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Mahabharata
Draupadi Harana Parva
History of Durvasa. The coming of Jayadratha. The questions of Kotikasya. The words of Draupadi. The conversation between Draupadi and Jayadratha. The taking away of Draupadi. The coming of Parthas. The words of Draupadi. The Hight of Jayadratha.
Janamejaya said:
While the high-souled Pandavas were living in the forest, delighted with the pleasant conversation they held with the Rishis and engaged in distributing the food, they obtained from the sun, with various kinds of venison to Brahmanas and others that came to them for fool till the hour of Krishna's meal, how O great Rishi, did Duryodhana and the other wicked and sinful sons of Dhritarashtra, guided by the counsels of Dushasana, Karna and Sakuni, deal with then? I ask you, O reverend one, O Vaishampayana, tell me all this.
Vaishampayana said:
Hearing that they (the Pandavas) are living in the forest as in a city, the great king Duryodhana with Karna, Dushashana and others longed to do them harm. When those wicked men were concerting various evil designs, the virtuous and the celebrated ascetic Durvasa, wandering about at will, came to the city of the Kurus with ten thousand disciples.
Seeing the greatly wrathful Rishi arrived. The handsome Duryodhana and his brother welcomed him with great humility, self-abuse and gentleness.
Himself he waited upon the Rishi as a menial. The illustrious Rishi remained there for a few days.
O Janamejaya, king Duryodhana, fearing his curse, served him diligently day and right.
Sometime saying "O ruler of men I am hungry, give me food without delay," he would go to bathe but would return after along time and say, "I shall not eat anything today, I have no appetite." So saying he would disappear.
Sometimes suddenly coming, he would say "feed us soon." At other times, being bent on mischief, he would awake at midnight and having ordered his food to be prepared, he would not eat it at all.
When the Rishi found that king Duryodhana was not enraged or annoyed, he became gracious towards him. O descendant of Bharata, then the wrothful Durvasa thus spoke to him, "I am capable of giving boons."
Durvasa said:
You may ask from me whatever you desire to possess. Be blessed. I am pleased with you, you may obtain from me anything that is not opposed to religion.
Vaishampayana said:
Having heard those words of the high-souled ascetic, Duryodhana became inspired with a new life.
It had been settled between that wicked wretch and Karna and Duhshasana as to the boon he would ask, if the Rishi be so pleased as to agree to bestow one. With great joy the king (Duryodhana) asked for the following boon, O Brahman, as you have been my guest for sometime. So you become the guest of Yudhisthira who is accomplished and who is well-behaved; he is the great king, the best and the eldest of our family, that viruous-minded one is now living in the forest surrounded by his brothers.
Then at that time you should once go there as you have favoured me (by coming here), when that illustrious princess, that delicate lady, that excellent lady (Draupadi) after having fed the Brahmanas and regaled her husbands and also eating herself, will be comfortably seated for rest.
He (Rishi) replied to the Duryodhana “I shall do it for your satisfaction." Having said this, that great Brahmana went in the way he came. Duryodhana then considered that all his desires had been fulfilled.
Holding Karna by the hand he expressed his great delight. Karna also with great joy thus spoke to the king (Duryodhana).
Karna said:
By singular good luck, you have fared well and attained to the fulfilment of your desire. By good luck your enemies have been plunged into the sea of misery which is difficult to cross. The Pandavas are now exposed to the fire of Durvasa's anger. Through their own fault they have fallen into an abyss of darkness.
O king, thus expressing their great delight, Duryodhana and others, ever bent on mischief, cheerfully went to their respective house.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon one day, knowing that the Pandavas had been comfortably seated and Krishna was taking her rest after meal the ascetic entered the forest surrounded by ten thousand disciples.
Beholding that guest arrive there the king Yudhishthira graceful and honest, proceeded with his brothers. Joining his hands and making him sit on an excellent seat. And adoring him duly he treated him with hospitalicy. He said, "Come back soon, O venerably sir, after performing your ablutions and reciting your prayers."
That innocent ascetic went to bathe along with his disciples, thinking "how will he feed me and my disciples." Those ascetics of controlled minds went into the water.
In the interval, O king, Draupadi, the best of women ever devoted to her husband, began to think how she could provide food.
While she was thus thinking she could not find any means. She then thought in mind of Krishna, the slayer at Kansa.
(She said) O Krishna, O Krishna of mighty arms, O eternal, O son of Devaki. O Vasudeva, O lord of the universe, O you the killer of the difficulties of those that bow to you, O soul of the universe, O creator of the universe, O destroyer, O lord O inexhaustible. Oh the protector of the afflicted, O the saviour of kine and subjects, O the highest of the high, O the source of the mental perceptions such as faculties of knowledge and moral sense, I bow to you.
O worshipful one, O endless giver of boons, you are the refuge of the helpless; You are the ancient Purusha, the vital breath, beyond the perception of mental faculties. Oh lord of all, the most excellent lord, I seek your refuge; O lord, O you fond of your votaries, kindly protect me.
O you having complexion dark as the leaves of the blue lotus having eyes red as the corola of the lilly, O you clad in yellow raiment, O you adorned with the brilliant Kaustava. You are the beginning and the end of creation; the great refuge of all, you are the supreme light and essence of the universe with your face directed towards all directions.
They call you the supreme germ and the depository of all wealth; O king of gods, being protected by you all will lose their terrors.
You did save me before from Dushasana in the assembly; it behoves you now to save me from this difficutly.
Vaishampayana said:
Then thus eulogised by Krishna the lord, fond of his votaries, the god of gods, the lord of the universe, Kesava of mysterious movements, percieving Draupadi's difficulty and leaving Rukmani on the bed him, came there quickly.
Thereupon beholding him arrived there Draupadi, in great delight, bowed to him and communicated to Vasudeva the coming of the ascetic and every other thing.
"Thereupon Krishna said to her, I am greatly stricken with hunger; soon feed me, O Krishna and afterwards I shall do all." Hearing his words Krishna, ashamed, said, The vessel given by the sun remains full till I take my meals. O lord, I have taken my meals and there is no food.
Thereupon the lotus-eyed god said to Krishna. This is not the time for joke, O Krishna; I am assailed with hunger and fatigue; soon go, fetch the vessel and show me. Having thus got persistently the vessel brought, the ornament of the Yadu race, Keshava, saw a particle of rice and vegetable sticking at a comer. Eating it up he said to her "May the lord Hari, the sould of the universe, be pleased with it and may the God who partakes at sacrifices be satiated with it."
Then the long-armed Krishna, the destroyer of miseries said to Sahadeva, "soon bring the ascetics here and feed them."
O foremost of kings, thereupon the mighty illustrious Sahaveda soon went to invite them to repast. The ascetic Durvasa and others, who had gone to the nearest river to cool and transparent water to bath, all having plunged into the river, were rubbing their persons. And they were all feeling their stomachs to be full. Coming out of the water they began to eye each other. Then turning their faces towards Durvasa they all said, "Having asked the king to get our meals ready we have come here to bathe. Our stomachs have been filled to the throat; how can we eat anything now, O Brahmana Rishi? The food has been uselessy prepared for us, what shall we do now?"
Durvasa said:
By uselessly making him prepare our food we have done a great wrong to that royal sage. Will not the Pandavas distroy us by looking down upon us with angry eyes? I know, the royal sage is endued with great ascetic power; O Brahmana, I am afraid of those man who are devoted to Hari's feet. All those Pandavas are high-souled, pious, heroic, learned, observant of vows and of devout panances. They always observe the rules of good conduct and are devoted to Vasudeva; if angry, they can consume us with their anger as fire does a bale of cotton. So O disciples, you all run away quickly without seeing them.
Vaishampnyana said:
Being thus addressed by their ascetic preceptor, all those Bramhanas, greatly afraid of the Pandavas, fled away in all directions.
Not bohilding those best ascetics in the celestial river. Sahadeva searched them here, there and at all the landing places.
Then learning from the other ascetics there that they had all fled away he came and communicated the news to Yudhishthira.
Thereupon all the self-controlled Pandavas, awaiting their arrival, remained in expectation for some time.
Yudhisthira said:
Coming in the dead of night the ascetics will impose on us; Oh, how can we escape from this difficulty created by destiny.
Seeing them thus stricken with anxiety and breathing long deep sighs frequently the graceful Krishna suddenly appeared before them and said,
Krishna said:
O son of Pritha, knowing your difficulty from the highly wrathful Rishi implored by Draupadi I soon came here.
Now you have not the least fear from the ascetic Durvasa; afraid of your ascetic powers, he has already fled away.
Those who always abide by virtue never suffer. I now ask your permission to return home; may good always betide you.
Vaishampayana said:
Hearing Kashava's words the sons of Pritha along with Draupadi became easy in mind and relieved from anxiety they said, O lord, O Govinda, as persons drowning in the vast deep, reach shore by means of a boat, so have we, by your protection, overcome this great difficulty.
Now go in peace; may good betide you. Thus commanded he repaired to his own city and the Pandavas too, O great king, O lord, long with Draupadi.
Delightedly spent their days wandering from forest to forest. O king, I have thus, as asked by you, recounted the story.
It was in this way the evil desires of the wicked sons of Dhritarastra about the Pandavas in the forest, were baffled.
Vaishampayana said:
Those mighty car-warriors, the foremost of the Bharata race, wandering like immortals in the forest of Kamyaka abounding in many deer, were pleased.
Beholding various wild tracts of country on all sides, the woodland decorated with the beautiful, blossming season flowers.
Those Indra-like Pandavas, fond of hunting and subdues of their enemies, lived there for some time wandering in that huge forest.
One day those men, those repressers of their enemies, wandered about on all sides, in search of game for feeding the Brahmanas who were with them, leaving Draupadi alone in the hermitage with the permission of Trinabindu the great ascetic of burning asceticism and their priest Dhaumya.
At that time the illustrious king of Sindhu, the son of Vriddhakshatra was, for marriage, going to the territory of Shalva.
Dressed in his best royal robe and accompanied by many princes he halted at the forest of Kamayaka.
In that solitary place he found the handsome Draupadi, the beloved and the illustrious wife of the Pandavas, standing at the threshold of the hermitage.
She appeared in her form having the most excellent beauty, shedding lustre on woodland like lightning illuminating masses of dark clouds.
(Thinking): "Is she an Apsara or the daughter of a god or a celestials phantom," they all with joined hands, stood gazing on the perfect and faultless beauty of her person.
Seeing that lady of faultless feature, Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu, the son of Vriddhakshatra, was possessed by evil intention.
Possessed by desire he said to the prince named Kotikasya, "Who is this lady of faultless feature? Is she a human being?
I do not desire to marry if I can secure this exquisitely beautiful lady. Taking her with me I shall go back to my house.
O gentle sir, go and enquire who she is and whence she has come and why she, of fine eyebrows, has come to this forest full of thorns.
Will this most excellent beauty of the world, this slender-waisted lady, having beautiful teeth and large eyes, accept me as her lord?
I shall certainly consider myself successful if I can obtain this best of females. Go Kotika and learn who her husband is." Hearing this Kotikasya, wearing a Kundala, jumped out of the car and approached her as a jackal comes near a tigress and spoke to her.
Kotikasya said:
O fair one, who are you that stand alone leaning on a branch of the Kadamba tree at this hermitage and looking majestic like flame of fire burning at night and fanned by the wind?
You are endued with great beauty; do you not feel any fear in this forest? Are you a goddess or a Yakshi or a Danavi or the beautiful wife of a Daitya?
Or a daughter of the king of serpents or the wife of a night ranger or the wife of Varuna or of Yama or of Soma or of Kubera who assuming a human form are wandering in this forest?
Or have you come from the palace of Dhata or Vidhata or of Savita or of Vibhu or of Shakra? You do not ask us who we are, nor do we know who is your lord.
Increasing your respect we do ask you. O gentle lady, who is your heroic father. Tell us the names of your husband, relatives, your race and what you do here.
I am the son of the king Suratha, whom the people know as Kotikasya. That man who sits on the golden car, like sacrificial fire on the altar, is the king of Trigarta having eyes like lotus petals; that hero is known by the name of Kshemankara;
Behind him is the great bowman that one of large eyes, adorned with blazing garlands gazing on you, the famous son of the king of Kulinda. Who always lives on mountain.
O beautiful lady, that dark and handsome young man who is standing at the brink of the tank. Is the son of the Ikshvaku king Subala; he is the slayer of his elements.
If you have ever heard of the name Jayadratha, the king of Sauviras, he is there at the head of six thousand cars, with horses and elephants and followed by twelve Sauvira princes carrying his peanons, namely Angaraka, Kunjara Guptaka, Shatrunjaya, Sanjaya, Supravriddha, Bhayankara, Bhramara, Ravi, Shura, Pratapa and Kuhana, all riding on cars drawn by chestnut steeds and looking like the fire on the sacrificial altar.
The brothers of the king namely the mighty Balahaka, Anika, Vidarana and others also constitute his following.
These mighty, youthful and leading heroes of Sauvira race are following the king. He is journeying in the company of these friends of his, like Indra surrounded by Maruts.
O you having fine hair, tell us, who do not know whose wife and whose daughter you are.
Vaishampayana said:
Being thus accosted that foremost of Shibi's race, the princess Draupadi, looking gently, leaving of the Kadamba branch and arranging her silken raiment, said,
I know it, O prince, that it is not proper for me to address you thus; there is no other man or woman who can speak with you.
I am alone here just now so I should speak, know, O gentle sir, being alone in this forest, I should not speak to you, remembering the practices of our sex.
I have learnt you to be the son of Suratha whom people know as Kotikasya; so O Shaivya, I shall tell you of my relations and illustrious race.
I am the daughter of the king Drupada, O Shaivya, people know me as Krishna; I have elected five men as my husbands of whom you may have heard while they were living in Khandavaprastha.
Those foremost of men, Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Arjuna and the two sons of Madri, leaving me hear and having assigned four quarters, have gone out on hunting.
The king has gone to the east, Bhimasena towards the south, Arjuna to the west and the twin brothers towards the north. Me-thinks, the time of the arrival of those leading car-warriors, has come.
Do you get down and dismiss your carriage so that yet may go after receiving a befitting welcome from them. The high-souled son of Dharma is fond of guests and will, in sooth, be glad to see you.
Having thus addressed Shaivya's son, the daughter of Draupadi, with a face beautiful as the moon, remembering well the hospitable tendency of her husband, entered her spacious cottage.
Vaishampayana said:
O descendant of Bharata, when all those princes were seated at rest, he related to them the conversation that he had with Krishna.
Hearing the words of Kotikasya, the Sauvira hero said to Shaivya, "Hearing her words my mind has been inclined towards her. Why have you come unsuccessful from that best of females; having once seen this lady other women appear to me as so many monkeys. O mighty-armed heroes, I tell you the truth. From the very moment I saw her my mind has been entirely captivated by her. Tell me, O Shaivya, if that excellent lady is a human being."
Kotika said:
She is the illustrious princes, Krishna Draupadi. She is recognised queen of the five sons of Pandu and chaste damsel is highly regarded and loved by all the Parthas. Taking her with you, O Sauvira, proceed towards Sauvira.
Vaishampayana said:
Being thus addressed the evil-minded Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu, Sauvira and other countries said: "I wish to see Draupadi."
Like a wolf entering the den of lion, he with six followers entered the holy hermitage and said to Krishna: "Are you well, O excellent lady? Are your husbands well? Are they all well whose prosperity you seek?"
Draupadi said:
It is all well with your kingdom, countries, treasury and army? Are you, as sole ruler, governing justly the prosperous countries of Sauvira, Shibi, Sindhu and others, that you have brought under your sway?
Kunti's son Yudhishthira, of the Kuru race, his brother, myself and all of whom you have enquired are well? O prince, accept this water to wash your feet and seat. I offer you fifty animals for the breakfast of your followers.
Jayadratha said:
"All well with me; by offering us breakfast you have already done it. Come ride my chariot and be completely happy. It does not behoove you to regard the wretched sons of Pritha who are living in the forest, whose prowess has been spoiled, whose kingdom has been taken away and whose prosperity is gone. A woman of your good sense does not devote herself to a poor husband. She should follow her husband in prosperity and relinquish him when he is in adversity.
The sons of Pandu have forever fallen from their high dignity and have lost their kingdom? You should not therefore, out of regard, participate in their miseries.
O you of beautiful hips, renouncing them, be happy by becoming my wife and share with me the kingdoms of Sindhu and Sauvira,"
Being thus addressed by the king of Sindhu with those heart-rending words, Krishna went away from that place with a frowning face.
Disregarding his words and remonstrating with him that youthful Krishna said to the king of Saindhava, "Do not speak this again. Are you not ashamed?"
Then expecting the return of her husbands that lady of irreproachable character, began to beguile him completely with intricate words.
Vaishampayana said:
Having her naturally handsome face suffused with crimson arising from ire, with eyes inflamed and eye brows bent in anger the daughter of Drupada remonstrated with the king of Sauviras and again said,
O fool, are you not ashamed to use such insulting words to those illustrious and dreadful heroes, each like Indra himself, who all abide by their duties and never wave in fight even with hosts of Yakshas and Rakshasas.
O Sauvira, (the wise) never speak ill of learned persons carrying on devout penances, no matter whether they live in forest or houses;
it is only the mean like dogs who speak so.
Me-thinks, there is none in this assemblage of Kshatriyas who can hold you by hand to save from falling into the pit you have dug under your feet.
Expecting to defeat the pious Yudhishthira, you really hope to separate, with a stick in hand, the leader of elephants, huge as a mountain peak, with temporal juice trickling down from its rent temple, from a herd ranging in the Himalayan valleys.
Out of childishness, you are arousing a sleeping lion to pluck the hair from off his face. You shall however have to run away when you shall see the enraged Bhimasena.
Your attempt at an encounter with the dreadful Jishnu is like arousing a powerful, dreadful, full grown and furious lion asleep in a mountain cave.
The combat that you wish to have with those two youthful younger Pandavas is like the act of a fool of wantonly trampling on the tails to two venomous black cobras with bifurcated tongues.
As the bamboo, the reed and the plantain bear fruit only to die and not to grow in size, as a crab conceives only to perish so you will by laying your hands on me who am protected by these powerful heroes.
Jayadratha said:
I know all this, O Krishna, as also how those princes are. You shall not be able to frighten me now with these threats.
We too, O Krishna, are born in the seventeen races and are endowed with six royal qualities. We consider, O Draupadi, Pandavas as inferior men.
Therefore soon ride this elephant or car for you cannot dissuade us with mere words; speaking less boastfully better seek the mercy of the king of Sauviras.
Draupadi said:
Although so powerful, why I am taken by the king of Sauvira to be so powerless? I cannot for fear of violence do mean act myself before that king.
Even Indra himself cannot abduct her for whose protection Krishna and Arjuna, riding in the same chariot, would follow; what to speak of any other weak human beings?
When Arjuna, the slayer of hostile heroes, riding on his car, on my behalf, shall enter your ranks, striking terror into every heart, he will destroy everything on all sides like fire consuming a pack of dry grass in summer.
Janardana, with heroes of Andhaka and Vrishni race, the mighty bowmen of the Kaikeya tribe, all these princes will follow me arduously.
The dreadful shafts of Dhananjaya shot from the string of Gandiva and propelled by his arms shoot through the air with great force and create a dreadful sound.
When you shall see the collection of dreadful shafts discharged by Arjuna from Gandiva, quick-coursing and like locusts you shall repent for your own folly.
Think yourself what will then happen when that heroes, armed with Gandiva and with gloves reverberating with the strokes of his bow string, will repeatedly pierce your breast with arrows.
Beholding Bhima advance towards you with mace in his hands and the two sons of Madri range in all quarters vomiting forth the venom of their ire, you shall meet with everlasting repentance.
As I have never proved false even in my mind to my woryour husbands, so by that merit I shall see you today vanquished and dragged by the sons ofPritha.
Ruthless as you are, you cannot terrify me by seizing me violently; for as soon as those Kuru heroes will see me they will bring me back to the Kamyaka forest.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon seeing them ready to seize her violently that one of expansive eyes remonstrated with him and said, "Do not pollute me by your touch." Then terrified she called for her spiritual guide Dhaumya.
Jayadratha caught hold of her by her upper garment but she pushed him with great force; pushed by her, that sinful wretch fell down on earth like an uprooted tree.
But being seized by him again with great force the princess sighed again and again; then dragged by him Krishna, worshipping the feet of Dhaumya, ascended the car.
Dhaumya said:
Without defeating the mighty car-warriors she should not be taken away by you; O Jayadratha, you should observe this ancient custom of the Kshatriyas.
Forsooth you shall reap the fruit of your this mean action when you shall meet the heroic Pandavas with the pious Yudhishthira at their head.
Vaishampayana said:
Having said this and entered into his rank of infantry he followed that princes, who was being carried away.
Having ranged in all directions and wandered on earth separately, those Parthas, the foremost of bowmen killing many deers, bear and buffaloes met together.
Seeing that huge forest abounding in many deer and wild animals, resonant with the shrill cries of birds and hearing the yells of the wild animals, Yudhishthira said to his brothers,
"Those birds and wild animals flying to the direction lighted up by the sun are emitting discordant cries and displaying excitement. This shows that this mighty forest has been invaded by the enemies.
Let us without delay desist; no more with game; my heart aches and seems to burn;
clouding the intellect, the soul, in my body, seems to fly away.
Like a tank freed from serpents by Garuda, a pot drained of its contents by thirsty men, a kingdom shorn of its king and its prosperity this forest of Kamyaka appears to me."
Thereupon those heroes drove towards their hermitage on mighty and beautifully made cars, drawn by exceedingly fleet horses of Saindhava breed and possessed of the speed of hurricane.
On their left side they espied a jackal yelling hideously. Marking it attentively the king (Yudhishthira), said to Bhima and Dhananjaya.
"This jackal of inferior breed, sneaking to our left side, is speaking a language, that clearly shows that violent oppression has been commenced by the sinful Kurus disregarding us.
Having given up the chase they in that great forest entered the grove containing their hermitage and there they saw their beloved one's maid, the girl Dhatreyika weeping and sobbing.
Then descending from the car and quickly approaching Dhatreyika, who was then greatly stricken with grief, Indrasena, O king, asked her (saying).
"Why do you weep lying down on earth and why is your mouth dried and pale? I hope the princess Draupadi has not been injured by any cruel wretch.
She is possessed of incomparable beauty, large eyes and is the second self of every one of those foremost of Kuru race. Dharma's son has grown so anxious that if the princess has entered into the earth or soared into heavens or has gone to the bottom of the deep, he and his brothers will go there in search of her.
Who could that fool be who could carry away the priceless jewel belonging to the powerful and ever victorious sons of Pandu, those repressers of foes, which is dear to them like the very life.
I cannot perceive (any one who could carry her) having (such powerful heroes) as her husband and who is like the walking embodiment of the sons of Pandu. Piercing whose body today, the dreadful and sharpened ends of shafts shall enter the earth?
Do not weep for her, O timid girl; know that Krishna shall come back even this very day. Having slain all their enemies the sons of Pritha shall be united with Yajnaseni."
Then rubbing her beautiful face Dhatreyika said to the charioteer Indrasena. "Disregarding the five Indra like princess Jayadratha has carried away Krishna by force. The way pursued by him still exists for the broken branches of the trees have not yet disappeared.
Therefore turn your cars and follow her speedily for the princess has not gone far by this time. Taking your handsomely made precious bows and quivers.
O warriors gifted with the strength of Indra and highly precious shafts, quickly proceed in quest of her, lest overpowered by meanness and violence and being beside herself and with a dried mouth, she may give up her person to an unworyour person as the sanctified oblation is thrown into a mass of ashes. Let not the clarified butter be poured into an unigniting fire of paddy chaff and a garland of flowers be thrown into a cremation ground. Let not the Soma juice of a sacrifice be licked up by a dog through the carelessness of the officiating priest. Let not the lily be ruthlessly torn by a jackal walking for its prey in the deep forest.
Let no mean man touch with his lips the brilliant and charming face of your wife, delightful as the rays of the moon, having high nose and beautiful eyes like a dog licking ghee kept in a sacrificial pot. Go speedily by this way and let not time go before you."
Yudhishthira said:
Go away, O gentle woman and govern your tongue; kings or princes who are inflated with the possession of power, are sure to come to grief.
Vaishampayana said:
Saying this, they speedily went, wending the way pointed out to them, sighing hot and hard like snakes and twanging their large bows.
Then they saw dust raised by the hoops of the steeds belonging to his (Jayadratha's) soldiers; they saw also Dhaumya in the midst of (his) infantry bewailing and asking Bhima to go quickly.
Then with hearts not depressed the princes, consoling Dhaumya said, "Go back cheerfully", then they rushed furiously towards that army like hawks swooping down on their prey.
Endued with the strength of Indra, they had grown furious at the insult offered to Draupadi; but their anger was inflamed (the more) seeing Jayadratha and their sweet heart-seated in his car.
Vrikodara, Dhananjaya, the twins and the king, those mighty bowmen called out to the king of Sindhu to stop; (at which) the enemies lost all knowledge of directions.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon on beholding Bhimasena and Arjuna, the Kshatriyas, inflated, sent up a terrible shout in that forest.
Beholding the standards of those foremost of Kurus the wicked-minded king Jayadratha, losing all heart, said to Yajnaseni, who was seated on the car and was shining in her effulgence.
"Five great heroes are coming, O Krishna, me-thinks they are your husbands; as you know them well, O you of fair hairs, point out which of them rides which car?
Draupadi said:
"Having committed such an henious deed that will shorter your life, of what use, O fool, it will be now to know the names of those great heroes; as my heroic husbands have come, none of you shall be left alive in battle.
Still, as you, being on the point of death, have asked me, I shall relate it for such is the duty; seeing Dharmaraja with his younger brothers I have not the slightest anxiety or fear from you.
(He) at whose flag-staff, two beautiful and sonorous tabors, Nanda and Upananda are always played upon, knows very well the propriety of his own acts. Successful men always follow him.
He has a complexion like the colour of pure gold, high nose, large eyes and is of a thin make; people call my husband Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma and the foremost of Kurus.
That pious, heroic man gives life even to his enemy who seeks his shelter; therefore, O fool, leaving off your weapons and with folded hands, run quickly to him for your own safety.
The one, whom you see seated on the car, with long arms and tall as the Shala tree biting his lips, contracting his forehead so as to bring his two eye-brows close together, is my husband by name Vrikodara.
Plump, strong, well-trained and powerful horses of best breed draw that heroe's chariot; his actions are super-human; he is known on earth by the name of Bhima.
Those who offend him are never allowed to live; he never forgets his enemy; on come pretext or other he takes revenge; and even after that he is not pacified.
That foremost of bow-men, intelligent, illustrious, self-controlled and reverencing the old and heroic among men, is the brother and disciple of Yudhishthira. He is my husband by name Dhananjaya.
He never relinquishes virtue out of fear, lust or anger; he never commits a cruel deed; that son of Kunti has the energy of fire, can withstand every enemy and represses his foes.
The other youth, proficient in Dharma and Artha, who always removes the fear of the afraid, who is gifted with high wisdom, who is protected by all the sons of Pandu, who is dearer to them even than their life, for his unflinching devotion, is my husband, the heroic Nakula.
That intelligent and great one, having Sahadeva for the second, is light-handed and an expert in the use of swords. O stupid man, you shall see to day his exploits in battle like those of Indra in the army of Daityas. Heroic, well-skilled in weapon, intelligent, wise, ever satisfying the king, the son of Dharma,
Effulgent like the rays of the moon, the favourite and the youngest born of the Pandavas, equal to whom in intelligence no man exists or in eloquence in the midst of the assembly of the wise.
Heroic, ever wrathful, intelligent and wise, Sahadeva is my husband. He would rather rush into fire or give up his life than say anything against religion and morals. That high-minded one always abides by the duties of the Kshatriyas, is dearer than her life to Kunti and heroic among men.
When the sons of Pandu will kill your heroes in battle you will see your army in the wretched condition of a ship on the sea wrecked with its freight of jewels on the back of a whale.
I have thus described to you the prowess of the Pandavas, foolishly disregarding whom you have acted so. If you can escape unhurt from them you will then obtain a new lease of life.
Vaishampayana said:
Then those five sons of Pritha, each like Indra himself, growing angry and leaving the terrified foot-soldiers only who were begging for mercy, attacked furiously on all sides the charioteers darkening the very air with a thick shower of shafts they discharged.
In the interval, the king of Sindhu was commanding the princes saying, "Halt, strike, march quick."
Then there arose a dreadful noise in the encounter when the soldiers saw, Bhima, Arjuna and the twin brothers with Yudhishthira.
Seeing those powerful heroes like dreadful tigers the heroes of Shibi, Sauvira and Sindhu tribes lost heart.
Then armed with a mace made entirely of Shaikya iron and coated with gold, Bhimasena rushed towards the Saindhava king doomed to death.
Thereupon quickly encircling Vrikodara with mighty charioteers Kotikasya interposed between and separated the combatants.
And although assailed by many clubs and iron shafts hurled at him by the mighty arms of hostile heroes, Bhima did not waver for a moment.
But he slew, with mace, an elephant with its driver and fourteen foot-soldiers fighting in front of a Jayadratha's chariot.
Wishing to seize the Sauvira king, Partha too killed five hundred brave mountaineers fighting in the van of the Sindhu army.
In the twinkling of an eye the king himself destroyed, in that encounter, the flowers of the Sauviras.
And Nakula was seen there coming down from the chariot, with a sword in hand and scattering in no time the heads of the battalions fighting on the rear like a cultivator sowing seeds.
From his chariot, Sahadeva began to cut down with his iron arrows, many heroes fighting on elephants like birds dropped from the branches of a tree.
Thereupon descending from his huge car Trigarta, with bow in hand, slew the four horses of the king with his mace.
Seeing the enemy approach so near and fighting on foot the pious king Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, pierced his breast with a crescent-shaped shaft.
Thus struck on the breast that hero began to vomit blood and fell down on earth like an uprooted tree by the side of Pritha's son.
Having his horse thus slain the pious king, with Indrasena, descended from his chariot and got upon the huge car of Sahadeva.
Then singling out Nakula, the two heroes Kshemankara and Mahamukha began to hurl at him from both sides with keen-edged arrows.
With two arrows however the son of Madri succeeded in killing those two heroes who had been pouring on him a shower of arrows like clouds in rains.
Going to the front of Nakula's chariot, Suratha, the king of Trigarta, expert in driving elephants, caused it to be dragged by the elephant of which he mounted.
Little afraid at this, Nakula jumped out of his car and securing an advantageous position, stood, shield and sword in hand immoveable as a hill.
Thereupon desiring to kill Nakula at once Suratha goaded his huge and infuriated elephant with its trunk upraised (to rush towards him).
But he with his sword cut off from his head both trunk and tusks when the elephant came near him.
Then emitting a loud noise that elephant, clad with mail, fell headlong upon the ground crushing its riders by its fall.
Performing that great exploit the heroic and mighty car-warrior, son of the Madri, ascending Bhimasena's car, got some rest.
Beholding the prince Kotikasya rush to the battle, Bhima, with a horse shoe shaft, sundered the head of his charioteer.
The king could not perceive that his charioteer had been slain by the mighty-armed (enemy). The horses, no longer restrained by the driver, ran about hither and thither in the battle field.
The Pandava Bhima, the foremost of heroes, slew, with a bearded arrow, that prince who had lost his chariot and was flying from the battle-field.
With his sharp crescent-shaped shafts Dhananjaya also cut off the heads and bows of all the twelve Sauvira heroes.
That great warrior slew with shafts in battle, the leader of the Ikshvakus, the army of the Shibis, Trigarta and Saindhava.
Many elephants with flags and great cars with standards were seen to have been destroyed by Savyasachi.
There lay covering the entire field of battle heads without trunks and trunks without heads.
Dogs, heroes, ravens, crows, falcons, jackals and vultures feasted on the flesh and blood of the heroes killed in the battle-field.
Beholding his warriors slain, Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu became terrified and anxious to run away leaving Krishna behind.
Getting Draupadi down, the wretch, in the confusion, fled away for life following the same forest path by which he had come.
Beholding Draupadi with Dhaumya walking before, the pious king Yudhishthira made her taken up on the car by the heroic Sahadeva, the son of Madri.
After Jayadratha had fled away Vrikodara, with Narachas, slew all those soldiers who were running away, marking (each one of them).
Beholding Jayadratha fled, Savyasachi asked Bhima to desist from killing the remnant of the Saindhava army.
Arjuna said:
I do not see Jayadratha in the battle-field through whose folly we have met with this misfortune.
Seek him out; may good betide you. What is the use of killing these soldiers? Why are you bent upon this useless business?
Vaishampayana said:
Being thus accosted by the intelligent Gudakesha, Bhimasena, skilled in speech, turning to Yudhishthira, said,
"Many of the enemy's heroes have been slain; others have fled away to various directions; taking Draupadi with you, O king, return home.
O king of kings, O king, reaching hermitage with the twins and the high-souled Dhaumya console Draupadi.
I shall not let along the stupid king of Sindhu even if he finds shelter in the nether world or is supported by Indra himself.
Yudhishthira said:
O you of mighty arms, remembering our sister Dushala and the illustrious Gandhari, the wicked-minded Saindhava should not be slain by you.
Vaishampayana said:
Hearing those words Draupadi was excited; that bashful, angry and intelligent (lady) said to her husbands Bhima and Arjuna.
"If you wish to encompass my pleasure, that vile, wretch of a man, the wicked-minded, infamous and despicable king of the Saindhava race should be killed by you.
The enemy who carries away one's wife or wrests his kingdom, should by no means be forgiven in battle even if he craves for mercy."
Having been thus addressed those two foremost of men went where Saindhava was;
taking Draupadi with him, the king alone with his priest returned.
Entering the hermitage he saw it covered with the seats for the ascetics, filled with their disciples and graced with the presence of Markandeya and other Brahmanas.
While those self-controlled Brahmanas where lamenting for Draupadi, the greatly wise (king) with his wife and brothers joined them.
Beholding the king then return, having vanquished the Sindhu and Sauvira princes and taken Draupadi, they were delighted.
Encircled by them the king sat there and the good Krishna, alone with the twins, entered the hermitage.
Hearing that the enemy has gone only two miles Bhima and Arjuna spurred their horses to greatest speed in pursuit of him.
The heroic Arjuna performed a wonderful feat by killing the horses of Saindhava, which were at a distance of two miles.
Armed with celestials weapons and undaunted by difficulties he performed this difficult work with weapons inspired with Mantras.
Then the two heroes Bhima and Arjuna rushed towards the terror-stricken king of Sindhu whose horses had been killed and who was perplexed in mind.
Beholding his own horses slain and Dhananjaya perform such a greatly powerful exploits Saindhava was greatly sorry.
Determined on flying away he followed the same forest path by which he had come. Beholding Saindhava thus engaged in flying away.
The mighty-armed Falguna, following him, said "with such prowess how could you desire to take away a female by force?
Desist, O princes it does not behoove you, leaving your followers in the midst of enemies, to take to your heels?
(Although) addressed by Partha thus Saindhava did not return. Saying "Wait, wait! the mighty Bhima all on a sudden overtook him. But the merciful Partha said, "Don't kill him."
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