Rathatiratha Sankhyana Parva — Description of Rathas and Atirathas

Bhishma said This Shakuni, your maternal uncle, is equal to a single Ratha, O ruler of men; and having brought about hostility with the Pandavas he will fight, there is no doubt of it.

His army when rushing to battle, is hard to vanquish; and furnished with plenty of weapons of all sorts they are of the velocity of the wind in battle.

That mighty bowman, the son of Drona (Ashvathama) surpasses all bowmen and is familiar with diverse modes of warfare and is of firm weapons; he is a Maharatha.

The arrows, shot by him from his bow as by the wielder of the Gandiva bow, proceed touching one another.

This best among the Rathas, this hero cannot be described by me; if this Maharatha wishes he can burn up the three worlds.

He has accumulated wrath and energy by his austerities while living in the hermitage. has been favored by Drona with celestial weapons.

He has however a great draw back owing to which, O foremost of the Bharata race, I do not consider him as a Ratha or an Atiratha, O best among the rulers of the earth.

He is excessively fond of life and that regenerate young man is always desirous of living but there is no body similar to him in the armies of both the parties.

By means of single of a single chariot can he slay even the army of the gods; and by the flaps of his bowstring striking against the leather fence on his left arm, that one, possessed of a powerful body, can rend asunder the mountains.

The heroic smiter, of fierce effulgence, has many accomplishments and he will wander about like death himself with rod in hand.

Having the shoulders of a lion and endued with great effulgence he will, like the fire that rages at the end of Yuga, extinguish the embers of this battle between the Bharatas.

His father, endued with great energy, is better then young persons though he is himself old and he will be the doer of great deeds in battle, of this I have no doubt.

Resembling the having its source in the dry grass and fuel in the shape of your army and fanned by the force of our weapons, our soldiers will surely consume those on the side of the son of Pandu in battle.

This foremost among men, the son of Bharadvaja, is the leader groups of car-leaders and will be the doer of fierce deeds.

The aged preceptor, the spiritual guide of all those who have undergone the ceremony of investiture on the head, will put an end to all the Srinjayas but Dhananjaya is dear to him.

The great bowman, remembering the blazing virtues acquired by the son of Pritha and his own relation towards him as a preceptor, will never, be able to kill him who accomplishes things without exertion,

This one (Drona) ever prides himself on the many accomplishments of the son of Pritha, O hero, and the son of Bharadvaja looks on him with greater affection than on his own son.

With the assistance of a single car he can slay the gods, the Gandharvas and the human beings united together, with the aid of his heavenly weapons.

That foremost of king, Pauravas, on your side, is a Maharatha, o king; such is my opinion; he is one of the foremost among carwarriors and will work havoc among the heroes on the enemies' side.

With his own large army affecting the army of his enemies he will consume the Panchalas as the course of fire does the dry grass.

Satyashravas that prince of great strength, is a Ratha on your side, ( king and he will work havoc among the armies of the enemies like Death himself.

His soldiers, O chief among kings, clad in diverse kinds of amours and arıncd with diverse weapons, will roam about in the battle killing your enemies.

That great car warrior, Vrishasena, the son of Karna is one of the foremost of the carwarriors on your side; and that foremost among mighty persons will consume the army of your enemies.

Jalasandha, of great energy, is one of the foremost of the Rathas on your side. That scion of the race of Madhu, that slayer of hostile heroes, can even sacrifice his life in battle.

Conversant with the science of war. that one of long arms having the shoulders of an elephant will fight in battle scattering the hostile army, seated on a chariot.

The best among kings is Ratha in my opinion, O great king, and for your sake he will sacrifice his life a along his army in this greet battle.

This one is a mighty warrior and knows to fight according to diverse methods in battle; and O king, he will fight with your enemies casting fear aside.

Balhika, who never turns his back on the field of battle, is an Atiratha, O great king; such is my opinion and that hero is equal to the sun himself.

Having once reached the field, he will never turn back and he will slay the enemies in battle as continuously as the wind blows.

Satyavana, the leader of your armies, O great king, is Maharatha. A car-warrior himself, he is the doer of wonders in battle and works havoc among the enemies' charioteers.

He will certainly not be pained at the sight of battle and he will inspire those of the enemy's soldiers who stand in the way of his chariot with wonder,

Showing his strength against his enemies, a thing which is the duty of every good man, this best among men will be the doer of great deeds in your favour,

Alambusha, that chief of the Rakshashas of hard deeds, is a Maharatha and O king he will slay the enemies remembering the old enmity.

He is the best car warrior among all the Rakshasas, and being endued with the powers of illusion he will roam about in the field like an inveterate enemy.

The hero Bhagadatta, the ruler of the Pragjyotisha, endued with fame, is one of the foremost among the wielders of the hook of the elephant and is also skillful in fighting form the chariot.

In days of the old there took place a fight between him and the holder of Gandiva, for a number of days, O king, each being desirous of victory over the other.

O son of Gandhari, then did he, who thinks Indra to friend, conclude peace with that great souled son of Pandu.

This one of shoulders like those of elephants and skillful in battle will fight, O king, like Vasava on the back of the Airavata with the gods.