Mahabharata 4.34: catustriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

4.34.1

uttara uvāca |
adyāhamanugaccheyaṃ dṛḍhadhanvā gavāṃ padam |
yadi me sārathiḥ kaścidbhavedaśveṣu kovidaḥ || 1 ||

"Uttara said, 'Firm as I am in the use of the bow, I would set out this very day in the track of the kine if only some one skilled in the management of horses becomes my charioteer. I do not, however, know the man who may be my charioteer. Look ye, therefore, without delay, for a charioteer for me that am prepared for starting. My own charioteer was slain in the great battle that was fought from day to day for a whole month or at least for eight and twenty nights. As soon as I get another person conversant with the management of the steeds. I will immediately set out, hoisting high my own standard. Penetrating into the midst of the hostile army abounding with elephants and horses and chariots, I will bring back the kine, having vanquished the Kurus who are feeble in strength and weak in weapons. Like a second wielder of the thunderbolt terrifying the Danavas, I will bring back the kine this very moment, affrighting in battle Duryodhana and Bhishma and Karna and Kripa and Drona with his son, and other mighty bowmen assembled for fight. Finding none (to oppose), the Kurus are taking away the kine. What can I do when I am not there? The assembled Kurus shall witness my prowess today. And they shall say unto one another, 'Is it Arjuna himself who is opposing us?'

4.34.2

tameva nādhigacchāmi yo me yantā bhavennaraḥ |
paśyadhvaṃ sārathiṃ kṣipraṃ mama yuktaṃ prayāsyataḥ || 2 ||

4.34.3

aṣṭāviṃśatirātraṃ vā māsaṃ vā nūnamantataḥ |
yattadāsīnmahadyuddhaṃ tatra me sārathirhataḥ || 3 ||

4.34.4

sa labheyaṃ yadi tvanyaṃ hayayānavidaṃ naram |
tvarāvānadya yātvāhaṃ samucchritamahādhvajam || 4 ||

4.34.5

vigāhya tatparānīkaṃ gajavājirathākulam |
śastrapratāpanirvīryānkurūñjitvānaye paśūn || 5 ||

4.34.6

duryodhanaṃ śāṃtanavaṃ karṇaṃ vaikartanaṃ kṛpam |
droṇaṃ ca saha putreṇa maheṣvāsānsamāgatān || 6 ||

4.34.7

vitrāsayitvā saṃgrāme dānavāniva vajrabhṛt |
anenaiva muhūrtena punaḥ pratyānaye paśūn || 7 ||

4.34.8

śūnyamāsādya kuravaḥ prayāntyādāya godhanam |
kiṃ nu śakyaṃ mayā kartuṃ yadahaṃ tatra nābhavam || 8 ||

4.34.9

paśyeyuradya me vīryaṃ kuravaste samāgatāḥ |
kiṃ nu pārtho'rjunaḥ sākṣādayamasmānprabādhate || 9 ||

4.34.10

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
tasya tadvacanaṃ strīṣu bhāṣataḥ sma punaḥ punaḥ |
nāmarṣayata pāñcālī bībhatsoḥ parikīrtanam || 10 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words uttered by the prince over and over again in the midst of the women, Panchali could not quietly bear those allusions to Vibhatsu. And bashfully stepping out from among the women, the poor princess of Panchala gently spake unto him these words, 'The handsome youth, looking like a mighty elephant and known by the name of Vrihannala, was formerly the charioteer of Arjuna. A disciple of that illustrious warrior, and inferior to none in use of the bow, he was known to me while I was living with the Pandavas. It was by him that the reins were held of Arjuna's excellent steeds when Agni consumed the forest of Khandava. It was with him as charioteer that Partha conquered all creatures at Khandava-prastha. In fact, there is no charioteer equal unto him.'

4.34.11

athainamupasaṃgamya strīmadhyātsā tapasvinī |
vrīḍamāneva śanakairidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 11 ||

4.34.12

yo'sau bṛhadvāraṇābho yuvā supriyadarśanaḥ |
bṛhannaḍeti vikhyātaḥ pārthasyāsītsa sārathiḥ || 12 ||

4.34.13

dhanuṣyanavaraścāsīttasya śiṣyo mahātmanaḥ |
dṛṣṭapūrvo mayā vīra carantyā pāṇḍavānprati || 13 ||

4.34.14

yadā tatpāvako dāvamadahatkhāṇḍavaṃ mahat |
arjunasya tadānena saṃgṛhītā hayottamāḥ || 14 ||

4.34.15

tena sārathinā pārthaḥ sarvabhūtāni sarvaśaḥ |
ajayatkhāṇḍavaprasthe na hi yantāsti tādṛśaḥ || 15 ||

4.34.16

yeyaṃ kumārī suśroṇī bhaginī te yavīyasī |
asyāḥ sa vacanaṃ vīra kariṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 16 ||

"Draupadi said, 'Vrihannala, O hero, will without doubt, obey the words of thy younger sister --that damsel of graceful hips. If he consents to be thy charioteer, thou wilt, without doubt, return, having vanquished the Kurus and rescued thy kine.'

4.34.17

yadi vai sārathiḥ sa syātkurūnsarvānasaṃśayam |
jitvā gāśca samādāya dhruvamāgamanaṃ bhavet || 17 ||

4.34.18

evamuktaḥ sa sairandhryā bhaginīṃ pratyabhāṣata |
gaccha tvamanavadyāṅgi tāmānaya bṛhannaḍām || 18 ||

"Thus addressed by the Sairindhri, Uttara spake unto his sister, 'Go thyself, O thou of faultless beauty, and bring Vrihannala hither?' And despatched by her brother, she hastily repaired to the dancing-hall where that strong-armed son of Pandu was staying in disguise.'"

4.34.19

sā bhrātrā preṣitā śīghramagacchannartanāgṛham |
yatrāste sa mahābāhuśchannaḥ satreṇa pāṇḍavaḥ || 19 ||