Maha-bharata. Anonymous

the sound of joyous cheer

       And their minds were strangely anxious, whispered murmurs spake their fear:

      “Wondrous bow which Sisupala, mighty Salya could not strain,

       Jarasandha famed for prowess strove to bend the string in vain,

      Can a Brahman weak by nature, and in warlike arms untrained,

       Wield the bow which crownéd monarchs, long-armed chieftains have not strained?

      Sure the Brahman boy in folly dares a foolish thoughtless deed,

       Shame amidst this throng of monarchs, shall it be the Brahman's meed?

      Youth in youthful pride or madness will a foolish emprise dare,

       Sager men should stop his rashness and the Brahman's honour spare!”

      “Shame he will not bring unto us,” other Brahmans made reply,

       “Rather, in this throng of monarchs, rich renown and honour high,

      Like a tusker strong and stately, like Himalay's towering crest,

       Stands unmoved the youthful Brahman, ample-shouldered, deep in chest,

      Lion-like his gait is agile, and determined is his air,

       Trust me he can do an emprise who hath lofty will to dare!

      He will do the feat of valour, will not bring disgrace and stain,

       Nor is task in all this wide earth which a Brahman tries in vain,

      Holy men subsist on wild fruits, in the strength of penance strong,

       Spare in form, in spirit mightier than the mightiest warlike throng!

      Ask not if 'tis right or foolish when a Brahman tries his fate,

       If it leads to woe or glory, fatal fall or fortune great,

      Son of rishi Jamadagni baffled kings and chieftains high, And Agastya stainless rishi drained the boundless ocean dry,

      Let this young and daring Brahman undertake the warlike deed,

       Let him try and by his prowess win the victor's noble meed!”

      While the Brahmans deep revolving hopes and timid fears expressed,

       By the bow the youthful Arjun stood unmoved like mountain crest,

      Silent round the wondrous weapon thrice the mighty warrior went,

       To the Lord of Gods, Isana, in a silent prayer he bent!

      Then the bow which gathered warriors vainly tried to bend and strain,

       And the monarchs of the wide earth sought to string and wield in vain,

      Godlike Arjun born of Indra, filled with Vishnu's matchless might,

       Bent the wondrous bow of Drupad, fixed the shining darts aright,

      Through the disc the shining arrows fly with strange and hissing sound,

       Hit and pierce the distant target, bring it thundering on the ground!

      Shouts of joy and loud applauses did the mighty feat declare,

       Heavenly blossoms soft descended, heavenly music thrilled the air,

      And the Brahmans shook their deerskins, but each irritated chief

       In a lowly muttered whisper spake his rising rage and grief,

      Sankha's note and voice of trumpet Arjun's glorious deed prolong, Bards and heralds chant his praises in a proud and deathless song!

      Drupad in the Brahman's mantle knew the hero proud and brave,

       'Gainst the rage of baffled suitors sought the gallant prince to save,

      With his twin-born youngest brothers left Yudhishthir, peaceful, good,

       Bhima marked the gathering tempest and by gallant Arjun stood!

      Like a queen the beauteous maiden smiled upon the archer brave,

       Flung on him the bridal garland and the bridal robe she gave,

      Arjun by his skill and prowess won Panchala's princess-bride,

       People's shouts and Brahmans' blessings sounded joyful far and wide!

      VII

      The Tumult

      Spake the suitors, anger-shaken, like a forest tempest-torn,

       As Panchala's courteous monarch came to greet a Brahman-born:

      “Shall he like the grass of jungle trample us in haughty pride,

       To a prating priest and Brahman wed the proud and peerless bride?

      To our hopes like nourished saplings shall he now the fruit deny,

       Monarch proud who insults monarchs sure a traitor's death shall die,

      Honour for his rank we know not, have no mercy for his age,

       Perish foe of crownéd monarchs, victim to our righteous rage!

      Hath he asked us to his palace, favoured us with royal grace,

       Feasted us with princely bounty, but to compass our disgrace,

      In this concourse of great monarchs, glorious like a heavenly band,

       Doth he find no likely suitor for his beauteous daughter's hand?

      And this rite of swayamvara, so our sacred laws ordain, Is for warlike Kshatras only, priests that custom shall not stain,

      If this maiden on a Brahman casts her eye, devoid of shame,

       Let her expiate her folly in a pyre of blazing flame!

      Leave the priestling in his folly sinning through a Brahman's greed,

       For we wage no war with Brahmans and forgive a foolish deed,

      Much we owe to holy Brahmans for our realm and wealth and life,

       Blood of priest or wise preceptor shall not stain our noble strife,

      In the blood of sinful Drupad we the righteous laws maintain,

       Such disgrace in future ages monarchs shall not meet again!”

      Spake the suitors, tiger-hearted, iron-handed, bold and strong'

       Fiercely bent on blood and vengeance blindly rose the maddened throng,

      On they came, the angry monarchs, armed for cruel vengeful strife,

       Drupad midst the holy Brahmans trembling fled for fear of life,

      Like wild elephants of jungle rushed the kings upon their foes,

       Calm and stately, stalwart Bhima and the gallant Arjun rose!

      With a wilder rage the monarchs viewed these brothers cross their path,

       Rushed upon the daring warriors for to slay them in their wrath,

      Weaponless was noble Bhima, but in strength like lightning's brand,

       Tore a tree with peerless prowess, shook it as a mighty wand!

      And the foe-compelling warrior held that mace of living wood,

       Strong as death with deadly weapon, facing all his foes he stood,

      Arjun too with godlike valour stood unmoved, his bow in hand,

       Side by side the dauntless brothers faced the fierce and fiery band!

      VIII

      Krishna to the Rescue

      Krishna knew the sons of Pandu though in robes of Brahmans dressed,

       To his elder, Valadeva, thus his inner thoughts expressed:

      “Mark that