Maha-bharata | Page 3

like the voice of ocean, when the tempest winds prevail, Rise these voices of the people and the spacious skies assail?"
Answered him the wise Vidura, "It is Pritha's gallant boy, Godlike moves in golden armour, and the people shout for joy!"
"Pleased am I," so spake the monarch, "and I bless my happy fate, Pritha's sons like fires of yajna sanctify this mighty State!"
Now the voices of the people died away and all was still, Arjun to his proud preceptor showed his might and matchless skill.
Towering high or lowly bending, on the turf or on his car, With his bow and glist'ning arrows Arjun waged the mimic war,
Targets on the wide arena, mighty tough or wondrous small, With his arrows bright, unfailing, Arjun pierced them one and all!
Wild-boar shaped of solid iron coursed the wide-extending field, In its jaws five glist'ning arrows sent the archer wondrous-skilled,
Cow-horn by a thread suspended, was by winds unceasing swayed, One and twenty well-aimed arrows on this moving mark he laid,
And with equal skill his rapier did the godlike Arjun wield, Whirling round his mace of battle ranged the spacious tourney field!
V
The Advent of Karna
Now the feats of arm are ended, and the closing hour draws nigh, Music's voice is hushed in silence, and dispersing crowds pass by,
Hark! Like welkin-shaking thunder wakes a deep and deadly sound, Clank and din of warlike weapons burst upon the tented ground!
Are the solid mountains splitting, is it bursting of the earth, Is it tempest's pealing accent whence the lightning takes its birth?
Thoughts like these alarm the people for the sound is dread and high, To the gate of the arena turns the crowd with anxious eye!
Gathered round preceptor Drona, Pandu's sons in armour bright, Like the five-starred constellation round the radiant Queen of Night,
Gathered round the proud Duryodhan, dreaded for his exploits done, All his brave and warlike brothers and preceptor Drona's son,
So the gods encircled INDRA, thunder-wielding, fierce and bold, When he scattered Danu's children in the misty days of old!
Pale, before the unknown warrior, gathered nations part in twain, Conqueror of hostile cities, lofty Karna treads the plain!
In his golden mail accoutred and his rings of yellow gold, Like a moving cliff in stature, arm��d comes the chieftain bold!
Pritha, yet unwedded, bore him, peerless archer on the earth, Portion of the solar radiance, for the Sun inspired his birth!
Like a tusker in his fury, like a lion in his ire, Like the sun in noontide radiance, like the all-consuming fire!
Lion-like in build and muscle, stately as a golden palm, Blessed with every very manly virtue, peerless warrior proud and calm!
With his looks serene and lofty field of war the chief surveyed, Scarce to Kripa or to Drona honour and obeisance made!
Still the panic-stricken people viewed him with unmoving gaze, Who may be this unknown warrior, questioned they in hushed amaze!
Then in voice of pealing thunder spake fair Pritha's eldest son Unto Arjun, Pritha's youngest, each, alas! to each unknown!
"All thy feats of weapons, Arjun, done with vain and needless boast, These and greater I accomplish--witness be this mighty host!"
Thus spake proud and peerless Karna in his accents deep and loud, And as moved by sudden impulse leaped in joy the listening crowd!
And a gleam of mighty transport glows in proud Duryodhan's heart, Flames of wrath and jealous anger from the eyes of Arjun start!
Drona gave the word, and Karna, Pritha's war-beloving son, With his sword and with his arrows did the feats by Arjun done!
VI
The Rival Warriors
Joyful was the proud Duryodhan, gladness gleamed upon his face, And he spake to gallant Karna with a dear and fond embrace:
"Welcome, mighty arm��d chieftain! thou hast victor's honours won! Thine is all my wealth and kingdom, name thy wish and it is done!"
Answered Karna to Duryodhan, "Prince! thy word is good as deed, But I seek to combat Arjun and to win the victor's meed!"
"Noble is the boon thou seekest," answered Kuru's prince of fame, "Be a joy unto your comrades, let the foeman dread thy name!"
Anger flamed in Arjun's bosom, and he spake in accents rude Unto Karna who in triumph calm and proud and fearless stood:
"Chief! who comest uninvited, pratest in thy lying boast, Thou shalt die the death of braggarts--witness be this mighty host!"
Karna answered calm and proudly, "Free this listed field to all, Warriors enter by their prowess, wait not, Arjun, for thy call!
Warlike chieftains take their places by their strength of arm and might, And their warrant is their falchion, valour sanctifies their right!
Angry word is coward's weapon, Arjun, speak with arrows keen, Till I lay thee, witness Drona, low upon the listed green!"
Drona gave the word impartial, wrathful Arjun, dread of foes, Parted from his loving brothers, with his glist'ning arms arose,
Karna clasped the Kuru's princes, parted from them one and all, With his