Maha-Bharata Epic of the Bharatas

Posted by admin_akashic on Oct 20th, 2022 in Civilization

Scarce with life in speechless anguish from the battle-field I fled,
Scorn of foes and shame of kinsmen! Warrior’s fame and honour dead!

[338] Ten long years and three Yudhishthir joy nor peace nor rest hath seen,
And while Karna lives and glories all our insults still are green,

Hast thou, Arjun, slain that chieftain as in swelling pride he stood,
Hast thou wiped our wrongs and insults in that chariot-driver’s blood?”

“At a distance,” Krishna answered, “fiery Arjun fought his way,
Now he seeks the archer Karna and he vows his death to-day.”

Anger lit Yudhishthir’s forehead and a tremor shook his frame,
As he spake to silent Arjun words of insult and of shame:

“Wherefore like a painted warrior doth the helméd Arjun stand,
Wherefore useless lies Gandiva in his weak and nerveless hand,

Wherefore hangs yon mighty sabre from his belt of silk and gold,
Wherefore doth the peerless Krishna drive his coursers fleet and bold,

If afar from war’s arena timid Arjun seeks to hide,
If he shuns the mighty Karna battling in unconquered pride?

Arjun! yield thy famed Gandiva unto worthier hands than thine,
On some braver truer warrior let thy mighty standard shine,

Yield thy helmet and thy armour, yield thy gleaming sword and shield,
Hide thee from this deathful battle, matchless Karna rules the field!”

Sparkled Arjun’s eye in anger with a red and livid flame,
And the tempest of his passion shook his more than mortal frame,

Heedless, on the sword-hilt Arjun placed his swift and trembling hand,
Heedless, with a warrior’s instinct drew the dark and glistening brand!

Sacred blood of king and elder would have stained his trenchant steel,
But the wise and noble Krishna strove the fatal feud to heal:

“Not before thy elder, Arjun, but in yonder purple field,
’Gainst thy rival and thy foeman use thy warlike sword and shield,

[339] Render honour to thy elder, quench thy hasty impious wrath,
Render faith to holy sastra, leave not virtue’s sacred path,

Bow before thy virtuous elder as before the gods in heaven,
Sheathe thy sword and quell thy passion, be thy hasty sin forgiven!”

Duteous Arjun silent listened and obeyed the mandate high,
Tears of manly sorrow trickled from his soft and altered eye,

Dear in joy and dear in suffering, calm his righteous elder stood,
Dear in lndra-prastha’s mansions, dearer in the jungle wood!

Arjun sheathed his flashing sabre, joined his hands and hung his head,
Fixed his eye on good Yudhishthir and in humble accents said:

“Pardon, great and saintly monarch, vassal’s disrespectful word,
Pardon, elder, if a younger heedless drew his sinful sword,

But thy hest to yield my weapon stung my soul to bitter strife,
Dearer is the bow Gandiva unto Arjun than his life,

Pardon if the blood of anger mantled o’er this rugged brow,
Pardon if I drew my sabre ’gainst my duty and my vow,

For that hasty act repenting Arjun bows thy heart to move,
Grant me, holy king and elder, monarch’s grace and brother’s love!”

From Yudhishthir’s altered eyelids gentle tears of sorrow start,
And he lifts his younger brother to his ever-loving heart:

“Arjun, I have wronged thee brother, and no fault or sin is thine,
Hasty words of thoughtless anger ’scaped these sinful lips of mine,

Bitter was my shame and anguish when from Karna’s car I fled,
Redder than my bleeding bosom warrior’s fame and honour bled,

Hasty words I uttered, Arjun, by my pain and anguish driven,
Wipe them with a brother’s kindness, be thy elder’s sin forgiven!”

Stronger by his elder’s blessing Arjun mounts the battle-car,
Krishna drives the milk-white coursers to the thickening ranks of war

[340] Onward came the fiery Karna with his chiefs and arméd men,
Salya urged his flying coursers with the whip and loosened rein,

Often met and often parted, life-long rivals in their fame,
Not to part again the heroes, each before the other came,

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