Maha-bharata Part 36

And the firm earth shook and trembled 'neath the furious rush of war, And the echoing welkin answered shouts that nations heard from far,

And the thickening cloud of arrows filled the firmament on high, Darker, deeper, dread and deadlier, grew the angry face of sky,

Till the evening's sable garment mantled o'er the battle-field, And the angry rivals parted, neither chief could win or yield!

II

Fall of Karna

At the break of morning Karna unto Prince Duryodhan went, Thus in slow and measured accents to his inner thoughts gave vent:

"Morning dawns, O Kuru's monarch! mighty Arjun shall be slain, Or fulfilling warrior's duty Karna dyes the gory plain!

Long through life within our bosoms ever burnt the mutual hate, Oft we met and often parted, rescued by the will of fate!

But yon sun with crimson l.u.s.tre sees us meet to part no more, Gallant Arjun's course this evening or proud Karna's shall be o'er!

Room is none for Arjun's glory and for archer Karna's fame, One must sink and one must sparkle with a brighter, richer flame!

List yet more; in wealth of arrows and in wondrous strength of bow, Arjun scarcely me surpa.s.seth, scarcely I excel my foe!

In the light skill of the archer and in sight and truth of aim, Arjun beats not, scarcely rivals, Karna's proud and peerless fame!

If his wondrous bow _gandiva_ is the gift of G.o.ds in heaven, Karna's bow the famed _vijaya_ is by Par'su-Rama given!

Ay, the son of Jamadagni, kings of earth who proudly slayed, On the youthful arms of Karna his destructive weapon laid!

Yet I own, O king of Kuru! Arjun doth his foe excel,-- Matchless are his fiery coursers, peerless Krishna leads them well!

Krishna holds the reins for Arjun, Krishna speeds his battle-car, Drives the lightning-winged coursers o'er the startled field of war!

Sweeps in pride his sounding chariot till it almost seems to fly, Arjun lords it o'er the battle like the comet in the sky!

Grant me, monarch, mighty Salya drive my swift and warlike steed, And against the car-borne Arjun, Karna's fiery chariot lead!

Salya too is skilled, like Krishna, with the steed and battle-car, Equal thus I meet my foeman in this last and fatal war!"

Spake Duryodhan; warlike Salya mounted Karna's sounding car, Karna sought for mighty Arjun in the serried ranks of war:

"Hundred milch-kine Karna offers, costly garment, yellow gold, Unto him who in this battle points to me my foeman bold!

Cars and steeds and fertile acres, peaceful hamlets rich and fair, Dark-eyed damsels lotus-bosomed, crowned with glossy raven hair,

These are his who points to Karna, Arjun hiding from this war, Arjun's snowy steeds and banner and his swift and thund'ring car!"

Karna spake, but long and loudly laughed the king of Madra's land, As he reined the fiery coursers with his strong and skilful hand,

"Of rewards and gifts," he uttered, "little need is there, I ween, Arjun is not wont to tarry from the battle's glorious scene!

Soon will Arjun's snowy coursers shake the battle's startled field, Helmed Arjun like a comet gleam with bow and sword and shield!

As the forest-ranging tiger springs upon his fated prey, As the horned bull, infuriate, doth the weakling cattle slay,

As the fierce and lordly lion smites the timid jungle-deer, Arjun soon shall spring upon thee, for he knows nor dread nor fear,

Save thee then, O mighty archer! while I drive my sounding car, Pandu's son hath met no equal in the valiant art of war!"

Darkly frowned the angry Karna, Salya held the loosened rein, Dashing through the hostile forces then the warrior sped amain,

Through the serried ranks of battle Karna drove in furious mood, Facing him in royal splendour good Yudhishthir fearless stood!

Surging ranks of brave Nishadas closed between and fought in vain, Proud Panchalas, stout and faithful, vainly strove among the slain,

Onward came the fiery Karna like the ocean's heaving swell, With the sweeping wrath of tempest on the good Yudhishthir fell!

Wrathful then the son of Pandu marked his n.o.blest chieftains dead, And in words of scornful anger thus to archer Karna said:

"Hast thou, Karna, vowed the slaughter of my younger Arjun brave?

Wilt thou do Duryodhan's mandate, proud Duryodhan's willing slave?

Unfulfilled thy vow remaineth, for the righteous G.o.ds ordain, By Yudhishthir's hand thou fallest, go and slumber with the slain!"

Fiercely drew his bow Yudhishthir, fiercely was the arrow driven, Rocky cliff or solid mountain might the shaft have pierced and riven!

Lightning-like it came on Karna, struck and pierced him on the left, And the warrior fell and fainted as of life and sense bereft!

Soon he rose; the cloud of anger darkened o'er his livid face, And he drew his G.o.dlike weapon with a more than human grace!

Arrows keen and dark as midnight, gleaming in their lightning flight, Struck Yudhishthir's royal armour with a fierce resistless might!

Clanking fell the shattered armour from his person fair and pale, As from sun's meridian splendour clouds are drifted by the gale!

Armourless but bright and radiant brave Yudhishthir waged the fight, Bright as sky with stars bespangled on a clear and cloudless night!

And he threw his pointed lances like the summer's bursting flood, Once again Yudhishthir's weapons drank his fiery foeman's blood!

Pale with anguish, wrathful Karna fiercely turned the tide of war, Cut Yudhishthir's royal standard, crashed his sumptuous battle-car,

And he urged his gallant coursers till his chariot bounding flew, And with more than G.o.dlike prowess then his famed _vijaya_ drew!

Faint Yudhishthir sorely bleeding waged no more the fatal fight, Carless, steedless, void of armour, sought his safety in his flight!

"Speed, thou timid man of penance!" proud insulting Karna said, "Famed for virtue not for valour! blood of thine I will not shed!

Speed and chant thy wonted _mantra_, do the rites that sages know, Bid the helmed warrior Arjun come and meet his warlike foe!"

To his tent retired Yudhishthir in his wrath and in his shame, Spake to Arjun who from battle to his angry elder came:

"Hast thou yet, O tardy Arjun! base, insulting Karna slain, Karna dealing dire destruction on this battle's reddened plain?