Goharana Parva — The discomfiture of Susharma in Goharana

Vaishampayana said O descendant of Bharata, the whole world being enshrouded in dust and natural darkness, the soldiers of both sides, without breaking the battle array, stopped for some time.

Then dispelling the darkness the moon rose, making the night clear and gladdening the Kshatriyas in the battle field.

When every thing came in view, the battle began again; and it became so dreadful that they could not see each other.

Then Susharma, the king of Trigartas, with his younger brother and surrounded by his cars, encountered the king of Matsya.

Then descending from their chariots, those two brothers, the foremost of Kshatriyas, worked up with anger, with mace in hands, rushed towards (the enemy's) cars.

The hostile armies fiercely assailed each other with maces, swords, scimitars, axes, nooses, and with sharpened points.

Having assailed and vanquished with energy the entire army of the king of Matsya's, Susharman, the king of Trigartas, rushed furiously at the highly energetic Virata.

Having slain severally his two horses, his charioteer as also the soldiers who protected him in the rear they took the king of Matsya captive, even alive, deprivation of his car.

Then assailing him fiercely like a lustful person (oppressing) a female, they placed him on the car and speedily went out.

After the powerful Virata, deprived of his car, had been taken captive, the Matsya's, greatly assailed by Trigartas, fled away to different directions in fear.

Beholding them thus terrified Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, said to the mighty-armed Bhimasena, the slayer of enemies.

The king of Matsya has been captivated by Susharman, the king of Trigartas; O you of mighty arms, release him so that he may not be subject to the enemies.

We have lived happily in his house with our desire satisfied O Bhimasena, you should satisfy that debt.

Bhimasena said By your command, O king, I shall set him free: behold my great feat of fighting with the enemies.

Stay aside with brothers at a corner depending on the strength of your arms and behold my prowess today.

uprooting this huge tree with a trunk looking like a mace I shall assail the enemies.

Vaishampayana said Seeing Bhima look at that tree like an infuriated elephant the heroic and pious king Yudhishthira said to his brother.

"Do not commit such a rash act, О Bhima, let the tree stand there." You should not with a tree perform superhuman deeds.

O descendant of Bharata, people will then recognize you and say “This is Bhima". Take you therefore, some other human weapon,

A bow, or a dart, sword or battle-axe. Taking a weapon that is human, release the king, O Bhima, speedily, so that people may not recognize you. The highly powerful twins will be the protectors of your wheels. Being united together in battle, release the king of Matsya.

Thus accosted the highly powerful Bhimasena, gifted with great speed, took up with great force his best of bows,

And discharged from it a shower of shafts like a cloud surcharged with water. Bhima then fell upon Susharma of dreadful deeds.

Casting his looks on Virata he said to (Susharma) “stay stay.” Susharma thought him to be Yama-the very regent of death.

That foremost of charioteers saw him at his back exclaiming "stay, stay, behold a highly great feat-a mighty encounter is at hand."

Taking up his bow, Susharma with his brothers turned back and within the twinkling of an eye those cars (were destroyed by) Bhimasena.

And hundreds of thousand of chariots, elephants, horses, horsemen and brave and powerful bowmen were over thrown by him before the very presence of Virata.

Their infantry was slain by the high-souled (Bhima with mace in hand): Beholding such a fight Susharma, irrepressible in battle,

Thought within his mind: "Is this the end of my army. I see my brother drowned in the midst of his powerful army.”

Stretching his bow to his ear Susharma began to retreat and discharge repeatedly sharpened shafts.

Beholding the Pandavas return to their cars the entire huge army urged on their horses and began to assail the Trigartas with excellent weapons. Virata's son, greatly enraged, began to display highly wonderful feats in battle.

Kunti's son Yudhishthira killed one thousand and Bhima dispatched seven thousand.

Nakula killed with arrows seven hundred and powerful Sahadeva the foremost of men, commanded by Yudhishthira, slew three hundreds of heroes. Slaying that huge army of Trigartas, the mighty car-warrior, Yudhishthira, with uplifted weapon, attacked him sorely with shafts.

Susharma, too greatly enraged, with impetuosity pierced Yudhishthira with nine shafts and his four horses with four. Then 0 king, the quick-coursing son of Kunti, Vrikodara, nearing Susharma, assailed his horses. Having slain the soldiers that were in the rear with huge shafts, he, in anger, brought down his (Susharmas') charioteer from his car. The heroic protector of the wheels celebrated as Madiraksha,

Seeing Trigarta deprived of his car, came there. Then coming down from Susharma's car Virata.

Heroic (as he was) took up his Susharma's mace and rushed upon him, And he, with mace in hand moved about like a young man, although an old man.

Beholding the king of Trigarta taking to his heels, Bhima said :"Desist, O prince, it does not behove you to fly away.

With such powers how could you think of taking away the kine? Why forsaking your followers do you droop in the midst of your enemies?

Being thus addressed by Partha, the powerful Susharma, owner of cars, all on a sudden rushed upon Bhima (saying "stay! stay!!').

Getting down from the car the dreadful Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, rushed towards him with coolness, desirous of taking Susharma's life.

With a view to get hold of the king of Trigarta approaching towards him the energetic Bhimasena rushed upon him like a lion upon a small deer.

Rushing upon Susharma he held him by the hair; and lifting him up in anger he dashed him against the earth.

The mighty-armed (Bhima) struck him on the head, who was weeping, with his foot and placing his keen on his breast dealt him severe blows.

Assailed by the stroke the king lost consciousness. The mighty car-warrior, the king of Trigartas, deprived of car, being scized,

The entire army, of Trigarta afflicted with fear, were dispersed. Thereupon preventing the kine from being taken away, all the mighty carwarriors, the sons of Pandu,

Discomfitting Susharma and taking all his wealth-they, endued with the strength of their own arms, humble and observant of vows,

The destroyers of the affliction of the highsouled Virata, all stationed themselves before him. Then Bhima said:

This perpetrator of impious deeds does not deserve living at my hands. But what can I do, the king is always merciful.

Then holding the king (Susharma) by the neck who was unconscious, bringing him and binding him who could make no exertion, Vrikodara, the son of Pritha,

Placed him on the chariot who was insensible and covered with dust. Then approaching Yudhishthira who was in the midst of the battle field,

Bhima showed to him the king Susharma. The foremost of men then said to Bhima. beautifying the battle field.

Then seeing him the king smilingly said: “Release this wretch." Thus addressed Bhima said to the highly powerful Susharma.

“If you wish to live, O wretch, hear my words. You should say in courts and assemblies that you are our slave.

Under this condition I can grant you your life: such is the custom of the victorious." Then his eldest brother addressed to him affectionate words.

"If you regard me, release this wicked wretch. He has already become the slave of the great king Virata. (Then he said to Susharma): “You are free, go and never do such a thing."