Maha-bharata Part 30

As the high and rugged mountain meets the angry ocean's sway, Proud Duhsasan warred with Arjun in his wild and onward way,

And as myriad white-winged sea-birds swoop upon the darksome wave, Clouds of darts and glistening lances drank the red blood of the brave!

Other warlike Kuru chieftains came, the bravest and the best, Drona's self and Bhagadatta, monarch of the farthest East,

Car-borne Salya, mighty warrior, king of Madra's distant land, Princes from Avanti's regions, chiefs from Malav's rocky strand,

Jayadratha, matchless fighter, king of Sindhu's sounding sh.o.r.e, Chetrasena and Vikarna, countless chiefs and warriors more!

And they faced the fiery Pandavs, peerless in their warlike might, Long and dreadful raged the combat, darkly closed the dubious fight,

Dust arose like clouds of summer, glistening darts like lightning played, Darksome grew the sky with arrows, thicker grew the gloomy shade,

Cars went down and mailed hors.e.m.e.n, soldiers fell in dread array, Elephants with white tusks broken and with mangled bodies lay!

Arjun and the stalwart Bhima, piercing through their countless foes, Side by side impelled their chariots, where the palm-tree standard rose!

Where the peerless ancient Bhishma on that dark and fatal day, Warring with the banded nations, still resistless held his way!

On he came, his palm-tree standard still the front of battle knew, And like sun from dark clouds parting Bhishma burst on Arjun's view!

And his eyes brave Arjun shaded at the awe-inspiring sight, Half he wished to turn for shelter from that chief of G.o.dlike might!

But bold Krishna drove his chariot, whispered unto him his plan, Arjun placed the young Sikhandin in the deathful battle's van!

Bhishma viewed the Pandav forces with a calm unmoving face, Saw not Arjun's fair _gandiva_, saw not Bhima's mighty mace,

Smiled to see the young Sikhandin rus.h.i.+ng to the battle's fore, Like the foam upon the billow when the mighty storm-winds roar!

Bhishma thought of word he plighted and of oath that he had sworn, Dropped his arms before the warrior who was but a female born!

And the standard which no warrior ever saw in base retreat, Idly stood upon the chariot, threw its shade on Bhishma's seat!

And the flagstaff fell dissevered on the crushed and broken car, As from azure sky of midnight falls the meteor's flaming star!

Not by young Sikhandin's arrows Bhishma's palm-tree standard fell, Not Sikhandin's feeble lances did the peerless Bhishma quell,

True to oath the bleeding chieftan turned his darkening face away, Turned and fell; the sun declining marked the closing of the day.

Ended thus the fatal battle, truce came with the close of day, Kurus and the silent Pandavs went where Bhishma dying lay,

Arjun wept as for a father weeps a sad and sorrowing son, Good Yudhishthir cursed the morning Kuru-kshetra's war begun,

Stood Duryodhan and his brothers mantled in the gloom of grief, Foes like loving brothers sorrowed round the great the dying chief!

Arjun's keen and pointed arrows made the hero's dying bed, And in soft and gentle accents to Duryodhan thus he said:

"List unto my words, Duryodhan, uttered with my latest breath, List to Bhishma's dying counsel and revere the voice of death!

End this dread and deathful battle if thy stony heart can grieve, Save the chieftains doomed to slaughter, bid the fated nations live!

Grant his kingdom to Yudhishthir, righteous man beloved of Heaven, Keep thy own Hastina's regions, be the hapless past forgiven!"

Vain, alas! the voice of Bhishma like the voice of angel spoke, Hatred dearer than his life-blood in the proud Duryodhan woke!

Darker grew the gloomy midnight, and the princes went their way, On his bed of pointed arrows Bhishma lone and dying lay,

Karna, though he loved not Bhishma whilst the chieftain lived in fame, Gently to the dying Bhishma in the midnight darkness came!

Bhishma heard the tread of Karna, and he oped his glazing eye, Spake in love and spake in sadness, and his bosom heaved a sigh:

"Pride and envy, n.o.ble Karna, filled our warlike hearts with strife, Discord ends with breath departing, envy sinks with fleeting life!

More I have to tell thee, Karna, but my parting breath may fail, Feeble are my dying accents, and my parched lips are pale!

Arjun beats not n.o.ble Karna in the deeds of valour done, Nor excels in birth and lineage, Karna, thou art Pritha's son!

Pritha bore thee, still unwedded, and the Sun inspired thy birth, G.o.d-born man! No mightier archer treads this broad and s.p.a.cious earth!

Pritha cast thee in her sorrow, hid thee with a maiden's shame, And a driver, not thy father, nursed thee, chief of warlike fame!

Arjun is thy brother, Karna, end this sad fraternal war, Seek not life-blood of thy brother, nor against him drive thy car!"

Vain, alas! the voice of Bhishma like a heavenly warning spoke, Hatred dearer than his life-blood in the vengeful Karna woke!

BOOK IX

DRONA-BADHA

(Fall of Drona)

On the fall of Bhishma the Brahman chief Drona, preceptor of the Kuru and Pandav princes, was appointed the leader of the Kuru forces. For five days Drona held his own against the Pandavs, and some of the incidents of these days, like the fall of Abhimanyu and the vengeance of Arjun, are among the most stirring pa.s.sages in the Epic. The description of the different standards of the Pandav and the Kuru warriors is also interesting. At last Drona slew his ancient foe the king of the Panchalas, and was then slain by his son the prince of the Panchalas.

The Book is an abridgment of Book vii. of the original text.

I

Single Combat between Bhima and Salya

Morning ushered in the battle; Pandav warriors heard with dread Drona priest and proud preceptor now the Kuru forces led,

And the foe-compelling Drona pledged his troth and solemn word, He would take Yudhishthir captive to Hastina's haughty lord!

But the ever faithful Arjun to his virtuous elder bowed, And in clear and manful accents spake his warlike thoughts aloud: