Mahabharata (English)

by Kisari Mohan Ganguli | 2,566,952 words | ISBN-10: 8121505933

The English translation of the Mahabharata is a large text describing ancient India. It is authored by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and contains the records of ancient humans. Also, it documents the fate of the Kauravas and the Pandavas family. Another part of the large contents, deal with many philosophical dialogues such as the goals of life. Book...

Section LXXI

"Virata said,

'If this one, indeed, be the Kuru king Yudhisthira the son of Kunti, which amongst these is his brother Arjuna, and which, the mighty Bhima. Which of these is Nakula, and which Sahadeva and where is the celebrated Draupadi? After their defeat at dice, the sons of Pritha have not been heard of by any one.'

"Arjuna said,

'Even this one, O king, who is called Vallava and is your cook, is that Bhima of mighty arms and terrible prowess and furious impetus. It was he who slew the furious Rakshasas on the mountains of Gandhamadana, and procured for Krishna celestial flowers of great fragrance. Even he is that Gandharva, who slew the Kicaka of wicked soul and it was he who killed tigers and bears and boars in the inner apartment of your palace. He who had been the keeper of your horse is that slayer of foes called Nakula, and this one is Sahadeva, the keeper of your kine. Both these sons of Madri are great car-warriors, possessed of great fame and beauty of person.

These two bulls of the Bharata race, attired in handsome robes and decked in excellent ornaments, are a match for a thousand great car-warriors. And even this lady of eyes like lotus-petals and slender-waist and sweet smiles is Drupada’s daughter, your wife’s Sairindhri, for whose sake, O king, the Kicakas were slain. I am, O king, Arjuna who, it is evident, you have heard, is that son of Pritha, who is Bhima’s junior and the senior of the twins! We have, O king, happily passed in your abode the period of non-discovery, like infants in the womb!'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'After Arjuna had pointed out those heroes—the five Pandavas, the son of Virata then spoke of Arjuna’s prowess. And Uttara once again identified the sons of Pritha.

And the prince said,

'That one whose complexion is bright like that of pure gold, who is stout like a full-grown lion, whose nose is so prominent, whose eyes are large and expansive, and whose face is broad and of coppery hue, is the king of the Kurus.

And behold, that one whose tread is like that of an infuriate elephant, whose complexion is like that of heated gold, whose shoulders are broad and expanded, and whose arms are long and thick, is Vrikodara. And he who stands by his side, that youth of darkish hue, who is like unto a leader of a herd of elephants, whose shoulders are broad like those of a lion, whose tread is like that of a mighty elephant, and whose eyes are large and expansive like lotus-leaves, is Arjuna that foremost of bowmen.

All lo, close to the king, are those foremost of men, the twins, like unto Vishnu and Indra, and who have no equals, in the world of men, in beauty, might, and behaviour. And close by them, behold, stands Krishna, beautiful as gold, like unto the very embodiment of light, possessing the complexion of the blue lotus, like unto a celestial damsel, and resembling the living embodiment of Lakshmi herself.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Virata’s son began to describe the prowess of Arjuna, saying,

'Even this one is he that slew the foe, like unto a lion devastating a flock of deer. Even he ranged through, crowds of hostile cars, slaying their best of car-warriors. By him was slain a huge, infuriate elephant by means of a single arrow. Pierced by him, that huge beast having its flanks adorned with an armour of gold, fell down piercing the earth with his tusks. By him have the kine been recovered and the Kauravas vanquished in battle. My ears have been deafened by the blare of his conch. It was by this hero of fierce deeds that Bhishma and Drona, along with Duryodhana, were vanquished. That achievement is his and not mine.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words of his, the mighty king of the Matsyas, considering himself guilty of having offended Yudhishthira, said unto Uttara in reply,

'I think the time has come for me to propitiate the sons of Pandu. And, if you likest, I shall bestow my daughter Uttara upon Arjuna.'

"Uttara said,

'Worthy of our adorations and worship and respect, the time has come for worshipping the illustrious sons of Pandu who deserve to be worshipped by us.'

"Virata said,

'When brought under the foe’s subjection in battle, it was Bhimasena that rescued me. My kine also have been recovered by Arjuna. It is through the might of their arms that we have obtained victory in battle. Such being the case, all of us, with our counsellors, shall propitiate Yudhishthira the son of Kunti. Blessed be you, with all your brothers, O bull among the sons of Pandu. If, O king, we have ever said or done anything in ignorance to offend you, it behoves you to forgive us. The son of Pandu is virtuous.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then the high-souled Virata, delighted greatly, approached king Yudhishthira and made an alliance with him, and offered him his whole kingdom together with the sceptre and treasury and metropolis.

And addressing all the Pandavas, and especially Dhananjaya, the mighty king of the Matsyas repeatedly said,

'By good luck it is that I see you.'

And having again and again embraced Yudhishthira and Bhima and the sons of Madri, and smelt their heads, Virata, that owner of a large army, was not satiated with gazing at them.

And being highly pleased, he said unto king Yudhishthira,

'By good luck it is that I see you safe from woods. By good luck it is that you have accomplished with difficulty the period of exile, undiscovered by those wicked wights. I make over my entire kingdom to the sons of Pritha, and what else I have. Let the sons of Pandu accept these without the slightest hesitation. And let Dhananjaya, called also Savyasachin, accept the hand of Uttara: for that best of men is fit to be her lord.'

Thus addressed, king Yudhishthira the just cast a look upon Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha.

And looked at by his brother, Arjuna said unto the Matsya king,

'O monarch, I accept your daughter as my daughter-in-law. And alliance of this kind between the Matsya and the Bharatas is, indeed, desirable.'"

Conclusion:

This concludes Section LXXI of Book 4 (Virata Parva) of the Mahabharata, of which an English translation is presented on this page. This book is famous as one of the Itihasa, similair in content to the eighteen Puranas. Book 4 is one of the eighteen books comprising roughly 100,000 Sanskrit metrical verses.

FAQ (frequently asked questions):

Which keywords occur in Section LXXI of Book 4 of the Mahabharata?

The most relevant definitions are: Arjuna, Virata, Yudhishthira, Uttara, Pritha, Pandu; since these occur the most in Book 4, Section LXXI. There are a total of 39 unique keywords found in this section mentioned 91 times.

What is the name of the Parva containing Section LXXI of Book 4?

Section LXXI is part of the Goharana Parva which itself is a sub-section of Book 4 (Virata Parva). The Goharana Parva contains a total of 47 sections while Book 4 contains a total of 4 such Parvas.

Can I buy a print edition of Section LXXI as contained in Book 4?

Yes! The print edition of the Mahabharata contains the English translation of Section LXXI of Book 4 and can be bought on the main page. The author is Kisari Mohan Ganguli and the latest edition (including Section LXXI) is from 2012.

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