Chapter 73

“Sanjaya said, ‘After Partha had vowed the death of the ruler of theSindhus, the mighty-armed Vasudeva addressed Dhananjaya and said,–Withthe consent of thy brothers (alone, but without consulting me), thou hastsworn, saying–I will slay the ruler of the Sindhus! This hath been anact of great rashness (on thy part)! Without consulting me, thou hasttaken up a great weight (upon thy shoulders)! Alas, how shall we escapethe ridicule of all men? I had sent some spies into the camp ofDhritarashtra’s son. Those spies, quickly coming unto me, gave me thisinformation, viz., that after thou, O lord, hadst vowed to slay the rulerof the Sindhus, loud leonine shouts, mingled with the sounds of (our)musical instruments, were heard by the Dhritarashtras. In consequence ofthat uproar, the Dhritarashtras, with their well-wishers, becameterrified,–These leonine shouts are not, causeless!–thought they, andwaited (for what would ensue). O thou of mighty arms, an uproarious dinthen arose amongst the Kauravas, of their elephants and steeds andinfantry. And a terrible rattle was also heard of their cars.–Havingheard of the death of Abhimanyu, Dhananjaya, deeply afflicted will inwrath come out in the night for battle!–Than king even thus, they waited(ready for battle). While preparing themselves. O thou of eyes likelotus-petals, they then learnt truly the vow about the slaughter of theruler of the Sindhus, made by thee that art wedded to truth.[128] Thenall the counsellors of Suyodhana became heartless and frightened likelittle animals. As regards king Jayadratha, that ruler of the Sindhus andthe Sauviras, overwhelmed with grief and becoming thoroughly cheerless hestood up and entered his own tent with all his counsellors. Havingconsulted (with them) about every remedy that could benefit him at a timewhen he stood in need of consultation, he proceeded to the assembly ofthe (allied) kings and there said these words unto Suyodhana–Dhananjayathinking me to be the slayer of his son, will tomorrow encounter me inbattle! He hath, in the midst of his army, vowed to stay me! That vow ofSavyasachin the very gods and Gandharvas and Asuras and Uragas andRakshasas cannot venture to frustrate! Protect me, therefore, ye all inbattle! Let not Dhananjaya, placing his foot on your head, succeed inhitting the mark! Let proper arrangements be made in respect of thismatter! Or, if, O delighter of the Kurus, you think that you will notsucceed in protecting me in battle, grant me permission then, O king, sothat I may return home! Thus addressed (by Jayadratha), Suyodhana becamecheerless and sat, hanging down his head. Ascertaining that Jayadrathawas in a great fright, Suyodhana began to reflect in silence. Beholdingthe Kuru king to be greatly afflicted, king Jayadratha, the ruler of theSindhus, slowly said these words having a beneficial reference tohimself–I do not behold here that bowman of superior energy who canbaffle with his arms the weapons of Arjuna in great battle! Who, even ifit be Satakratu himself, will stay in front of Arjuna having Vasudeva forhis ally, while wielding the bow Gandiva? It is heard that lord Maheswarahimself of supreme energy had been encountered, before this, by Partha onfoot, on the mountains of Himvat! Urged by the chief of the celestials,he slew on a single car, a thousand Danavas dwelling in Hiranyapura! Thatson of Kunti is now allied with Vasudeva of great intelligence. I thinkthat he is competent to destroy the three worlds including the very gods.I wish that you will either grant me permission (to leave the field formy home) or that the high-souled and heroic Drona with his son willprotect me! Or, I would await thy pleasure!–O Arjuna, (thus addressed byJayadratha) king Suyodhana humbly beseeched the preceptor in thismatter.[129] All remedial measures have been adopted. Cars and steedshave been arranged. Karna and Bhurisravas, and Drona’s son, and theinvincible Vrishasena, and Kripa, and the ruler of the Madras, these sixwill be in (Jayadratha’s) van. Drona will form an array half of whichwill be a Sakata[130] and half a lotus. In the middle of the leaves ofthat lotus will be a needle-mouthed array. Jayadratha, that ruler of theSindhus, difficult of being conquered in battle, will take his stand, byit, protected by heroes! In (the use of) the bow, in weapons, in prowess,in strength, and also in lineage, those six car-warriors, O Partha arewithout doubt, exceedingly difficult of being borne. Without firstvanquishing those six car-warriors, access to Jayadratha will not to behad. Think, O Arjuna, of the prowess of each of those six, O tiger amongmen, when united together, they are not capable of being easilyvanquished! We should, therefore, once again, take counsel withwell-wishing counsellors, conversant with policy, for our benefit and forthe success of our object!'”