04. VIRATA PARVA (72)

OM! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted of malebeings, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya be uttered.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then clad in a cowherd’s dress, and speaking thedialect of cowherds, Sahadeva came to the cowpen of Virata’s city.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Next appeared at the gate of the ramparts anotherperson of enormous size and exquisite beauty decked in the ornaments ofwomen, and wearing large ear-rings and beautiful conch-bracelets overlaidwith gold.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After a while, another powerful son of Pandu wasseen making towards king Virata in haste. And as he advanced, he seemedto everyone like solar orb emerged from the clouds.

“Janamejaya said, ‘While living thus disguised in the city of theMatsyas, what did those descendants of the Kuru race endued with greatprowess, do, O regenerate one!’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Living in such disguise, those mighty warriors, thesons of Pritha, passed ten months in Matsya’s city.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Rejected thus by the princess, Kichaka, afflictedwith maddening lust and forgetting all sense of propriety, addressedSudeshna saying, ‘Do thou, Kekaya’s daughter, so act that thy Sairindhrimay come into my arms.

“Kichaka said, ‘O thou of tresses ending in beautiful curls, thou artwelcome. Surely, the night that is gone hath brought me an auspiciousday, for I have got thee today as the mistress of my house. Do what isagreeable to me.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus insulted by the Suta’s son, that illustriousprincess, the beautiful Krishna, eagerly wishing for the destruction ofVirata’s general, went to her quarters.

“Draupadi said, ‘What grief hath she not who hath Yudhishthira for herhusband? Knowing all my griefs, why dost thou ask me?

“Draupadi said, ‘This O Bharata, that I am going to tell thee is anothergreat grief of mine. Thou shouldst not blame me, for I tell thee thisfrom sadness of heart.

Bhima said, “I intend to present myself before the lord of Virata as acook bearing the name of Vallabha.

“Draupadi said, ‘Alas, on account of that desperate gambler, I am nowunder Sudeshna’s command, living in the palace in the guise of aSairindhri.

“Bhima said, ‘Fie on the might of my arms and fie on the Gandiva ofFalguni, inasmuch as thy hands, red before, now become covered withcorns.

“Bhima said, ‘I will, O timid one, do even as thou sayest. I willpresently slay Kichaka with all his friends.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then all the relatives of Kichaka, arriving at thatplace, beheld him there and began to wail aloud, surrounding him on allsides.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘And beholding the Sutas slain, the citizens went tothe king, and represented unto him what had happened, saying, ‘O king,those mighty sons of the Sutas have all been slain by the Gandharvas.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘At the slaughter of Kichaka and brothers, people, Oking, thinking of this terrible feat, were filled with surprise.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having listened to these words of his spies, kingDuryodhana reflected inwardly for some time and then addressed hiscourtiers, saying, ‘It is difficult to ascertain the course of eventsdefinitely.

“Vaisampayana said, “Endued with mighty energy and possessed of greatdiscernment, Drona then said, ‘Persons like the sons of Pandu neverperish nor undergo discomfiture.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then that grandsire of the Bharatas, Bhishma the sonof Sutanu, conversant with the Vedas, acquainted with the proprieties oftime and place, and possessing a knowledge of every duty of morality,after the conclusion of

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Saradwata’s son, Kripa said, ‘What the agedBhishma hath said concerning the Pandavas is reasonable, suited to theoccasion, consistent with virtue and profit, agreeable to the ear,fraught with sound reason, and worthy of him.

Yudhishthira said, “Tender, possessed of a graceful presence, anddeserving of every luxury as thou art, what office wilt thou, O heroicNakula, discharge while living in the dominions of that king? Tell me allabout it!”

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Discomfited before, O monarch, many a time and oftby Matsya’s Suta Kichaka aided by the Matsyas and the Salyas, the mightyking of the

“Vaisampayana said, ‘O mighty king, entering into king Virata’s service,and dwelling in disguise in his excellent city, the high-souled Pandavasof immeasurable prowess, completed the promised period of non-discovery.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Marching out of the city, those heroic smiters theMatsyas, arrayed in order of battle, overtook the Trigartas when the sunhad passed the meridian.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then, O Bharata, when the world was enveloped indust and the gloom of night, the warriors of both sides, without breakingthe order of battle, desisted for a while.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by Yudhishthira Susarman wasoverwhelmed with shame and hung down his head. And liberated (fromslavery), he went to king Virata, and having saluted the monarch, tookhis departure.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the king of the Matsyas, anxious of recoveringthe kine, had set out in pursuit of the Trigartas, Duryodhana with hiscounsellors invaded the dominions of Virata.

“Uttara said, ‘Firm as I am in the use of the bow, I would set out thisvery day in the track of the kine if only some one skilled in themanagement of horses becomes my charioteer.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus despatched by her elder brother, the far-fameddaughter of king Matsya, adorned with a golden necklace, ever obedient

‘Vaisampayana said, ‘Having issued forth from the city, the dauntless sonof Virata addressed his charioteer, saying, ‘Proceed whither the Kurusare.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Beholding that bull among men seated on the car inthe habit of a person of the third sex, driving toward the Sami tree,having taken (the flying) Uttara up, all the great car-warriors of theKurus with

Yudhishthira said, “Ye have already said what offices ye willrespectively perform. I also, according to the measure of my sense, havesaid what office I will perform.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having reached that Sami tree, and havingascertained Virata’s son to be exceedingly delicate and inexperienced inbattle, Partha addressed him, saying, ‘Enjoined by me, O Uttara, quicklytake down (from this tree) some bows that are there.

“Uttara said, ‘It hath been heard by us that a corpse is tied in thistree. How can I, therefore, being a prince by birth, touch it with myhands?

“Uttara said, ‘To what warrior of fame doth this excellent bow belong, onwhich are a hundred golden bosses and which hath such radiant ends?

“Vrihannala said, ‘That about which thou hath first enquired is Arjuna’sbow, of world-wide fame, called Gandiva, capable of devastating hostilehosts.

“Uttara said, ‘Indeed, these weapons adorned with gold, belonging to thelight-handed and high-souled Partha, look exceedingly beautiful.

“Uttara said, ‘O hero, mounting on this large car with myself as driver,which division of the (hostile) army wouldst thou penetrate? Commanded bythee, I would drive thee thither?’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Making Uttara his charioteer, and circumambulatingthe Sami tree, the son of Pandu set out taking all his weapons with him.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘King Duryodhana then, on the field of battle saidunto Bhishma, and unto Drona–that tiger among warriors, and untoKripa–that mighty car-warrior, these words,

“Karna said, ‘I behold all these blessed ones, looking as if alarmed andpanic-struck and unresolved and unwilling to fight.

“Kripa said, ‘O Radheya, thy crooked heart always inclineth to war. Thouknowest not the true nature of things; nor dost thou take into accounttheir after-consequences.

Vaisampayana said, “Girding their waists with swords, and equipped withfinger-protectors made of iguana skins and with various weapons, thoseheroes proceeded in the direction of the river Yamuna.

“Aswatthaman said, ‘The kine, O Karna, have not yet been won, nor havethey yet crossed the boundary (of their owner’s dominions), nor have theyyet reached Hastinapura.

“Bhishma said, ‘Drona’s son observeth well, and Kripa, too observethrightly. As for Kama, it is only out of regard for the duties of theKshatriya order that he desireth to fight.

“Bhishma said, ‘The wheel of time revolves with its divisions, viz., withKalas and Kasthas and Muhurtas and days and fortnights and months andconstellations and planets and seasons and years.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After the Kauravas, O Bharata, had taken their standin this order, Arjuna, filling the air with the rattle and din of hiscar, advanced quickly towards them.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having disorganised the hostile host by force andhaving recovered the kine, that foremost of bowmen, desirous of fightingagain, proceeded towards Duryodhana.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After the son of Radha had fled from the field,other warriors headed by Duryodhana, one after another, fell upon the sonof Pandu with their respective divisions.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘And the ranks of those fierce bowmen, the Kurus,looked like masses of clouds in the rainy season drifting before a gentlewind.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Beholding the army of the Kurus arrayed in order ofbattle, that descendant of the Kuru race, Partha, addressing Virata’sson, said, ‘Do thou proceed to the spot where Kripa, the son of Saradwat,is going by the southern side of that car whose flag is seen to bear thedevice of a golden altar.’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Kripa had thus been taken away, the invincibleDrona of red steeds, taking up his bow to which he had already stringedan arrow, rushed towards Arjuna of white steeds.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then, O mighty king, Drona’s son rushed to anencounter with Arjuna in battle. And beholding his rush to the conflictlike a hurricane, showering shafts like a rain charged cloud Pritha’s sonreceived him with a cloud of arrows.

Vaisampayana said, “And while Yudhishthira was on his way to thedelightful city of Virata, he began to praise mentally the

“Arjuna said, ‘The time, O Karna, hath now come for making good thyloquacious boast in the midst of the assembly, viz., that there is noneequal to thee in fight.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having defeated Vikartana’s son, Arjuna said untothe son of Virata, ‘Take me towards that division where yonder device ofa golden palmyra is seen.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then, O thou of the Bharata race, all the greatcar-warriors of the Kurus, united together, began to assail Arjuna to thebest of their might from all sides.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then while a great havoc was being made among theKurus, Santanu’s son, Bhishma, and grandsire of the Bharatas rushed at

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Bhishma had fled, leaving the van of battle,the illustrious son of Dhritarashtra hoisting high flag approachedArjuna, bow in hand and setting up a loud roar.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus summoned to battle by the illustrious hero,Dhritarashtra’s son turned back stung by those censures, like aninfuriate and mighty elephant pricked by a hook.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having vanquished the Kurus in battle, that one witheyes like those of a bull brought back that profuse cattle wealth ofVirata.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having speedily recovered his wealth Virata owning alarge army entered his city with a cheerful heart, accompanied by thefour Pandavas.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Bhuminjaya, the eldest son of the king,entered, and having worshipped the feet of his father approached Kanka.And he beheld Kanka covered with blood, and seated on the ground at oneend of the court, and waited upon by the Sairindhri.

“Uttara said, ‘The kine have not been recovered by me, nor have the foebeen vanquished by me. All that hath been accomplished by the son of adeity.

Vaisampayana said, “Then tying up in his cloth dice made of gold and setwith lapis lazuli, and holding them below his arm-pit, kingYudhishthira,–that illustrious lord of men–that high-souled perpetuatorof the

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then, on the third day, attired in white robes aftera bath, and decked in ornaments of all kinds, those great car-warriors,the five Pandava brothers, having accomplished their row, and with

“Virata said, ‘If this one, indeed, be the Kuru king Yudhisthira the sonof Kunti, which amongst these is his brother Arjuna, and which, themighty Bhima.

“Virata said, ‘Why, O best among the Pandavas, dost thou not wish toaccept as wife this my daughter that I bestow upon thee?’

Vaisampayana said, “Then another endued with the dreadful strength andblazing in beauty, approached king Virata, with the playful gait of thelion.

Vaisampayana said, “Binding her black, soft, fine, long and faultlesstresses with crisped ends into a knotted braid, Draupadi of black eyesand sweet smiles, throwing it upon her right shoulders, concealed it byher cloth.