The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (Translator)

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"Some time after, O bull of Bharata's race, Drona, accompanied by all of
his pupils, went to the bank of the Ganga to bathe in that sacred stream.
And when Drona had plunged into the stream, a strong alligator, sent as it
were, by Death himself seized him by the thigh. And though himself quite
capable, Drona in a seeming hurry asked his pupil to rescue him. And he
said, 'O, kill this monster and rescue me.' Contemporaneously with this
speech, Vibhatsu (Arjuna) struck the monster within the water with five
sharp arrows irresistible in their course, while the other pupils stood
confounded, each at his place. Beholding Arjuna's readiness, Drona
considered him to be the foremost of all his pupils, and became highly
pleased. The monster, in the meantime cut into pieces by the arrows of
Arjuna, released the thigh of illustrious Drona and gave up the ghost. The
son of Bharadwaja then addressed the illustrious and mighty car-warrior
Arjuna and said, 'Accept, O thou of mighty arms, this very superior and
irresistible weapon called Brahmasira with the methods of hurling and
recalling it. Thou must not, however, ever use it against any human foe,
for if hurled at any foe endued with inferior energy, it might burn the
whole universe. It is said, O child, that this weapon hath not a peer in
the three worlds. Keep it, therefore, with great care, and listen to what
I say. If ever, O hero, any foe, not human, contendeth against thee thou
mayst then employ it against him for compassing his death in battle.'
Pledging himself to do what he was bid, Vibhatsu then, with joined hands,
received that great weapon.

The preceptor then, addressing him again, said, 'None else in this world
will ever become a superior bowman to thee. Vanquished thou shall never be
by any foe, and thy achievements will be great.'"

SECTION CXXXVI

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'O thou of Bharata's race, beholding the sons of
Dhritarashtra and Pandu accomplished in arms, Drona, O monarch, addressed
king Dhritarashtra, in the presence of Kripa, Somadatta, Valhika, the wise
son of Ganga (Bhishma), Vyasa, and Vidura, and said, 'O best of Kuru kings,
thy children have completed their education. With thy permission, O king,
let them now show their proficiency.' Hearing him, the king said with a
gladdened heart, 'O best of Brahmanas, thou hast, indeed, accomplished a
great deed. Command me thyself as to the place and the time where and when
and the manner also in which the trial may be held. Grief arising from my
own blindness maketh me envy those who, blessed with sight, will behold my
children's prowess in arm. O Kshatri (Vidura), do all that Drona sayeth. O
thou devoted to virtue, I think there is nothing that can be more
agreeable to me.' Then Vidura, giving the necessary assurance to the king,
went out to do what he was bid. And Drona endued with great wisdom, then
measured out a piece of land that was void of trees and thickets and
furnished with wells and springs. And upon the spot of land so measured
out, Drona, that first of eloquent men, selecting a lunar day when the
star ascendant was auspicious, offered up sacrifice unto the gods in the
presence of the citizens assembled by proclamation to witness the same.
And then, O bull among men, the artificers of the king built thereon a
large and elegant stage according to the rules laid down in the scriptures,
and it was furnished with all kinds of weapons. They also built another
elegant hall for the lady-spectators. And the citizens constructed many
platforms while the wealthier of them pitched many spacious and high tents
all around.

"When the day fixed for the Tournament came, the king accompanied by his
ministers, with Bhishma and Kripa, the foremost of preceptors, walking
ahead, came unto that theatre of almost celestial beauty constructed of
pure gold, and decked with strings of pearls and stones of lapis lazuli.
And, O first of victorious men, Gandhari blessed with great good fortune
and Kunti, and the other ladies of the royal house-hold, in gorgeous
attire and accompanied by their waiting women, joyfully ascended the
platforms, like celestial ladies ascending the Sumeru mountain. And the
four orders including the Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, desirous of beholding
the princes' skill in arms, left the city and came running to the spot.
And so impatient was every one to behold the spectacle, that the vast
crowd assembled there in almost an instant. And with the sounds of
trumpets and drums and the noise of many voices, that vast concourse
appeared like an agitated ocean.

"At last, Drona accompanied by his son, dressed in white (attire), with a
white sacred thread, white locks, white beard, white garlands, and white
sandal-paste rubbed over his body, entered the lists. It seemed as if the
Moon himself accompanied by the planet Mars appeared in an unclouded sky.
On entering Bharadwaja performed timely worship and caused Brahmanas
versed in mantras to celebrate the auspicious rites. And after auspicious
and sweet-sounding musical instruments had been struck up as a
propitiatory ceremony, some persons entered, equipped with various arms.
And then having girded up their loins, those mighty warriors, those
foremost ones of Bharata's race (the princes) entered, furnished with
finger-protectors (gauntlet), and bows, and quivers. And with Yudhishthira
at their head, the valiant princes entered in order of age and began to
show wonderful skill with their weapons. Some of the spectators lowered
their heads, apprehending fall of arrows while others fearlessly gazed on
with wonder. And riding swiftly on horses and managing them 'dexterously'
the princes began to hit marks with shafts engraved with their respective
names. And seeing the prowess of the princes armed with bows and arrows,
the spectators thought that they were beholding the city of the Gandharvas,
became filled with amazement. And, O Bharata, all on a sudden, some
hundreds and thousands, with eyes wide open in wonder, exclaimed, 'Well
done! Well done!' And having repeatedly displayed their skill and
dexterity in the use of bows and arrows and in the management of cars, the
mighty warriors took up their swords and bucklers, and began to range the
lists, playing their weapons. The spectators saw (with wonder) their
agility, the symmetry of their bodies, their grace, their calmness, the
firmness of their grasp and their deftness in the use of sword and buckler.
Then Vrikodara and Suyodhana, internally delighted (at the prospect of
fight), entered the arena, mace in hand, like two single-peaked mountains.
And those mighty-armed warriors braced their loins, and summoning all
their energy, roared like two infuriate elephants contending for a cow-
elephant; and like two infuriated elephants those mighty heroes
faultlessly (in consonance with the dictates of the science of arm)
careered right and left, circling the lists. And Vidura described to
Dhritarashtra and the mother of the Pandavas (Kunti) and Gandhari, all the
feats of the princes.'"

SECTION CXXXVII

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Upon the Kuru king and Bhima, the foremost of
all endued with strength, having entered the arena, the spectators were
divided into two parties in consequence of the partiality swaying their
affections. Some cried, 'Behold the heroic king of the Kurus!'--some--
'Behold Bhima!'--And on account of these cries, there was, all on a sudden,
a loud uproar. And seeing the place become like a troubled ocean, the
intelligent Bharadwaja said unto his dear son, Aswatthaman, 'Restrain both
these mighty warriors so proficient in arms. Let not the ire of the
assembly be provoked by this combat of Bhima and Duryodhana.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then the son of the preceptor of the princes
restrained those combatants with their maces uplifted and resembling two
swollen oceans agitated by the winds that blow at the universal
dissolution. And Drona himself entering the yard of the arena commanded
the musicians to stop, and with a voice deep as that of the clouds
addressed these words, 'Behold ye now that Partha who is dearer to me than
my own son, the master of all arms, the son of Indra himself, and like
unto the younger brother of Indra, (Vishnu)! And having performed the
propitiatory rites, the youthful Phalguna, equipped with the finger
protector (gauntlet) and his quiver full of shafts and bow in hand,
donning his golden mail, appeared in the lists even like an evening cloud
reflecting the rays of the setting sun and illumined by the hues of the
rainbow and flashes of lightning.

"On seeing Arjuna, the whole assembly were delighted and conchs began to
be blown all around with other musical instruments. And there arose a
great uproar in consequence of the spectators' exclaiming,--'This is the
graceful son of Kunti!'--'This is the middle (third) Pandava!'--'This is
the son of the mighty Indra!'--'This is the protector of the Kurus'--'This
is the foremost of those versed in arms!'--'This is the foremost of all
cherishers of virtue!'--'This is the foremost of the persons of correct
behaviour, the great repository of the knowledge of manners!' At those
exclamations, the tears of Kunti, mixing with the milk of her breast,
wetted her bosom. And his ears being filled with that uproar, that first
of men, Dhritarashtra, asked Vidura in delight, 'O Kshatri, what is this
great uproar for, like unto that of the troubled ocean, arising all on a
sudden and rending the very heavens?' Vidura replied, 'O mighty monarch,
the son of Pandu and Pritha, Phalguna, clad in mail hath entered the lists.
And hence this uproar!' Dhritarashtra said, 'O thou of soul so great, by
the three fires sprung from Pritha who is even like the sacred fuel, I
have, indeed, been blessed, favoured and protected!'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'When the spectators, excited with delight, had
somewhat regained their equanimity, Vibhatsu began to display his
lightness in the use of weapons. By the Agneya weapon, he created fire,
and by the Varuna weapon he created water, by the Vayavya weapon, he
created air, and by the Parjanya weapon he created clouds. And by the
Bhauma weapon, he created land, and by the Parvatya weapon, he brought
mountains into being. By the Antardhana weapon all these were made to
disappear. Now the beloved one of his preceptor (Arjuna) appeared tall and
now short; now he was seen on the yoke of his car, and now on the car
itself; and the next moment he was on the ground. And the hero favoured by
his practised dexterity, hit with his various butts--some tender, some
fine and some of thick composition. And like one shaft, he let fly at a
time into the mouth of a moving iron-boar five shafts together from his
bow-string. And that hero of mighty energy discharged one and twenty
arrows into the hollow of a cow's horn hung up on a rope swaying to and
fro. In this manner, O sinless one, Arjuna showed his profound skill in
the use of sword, bow, and mace, walking over the lists in circles.

"And, O Bharata, when the exhibition had well-nigh ended, the excitement
of the spectators had cooled, and the sounds of instruments had died out
there was heard proceeding from the gate, the slapping of arms, betokening
might and strength, and even like unto the roar of the thunder. And, O
king, as soon as this sound was heard, the assembled multitude instantly
thought, 'Are the mountains splitting or is the earth itself rending
asunder, or is the welkin resounding with the roar of gathering clouds?'
And then all the spectators turned their eyes towards the gate. And Drona
stood, surrounded by the five brothers, the sons of Pritha, and looked
like the moon in conjunction with the five-starred constellation Hasta.
And Duryodhana, that slayer of foes, stood up in haste and was surrounded
by his century of haughty brothers with Aswatthaman amongst them. And that
prince, mace in hand, thus surrounded by his hundred brothers with
uplifted weapons appeared like Purandara in days of yore, encircled by the
celestial host on the occasion of the battle with the Danavas.'"

SECTION CXXXVIII

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana continued, 'When the spectators, with eyes expanded with
wonder, made way for that subjugator of hostile cities, Karna, that hero
with his natural mail and face brightened with ear-rings, took up his bow
and girded on his sword, and then entered the spacious lists, like a
walking cliff. That far-famed destroyer of hostile hosts, the large-eyed
Karna, was born of Pritha in her maidenhood. He was a portion of the hot-
beamed Sun and his energy and prowess were like unto those of the lion, or
the bull, or the leader of a herd of elephants. In splendour he resembled
the Sun, in loveliness the Moon, and in energy the fire. Begotten by the
Sun himself, he was tall in stature like a golden palm tree, and, endued
with the vigour of youth, he was capable of slaying a lion. Handsome in
features, he was possessed of countless accomplishments. The mighty-armed
warrior, eyeing all around the arena, bowed indifferently to Drona and
Kripa. And the entire assembly, motionless and with steadfast gaze,
thought, 'Who is he?' And they became agitated in their curiosity to know
the warrior. And that foremost of eloquent men, the offspring of the Sun,
in a voice deep as that of the clouds, addressed his unknown brother, the
son of the subduer of the Asura, Paka (Indra), saying, 'O Partha, I shall
perform feats before this gazing multitude; excelling all thou hast
performed! Beholding them, thou shall be amazed.' And, O thou best of
those blest with speech, he had hardly done when the spectators stood up
all at once, uplifted by some instrument, as it were. And, O tiger among
men, Duryodhana was filled with delight, while Vibhatsu was instantly all
abashment and anger. Then with the permission of Drona, the mighty Karna,
delighting in battle, there did all that Partha had done before. And, O
Bharata, Duryodhana with his brothers thereupon embraced Karna in joy and
then addressed him saying, 'Welcome O mighty-armed warrior! I have
obtained thee by good fortune, O polite one! Live thou as thou pleasest,
and command me, and the kingdom of the Kurus.' Karna replied, 'When thou
hast said it, I regard it as already accomplished. I only long for thy
friendship. And, O lord, my wish is even for a single combat with Arjuna.'
Duryodhana said, 'Do thou with me enjoy the good things of life! Be thou
the benefactor of thy friend, and, O represser of enemies, place thou thy
feet on the heads of all foes.'

"Arjuna, after this, deeming himself disgraced, said unto Karna
stationed amidst the brothers like unto a cliff, 'That path which the
unwelcome intruder and the uninvited talker cometh to, shall be thine,
O Karna, for thou shall be slain by me.' Karna replied, 'This arena is
meant for all, not for thee alone, O Phalguna! They are kings who are
superior in energy; and verily the Kshatriya regardeth might and might
alone. What need of altercation which is the exercise of the weak? O
Bharata, speak then in arrows until with arrows I strike off thy head
today before the preceptor himself!'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hastily embraced by his brothers, Partha that
subduer of hostile cities, with the permission of Drona, advanced for the
combat. On the other side, Karna, having been embraced by Duryodhana with
his brothers, taking up his bow and arrows, stood ready for the fight.
Then the firmament became enveloped in clouds emitting flashes of
lightning, and the coloured bow of Indra appeared shedding its effulgent
rays. And the clouds seemed to laugh on account of the rows of white
cranes that were then on the wing. And seeing Indra thus viewing the arena
from affection (for his son), the sun too dispersed the clouds from over
his own offspring. And Phalguna remained deep hid under cover of the
clouds, while Karna remained visible, being surrounded by the rays of the
Sun. And the son of Dhritarashtra stood by Karna, and Bharadwaja and Kripa
and Bhishma remained with Partha. And the assembly was divided, as also
the female spectators. And knowing the state of things, Kunti the daughter
of Bhoja, swooned away. And by the help of female attendants, Vidura,
versed in the lore of all duties, revived the insensible Kunti by
sprinkling sandal-paste and water on her person. On being restored to
consciousness, Kunti, seeing her two sons clad in mail, was seized with
fear, but she could do nothing (to protect them). And beholding both the
warriors with bows strung in their hands the son of Saradwat, viz., Kripa,
knowing all duties and cognisant of the rules regulating duels, addressed
Karna, saying 'This Pandava, who is the youngest son of Kunti, belongeth
to the Kaurava race: he will engage in combat with thee. But, O mighty-
armed one, thou too must tell us thy lineage and the names of thy father
and mother and the royal line of which thou art the ornament. Learning all
this, Partha will fight with thee or not (as he will think fit). Sons of
kings never fight with men of inglorious lineage.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'When he was thus addressed by Kripa, Karna's
countenance became like unto a lotus pale and torn with the pelting
showers in the rainy season. Duryodhana said, 'O preceptor, verily the
scriptures have it that three classes of persons can lay claim to royalty,
viz., persons of the blood royal, heroes, and lastly, those that lead
armies. If Phalguna is unwilling to fight with one who is not a king, I
will install Karna as king of Anga.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'At that very moment, seated on a golden seat, with
parched paddy and with flowers and water-pots and much gold, the mighty
warrior Karna was installed king by Brahmanas versed in mantras. And the
royal umbrella was held over his head, while Yak-tails waved around that
redoubtable hero of graceful mien. And the cheers, having ceased, king
(Karna) said unto the Kaurava Duryodhana, 'O tiger among monarchs, what
shall I give unto thee that may compare with thy gift of a kingdom? O king,
I will do all thou biddest!' And Suyodhana said unto him, 'I eagerly wish
for thy friendship.' Thus spoken to, Karna replied, 'Be it so.' And they
embraced each other in joy, and experienced great happiness.'"

SECTION CXXXIX

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'After this, with his sheet loosely hanging down,
Adhiratha entered the lists, perspiring and trembling, and supporting
himself on a staff.

"Seeing him, Karna left his bow and impelled by filial regard bowed down
his head still wet with the water of inauguration. And them the charioteer,
hurriedly covering his feet with the end of his sheet, addressed Karna
crowned with success as his son. And the charioteer embraced Karna and
from excess of affection bedewed his head with tears, that head still wet
with the water sprinkled over it on account of the coronation as king of
Anga. Seeing the charioteer, the Pandava Bhimasena took Karna for a
charioteer's son, and said by way of ridicule, 'O son of a charioteer,
thou dost not deserve death in fight at the hands of Partha. As befits thy
race take thou anon the whip. And, O worst of mortals, surely thou art not
worthy to sway the kingdom of Anga, even as a dog doth not deserve the
butter placed before the sacrificial fire.' Karna, thus addressed, with
slightly quivering lips fetched a deep sigh, looked at the God of the day
in the skies. And even as a mad elephant riseth from an assemblage of
lotuses, the mighty Duryodhana rose in wrath from among his brothers, and
addressed that performer of dreadful deeds, Bhimasena, present there, 'O
Vrikodara, it behoveth thee not to speak such words. Might is the cardinal
virtue of a Kshatriya, and even a Kshatriya of inferior birth deserveth to
be fought with. The lineage of heroes, like the sources of a lordly river,
is ever unknown. The fire that covereth the whole world riseth from the
waters. The thunder that slayeth the Danavas was made of a bone of (a
mortal named) Dadhichi. The illustrious deity Guha, who combines in his
composition the portions of all the other deities is of a lineage unknown.
Some call him the offspring of Agni; some, of Krittika, some, of Rudra,
and some of Ganga. It hath been heard by us that persons born in the
Kshatriya order have become Brahmanas. Viswamitra and others (born
Kshatriyas) have obtained the eternal Brahma. The foremost of all wielders
of weapons, the preceptor Drona hath been born in a waterpot and Kripa of
the race of Gotama hath sprung from a clump of heath. Your own births, ye
Pandava princes, are known to me. Can a she-deer bring forth a tiger (like
Karna), of the splendour of the Sun, and endued with every auspicious mark,
and born also with a natural mail and ear-rings? This prince among men
deserveth the sovereignty of the world, not of Anga only, in consequence
of the might of his arm and my swearing to obey him in everything. If
there be anybody here to whom all that I have done unto Karna hath become
intolerable, let him ascend his chariot and bend his bow with the help of
his feet.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then there arose a confused murmur amongst the
spectators approving of Duryodhana's speech. The sun, however, went down,
but prince Duryodhana taking Karna's hand led him out of the arena lighted
with countless lamps. And, O king, the Pandavas also, accompanied by Drona
and Kripa and Bhishma, returned to their abodes. And the people, too, came
away, some naming Arjuna, some Karna, and some Duryodhana (as the victor
of the day). And Kunti, recognising her son in Karna by the various
auspicious marks on his person and beholding him installed in the
sovereignty of Anga, was from motherly affection, very pleased. And
Duryodhana, O monarch, having obtained Karna (in this way), banished his
fears arising out of Arjuna's proficiency in arms. And the heroic Karna,
accomplished in arms, began to gratify Duryodhana by sweet speeches, while
Yudhishthira was impressed with the belief that there was no warrior on
earth like unto Karna.'"

SECTION CXL

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Beholding the Pandavas and the son of
Dhritarashtra accomplished in arms, Drona thought the time had come when
he could demand the preceptorial fee. And, O king, assembling his pupils
one day together, the preceptor Drona asked of them the fee, saying,
'Seize Drupada, the king of Panchala in battle and bring him unto me. That
shall be the most acceptable fee.' Those warriors then answering, 'So be
it', speedily mounted up on their chariots, and for bestowing upon their
preceptor the fee he had demanded, marched out, accompanied by him. Those
bulls among men, smiting the Panchalas on their way, laid siege to the
capital of the great Drupada. And Duryodhana and Karna and the mighty
Yuyutsu, and Duhsasana and Vikarna and Jalasandha and Sulochana,--these
and many other foremost of Kshatriya princes of great prowess, vied with
one another in becoming the foremost in the attack. And the princes,
riding in first class chariots and following the cavalry, entered the
hostile capital, and proceeded along the streets.

"Meanwhile, the king of Panchala, beholding that mighty force and hearing
its loud clamour, came out of his palace, accompanied by his brothers.
Though king Yajnasena was well-armed, the Kuru army assailed him with a
shower of arrows, uttering their war-cry. Yajnasena, however, not easy to
be subdued in battle, approaching the Kurus upon his white chariot, began
to rain his fierce arrows around.

"Before the battle commenced, Arjuna, beholding the pride of prowess
displayed by the princes, addressed his preceptor, that best of Brahmanas,
Drona, and said, 'We shall exert ourselves after these have displayed
their prowess. The king of Panchala can never be taken on the field of the
battle by any of these.' Having said this, the sinless son of Kunti
surrounded by his brothers, waited outside the town at a distance of a
mile from it. Meanwhile Drupada beholding the Kuru host, rushed forward
and pouring a fierce shower of arrows around, terribly afflicted the Kuru
ranks. And such was his lightness of motion on the field of battle that,
though he was fighting unsupported on a single chariot, the Kurus from
panic supposed that there were many Drupadas opposed to them. And the
fierce arrows of that monarch fell fast on all sides, till conchs and
trumpets and drums by thousands began to be sounded by the Panchalas from
their houses (giving the alarm). Then there arose from the mighty Panchala
host a roar terrible as that of the lion, while the twang of their bow-
strings seemed to rend the very heavens. Then Duryodhana and Vikarna,
Suvahu and Dirghalochana and Duhsasana becoming furious, began to shower
their arrows upon the enemy. But the mighty bowman, Prishata's son,
invincible in battle, though very much pierced with the arrows of the
enemy, instantly began, O Bharata, to afflict the hostile ranks with
greater vigour. And careering over the field of battle like a fiery wheel,
king Drupada with his arrows smote Duryodhana and Vikarna and even the
mighty Karna and many other heroic princes and numberless warriors, and
slaked their thirst for battle. Then all the citizens showered upon the
Kurus various missiles like clouds showering rain-drops upon the earth.
Young and old, they all rushed to battle, assailing the Kurus with vigour.
The Kauravas, then, O Bharata, beholding the battle become frightful,
broke and fled wailing towards the Pandavas.