Rathatiratha Sankhyana Parva — Description of Rathas and Atirathas

Dhritarashtra said The slaying of Bhishma having been promised by Falguna in battle, what did my foolish sons, Duryodhana and others do?

I already see my father, the son of Ganga, slain in battle by the son of Pritha who has a firm grasp on his bow, having Vasudeva for his help-mate.

What also did, that great bowman Bhishma, that foremost among strikers, endued with unlimited wisdom, say after he had heard what the son of Pritha had said?

What did that oldest and foremost of the Kauravas, the of Ganga, of great intelligence and prowess, do after obtaining the generalship?

Vaishampayana said Sanjaya then submitted to him every thing as had happened, what had been said by that oldest among the Kurus, Bhishma of immeasurable energy. son

Sanjaya said Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, having obtained the generalship, said these words to Duryodhana infusing cheerfulness in him.

“Having bowed down to Kumara, the god of war, who has a lance in his hand, I shall today be your general, no doubt.

I am experienced in all matters relating to the army and in diverse artifices and in making the paid soldiers and unpaid ones (volunteers) do their own work.

In the matter of marching out troops in fighting and in declaring war I am as much an adept, O great king, as Brihaspati himself.

I am also conversant with the plans of attack and and defense, adopted by gods, Gandharvas and human beings, and by means of them I shall deprive the sons of Pandu of their senses. Let your fears be gone.

I, who am so, shall fight observing the usual rules and protecting your army according to plans laid down in the holy books. Let your mind's fear be gone."

Duryodhana said No fear exists in me, O son of Ganga, froin even the gods and Asuras united together, O you of long arm, I tell you this truly.

How much less reasons have I for fear when I have you as the commander of my armies and that foremost among men, Drona, who takes delight in war, being on my side.

You, the best among men, being on my side, victory will be mine and foremost among the Kurus, kingship over the gods is surely not hard to get.

I desire to hear, O Kaurava, of the numbers of Rathis (car) warriors capable of fighting with a certain number of each of the four divisions together) and also the number of Atirathas (greater warrior than a Rathi) in our own army and in that of the enemies.

Our grandfather is familiar with ourselves as also with our enemies and I desire to hear all about it, along with these rulers of the earth.

Bhishma said O son of Gandhari. listen to the numbers of । Rathi, O) chief among kings, in your own army, hcar O ruler of the earth, who are the Rathis and who the Atirathis.

There are thousands and tens of thousands and millions of Rathis in your army; listen to me, as I speak of them.

You, along with all your brothers Dushasana and others, are the foremost among car-warriors. on are

All of you are experienced in striking, cutting and piercing, and whether riding on chariots, or the elephants you experienced in the use of the mace, the swords and the shields.

You are also skillful drivers of elephants and chariots, you have mastered the science of weapons, and in the science of arrows you are the pupils of Drona and Kripa, the son of Sharadvata.

These will slay in battle the princes of Panchala, hard to be vanquished in battle, for the sons sons of Dhritarashtra, endued with intelligence, have been wronged by the Pandavas.

In the same way, I O foremost among the Bharatas, the commander of all your armies, shall slay your enemies after making the prowess of the Pandavas vain and useless.

It is not proper for me to describe my own qualifications; it is all known to you. The foremost of wielders of weapons, the king of the Bhojas, Kritavarman is an Atiratha (mightier car warrior).

He will make your object in fighting successful, no doubt for he is invincible among those familiar with the use of weapons and can hurl arms to a long distance and can hold firmly his weapons.

He will slay this army like the great Indra slaying the Danavas. In my opinion, the great bowman Shalya, the king of the Madras, is an Atiratha,

Who ever considers him an equal to Vasudeva in every battle; abandoning his own nephews (sister's sons) Shalya that Atiratha, has came over to your side.

These will fight in the battle with those great car warriors on the Pandavas side covering the enemies with arrows as ways covering the open. Bhurishravas, that master in the use of weapons, is also your will wisher.

The son of Somadatta, that mighty bowman, is a leader of the commanders of car warriors and he will effect a very great reduction in the strength of the enemy.

In my opinion, O great king, the king of the Sindhus is twice a car warrior and that powerful and best among the car warriors will fight in the battle, O king.

Persecuted by the Pandavas, O king, in his attempt to carry away Draupadi, that slayer of hostile heroes will fight remembering that trouble.

After that defeat, severe austerities were practiced by him O king; he has obtained a boon, difficult to get, of fighting with the Pandavas in battle.

This foremost among the car warriors, therefore, remembering all this in battle, will fight with the Pandavas, my dear son, even careless of life which is hard to lay down.