Chapter 82

“Sanjaya said, ‘While Yudhishthira, Vasudeva, and others were thusconversing, Dhananjaya came there, desirous of beholding that foremostone of Bharata’s race, viz., the king, as also his friends andwell-wishers. After he had entered that auspicious chamber and havingsaluted him duly, had taken its stand before the king, that bull amongthe Pandavas, (viz., king Yudhishthira), rising up from his seat,embraced Arjuna with great affection. Smelling his head and embracing himwith his arms, the king blessed him heartily. And addressing himsmilingly, he said, ‘It is evident, O Arjuna, that complete victorycertainly awaits thee in battle, judging from thy countenance (bright andcheerful as it is), and by the fact that Janardana is well-pleased withthee. Then Jishnu related unto him that highly wonderful incident,saying, ‘Blessed be thou, O monarch, I have, through Kesava’s grace,beheld something exceedingly wonderful.’ Then Dhananjaya relatedeverything he had seen, about his meeting with the Three-eyed god, forassuring his friends. Then all the hearers, filled with wonder, benttheir heads to the ground. And bowing unto the god having the bull forhis mark, they said, ‘Excellent, Excellent!’ Then all the friends andwell-wishers (of the Pandavas), commanded by the son of Dharma, quicklyand carefully proceeded to battle, their hearts filled with rage (againstthe foe). Saluting the king, Yuyudhana and Kesava and Arjuna, cheerfullyset out from Yudhishthira’s abode. And those two invincible warriors,those two heroes, viz., Yuyudhana, and Janardana, together proceeded onthe same car to Arjuna’s pavilion. Arrived there, Hrishikesa, like acharioteer (by profession), began to equip that car bearing the mark ofthe prince of apes and belonging to that foremost of car-warriors (viz.,Arjuna). And that foremost of cars, of the effulgence of heated gold, andof rattle resembling the deep roar of the clouds, equipped (by Krishna),shone brightly like the morning sun. Then that tiger among men, (viz.,Vasudeva), clad in mail informed Partha, who had finished his morningprayers, of the fact that ‘his car had been properly equipped. Then thatforemost of men in this world, viz., the diadem-decked (Arjuna), clad ingolden armour, with his bow and arrows in hand, circumambulated that car.And adored and blessed with benedictions about victory by Brahmanas, oldin ascetic penances and knowledge and years, ever engaged in theperformance of religious rites and sacrifices, and having their passionsunder control, Arjuna then ascended that great car, that excellentvehicle, which had previously been sanctified with mantras capable ofgiving victory in battle, like Surya of blazing rays ascending theeastern mountain. And that foremost of car-warriors decked with gold, inconsequence or those golden ornaments of his, on his car like Surya ofblazing splendour on the breast of Meru. After Partha, Yuyudhana. andJanardana mounted on that car, like the twin Aswins riding the same carwith Indra while coming to the sacrifice of Saryati. Then Govinda, thatforemost of charioteers, took the reins (of the steeds), like Matalitaking the reins of Indra’s steeds, while the latter went to battle forslaying Vritra.[133] Mounted on that best of cars with those two friends,that slayer of large bodies of foes, viz., Partha, proceeded forachieving the slaughter of the ruler of the Sindhus, like Soma rising (inthe firmament) with Budha and Sukra, for destroying the gloom of night,or like Indra proceeding with Varuna and Surya to the great battle (withthe Asuras) occasioned by the abduction of Taraka (the wife ofVrihaspati). The bards and musicians gratified the heroic Arjuna, as heproceeded, with the sound of musical instruments and auspicious hymns ofgood omen. And the voices of the panegyrists and the bards utteringbenedictions of victory and wishing good day, mingling with the sounds ofmusical instruments, became gratifying to those heroes. And an auspiciousbreeze, fraught with fragrance, blew from behind Partha, gladdening himand sucking up the energies of his foes. And at that hour, O king, manyauspicious omens of various kinds appeared to view, indicating victory tothe Pandavas and defeat to thy warriors, O sire! Beholding thoseindications of victory, Arjuna, addressing the great bowman Yuyudhana onhis right, said these words: O Yuyudhana! in today’s battle my victoryseems to be certain, since O bull of Sini’s race, all these (auspicious)omens are seen. I shall, therefore, go thither where the ruler of theSindhus waiteth for (the display of) my energy and in expectation ofrepairing to the regions of Yama. Indeed, as the slaughter of the rulerof the Sindhus is one of my most imperative duties, even so is theprotection of king Yudhishthira the just another of my most imperativeobligations. O thou of mighty arms, be thou today the king’s protector.Thou wilt protect him even as I myself protect him. I do not behold theperson in the world who would be able to vanquish thee. Thou art, inbattle, equal to Vasudeva himself. The chief of the celestials himself isunable to vanquish thee. Reposing this burden on thee, or on that mightycar-warrior Pradyumna, I can, O bull among men, without anxiety slay theruler of the Sindhus. O thou of the Satwata race, no anxiety need beentertained on my account. With thy whole heart must thou protect theking. There where the mighty-armed Vasudeva stayeth, and where I myselfstay, without doubt, the slightest danger to him or me can never befall.’Thus addressed by Partha, Satyaki, that slayer of hostile heroes, repliedsaying, ‘So be it.’ And then the latter proceeded to the spot where kingYudhishthira was.’