Maha-Bharata Epic of the Bharatas

Posted by admin_akashic on Oct 20th, 2022 in Civilization

These are his who points out Arjun hiding from this fatal war,
Arjun’s snowy steeds and banner and his swift and thund’ring car!”

Karna spake, but long and loudly laughed the king of Madra’s land,
As he reined the fiery coursers with his strong and skilful hand,

“Of rewards and gifts,” he uttered, “little need is there, I ween,
Arjun is not wont to tarry from the battle’s glorious scene,

Soon will Arjun’s snowy coursers shake the battle’s startled field,
Helméd Arjun like a comet gleam with bow and sword and shield!

[336] As the forest-ranging tiger springs upon his fated prey,
As the hornéd bull infuriate doth the weakling cattle slay,

As the fierce and lordly lion smites the timid jungle-deer,
Arjun soon shall smite thee, Karna, for he knows nor dread nor fear,

Save thee then, O mighty archer! while I drive my sounding car,
Pandu’s son hath met no equal in the valiant art of war!”

Darkly frowned the angry Karna, Salya held the loosened rein,
Dashing through the hostile forces then the warrior sped amain,

Through the serried ranks of battle Karna drove in furious mood,
Facing him in royal splendour good Yudhishthir fearless stood!

Surging ranks of brave Nishadas closed between and fought in vain,
Proud Panchalas stout and faithful vainly strove among the slain,

Onward came the fiery Karna like the ocean’s heaving swell,
With the sweeping wrath of tempest on the good Yudhishthir fell!

Wrathful then the son of Pandu marked his noblest chieftains dead,
And in words of scornful anger thus to archer Karna said:

“Hast thou, Karna, vowed the slaughter of my younger Arjun brave,
Wilt thou do Duryodhan’s mandate, proud Duryodhan’s willing slave,

Unfulfilled thy vow remaineth, for the righteous gods ordain,
By Yudhishthir’s hand thou fallest, go and slumber with the slain!”

Fiercely drew his bow Yudhishthir, fiercely was the arrow driven,
Rocky cliff or solid mountain might the shaft have pierced and riven,

Lightning-like it came on Karna, struck and pierced him on the left,
And the warrior fell and fainted as of life and sense bereft!

Soon he rose; the cloud of anger darkened o’er his livid face,
And he drew his godlike weapon with a more than godlike grace,

Arrows keen and dark as midnight gleaming in their lightning flight,
Struck Yudhishthir’s royal armour with a fierce resistless might!

[337] Clanking fell the shattered armour from his person fair and pale,
As from sun’s meridian splendour clouds are drifted by the gale,

Armourless but bright and radiant brave Yudhishthir waged the fight,
Bright as sky with stars bespangled on a clear and cloudless night,

And he threw his pointed lances like the summer’s bursting flood,
Once again Yudhishthir’s weapons drank his fiery foeman’s blood!

Pale with anguish, wrathful Karna fiercely turned the tide of war,
Cut Yudhishthir’s royal standard, crushed his sumptuous battle-car,

And he urged his gallant coursers till his chariot bounding flew,
And with more than godlike prowess then his famed Vijaya drew,

Faint Yudhishthir sorely bleeding waged no more the fatal fight,
Carless, steedless, void of armour, sought his safety in his flight!

“Speed, thou timid man of penance!” thus insulting Karna said,
“Famed for virtue not for valour! blood of thine I will not shed,

Speed and chant thy wonted mantra, do the rites that sages know,
Bid the helméd warrior Arjun come and meet his warlike foe!”

To his tent retired Yudhishthir in his wrath and in his shame,
Spake to Arjun who from battle to his angry elder came:

“Hast thou yet, O tardy Arjun, base insulting Karna slain,
Karna dealing dire destruction on this battle’s reddened plain?

Like his teacher Par’su-Rama dyes in purple blood his course,
Like a snake of deathful poison Karna guards the Kuru force,

Karna smote my chariot-driver and my standard rent in twain,
Shattered car and lifeless horses strew the red inglorious plain,

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