Maha-Bharata Epic of the Bharatas

Posted by admin_akashic on Oct 20th, 2022 in Civilization

I. Complaint of the Cowherd

Monarch of the mighty Matsyas, brave Virata known to fame,
Marched against Trigarta chieftains who from southward regions came,

From the north the proud Duryodhan, stealing onwards day by day,
Swooped on Matsya’s fattened cattle like the hawk upon its prey!

Bhishma, Drona, peerless Karna, led the Kuru warriors brave,
Swept the kingdom of Virata like the ocean’s surging wave,

Fell upon the trembling cowherds, chased them from the pasture-field,
Sixty thousand head of cattle was the Matsya country’s yield!

And the wailing chief of cowherds fled forlorn fatigued and spent,
Speeding on his rapid chariot to the royal city went,

Came inside the city portals, came within the palace gate,
Struck his forehead in his anguish and bewailed his luckless fate.

[271] Meeting there the prince Uttara, youth of beauty and of fame,
Told him of the Kurus’ outrage and lamented Matsya’s shame:

“Sixty thousand head of cattle, bred of Matsya’s finest breed,
To Hastina’s distant empire do the Kuru chieftains lead,

Glory of the Matsya nation! save thy father’s valued kine,
Quick thy footsteps, strong thy valour, vengeance deep and dire be thine!

’Gainst the fierce Trigarta chieftains Matsya’s warlike king is gone,
Thee we count our lord and saviour as our monarch’s gallant son,

Rise, Uttara! beat the Kurus, homeward lead the stolen kine,
Like an elephant of jungle, pierce the Kurus’ shattered line!

As the Vina speaketh music, by musicians tuned aright,
Let thy sounding bow and arrows speak thy deeds of matchless might,

Harness quick thy milk-white coursers to thy sounding battle-car,
Hoist thy golden lion-banner, speed thee, prince, unto the war!

And as thunder-wielding INDRA smote Asuras fierce and bold,
Smite the Kurus with thy arrows winged with plumes of yellow gold,

As the famed and warlike Arjun is the stay of Kuru’s race,
Thou art refuge of the Matsyas and thy kingdom’s pride and grace!”

But the prince went not to battle from the foe to guard the State,
To the cowherd answered gaily, sheltered by the palace gate:

“Not unknown to me the usage of the bow and wingéd dart,
Not unknown the warrior’s duty or the warrior’s noble art,

I would win my father’s cattle from the wily foeman’s greed,
If a skilful chariot-driver could my fiery coursers lead.

For my ancient chariot-driver died on battle’s gory plain,
Eight and twenty days we wrestled, many warlike chiefs were slain,

Bring me forth a skilful driver who can urge the battle-steed,
I will hoist my lion-banner, to the dubious battle speed.

[272] Dashing through the foeman’s horses, ranks of elephant and car,
I will win the stolen cattle rescued in the field of war,

And like thunder-wielding INDRA, smiting Danu’s sons of old,
I will smite the Kuru chieftains, drive them to their distant hold!

Bhishma and the proud Duryodhan, archer Karna known to fame,
Drona too shall quail before me and retreat in bitter shame,

For those warriors in my absence Matsya’s far-famed cattle steal,
But beneath my countless arrows Matsya’s vengeance they shall feel,

Bring me forth a chariot-driver, let me speed my battle-car,
And in wonder they will question – Is this Arjun famed in war?”

II. The Disguised Charioteer

Arjun, guised as Brihannala, heard the boast Uttara made,
And to try his skill and valour thus to fair Draupadi prayed:

“Say to him that Brihannala will his battle-chariot lead,
That as Arjun’s chariot-driver he hath learned to urge the steed,

Say that faithful Brihannala many a dubious war hath seen,
And will win his father’s cattle in this contest fierce and keen.”

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