Maha-bharata Part 19

I would win my father's cattle from the wily foeman's greed, If a skilful chariot-driver could my fiery coursers lead,

For my ancient chariot-driver died on battle's gory plain, Eight and twenty days we wrestled, many warlike chiefs were slain!

Bring me forth a skilful driver who can urge the battle-steed, I will hoist my lion-banner, to the dubious battle speed!

Dashing through the foeman's horses, ranks of elephant and car, I will win the stolen cattle rescued in the field of war!

And like thunder-wielding INDRA, smiting Danu's sons of old, I will smite the Kuru chieftains, drive them to their distant hold!

Bhishma and the proud Duryodhan, archer Karna known to fame, Drona too shall quail before me and retreat in bitter shame!

Do those warriors in my absence Matsya's far-famed cattle steal?

But beneath my countless arrows Matsya's vengeance they shall feel!

Bring me forth a chariot-driver, let me speed my battle-car, And in wonder they will question--Is this Arjun famed in war?"

II

The Disguised Charioteer

Arjun, guised as Brihannala, heard the boast Uttara made, And to try his skill and valour, thus to fair Draupadi prayed:

"Say to him that Brihannala will his battle-chariot lead, That as Arjun's chariot-driver he hath learned to urge the steed,

Say that faithful Brihannala many a dubious war hath seen, And will win his father's cattle in this contest fierce and keen."

Fair Draupadi, guised as menial, Arjun's secret hest obeyed, Humbly stepped before Uttara and in gentle accents prayed:

"Hear me, prince! yon Brihannala will thy battle-chariot lead, He was Arjun's chariot-driver, skilled to urge the flying steed,

Trained in war by mighty Arjun, trained to drive the battle-car, He hath followed helmed Arjun in the glorious field of war,

And when Arjun conquered Khandav, this, Uttara, I have seen, Brihannala drove his chariot, for I served Yudhishthir's queen."

Heard Uttara hesitating, spake his faint and timid mind, "I would trust thee, beauteous maiden, lotus-bosomed, ever kind,

But a poor and s.e.xless creature, can he rein the warlike steed?

Can I ask him, worse than woman, in the battle's ranks to lead?"

"Need is none," Draupadi answered, "Brihannala's grace to ask, He is eager like the war-horse for this great and warlike task!

And he waits upon thy sister, she will bid the minion speed, And he wins thy father's cattle, and the victor's glorious meed!"

Matsya's princess spake to Arjun, Arjun led the battle-car, Led the doubting prince Uttara to the dread and dubious war!

III

Arms and Weapons

Arjun drove the prince of Matsya to a darksome _sami_ tree, Spake unto the timid warrior in his accents bold and free:

"Prince, thy bow and shining arrows, pretty handsome toys are these, Scarcely they beseem a warrior, and a warrior cannot please!

Thou shalt find upon this _sami_, mark my words which never fail, Stately bows and winged arrows, banners, swords and coats of mail!

And a bow which strongest warriors scarce can in the battle bend, And the limits of a kingdom widen when that bow is strained!

Tall and slender like a palm-tree, worthy of a warrior bold, Smooth the wood of hardened fibre, and the ends are yellow gold!"

Doubting still Uttara answered: "In this _sami's_ gloomy shade Corpses hang since many seasons, in their wrappings duly laid,

Now I mark them all suspended, horrent, in the open air, And to touch the unclean objects, friend, is more than I can dare!"

"Fear not warrior," Arjun answered, "for the tree conceals no dead, Warriors' weapons, cased like corpses, lurk within its gloomy shade,

And I ask thee, prince of Matsya, not to touch an unclean thing, But unto a chief and warrior weapons and his arms to bring!"

Prince Uttara gently lighted, climbed the dark and leafy tree, Arjun from the prince's chariot bade him speed the arms to free,

Then the young prince cut the wrappings and the shining bows appear Twisted, voiced like hissing serpents, like the bright stars glistening clear!

Seized with wonder prince Uttara silently the weapons eyed, And unto his chariot-driver thus in trembling accents cried:

"Whose this bow so tall and stately, speak to me my gentle friend, On the wood are golden bosses, tipped with gold at either end?

Whose this second ponderous weapon stout and ma.s.sive in the hold, On the staff are worked by artists elephants of burnished gold?

Sure some great and mighty monarch owns this other bow of might, Set with golden glittering insects on its ebon back so bright?

Golden suns of wondrous brightness on this fourth their l.u.s.tre lend, Who may be the unknown archer who this stately bow can bend?

And the fifth is set with jewels, gems and stones of purest ray, Golden fire-flies glint and sparkle in the yellow light of day!

Who doth own these shining arrows with their heads in gold encased, Thousand arrows bright and feathered, in the golden quivers placed?

Next are these with vulture-feather, golden-yellow in their hue, Made of iron, keen and whetted, whose may be these arrows true?

Next upon this sable quiver jungle tigers worked in gold, And these keen and boar-eared arrows speak some chieftains fierce and bold!

Fourth are these seven hundred arrows, crescent is their shining blade, Thirsting for the blood of foemen, and by cunning artists made!

And the fifth are golden-crested, made of tempered steel and bright, Parrot feathers wing these arrows, whetted and of wondrous might!

Who doth own this wondrous sabre, shape of toad is on the hilt, On the blade a toad is graven, and the scabbard n.o.bly gilt?

Larger, stouter is this second in its sheath of tiger-skin, Decked with bells and gold-surmounted, and the blade is bright and keen!

Next this scimitar so curious by the skilled _nishadas_ made, Scabbard made of wondrous cowhide sheathes the bright and polished blade!