Jayadratha-Vadha Parva — The words of Yudhishthira

Dhritarashtra said Tell me in detail, O Sanjaya, how did Yuyudhana oppose in battle the son of Bharadvaja? I feel a great curiosity for knowing what happened then. Sanjaya said

Hear, 0 highly intelligent king, the description of that hair-stirring battle that then took place between Drona on the one hand and the Pandavas headed by Yuyudhana on the other.

Then, O sire, beholding the troops slaughtered by Yuyudhana, Drona himself assailed Satyaki of prowess incapable of being baffled.

Thereupon Satyaki pierced with five and twenty short arrows that mighty car-warrior the son of Bharadvaja, who had been advancing furiously against him.

Drona also, fighting heedfully and putting forth his prowess, quickly pierced Yuyudhana, with five sharp arrows furnished with wings of gold.

These arrows piercing through the tough armour of Satyaki, drank the blood of Drona's enemy; and, O king, they then penetrated into the earth like snakes breathing furiously.

Then the long-armed Satyaki, like an elephant struck with the hook, became filled with fury; and he then pierced Drona with fifty Narachas, all resembling fire itself.

Pierced quickly by Yuyudhana in battle, the son of Bharadvaja, pierced Satyaki who had been fighting vigorously, with countless shafts.

Then again excited to the highest pitch of fury, that fierce bowman endued with great might, once more began to afflict him of the Satvata race, with arrows of depressed knots.

Thus repeatedly wounded by Bharadvaja's son in battle, O ruler of men, Satyaki could not decide as to what he should then do.

Then, O king Yuyudhana's face became cheerless, as he saw Drona discharge numerous sharp arrows in battle.

Beholding Satyaki then in that plight, your sons your troops, O ruler of men, became greatly delighted at heart and they began incessantly to roar like lions.

Hearing that dreadful din and seeing that descendant of Madhu's race sorely afflicted, O Bharata, king Yudhishthira addressing his

"This foremost of the Vrishnis this hero Satyaki of indomitable prowess, is about to be destroyed in battle by the heroic Drona, like the sun by Rahu.

Charge and rush to the spot where Satyaki is fighting.” Then that ruler of men, addressing the Panchala prince Dhrishtadyumna said-

"Why do you tarry Oson, of Prisata? Assail Drona quickly? Can you not see the great danger to ourselves that has arisen from Drona?

This fierce bowman Drona is playing with Yuyudhana in battle, like a boy playing with a bird bound with a string.

Let every one of my troops headed by Bhimasena and others and accompanied by yourself, rush to the spot where Yuyudhana's chariot is stationed.

Supported by my divisions, I will follow behind you. Do you all rescue Satyaki today who is now within the very teeth of death."

Having thus spoken, the king, O Bharata, supported by all his troops, charged Drona in that battle, for the sake of rescuing Yuyudhana.

May good betide you; the din that then arose there, when the Pandavas and the Srinjaya rushed against the single-handed Drona, was indeed very tremendous.

Then, O foremost of men, encountering Drona that son of Bharadvaja, that mighty carwarrior, they began to pour upon him showers of sharp arrows furnished with wings of Kanka-feathers and the feathers of peacocks.

Then Drona received all those heroes smilingly, even as a host receives his welcome guest with water and the offer of seats.

Then like the guests becoming gratified with hospitality of their hosts, those heroes were gratified with the shafts sped at them by that bowman viz., the son of Bharadvaja.

They could not then behold the son of Bharadvaja, even as men cannot look at the midday sun of thousand rays, O lord.

Then that foremost of all wielders of weapons, viz., Drona afflicted all of them with his myriad shafts, even as the sun afflicts the objects of his earth with his myriad rays.

Slaughtered (ruthlessly), the Pandava and the Srinjayas, O mighty monarch, could not find a protector, like elephants sunk in mire.

Like the burning rays of the sun scattering in all sides, the mighty arrows of Drona were then seen to scatter on all directions.

In that battle were slain twenty-five best Panchala heroes, all reckoned among Maharathas and all enjoying the favour of Dhrishtadyumna.

People then beheld the heroic Drona slay in succession the best warriors among the Pandavas and the Panchalas.

Slaying a hundred warriors from the Kekaya hosts and routing them completely, Drona stood on the field, O king, like the Destroyer with his mouth wide open.

Then, O ruler of men, the mighty-armed Drona vanquished hundreds and thousands of the Panchalas, the Srinjayas, the Matsyas and the Kekayas.

Pierced by the arrows of Drona, the roar they then uttered, resembled that sent up by the denizen of the woods when the forest is burnt down by a conflagration.

Then, o king, all the celestials, the Gandharvas and the ancestral manes said-"Behold the Panchalas and the Pandavas, with their troops, fly away from the field of battle!"

Thus when Drona was slaying the Somakas in battle, none ventured to assail him and none was able to pierce him.

When that fight destructive of best and foremost heroes was thus raging with fury, Pritha's son Yudhishthira, suddenly heard the blast of the conch Panchajanya.

That prince of conchs viz., the Panchajanya, filled with the breath of Vasudeva's son, yielded loud blasts. When those heroes engaged in protecting the Sindhu ruler were thus fighting.

And when the Dharitarashtra warriors were roaring before Vijaya's chariot, the din was so great that the twang of the Gandiva could not be heard.

Then the royal of Pandu (Yudhishthira); overwhelmed with great anxiety, began to reflect thus-"Surely everything is not well with Arjuna, as this conch-blast indicates. son

And as the Kurus are roaring out rapturously every moment.” Thus thinking and with a heart filled with anxiety.

Ajatasatru, the son of Kunti, addressing him of the Satvata race said these words. Though his voice was choked with the vapour of grief and though he was constantly overwhelmed with swoons, yet the king (Yudhishthira) then did not lose sight of what should be done next; and addressing that foremost of the Sinis he then spoke thus

Yudhishthira said O grandson of Sini, the hour for that duty which sages of the past have enjoined to be done towards a friend by a friend in times of nced, has now arrived.

O foremost of the Sinis, thinking within inyself, I cannot find out any one, among all my troops, who is a greater well-wisher of ours than yourself, O Satyaki.

He that is always well-affected, ha that is always obedient, in my opinion, only he should be entrusted with the commission of a serious duty.

Just as Keshava is ever devoted to the interests of the Pandavas, so also are you, O you of the Vrishni race, who are equal to Keshava himself in prowess.

I am now going to place a heavy burden on you; and it befits you to bear that burden; it behoves you not to disappoint my hopes.

O foremost of men, do you now assist Arjuna involved in great distress, who is your friend, brother and your preceptor.

You are ever true to your vows and are endued with heroism and the giver of assurances to you friends. In consequence of your feats, you are renowned in the worlds as one devoted to truthful speech.

O grandson of Sini, he that casts off this mortal frame in fighting for the cause of friends, becomes equal to him that gives away the earth as a gift to the twice born ones.

We have heard of numerous monarchs who attained to heaven having duly given away this earth as a gift to the Brahmanas.

O virtuous-souled one, with folded palms, I do beg of you even this, viz., that you attain, O master, the merit of giving away the earth as a gift or of something better than that (by incurring the risk of being killed for the sake of Arjuna, you friend).

There is only one person, namely Krishna, that giver of assurances of safety to his friends, who is ever prepared to lay down his life for the sake of his friends. You, O Satyaki, are the second.

None but a hero volunteers to render help to another hero fighting courageously from a desire of winning fame. An ordinary man cannot do so.

Odescendant of Madhu's race, when this is the course to be followed, I do not find any one else save yourself, who can become a help to Arjuna.

On one occasion, Arjuna applauding your achievements and repeatedly reciting them afforded me great pleasure.

He said-"Satyaki is endued with great lightness of hands; he is versed in all modes of warfare; he is very agile, prudent, acquainted with the use of all weapons and downed with bravery. He is never confounded in the course of a fight.

That high-souled and mighty car-warriors possesses broad shoulders, bread chest, long arms, large jaws, great strength and unrivalled prowess.

He is both my pupil and friend. I am dear to him and he is dear to me. And if Yuyudhana renders me help, I can then crush the whole Kuru host completely.

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O foremost of kings, even if Keshava dons the armour for rendering us aid or if Rama, Aniruddha the mighty car-warrior Pradyumna or Gada or Sarana or Samva with the Vrishnis does so, O mighty Inonarch, to assist us in battle. Yet I shall select that foremost of men, that grandson of Sini of unbaffled prowess to assist me, in exclusion of the others, for, there is none equal to him."

This is what Dhananjaya said to me in your absence in the Dvaita forest while applauding your virtue's truly in an assembly of the righteous.

O descendant of the Vrishni race, it behoves you not to disappoint Dhananjaya and myself and Bhima.

When, returning from a sojourn to all the sacred places, I went to Dvaraka, I saw your reverence for Arjuna.

When at Upaplava, O grandson of Sini, I did not mark any one else who showed us greater love and affection, than yourself.

For showing kindness, therefore, to one who is your friend and preceptor, O mightyarmed hero, it behoves you, who are of noble lineage and who cherish reverence for us, to act in a way, O great bowman, worthy of your friendship, prowess, nobility of birth and devotion to truth, O descendant of Madhu's race.

Accoutered in armour by Drona himself, Suyodhana has suddenly gone behind Arjuna. Ere this, the other mighty car-warriors of the Kauravas have pursued Arjuna.

We can also hear the defiant roars that the enemy is uttering against Arjuna. Therefore, O honoured hero, O grandson of Sini, it behoves you to hie yourself to Arjuna without delay.

Ourselves and Bhimasena supported by our troops, shall hold Drona in check if he tries to pursue you.

Behold, O grandson of Sini, the Bharata troops are broken and flying away; and as they fly, hear the loud wails they utter.

Like the very ocean in a Parva day agitated by a mighty tempest, the army of Dhritarashtra, O sire, is being agitated by Savyasachin.

The dust raised by the swiftly moving chariots, horses and foot soldiers, is gradually enveloping the entire army.

Behold the mighty Phalguna that destroyer of hostile heroes surrounded by the SindhuSouviras armed with lances and javelins and numbering countless heroes among their ranks.

Without defeating this army it will not be possible (for Arjuna) to vanquish the ruler of the Sindhus. All these warriors again are prepared to lay down their lives for the sake of the Sindhu king.

Behold the invincible army of the Dhartarashtras, teeming with lances, arrows, excellent standards, heroes and elephants!

Hear the roar of their drums and the full blasts of their conchs, the uproar of war-cries and the rattle of their car-wheels!

Hear also the roars of elephants the yells of infantry and the cries of hoses-men, as they proceed causing the earth to tremble underneath their tread.

In the front of Arjuna is the division of the Sindhus and in his rear is the division of Drona. The foes are so strong in number, O foremost of men, that they can even afflict the lord of the celestials.

Sunk in his fathomless ocean of troops, Arjuna may be deprived of his life. And if he be slain in battle, how can I live?

Is this great catastrophe, in the shape of Arjuna's death, to overtake me when you are alive? Of blue complexion, youthful in years, of curly locks and exceedingly beautiful is that son of Pandu.

Light-handed in using the weapons, acquainted with various modes of warfare, that mighty armed hero, O sire, has entered into the ranks of the Bharata troops at the hour of sunrise; and the hour of sun-set is approaching fast.

0 you of Vrishni's race, I do not know whether he lives or not. The host of the Kurus is like the mighty ocean itself.

O sire, single-handed has the mighty-armed Vibhatsu entered into the Bharata army which cannot be encountered even by the celestials themselves in battle.

In this day's battle, my heart misgives me. Yonder also is Drona sorely afflicting my troops in battle.

You can see, O mighty-armed hero, how his twice-born one is careering in battle. When several tasks present themselves, you know perfectly which of them should be first attended to.

O bestower of honour, it behoves you to accomplish first that task which is the most serious, with great activity. Of all these tasks therefore, I do think the task of aiding Arjuna should be accomplished first.

The rescue of Arjuna a therefore should be at first effected. I do not grieve for him of the Dasharha race, who is the protector and the Lord of the universe.

I tell you truly that foremost men, is capable of vanquishing in battle all the three worlds united against him.

What to speak of this weak host of the sons Dhritarashtra? But, O you of Vrishni's race, Arjuna is sorely pressed by numerous odds in battle.

He may lose his life. For this reason it is that I am so cheerless. Therefore do you follow in his track, even as men like you should do.

For men like Arjuna, being urged on by men like myself. Of all the Vrishni heroes, two are reckoned as Atirathas in battle.

One among them is the mighty armed Pradyumna and the other is yourself, O Satvata hero, who both are well-known in the world. Equal to Narayana himself in the use of weapons, so Samkarshana in physical strength.

You are equal, O foremost of men, to Dhananjaya in bravery. You surpass Bhishma and Drona and others versed in all modes of warfare.

The wise speak of you, O foremost of all male beings, saying-There is nothing unachievable by Satyaki, O descendant of Madhu's race.

Thereupon, O mighty hero, do you perform what I say to you, viz., carry out the wishes of myself and of Arjuna and of all present here.

O mighty-armed one, it behoves you not to falsify our expectations. Disregardful of your dear life, do you begin to career like a hero in battle.

O grandson of Sini, the descendants of the Dasharha race never care for their lives in the course of fight. Avoidance of fight, indecision or hesitation to fight and flying away from fight.

These practices of the coward and the mean, are never resorted to by the scions of the Dasharaha race. O foremost of the Shinis, the illustrious Arjuna is your preceptor, O sire.

Vasudeva again is superior both to yourself and to Arjuna of great intelligence. Knowing this, I speak to you these words.

Do not disregard iny words, for I am superior to all your superiors. Whatever I say to you, know that to be approved of by Vasudeva and by Arjuna.

All this I have spoken to you in right earnestness. Proceed where Dhananjaya is, 0 you of prowess incapable of being baffled, following these words of command uttered by me.

Do you, O sire, penetrate into this army of the wicked-minded sons of Dhritarashtra. Entering into it and meeting duly with mighty car-warrior in. battle, display ( you of the Satvata race, the feats that you are capable of achieving and that are worthy of yourself.