03.084
Vaiśampāyana said.
King Yudhiṣṭhira, having considered the opinion of his brothers and the wise Nārada, spoke to Dhaumya, who was like a grandfather. (03-84-1)
He, the tiger among men, mighty-armed and of boundless spirit, truly valorous and victorious, was exiled by me for the sake of a weapon. (03-84-2)
He is indeed a hero, affectionate and capable, O ascetic sage; accomplished and exceedingly skilled in weapons, a master like Vāsudeva. (03-84-3)
Indeed, O Brahman, I know these two, both destroyers of Krishna's enemies, as mighty; Vyasa is also glorious. Vasudeva and Dhananjaya, the lotus-eyed ones, exist in three yugas. (03-84-4)
Sage Nārada also knows thus; he, too, always praised (them) for me. In the same way, I also know the ṛṣis Nara and Nārāyaṇa. (03-84-5)
Having thought, “he is capable,” therefore I sent Arjuna; the son of a god, not inferior to Indra, is capable of seeing the lord of the gods and obtaining the weapons from Indra, thus he is sent. (03-84-6)
Bhīṣma and Droṇa, foremost among chariot-warriors, Kṛpa, Aśvatthāman, and Durjaya—mighty warriors retained in battle by the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. All are heroes versed in the Vedas; all are skilled in weaponry as well. (03-84-7)
He who is always eager to fight with Partha (Arjuna), that greatly powerful one, and also Karna, the son of a charioteer, a master of celestial weapons, a great chariot-warrior. (03-84-8)
He moved with the speed of a horse, possessed the strength of the wind, a flaming arrow, the sound of clanging shields, raising dust and smoke and the heat of weapons, all agitated by the wind of the Dhārtarāṣṭras. (03-84-9)
Just as the fire of the end of the age, sent forth by Time, consumes all, so too, there is no doubt that my army-filled region will be consumed. (03-84-10)
He, a great cloud of divine weapons stirred by the black wind, bearing horses as white as herons, illuminated by the Gandiva bow and Indra's weapon, shone forth. (03-84-11)
The Arjuna-cloud that has risen will, in battle, extinguish the Karna-fire that is constantly kindled by streams of arrows. (03-84-12)
That Bībhatsu, the destroyer of enemy cities, will indeed directly obtain all divine weapons truly from Śakra (Indra). (03-84-13)
"He is enough for all of them"—this is what I think; but there is no surpassing him in battle, nor any counteraction from the enemies. (3-84-14)
We all see that Pāṇḍava, Dhanañjaya, holding weapons; indeed, Bībhatsu does not sink after lifting the burden. (03-84-15)
But we will not go safely in this forest of Kāmyaka with Kṛṣṇā, O best of men, without him, the hero. (03-84-16)
Please describe for us another forest which is good, abundant in food, fruitful, pure, pleasant, and frequented by those who perform virtuous deeds. (03-84-17)
Where for some time we stayed with the truly valiant (one), we waited for Arjuna, the hero, like those who long for rain wait for the cloud. (03-84-18)
Various hermitages—some renowned by the twice-born—as well as lakes, rivers, and beautiful mountains.
Tell us, O Brahman, for except for Arjuna, nothing pleases us. Let us leave this Kamyaka forest and go in another direction. (03-84-20)
