Chapter 56
“Duryodhana said, ‘Having obtained, O Sanjaya, an army numbering sevenAkshauhinis, what is Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, with the other kingsin his company, doing in view of the war?’
“Sanjaya said, ‘Yudhishthira, O king, is very cheerful in view of thebattle. And so also are Bhimasena and Arjuna. The twins also areperfectly fearless. Desirous of making an experiment of the mantras(obtained by him). Vibhatsu, the son of Kunti, yoked his celestial carilluminating all the directions. Accoutred in mail, he looked like a massof clouds charged with lightning. After reflecting for a while, hecheerfully addressed me, saying,–Behold, O Sanjaya, these preliminarysigns. We will certainly conquer.’ Indeed, what Vibhatsu said unto meappeared to me to be true.’
“Duryodhana said, ‘Thou rejoicest to applaud those sons of Prithadefeated at dice. Tell us now what sort of steeds are yoked unto Arjuna’scar and what sort of banners are set up on it?’
“Sanjaya said, ‘O great king, the celestial artificer called Tashtri orBhaumana, aided by Sakra and Dhatri, created forms of diverse kinds andgreat beauty for Arjuna’s car. And displaying divine illusion they placedon his flagstaff those celestial forms, large and small, of great value.And at Bhimasena’s request, Hanumat, the son of the Wind-god, will alsoplace his own image on it. And Bhaumana has, in its creation, hadrecourse to such illusion that that banner covers, both perpendicularlyand laterally, an area of one yojana, and even if trees stand in its way,its course cannot be impeded. Indeed, even as Sakra’s bow of diversecolours is exhibited in the firmament, and nobody knows of what it ismade, so hath that banner been contrived by Bhaumana, for its form isvaried and ever varying. And as column of smoke mixed with fire risethup, covering the sky and displaying many bright hues and elegant shapes,so doth that banner contrived by Bhaumana rear its head. Indeed, it hathno weight, nor is it capable of being obstructed. And unto that car are acentury of excellent celestial steeds of white hue and endued with thespeed of the mind, all presented by Chitrasena (the king of theGandharvas). And neither on earth, O king, nor in the sky, nor in heaven,their course can be impeded. And formerly a boon hath been granted to theeffect that their number would always remain full how often so ever theymight be slain. And unto Yudhishthira’s car are yoked large steeds ofequal energy and white in colour like ivory. And unto Bhimasena’s car areyoked courses endued with the speed of the wind and the splendour of theseven Rishis. And steeds of sable bodies and backs variegated like thewings of the Tittri bird, all presented by his gratified brother Falguna,and superior to those of the heroic Falguna himself, cheerfully carrySahadeva. And Nakula of Ajamida’s race, the son of Madri, is borne, likeIndra the slayer of Vritra, by excellent steeds, presented by the greatIndra himself, all mighty as the wind and endued with great speed. Andexcellent steed of large size, equal unto those of the Pandavasthemselves in years and strength, endued with great swiftness and ofhandsome make, and all presented by the celestials, carry those youthfulprinces, the sons of Subhadra and Draupadi.'”
