Mahābhārata

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Making Uttara his charioteer and going round the Shami tree the son of Pandu taking all his weapons set out.

M. N. Dutt: Having taken down the banner with the lion's figure and placed it at the foot of the Shami tree the mighty car-warrior set out with Uttara as his charioteer,

M. N. Dutt: He hoisted on his chariot the golden flag having the emblem of a monkey which was a celestials illusion created by Vishvakarman.

M. N. Dutt: As soon as he thought of the favour of Agni in his mind the deity, knowing his desire, ordered the creatures (to sit) on the flag.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

M. N. Dutt: A celestial and charming flag-staff adorned with gold, furnished with a handsome banner and quivers attached to it, immediately fell on the car from the sky.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing the banner reach his car the hero went round it reverentially. Then getting on his car, Bibhatsu, the son of Kunti, having white steeds and the emblem of a monkey on his banner, having his fingers protected by the gloves of Inguana skin, and taking up his bow and arrows, started in a northerly direction.

M. N. Dutt: Then that highly powerful repressor of foes, energetically blew his large conch-shell of thundering sound, capable of making the hairs of the body of his enemies stand erect.

M. N. Dutt: At that sound the quick-coursing horses dropped down their knees on earth. Uttara too, stricken with fear, sat down on the car.

M. N. Dutt: Then raising the horses up with reins and keeping them in their proper places and embracing Uttara, Arjuna, the son of Kunti, consoled him.

M. N. Dutt: Arjuna said O foremost of princes, O slayer of foes, be not afraid; you are a Kshatriya; why do you look sorry, O foremost of men, in the midst of enemies?

M. N. Dutt: You have heard enough of the sound of my conch shells as well as that of trumpets and the roar of many elephants in the midst of soldiers arranged for battle.

M. N. Dutt: Why are you therefore, so dispirited agitated and terrified by the sound of the conch like an ordinary man.

M. N. Dutt: Uttara said I have heard the sound of many a conch and many a trumpet and the roar of many an elephant in the battle field but never have I heard the sound of such a conch. Never have I seen before a flag like this. Never have I heard before the twang of such a bow. With the blowing of this conch, the twang of this bow, the superhuman cries of creatures placed on the banner, and with the rattle of this chariot my mind has been greatly agitated.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

M. N. Dutt: All the quarters have been agitated and my mind has been pained; all the quarters have been covered with flags and thus do not come to my view. With the twang of the Gandiva my ears have been deafened.

M. N. Dutt: Arjuna said Stand you firmly on this chariot, pressing your feet on it. Get hold lightly of the reins for I will blow the conch again.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Arjuna blew the conch again which caused grief in the enemies and increased the delight of the friends.

M. N. Dutt: (It seemed to rend) the caves of the mountains, hills and the quarters. Uttara too, clinging to it, sat on the car.

M. N. Dutt: The earth shook with the sound of the conch, rattle of the car and the twang of the Gandiva. And Dhananjaya again consoled him.

M. N. Dutt: Drona said From the rattle of the car, from the way in which the clouds have appeared, and in which the earth shakes he is none other than Savyasachin.

M. N. Dutt: Our arms do not shine, our horses are dispirited and our fires, although fuel is added to them, do not blaze up.

M. N. Dutt: All the animals, looking towards the sun, are yelling dreadfully and the crows are perching on our banners. This is not auspicious.

M. N. Dutt: The vultures and kites are in the right path and presage a great danger. And the jackal too crying runs about in the midst of the army.

M. N. Dutt: An they go out openly. It presages a great calamity. The hairs of your bodies are seen to stand on their ends.

M. N. Dutt: Forsooth this presages a great destruction of the Kshatriyas in battle; the shining objects do not come in view and the birds and beasts appear frightful.

M. N. Dutt: Many portents are seen presaging the destruction of the Kshatriyas. And this particularly portends a great havoc amongst ourselves.

M. N. Dutt: Your army is assailed by these burning meteors and the animals, O king, seem to be shorn of cheerfulness and are as if weeping.

M. N. Dutt: Vulture and kites are moving all around your army. You will repent when you will see your soldiers assailed by Partha's shafts.

M. N. Dutt: Our army is already defeated for, none wishes to fight. All the soldiers appear pale and dispirited. Placing the kine before, we should all stand here arranged in battle array, and ready to strike.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Then the king Duryodhana said in the battle field to Bhishma, Drona, the foremost of warriors and as also to the mighty car-warrior Kripa.

M. N. Dutt: Both myself and Karna had said this to the preceptor. I mention it again for I am not satisfied with speaking (once).

M. N. Dutt: This was the condition that if defeated at dice the Pandavas will live in woods and countries for twelve years unknown to us.

M. N. Dutt: The thirteenth year is still going on and not yet complete. Bibhatsu, who is living in disguise, has come to us.

M. N. Dutt: Now if Bibhatsu comes before the term of exile is over, the Pandavas shall have to pass another twelve years in the forest.

M. N. Dutt: Whether by covetousness they have forgotten it or whether it is a mistake on our part, it is proper that Bhishma should calculate the shortness or excess (of the fixed period).

M. N. Dutt: Doubt always exists in one of the alternatives of an object; an object, thought of in one way, becomes another (in the end). Even persons, conversant with morality, are confounded in their own acts; (we have come) to fight with the Matsya's stationed in the north.

M. N. Dutt: If however Bibhatsu has come what fault is ours? We have here to fight with the Matsya's on behalf of the Trigartas.

M. N. Dutt: Various were the oppressions of the Matsya's described to us-and we promised them help, assailed with fear as they were. And the arrangement with them was that they should first, on the afternoon of the seventh lunar day, seize the great collection of the precious kine of the Matsya's.

M. N. Dutt: And at sun-rise of the eighth lunar day we should seize these kine when the king of Matsya's would be pursuing those seized first,

M. N. Dutt: It may be that they are bringing the kine, or being defeated are coming to us for negotiating peace with the Matsya's.

M. N. Dutt: Or it may be that having driven them off, the king of Matsya's, leading his people and his army of fierce warriors, income to make upon us night attacks. Perhaps someone powerful amongst them or even the king of Matsya's himself is coming to defeat us. Be he the king of Matsya's or Bibhatsu, we must all fight with him. This is our condition. Why are all these leading car-warriors Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Vikarana and Drona's son now sitting panic-stricken on their cars?

M. N. Dutt: There is no other help but fighting now. Make up your minds, therefore, Even, for seizing these precious kine, we have got to fight with the Divine holder of thunder-bolt or with Yama. Who is there that will be able to go to Hastinapur? Pierced by my shafts, when running away from the battle field through the woods, who amongst the infantry shall be able to escape with his life, while that of the cavalry is so doubtful? Keeping, the preceptor behind, do you make all arrangements.

M. N. Dutt: He knows their views and strikes terror into our minds. I perceive his affection for Arjuna is very great.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing him only come he sings the praises of Bibhatsu. Make such arrangements that our army may not break up. Every thing has been confused for Drona's having heard of his horses' neighs.

M. N. Dutt: Make such arrangement that these soldiers, coming to a distant country in the summer, and in the midst of this huge forest, may not be routed and vanquished by the enemy.

M. N. Dutt: The Pandavas are always the favourites of the preceptor. He betrays by his words that he is for others.

M. N. Dutt: Hearing only the neighs of horses who would ever praise a man? Whether walking or standing the horses neigh.

M. N. Dutt: The winds always blow and Indra always showers rain and the roar of the clouds may be heard many times.

M. N. Dutt: What has Partha to do with these and why should he be praised? It is so either for the desire of doing good to him or for hatred and anger towards us.

M. N. Dutt: Preceptors are wise, virtuous and very kind to all creatures but they should not be consulted in hours of danger.

M. N. Dutt: It is in beautiful places, assemblies and gardens where beautiful speeches are to be made that the learned men seem to be in their proper places.

M. N. Dutt: The learned shine in the concourse of men, where they perform many wonderful things and there where sacrificial vessels and their uses are necessary.

M. N. Dutt: In the knowledge of learning the weak points of others, in studying the characters of men, in the science of horses, elephants and cars, in treating the diseases of asses, camels, goats, sheep and kine, in making plans of buildings and gates, in pointing out the defects of food and drink the learned are truly in their elements.

M. N. Dutt: Leaving behind the learned who speak highly of the heroism of the enemy, do you so arrange that the enemy may be killed.

M. N. Dutt: Keeping the kine secure arrange the army in battle array. Keep guards in proper places so that we may fight with the enemy.

M. N. Dutt: Karna said I see all of you looking as if terrified and panic-stricken, not resolute and reluctant to fight.

M. N. Dutt: If he be the king of Matsya's or Bibhatsu that has come I shall resist him as the banks resist the waving sea.

M. N. Dutt: These straight and shooting shafts, like gliding snakes that are discharged from my bow, never miss their aim.

M. N. Dutt: Discharged by my light hand these shafts, having highly sharpened points and feathered in gold, shall cover Partha like locusts covering a tree.

M. N. Dutt: Struck firm by these winged shafts the bow string will cause these gloves to produce a sound that will be heard to resemble that of a couple of kettle-drums.

M. N. Dutt: Bibhatsu was engaged in religious meditation for the last thirteen years and so he will strike me mildly in the conflict.

M. N. Dutt: Like a Brahmana, gifted with good qualities the son of Kunti has become the proper person to receive quietly thousands of arrow shot by me.

M. N. Dutt: This powerful bowman is known all over the three worlds and I am by no means inferior to Arjuna, that best of men.

M. N. Dutt: Golden arrows having the wings of vultures being discharged on all sides let the sky today appear as filled with fire flies.

M. N. Dutt: Killing Arjuna in battle I shall satisfy, to day, the debt which it is hard to repay, I made formerly to Duryodhana.

M. N. Dutt: Who is there even amongst the celestials and Asura who is capable of withstanding the straight arrows discharged from my bow? Let my shooting arrows, winged and depressed at the middle, present the view of the fire flies passing through the sky.

M. N. Dutt: Like a person assailing an elephant with fire-brands I shall grind Partha, hard as Indra's thunderbolt and equally equally energetic like Mahendra.

M. N. Dutt: From my car I shall get hold of the unresisting Partha, a heroic car-warrior and the foremost of the holders of weapon like Garuda catching snakes.

M. N. Dutt: Irrepressible like fire, excited by the fuel of swords, darts and arrows, that burning Pandava fire that consumes all enemies, I shall put out myself who am like a hue cloud continually pouring showers of arrows-the number of cars forming its thunder, and the speed of my horses being the wind going before.

M. N. Dutt: Shot from my bow the arrows, resembling venomous snakes, will pierce Partha like serpents going through ant hills.

M. N. Dutt: Struck by gold-feathered, strong, straight and powerful arrows, behold the son of Kunti adorned like a hill covered with Karnikara flowers.

M. N. Dutt: Having obtained from that foremost of ascetic, the son of Jamadagni, my weapons, I would, depending upon their strength, fight even with the celestials.

M. N. Dutt: Struck with javelin, the monkey placed on his banner, shall fall down on the earth, uttering dreadful cries.

M. N. Dutt: The sky will be filled with the cries of the animals placed on the enemy's flag-staff and assailed by me they will fly away in all directions.

M. N. Dutt: I shall eradicate today the dart from Duryodhana's heart existing for a long time by dislodging Bibhatsu from his car.

M. N. Dutt: The Kauravas will see today Partha with his car broken, steeds killed, the bravery gone and himself sighing like a serpent.

M. N. Dutt: Let the Kauravas at their own will go away with the precious kine; if they wish let them remain on the chariot and behold the encounter.

M. N. Dutt: Kripa said O son of Radha, your crooked mind is always for the war. You do not understand the time and nature of things as well as their consequences.

M. N. Dutt: There are many contrivances mentioned in the scriptures. Of them persons acquainted with the past history have mentioned battle as the most sinful.

M. N. Dutt: It is only when undertaken in (proper) time and place that a battle produces success. This is not a favourable time and you will get no good fruit. Prowess, when manifested in proper hour and place, leads to well-being.

M. N. Dutt: It is by favourable signs that the advisability of an action is determined upon. Learned men never act depending upon the words of a car maker. Taking all this into consideration it is not proper for us to enter into an encounter with Partha.

M. N. Dutt: Alone did he save the Kurus from the Gandharvas) and alone did he gìatify fire. And alone did he for five years lead the life of a Brahmacharin.

M. N. Dutt: Taking Subhadra on his car alone did he challenge Krishna to a duel. And alone did he fight with Rudra who came before him in the disguise of a hunter.

M. N. Dutt: It was in this forest that he rescued Draupadi when she was being carried away (by Jayadratha). It is alone he that for five years studied the science of arms under Indra.

M. N. Dutt: Defeating alone all the enemies he has spread the glory of the Kurus. Alone did that chastiser of foes defeat in battle Chitrasena, the king of the Gandharvas and in a moment his invincible army also. He defeated alone in battle the dreadful Nivatakavachas and Kalakhanjas who were both incapable of being slain even by the celestials. What however, O Karna, have you accomplished single-handed like any one of the sons of Pandu each of whom had vanquished many kings? Even Indra is unable to face Partha in battle.

M. N. Dutt: He who wishes to fight with Arjuna should take some medicine. You desire to take out the fangs of an angry, venomous snake by stretching out your right hand and extending your fore-finger. Or going alone in the forest you wish to ride an infuriated elephant and go to a town without a hook in hand. Or rubbed over with clarified butter and clad in silken raiment you wish to go through a burning fire blazing with fat, tallow and clarified butter.

M. N. Dutt: Who, binding himself hand and foot and tying a huge stone to his neck, would wish to swim across the ocean with his bare arms? What manliness is there? O Karna, a fool is he, who, without strength and skill in arms, desires to fight with Partha who is so powerful and skilled in weapons? Oppressed by us and freed from thirteen years' exile, will he not destroy us like a lion liberated from the noose? Having unknowingly come to a place where Partha lay hidden like fire we have been exposed to a great danger. Although dreadful in battle we should fight against him.

M. N. Dutt: Let our army, clad in coats of mail, stand here in battle array ready to strike. Let Drona, Duryodhana, Bhishma, yourself, Drona's son and ourselves all fight with Partha. Do not, O Karna, act rashly. If we six are united and set forth our energy we may fight with or stand before Partha, fierce like the wielder of thunderbolt. With our soldiers in battle array, we, great bowmen as we are, will fight carefully with Arjuna as the Danavas fought with Vasava.

M. N. Dutt: Ashvathama said The kine have not yet been acquired. Nor have they gone over the boundary. Nor have they gone to Hastinapur. Why do you, Karna, boast?

M. N. Dutt: Even having won many a battle, amassed a vast fortune, vanquished their enemies, armies, truly heroic men do not utter a single word of their prowess.

M. N. Dutt: Fire burns silently and silently does the sun shine. And the earth does bear creatures mobile and immobile without a single word.

M. N. Dutt: The actions of the four orders have been ordained by the Self Sprung (Brahma) so that they may acquire wealth without committing a sinful act.

M. N. Dutt: Having studied the Vedas, the Brahmanas should perform sacrifices and officiate as priests. Resorting to their vows the Kshatriyas should perform sacrifices and never officiate as priests.

M. N. Dutt: Having amassed wealth the Vaishyas should perform the Vedic rites there with. A Shudra should always attend to and serve the other three orders, having recourse to flattery as the means of livelihood and behaving (cringlingly) like the cane.

M. N. Dutt: Duly following the the scriptures they obtained this entire earth and those great men always act respectfully to their elders even if the latter prove adverse to them,

M. N. Dutt: What Kshatriya on this earth expresses joy for having acquired a kingdom by gambling like this wicked and shameless son of Dhritarashtra?

M. N. Dutt: Having acquired riches in this way by deceit and fraud like a seller of meat what wise man would boast of it?

M. N. Dutt: In what single combat did you ever defeat Dhananjaya, Nakula or Sahadeva although you have robbed them of their riches?

M. N. Dutt: Has Yudhishthira, or Bhima the foremost of the strong, been defeated by you? In what battle was Indraprastha conquered by you?

M. N. Dutt: By what battle did you win Krishna, that, O you of wicked deeds, you did drag her to the assembly when she was in her course and had one cloth on?

M. N. Dutt: You have cut the great root of the Sala tree. Actuated by greed when you made them work as slaves what did Vidura say?

M. N. Dutt: Men and others, even insects and ants show forgiveness as much as lies in their power.

M. N. Dutt: The Pandava can never forgive your distressing Draupadi. Dhananjaya is born for the destruction of Dhritarashtra's sons.

M. N. Dutt: Appearing as a learned man you are making speeches, but will not Bibhatsu, the slayer of enemies, exterminate us all?

M. N. Dutt: Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, never from fear, withdraws himself from fighting even if it be with the Gandharvas, Asuras or Rakshasas.

M. N. Dutt: On whom he will fall enraged in battle he will over-throw him like a tree by the velocity of Garuda.

M. N. Dutt: Who will not praise Partha, who is superior to yourself in prowess, equal to the king of the gods in bowmanship and equal to Vasudeva himself in battle?

M. N. Dutt: What man is equal to Arjuna who counteracts the celestials weapons with celestials and human weapons with human?

M. N. Dutt: Persons conversant with virtue say that a disciple is not different from a son. It is for this reason Arjuna is favourite with Drona.

M. N. Dutt: Do you fight with the Pandavas in the same way by which you defeated them at dice, by which you conquered Indraprastha and dragged Krishna to the assembly hall.

M. N. Dutt: Let your uncle the deceitful gambler Shakuni, the prince of Gandhara, fully versed in the duties of the Kshatriyas, fight now.

M. N. Dutt: The Gandiva (bow) does not cast dice such as, the Krita or Dwapara but it discharges burning and sharpened arrows.

M. N. Dutt: The dreadful arrows, shot from Gandiva of great might and winged like vultures, can rend even the mountains.

M. N. Dutt: The regent of Dead, the god of air and the horse-faced god of fire, leave some thing behind but Dhananjaya, worked up with anger, never does so.

M. N. Dutt: As backed by your uncle you played at dice in the assembly hall so do you now fight well-protected by Subala's son?

M. N. Dutt: Let any one else, if he likes, fight, I shall not fight with Dhananjaya. We shall fight with the king of Matsya's if he comes following the track of kine.

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Drona's son observes well. Kripa observes well. Only for the observance of Kshatriya duties Karna wishes to fight.

M. N. Dutt: No wise man can find fault with the preceptor. In my view we must fight considering time and place.

M. N. Dutt: Why should not a wise man be bewildered who has five adversaries effulgent as the sun, who are experts in smiting and have just come out from adversity?

M. N. Dutt: Even persons, conversant with morality, are bewildered in their own interests. It is for this I tell you, O king, whether my words be acceptable to you or not.

M. N. Dutt: What Karna said to you was for inciting our energy. The preceptor's son should forgive us for a very important business is present.

M. N. Dutt: When the son of Kunti has come it is not the time for dissension. Yourself and the preceptor and Kripa should forgive everything

M. N. Dutt: The mastery of weapons is in you as the rays are in the sun. As Lakshmi is never separated from the moon, so the Vedas and the Brahma weapons are always established in you. It is seen that the four Vedas exist in one place and all the attributes of a Kshatriya exist in another place.

M. N. Dutt: We have never heard of these two living together in any man than in the preceptor of the Bharata's race and his son. This is my conviction.

M. N. Dutt: In Vedantas, in Puranas and in Itihasas, who, O king except Jamadagni, is superior to Drona?

M. N. Dutt: The (mastery) of Brahma weapons and (the knowledge of) the Vedas combined are not seen in any other person than that best of men, the preceptor of Bharatas. The preceptor's son should forgive us. This is not the time for disunion. Let us all united fight with the son of the chastiser of Paka (Arjuna) who has come here.

M. N. Dutt: Of all the dangers to an army described by the intelligent the worst is the disunion amongst the leaders.

M. N. Dutt: Ashvatthama said O foremost of men, the words that you have spoken to us are all just. The preceptor, filled with anger, has dilated upon his (Arjuna's) accomplishments.

M. N. Dutt: The accomplishments even of the enemies should be mentioned and the defect of a preceptor should be pointed out. Therefore, one should, to the best of his power, describe the merit of his son or disciple.

M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana said May the preceptor forgive us and establish peace. If the preceptor is not alienated everything would be done.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Thereupon, O Bharata, along with Karna, Bhishma and the high-souled Kripa Duryodhana made Drona to forgive them.

M. N. Dutt: Drona said I have already been pleased by the words, which Bhishma, the son of Shantanu at first gave vent to. Such a procedure should now be resorted to that the son of Pritha may not approach Duryodhana in the encounter and the latter may not pass into the hands of the enemies,

M. N. Dutt: Either through bravery or through foolishness. Let such a procedure be adopted. Arjuna shall not bring himself into our view before the expiration of the period of exile.

M. N. Dutt: By (merely) recovering the kine he will not forgive us. let therefore such a procedure be adopted that he can, by no means, vanquish the sons of Dhritarashtra and defeat our army. Similarly did Duryodhana speak before. Remembering all this, O Bhishma, tell us what you think proper.

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said The wheel of time revolves with various divisions such as Kalas, Kashthas, Muhurtas, days, fortnights months, stars, planets, seasons and years.

M. N. Dutt: On account of the excess of time and the constellations going on their courses there is an increase of two months in every five years.

M. N. Dutt: I think, calculating in this way, there will be an addition of five months and twelve nights within thirteen vears.

M. N. Dutt: They all have duly acted up to what they promised. Knowing all for certain Arjuna has come here.

M. N. Dutt: All of them are noble and well acquainted with virtue and worldly profit. They have Yudhishthira as their king. How can they injure virtue?

M. N. Dutt: The sons of Kunti are not avaricious and they have performed a work which it is greatly difficult to do. They do not wish to acquire kingdom by unfair means.

M. N. Dutt: (If so) the descendants of Kuru would have liked to show their prowess at that time; virtuous as they are, they did not deviate from the duties of the Kshatriyas.

M. N. Dutt: Whoever will regard them as dishonest will meet with discomfiture today. The sons of Pritha will rather invite death but will never speak an untruth.

M. N. Dutt: Those great men, the Pandavas, powerful like him (Indra), will never part with a thing that comes to them in due time even if it is protected by the holder of thunder (Indra).

M. N. Dutt: We shall have to content against, in battle, the foremost of all of all heroes; let such arrangements be made speedily, which are good and approved by the honest so that our properties may not pass into the hands of the enemies. O Kaurava, O emperor, I have never seen a battle in which one party is sure to come off victorious. (Besides) Arjuna has come. When a battle begins there is victory and defeat, prosperity and adversity. Therefore one must have either of the two. I have observed it without doubt.

M. N. Dutt: Whether it is right or not you should, O king, make arrangements speedily for the battle for Arjuna has come.

M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana said I shall not, O grandfather, give back their kingdom to Pandavas. Therefore without delay, make arrangements for the battle.

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Hear what I think about this, if you like. I should always speak what is good, O descendant of Kuru.

M. N. Dutt: Quickly proceed towards the city with onefourth of the army. Let the other fourth part go away with the kine.

M. N. Dutt: With half the army we shall fight with Arjuna. Myself, Drona, Karna, the son of Drona, as well as Sharadvata's son, Shall firmly fight with Arjuna or the king of Matsya if he has come back or even with the performer of hundred sacrifices. I shall face them like the bank (obstructing the motion of the) ocean.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said These words of the great Bhishma found favour with them and the king of Kauravas immediately carried them out.

M. N. Dutt: Having sent away the king and thereafter the precious kine Bhishma addressed himself for arranging his troops in battle array.

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Stand you, O preceptor, in the middle; let Ashvathama defend the left wing and the intelligent son of Sharadvata Kripa protect the right wing.

M. N. Dutt: Let Karna, the son of charioteer, clad in a coat of mail, stand in the front. And I shall command the entire army in the rear.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said After the mighty car-warriors of the Kurus had arrayed themselves in battle, sending out the rattle of their chariots, he quickly proceeded towards them.

M. N. Dutt: They saw the top of his banner, heard the rattle of his car and the twang of his Gandiva bow, stretched greatly by him.

M. N. Dutt: Observing all this and that the great carwarrior, the holder of the Gandiva bow has come, Drona said:

M. N. Dutt: The top of the banner which shines at a distance belongs to Arjuna; this is the rattle of his chariot and this is the monkey which is roaring.

M. N. Dutt: The monkey strikes great terror into the hearts of all the soldiers. And sitting on that best of cars, the foremost of car-warriors.

M. N. Dutt: Draws his best of bows Gandiva, that emits the sound of thunder. Those two arrows coming together touch my feet.

M. N. Dutt: Passing by others they touch my ears. Having completed the term of his exile in the forest and performed superhuman deeds,

M. N. Dutt: Partha salutes me and speaks to my ears. After a long time we have seen the wise son of Pandu, Dhananjaya, ever a favourite to his friends and greatly shining in prosperity.

M. N. Dutt: Possessed of chariot and shafts, beautiful gloves and quivers, conch, flag, armour; and adorned with a crest, scimitar and bow Partha shines like fire fed with clarified butter and sacrificial laddles.

M. N. Dutt: “O charioteer, stop your horses at a place from which my arrows may reach the soldiers so long I do not single out from among them the wretch of the Kuru race (Duryodhana).

M. N. Dutt: Disregarding all these I shall find that vain wretch out and strike him down and then all these will be defeated.

M. N. Dutt: There stands Drona and thereafter his son and then those great bowmen Bhishma, Kripa and Karna.

M. N. Dutt: I do not see the king, I am afraid, anxious to save his life he is going by the southern road. Leaving the car-warriors here go where Suyodhana is. I shall fight there, O son of Virata, for it will not be without result. Vanquishing him I will come back with the kine.

M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed the son of Virata, carefully governing the horses and holding the reins, took the horses where the leading Kurus and the king Suyodhana were. As Arjuna, having white steeds, left that place,

M. N. Dutt: Kripa, understanding his object, said: “Bibhatsu does not like to stand at a distance from the king."

M. N. Dutt: We shall attach his sides who is advancing quickly. None can alone fight with him in battle when worked up with anger

M. N. Dutt: Except the thousand-eyed Deity, Krishna, the son of Devaki, the preceptor his son, and the mighty car-warrior, the son of Bharadvaja.

M. N. Dutt: What shall we do with these kine or the vast wealth if Duryodhana were to sink like a bark in the Partha water.

M. N. Dutt: (In the mean time) going there ard announcing himself as Bibhatsu by name he speedily covered the soldiers with shafts like a swarm of locusts.

M. N. Dutt: Assailed by the mass of shafts discharged by Partha the warriors couldn't see anything, the sky and the earth being covered therewith.

M. N. Dutt: They who came to fight were so confounded that they even could not prepare themselves to fly away and began quickly to adore Partha in their minds.

M. N. Dutt: He then blew the conch which made the hairs of the enemies stand erect; then twanging his most excellent bow he made the creatures on his flag staff (to cry aloud).

M. N. Dutt: The earth shook with the sound of his conch, the rattle of his chariot and the twang of his Gandiva bow,

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.