Maha-bharata Part 5

Decked with jewels, young and valiant, all aflame with soft desire, Conscious of their worth and valour, all the suitors rose in ire,

n.o.bly born, of lofty presence, full of young unyielding pride, Like the tuskers wild and lordly on Himalay's wooded side!

Each his rival marks as foeman as in field of deadly strife, Each regards the fair Draupadi as his own his queenly wife,

On the gorgeous field they gather by a maddening pa.s.sion fired, And they strive as strove the bright G.o.ds, when by Uma's love inspired!

And the G.o.ds in cloud-borne chariots came to view the scene so fair, Bright ADITYAS in their splendour, MARUTS in the moving air,

Winged _suparnas_, scaly _nagas_, _deva-ris.h.i.+s_ pure and high, For their music famed, _gandharvas_, fair _apsaras_ of the sky!

Valadeva armed with ploughshare, Krishna chief of righteous fame, With the other Yadu chieftains to that wondrous bridal came,

Krishna marked the sons of Pandu eager for the queenly bride, Like wild tuskers for a lotus, like the fire that ashes hide,

And he knew the warlike brothers in their holy Brahman guise, Pointed them to Valadeva, gazing with a glad surprise!

But the other chiefs and monarchs with their eyes upon the bride, Marked nor knew the sons of Pandu sitting speechless by their side,

And the long-armed sons of Pandu smitten by KANDARPA'S dart, Looked on her with longing languor and with love-impa.s.sioned heart!

Bright immortals gaily crowding viewed the scene surpa.s.sing fair, Heavenly blossoms soft descending with a perfume filled the air,

Bright celestial cars in concourse sailed upon the cloudless sky, Drum and flute and harp and tabor sounded deep and sounded high!

V

Trial of Skill

Uprose one by one the suitors, marking still the distant aim, Mighty monarchs, gallant princes, chiefs of proud and warlike fame,

Decked in golden crown and necklace, and inflamed by pride and love, Stoutly strove the eager suitors viewing well the target above,

Strove to string the weapon vainly, tough unbending was the bow, Slightly bent, rebounding quickly, laid the gallant princes low!

Strove the handsome suitors vainly, decked in gem and burnished gold, Reft of diadem and necklace, fell each chief and warrior bold,

Reft of golden crown and garland, shamed and humbled in their pride, Groaned the suitors in their anguish, sought no more Panchala's bride!

Uprose Karna, peerless archer, proudest of the archers he, And he went and strung the weapon, fixed the arrows gallantly,

Stood like SURYA in his splendour and like AGNI in his flame,-- Pandu's sons in terror whispered, Karna sure must hit the aim!

But in proud and queenly accents Drupad's queenly daughter said: "Monarch's daughter, born a Kshatra, Suta's son I will not wed!"

Karna heard with crimsoned forehead, left the emprise almost done, Left the bow already circled, silent gazed upon the Sun!

Uprose Chedi's haughty monarch, mightiest of the monarchs he, Other kings had failed inglorious, Sisupala stood forth free,

Firm in heart and fixed in purpose, bent the tough unbending bow, Vainly! for the bow rebounding laid the haughty monarch low!

Uprose st.u.r.dy Jarasandha, far Magadha's mighty chief, Held the bow and stood undaunted, tall and stately as a cliff,

But once more the bow rebounded, fell the monarch in his shame, Left in haste Panchala's mansions for the region whence he came!

Uprose Salya, king of Madra, with his wondrous skill and might, Faltering, on his knees descending, fell in sad inglorious plight,

Thus each monarch fell and faltered, merry whispers went around, And the sound of stifled laughter circled round the festive ground!

VI

The Disguised Arjun

Hushed the merry sound of laughter, hushed each suitor in his shame, Arjun, G.o.dlike son of Pritha, from the ranks of Brahmans came,

Guised as priest serene and holy, fair as INDRA'S rainbow bright, All the Brahmans shook their deerskins, cheered him in their hearts'

delight!

Some there were with sad misgivings heard the sound of joyous cheer And their minds were strangely anxious, whispered murmurs spake their fear:

"Wondrous bow which Sisupala, mighty Salya could not strain, Jarasandha famed for prowess strove to bend the string in vain,

Can a Brahman weak by nature, and in warlike arms untrained, Wield the bow which crowned monarchs, long-armed chieftains have not strained?

Sure the Brahman boy in folly dares a foolish thoughtless deed, Shame amidst this throng of monarchs, shall it be the Brahman's meed?

Youth in youthful pride or madness will a foolish emprise dare, Sager men should stop his rashness and the Brahman's honour spare!"

"Shame he will not bring unto us," other Brahmans made reply, "Rather, in this throng of monarchs, rich renown and honour high,

Like a tusker strong and stately, like Himalay's towering crest, Stands unmoved the youthful Brahman, ample-shouldered, deep in chest,

Lion-like his gait is agile, and determined is his air, Trust me he can do an emprise who hath lofty will to dare!

He will do the feat of valour, will not bring disgrace and stain, Nor is task in all this wide earth which a Brahman tries in vain,

Holy men subsist on wild fruits, in the strength of penance strong, Spare in form, in spirit mightier than the mightiest warlike throng!

Ask not if 'tis right or foolish when a Brahman tries his fate, If it leads to woe or glory, fatal fall or fortune great,

Son of _ris.h.i.+_ Jamadagni baffled kings and chieftains high, And Agastya stainless _ris.h.i.+_ drained the boundless ocean dry,

Let this young and daring Brahman undertake the warlike deed, Let him try and by his prowess win the victor's n.o.ble meed!"

While the Brahmans deep revolving hopes and timid fears expressed, By the bow the youthful Arjun stood unmoved like mountain crest,

Silent round the wondrous weapon thrice the mighty warrior went, To the Lord of G.o.ds, ISANA, in a silent prayer he bent!

Then the bow which gathered warriors vainly tried to bend and strain, And the monarchs of the wide earth sought to string and wield in vain,