspired by the desire

of earning

devotod to action succeeds in gaining his

object

obtain the fruit of his acts, he does not become

any respect."

any one in the world is seen of action

generally

seen

hatred. 17

He who, disregarding this rule about is

said to do an

injury

treasons, viz., destiny without

with

of fruits

censurable

luxuriously

Without exertion, no

itauccessful.

Devoted

action

action, liveth

This

himself.

intelligence."

the

Efforts

consequence of these two

exertion

destiny."

fails

and become an object of

ridicule

opinion of those that are endued ijbecome unproductive

If one

without doing any action, he

fruits

otherwise.f

enjoy the

incur

action

good."*

and exertion without

act in

this

world becomes

and endued with

skill,

that

person, however, who, having bowed down to the

gods, seeks,

The same

the accomplishment of his objects,

las the case with one who, desirous

of success, properly

never

lost.

waits

lapon the aged, asks of them what is for his good, and obeys their beneficial counsels.

falways be

for

Men approved by counsel while

the

old

should

one has recourse to

pxertion.

These men are the infalliable root of means and

success is

dependent on

* I

solicited

,hropy. t

e.,

such a persou

means. 3 '

He who applies his efforts

never overcome with despair aud niisau*

— T.

I, e,

enjoys the fruits of action without himself acting. -T.

MaHaF.TIARATA, after listening to the

words of the

and respect

for

others

soon

old,

and avarice, soon

fear,

loses

moved by

his

without taking counsel,

accomplishment of an

the

his

wicked,

the Pandavas

undigested project.

waged

though dissuaded,

had,

who are

commenced

foolishly

This

of foresight,

seek

Disregard

and taking counsel with only the

well-wishers

ing all

passion,

prosperity. 84

Duryodhana, stained by covetousness and bereft had,

abundant;

(capable of giving him good counsel),

seeks the accomplishment of his purposes, anger,

reaps

That man who, without reverence

fruits from those efforts.*

superiors

his

with

hostilities

good

all

qualities.

He had, from the beginning, been very wicked. He could not restrain himself. He did not do the bidding of friends. For As reall that, he is now burning in grief amid calamity.* 7

we have followed that

gards ourselves, since

calamity

great

this

great calamity has

hath,

scorched

reflection, I fail to see what is for

stupified himself should ask

friends

prosperity.

hath 30

his

A man that is

our good

counsel of his

In such

friends.

and

humility,

his

One's actions should have their root in

That should be done which intelligent

friends,

by their understanding, should counsel.

This

Plunged in

understanding.

understanding,

wretch,

sinful

overtaken us! 28

therefore,

having

Let

his

them settle

us, therefor*

^f. repair to Dhritarashtra

and Gandhari and the high-soulec

v v'Vidura and ask them as

what we should

they will say what, after all this,

is for

do.

Asked by

our good.

We shoulc

do what they say. Even this is my certain resolution. 83

men whose acts do not succeed even exertion, should, without

destiny.—'

after

the

doubt, be regarded

Those

application as

afflicted by

" 84

Section III. "Sanjaya said,

— Hearing these words of Kripa that were

auspicious and fraught

man,

with

morality

and

profit,

Acwattha-

monarch, became overwhelmed with sorrow and grief.

c, one should act La die

way directed by them.— T,

SaUPTIKA PA II V A.

Burning

with

grief as

wicked resolution and

The faculty

with

]

a blazing

of understanding

fire,

addressed them

then

different

both, saying, 3 in

—

men.

different

own understanding.*

Each man, however, is pleased with

his

Every man regards himself

intelligent

formed a

than

others,

Every one respects his own understanding and accords it great praise.* Every one's own wisdom is with every one a subject

Every one speaks ill of the wisdom of others, and

of praise. well

own,

of his

Men whose judgments

instances.*

all

agree with respect to any unattained object even

variety

though there

become gratified with and The judgments, again, of the same

considerations,

applaud one another. 6

men, overwhelmed with reverses through the influence of time,

become opposed to one another. 7

.More

quence of the diversity of human

intellects,

particularly, in conse-

8 sarily difif.T when intellects are clouded.

cian, th-3

hiving d i'v diagnose

a disease,

judgments neces-

As a

physi-

skilful

prescribes a medicine by

applicitim of his intelligence for effecting a cure, 9

even so

men, for the accomplishment of their acts, use their intelligence,

What they do is again disapA man, in youth, is affected by one kind

aided by their own wisdom.

proved by others.

In middle age, the same

of understanding.

him,

with

and

the

period

dues

of decay, a

When

understanding beomes agreeable to him." terrible distress or

much afflicted.

chief of the

In one and the

of wisdom, the understanding times.

prevail

fallen

into

when visited by great prosperity, the under-

standing of a person, 1'

not

different kind

Bhujas,

seen to

same person, through want

becomes different

different

That understanding which at one time is acceptable be-

8 Having resolved, comes the reverse of that at another time.' however, according to one's wisdom, that resolution which

excellent shoul'd be endeavoured to

resolution, therefore, should force him

All

persons,

even in

O chief of the

respect

belief that those

Bhojas,

enterprises

are

that

diverse

put forth exertion. * 1

joyfully

begin

act,

lead

death,

tho

All

achievable

men, relying on their own judgments and to accomplish

Such

accomplished.

purposes, knowing

them.

wisdom, endeavour

them

bene-

MAHABHARATA, The resolnfcion that has possessed my mind today

ftcial."

i«

consequence

great calamity, as something that is

of our

capable of despelling my grief, I will now disclose unto both of you. 17

The

Creator, having

formed his creatures, assigned

As regards the

unto each his occupation.

different

orders,

Unto Brahmanas gave unto each a he assigned that foremost of all things, viz., the Veda. Unto portion

of excellence.

Unto the Vaicya

the Kshatriya he assigned superior energy.

he gave skill, and unto the Cudra he gave the duty 19 the three other classes.

Hence, a

of serving

Brahmana without

A Vaicya without skill is worthy of dispraise,

Cudra who is bereft of humility

(to the other orders).

born in an adorable and high family however, I am wedded

ill-luck,

self-

A Kshatriya without energy is base.

restraint is censurable *

Brahmanas.

also I

Through

Kshatriya practices.*

If,

Kshatriya duties, I adopt now the

Conversant as I am with

Brahmana and

high object

(viz.,

the

pacification of self under such injuries), that course would

not

duties of a

achieve

be consistent with nobleness.

of my

men?

how

shall

Paying regard to

hold an excellent

bow and

If I do not avenge the slaughter

excellent weapons in battle. sire,

open

my mouth

the midst

Kshatriya duties, therefore, without

hesitation, I shall today walk in the

steps

high-souled

74 sire and the king

The Panchaias, elated with victory, will sleep tonight, having put off their armour and in !

trustfully

happiness at

with

great glee, and filled

the

thought of the

6 victory they have won, and spent with toil and exertion.* Y/hile sleeping at their ease duing the night within their

own camp, I their camp.

shall

make

Maghavat slaying the Danavas, I

great and terrible assault upon

shall,

sleep in their them while senseless and dead 27 my prowess! forth puting Like a all, them camp, dry grass, I shall of slay all of heap a consuming blazing fire in

attacking

slay

them

assembled in one place with their leader DhrishtaHaving slain the Panchaias, I shall obtain peace of

dyumna mind,

best of men

88 !

While engaged in the act of slaughter, l

* For the highest end of the Ved%s is to inculcate self-restraint.

—T,

BAT7FTIKA I'AKVl. I

shall

career

midst

their

wieldcr

tho

Pinaka, Having

of 28

iz., Rudra himself, in rage among living creatures

cut off and Blain all the Panchalas today, I shall then, in joy, afflict

the sons of Pandu in battle

after another and causing

the

Taking

Earfch

one

lives

their

with the

strewn

bodies of all the Panchalas, I shall pay oft' the debt I

owe

my sire 81

tho

today make

I shall

Panchalas follow

tho

wake, hard to tread, of Duryodhana and Kama

and the ruler of the Sindhus shall

tonight

grind

the

Putting forth

head,

and Bhishma

of any

that

Dhrishtadyumna the king of the Panchalas

might, I

animal,

I shall tonight,

O son of Gotama, cut off with my sharp sword, in battle, the sleeping sons of the Panchiilas and

Having

Pandavas E *

the

exterminated the Panchala army tonight while sunk in sleep, I O thou of great intelligence, obtain great happiness

shall,

and regard myself to have done my duty

— M "

Section IV. " 'Kripa said,—

thy heart

set

By good

luck,

O thou

vengeance

today

thunder himself will not succeed in

of unfading

glory,

The wielder

of thx;

dissuading thee today

1 1 .

Both of us, however, shall accompany thee in the morning. Putting off thy armour and taking down thy standard, taks rest for this night !•

I shall

accompany

thee, as

varman of the Satwata race, clad in mail and cars,

while

thou

proceed against the

shalt

ourselves, thou shalt slay the

foe,

foe!

viz.,

Krita-

also

riding 1

our

United Panchalas

the

with with all their followers, tomorrow in press of battle, putting 4 If thou patforemost of car-warriors forth thy prowess, !

test forth thy prowess, thou art quite competent

that feat

achieve

Take rest, therefore, for this night. Thou hast kept Having rested and slept, night.*

thyself awake for many a

and having become quite refreshed, counter the foe in battle

without doubt!*

giver

Thou shalt then

of honors, on-

slay

the

would venture to vanquish thee armed with for-imost ons,

enemy,

No one, not even Vasava amongst the

O first of car-warriors

7 !

Who is there

that

gods,

of weap

would, even

if he be the chief of the gods himself, fight Dr-ma's

son

when

MAHA.BHAKATA,

Kripa and protected by

the latter proceeds, accompanied by

Kritavarman ?

Therefore, having rested and slept this night,

and shaken off fatigue, we shall slay the ing so,

Thou art

9 !

a master

bowman, always skilled

battle.

All

son, shall succeed in slaying

u sleep happily !

this

and

night

Myself and Kritavarman, both armed with

bows and capable of scorching our enemies,

O best of men, while

follow thee,

uniting to-

us,

our assembled foes in

Dispelling thy anxieties, rest for

mighty

also

Great shall be our happi-

battle by putting forth our might.

ness then

tomorrow morn-

This hero of Satwata's race

without doubt.

gether,

foe

weapons.

of celestial

will, clad

mail,

thou shalt proceed on thy

enemy !'* Proceeding to their camp, an car proclaiming thy name in battle, thou shalt then make a grea 1S Tomorrow morning, in broad day slaughter of the foe slaughter among them thou shalt great a caused having li^ht, Thou sport like Cakra after the slaughter of great Asuras ! * the

against

Panchalas in

art quite competent to vanquish the army of the

battle, like the slayer of the Danavas in vanquishing in

the Ddnava host

rage

United with myself in battle and pro-

18 !

tected by Kritavarman, thou art incapable of being

himself !"

by the the wielder of the thunder-bolt

withstood

Neither

O son, nor Kritavarman, will ever retreat from battle without 17

Having slain the angry Panchalas along with the Pandavas, we shall come away, or 18 By every means slain by them, we shall proceed to heaven having vanquished the Pandus

in our power, we two shall

tomorrow morning truth,

thee

19 !

battle

thee

the

— Addressed in these beneficial words by

his maternal uncle, the son of Drona,

answered his uncle,

assistance in

O thou of mighty-arms, I tell

sinless one

render

king, saying,*

with eyes red in

rage,

— Where can a person

that is afflicted, or one that is under the influence of rage, or one whose heart is always engaged in revolving projects for

the acquisition of wealth, or one that lust,

obtain sleep

in my case

21 ?

Behold,

all

under

power

the

these four causes are

Any one of these, singly would

sleep

heart

always

whose

thinking of the slaughter

My heart is now

destroy

How great is the grief of that person of his sire

present

burn-

Sauftika parva, ing day and night

I fail to obtain

peace

iB !

The way in which

my sire in particular was slain by those

sinfui

been witnesed by you all.

of that

cutting all my vitals !**

The thought

wretches

hath

slaughter

How could a person like me

live

for

even a moment after hearing the rfmchalas say that they have slain my father ?"

thought of supporting life

I cannot bear the

without having slain

Dhrishtadyumna

battle

conse-

quence of the slaughter of my father, he hath become slayable

by me, as also all with whom he so hard-hearted that would not

Who is there

united! 2 *

burn

after

having heard the

lamentations that I have heard of the king lying with broken

Who is there so destitute of compassion whose eyes

thighs ?"

would not be filled with tears after hearing such words uttered by the king with broken thighs 98 They whose side was ?

adopted by me have been

The thought

vanquished.

of this

enhances my sorrow as a rush of waters enhances the sea." Protected as they are by Vasudeva and Arjuna, uncle, to be irresistible

regard them,

by the great Indra himself? 80

am unable to restrain this rising wrath in my heart. I do not behold the man in this world that can assuage this wrath of mine S1 The messengers informed me of the defeat of my !

friends and the victory of the Pandavas.

heart

88 !

That is burning

Having, however, caused a slaughter of my enemies

during their sleep, without anxiety

I shall

— ""

then take rest and shall

then

sleep

Section V. " 'Kripa said,

— A person who

bereft

and

of intelligence

who hath not his passions under control, cannot, even if he waits dutifully upon his superiors, understand all

of morality.

person,

This is

opinion.

considerations

Similarly, an

intelligent

who does not practice humility, fails to understand the

settled conclusions

of morality.*

A brave

understanding, by waiting all his life upon fails to

the

know his duties like a wooden

man, if bereft learned

unable

laddie

the juicy soup (in which it may lie immersed).

person, to

taste

The wise man.

however, by waiting upon a learned person for oven a moment.

—

— MAHABHARaTA.

succeeds in knowing his duties

the

tongue tasting

juicy soup (as soon as it comes into contact

with

the

the-

latter).*

That person who is endued with intelligence, who waits upon and who has

his superiors,

passions

his

under

ceeds in knowing all the rules of morality and

with what is accepted by

and sinful person his

welbeing by

restrain

all.'

of wicked

ungovernable, irreverent,

soul, perpetrates

disregarding destiny. 6

a friend

from

He who

sin.

control, suc-

never disputes

seeking

sin

Well-wishers seek himself to

suffers

be dissuaded, succeeds in

winning prosperity.

otherwise, reaps misery. 7

As a person of disordered brains

restrained by soothing words, even so should a

that

doe3 is

be res-

friend

He that suffers himself to be so restrained, never becomes a prey to misery. 8 When a wise friend

trained by well-wishers.

about to perpetrate a wicked

possessed

well-wishers

act,

wisdom repeatedly and according to the extent of their power endeavour to restrain him. 9 truly beneficial,

thy

Setting

and restraining thyself by thy own self, do my

bidding,

son, so that thou mayst not have

wards! 10

In this world, the slaughter

repent

of sleeping

not applauded, agreeably to the dictates of religion. is

what

heart

after-

persons

The same

down their arms and They also are unslayable

the case with persons that have laid 11

come down from cars and steeds. and they that surrender who say we are thine \

—

themselves-,

and they whose locks are dishevelled, and they whose animate have been killed under them or whose cars have been broken !'* All the

Panchalas will sleep tonight,

selves of armour.

dead men." lity

O lord, divesting

Trustfully sunk in sleep, they

will

thembe like

That crooked-minded man who would wage hostideep and it is evident, would sink in

with them then,

limitless hell without a raft to save

himself.'*

thou art celebrated as the foremost

with weapons. 1

tresspass. '

persons

this

world

conversant

Thou hast not as yet committed even a minute

When the sun rises next morning and

conquer the foe in

battle

second sun in

discover all things, thyself, like wilt

all

light

shall

effulgence,

This censurable deed, so

impossible in one like thee, will look like a red spot on a white sheet.

Even this is my opinion.

•

— BAUPTCKA PART A, "

'Acwatthaman

said,

— Without doubt,

maternal uncle, as thou sayest

even

fragments eyes also,

In the very sight

my sire, after he had

by Dhrishtadyumna

slain

hundred

before this, broken the bridge of righteousness into a 18

so,

The Piindavas, however, have of

kings, before

the

all

down

laid

his

thy

weapons, was

Kama also, that foremost of

19 !

car-warriors, after the wheel of his car had

sunk and he had

been plunged into great distress, was slain

by the wielder of

Gdndiva ! a0 laid aside

Similarly Cantanu's son Bhishma, after he

had

weapons and become disarmed, was

his

Arjuna with Cikhandin placed

van

his

81 !

slain

also, the

mighty bowman Bhuricravas, while observant of the Prdya vow on the fiold of battle, was slain by Yuyudhana in total Duryodhana too, disregard of the cries of all the kings !" having encountered Bhima in battle with the mace, hath been slain unrighteously by the former in the very sight

of all

the

The king was all alone in the midst of a large number of mighty car-warriors standing around him. Under such circumstances was that tiger among men slain by lords of

Earth

Bhimasena 24 !

Those lamentations that

king lying prostrate from

Earth

the

messengers circulating the

the

have heard, of the

with

his

thighs broken,

news, are cutting the

very core of my heart !* 8

The unrighteous and sinful Fanwho have broken d >\vu the barrier of virtue, are even such Why do you not censure them who have transgressed ,s Having slain the Panchalas, those all considerations slayers of my sire, in the night when they are buried in sleep, I care not if I am born a worm or a winged insect in my next life " That which I have resolved is hurrying me to-

chalas, !

Hurried as I am by it, how can I

wards its accomplishment.

That man is not yet born in the who will succeed in baffling this resolultion

have sleep and happiness ? world, nor will be,

that I have formed for their destruction

"Sanjaya continued, — 'Having said these words, O mon-

arch, the valiant son

Drona yoked

his

steeds

at a corner and set out towards the direction of his

his

car

enemies.'*

Then Bhoja and Oaradwat's son, those high-souled persons, addressed hiqa

sayingj

— Why d

»st

thou yoke the

ste^d^

thy

MAHAliHARATA,

We are deter* bull among men We

Upon what business art thou bent?

car?

rained to accompany thee tomorrow,

sympathise with thee in weal and woe to mistrust us

—"

8 '

It behoveth thee

Remembering the slaughter

Ac^vatthaman in rage told them truly about the had resolved

When my

accomplish. 88

hundreds and thousands of warriors laid aside his weapons, he

with

ajt! 8s

It is

Panchalas

my resolve

prince of the attain to

keen

shafts,

had

similar condition, that

slay

earned

The

today

shall like

Panchalas in such a

regions

that

having slain

when he will have laid aside his armour of the

feat

not sire,

was then slain by Dhrishtadyumna 8 *

I shall slay that slayer today

the king

sire,

of his

son

sinful

is,

slay

by a

sinful

animal

that

sinful

way that he may not

persons

slain

with weapons

86 !

Put on your coats of mail without delay and take your bows and swords, and wait for me here, ye foremost of car-warriors and scorchers of fues 87 !

inan got upon his car

— Having said these words, A9wattha-

and set out towards the direction of

Then Kripa, O

the enemy.

king, and

Satwata race, both followed him. 88 against

the

enemy, they shone

Kritavarman of the

While the three proceeded like

three

blazing fires in a

butter. 89

They procamp of the Panchalas within which everybody was asleep. Having approached the gate, with

sacrifice, fed

ceeded,

lord,

libations

towards

of clarified

the

Drona's son, that mighty car-warrior, stopped.'"*

Section VI. "Dhritarashtra said.

— 'Seeing Drona's son stop at the gate of

the encampment, what,

Sanjaya, did those two mighty car-

warriors, viz.,

Kripa and Kritavarman, do ?

"Sanjaya said,

Tell me this I' 1

—'Inviting Kritavarman as also the mighty

car- warrior Kripa, Drona's

the gate of the camp.*

son, filled

with rage, approached

He there beheld

being

frame, capable of miking the very hair to stand

possessed of the effulgence of the

the entrance. bb.>d,

of gigantic

on end, and

Sun or the Moon, guarding

Rjuud his loins was a tiger-skin dripping with

and he hai a black deer for his upper garment,

He ha<4

SAUPTIKA PARVA. 4 for his .sacred thread a large snake.

massive and held

many kinds

His arms were long

Angadas a large snake wound round

for his

his

and

He had

weapons.

of uplifted

upper arm.

His mouth seemed to blaze with flames of fire. 5

His teeth

made his face terrible to behold. His mouth was open and dreadHis face was adorned with thousands of beautiful

ful.

His body was incapable of being described, as

his

also

The very mountains, upon beholding him, would a thousand fragments. 7

eyes.

attire.

split

into

Blazing llames of fire seemed to issue

from his mouth and nose and ears and

thousands

those

all

From those blazing flames hundreds and thousands

of eyes. 8

of Hrishikeea^ issued armed with conchs and disci and maces. 9

Beholding that extraordinary whole world with

terror,

capable

him with showers of

covered

agitation,

being

of inspiring the

Drona's son, without feeling any

weapons

celestial

That being, however, devoured all those shafts shot by Drona's. son.

Drona."

the

Vadav~i

being devoured

ocean, that

fire

shafts

waters

of the

by the son of

sped

Beholding his arrowy showers prove fruitless, Acwat-

thaman hurled at him a long fire.

devouring the

the

dart

blazing

flame

That dart of blazing point, striking against that being,

broke into pieces like a huge meteor at the end of the yuga

breaking and falling down from the against

the

Sun. 18

Acwatthaman

firmament

after

striking

without losing a

then,

moment, drew from its sheath an excellent scimitar color of the sky and endued with a gulden hilt.

came out like a blazing snake from its hole. * 1

of tho

The scimitar The intelligent

son of Drona then hurled that excellent scimitar at that being. The weapon, approaching that being, disappeared within his body like a mungoose disappearing in its hole. 15 Filled with rage, the son of Drona then hurled a blazing mace of the proportions of a pole set up in honor <>f Indra. The being devoured that mace als 1S At last, when all his weapons were exhausted, Acwatthaman, casting his eyes around, beheld the >.

whole firmament densely crowded with images of Janarddana. 17 Drona's son, divested of weapons, beholding that sight, recollected the

said/ 8

words of Kripa, and turning

wonderful with

grief,

— He that listens not to the beneficial words of advising 3

MAHABHARATA,

friends,

obliged to repent, being overwhelmed with calamity,

even as my foolish self for having disregarded ray two well19

wishers

That

who, disregarding the way pointed

fool

oufe

by the scriptures, seeketh to slay his enemies, falleth off fron the path of righteousness and is lost in the trackless wilderness of sin. 80 kings,

One should not cast weapons upon kine, Brahmanas, one's own preceptor,

women, friends, one's own mother,

a weak man,

an idiot, a blind man, a sleeping man, a terrified

man, one just risen from sleep, an intoxicated person, a lunatic, and one that is heedless. The preceptors of old always inculcated this truth to men."*"

I have, however, by disregarding the way pointed out by the scriptures, and by essaying to tread in a wrong path, fallen into terrible distress 28 The

eternal

wise have called that to be a terrible calamity when back, through fear, from a great feat after 24

one

falls

having essayed to

I am unable,

by putting forth only my skill and Human exertion might, to achieve that which I have vowed

achieve it.

never regarded more

human action that is

than destiny. 3 '

efficacious

any

commenced does not succeed through

destiny, the actor becomes like one

path of righteousness,

is lost

who, falling off from the

the

wilderness of sin/*

The

sages speak of defeat as foolishness when one having commenc-

ed an act swerves from it through

fear.

In consequence of

the wickedness of my essay, this great calamity has come upon

me, otherwise Drona's son would never had been forced to hold

back from battle.

is most wonderful

whom I see before me, He stands there like the uplifted rod of

This being, again,

divine chastisement. nise who this being is terrible

fruit

Reflecting even deeply, I cannot recog89

Without doubt, that being is the determination of mine that I

this

sinful

He standeth there

for

It seems, therefore, that in

had essayed to achieve unrighteously. baffling that determination

s0 !

case this falling off from fight had been lb is not for me to exert

for

ordained by

destiny,

the accomplishment of this

purpose unless destiny becomes favorable at this hour, seek the protection

of the

81 !

I shall, therefore,

puissant

Mahadeva

He will dispel this dreadful rod of divine chastisement uplifted before me 38 I will take the shelter of that god,, that source of l

—

SAUPTrKA PARVA. everything beneficial,

viz.,

the lord of Uina, otherwise

called

Kaparddin, decked with a garland of human skulls, thatplucker of Bhaga's eyes, called also Rudra and Hara

In ascetic austeri-

and prowess, he far surpassos all the gods

ties

fore, seek the protection of Giric,a

there-

I shall,

— armed with trident !

Section VII. "Sanjaya

said,

reflected thus,

— "The son of Drona, O monarch, having

descended from the terrace of his car and stood,

bending his head unto that supreme god. I

protection

seek the

Him called

And

fierce,

he said,

Sthanu, Civa,

Rudra, Sarva, Ieana. Icwara, Girica, of that boon-giving god

who is the Creator and Lord of the universe ;' of Him whose throat is blue, who is without birth, who is called Cakra, Avho destroyed the sacrifice of Daksha, and who is called Hara of Him whose form is the universe, who hath three eyes, who 8 is possessed of multifarious forms, and who is the lord of Uma; of Him who resides in crematoriums, who swells with energy, who is the lord of diverse tribes of ghostly beings, and who is the possessor of undecaying

and power

prosperity

Him

;

who is called Rudra, who bears matted locks on his head, and who is a Srakmachdrin !*

who wields the skull-topped

club,

Purifying my soul that is so

difficult

ed as

triple city,

of small

and

myself as the

offer

hast been, deserving art glory

skins

;

thou art

a Brahmaeharin

;

Thou

;

art

art fond of those beings called

seen by the. Lord of treasure

juaru the sire of Kumara

ompaniona i

;

thou art

;

thou art d art

;

thr< e-eyed

thou

art

;

ad< r

thou

always 8

art d

hou art

pure;

thou art the

thou art

;

infinite; thou

thou art multiform

of diverse tribes of ghostly beings

thy

robed

art

thou art Bra mult

voted to ascetic austerities; thou :

art

thou

thou art bluc-thrmtnl

thou art an observer of vows

refuge of all ascetics

of the

Hymned

Thou

irresistible! 6

thou art the Creator of Brahman

...

victim!

thou hast red hair on thy head ;

the Destroyer

of hymns, and I hymn

thou

Thy purposes are never baffled

thou art unbearable

and possess-

to purify,

adore

energy, I

.lor

MAHABHARATA,

thy excellent bearer a bovine bull

thou art most fierce

attire;

high

thou

;

wielder of weapons

;

3 ;

thou art

the

thou art immeasurable, and thou art the 10

thou art cased in golden

;

armour

;

thou hast the moon as an ornament on thy

thou art divine

With concentrated attention, I seek thy

Uma

higher than

art

there is nothing higher than thou

protector of all quarters

brow

thou art robed in a subtile

thou art eager to adorn

;

thou art higher than all that everything

;

protection,

god! 11

For success in getting over this dreadful distress that is so difficult to get over, I sacrifice unto thee, the purest of the pure, offering

for

acceptance

thy

which my body is composed tion

consequence

li l

of his

altar,

desire to accomplish his object, a of Drona.

high-souled son

golden altar appeared before the

Upon that

the (five) elements

— Knowing this to be his resolu-

king, appeared

the points of the compass, cardinal

blazing fire,

filling

all

and subsidiary, with

its

Many mighty beings also, of blazing mouths and eyes, of many feet, heads, and arms, adorned with Angadas splendour.

set with gems,

and with uplifted arms, and looking

phants and mountains, appeared there.

ele-

Their faces resembled

those of hares and boars and camels and horses and jackals and "

cows, 15 16 and bears and cats and tigers and

and apes and parrots.

and crows And the faces of some were like those

of mighty snakes, and others had

faces

pards,

those

faces of

some were

those

Bharata, 18 and of tortoises and

of wood-peckers alligators

of ducks.

And

the

and jays,

And all of them were endued with great effulgence.

and porpoises and

huge sharks and whales, 19 and of lions and cranes and pigeons and elephants and shags. 20 Some had faces like those of ravens and hawks, some had cars on their hands some had thousand eyes some had very large stomachs and some had no flesh, ;

;

king, had no heads, and some, And some, O Bharata like of bears. The eyes of some faces those O Bharata, had !

fire,

and some had

fiery

complexions. 12

The

hair

the heads and bodies of some were blazing, and some had four arms, and some, O king, had faces like those of sheep and goats.

The color of some was like that of conchs, and some

had faces [hi\[ resembled conchs, and

the

cars

some

were

Sauptisa parva. like conchs,

and soma wore garlands made

voices of some

and tho

of conchs, 2

resembled the blare

Somo had

of conchs. *

matted locks on their heads, and some had

tufts

five

of hair,

and some had heads that were buld. Some had lean stomachs; some had four teeth, some had four tongues, some had ears had diadems on their brows. 2 *

straight as arrows, and some

Some had strings of grass on their bodies, O monarch, and Some had head-gears made of cloth, hair.

some had curly

some had coronets, some had beautiful lotuses,

and some were

faces,

Some had ornaments made

adorned with ornaments."

and some were decked with

in hundreds and thousands. 87

They numbered

flowers.

Some were armed with (patagltnis,

some with thunder, and some had mushalas

their

hands.

Some had Bhugitnd.is. some had nooses, and some had maces Bharata 28 On the backs of some were

in their hands,

slung quivers containing excellent shafts, and in battle. S'irae

were

all

Some had standards with banners and

fierce

bells,

and

were armed with battle-axes. 29

in their uplifted

arms, and

Some had large nooses some had clubs and bludgeons.

Some had stout posts in their hands, some had some had snakes with erect heads

their

for

scimitars,

diadems.

and

Some

had large snakes (wound round their upper arms) for Angadas, and some had beautiful ornaments on their persons. Some were begrimmed with dust, some smutted with mire, and all were attired in white robes and

of some were blue, while others had

And some there

were

that

garments.

The limbs

limbs that

were tawny.

white

were beardless. 81

Those beings,

called companions, possessed of golden complexions,

and filled

drums and horns and cymbals and Jharj haras and Analcas and Goniiikhas. hi And some sang and with joy, played upon

some danced about uttering loud sounds, and some leapt ward and cut capers and jumped sideways. 38

for-

Endued with

great fleetness, they ran about most fiercely, the hair on

their

heads waving in the

with

air,

huge elephants

infuriate

passion and frequently uttering loud roars. 3 * frightful mien,

Terrible, and of and armed with lances and battle-axes, they

were rfttired in robes of diverse hues and decked with beautiful garlands and unguents/ 5

Adorned with Angadw docked with

MAHABHARATA.

gems, and with uplifted arms, they

Capable

courage.

forcibly

were endued with

slaying

greafc

they

were Drinkers of blood and fat and other animal matter, they subsisted on the flesh and entrails of all

foes,

irressistible in prowess. 86

Sjme had their locks tied in tall tufts above their Sjme had single tufts on their heads; some had rings on their ears and some had stomachs resembling earthen vessels used for cooking." Some were of very short statures, and some were very high in stature. Some were tall and very fierce. Some had grim features, some had long lips, and the genital limbs of some were very long. 88 Some had animals. heads.

;

costly and diverse kinds of crowns upon their heads and some had bald heads, and the heads of others were covered ;

They secured capable of bringing down the

with matted locks.

firmament with the sun,

moon,

and

stars,

and

on Earth,

exterminating the four orders of created things. S9

They know

not what it is to fear, and are capable of enduring the frowns of Hara. 40

They always act as they like, and are the lords of the lord of the three worlds. Always engaged in merry sports, they are thorough masters of speech and are perfectly free from pride. 41

Having obtained the eight kinds of divine

they are never elated with pride. filled

The divine Hara

attributes, is

always

with wonder at their feats. 48

They are devout worshipAdored by them in thought, word, and

pers of Mahadeva.

deed, the great god protects those

worshippers

of his, looking

upon them, in thought, word, and deed, as children of his own loins.

Filled with rage, they always drink the blood and

fat

They always drink also the Soma kinds of taste. 44 Having adored the

of all haters of Brahma.

juice endued with four

trident-bearing

god

with

Vedic recitations,

chary a, with ascetic austerities, and with

with

self-restraint,

Bhava. 45

have obtained the companionship of

Brahma-

The

they

divine

Mahec,wara, that lord of the past, the present, and the future, as

also

Parvati,

eat

with

those

diverse tribes

beings that partake of their own nature.

of mighty-

Causing the universe

to resound with the peal of diverse kinds of instruments, with

noise of laughter, with loud

sounds and shrieks and leonine

roars, they approached Ac,watthaman,

Uttering the praises

SAUPTIKA parva. effulgent

Mahadeva and spreading an

of enhancing

desirous

around,

all

Hara, and wishing

hour of

the

ascertain

Acwatthaman 's energy, and desirous also

extent of

of behold-

armed with

slaughter

during

and

bludgeons and fiery wheels and battle-axes,

the

terrible

light

honor of Acwatthaman and the

the

glory of the high-souled

ing

-2-',

fierce

sleep,

came

that crowd of strange beings, endued with terrible forms,

from every

side.

capable of inspiring the three

They were

worlds with dread at

however, beholding them,

with bow, and with

The mighty Acwatthaman, 80 Drona's son, armed

sight.

their

felt

fences

cased in

fingers

skins, himself offered up his

ft-ar.

made

iguana

own self as a victim unto Maha-

Bows were the fuel, and sharp shafts were the ladles, and his own soul possessed of great might was the libation, O Bharata, in that act of sacrifice. 58 The valiant and wrathdeva.

Drona then, with propitiating mantras, offered up Having with fierce rites adored his own soul as the victim." with joined hands, said Acwatthaman, Rudra of fierce deeds, ful son of

these words unto that high-souled god. " 'Acwatthaman said,

— Sprung from Angiras's

about to pour

Accept,

this victim

lord,

god, as

soul, 85

libation

this

In this hour of distress,

line, I

fire

Soul

of the universe, I offer up my own self as the sacrificial victim,

from devotion to thee and with heart concentrated All creatures are in thee and thou art in

tion

A union of all high attributes

occurs

thee '."

wait as

thou that art the refuge of all creatures, thee, since 1 am unable to

for

god that

creatures!

lord,

libation

Accept me,

— Having said these words, Drona's son, ascending

sacrificial

himself up as

which a fire blazed brightly,

altar

victim

the

Beholding him as

vanquish my foes

medita-

all

stand

and

entered

that

blazing

offered fire

s ' !

immovable and with uplifted hands and

an offering unto himself, the divine Mahfuleva appeared in

person

and smilingly

resignation,

ascetic

said,'

— With truth, purity, sincerity,

austerities,

patience, thought, and word,"

Krishna of pure deeds than

Krishna '."

vows, I

forgiveness,

devotion,

have been duly adored by

For this there is none dearer

Fur honoring him

and at his word I have

MAHABHARATA,

24<

protected illusion.

the

and displayed diverse kinds

Panchalas

By protecting the Panchalas I have honored

They have, however, been hath run out

their lives

high-souled

64 !

by Time.

afflicted

him.

The period of

— Having said these words unto the

Acwatthaman,

the

divine

Mahadeva entered

Acwatthaman's body after going him an excellent and polished sword. 66 Filled by that divine being, Drona's son blazed up with energy. head,

In consequence of that energy derived from god-

became

powerful

all

battle.

Many

invisible

beings and Rakshasas proceeded along his right and his left as he set out, like the lord Mahadeva himself, for entering the

camp of his foes.'

" 67

Section VIII. Dhritarashtra said,— 'While Drona's son, that mighty cardid Kripa warrior, thus proceeded towards the hostile camp, < :

and Bhoja stop from fear V I hope those two great caraway secretly, warriors, checked by vulgar guards, did not fly a Or, have they, after thinking their opponents irresistible ? followed, grinding the camp, the Somakas, and the Pandavas, path in which glorious while still engaged in battle, the highly

Duryodhana has gone

Are those heroes,

chalas, sleeping on the bare Earth ? feat ?

Tell

me all this, O Sanjaya!'

slain by

the

Pan-

Did they achieve any

"Sanjaya said,— 'When the high-souled son of Drona waited at the ceeded towards the camp, Kripa and Kritavarman 8 Beholding them ready to exert themselves, Acwatthapro-

gate.

man became filled with joy, and addressing them whisperingly*

O king, said,— If you two exert, you are competent

exterof this

What need I say, therefore, minate all the Kshariyas particularly when it is buried army, remnant of the (Pandava) Yama I I shall enter the camp and career like in sleep V 6

am sure that you two will act in such a way that no man may escape you with life

8 !

— Having said these words, the son of

Drona entered the vast camp of the

Parfchas.

Casting

off all a

he penetrated into it by a spot where there was no The mighty-armed hero, having entered the camp, proceed-

fear,

door.

SAITTHA FARYA, *d,

very

guided by signs,

softly,

towards

quarters of

the

having achieved great

The Panchalas,

Dhrishtadyumna."

had been much tired in battle. They were sleeping in 11 confidence, assembled together, and by the side of one another.

feats,

Entering into Dhrishtadyumna's chamber,

Bharata, Drona'a

son beheld the prince of the Panchalas sleeping before him on 1

his bed. *

He lay on a beautiful sheet

and excellent bed.

of silk

upon a costly

Excellent wreaths of flowers were strewn

upon that bed and it was perfumed with powdered Dhwpa. l%

Acwatthaman, O king, awoke with

high-souled

the

kick

prince sleeping trustfully and fearlessly on his

bed. 14

Feeling

that kick, the prince, irresistible in battle and of immeasurable

awaked from sleep and recognised Drona's son standing As he was rising from his bed, the mighty seized him by the hair of his head and began to Acwatthaman press him down on the Earth with his hands." Thus pressed by soul,

before hira. *

Acwatthaman with great strength, the prince, from fear as also from sleepiness, was not able to put forth his strength at that time. 17

Striking him with his foot,

O king, on both his throat

and breast while his victim writhed and roared, Drona's son

The Pan-

endeavoured to kill him as if he were any animal. '*

chala prince tore Acwatthaman with his nails and at last softly said,

—

preceptor's son, slay me with a weapon, do not tarry

O bast of men, let me, through thy act, repair to the regions of the righteous !" the

viz.,

son

— Having 3aid this much, that slayer of

of the

by that mighty hero, became silent." tinct sounds of his, Drona's son said,

there is no region for those

that

Hearing those indis-

—

slay

wretch their

thou of wicked understanding, thou

this,

be slain with any weapon !*' filled

— While saying

with rage, began to strike the

vital

with violent kicks of his heels, and slew slaying an infuriate elephant.*"

of thy

race,

preceptors

For

not

deservest so,

awaked,

O king M !

foe

victim

of his

Beholding somebody

being

lion

At the cries of that hero while

prince with superhuman force, they regarded

be some preternatural

Acwatthaman,

parts his

he was being slain, his wives and guards that were in his all

foes,

Panchala king, assailed with strength

the

tent

crushing

the

assailant

and, therefore, uttered

cries

MAEABHAIU7A,

from fear." 4

Having despatched him to Yama's abode by such

means, Acwatthaman of great energy went out and getting

upon his beautiful car stayed on Dhrishtadyumna's abode,

Indeed, coming out

Acwatthaman caused

all

it."

king,

the points of the compass to resound with his roars, and

then

proceeded on his car to other parts of the camp for slaying

his

foes.

After Drcna's son, that mighty

car-warrior, had gone

away, the women and all the guards set up a loud wail of woe.* 7

Seeing their king

wives of Dhrishta-

the

slain, all

dyumna, filled with great sorrow, cried aloud." of

theirs

many mighty

At that wail

Kshatriyas, awaking, put on their

armour and came there

for

enquiring

after

the cause

Those ladies, terrified at the sight of Acwatthose cries." thaman, in piteous tones asked the men to pursue him without delay. 80

They

said,

— Whether h«

human being, we know not what he Panchala king, he stayeth there foremost of warriors

8' !

is !

or a

a Ralcshasa

Having

the

slain

— At these words, those

suddenly surrounded Drona's son.

latter slew them all by means of the

Rudra weapon."

Tht Hav-

Dhrishtadyumna and all those followers of his, he Attacking him beheld Uttamaujas sleeping on his bed." ing slain

with his foot on the throat and chest, Drona's son slew that great hero also while the latter

writhed in agony. 84

manyu, coming up and believing

his

comrade

Yudha-

have been

slain by a Rdkshasa, speedily struck Drona's son in

the

chest

with a mace." Rushing towards him, Acwatthaman seized him and brought him down to the ground and slew him like

an animal while the latter uttered loud strieks."

Yudhamanyu

thus,

that

hero

proceeded

who were all

car-warriors of the king,

Having slain

against

asleep."

the

other

slew

all

those trembling and shrieking warriors like animals in a sacrifice.

Taking up his sword then, he slew many others."

ceeding along the

diverse

Pro-

paths of the camp one after an-

Acwatthaman, accomplished in the use of the sword, beheld diverse Gidmas and slew in a trice the unarmed and other,

tired warriors sleeping

89 within them.

With

that excellent

sword he cut off combatants and steeds and elephants.

ed all over with blood, he seemed then

Cover-

Death himself

SierriKA P1RYA. somrnissioned by

Time. 40

the repeated blows

Causing

foes to

his

tremble

sword that were of three kind*;

of his

was with blood, and wielding; as he did a blazing sword,

his

Acwatthaman became bathed form, as he

careered

and superhuman.*"

blood.*

Covered

became exceedingly

battle,

Those who awaked from

rya, became stupifled with the loud noise

sleep,

terrible

O Kaura-

(they heard around).

Beholding Drona's son, they looked at each other's faces and Those Kshatriyas, beholding the form

trembled (with fear).* 8

be a Rakshasa and

of that crusher of foes, believed him to closed their eyes.** like

Of terrible form, he careered in the camp sons of Draupadi and

Yama himself, and at last saw the

the remnant of the

Somakas.* 8

learning that Dhrishtadyumna

Alarmed by the had been

noise,

slain, those

and

mighty

car- warriors, viz., the sons of

Draupadi, armed with bows,

lessly poured their shafts on

Drona's son.**

noise, the Prabhadrakas with

Cikhandin at their head, began

to grind the son of

Drona with

beholding them shower their arrows on roar

and became desirous

of slaying

Drona's

sorr,

him, uttered a

loud

mighty car-war-

those

Acwatthaman

be-

Alighting from the terrace of his

car,

Recollecting the death of his

riors.**

came filled with rage.

Awaked by their

arrows.* 7

their

fear-

sire,

he rushed furiously (against his enemies). 49

Taking up hi3 bright shield adorned with a thousand moons and his massive

and

celestial

sword decked with gold,

mighty Acwat-

the

thaman rushed against the sons

of Draupadi

lay about him with his weapon.*

Then that tiger among men,

in that dreadful battle, struck Prativindhya

and began to the

abdomen,

O king, deprived of life, fell down on the The valiant Sutasoma, having pierced the son of Drona with a lance, rushed at him with his uplifted sword.** Acwatthaman, however, cut off Sutasoma's arm with tho sword in At this, Sutograsp, and once more struck him in the flank. 11 valient Catanika, The the son soma fell down, bereft of life. of Nakula, taking up a car-wheel with his two hands, violently at which the latter,

Earth.*

struck Acwatthaman at the chest.**

The regenerate Acwat-

thaman violently assailed Catanika after he had hurled car- wheel,

Exceedingly agitated. Nakula' son fell dc

thai

MiBtABHAJtATA,

the Earth, upon which Drona's son cut

off his

head."

Then

Crutakarman, taking up a spiked bludgeon, attacked Acwatthaman. Furiously rushing at Drona's son, he assailed him violently

the

left

struck Crutakarman

part of his

with

his

forehead."

excellent

Acwatthaman

sword on

the

face.

Deprived of senses and his face disfigured, he fell down less on the Earth." At this noise, the heroic Crutakirti,

that

great car-warrior, coming

A5watthaman." shield, latter'a

beautiful

slayer

up,

poured showers of arrows on arrowy showers with his cut off from his enemy's trunk the

Baffling

Acwatthaman

those

head adorned with

Bhishma,

life-

viz.,

the mighty

Then the

ear-rings."

Cikhandin, with all the

Prabhadrakas, assailed the hero from every side with diverse Cikhandin struck Acwatthaman with an

kind3 of weapons.

arrow in the midst of his two eye-brows." this,

Filled with rage at Drona's son, possessed of great might, approached Cikhan-

din and cut him

twain

Cikhandin, Acwatthaman,

with

his

sword."

Having

slain

with rage, rushed furiously

filled

against the other Prabhadrakas.

proceeded

also

against

the remnant of Virata's force."

Endued with great strength, heavy carnage amongst the sons, the

Drona's son made a grandsons, and the

one after another."

followers

Drupada, singling them out

Accomplished

the

use

of the

sword,

Acwatthaman then, rushing against other combatants, cut them down with his excellent sword." The warriors in the Pandava camp beheld that Death-night in her embodied form, a black image, of bloody mouth and bloody eyes, wearing crimson garlands and smeared with crimson unguents, attired in a single piece of red

with a noose

cloth,

and resembling an elderly lady,

employed

hand,

chaunting a

eyes,

and about

to lead away men and steeds and elephants all tied

in a stout

She seemed to take away diverse kinds

of spirits,

dismal note and standing

chord."""

full

before

their

with dishevelled hair and tied together in a chord, as

also,

O king, many mighty car-warriors divested of their weapons." On other days,

sire,

the foremost warriors

of the

Pandava

smiting

the

them behind !*•

— 29

SAUPTIKA PART A.

The Pandava soldiers saw that lady and Drona's son in their dreams every night from the day when the battle between the Kurus and the Pandavas first commenced." Afflicted before by Destiny, they were now smitten by Drona'i son who terrified 70 Afflicted them all with the frightful roars uttered by him. recolPandava camp, the warriors of by Destiny, the brave

had seen

lecting the sight they

dreams, identified

their

with what they now witnessed. 71

At the noise made, hundredi bowmen in the camp awoke from and thousands of Pandava their

slumbers."

Acwatthaman

cut

off the

and pierced some

and the hips of others,

careering like the Destroyer himself

let loose

of some,

legs

flanks,

their

by Time.

The

Earth, O lord, was soon covered with human beings that were

crushed into shapelessness or trodden down by elephants and steeds and with others that roared in great of them loudly exclaimed,

— What

What is this noise? — Who such shrieks,

this ?

— Who

doing what?

became

Drona's son

their

Many

this one?

— While uttering

Destroyer. 7 "

That

the son of Drona, despatched to

foremost of smiters,

viz.,

regions of Yama all

those

the

Pandus and Srinjayas who were 7

"without armour and weapons. *

awoke from sleep.

affliction.

Terrified at that

Possessed with fear,

noise,

blinded by

many

sleep,

and

deprived of their senses, those warriors seemed to vanish (before the fury of Acwatthaman). 77

The thighs of many were

para-

lysed and many were so stupefied that they lost all their energy.

Shrieking and possessed another. 7 *

clatter, and taking

shafts

with

fear,

they

began

slay

one

Drona's son once more got upon his car of terrible

his

bow despatchedt many with

Yama's abode. 7 '

Others that awaked from

his

sleep,

brave warriors and foremost of men, as they came towards

Acwatthaman, were slain before they could approach him and were thus offered up as victims unto that Death-night.* Crushing many with that foremost of cars, he careered through the camp, and covered his foes with repeated showers of arrows. 11

Once again with that beautiful shield of his, adorned with a huundred moons, and with that sword of his which was of the hue enemies."

of the

welkin, he

Like an elephant agitating a

careered amidst large

lake,

his

Drona's

MAHABHA.RATA.

son, irresistible in battle, agitated the camp of the Pandavas. 8 '

Awaked by

the

noise,

O king, many

with sleep and fear, and with senses

warriors, afflicted

still

under a cloud, ran

still

Many shriekd in harsh tones and many uttered incoherent exclamations. Many succeeded not in obtaining their weapons and armour. ' Th« locks of many were dishevelled, and many failed to recognise one another. Having risen from sleep, many fell down, fatigued some wandered hither and thither. 8 *

;

here and there without any purpose. 8 *

breaking their chords, passed

urine. 87

excreta and

confusion, huddled

causing great

Elephants and steeds,

Many, Amongst these,

together.

some, through fear, laid themselves down on the Earth.

animals

of the

camp crushed them there. *

was in this state. Rdkshasas,

O chief of th« Bharatas

89 !

The

While the camp

O king, utteted loud roars in joy, That loud noise, O king, uttered

by ghostly beings in joy, filled all the points of the compass and the welkin. 90 Hearing the wails of woe, elephants, steeds, breaking their chords, rushed hither and the combatants

the camp. 91

hither and thiter, the dust

in the camp became perfectly

thither,

gloom

set

the

in,

stupefied; sires

elephants,

riderless

steeds, assailed

their way.

and

steeds,

warriors

recognised not

their sons, brothers recognised not their bothers. 58

assailing

crushing

animals rushed

those

by them made the night

raised

When that thick

doubly dark. *

Elephants,

assailing

riderless

and broke and crushed the people that stood in

Losing

order, combatants

all

rushed and slew

one another, and felling those that stood in their way crushed

them into

pieces 9 '

Deprived of their senses and overcome

with sleep, and enveloped in gloom, men, impelled by slew their own comrades.

The guards, leaving the gates they

watched, and those at duty at the outposts leaving

they guarded,

fled

away

for

their

lives,

one another, the

lord, not

the

posts

deprived of their

97 senses and not knowing whither they proceeded.

slayers,

fate,

They slew

recognising the

Afflicted by fate, they cried after their sires and sons.

slain.

While

they fled, abandoning the'r friends and relatives, they called

upon one another, mentioning

their

Others, uttering cries of oh and alas,

families

foil

and

names. 99

down on the Earth,

9AUTIKA PARVA, In the midst of the

battle,

Drona's

fTT

recognising

son,

them,

slew them all. 100

Other Kshatriyas, while being slaughtered,

lost their senses,

and afflicted by fear, sought to fly away from

their camps. 101

Those men that sought to fly away

camp for saving their lives, were Kripa at the gate. 108

Divested

slain

from

the

Kritavarman and

weapons and instruments

and armour, and with dishevelled hair, they joined their hands. Trembling

with

they were on

fear,

the

The two

ground.

Kuru warriors, however, (who were on their cars) gave quarter to none. 108 None amongst those that escaped from the camp was let off by those two wicked persons, viz., Kripa and Kritavarman..' 04

Then

again, for

doing

that

agreeable to Drona's son, those two set

which was highly to

fire

the

Pandava

When the camp was lighted, Ac,watthaman, that delighter of his sires, O monarch, careered, sword in hand and smiting his foes with great skill. " Some of his camp in three places."

brave foes rushed towards him and some ran hither and thither.

That foremost of regenerate ones, with his sword, deprived all of

them

of their

lives.

107

The

valiant

son

of Drona, filled

with rage, felled some of the warriors, cutting them

with

his

sword as if they wore sessame stalks. 108

bull of Bharata's race,

of foremost of

twain

The Earth,

became strewn with the fallen bodies

men and steeds and elephants mingled

and uttering woful wails and cries." 9

together

When thousands of men

had fallen down deprived of life, innumerable headless trunks stood up and fell down. 110

Acwatthaman,

Bharata, cut off

arms adorned with Angadas and holding weapons in grasp, and heads, and thighs resembling trunks of elephants, and

hands,

and feet. 111

The illustrious son of Drona mangled the backs of some, cut off the heads of some, and caused some to turn away from the fight. 11 * And he cut off some at the middle, and lopped off the ears of others, and struck others on the shoulders, and pressed down the heads of some into their trunks." 8 As Acwatthaman careered in this way, slaughtering thousands of men, the deep night became more terrible

quence of the darkness that set in. " 1

ble to behold, strewn with

conse-

The Earth became terri-

thousands of human

and dying and innumerable steeds

and

beings dead

elephants." 1

Cut

©rY

KAHABB1.1UTA.

by the enraged son of Drona, his foes fell down on the Earth that was then crowded with Yakshas and Eakshasas and frightful with (broken) cars and slain steeds and eleSome called upon their bothers, some upon their

phants. 11 * sires,

And some said,

and some upon their sons.

rashtras in rage could never accomplish

— The Dharta-

such feats in battle

as these which Rctkshasas of wicked deeds are achieving

us during the hour of sleep

absence of the Parbhas

117 " 1 I

It is only in consequence

that

this

great slaughter

protector, is incapable of being vanquished

going

That son of Kunti, who hath Janarddana

upon of the

for

his

by gods, Asuras, Devoted to Brah-

Gandharvas, Yakshas, and Eakshasas /"' ma, truthful in speech, self-restrained, and compassionate towards all creatures, that son of Pritha, called Dhananjaya never slaughters one that is asleep, or one that is heedless, or one that has laid aside his weapons, or one that has joined his

hands in supplication, or one that locks

have been dishevelled !"°

retreating, or one whose

Alas, they are

wicked deeds who are perpetrating such ourselves

— Uttering such words, many

acts

upon

laid themselves down. 1 "

The loud din caused by the cries and groans died away within a short space of time.'" drenched with blood,

Eakshasas of

terrible

of human

beings

The Earth being

O king, that thick and frightful dust

Thousands of men moving in agony, overwhelmed with anxiety, and overcome with despair, were slain by Acwatthaman like Rudra slaying living creatures !'" Many who laid themselves down on the ground clasping one another, and many who sought to fly away, and many who sought to soon disappeared.'"

hide themselves, and many who slain by the son of

struggled

battle,

were

all

Drona. "

Burnt by the raging flames and Blaugnbered by Acwatthaman, the men, losing their senses, 1

slew one another. " 1

Drona,

Before half the night was over, the son of monarch, despatched the large host of the Pandavas

unto Yama's abode. " 1

That night, so terrible and destructive

unto human beings and elephants and steeds all

creatures that wander in the dark " 1

Pigachaa of various tribes were seen

filled

with joy

Many Rdkshasas and there,

gorging upon

human flesh and quaffing the blood that Jay on

the ground, " 1

SAUPTIKA PARY1,

They were fierce, tawny in hue, terrible, of adamantine teeth, and dyed with blood. With matted locks on their heads, their thighs were

and massive

long

stomachs were

large.

189

;

their

endued with

five

feet,

were

set

backwards.

Their

fingers

Of harsh temper and ugly features, their voice was loud and terrible.

They had rows of tinkling bells tied to their

Possessed

blue

frightful."

very

looked

they

throats,

bodies. 1

Exceedingly cruel and incapable of being looked at without fear,

and without abhorrence for anything, they came thero Indeed, diverse were the forma

with their children and wives.

seen there of the Rakshasas that came.' that ran in streams, they

became

to dance in separate bands.

— This

and began

with joy

filled is

Quaffing the blood

excellent

— This

pure !

" these were the words they uttered. This is very sweet Other carnivorous creatures, subsisting upon animal food,

—

having gorged upon

^egan

eat

and marrow and bones and blood,

fat

the delicate parts of corpses.

streams, ran naked over the field.

of diverse kinds

of faces, other carnivorous beings

of great ferocity, and living upon dead flesh,

of wicked

came there

deeds,

Other ghostly beings,

filled

18 '

came there in

Grim and gigantic Edkshasas

tens of thousands and millions. also

Others, drink-

flowed in

ing the fat that

Possessed

—

bands as numerous. ,, •

with joy

and gorged to satiety,

O king, also came there and were seen in the midst of thatj When morning dawned, Ac,watthaman dreadful carnage. " 1

desired to leave the camp.

He was then

188

bathed

and the hilt of his sword so firmly adhered in his grasp king, became one 188 Having hand and sword,

blood,

that his

walked in

that

path

that

never

(by good warriors),

trod

Ac^watbhaman, after that slaughter, looked fire at

into

ashes. * 1

lord, forgot

Pandava camp,

blazing

the

Having perpetrated that feat agreeably to his his in

that

untrodden

way, Drona's son,

* grief for the slaughter of his sire. 1

consequence

within it were buried, entered it in the night. all

the end of the Yiif/a after it has consumed all croaturea

vow, and having trod

human

the

sleep

which

The all

w as perfectly still when Drona's son had After the nocturnal slaughter, when c

became once more quiet, Ac,watth5xran issued

fritt

it,

14 *

MAHABHARATA,

Having issued from the camp, the valiant Acwatthaman met his two compassions and, filled with joy, told them his feat, 14 gladdening them, O king, by the intelligence. ' Those two, in return, devoted as they were to his good, gave him the agreeable intelligence of how they also had slaughtered thou144

Even thus did that night prove terribly destructive to the Somakas who 14 had been heedless and buried in sleep. ' The course of time, without doubt, is irresistible. Those who had exterminated 146 us were themselves exterminated now sands of Panchalas and Srinjayas (at the gates).

"Dhritarashtra said,— 'Why

that that

warrior, viz., the son of Drona, did not achieve

before although he had resolutely exerted

mighty

such a feat

bestowing

for

car-

vic-

147

For what reason did that great tory upon Duryodhana ? bowman do this after the slaughter of the wretched DuryoIt behoveth thee to tell me this

dhana ?

14g

son 0/ Sanjaya said,— 'Through fear of the Parthas, Kuru's race, Acwatthaman could not achieve »uch a feat then '

It was owing to the absence of the

Parthas and the intelligent

Kecava as also of Satyaki, that Drona's son could accomplish it !

149

Who is there, the lord Indra unexcepted, that is compe-

tent to slay them in the presence

O king, Acwatthaman succeeded in only

men were

because the

all

heroes ?

of these

Besides,

accomplishing the feat

Having

asleep! 1 '

caused

great Pandava car-warriors (viz., Acwatthaman and Kripa and Kritavarman),

that vast slaughter of the

forces, those

U1 meeting together, exclaimed,— Good luck !

three

— His two com-

panions congratulated Acwatthaman, and the

latter

was also

embraced by them. In great joy the latter uttered these words :"*— All the Panchalas have been slain as also all the sons of Draupadi

All the Somakas also, as well as

all

that

" remained of the Matsyas, have been slaughtered by me Crowned with success, let us without delay go there where the 1

king is!

If the king be still alive,

ful intelligence !—

" '

we will give him this joy-

Section IX. "Sanjaya said,

— 'Having slain

Kuru

sons of Draupadi, the three that spot where

Duryodhana

lay,

and the

the Panchiilas

all

together came

heroes

down by

struck

the

foe.

had not been wholly

Arrived there, they

beheld

extinct in the king.

Jumping down from their cars, they surThe Kuru king, O monarch, was lying

rounded thy there

son.*

with broken

that

life

Almost

thighs.

senseless,

hi3

was

life

He was vomiting blood at intervals, with He was then surrounded by a large number

about to ebb away. down-cast eyes. 8

of carnivorous animals of terrible

forms, and

by wolves and

hyenas, that awaited at no great distance for feeding upon his body.*

With great difficulty the king was keeping

off those

beasts of prey that stood in expectation of feasting upon

He was writhing on the Earth in great agony.*

him.

Beholding him

own blood, the three survivors sole who were the of his heroes army, viz., Acwatthaman and Kripa and Kritavarman, became afflicted with

thus lying on the Earth, bathed in his

grief and sat surrounding him.

Encompassed by those

three-

mighty car-warriors who were covered with blood and who breathed hot sighs, the Kuru king looked like a sacrificial altar surrounded by three fires. 7

Beholding the king lying in

that highly undeserving plight, the three heroes

endurable sorrow. 8 their hands, they

uttered

these

wept

un-

face

with

piteous lamentations in

the

Wiping the blood from

off his

hearing of the king lying on the field of battle.'

'"Kripa said,

— There

nothing too

difficult

for

Destiny

to bring about, since even this king Duryodhana who was

the

Akshauhinis of troops sleepeth on the bare struck down by the foe and covered with blood !'• ground, lord of eleven

Behold, fond as he was of the mace, that

pure gold still lieth by the side

of the

mace decked with

king whose

splendour

M still resembles that of pure gold

In no battle did that mace Even now, when he is about to ascend to !

abandon this hero

heaven, that weapon

leaveth

not this

illustrious

Behold, that weapon, adorned with pure gold, still side of this hero like a

loving

wife

the

side

warrior !'"

licth

by the

of her lord

g§

MAHABHARATA.

stretched on his bed in

his

chamber of sleep 18

Behold the

reverses brought about by Time

This scorcher of foes that

used to walk at the head of all crowned kings, now eateth

He who had

the dust, struck down (by the foe) !'*

formerly

struck down many foes and caused that king of the

them to lie on the bare Kurus lieth today on the bare

ground, struck down by foes !' 5

He to whom hundreds of kings

ground,

alas,

used to bow down in fear, lieth today 1S

surrounded by beasts of prey

to wait upon this lord for wealth

uttered these piteous lamentations people

indicated

thee

People also

said

disciple

Cankarshana,

(viz.,

that

(in

Bhima notice any laches and possessed of skill this world

the

best 1S

wait

Bharatas,

of the

foremost of

wert

bowmen

all

the Lord

How then, in

thee

Thou wert

could

one,

mighty

ever

He, on the other hand,

thou, a

of treasures,

sinless

king,

Without doubt, O monarch, Time

for

else,

even thee struck down by Bhimasena in battle could the wretched and mean Vrikodara thee

of prey

— O tiger among kings,

mightier than everything

—

encounters with the mace)

Kuvera), himself!' 9

wicked-souled wight

— 'Beholding that chief of Kuru's race

lying on the ground, Acwatthaman,

all

of battle,

field

Alas, beasts

upon him today for feeding upon his body "Sanjaya continued,

the

The Brahmanas formerly used

S1 !

we behold Alas, how

unrighteously

strike

down, thee that wert conversant with every rule of

righteousness

Without doubt, Time is

having summoned thee

fair

irresistible !* 8

Alas,

fight,

Bhimasena, putting

Fie on that wretched

forth his might, fractured thy thighs

Yudhishthira who tolerated the head of one unrighteously struck down in battle to be touched with the foot !"* In all battles warriors will certainly reprobate

the world will

last.

Vrikodara as long as Without doubt, thou hast been struck

down unrighteously !*

The valiant Rama

of Yadu's

race,

king, always used to say that there is no one equal to Duryo-

He of the Vrishni race,

dhana in encounters with the mace !"•

O Bharata, used to boast of thee, saying,

lord, in

every

assembly,

— Duryodhana of Kuru's race a worthy disciple of — Thou hast obtained that end which great Rishi

£n nQ jm

SAUPTIKA. PARTI.

have declared

the

in battle with his face toward?

among men, grieve for

reward of a

high

the

foe

Duryodhana

thee,

Kshatriya slain

not,

bull

grieve

only

for thy

mother Gandhari and thy sire, childless as they now

are!"

Afflicted with sorrow, they will

the Earth, begging their food race,

have to wander over

Krishna

Fie on

and on Arjuna of wicked understanding

themselves conversant

of Vrishni's

They regard

the duties of morality, yet both

with

of them stood indifferent whilst thou wert being slain will the other

Panda vas, shameless though they

speak of the manner in death ?

Thou

which

How

king,

be,

have accomplished thy

they

son

of Gandhari,

since thou hast been slain on the field of battle,

O bull among

art

highly

men, while advancing

fortunate,

what Gandhari who is now childless, and who hath lost all her kinsmen and relatives What also will be the fairly

against the

foe

Alas,

will be the plight of

plight of the blind king as also on the mighty

Fie on

car-warrior

Kritavarman, on

have not

Bl -

Fie on us,

yet gone to heaven with thy royal self before us lowest of mortals, since we do not follow

thee that

grantor of all wishes, the protector of all men, and factor of all thy subjects

wert the the

bene-

Through thy power, the abodes of

Kripa, of myself, and of my dependants,

myself,

Kripa, since we

sire,

along

with

tiger among men, are full of wealth

those

n l

of our

Through

thy grace, ourselves with our friends and relatives have per-

formed many foremost of sacrifices with a profusion of presents to

Brahmanas 87 !

Where

shall

such

sinful

persons

our-

selves now go, since thou hast gone to heaven, taking with thee all

the kings of the Earth ? s *

Since we three,

follow thee that art about to obtain the it is for this

that

aro

king, do

not

highest end (of life),

indulging in such

lamentations !"

Deprived of thy companionship, reft of wealth, our memories dwelling upon thy prosperity, alas, what will be

painfully

our lot since we do not go

with

thee

i0 ?

Without doubt,

we shall have to wander in grief on the Earth Deprived of thee, O king, where can we have peace and where can we have happiness 41 Going from this world,

chief of Kuru's race, !

monarch, and meeting with those mighty car-warriors (that

MAHABHARATA.

have preceded thee), show thy regards to them, at my request, one after another, according to the order of their rank and years !**

Having offered worship

to thy preceptor, that foremost of all wielders of bows, tell him, O king, that Dhrishta-

dyumna hath been

slain

by me 4S

Embrace king Valhika,

that mighty car-warrior, as also the ruler

of the Sindhus, and

Sjmadatta, and Bhuricravas, 44 and the other foremost of kings

At my request, embrace

that have preceded thee to heaven. all

— — "Sanjaya continued, 'Having said these words unto the of them and enquire after their welfare

'*'

king deprived of his senses and lying with broken thighs,

Acwatthaman once more these words still,

46 :

—

cast

his

on him and uttered

eyes

O Duryodhana, thou hast any life in thee

If,

listen to these words that are so

pleasant to hear

the side of the Pandavas, only seven are alive, and among the

we three 47 The seven on their side are the five brothers and Vasudeva and Satyaki on our side, we three are myself and Kripa and Kritavarman 48 All the Dhartarashtras, only

;

have been

sons of Draupadi of Dhrishtadyumna as also the

also

slain, as

of the

Matsyas, O Bharata! 49

the vengeance taken for what they had done are now childless

the

Behold

The Pandavas

While buried in sleep, the men and animals

in their camp have

camp in

children

the

have been slain

All the Panchalas too

remnant

all

night,

been slain !*°

O king, I have

that wight of sinful deeds, as one

Penetrating into their slain

kills

Dhrishtadyumna, animal !"

dhana then, having heard those words that were

— Duryoagreeable

and said these words

to his

heart, regained

reply :**

— That which neither Ganga's son, nor Kama, nor thy

sire,

his

senses

hath at last been achieved by thee today,

could achieve,

accompanied by Kripa and Bhoja !"

low wretch

(viz.,

Thou hast slain that

Dhrishtaduymna) who was commander of

the Pandava forces, as also

Cikhandin

In consequence of

this I regard myself equal to Magavat himself! 14

you all

Let prosperity be yours

together in heaven

Good be

All of us will again

meet

— Having said these words the high-souled

king of the Kurus became silent.** all his (slain)

Casting off his

griefs

kinsmen, he then gave up his life-breaths,

for

His

SAUPTIKA PARVA,

.'}!)

soul ascended to sacred heaven, while his body

only

remained

Even thus, O king, thy son Duryodhana breathed Having provoked the battle first, he was slain by

on Earth." his last!

The three heroes repeatedly embraced the on him. They then ascended Having heard these piteous lamentations of

his foes at last !"

king and gazed steadfastly their

cars."

Drona's son, I came away at

early

the city. 19

dawn towards

Even thus the armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas have been destroyed

Great and terrible have been

O king, caused by thy evil policy

After thy

to heaven, I became afflicted with grief

carnage,

son

ascended

and the spiritual sight

which the Rishi gave hath been lost by me Vaic,ampayana continued,

that

" 81

— "The king, hearing of his son's

death, breathed long and hot sighs,

and became plunged into

great anxiety."'"

Section X. Vaic,ampayana said, driver

— "After that night had gone away, the

Dhrishtadyumna's car gave intelligence

Yudhishthira

of the

great

during the hour of sleep.

"The driver said, been slain, with all

slaughter

that

king

had been caused

—"The sons of Draupadi, children of Drupada

the

king, have

while

himself,

they were heedless and trustfully asleep in their

own camp !"

During the night, O king, thy camp has been exterminated by the cruel Kritavarman, and Kripa the son of Gotama, and the

sinful

Ac,watthaman

elephants and steeds with

8 !

thousands of men and and darts and battle-axes,

Slaying

lances

those men have exterminated

thy army !*

While thy army

was being slaughtered like a forest cut down with axes, a loud wail was heard rising from thy camp !'

O monarch, of that vast force soul, escaped

he was

have,

am the sole survivor,

O thou

heedless!'*

— Hearing these evil tidings, Kuuti's son capable

of bearing

down on the Earth, afflicted with grief at

sons. 7

of virtuous

with difficulty from Kritavarman at a time when

Yudhishthira, however fell

Advancing forward;

Satyaki

held

up (against

foes),

the loss

of his

the

king

his

lUHAEHARATA,

Bhimasena and Arjuna and the two sons of Madri Having recovered his senses, also stretched forth their arms.* embrace.

the son of Kunti lamented in

great

words rendered indistinct by sorrow

affliction, uttering

these

ed the foe, we have ourselves been

having vanquishvanquished in the end [

The course of events

be ascertained even by per-

is difficult to

sons endued with spiritual sight

have become victorious vanquished!'

'Alas,

The foe who were vanquished

Ourselves, again, while victorious, are

Having slain brothers and

friends

and

sires

and sons and well-wishers, and kinsmen, and counsellors, and having vanquished them all, we ourselves are vanquished last

misery

afc

Misery looks like prosperity, and prosperity looks like

This our victory has assumed the

shape of defeat.

Having won the

Our victory, therefore, has ended in defeat victory, I am obliged to grieve as

then, can I regard it as

victory ?

doubly defeated by the foe

1B !

afflicted

wretch

How,

have been

reality, I

They for whose sake we have

incurred the sin of victory by slaying our kinsmen and friends, alas, they, after victory

had crowned them, have been vanheedful !'* Alas, through

quished by defeated foes that were

heedlessness have they been slain that had escaped from

even

Kama, that warrior who had barbed arrows and nalikas for his teeth, the sword for his tongue, the bow for his gaping mouth, and the twang of the bowstring and the sound of palms his

roars,

for

— that angry Kama who never retreated from battle,

and who was a very lion among men !"""

Alas,

those princes

that succeeded in crossing, by boats constituted by excellent weapons, the great Drona-ocean having

own

their

cars

for

its

deep lakes, showers of arrows for its waves, the ornaments of warriors for its gems, car-steeds for its animals, darts and swords for its fishes,

elephants for its alligators, bows for its whirlpools,

mighty weapons for its foam, and the signal of battle for its moonrise causing it to swell with energy, and the twang of the bowstring and the sound of palms for its roar,— alas, even

those princes have from heedlessness been slain

17 "' 8 !

There is,

in this world, no more powerful cause of death, as regards men,

than heedlessness

Prosperity abandons a heedless man

from

him!"

The

every side, and every kind of misery

overtakes

SAl"PTlKA PAHVA. tall

standard with excellent top that stood on his car was tho

wreath of smoke that infallibly

indicated

Shafts constituted its flames, and

wrath

fanned it

Bhishma fire.

the

was the

wind 'hat

The twang of his formidable bow and the Bound roar of that fire. Armour and

of his palms constituted tho

were p nired into of

weapons were

kinds of

diverse

drv

The

it.

that

forest-grass

even they

was assailed

firece

hands, have it la3b fallen through

person

less

can

never acquire

renown

perity, or great

happiness after slaying all

his

Bhishma'd

heedlessness! 80 ""

A heed

knowledge,

asceticism

pros-

obtained

great

has

heedful ly !"

foes

few survivors among our foes have, through

Behold, the

our

heedlessness,

whom

was

Alas, they have perished like

mer-

many sons and grandsons of kings eacli

slain s)

really like Indra himself 1

terri'ole

Behold, Indra

whose

fire

weap »ns

enersry was represented by the mighty

that

libations

army was the heap by that fire! Ala"',

hostile

hid (mitred that

that

homo,

the

vast

through carelessness in a

chants with rich freights perishiu?

ocean !"

shallow stream after having crossed the

great

whose bodies are now

bare ground, slain

those

vindictive

heaven

lying

wretches, have

the

today

ocean of grief!'*

of the slaughter of her brothers and

down she

from

king

of tho

senseless

the

sire,

will

tho Earth!

affliction,

sons and

Alas,

Hearing

her

venerablo

Panchalas, without doubt she will full

not rise again!"

such

without doubt ascended to

grieve, however, for the princess Krishna

she will be plunged

Th«v

and

what will be her plight

Her body emaciated by grief,

Unable to bear the grief resulting worthy as she is of happiness,

alas,

Cut to the quick by the slaughter

her sons and brothers, she will be like one scorched by

fire

,,c !

Hiving in deep affliction indulged in these lamentations, that king of ivuru's race then addressed

Nakula, saying.

bring the unfortunate princess Draupadi her

maternal

relations!'

here

—G

along

Obediently accepting

and

with

that

all

com-

mand of the king who equalled Yama himself in righteousness, Nakula speedily proceeded on

his

car

Draupadi whore that princess resided with the

Pauchala

king,*'

Having d^'patched

the

quarters

all

the

wives

the

son

jf 2iadri,

MAHABHA.RATA,

-491

Yudhishthira, crushed by

proceeded, with

grief,

tears

his

eyes and accompanied by those friends of his, to the field on

which

bis sons had battled and which still teemed with diverse

kinds of creatures. 89

Having entered that cursed field abound-

ing with fierce sights, the king saw his sons, well-wishers, and friends, all

on the ground, covered with blood, their

lying

bodies mangled, and heads separated from their trunks. 86

holding them

that

plight, Yudishthira, that

Be-

foremost

became deeply afflicted. That chief of the Kurus then bsgan to weep aloud and fell down on the Earth, men,

righteous

deprived of his senses, along with all his followers." 51

Section XI.

Vaicampayana said,— "Beholding

and overwhelmed Recollecting those sons and his

sons, grandsons,

friends all slain in battle, the king's soul became

with great grief,

O Janamejaya

J !

grandsons and brothers and allies, a deep sorrow took possession of the illustrious monarch. 9

eyes were bathed in tears.

Senseless and trembling, his

His friends then, themselves

with anxiety, began to comfort him. 3

At that

skilled in executing errands, arrived there on

effulgence, affliction.

accompanied

time, Nakula,

his

car

by the princess Krishna

She had been residing

filled

at Upaplavya.

of solar in

great

Having

received that heart-rending intelligence about the slaughter

became exceedingly agitated. 6 Trembling like a plantain tree shaken by the wind, the princess Krishna, all

her sons, she

arrived at the

by grief. 8

presence of Yudhishthira,

fell

down,

afflicted

Her face, adorned with eyes resembling a couple

of full-blown lotuses, seemed to be darkened by

grief like

the

Sun himself when enveloped

prostrate on

wrathful Vrikodara, of prowess

the

incapable of being

Earth, the baffled,

darkness. 7

Beholding her

advancing hastily, raised her up

and clasped her with his arms. 8

The beautiful lady, comforted

by Bhimasena, began to weep, and addressing the eldest son of Pandu with his brothers, said 9

— 'By good luck, O monarch,

having obtained the whole Earth, thou shalt enjoy her after the slaughter of thy brave sons in the observance of Kshatriya

— Sauptika parva.

By good luck, O son of Prithfi, thou art happy at By good obtained the whole Earth

duties

4-S*

the thought of having

luck, thy thoughts

tread resembled

that

on Subhadra's son whose

not dwell of an

thy

recollect

Kshatriya duties of

slaughtered in

sons

heroic

grief burns

Upaplavya,

observance

the

O son of Pritha, hearing of the slaughter

18 !

sleeping heroes

those

By good

elephant I"

infuriate

luck, thou dost not, like myself while residing

wero

if I

Urona's son of sinful

midst

the

of a

deeds,

fire !'

Drona's son be not made to reap the fruit of that sinful deed of his,

—

if,

putting forth your prowess in

thou dost not

battle,

take the life of that wretch of sinful deeds, along with the lives of all his followers,

— then, listen to me, ye Pandavas,

sit here in Praya /' less Krishna,

shall

Having said these words, the

help-

the daughter of Yajnasena, sat

the eldest son

The

of Pandu, viz., king

sage Yudhishthira, of righteous soul, seeing

royal

dear queen sit in Praya, addressed her, saying, lady,

the side

Yudhishthira the just."

O thou that art conversant with

his

— 'O auspicious

morality,

thy sons

all

It beand brothers have righteously met with a noble death n faoveth thee not to grieve for them V"'~ As regards Drona's son, !

O beautiful princess

he hath gone to a distant forest,

How

19 shalt thou, O lady, make thyself sure of his fall in battle ?'

"Draupadi answered,

a gem on

his

—

have heard that Drona's son hath

head, born

with

him

that

shall see

gem

brought to me after the slaughter of that wretch in battle Placing that gem on thy head, O king, I shall endure to live

Even this is my resolve !''°

Having said these words unto the royal son of Pandu, the beautiful Krishna approached Bhimasena and said

these

words of high purpose unto him :"

'Remembering the duties of a Kshatriya, O Bhima, it behoveth thee to come to

rescue

this world who is

equal

Slay that

Camvara!"

deeds like Magavat slaying to

thee

Thero

prowess!

man is

of sinful

no one in

known

throughout the world how on an occasion of great calamity thou becamest at the town of Varanfvvata the refuge of all the PiLrthas tihou

that

When again we were seen by

becamest

our

refugo

the

Hidimva.

same way

3 :

it *

wai Like

£1

mahabharita,

Magavat rescuing (his spouse, viz.,) the daughter fchou hadst rescued

my afflicted self, in

great calamity !"•

Like those great

Virata's

happy

!' 8 '

from

O Partha, that O slayer of foes,

feats,

th >u hast achieved in former days, slay now,

the sm of Drona and be thou

of Puloma, city,

— Hearing these and

other piteous lamentations of the princess, Kunti's son Bhima-

sena of great might could

upon his great car adorned with

bow with arrow placed on

the

gold, string.*

He mounted

them.' 7

not endure

and took 8

beautiful

his

Making Nakula

his

and resolved upon slaying the son of Drona, he began to stretch his bow and caused his steeds to be urged

charioteer,

without delay. 88

Those steeds,

fleet as

the

wind, thus

O tiger among men, proceeded with great speed.' of great valor and unfading energy,

Bhima set out from

Paudava camp and proceeded with great track of Acwatthaman's vehicle."

urged,

Possessed the

along the

celerity

3 '

Section XII. Vaic,ampayana said, fifth

out.

— "After the

irresistible

Bhimasena had?

that bull of Yadu's race, possessed of eyes

petals, addressed Kuril's son Yudhishthira, saying,'

Panda,

this

the slaughter

brother of thine, of his

sons,

overwhelmed with

proceedeth alone

lotus

— '0 son of grief

battle,

from

bull of Bharata's d^ire of slaying the son of Drona'* rve, of all thy brothers, Bhima is thy dearest! Beholding 8

him fallen into a great danger why dost thou not stir thyself? The weapon called Brahmagira, which that subjugator of hostile towns, viz., Drona, communicated to his son, is cap4 The illustrious and able of consuming the whole world. highly blessed preceptor, that foremost of all wieiders of bows, lelighted with Dhananjaya. had given him that very we:ip n.' Uoa')le to endure it, his only son then begged it

him.

willingly he impirted the knowledge of that weapon to

thaman.' son.

The

illustrious

Un-

Acwat-

Drona knew the restlessness of his

Acquainted with all duties, the preceptor laid this com-

mand on him, saying, 7 danger,

— Even when overtaken by the greatest

child, in the niidst

of battle, thou

shouldst

ne\er

Sauptika parva.

human

use this weapon, particularly against thu=* the procepbor

Drona spoke unto

aft^r he again spoke, saying. not, it seems,

4«f

his

beings !'

— Even

A little

son.

while

— O bull among men, thou wilt of the righteous!' — Hearing

walk in the path

those bitter words of his sire, the wicked souled Acwatthaman, in despair of obtaining every

kind of prosperity, began in grief

to wander over the Earth. 10

Then, O chief the

you were living in the woods, and took up

Kurus, whilo

Bharata, he came to Dwarakii

abode there, worshipped by the Vrishnis."

his

One day, after he had taken up his abode in Dwaraka, he came to me, without a companion and when I myself was without anybody by my side, on the sea-coast, and there smilingly addressing me, said,"

— O Krishna, that weapon, called

Brahmagira, worshipped by gods and Gandharvas,

my sire, the preceptor of the

Agastya after performing

of being baffled, had obtained from

the austerest penances,

which

Bharatas, of prowess incapable

now with me, O Dacarha, as much

O foremost one

as it is with my sire! 15 "'*

of Yadu's race, in

exchange for that celestial weapon, give me thy discus which While he with joinis capable of slaying all foes in battle !"

—

ed hands and great importunity thus begged of me my discus, myself,

O bull

him, told him

of Bharata's

these

from

race,

words,"

desire

of gladdening

— Gods, Danavas, Gandharvas,

men, birds and snakes, assembled together, are not equal to even a hundredth part of my energy. 17 dart, this discus,

and this mace

I will

I have this

bow, this

give thee

whichever

amongst these thou desirest to have from me !" Without giving me the weapon thou wishest to give, take from among these weapons of mine whichever thou mayst be able to

and use in battle !"

wield

— Thus addressed, the illustrious son of

Drona, as if challenging me, solicited at my hands

discus

of excellent nave and hard as thunder, possessed of a thousand

spokes, and made of iron.

— Take — said unto him. Thus seized

for seizing it with his

the

discus

with

his

move the weapon then made prepnrations right-hand." Having seized it then

He failed, however, to left hand. from the spot on which it lay. Ho 21

it,

addressed, he rose suddenly and

very firmly and having put

forth

even

a!!

bis

strength, bo

Btill

MAHABHARATA,

failed to either wield or move it. filled with

sorrow.

he made,

he ceased,

his heart

from that purpose,

was tired with the exertions When he withdrew

After

At this, Drona's son became

Bharata !""** I

addressed the

anxious and

—

Acwatthaman and said, 98 He who is always regardthe foremost of all human beings, that wielder of

senseless

ed as

Gandiva, that warrior having white steeds yoked unto car, that hero owning the prince of apes for the device

standard, 88

who,

hero

that

wrestling encounter the

Uma,

lord

desirous

god of gods, the

gratified

on his

vanquishing

viz.,

the

Cankara

great

his

blue-throated

himself,*

that

Phalguna than whom I have no dearer friend on Earth, that friend to whom there is nothing that I cannot give including

my very wives and children, 98 that dear friend Partha of unstained acts, never said unto me, O Brahmana, such words as That son whom I obtained

which thou hast uttered !"

these

through ascetic penances and observance of austere Brahma-

chary a for twelve years on the breast of Himavat whither I had gone for the purpose, 80 that son of mine, viz., Prad-

dyumna, of great energy and a portion of Sanatkumara himself,

begotten by me upon my wife Rukmini who had practised

vows

austere as mine, 81 that hero even never solicited this

best

objects,

viz.,

this

understanding hast

little

unrivalled discus, which solicited

never said such words to

8a !

thou of

Rama of great might

Neither Gada, nor Camva,

have ever asked that of me which thou hast asked 8S !

No one

among the other great car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka race residing in Dwaraka has ever asked this of me which thou hast asked! 84 of the

Thou art the son of the preceptor

Bharatas, thou art held in

Yadavas

Let

me ask thee,

high respect by all the

foremost of car-warriors, with

whom wouldst thou fight using this weapon ?" — Thus addressed by me, Drona's son replied, saying, ship

thee,

Krishna,

thou of unfading glory 1 solicited thee for

Dcinavas !

If I

cible in the world

— After offering wor-

was my intention to fight thee, It was for this,

O Krishna, that

thy discus which is adored by gods and

had got it I would then have become invinS7 !

Having failed,

Kecava. in

obtaining

SA.T7TIKA PARTA,

my almost

unattainable

Govinda

Address me in

fair

held by

that art the foremost of all terrible

weapon persons

thee

else in this

words now

of possessing

world capable

of steeds and much

Dwaraka. 40 !

about to leave thee, !* 8

Unrivalled art thou for this weapon

it!

This

wealth and diverse

terrible

There is none

— Having said

of Drona, taking many

these words unto me, the son

cruel

wish, I

couples

of gems, left

kinds

He is wrathful, wicked souled, restless, and very

He knows the weapon called Brahmacira.

should be protected from him

Vrikodara

" 41

Section XIII.

—

Vaigampayana said, 'Having said these words, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, viz., that delighter of all the Yadavas, mounted upon his excellent car equipt with Unto that vehicle were every kind of powerful weapons. 1

yoked two pairs of foremost steeds of the Kamvoja breed, that

The Lhur

were adorned with garlands of gold.

of that

best

morning sun." On the right was yoked the steed known as Caivya on the left was placed of cars was of the hue

of the

;

Sugriva

;

the Parshni was

pushpa and

Valahaka.'

celestial standard decked

borne by two others called Megha->

There

was

seen

that

car

with gems and gold and created by

the divine Artificer, and standing high like the Maya (of Vish-

nu himself).*

Upon that standard was Vinata's son (Garuda)

shining with great splendour.

enemy

Indeed, that

of snakes

perched on the standard-top of Kec;ava who is Truth embodied.'

Then Hrishikeca, that foremost

of all

bowmen, mounted on

After hiin

Arjuna of irresistible feats and Yndhish-

thira the king of the

Kurus ascended the same vehicle. 1 Seated

that car.

on that car, by the side of him of Dacarha's race who wielded the bow called Camga, the two sons of Pandu ingly beautiful, like the twin

Vasava. 7

Ac, wins

Causing them to ascend on

was adored by

all

the

world,

car

the of his

side

which

he of Dacarha's race urged

those foremost of steeds endued with steeds then suddenly

seated that

looked exceed-

great

fleetncss.'

How, taking after them

that

Those

excellent

KiJUHHARATA,

vehicle ridden by the two sons of Pandu and

Yadu's race.

by that

bull

Endued with great speed, as those animals bore

away the wiolder by their rush,

became the noise caused

of £dr)iga, loud

like that

of birds

coursing

through the

soon came up,

Proceeding with great speed, they

air.'

bull

Bharata's race, with the mighty bowman Bhimasena in whose

wake they had followed. 11 Although those great car-warriors met Bhima, they failed however to stop that son of Kunt.i, as,

filled

with wrath, he proceeded fiercely towards the

foe. * 1

Iu the very sight of those illustrious and firm bowmen, Bhima,

by means of his very fleet steeds, proceeded towards the bank of the river brought down by Bhagiratha. 18 He beheld the high-souled and illustrious and dark-complexioned and island-

born Vyasa sitting near the edge of the water in the midst of

many Rlshis. * 1

And he also saw Drona's son of wicked

sitting beside them, covered with

attired

di:st,

cloth made of Kuga grass, and smeared all over with 1

butter. *

The mighty-armed Bhimasena, the son

deeds

piece

clarified

of Kunti,

taking up his bow with shaft fixed on it, rushed towards Acwatthatnan,

and

said,

— 'Wait, wait

!'"

Drona's son, beholding

that terrible bowman coming towards him

bow in hand, and became exceedingly Of soul incapable agitated and thought his hour had come. his two brothers on

Janarddana's

car,

of being depressed, he called to his

mind that high weapon

(which he had obtained from his sire). 18 blade of grass with his left hand.

He then

took

up a

Fallen into great distress, he

inspired that blade of grass with proper mantras and converted it

into that powerful celestial weapon.

Unable to brook the

arrows (of the Pandavas) and the presence

of those

wielders

of celestial weapons, he uttered in wrath these terrible words, viz.,

— 'For the destruction of the Pandavas.'

these words, let off that

was bom

tiger

among

Having

said

kings, the valiant son of Drona 91

A fire then weapon f<>r stupifying all the worlds. in that blade of grass, which seemed capable of

consuming the three worlds the end of the Yuga."**

the

all-destroying

Yama

Section XIV.

Vaicampayana

said,

— "At the very outset the mighty

arined hero of l)a<;arha's race understood from signs the intention of Prona's son.

Addressing Arjuna, he said,

— 'O Arjuna,

O son of Panda, the time is come for the use of that celestial weapon which is in thy memory and the knowledge of which was imp ir ted to thee by

Drona !'

For

protecting

which is capable of neutralising all weapons by

Kecava,

thyself as

O BUarata, shoot in this battle that weapon

also thy brothers,

Arjuna,

that

slayer

Thus addressed

hostile

him

alighted from the car, taking with

!' 8

his

heroes, quickly

bow with

shaft

fixed on the string.*

Sjftly wishing good unto the preceptor's

son and then unto

himself,

scorcher

superiors and let all

all

uttering

the

words,

weapon be neutralised by this weapon let otf

all

his brothers, that

the

gods and all his

weapon, thinking of the

off his

the worlds and

and unto

bowed unto

of foes* then

!' 4

welfare

— 'Let Aywatthaman's

That weapon, quickly

by the wielder of Gdadlva, blazed up with fierce flames

like the

ail-destroying

Yuga. 1

Similarly, the

fire that appears at the end of the weapon that had been shot by Drona's

son of fierce energy, blazed up with terrible

flames

within

huge sphere of fire.*

Numerous peals of thunder were heard;

thousands of metors

fell ;

inspired filled

with

great

noise

and

dread.

all living creatures became The entire welkin seemed to be

and assumed a

terrible

aspect

with those

The whole Earth, with her mountains and 10 Then the two great lilahis, viz., waters and trees, trembled. flames

fire.

Narada who of all

soul

the

of every creature,

the Bharata princes,

(viz.,

and the grandsirc

Vyasa), beholding those two

weapons scorching the three worlds, showed themselves there.

The two Rishis sought to pacify the two heroes Aawatthaman and Dhananjaya. 11 of the

welfare

Conversant with all duties and desirous

of all creatures, the

two sages, possessed of

great energy, stood in the midst of those two blazing weapons."

Incapable of being overwhelmed by any forco, those two trious Rishls, placing themselves

between the two

checked by

stood like two blazing fires. *

Incapable of being

any creature endued with life,

and adored by g.ids aud

illus-

weapons,

Dana

MAHABHARA7A,'

vas, they two acted in this way, neutralising the energy of the

two weapons and doing good to all the world. 11 "The two Rishie said, battle

fallen in this

weapons.

— 'Those great car-warriors who have

were acquainted with diverse kinds of

They, however, never shot such a weapon upon

What act of rashness is this, ye

human beings. ye have done V

heroes, thai

" lt i

Section XT. Vaitjampayana said,

—-"At the very sight, O tiger among

inen, of those two Rishis possessed of splendour like that of fire,

•Dhananja)^ quickly resolved to withdraw his

celestial

shaft.

— used Joining his hands, he addressed those Rishie, saying, neutralise the (enemy's) weapon this weapon, saying, — Let 'I

—If I withdraw this high weapon, Drona's son of sinful deeds will

then, without

of his weapon.

doubt, consume

Ye two are like gods

all

with the energy

behoveth you to

devise some means by which our welfare as three worlds

may

be secured !'*

of the

that

also

— Having said these words,

Dhananjaya withdrew his weapon

The withdrawal

of thab

weapon by the gods themselves in battle is exceedingly

diffi-

Not excepting the great Indra himself, there was cult.* nobody save the son of Pandu, who was capable of withdrawing that high weapon after it had once been let off. 8 That weapon was born of Brahma energy.

No person

sed soul can bring it back after it is once

let

of unclean-

off.

that leads the life of a Brahmagh&rin can do it.

Only one If one who

has not practised the vow of Brahmacharya seeks to bring

ife

own head and 8 destroys him with all his equipments. Arjuna was a Brahma' charm and an observer of vows. Having obtained that almost unobtainable weapon, he had never used it even when back after having shot

it,

strikes

off his

plunged into situations of the greatest danger. 9

Observant of

the vow of truth, possessed of great heroism, leading the

life

cf a Brahmacharin, the son of Pandu was submissive and obedient to all his

superiors.

was

^sodad in withdrawing his weipin, 10

for

this

DronVs

that he

son,

sue-

beholding

*AttPTI*A PAR7A.

those two Rishls standing before him, could not by his energy withdraw his own terrible weapon." Unable to withdraw the

high weapon in battle, Drona's son, O king, with a cheerless heart, said unto the island-born Rishi these words. *— Threat1

ened by a great danger, and desirous of protecting my life, t% I let off this weapon, through fear of Bhimasena, O sage \

holy ont,

This Bhimasena of false bohaviour, acted ainftdly, while slaying the son of Dhritarashtra in battle !'*

regenerate one, that of uncleansed soul as I am,

this,

however withdraw

Cor

let

now !'•

off this weapon Having inspired this irresistible and celestial weapon with tha

dare

not,

energy of fire, I let it off for the destruction of the PandaContrived for the destruction of the Pandavas, thai* vas." will take away the lives of all the

weapon, therefore,

sons of

Pandit."

O regenerate one, I have, in wrath, done this sinful

deed!

invoked this

of the Pandavas!'

"Vyasa said,

weapon

wrath, nor for thy 1

for the destruction

battle

— 'Pritha's son Dhananjaya,

quainted with the weapon

weapon. '

Arjuna,

destruction

child,

even the Brahma weapon through thy

duties.

honesty.

Arjuna

besides,

is,

possessed of

baffling

instructions, the

sire's

such

for

Having obtained

mighty-armed Dhananjaya did not fall off from 81

ac-

he shoot thia

battle, did

on the other hand, used

He has again withdrawn it !*°

thy weapon.

was

Brahmagira. Neither from

called

Kshatriya's

patience,

conversant with

every

and such weapon.

Why dost thou seek to compass the destruction of such a That region where the weapon

person with all his brothers?"

called Brahmafira is baffled by another

high

a drought for twelve years for the clouds do of water there for this poriod !*•

weapon, suffers

not pour a drop

For this reason, the mighty-

armed son of Pandu, although he had tho power, would not still,

from desire of doing good to living creature*,

weapon with his !* 4

thy

baffle

The Pandavas should bo protected thy own self should be protected the kingdom also should be ;

;

protected.

Thereforo,

O thou of mighty-arms, withdraw this Dispel this wrath from thy heart,

celestial weapon of thine !**

*nd lot th«a Pamfavas be safe

The

royal

BSgi

Yudhichthira

MAHABHAIUTA,

never desires to win victory by perpetrating any sinful act !"'*

Give unto these that gem which is on thy head. the Pandavas will in return grant thee thy life

"Drona's son said,

—'This my gem

Taking

that,

more valuable than

the wealth that has ever been earned by the Pandavas and

all

If this gem

the Kauravas!* 8

worn, the wearer ceases to

have any fear from weapons or disease or hunger

ceases

and Ddnavas and Ndgas ?" His apprehensions from Rdkshasas as also from robbers will cease* to have any fear

of gods

Even these are the virtues of this gem of mine !'° any means, part with it 80

That, however,

thou sayest, should be done by me. is

myself!

will,

Here is this gem

Here

This blade of grass (inspired into a fatal weapon)

however, 81

fall

for this weapon is

frustrated!

I cannot, by

O holy one, which

into the

wombs

of the

O regenerate one, I am

the wombs of the Pandava women.

"Vyasa said,

unable to withdraw

I will now

having once let it off! 8 * in other respects,

Pandava women,

high and mighty, and inoapable of being it,

throw this weapon into

As regards thy commands

O holy one, I shall certainly obey them 38 !'

— 'Do then

any other purpose, O

this.

sinless

one

not, however, entertain

Throwing

weapon

this

into the wombs of the Pandava women, stop thyself !" 84

Vaigampayana continued, heard these

words of

the

— "The son of Drona, having

island-born, threw

weapon into the wombs of the Pandava women.'

that

uplifted

" S8

Section XVI.

Vaigampayana

said,

— "Understanding that that weapon was

brown (into the wombs of the Pandava women) by son of sinful deeds, Hrishikeca, with these words unto him :'

cheerful

now daughter-in-law said,'

line will become extinct, a son

be born

think, the

meanm?

q{ bfoU

will

— While the Kuru

Arjuna, while she was at Upaplavya,

heart, said

— 'A certain Brahmana of pious vows,

beholding Virata's daughter who

Drona's

thee.

This

that Yudhishthira would nofe

Sauftika r.uiVA. thy son,

for that reason, will be called by the

name

of Parik-

—

The words of that pious man shall become The Pandavas shall have a son called Parik.shit !'*

shit

true

Unto

Qovinda, that foremost one of the

Satwata race, while he was

saying these words, Drona's son,

filled

— saying,'

wrath, replied,

O Kec,ava, that thou sayest from thy partiO thou of eyes

'This,

Pandavas, shall not happen

the

ality for

with

like lotus petals,

my words cannot but be

fulfilled

e !

Uplifted

by me, this weapon of mine shall

fall

in the womb

— upon that foetus which

thou,

of Virata's daughter,

on the foetus that

Krishna, art desirous of protecting

"The holy one said,

— 'The

!' 7

of this mighty

fall

weapon

live again and have a long life

men know thee for

But being dead, it will As regards thyself, all wise

8 !

coward and a sinful wretch!

Always

engaged in sinful acts, thou art the slayer of children 9

sins

will

The foetus will die.

not be fruitless.

thou must have

this reason,

For

thy For three thousand years thou thalt wander over this to

bear

the

Earth, without a companion and without

with any one

of these

fruit

being able

talk

Alone and without anybody by thy side, thou shalt wander through diverse countries O wretch, !

thou shalt have no place in the midst of men I"

The stench of

puss and blood shall emanate from thee, and inaccessible ests and dreary

moors shall be thy abode

over the Earth,

for-

Thou shalt wander

thou of sinful soul, with the weight of all li

diseases on thee The heroic Parikshit, attaining to age and a knowledge of the Vedas and the practice of pious vows, !

shall obtain all weapons

from

obtained a knowledge of all all

the

son

Caradwat !"

Having

high weapons, and observant of

Kshatriya duties, that righteous-soulcd king shall rule the

Earth for sixty years! 14

More than this, that boy shall become

the mighty-armed king of the Kurus, Parikshit, before

thy

very

eyes,

known by the name thou

of wicked

soul !'•

Though burnt by the energy of thy weapon's fire, I shall revive him O lowest of men, behold the energy of my aus!

terities and

my truth

"Vyasa said, lis

!''*

— 'Since, disregarding

exceedingly cruel

act,

us, thou hast perpetrated

and since tby behaviour

such

KAHABHARATA,

54)

although

thou art a good

(by birth), 17 therefore;

Brahmana

those excellent words that Devaki's son has said,

doubt, be

realised

thy case, an adopter as thou hast been

in 18

of Kshatriya usages

"Aq watthaman said, one, I shall live

without

will,

— 'With thyself among

all

men,

holy

Let the wojds of this illustrious and fore-

most of men become true

xt !

Vaic,ampayana continued, over his gem to the

— "Drona's son then, having mado

high-souled Pandavas, cheerlessly pro-

ceeded, before their eyes,

to the forest.

The Pandavas, who

had killed and chastised all their foes, placed Govinda and island-born Krishna and

great ascetic Narada at

the

head, and taking the gem that was born

tjia

their

with Acwatthaman,

quickly came back to the intelligent Draupadi who was sitting in observance of the Praya vow.' 1

Vaic.ampayana continued, — "Those

tigers among men, borna

by their excellent steeds resembling the wind in fleetnessy came back, with him of Dac,arha's race, fro their encamp* ment. 88

Speedily alighting from their cars, those great car-

warriors, themselves

daughter Krishna

much more

afflicted

afflicted,

with woe. 1 *

beheld, Drupada's

Approaching

the

cheerless princess stricken with sorrow and grief, the Pandava3

with Kec,ava, sat round her. 88

Then the mighty Bhimasena,

desired by the king, gave that celestial gem unto her and said

these words :*•

— 'This gem, O amiable lady,

slayer of thy sons hath

been vanquished

thine

The

Rise, casting

off

thy sorrow, and recollect the duties of a Kshatriya lady

8T !

O thou of black eyes, when Vasudeva was about to set out (from Upaplavya) on his mission of peace, thou hadst, O timid lady, said even these words

have no husbands

unto the slayer of Madhu 88 :

I have no

sons, nor

brothers

Nor

— art

peace! 88

—

thou alive, O Govinda, since ^he king desires

for

Those bitter words were addressed by thee to

Krishna, that

foremost of persons of thine

that

It behoveth thee to recollect those words

10 were so consistent with Kshatriya usages!

The wretched Duryodhana, that obstacle on the way sovereignty, has been slain. living Duscasana.

81 !

I have quaffed the

blood

of our of the

We have paid off the de^t we owed to

SA-UPTIKA PARTI,

our enemy

People, while talking, will not be

any longer

sure

i$ able

Having vanquished Drona's

cen-

son,

have set him free for the sake of his being a Brahmaua and of the respect that should be shown to our deceased pre-

His fame hath bbv

ceptor !"

body remains

goddess, only

destroyed,

his

He has been divested of his gem and on Earth

he has been reft of his weapons !'"

"Draupadi said,

—

desired to only pay off our debt for the

The preceptor's

injury we have sustained.

son

worthy of

Let tho king bind my reverence as the preceptor himself this gem on his head, O Bharata — The king then, taking !•*

that gem, placed it

his

desire

of Draupadi

preceptor."

Holding on

head, at

and regarding it as a gift from

the

his head that excellent and celestial

the

gem, the puissant king

looked beautiful like a

mountain with the moon above

Though stricken with

grief on

account of the death

it."

of her

sons, the princess Draupadi, possessed of great mental strength,

gave up her vow.

Then king Yudhishthira enquired

mighty-armed Krishna, saying the following words."'

of the

Section XVII. Vaicampiiyana said, during the

— "After

hour of sleep by

all- the

those

Yudhishthira in great grief said of Dacarha's race :'

troops three

these

had been ^lain

car-warriors, king

words unto him

— How, O Krishna, could my sons,

whom were mighty car-warfiors, be slaughtered by

all

the

sinful

and wretched Aowatthaman of no great skill in battle? 8

How

alse could Drona's

son

slay

the

children

of Drupada, all

whom were accomplished in weapons, possessed wess, and foe3 ?

capable

of battling

of great

pro-

with hundreds of thousands of

H)w could he slay that foremost of car-warriors, viz., whom the great bowman Drona him-

Dhrishtadyumna, before self could not appear ?* tor's son,

What act was done

the

precep-

O bull among men, in consequence of which he suc-

ceeded in slaying, single-handed,

"The holy one said,

all

our men in battle ?'•

— 'Verily, Drona's son had sought tho

aid of that high»*t of all the god?, viz... the eternal

Maha lera

MAHABHARATA,

man from

ing in the gratification derived by -of the five elemental substances

irom these four sprung. * 1

kinds

Sacrifice

his

enjoyment

and their compounds. that

the

It is

has

universe

Kaparddin constructed that bow using as materials

The length of that bow was five cubits. The sacred (mantra) Vashat, O JBharata, was made its string. The four parts, of which a Sacrifice consists, became the adornments o p that bow. 7 Then the first and the

kinds of Sacrifices.

fourth

Mahadeva, filled with rage, and taking up that bow, proceeded to that spot where the celestials were engaged in their Sacrifice.'

JBeholding the unfading Rudra arrive there attired as

a Brah-'

•macharin and armed with that bow, the goddess Earth shrank

The very

.with fear and the very mountains began to tremble.'

wind ceased to move, and fire itself, though fed, did not blaze The stars in the firmament, in anxiety, began to wander forth.

The Sun's splendour decreased. The disc of the Moon lost its beauty. The entire welkin became enveloped in a thick gloom. 11 The celestials, overwhelmed, knew not what to do. Their Sacrifice ceased to blaze forth. The gods were all terrified. 18 Rudra then pierced the embodiment of Sacrifice with a fierce shaft in the heart. The

in irregular courses. * 1

embodied form fled

away, with the god of fire.

that form, T)

assuming the shape of a

of Sacrifice,

he blazed forth in

Yudhishthira,

Approaching heaven in

Sacrifice had fled away, the gods lost their

however,

Rudra,

beauty.

him through the

pursued

deer,

skies.

After

HavThen the

splendours.

ing lost their senses, the gods were stupified. 14

* Nilak.mtha explains the four kinds of sacrifice mentioned here as — £o£a-sacrifice means the desire cherished by everybody for be-

follows

ing regarded as good ;

A>iy<l-sricrifice

formed on esDecial occasions

;

tho«e religions rites that are Agni-hotra^ &c, &c.

means the

especial

<?riAa-sacrifice is the daily

enjoined

rites

per-

performance of

the scriptures, such as the

enjoyment by man of and the happiness he derives

Lastly, iVrt-sacrifice is the

the things amidst which his life

cast

from that enjoyment. How the universe can be said to depend upon or have sprnner from these four kinds of sacrifice is more than what I

r»

can understand,— T,

;

iitTIKJl PARVA,

three-eyed Mahadeva, with his bow, broke in rago iho arms of

and plucked out the eyes of Bhaga and the teeth

Savitri,

Pushna. 18

The gods then

fled

away, as also

the

all

several

Some amongst them, reeling as they 17 The blue-throated sought to fly away, fell down sensoless.

parts

Sacrifice.

Rudra, having agitated them thus, laughed aloud and whirling ihe

horn of his bow, paralysed them. 11

The celestials At their command, the string of the bow The string having broken, the bow became stretched

then uttered a cry. broke.

The gods then approached the bowless god of embodied form of Sacrifice, sought the protection of the puissant Mahadeva and endeavoured to gratify into a line.

gods and, with the

him.*

Gratified, the great god threw his wrath into the water.

king,

that

wrath, assuming

the

form

employed in consuming that liquid element.*'

always

fire,

then

gave

unto Savitri his arms, Bhaga his eyes, and Pushna his teeth.

And he also restored the Sacrifices

themselves,

O Pandava!**

The world once more became safe and sound. The gods assigned unto Mahadeva all the libations of clarified butter as monarch, when Mahadeva had the share of great deity.' 3 become angry, the whole world had thus become agitated

when he bocame gratified, everything became safe.

Possessed

of great energy, the god Mahadova was gratified with

thaman.* 4

It was for this that

thy

sons, those

warriors, could be slain by that warrior.

many

other

heroes, viz., the

lowers, could be slain by him.'*

mind to dwell on it. that act.

It was for

Panchalas, with

A^wat-

mighty

all

car-

this

that

their

fol-

Thou shouldst not suffer thy

It was not Drona's son that accomplished

was done through

now what should next be done.'

the

grace

"'*

FWIS SA CP TIKA PA RVA.

of Mahadeva.

TABLE of CONTENTS. SiUPTIKA PaKVA. PAGE,

The three survivors of the Kuru army proceed towards the south

...

At the hour of sunset they reach a spot not far from the field of battle

...

Hearing the shouts in the Pandava camp they proceed further and reach a dense forest

...

Dhritarashtra interrupts Sanjaya by expressing his grief for Duryodhana and then enquires about the acts of the three survivors

...

The survivors, having entered a forest, see a huge banian

2 ib

All the three lay themselves down for rest and sleep

Kripa and Kritavarman fall asleep

...

Acwatfchaman kept awake by wrath and the desire of vengeance

...

Acwatthiiman sees a fierce owl come to that banian and slay a large number of crows roosting on its branches Aewatthaman, at this sight, forms the wicked resolution

of destroying the Pandava army whilo buried in sleep Aewatthaman awakes Kripa and Kritavarman, unfolds

his project before them, and asks for their advice

Kripa dissuades him from the execution of his wicked design

...

Aowatthaman tries to refute Kripa's arguments

...

Kripn's rejoinder, promising to aid Aowatthaman if the latter would fight the foe the

daylight

...

A<;.watthaman's answer

next morning during

...

Kripa earnestly remonstrates with Acwatthiiman

Aowatthaman declares his resolution to be unalterable Aewatthaman yokes his steeds to his car and proceeds alone

...

Kripa and Kritavarman follow him

...

Approaching the Pandava camp, Aewatthaman stops at the gate

,,.

...

,.,

CONTENTS.

PAGE

He beholds a being of gigantic form read)' to resist him

17 ... Ac,watthaman fearlessly fights this being The gigantic being devours all the weapons of A9 watthaman ib

Ac watthaman's repentance for his rash deed

...

Ajewatthaman resolves to seek the protection of Mahadeva

His hymn to Mahadeva

...

A golden altar appears before him, with a blazing fire on it

Many mighty beings of extraordinary appearance come there

...

AQwatthaman feels no fear at the sight ...

...

The peculiarities of their features

He offers himself as a libation, unto Mahadeva, on the fire ... Mahadeva appears before AQwatthaman The great god declares that the period of life of everybody within the camp has run out ... ... He gives a sword unto A^watthaman and fills him with ... ... his own energy ... towards proceeds the Pandava camp, A<;watthaman accompanied by many invisible spirits and ghosts

and llakvhasas

...

Beholding Kripa and Kritavarman at the gate,

...

ib ib

24 ib

Ac, wat-

thaman asks them to stand there and slay all that would seek to escape before their eyes He enters the Pandava camp like a thief

... ...

He proceeds, guided by signs, to Dhrishtadyumna's tent

Finds the Panchala prince fast asleep

...

... ... Awakes him with a kick Assails him powerfully before the prince succeeds in rising ... The prince makes an ineffectual resistance

Awaked by the noise, the prince's guards do not interfere ... ... The prince is slain like an animal Loud wails of grief burst forth from Dhrishtadyumna's tent, uttered by the women and the sentinels ... Awaked by the noise many Panchala warriors arm

...

and rush towards Drona's son Drona's son slays them all with the

...

Radra weapon

Drona's so.n next slays the sleeping Uttamaujas.

...

CONTENTS

PAGE.

Yudhamanyu rushes towards Drona's son at this sight and is slain ...

...

Ac;watthaman then slays many unarmed and tired warriors

...

Ac, watthaman encountered by the sons of

Draupadi at

the head of the Somakas, as also by Cikhandin at

the head of the Prabhadrakas

...

The sons of Draupadi are slain one after another

...

27 ib

Acwatthiiman next slays Cikhandin and the Prabhadrakas

Ho next slays the remnant of Virata's force

...

Acwatthaman completes the slaughter, aided by the fears of his sleepy foes and the confusion and the

darkness around

...

Tho warriors that seek to escape by the gate are slain by Kripa and Kritavarman...

...

Kripa and Kritavarman set fire to the Pandava camp in three places

Aided by the light,

...

Ac; watthaman careers like

and slays many men

...

Yama ...

Before midnight the vast host of the Pandavas is slain

by A<; watthaman ... ... ... The camp invaded by RdJcshasas and Pipdchas that gorge

upon blood and flesh

...

32 ib

After achieving the dastardly slaughter, Drona's son forgets his grief for his sire

...

The Pandava camp once more becomes perfectly still

Issuing from the camp, at the gate

...

Ac;.

...

watthaman joins his comrades ...

...

34>

Dhritarashtra inquires why Drona's son did not achieve

such a feat before

...

Sanjaya answers that the absence of the Pandavas with

Vasudeva, as also tho sleep in which the warriors were buried, was the causo of Aewatthaman's success

The joy of the three Kuru heroes ... ... They resolve to give intelligence of the slaughter to Duryodhana ... ... ... They proceed to the spot where Duryodhana lies ...

ib ib

CotfTEKTSj

PAGE.

The pitiable state of the Kuru king The grief of the three heroes at the sight The lamentations of Kripa ... ...

...

Ditto of Acwatthaman

...

Acwatthaman informs Duryodhana of the slaughter of the Pandava army ... ... ...

Duryodhana's satisfaction at the intelligence

...

Duryodhana gives up his life-breaths ... ... The driver of Dhrishtadyumna's car informs Yudhishthira, in the morning, of the extermination of his army

The grief of Yudhishthira at the intelligence ... The lamentations of Yudhishthira ... ... Yudhishthira despatches Nakula for bringing thither Draupadi and the ladies with her

...

Yudhishthira proceeds to view the slaughter in his camp

Yudhishthira

falls

39 ib

40 41

down senseless at the piteous sight

that greets his eyes

...

Draupadi arrives from Upaplavya

...

The princess falls down on the earth in a swoon ... ... Bhima comforts her

Draupadi resolves to sit in Pray a if the Pandavas do not slay Acwatthaman

...

Yudhishthira urges her to forget her sorrows, saying that Acwatthaman is not to be found

...

Draupadi insists upon Acwatthaman's slaughter and the ... deprivation of the gem on his head... The princess appeals in particular to Bhimasena ... Making Nakula his driver, Bhimasena sets out in pur-

suit of

Acwatthaman, guided by the track of the

latter's car wheels

...

Krishna urges Yudhishthira to make arrangements for the safety of Bhima as Acwatthaman has the Brahmagira weapon capable of exterminating all foes The story of Acwatthaman's acquisition of the Brahma... ... gira weapon ...

Acwatthaman's adventures at Dwaraka, for obtaining Krishna's discus

...

CONTENTS

FA IE.

His inability to raise the discus

...

Krishna's reproof of A<;\vatthfunan for his presumption

Tho Pandavas, with Krishna, proceed in tho track of ... ... Bhimasena ... ... They ask Bhima to stop ... ... ... ... Bhima refuses to listen to them ... The Pandavas find Acwatthman Bitting with Vyisa Acwatthaman, in fear, lets off the Brahma^'ira weapon

Arjuna shoots the Brahma weapon

48 ib

...

... The extraordinary portents in nature ... Narada and Yyilsa, seeking to save the throe worlds,

...

stand between the two fires generated by the two

weapons

...

Dhananjaya withdraws his weapon

...

•••

...

Acwatthaman incapable of withdrawing his weapon Acwatthaman throws his weapon into the womb of Uttara for slaying her unborn child ...

Krishna revives the child

...

The dreadful curse of Krishna upon Acwatthaman for his wicked act

...

VyfLsa approves of Krishna's curse

...

•••

...

Drona's son accepts the curse and gives up the natural ...

...

The Pandavas return to Draupadi

...

Bhima comforts Draupadi

...

•••

gem on his head to the Pandavas ...

Draupadi asks Yudhishthira to place upon his head the

gem taken from Acwatthaman

...

Yudhishthira enquires of Krishna about the true rruiso of Acwatthaman's success in destroying the Pan-

dava army

...

•••

...

•••

Krishna's reply about the glory of Ifahldeva

The great sacrifico of tho gods in the Krlta age Destruction of the great sacrifice by Kudra

Acwatthaman's success attributable to Kudra? aid ... /' /

N 1&

5->

Date Due

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IN U. S. A.

BL1130.A3K61v.5 The Mahabharata of Knshna-Dwaipayana Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library