Vaishampayana said: -
1. When the king expressed his desire to bestow his daughter on that Brahmana, all the assembled kings looked at one another and were filled with wrath.
The kings said: -
2. Passing us by and regarding the assembled potentates as straw, this Draupada desires to bestow his daughter, the best of women, on a Brahmana.
3. Having planted the tree, he cuts it down when it is about to bear fruits. The wretch does not respect us, therefore let us kill him.
4. He does not deserve our respect or he veneration due to his age. On account of such conduct, we shall kill this wretch who insult kings with their sons.
5. After inviting all the kings and entertaining them with excellent food, he at last insult them all.
6. In this assemblage of monarchs which is like a conclave of the celestials, does he not find a single king who is equal to himself?
7. The Shruti says that the Saimvara is for the Kshatryas; the Brahmanas have no claim in a selection of husband (by a Kshatryas lady).
8. kings, if this maiden does not desire to select one of us as her husband, let us throw her into fire and return to our kingdoms.
9. Though this Brahmana has done this injury to the kings out of his officiousness or avarice, he should not be still killed.
10. For our kingdoms, lives, wealth, sons and grandsons and whatever other wealth we have (in this world) all exist for the Brahmanas.
11. Something must be done (however) so that from the fear of disgrace and from the desire of maintaining that which properly belongs to the respective orders, (the impertinent interference of Brahmanas) may not cause other Saimvaras to end thus.
12. Having said this, those best of kings, having arms like the spiked iron maces, took up their weapons and rushed upon Drupada to kill him.
13. Seeing those kings all rushing upon him in anger with bows and arrows, Drupada sought the protection of the Brahmanas from fear.
14. But those great bowmen, those two sons of Pandu (Bhima and Aryuna), those chastisers of foes, (at once) advanced to oppose those kings rushing towards Drupada like mad elephants.
15. Thereupon all those kings and princes with their figures cased in leather and their weapons upraised, rushed in anger towards the Kuru princes, Bhima and Aryuna.
16. Then the powerful Bhima of extraordinary deeds, possessing the strength of thunder, tore up a large tree like an elephant and then desisted in of its all leaves.
17. Taking that tree, the mighty-armed Bhima, the son of Pritha, the chastiser of all foes, stood, like Yama with his fearful staff, near that best of man Partha (Aryuna.)
18. Seeing that feat of his brother, the greatly intelligent Jishnu (Aryuna), himself being of inconceivable feats, became very much astonished. Being equal to Indra in achievements, he cast off all his fears; and he stood ready with his bow to receive those assailants.
19. Seeing the feats of both Jishnu (Aryuna) and his brother, Damodara (Krishna) of superhuman intelligence and in conceivable feats, spoke thus to his brother Halayudha (Balarama) of fearful energy.
20. O Sankarsana, that hero who has the gait like that of a great lion, who draws the large bow in his hand, which is full four cubits in length, is undoubtedly Aryuna. If I am the son of Vasudeva there is no doubt about it.
21. That hero, who has suddenly tom up the tree and who has within a moment become ready to drive away the monarchs, is undoubtedly Vrikodara (Bhima). None else in the world could have performed today such after in the field of battle.
22. O Achyuta, the other youth, having eyes like lotus leaves, who is full four cubits tall, who has the gait of mighty lion, who is humble, fair-complexioned, with prominent and shinning nose, who a moment before has left the arena, is undoubtedly the son of Dharma (Yudhishthira).
23. The two other youths, each as handsome as Kartikeya, are, I am sure, the son of the twin Ashwinis. I heard that sons of Pandu and Pritha had escaped from the fire of the lac house.
24. Then Halayudha of the complexion of clouds charged with rains spoke thus to his younger brother in joy, “I am glad to hear that our father’s sister Pritha, with the foremost of the Kuru princes (the Pandavas) has escaped (from the lac-house).
Thus ends the hundred and ninty first chapter, the words of Krishna, in the Saimvara of the Adi Parva.
Vaishampayana said: -
1. Those best of Brahmanas (present there), shaking their deer-skins and coconut shell water pots, exclaimed, “Fear not; we shall fight with the foes.”
2. Aryuna smilingly told those Brahmanas who spoke to him “Stand aside as spectators.
3. I shall check all these kings, like snakes by. Mantras, showering on them arrows furnished with sharp points.”
4. Having said this, the mighty Aryuna took up the bow he had obtained as the dower and accompanied by his brother Bhima, stood immovable as a mountain.
5. Seeing the Kshatryas, ever furious in battle, with Karna at their head, the two heroic brothers rushed at them like two elephants rushing against a herd of hostile elephants.
6. Then those kings, eager for battle, fiercely exclaimed, “Killing a Brahmana desirous of fighting in battle is permitted.”
7. Saying this, the monarchs at once rushed upon the Brahmanas and the greatly powerful Karna rushed against Jishnu (Aryuna) to fight.
8. The mighty king of the Madras, Shalya rushed against. Bhima like one elephant rushing against another for a female one.
9. Duryodhana and others all fought with the Brahmanas, but they skirmished with them lightly and carelessly.
10. Then the illustrious Aryuna, seeing the son of Vikartana, Karna, coming towards him, drew his tough bow and pierced him with his sharp arrows.
11. The son of Radha (Karna), being much pestered by his swift, powerful and effulgent arrows, attacked Aryuna with more care (than before).
12. Then Karna and Aryuna, both foremost of all warriors, fought madly on, each eager to vanquish the other. Such was the lightness of hand they displayed that they both became invisible (on account of the incessant showers of arrows).”
13. “Behold the strength of my arms, “Mark how I have counteracted your feats, “ they addressed each other in such words, intelligible only of the heroes.
14. Enraged on seeing the strength and energy of Aryuna’s arms as matchless in the earth, the son of Surya, Karma, fought with greater vigour.
15. Parrying all the swift and strong arrows shot at him by Aryuna, Karna sent up a laud shout. And his great feat was applauded by all the warriors.
Karna said: -
16. O foremost of the Brahmanas, I am pleased to see the strength of your annas, that know no relaxation in battle. Your weapons are worthy of achieving victory.
17. Is the science of arms personified in you, or are you that best of Brahmanas (Parashu) Rama or Indra himself or Vishnu, or Achyuta himself?
18. In order to conceal your personality have you assumed the form of a Brahmana and mastering all the strength of arms are you now fighting with me?
19. None except Sachi’s husband (Indra) or Kiriti (Aryuna), the son of Pandu is capable of fighting with me when I am angry on the field of battle.
Vaishampayana said: -
20. Hearing his these words, Falguni (Aryuna) replied, “ O Karna, I am not the science of arms; I am not also the powerful Rama.
21. I am only a Brahmana who is the foremost of all wielders of arms. By the grace of my preceptor, I have become expert in the Brahma and Paurandra weapons. I am here to-day to vanquish you in battle. O hero, wait a little.
22. Having been thus addressed, the son of Radha, Karna, refrained from the fight, for the great car-warrior thought that the Brahma might is ever invincible.
23. On another part of the field the mighty heroes Shalya and Vrikodara (Bhima) endued with great strength, well skilled in battle and learning,
24. Challenged one another and fought like two mad elephants, striking each other with their clenched fists and knees.
25. Sometimes pushing each other to a distance, sometimes dragging each other near; sometimes throwing each other down with their faces down-wards and sometimes on their sides, they fought on, striking each other at times with the clenched fists.
26. As they fought each other with blows hard as the clash of two pieces of stones, the arena rang with the sound of their combat.
27-28. Fighting thus in the battle for a few minutes, Bhima, the best of the Kurus, then taking up Shalya on his arms, hurled him to a distance, and the best of men Bhimasena surprised all (by his feet), for though he threw the powerful Shalya on the ground, he did not hurt him much.
29. When Shalya was thus thrown down by Bhima and Karna was struck with fear, all the other kings were filled with awe and they surrounded Vrikodara (Bhima from all sides).
30. They said, “Surely these best of Brahmanas are excellent (warriors). Ascertain in what tribe they have been born and when they live.
31. Who is capable of fighting with the son of Radha, Karna, in battle except Rama, Drona or Kiriti, the son of Pandu (Aryuna)?
32. Who is capable of fighting in battle with Duryodhana except the son of Devaki Krishna and son of Sharadvan, Kripa?
33-34. Who is capable of overthrowing in battle the king of Madra, Shalya, the foremost of great warriors, except Baladeva, the heroic Vrikodra, the son of Pandu and the heroic Duryodhana? Therefore, let as desist from this fight with the Brahmanas.
35. Brahmanas, if they be offending, should still ever be protected. First let us ascertain who these (heroes) are. After we have learnt it, we my cheerfully fight with them.
Vaishampayana said: -
36. Seeing that feat of Bhima, Krishna believed them both to be the sons of Kunti. Gently addressing the assemble monarch by saying, “This maiden has been greatly won (by the Brahmanas)” he induced them to desist from the fight.
37. Having thus desisted from the battle, those best of monarchs, those (heroes) well (skilled in battle, returned to their respective kingdoms, all becoming exceedingly surprised.
38. Those that assembled there went away saying that the Brahmanas had become victorious to- day; the princess of Panchala had become the bride of a Brahmana.
39. Surrounded by Brahmanas attired in skins of deed and other wild animals, Bhima and Dhananjaya passed through the crowd with good deal of difficulty.
40-41. Those heroes among men, mangled by the enemies and followed by Krishna, at last came out of the crowd and they looked like the full moon or the sun emerged from the clouds. And their mother (Kunti in her lodging) began to think of various evils having overtaken her sons.
42. Seeing that her sons were late in returning from their begging tour, she was filled with anxiety. At one time she thought that the sons of Dhritarastra had recognised and killed them.
43. Next she feared that some cruel and strong Rakshasas, endued with the prowess of deception, had killed them. And she asked herself, “Could the illustrious Vyasa himself have been guided by perverse intelligence?”
44-45. Thus Pondered Pritha out of her affection for her children. Then in the stillness of the late afternoon, Jishnu (Aryuna), accompanied with many Brahmanas, entered the potter’s house like the cloud-covered sun emerged from the clouds in a cloudy day.
Thus ends the hundred and ninty second chapter, the return of Pandavas, in the Saimvara of the Adi Parva.