An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s4.303
An Index to the Names in the Mahābhārata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s4.303
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Goharaṇaparvan ("the section relating to the robbing of the kine of Virāṭa," the 55th of the minor parvans of Mbhr.; cf. Gograhana). § 552: Meanwhile the spies of Duryodhana returned to Hāstinapura and informed Duryodhana, who was sitting with Droṇa, Karṇa, Kr̥pa, Bhīṣhma, his brothers, and the Trigartas, that they had not found the Pāṇḍavas, but that Kīcaka (b) had been slain (IV, 25). Karṇa and Duhçāsana proposed that the other spies should be sent (IV, 26). Droṇa said: "People like the Pāṇḍavas never perish, let the abode which the Pāṇḍavas are to occupy now be settled" (IV, 27). Bhīṣhma applauded Droṇa (IV, 28). Kr̥pa recommended precautions (IV, 29). The Trigarta king, Suçarman, supported by Karṇa, proposed to invade the city of Virāṭa and to rob his kine and wealth, and thus to take revenge for the invasions of the Matsyas headed by Kīcaka. Duryodhana caused Duhçāsana to array their forces. Suçarman set out towards the south-east on the seventh day of the dark fortnight, and the Kauravas on the eighth day (IV, 30). After Kīcaka had been slain, Virāṭa began to rest his hopes on the Pāṇḍavas. His brothers, Çatānīka and Madirākṣa, and the king himself, and Sūryadatta and Çaṅkha, the eldest son of Virāṭa, put on their coats of mail. Virāṭa also caused Çatānīka to order chariots for Kaṅka, Vallava, Tantripāla, and Dāmagranthi (i.e. Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīmasena, Nakula, and Sahadeva in disguise) (IV, 31). The Matsyas overtook the Trigartas shortly before sunset.
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Çatānīka and Viçālākṣa penetrated into the heart of the Trigarta host. Virāṭa, with Sūryadatta in his van and Madirākṣa in his rear, began a single combat from chariots against Suçarman (IV, 32). The night interrupted the battle for a while, but it began once more when the moon arose. Suçarman and his younger brother made Virāṭa prisoner, and the Matsyas began to fly; Bhīma would uproot a tree, but was prevented by Yudhiṣṭhira, lest the people should recognize them; then Bhīma, with Nakula and Sahadeva as protectors of his wheels, rushed against Suçarman, and the Matsya warriors, Virāṭa's son, and Yudhiṣṭhira, etc., followed him; the charioteer of Suçarman was dragged to the ground. Madirākṣa came to the aid of Bhīma. Virāṭa leapt down from the chariot of Suçarman, seizing the mace of the latter, and ran in pursuit of him; Suçarman was seized by Bhīma, but set free by Yudhiṣṭhira (IV, 33). The Pāṇḍavas passed the night on the field of battle honoured by Virāṭa. As proposed by Yudhiṣṭhira, Virāṭa ordered messengers to proclaim the victory in the city. The messengers repaired to the city that very night, and at sunrise they proclaimed the victory at the city gates (IV, 34). Meanwhile Duryodhana, etc. (a), invaded the Matsya country and took away the kine. Hearing this, Bhūmiñjaya (i.e.
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Uttara), who had been left by the king in the empty city (IV, 35), who had been left by the king in the empty city (IV, 35), and who had been led by the king in a great battle, followed the advice of Kṛṣṇa (who had been instigated by Arjuna) and sent Uttarā (IV, 36), who prevailed upon Bṛhannalā (= Arjuna in disguise) to become the charioteer of Uttara. Uttarā and her maidens asked Arjuna to bring fine clothes for their dolls when he had vanquished the Kurus (IV, 37). Seeing the host of the Kurus, Uttara became agitated with fear and jumped down from the chariot and began to flee, but was seized by Arjuna and made to hold the reins, while Arjuna had to fight (IV, 38). Bhīshma, Droṇa, etc., suspected the comer to be Arjuna, and many portents were explained by Droṇa in that sense. Karṇa blamed Droṇa, and Duryodhana said that if it were Arjuna the Pāṇḍavas must go into exile for twelve more years (IV, 39). Having reached the çami tree, Arjuna ordered Uttara to fetch the weapons of the Pāṇḍavas, including Gāṇḍīva, which were deposited there (IV, 40). Believing that a corpse had been tied up in the tree, Uttara refused, but as Arjuna said: "There are only bows in that tree and no corpse," he climbed up and unwrapped and untied the bows (IV, 41). Arjuna explained to him to whom the different bows belonged, first mentioning the Gāṇḍīva (c), which is honoured by the gods, the Dānavas, and the Gandharvas (IV, 42-43).
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He then revealed to Uttara that they were the Pāṇḍavas and confirmed it by telling his ten names (β) (IV, 44). Arjuna took off the bracelets from his arms, etc., recalled to his mind all his weapons, and twanged the Gāṇḍīva with a dreadful sound, whence the Kurus knew that he was Arjuna, then he comforted Uttara by mentioning his former exploits (γ) and his preceptors in arms (δ) (IV, 45). Having taken the banner with the figure of a lion he set up his own flagstaff bearing the figure of an ape with a lion's tail, which was a celestial illusion (māyā) contrived by Viçvakarman himself, for as soon as he thought of the gift of Agni, Agni ordered the superhuman creatures to take their usual place on that banner, which then fell down from the air on his chariot (read rathe with B.). Droṇa concluded from various omens that it was Arjuna (IV, 46). Duryodhana repeated to Bhīshma, Droṇa, and Kṛpa, his and Karṇa's opinion, that Arjuna must have broken his pledge, and asked Bhīshma to calculate the time. Karṇa blamed Droṇa for praising Arjuna (IV, 47), and declared that he would throw Arjuna down from his chariot that very day (IV, 48). Kṛpa blamed Karṇa and warned him from fighting alone with Arjuna, mentioning his exploits (ε); they ought all to fight with Arjuna and not Karṇa alone (IV, 49). Açvatthāman blamed Karṇa for his vain boast and declared that he would not fight with Arjuna (IV, 50).
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Bhīshma tried to mediate between Açvatthāman and Kṛpa on one side and Karṇa on the other side; he was of opinion that fight they must, and therefore this was not the time for quarrel. "The Brāhmāstra and the Vedas are never to be seen combined anywhere else than in Droṇa (and Açvatthāman)." He was supported by Açvatthāman and Duryodhana. Droṇa said: "Let such arrangements be made that Arjuna may not be able to approach Duryodhana in battle, and that Duryodhana may not be captured by the foe" (IV, 51). Having calculated the time ("an excess of five months and twelve nights in thirteen years"), Bhīshma declared that the Pāṇḍavas had not broken the pledge. Duryodhana said: "I will not give back the kingdom to the Pāṇḍavas." Bhīshma proposed that Duryodhana should proceed towards the capital with one-fourth of the army, and that one-fourth should escort the kine, while he, Droṇa, Karṇa, Açvatthāman, and Kṛpa should withstand the foes. This proposal was accepted; Bhīshma placed Droṇa in the centre, Açvatthāman on the left wing, Kṛpa on the right wing, and Karṇa in the van, and would himself stand in the rear (IV, 52). Droṇa recognized the top of Arjuna's banner, etc. Arjuna directed Uttara to the spot where Duryodhana was; the soldiers became so confounded that they could not even fly, and the kine turned back along the southern road (IV, 53).
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As Arjuna was advancing towards Duryodhana the Kurus fell upon him, especially Karṇa, who was supported by Citrasena, Saṅgrāmajit (the brother of Karṇa), Çatrusaha, Jaya, and Vikarṇa; Vikarṇa fled; Çatrunṭapa and many others were slain by Arjuna, so Saṅgrāmajit; at last Karṇa took to flight (IV, 54). Duryodhana, etc., attacked Arjuna; Arjuna shot at Droṇa, Duḥçaha, Açvatthāman, Duḥçāsana, and Kṛpa, and wounded Bhīshma, Duryodhana, and Karṇa. Then Arjuna described to Uttara the banners, etc., of Kṛpa, Droṇa, Açvatthāman, Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Bhīshma (IV, 55). Indra, the gods, the Viçvas, the Açvins, the Maruts, the Yakṣas, the Gandharvas, the Mahoragas, the Nāgas, the Rākṣhasas, the serpents, the Pitṛs, and the maharshis came to see the combat, likewise, sitting on the chariot of Indra, king Vasumanas, etc. (ζ); also Agni, Çiva, Soma, Varuṇa, Prajāpati, Dhātṛ, Vidhātṛ, Kubera, Yama, Alambusha, Ugrascena, Tumbnru, etc., came there (IV, 56). Arjuna attacked Kṛpa, announced his name, and blew the Devadatta; at last Kṛpa was led away by his soldiers (IV, 57). Droṇa attacked Arjuna; Arjuna said: "I will not strike thee unless thou strikest me first"; with his own weapons Arjuna baffled the Aindra, Vāyavya, and Āgaeya weapons, which were shot by Droṇa; a voice was heard in the sky applauding Droṇa; then Açvatthāman attacked Arjuna, which gave Droṇa an opportunity to leave the field (IV, 58).
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Açvatthāman cut off the string of the Gāṇḍīva and was applauded by the gods, and by Droṇa, Bhīshma, Karṇa, and Kṛpa. Arjuna attached a fresh string to the Gāṇḍīva. As Açvatthāman's arrows became exhausted Karṇa attacked Arjuna (IV, 59), who challenged him to a single combat and rebuked him, because he had fled after the slaughter of his younger brother. At last Karṇa, wounded, fled in a northern direction (IV, 60). Then Arjuna ordered Uttara to take him to Bhīshma; Uttara became afraid and was comforted by Arjuna (δ), who enumerated some of his exploits and weapons. Duḥçāsana, Vikarṇa, Duḥsaha, and Vivimçati rushed towards Arjuna; Duḥçāsana fled; Vikarṇa fell down; Duḥsaha and Vivimçati were taken away by their warriors (IV, 61). At last the Kauravas fled (IV, 62); Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Duḥçāsana attempted in vain to defeat Arjuna (IV, 63). Then Bhīshma and Arjuna fought with the Prājāpatya, Aindra, Āgneya, Raudra, Kaubera, Vāruṇa, Yāmya, and Vāyavya weapons; the Gandharva Citrasena showed the two combatants to Indra, who showered celestial flowers down upon them;