Maha-bharata Part 2

VI

The Rival Warriors

Joyful was the proud Duryodhan, gladness gleamed upon his face, And he spake to gallant Karna with a dear and fond embrace:

"Welcome, mighty armed chieftain! thou hast victor's honours won!

Thine is all my wealth and kingdom, name thy wish and it is done!"

Answered Karna to Duryodhan, "Prince! thy word is good as deed, But I seek to combat Arjun and to win the victor's meed!"

"n.o.ble is the boon thou seekest," answered Kuru's prince of fame, "Be a joy unto your comrades, let the foeman dread thy name!"

Anger flamed in Arjun's bosom, and he spake in accents rude Unto Karna who in triumph calm and proud and fearless stood:

"Chief! who comest uninvited, pratest in thy lying boast, Thou shalt die the death of braggarts--witness be this mighty host!"

Karna answered calm and proudly, "Free this listed field to all, Warriors enter by their prowess, wait not, Arjun, for thy call!

Warlike chieftains take their places by their strength of arm and might, And their warrant is their falchion, valour sanctifies their right!

Angry word is coward's weapon, Arjun, speak with arrows keen, Till I lay thee, witness Drona, low upon the listed green!"

Drona gave the word impartial, wrathful Arjun, dread of foes, Parted from his loving brothers, with his glist'ning arms arose,

Karna clasped the Kuru's princes, parted from them one and all, With his bow and ample quiver proudly stepped the warrior tall.

Now the clouds with lurid flashes gathered darkling, thick and high, Lines of cranes like gleams of laughter sailed across the gloomy sky.

Rain-G.o.d INDRA over Arjun watched with father's partial love, Sun-G.o.d SURYA over Karna shed his light from far above,

Arjun stood in darkening shadow by the inky clouds concealed, Bold and bright in open sunshine radiant Karna stood revealed!

Proud Duryodhan and his brothers stood by Karna calm and bold, Drona stood by gallant Arjun, and brave Bhishma, warrior old,

Women too with partial glances viewed the one or other chief, But by equal love divided silent Pritha swooned in grief!

Wise Vidura, true to duty, with an anxious hurry came, Sandal-drops and sprinkled waters roused the woe-distracted dame,

And she saw her sons in combat, words of woe she uttered none, Speechless wept, for none must fathom Karna was her eldest son!

VII

The Anointment of Karna

Crested Karna, helmed Arjun, proudly trod the s.p.a.cious green, Kripa, skilled in herald's duties, spake upon the dreadful scene:

_"This is helmet-wearing Arjun, sprung of Kuru's mighty race, Pandu's son and borne by Pritha, prince of worth and warlike grace,_

_Long-armed Chief! declare thy lineage, and the race thou dost adorn, Name thy mother and thy father, and the house that saw thee born,_

_By the rules of war Prince Arjun claims his rival chief to know, Princes may not draw their weapon 'gainst a base and nameless foe!"_

Karna silent heard this mandate but his birth could not proclaim, Like a raindrop-pelted lotus bent his humble head in shame!

"Prince we reckon," cried Duryodhan, "not the man of birth alone, Warlike leader of his forces as a prince and chief we own!

Karna by his warlike valour is of crowned kings the peer, Karna shall be crowned monarch, nations shall his mandate hear!"

Forth they brought the corn and treasure, golden coin and water jar, On the throne they seated Karna famed in many a deathful war,

Brahmans chanted sacred _mantra_ which the holy books ordain, And anointed Karna monarch, king of Anga's fair domain,

And they raised the red umbrella, and they waved the _chowri_ fan, "Blessings on the crowned monarch! honour to the bravest man!"

Now the holy rites accomplished, in his kingly robes arrayed Karna unto prince Duryodhan thus in grateful accents prayed:

"Gift of kingdom, good Duryodhan, speaketh well thy n.o.ble heart, What return can grateful Karna humbly render on his part?"

"Grant thy friendship," cried Duryodhan, "for no other boon I crave, Be Duryodhan's dearest comrade be his helper true and brave!"

"Be it so!" responded Karna, with a proud and n.o.ble grace, And he sealed his loyal friendship in a dear and fond embrace!

VIII

The Chariot-driver

Wet with drops of toil and languor, lo! a chariot-driver came, Loosely hung his scanty garments, and a staff upheld his frame,

Karna, now a crowned monarch, to the humble charioteer, Bent his head, still moist with water, as unto a parent dear!

With his scanty cloth the driver sought his dusty feet to hide, And he hailed the gallant Karna as his son and as his pride,

And he clasped unto his bosom crowned Karna's n.o.ble head, And on Karna's dripping forehead, fresh and loving tear-drops shed!

Is he son of chariot-driver? Doubts arose in Bhima's mind, And he sought to humble Karna with reproachful words unkind:

"Wilt thou, high-descended hero, with a Kuru cross thy brand?

But the goad of cattle-drivers better suits, my friend, thy hand!

Wilt thou as a crowned monarch rule a mighty nation's weal?

As the jackals of the jungle sacrificial offerings steal!"

Quivered Karna's lips in anger, word of answer spake he none, But a deep sigh shook his bosom, and he gazed upon the sun!

IX

Close of the Day

Like a lordly tusker rising from a beauteous lotus lake, Rose Duryodhan from his brothers, proudly thus to Bhima spake: