Section XXXV

"Vaisampayana said, 'When the king of the Matsyas, anxious of recovering the kine, had set out in pursuit of the Trigartas, Duryodhana with his counsellors invaded the dominions of Virata. And Bhishma and Drona, and Karna, and Kripa acquainted with the best of weapons, Asvatthaman, and Suvala’s son, and Dussasana, O lord of men, and Vivingsati and Vikarna and Citrasena endued with great energy, and Durmukha and Dussaha,—these and many other great warriors, coming upon the Matsya dominion speedily drove off the cowherds of king Virata and forcibly took away the kine. And the Kauravas, surrounding all sides with a multitude of cars, seized sixty thousands of kine. And loud was the yell of woe set up by the cowherds smitten by those warriors in that terrible conflict.

And the chief of the cowherds, greatly affrighted speedily mounted on a chariot and set out for the city, bewailing in affliction. And entering the city of the king, he proceeded to the place, and speedily alighting from the chariot, got in for relating (what had happened). And beholding the proud son of Matsya, named Bhuminjaya, he told him everything about the seizure of the royal kine. And he said, the Kauravas are taking away sixty thousand kine. Rise, therefore, O enhancer of the kingdom’s glory, for brining back your cattle. O prince, if you are desirous of achieving (the kingdom’s) good set out thyself without loss of time. Indeed, the king of the Matsyas left you in the empty city.

The king (your father) boasts of you in court, saying,

'My son, equal unto me, is a hero and is the supporter of (the glory of) my race. My son is a warrior skilled in arrows and weapons and is always possessed of great courage.'—Oh, let the words of that lord of men be true! O chief of herd-owners, bring you back the kine after vanquishing the Kurus, and consume you their troops with the terrific energy of your arrows. Do you like a leader of elephants rushing at a herd, pierce the ranks of the foe with straight arrows of golden wings, discharged from your bow. Your bow is even like a Vina. Its two ends represent the ivory pillows; its string, the main chord; its staff, the finger-board; and the arrows shot from it musical notes.

Do you strike in the midst of the foe that Vina of musical sound.^[1] Let your steeds, O lord, of silvery hue, be yoked unto your car, and let your standard be hoisted, bearing the emblem of the golden lion. Let your keen-edged arrows endued with wings of gold, shot by your strong arms, obstruct the path of those kings and eclipse the very sun. Vanquishing all the Kurus in battle like unto the wielder of the thunderbolt defeating the Asuras, return you again to the city having achieved great renown.

Son of Matsya’s king, you are the sole refuge of this kingdom, as that foremost of virtuous warriors, Arjuna is of the sons of Pandu. Even like Arjuna of his brothers, you are, without doubt, the refuge of those dwelling within these dominions. Indeed, we, the subject of this realm, have our protector in you.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by the cowherd in the presence of the females, in words breathing courage, the prince indulging in self-commendation within the female apartments, spoke these words.'"