Jayadratha-Vadha Parva — The description of the standards

Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, describe to me the numerous standards, decked beautifully, belonging both to the warriors of the Parthas and to our warriors?

Sanjaya said Hear from me of the diverse kinds of standards belonging to those illustrious warriors. Listen to me, as I go on describing their name, their appearance and their hue.

O king, on the chariots of those foremost of car-warriors were seen various kinds of standards shining like blazing fire.

Made of gold or adorned with gold or decked with garlands of gold, looking like the golden peak of the mighty Meru mountain. The standards of those warriors were of variegated hue and of great beauty.

Those standards also were adorned with fluttering flags on all sides. Having steamers of variegated hue tied to them all round, those standards appeared highly charming.

Those streamers also moved by the wind. Looked like beautiful damsels dancing in the midst of arenas erected for sport.

Resembling the rainbow in hue, those streamers, 0 best of the Bharata race. Belonging to those car-warriors, fluttering in the air, beautified their cars.

The standard, having for its device the ape of fierce face and lion-like tail. Of Dhananjaya, seemed to strike terror into the hearts of his foes. That foremost of apes, O king, adorned as he was with banners.

That device on the standard of the wielder of Gandiva, frightened all your troops, O king.

We beheld the standard-top of Drona's son, resembling the tail of the lion and effulgent like the newly-risen sun, O Bharata.

Made of gold, fluttering in the air and of the effulgence of the device on the standard of Drona's son like the standard of Shakra floated on highly inspiring the foremost of the Kurus with delight.

The standard of Adhiratha's son bore the device of an elephants-girth made of gold. In that battle, it appeared O mighty king, to fire the whole firmament.

The banners attached to it decked with garlands of flowers and adorned with gold and moved by the wind, seemed to dance on the top of his chariot.

The preceptor of the Pandavas, that Brahman devoted to ascetic observances, viz., Kripa the son of Gautama, had for his device an excellent bovine bull. O king, the illustrious Kripa with that bovine bull on his standard, looked as effulgent as the Destroyer of the three-fortresses (Mahadeva) looks with his bull.

Vrishasena had for his device a peacock made of gold and decked with gems and jewels beautifying the van of the army it stood on his standard as if on the point of emitting its notes.

With that peacock, the car of that illustrious hero appeared as beautiful as the car of Skanda, O king, appears, being decked by his peacock.

The ruler of the Madras, we beheld, had on his standard-top, the unequalled and charming device of a plough-share, made of gold and looking like a flame of fire.

O sire, that plough-share mounted on his chariot looked beautiful. Like the Goddess of corn incarnate, endued with all beauty and producing every seed.

The device of a silver boar shone on the standard of the Sindhu king; it was decked with garlands of gold and was of the splendour of the rising sun.

With that device on his standard, Jayadratha appeared as beautiful. As Pusha in the days of yore, in the battle between the celestials and the Asuras.

The standard of Somadatta's son, ever devoted to the performance of sacrifices was decked with the device of a sacrificial stake. It shone like the sun or the moon.

o king, that golden sacrificial stake decorating the banner of Somadatta's son, looked effulgent. Like the huge stake erected in that foremost of sacrifices, called the Rajasuya.

Shalya's standard bearing the device of a silver-elephant, О king, as adorned on all sides with peacocks made of gold. O foremost of the

Bharatas, that standard enhanced the beauty of your troops.

Like the prodigious white elephant adorning the host of the ruler of the celestials. On the gold-decked standard of king Duryodhana, was the device of an elephant embossed with gems.

O king, that standard stood on the chariot of that hero, tinkling with the sound of a hundred bells. Then O monarch, in that battle with that huge standard, that foremost of the Kurus viz., your son appeared highly beautiful.

These nine excellent standards rose high amidst your troops and they lighted up your army, even like the suns that rise at the end of a Yuga.

The tenth standard there, was the mighty ape belonging to Arjuna with that standard Arjuna looked like a mountain lighted up by fire.

Then many mighty car-warriors all afflicters of their foes, quickly took up, for opposing Arjuna, their huge, white and variegated bows.

So also Pritha's son of godly achievements took up his bow capable of slaughtering the foe, namely the Gandiva; and all this was owing to your crooked policy.

Through your fault, in that battle, were slain numerous kings, invited from various countries, with their steeds and elephants and chariots.

Then roaring at one another they fall upon one another, headed as they were by Duryodhana on one side and by that foremost of the Pandavas on the other.

Then that son of Kunti having Krishna for his charioteer, inspired his foes with wonder. Inasmuch as he, though single handed, dauntlessly encountered the numerous odds against him;

Then that mighty armed one appeared beautiful stretching his bow Gandiva desirous of defeating those best of men ranged against him and of slaughtering Jayadratha the ruler of the Sindhus.

That foremost of men, that scorcher of his foes, viz., Arjuna discharging his arrows by thousands, made all the soldiers of your army invisible.

Thereupon those mighty car-warriors, those best of men, also rendered Pritha's son invisible in that battle, with the shower of their shafts poured from all sides.

Thus when that foremost of the Kurus Arjuna had been surrounded by those foremost of men, the uproar that was raised in your army was indeed very great and deafening. of men, the uproar that was raised in your army was indeed very great and deafening.