Mahabharata 4.35: pañcatriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

4.35.1

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
sa tāṃ dṛṣṭvā viśālākṣīṃ rājaputrīṃ sakhīṃ sakhā |
prahasannabravīdrājankutrāgamanamityuta || 1 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Beholding, O king, his friend, the princess of large-eyes (in that plight), her friend (Arjuna) cheerfully enquired of her (in these words) the cause of her arrival there and then. And having approached that bull among men, the princess, standing in the midst of her female attendants, the displaying proper modesty, addressed him, saying, 'The kine of this realm, O Vrihannala, are being driven away by the Kurus, and it is to conquer them that my brother will set out bow in hand. Not long ago his own charioteer was slain in battle, and there is none equal unto the one slain that can act as my brother's charioteer. And unto him striving to obtain a charioteer, Sairindhri,

4.35.2

tamabravīdrājaputrī samupetya nararṣabham |
praṇayaṃ bhāvayantī sma sakhīmadhya idaṃ vacaḥ || 2 ||

4.35.3

gāvo rāṣṭrasya kurubhiḥ kālyante no bṛhannaḍe |
tānvijetuṃ mama bhrātā prayāsyati dhanurdharaḥ || 3 ||

4.35.4

naciraṃ ca hatastasya saṃgrāme rathasārathiḥ |
tena nāsti samaḥ sūto yo'sya sārathyamācaret || 4 ||

4.35.5

tasmai prayatamānāya sārathyarthaṃ bṛhannaḍe |
ācacakṣe hayajñāne sairandhrī kauśalaṃ tava || 5 ||

O Vrihannala, hath spoken about thy skill in the management of steeds. Thou wert formerly the favourite charioteer of Arjuna, and it was with thee that that bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the whole earth. Do thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, act as the charioteer of my brother. (By this time) our kine have surely been driven away by the Kurus to a great distance. Requested by me if thou dost not act up to my words, I who am asking this service of thee out of affection, will give up my life!' Thus addressed by this friend of graceful hips, that oppressor of foes, endued with immeasurable prowess, went into the prince's presence. And like unto a she-elephant running after her young one, the princess possessed of large eyes followed that hero advancing with hasty steps like unto an elephant with rent temples. And beholding him from a distance, the prince himself said, 'With thee as his charioteer, Dhananjaya the son of Kunti had gratified Agni at the Khandava forest and subjugated the whole world! The Sairindhri hath spoken of thee to me. She knoweth the Pandavas. Do thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, hold, as thou didst, the reins of my steeds, desirous as I am of righting with the Kurus and rescuing my bovine wealth. Thou wert formerly the beloved charioteer of Arjuna and it was with thee that that bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the whole earth!' Thus addressed, Vrihannala replied unto the prince, saying, 'What ability have I to act as a charioteer in the field of battle? If it is song or dance of musical instruments or such other things, I can entertain thee therewith, but where is my skill for becoming a charioteer?'

4.35.6

sā sārathyaṃ mama bhrātuḥ kuru sādhu bṛhannaḍe |
purā dūrataraṃ gāvo hriyante kurubhirhi naḥ || 6 ||

4.35.7

athaitadvacanaṃ me'dya niyuktā na kariṣyasi |
praṇayāducyamānā tvaṃ parityakṣyāmi jīvitam || 7 ||

4.35.8

evamuktastu suśroṇyā tayā sakhyā paraṃtapaḥ |
jagāma rājaputrasya sakāśamamitaujasaḥ || 8 ||

4.35.9

taṃ sā vrajantaṃ tvaritaṃ prabhinnamiva kuñjaram |
anvagacchadviśālākṣī śiśurgajavadhūriva || 9 ||

4.35.10

dūrādeva tu taṃ prekṣya rājaputro'bhyabhāṣata |
tvayā sārathinā pārthaḥ khāṇḍave'gnimatarpayat || 10 ||

4.35.11

pṛthivīmajayatkṛtsnāṃ kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ |
sairandhrī tvāṃ samācaṣṭa sā hi jānāti pāṇḍavān || 11 ||

4.35.12

saṃyaccha māmakānaśvāṃstathaiva tvaṃ bṛhannaḍe |
kurubhiryotsyamānasya godhanāni parīpsataḥ || 12 ||

4.35.13

arjunasya kilāsīstvaṃ sārathirdayitaḥ purā |
tvayājayatsahāyena pṛthivīṃ pāṇḍavarṣabhaḥ || 13 ||

4.35.14

evamuktā pratyuvāca rājaputraṃ bṛhannaḍā |
kā śaktirmama sārathyaṃ kartuṃ saṃgrāmamūrdhani || 14 ||

4.35.15

gītaṃ vā yadi vā nṛttaṃ vāditraṃ vā pṛthagvidham |
tatkariṣyāmi bhadraṃ te sārathyaṃ tu kuto mayi || 15 ||

4.35.16

uttara uvāca |
bṛhannaḍe gāyano vā nartano vā punarbhava |
kṣipraṃ me rathamāsthāya nigṛhṇīṣva hayottamān || 16 ||

"Uttara said, 'O Vrihannala, be thou a singer or a dancer, hold thou (for the present), without loss of time, the reins of my excellent steeds, mounting upon my car!'

4.35.17

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
sa tatra narmasaṃyuktamakarotpāṇḍavo bahu |
uttarāyāḥ pramukhataḥ sarvaṃ jānannariṃdama || 17 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Although that oppressor of foes, the son of Pandu, was acquainted with everything, yet in the presence of Uttara, he began to make many mistakes for the sake of fun. And when he sought to put the coat of mail on his body by raising it upwards, the large-eyed maidens, beholding it, burst out into a loud laughter. And seeing him quite ignorant of putting on armour, Uttara himself equipped Vrihannala with a costly coat of mail. And casing his own person in an excellent armour of solar effulgence, and hoisting his standard bearing the figure of a lion, the prince caused Vrihannala to become his charioteer. And with Vrihannala to hold his reins, the hero set out, taking with him many costly bows and a large number of beautiful arrows. And his friend, Uttara and her maidens then said unto Vrihannala, 'Do thou, O Vrihannala, bring for our dolls (when thou comest back) various kinds of good and fine cloths after vanquishing the Kurus assembled for battle of whom Bhishma and Drona are foremost!' Thus addressed, Partha the son of Pandu, in a voice deep as the roar of the clouds, smilingly said unto that bevy of fair maidens. If, thus 'Uttara can vanquish those mighty warriors in battle, I will certainly bring excellent and beautiful cloths.'

4.35.18

ūrdhvamutkṣipya kavacaṃ śarīre pratyamuñcata |
kumāryastatra taṃ dṛṣṭvā prāhasanpṛthulocanāḥ || 18 ||

4.35.19

sa tu dṛṣṭvā vimuhyantaṃ svayamevottarastataḥ |
kavacena mahārheṇa samanahyadbṛhannaḍām || 19 ||

4.35.20

sa bibhratkavacaṃ cāgryaṃ svayamapyaṃśumatprabham |
dhvajaṃ ca siṃhamucchritya sārathye samakalpayat || 20 ||

4.35.21

dhanūṃṣi ca mahārhāṇi bāṇāṃśca rucirānbahūn |
ādāya prayayau vīraḥ sa bṛhannaḍasārathiḥ || 21 ||

4.35.22

athottarā ca kanyāśca sakhyastāmabruvaṃstadā |
bṛhannaḍe ānayethā vāsāṃsi rucirāṇi naḥ || 22 ||

4.35.23

pāñcālikārthaṃ sūkṣmāṇi citrāṇi vividhāni ca |
vijitya saṃgrāmagatānbhīṣmadroṇamukhānkurūn || 23 ||

4.35.24

atha tā bruvatīḥ kanyāḥ sahitāḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ |
pratyuvāca hasanpārtho meghadundubhiniḥsvanaḥ || 24 ||

4.35.25

yadyuttaro'yaṃ saṃgrāme vijeṣyati mahārathān |
athāhariṣye vāsāṃsi divyāni rucirāṇi ca || 25 ||

4.35.26

evamuktvā tu bībhatsustataḥ prācodayaddhayān |
kurūnabhimukhāñśūro nānādhvajapatākinaḥ || 26 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said these words, the heroic Arjuna urged the steeds towards the Kuru army over which floated innumerable flags. Just, however, as they were starting elderly dames and maidens, and Brahmanas of rigid vows, beholding Uttara seated on his excellent car with Vrihannala as charioteer and under that great banner hoisted on high, walked round the car to bless the hero. And the women said, 'Let the victory that Arjuna treading like a bull had achieved of old on the occasion of burning the forest of Khandava, be thine, O Vrihannala, when thou encounterest the Kurus today with prince Uttara.'"