रथातिरथ-संख्यान पर्व — रथियों और अतिरथियों की गणना

Bhishma said These are the notable Rathas and Atirathas on your side, O ruler of men, and these, o king, are semi-Rathas; listen now to those of the Pandavas.

If you have now any curiosity to learn of the strength of the Pandavas, O ruler of men, then listen to the list of their Rathas along with these rulers of the earth.

The king, the son of Pandu and the delight of Kunti, is himself a mighty Ratha; and my dear son, he will roam about in the battle like fire itself; there in no doubt.

Bhimasena, O chief among kings, is held to be eight times a Ratha and in a fight with the mace or arrows he has no equal.

Filled with pride and endued with the strength of ten thousand elephants he is not human is energy; the two foremost among men, the sons of Madri, are two Rathas.

Like the Ashvins in beauty and endued also with energy these two will fight in the very van on their army remembering their hard sufferings.

They will roam about like so many Rudras, of that there is no doubt. All of them are great-souled and tall as the trunks of Shala trees.

Measuring a span more than other males, all the sons of Pandu, capable of killing lions, are endued with great strength.

All of them are devotees, my dear son, and Brahmacharyya vows have been practised by all of them; endued with modesty, those foremost among men are of fierce strength as the tigers.

In impetuosity, in striking and crushing all of them are superhuman and by them by all the rulers of the earth had been vanquished at the time of the universal conquest.

No human being can bear their weapons, maces and arrows, none can even adjust the string at the time of using the bow, O son of Kuru.

In uplifting maces, in shooting arrows, in hitting the target, in eating and in sporting in the dust,

Even as children there was great difference between yourself and them. They, all of whom are endued with fierce strength, meeting this army,

Will destroy them in battle; let there therefore be no encounter with them. In the press of battle, each of them can alone slay the entire universe.

It was in your presence, O chief among kings, namely what happened in the Rajasuya. The sufferings of Draupadi and the harsh words at the game of vice,

Remembering these they will wander about in the battle like Rudra. Regarding Gudakesha (curling hair) of copper eyes having Narayana for his ally,

There is no brave car-warrior who can equal him in both the armies; nor is there any among the gods, human beings or serpents;

Nor even among Rakshasas and Yakshas, how can there then be any among men? Nor have I heard of any that has been or that will be.

O great king, the wise son of Pritha has a chariot which has Vasudeva for its driver and Dhananjaya as the soldier.

He has the celestial bow Gandiva and horses that have the speed of wind, celestial coat of mail which is impenetrable and great arrow holders which are inexhaustible;

Groups of arms presented by the great Indra and Rudra and Kuvera and Yama and Varuna and a mace which is fierce to look at,

And several foremost weapons for attack, the thunderbolt. Thousands of Danavas living in Hiranyapura,

Where slain by him riding on a single chariot. What car-warrior is there who can be equal to him? Endued with wrath, strong and of true prowess the one of long arms will slay,

Your army, protecting his own. Myself or the preceptor can advance against this Dhananjaya.

There is no third car-warrior, O chief among kings, in both these armies who can advance against him while he pours showers of amrows.

Showing arrows like clouds at the close of the hot season urged by mighty winds the son of Kunti, having Vasudeva for his ally, is waiting for battle. He is young and experienced while both of us are worn out.

Vaishampayana said Hearing these words of Bhishma and at the time recollecting with their trembling hearts the old might of the sons of Pandu they had themselves witnessed, the fleshly arms, of those kings pasted with sandal, hang down shorn of prowess.