04.038
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having approached the Śamī tree, Pārtha spoke to the princess of Virāṭa, saying that she is tender, recognized, and not very skilled in battle. (04-38-1)
Having been commanded by me, quickly bring bows; after (that), indeed, my strength will not be able to endure these of yours. (04-38-2)
Who here would be able to carry a burden, however heavy, or crush an elephant, or overcome my arm’s sweep and conquer the enemies here? (04-38-3)
Therefore, O victorious one, climb onto the ground, onto this śamī tree with palāśa leaves; for in this tree, the bows of the sons of Pāṇḍu are indeed also kept. (04-38-4)
The banners, arrows, and divine armors of Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Bībhatsu (Arjuna), and the twins, as well as those of the heroes. (04-38-5)
Here indeed this bow of great might, Gāṇḍiva, belonging to Pārtha, is a single kingdom-enlarger, equal to a hundred thousand.
Great in prowess, particularly endurant to exertion, like the lord of grass (horse), chief among all weaponed animals, and one who brings affliction to enemies. (04-38-7)
They are made of gold, divine, smooth, long, without blemish; fit for bearing loads, heavy, difficult to carry, yet beautiful in appearance; all such are truly strong and firm. (04-38-8)
Uttara said.
It is heard by us that a body is indeed tied up on this tree. So how, being a prince, could I touch it with my hand? (04-38-9)
Such an act is not proper for me to attain, being of kṣatriya birth, a great prince, a knower of rituals and mantras, and one who is virtuous. (04-38-10)
O Bṛhannadā, having touched my body, which is impure like that of a corpse-bearer, how indeed would you make me fit for social interaction? (04-38-11)
Bṛhannaḍa said.
O king, you will indeed become active and pure. Do not be afraid of these bows; your body does not exist here. (04-38-12)
O prince, how could I cause you, the high-minded heir born in the family of the king of Matsya, to perform a blameworthy act? (04-38-13)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, being addressed by Pārtha, Kuṇḍalī, the son of Virāṭa, helpless, jumped down from the chariot and climbed the śamī tree at that time. (04-38-14)
After Śatrughna ordered him, Dhanañjaya, standing in the chariot, quickly removed their surrounding. (04-38-15)
Thus, having removed the armours from all sides, he saw there the Gāṇḍiva bow along with four others. (04-38-16)
As their bows, possessing the brilliance of the sun, were released, divine lights shone forth—like the radiances of planets at their rising. (04-38-17)
As soon as he saw their appearance, like serpents swelling up, he instantly became agitated by fear, his hair standing on end. (04-38-18)
O king, the king of Virata, having touched those radiant and great bows, spoke this speech to Arjuna. (04-38-19)
Uttara said.
In which a hundred drops of gold have been dropped and it is worth ten trillion golden coins, whose is this excellent bow? (04-38-20)
The excellent bow whose binding rings, made of gold, shine on the back—broad-sided and easy to grasp—whose bow is this? (04-38-21)
This excellent bow, pure and of gold, on whose back sixty indragopa beetles are beautifully arrayed—whose is this?
Where three gold suns shine and are inlaid, blazing with radiance—indeed, whose is this excellent bow? (04-38-23)
Where the locusts are golden and adorned with gold. Whose is this excellent bow ornamented with gold and jewels? (04-38-24)
These thousands of iron arrows, each carrying hair, whose ends are polished like the moon, stand on all sides at the golden junction. (04-38-25)
These arrows are well-polished, broad, with vulture feathers, sharpened on stone, yellow in color, with fine points, steeped, and entirely made of iron. (04-38-26)
Whose is this (person) with a black quiver, marked with five tiger signs, mingled with boar’s ear, who holds ten arrows? (04-38-27)
Whose are these broad and long arrows, made entirely of iron? Seven hundred iron shafts that thirst for blood are standing here. (04-38-28)
Whose are these fine-bodied (horses), with their fronts like parrot feathers, their middle parts so, their hindparts of iron, yellow, with golden tips, sharpened on stone? (4-38-29)
Whose is this long arrow with a stone back and stone tip, kept in a tiger-skin quiver, with a shaft adorned with gold designs, and which is large? (04-38-30)
Who possesses the sword that is fruitful, with a variegated sheath, a handle adorned with bells, great, having a golden hilt, divine, and supremely flawless? (04-38-31)
Whose is this flawless sword, kept in a cow-hide sheath, with a golden hilt, unconquerable, belonging to Nala, capable of bearing weight? (04-38-32)
Whose arrow in the five-clawed quiver is golden-bodied, of perfect form, yellow and resembling the sky? (04-38-33)
Whose is this sword, which is heavy, of iron, supremely flawless, well-forged, kept in a golden scabbard and shining like fire, and has been tempered? (04-38-34)
O Bṛhannaḍa, as I have asked, instruct me according to the real nature. Seeing all this greatness, supreme astonishment has arisen in me. (04-38-35)
Bṛhannaḍa said.
That which you previously asked me here about the destruction of enemy armies—this Gāṇḍīva bow of Pārtha (Arjuna) is known in all the worlds as such. (04-38-36)
Gāṇḍīva, of great might among all weapons and beautifully adorned with refined gold, was the supreme weapon of Arjuna. (04-38-37)
That which, measured as one hundred thousand and kingdom-strengthening, by which Pārtha (Arjuna) overcomes both gods and men in battle. (04-38-38)
This, worshipped for eternal years by the devas, dānavas, and gandharvas, Brahmā once supported for a thousand years. (04-38-39)
Then, immediately afterwards, Prajapati bore one thousand five hundred, and Śakra bore eighty-five as well. (04-38-40)
Soma as king (reigned for) five hundred (years), likewise Varuṇa (reigned for) a hundred. Pārtha (Arjuna) Śvetavāhana (reigned for) sixty-five years. (04-38-41)
This excellent bow, endowed with great and divine strength, honored among gods and men, bears a supreme form. (04-38-42)
The bow with excellent sides and a golden handle, belonging to Bhīmasena, by which Arjuna, the scorcher of enemies, conquered the entire eastern direction. (04-38-43)
This supreme bow of King Yudhishthira in Virata's city is adorned with indragopa and has a beautiful form. (04-38-44)
This is the weapon of Nakula, in which golden, shining suns indeed blaze with brilliance. (04-38-45)
This is the bow of Sahadeva, the son of Mādrī, where the grasshoppers are golden and inlaid with refined gold. (04-38-46)
These, however, are thousands of razor-sharp, hair-crested arrows of Arjuna in the land of Virāṭa, resembling the venom of serpents. (04-38-47)
These flaming, swift-moving ones in the battle, by their energy, become the hero's invincible enemies, formed as an array in combat. (04-38-48)
These broad and long arrows, resembling half the disk of the moon, are the sharp, enemy-destroying arrows of Bhima. (04-38-49)
These, of turmeric color, with golden tail-feathers and stone-tipped points, are Nakula's quiver marked with five tigers. (04-38-50)
This is indeed the quiver of the wise son of Mādrī, by which he conquered the entire western direction in battle. (04-38-51)
These sun-like arrows with all-iron heads, ornate and ready to be used, belong to the wise Sahadeva. (04-38-52)
These here are the king's great arrows, sharp, yellow, broad, long-shafted, with golden feathers, and having three joints. (04-38-53)
But this arrow, which is long with a stone shaft and stone head, belonging to Arjuna, is firm and capable of bearing heavy loads in battle. (04-38-54)
But the tiger-quiver, the great arrow of Bhīmasena, was divine, could bear heavy weight, and was terrifying to his enemies. (04-38-55)
This unsurpassed sword, with a good hilt and a decorated sheath, made of gold, belongs to the Kaurava, the wise Dharmarāja. (4-38-56)
But the sword of Nakula, which is placed in a sheath for five-clawed weapons, in a beautifully adorned case, is firm and capable of bearing heavy weight. (04-38-57)
But know this spotless sword, placed in a cow-hide sheath, as belonging to Sahadeva—firm and able to bear all burdens. (04-38-58)
