Maha-bharata Part 20

Fourth, a long and beauteous weapon glittering sable in its hue, With its sheath of softer goat-skin worked with gold on azure blue!

And the fifth is broad and ma.s.sive over thirty fingers long, Golden-sheathed and gold embossed like a snake or fiery tongue!"

Joyously responded Arjun: "Mark this bow embossed with gold, 'Tis the wondrous bow, _gandiva_, worthy of a warrior bold!

Gift of heaven! to archer Arjun kindly G.o.ds this weapon sent, And the confines of a kingdom widen when the bow is bent!

Next, this mighty ponderous weapon worked with elephants of gold, With this bow the stalwart Bhima hath the tide of conquests rolled!

And the third with golden insects by a cunning hand inlaid, 'Tis Yudhishthir's royal weapon by the n.o.blest artists made!

Next the bow with solar l.u.s.tre brave Nakula wields in fight, And the fifth is Sahadeva's, decked with gems and jewels bright!

Listen, prince! these thousand arrows, unto Arjun they belong, And the darts whose blades are crescent unto Bhima brave and strong,

Boar-ear shafts are young Nakula's, in the tiger-quiver cased, Sahadeva owns the arrows with the parrot's feather graced,

These three-knotted shining arrows, thick and yellow vulture-plumed, They belong to King Yudhishthir, with their heads by gold illumed.

Listen more! if of these sabres, prince of Matsya, thou wouldst know, Arjun's sword is toad-engraven, ever dreaded by the foe!

And the sword in tiger-scabbard, ma.s.sive and of mighty strength, None save tiger-waisted Bhima wields that sword of wondrous length!

Next the sabre golden-hilted, sable and with gold embossed, Brave Yudhishthir kept that sabre when the king his kingdom lost!

Yonder sword with goat-skin scabbard brave Nakula wields in war, In the cowhide Sahadeva keeps his shining scimitar!"

"Strange thy accents," spake Uttara, "stranger are the weapons bright, Are they arms of sons of Pandu famed on earth for matchless might?

Where are now those pious princes by a dire misfortune crossed, Warlike Arjun, good Yudhishthir, by his subjects loved and lost?

Where is tiger-waisted Bhima, matchless fighter in the field, And the brave and twin-born brothers skilled the arms of war to wield?

O'er a game they lost their empire, and we heard of them no more, Or perchance they lonesome wander on some wild and distant sh.o.r.e!

And Draupadi n.o.ble princess, purest best of womankind, Doth she wander with Yudhishthir, changeless in her heart and mind?"

Proudly answered valiant Arjun, and a smile was on his face, "Not in distant lands the brothers do their wandering footsteps trace!

In thy father's court disguised lives Yudhishthir just and good, Bhima in thy father's palace as a cook prepares the food!

Brave Nakula guards the horses, Sahadeva tends the kine, As thy sister's waiting-woman doth the fair Draupadi shine!

_Pardon, prince, these rings and bangles, pardon strange unmanly guise, 'Tis no poor and s.e.xless creature, Arjun greets thy wondering eyes!"_

IV

Rescue of the Cattle

Arjun decked his mighty stature in the gleaming arms of war, And with voice of distant thunder rolled the mighty battle-car!

And the Kurus marked with wonder Arjun's standard lifted proud, Heard with dread the deep _gandiva_ sounding oft and sounding loud!

And they knew the wondrous bowman wheeling round the battle-car, And with doubts and grave misgivings whispered Drona skilled in war:

"That is Arjun's monkey-standard, how it greets my ancient eyes!

Well the Kurus know the standard like a comet in the skies!

Hear ye not the deep _gandiva_? How my ear its accents greet!

Mark ye not these pointed arrows falling p.r.o.ne before my feet?

By these darts his salutation to his teacher loved of old, Years of exile now completed, Arjun sends with greetings bold!

How the gallant prince advances! Now I mark his form and face, Issuing from his dark concealment with a brighter, haughtier grace,

Well I know his bow and arrows and I know his standard well, And the deep and echoing accents of his far-resounding sh.e.l.l!

In his shining arms accoutred, gleaming in his helmet dread, Shines he like the flame of _homa_ by libations duly fed!"

Arjun marked the Kuru warriors arming for th' impending war, Whispered thus to prince Uttara as he drove the battle-car:

"Stop thy steeds, O prince of Matsya! for too close we may not go, Stop thy chariot whence my arrows reach and slay the distant foe,

Seek we out the Kuru monarch, proud Duryodhan let us meet, If he falls we win the battle, other chieftains will retreat.

There is Drona my preceptor, Drona's warlike son is there, Kripa and the mighty Bhishma, archer Karna, tall and fair,

Them I seek not in this battle, lead, O lead thy chariot far, Midst the chiefs Duryodhan moves not, moves not in the ranks of war!

But to save the pilfered cattle speeds he onward in his fear, While these warriors stay and tarry to defend their monarch's rear,

But I leave these car-borne warriors, other work to-day is mine, Meet Duryodhan in the battle, win thy father's stolen kine!"

Matsya's prince then turned the courses, left behind the war's array, Where Duryodhan with the cattle quickly held his onward way,

Kripa marked the course of Arjun, guessed his inmost thought aright, Thus he spake to brother warriors urging speed and instant fight:

"Mark ye, chieftains, gallant Arjun wheels his sounding battle-car, 'Gainst our prince and proud Duryodhan seeks to turn the tide of war!

Let us fall upon our foeman and our prince and leader save, Few save INDRA, G.o.d of battles, conquers Arjun fierce and brave!

What were Matsya's fattened cattle, many thousands though they be, If our monarch sinks in battle like a ship in stormy sea!"

Vain were Kripa's words of wisdom! Arjun drove the chariot fair, While his shafts like countless locusts whistled through the ambient air!

Kuru soldiers struck with panic neither stood and fought, nor fled, Gazed upon the distant Arjun, gazed upon their comrades dead!

Arjun tw.a.n.ged his mighty weapon, blew his far-resounding sh.e.l.l, Strangely spake his monkey-standard, Kuru warriors knew it well!