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 CCLXVIII

Vaisampayana said, "The hostile Kshatriyas, incensed at sight of Bhimasena and Arjuna, sent up a loud shout in the forest. And the wicked king Jayadratha, when he saw the standards of those bulls of the Kuru race, lost his heart, and addressing the resplendent Yagnaseni seated on his car, said,

'Those five great warriors, O Krishna, that are coming, are I believe, your husbands. As you knowest the sons of Pandu well, do you, O lady of beautiful tresses, describe them one by one to us, pointing out which of them rides which car!'

Thus addressed, Draupadi replied,

'Having done this violent deed calculated to shorten your life, what will it avail you now, O fool, to know the names of those great warriors, for, now that my heroic husbands are come, not one of you will be left alive in battle. However as you are on the point of death and hast asked me, I will tell you everything, this being consistent with the ordinance.

Beholding king Yudhishthira the just with his younger brothers, I have not the slighest anxiety or fear from you! That warrior at the top of whose flagstaff two handsome and sonorous tabours called Nanda and Upananda are constantly played upon,—he, O Sauvira chief, has a correct knowledge of the morality of his own acts.

Men that have attained success always walk in his train. With a complexion like that of pure gold, possessed of a prominent nose and large eyes, and endued with a slender make, that husband of mine is known among people by the name of Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma and the foremost of the Kuru race. That virtuous prince of men grants life to even a foe that yields.

Therefore, O fool, throwing down your arms and joining your hands, run to him for your good, to seek his protection. And that other man whom you seest with long arms and tall as the full-grown Sala tree, seated on his chariot, biting his lips, and contracting his forehead so as to bring the two eye-brows together, is he,—my husband Vrikodara! Steeds of the noblest breed, plump and strong, well-trained and endued with great might, draw the cars of that warrior! His achievements are superhuman. He is known, therefore, by the name of Bhima on earth.

They that offend him are never suffered to live. He never forgets a foe. On some pretext or other he wrecks his vengeance. Nor is he pacified even after he has wrecked a signal vengeance. And there, that foremost of bowmen, endued with intelligence and renown, with senses under complete control and reverence for the old—that brother and disciple of Yudhishthira—is my husband Dhananjaya!

Virtue he never forsakes, from lust or fear or anger! Nor does he ever commit a deed that is cruel. Endued with the energy of fire and capable of withstanding every foe, that grinder of enemies is the son of Kunti. And that other youth, versed in every question of morality and profit, who ever dispells the fears of the affrighted, who is endued with high wisdom, who is considered as the handsomest person in the whole world and who is protected by all the sons of Pandu, being regarded by them as dearer to them than their own lives for his unflinching devotion to them, is my husband Nakula possessed of great prowess. Endued with high wisdom and having Sahadeva for his second, possessed of exceeding lightness of hand, he fights with the sword, making dexterous passes therewith.

You, foolish man, shall witness today his performances on the field of battle, like unto those of Indra amid the ranks of Daityas! And that hero skilled in weapons and possessed of intelligence and wisdom, and intent on doing what is agreeable to the son of Dharma, that favourite and youngest born of the Pandavas, is my husband Sahadeva! Heroic, intelligent, wise and ever wrathful there is not another man equal unto him in intelligence or in eloquence amid assemblies of the wise. Dearer to Kunti than her own soul, he is always mindful of the duties of Kshatriyas, and would much sooner rush into fire or sacrifice his own life than say anything that is opposed to religion and morals.

When the sons of Pandu will have killed your warriors in battle, then will you behold your army in the miserable plight of a ship on the sea wrecked with its freight of jewels on the back of a whale. Thus have I described unto you the prowess of the sons of Pandu, disregarding whom in your foolishness, you have acted so. If you escapest unscathed from them, then, indeed you will have obtained a new lease of life.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Then those five sons of Pritha, each like unto Indra, filled with wrath, leaving the panic-stricken infantry alone who were imploring them for mercy, rushed furiously upon the charioteers, attacking them on all sides and darkening the very air with the thick shower of arrows they shot."

Conclusion:

This concludes Section CCLXVIII of Book 3 (Vana 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 3 is one of the eighteen books comprising roughly 100,000 Sanskrit metrical verses.

FAQ (frequently asked questions):

Which keywords occur in Section CCLXVIII of Book 3 of the Mahabharata?

The most relevant definitions are: Pandu, Yudhishthira, Vaisampayana, Indra, Kuru, Sahadeva; since these occur the most in Book 3, Section CCLXVIII. There are a total of 25 unique keywords found in this section mentioned 37 times.

What is the name of the Parva containing Section CCLXVIII of Book 3?

Section CCLXVIII is part of the Draupadi-harana Parva which itself is a sub-section of Book 3 (Vana Parva). The Draupadi-harana Parva contains a total of 30 sections while Book 3 contains a total of 13 such Parvas.

Can I buy a print edition of Section CCLXVIII as contained in Book 3?

Yes! The print edition of the Mahabharata contains the English translation of Section CCLXVIII of Book 3 and can be bought on the main page. The author is Kisari Mohan Ganguli and the latest edition (including Section CCLXVIII) is from 2012.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: