अनुगीता पर्व — अर्जुन और गान्धार-नरेश का युद्ध

Vaishmpayana said The heroic son of Shakuni, who was a powerful car-warrior among the Gandharas, accompanied by a large army, proceeded against the Kuru hero of curly hair. That force contained elephants, horses and cars, and was adorned with many flags and banners.

Unable to bear, and, therefore, burning to avenge, the destruction of their kin Shakuni. those warriors, armed with bows, rushed together at Partha.

The unvanquished Bibhatsu of virtuous soul addressed them peacefully, but they were reluctant to accept the beneficial words of Yudhishthira.

Though forbidden by Partha with sweet words, they still gave themselves up to anger and surrounded the sacrificial horse. At this, the son of Pandu became filled with rage.

Then Arjuna, carelessly shooting from Gandiva many arrows with razor-like heads that blazed with splendour, cut off the heads of many Gandhara warriors.

While thus killed by Partha, the Gandharas, O king, exceedingly afflicted, liberated the horse, moved by fear and desisted from battle.

Resisted, however, by those Gandhara combatant who still surrounded him on all sides, the son of Pandu, gifted with great energy, cut off the heads of many, previously naming those whom he thus killed.

When the Gandhara warriors were thus being killed all around him in battle, the royal son of Shakuni came forward to resist the son of Pandu.

To the Gandhara king who was fighting with him, moved by Kshatriya duty, Arjuna said, I do not intend to kill the kings who fight with me, on account of the commands of Yudhishthira. O hero, Cease to fight with me. Do not scek defeat today.

Thus addressed, the son of Shakuni, stupefied by folly, disregarded that advice and covered with many swift shafts the Kuru hero who resembled Shakra hiinself in the feats he performed in battle.

Then Parhta, with a crescent-shaped arrow, cut off the head-gear of his enemies. Of immeasurable soul, he also caused that headgear to be borne along a great distance like the head of Jayadratha.

Seeing this feat, all the Gandhara warriors became stricken with wonder. They full well understood that Arjuna voluntarily spared their king.

The prince of the Gandharas then began to fly away from the field, followed by all his warriors who resembled a flock of frightened deer.

The Gandharas, through fear, lost their senses and wandered over the field, unable to escape. Arjuna, with his broadheaded arrows, cut off the heads of many.

Many there were who lost their arins on account of Arjuna's arrows, but so stupefied were they with fear that they were not aware of the loss of that limb. Indeed, the Gandhara army was greatly afflicted with those large arrows which Partha discharged from Gandiva.

That army, which then consisted of frightened men and elephants and horse, which lost many warriors and animals, and which had been disordered and routed, began to wander and wheel about the field again and again.

Among those enemies who were thus being killed, none could be seen standing in front of the Kuru hero fained for foreinost of feats. No one could be seen who was able to bear the prowess of Dhananjaya.

Then the mother of the king of the Gandharas, filled with fear, and with all the aged ministers of state, came out of her city, taking an excellent Arghya for Arjuna.

She forbade her brave son of steady heart from fighting any longer, and pleased Jishnu who was never fatigued with toil.

The powerful Bibhatsu adored her and became inclined to show mercy towards the Gandharas. Comforting the son of Shakuni, he said, You have not, O mightyarmed hero, done what is agreeable to me by adopting these hostile measures! O destroyer of heroes, you are my brother, O sinless one.

Recollecting my mother Gandhari, and for the sake of Dhritarashtra also, I have not taken your life. It is for this, o king, that you live still, Many of your followers, however, have been killed by me.

Let not such a thing happen again. Let hostilities cease. Let not your understanding again go wrong. You should go to the HorseSacrifice of our king which takes place on the day of full moon of the month of Chaitra. still, Many of your followers, however, have been killed by me.

Let not such a thing happen again. Let hostilities cease. Let not your understanding again go wrong. You should go to the HorseSacrifice of our king which takes place on the day of full moon of the month of Chaitra.