Vaisampayana said, "Thus despatched by her elder brother, the far-famed
daughter of king Matsya, adorned with a golden necklace, ever obedient
to her brother and possessed of a waist slender as that of the wasp,[36]
endued with the splendour of Lakshmi herself,[37] decked with the plumes
of the peacock of slender make and graceful limbs, her hips encircled by
a zone of pearls, her eye-lashes slightly curved, and her form endued
with every grace, hastily repaired to the dancing-hall like a flash of
lightning rushing towards a mass of dark clouds.[38] And the faultless
and auspicious daughter of Virata, of fine teeth and slender-waist, of
thighs close unto each other and each like the trunk of an elephant, her
person embellished with an excellent garland, sought the son of Pritha
like a she-elephant seeking her mate. And like unto a precious gem or
the very embodiment of prosperity of Indra, of exceeding beauty and
large eyes, that charming and adored and celebrated damsel saluted
Arjuna. And saluted by her, Partha asked that maiden of close thighs and
golden complexion, saying 'What brings thee hither, a damsel decked in a
necklace of gold? Why art thou in such a hurry, O gazelle-eyed maiden?
Why is thy face, O beauteous lady, so cheerless? Tell me all this
without delay!'"
[36] _Vedi-Vilagnamadhya_--Vedi in this connection means a wasp
and not, as explained by Mallinatha in his commentary of the
_Kumarasambhava_, a sacrificial platform. I would remark in
passing that many of the most poetic and striking adjectives in
both the Raghu and the _Kumarasambhava_ of Kalidasa are borrowed
unblushingly from the _Ramayana_ and the _Mahabharata_.
[37] _Padma patrabha-nibha_ may also mean 'of the splendour of
the gem called Marakata.' Nilakantha, however, shows that this
would militate against the adjective _Kankojwalatwacham_ below.
[38] The princess being of the complexion of burnished gold and
Arjuna dark as a mass of clouds, the comparison is exceedingly
appropriate. The Vaishnava poets of Bengal never tire of this
simile in speaking of Radha and Krishna in the groves of
Vrindavana.
Vaisampayana continued, "Beholding, O king, his friend, the princess of
large-eyes (in that plight), her friend (Arjuna) cheerfully enquired of
her (in these words) the cause of her arrival there and then. And having
approached that bull among men, the princess, standing in the midst of
her female attendants, the displaying proper modesty[39], addressed him,
saying, 'The kine of this realm, O Vrihannala, are being driven away by
the Kurus, and it is to conquer them that my brother will set out bow in
hand. Not long ago his own charioteer was slain in battle, and there is
none equal unto the one slain that can act as my brother's charioteer.
And unto him striving to obtain a charioteer, _Sairindhri_, O
Vrihannala, hath spoken about thy skill in the management of steeds.
Thou wert formerly the favourite charioteer of Arjuna, and it was with
thee that that bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the
whole earth. Do thou, therefore, O Vrihannala, act as the charioteer of
my brother. (By this time) our kine have surely been driven away by the
Kurus to a great distance. Requested by me if thou dost not act up to my
words, I who am asking this service of thee out of affection, will give
up my life!' Thus addressed by this friend of graceful hips, that
oppressor of foes, endued with immeasurable prowess, went into the
prince's presence. And like unto a she-elephant running after her young
one, the princess possessed of large eyes followed that hero advancing
with hasty steps like unto an elephant with rent temples. And beholding
him from a distance, the prince himself said, 'With thee as his
charioteer, Dhananjaya the son of Kunti had gratified _Agni_ at the
Khandava forest and subjugated the whole world! The _Sairindhri_ hath
spoken of thee to me. She knoweth the Pandavas. Do thou, therefore, O
Vrihannala, hold, as thou didst, the reins of my steeds, desirous as I
am of righting with the Kurus and rescuing my bovine wealth. Thou wert
formerly the beloved charioteer of Arjuna and it was with thee that that
bull among the sons of Pandu had alone subjugated the whole earth!' Thus
addressed, Vrihannala replied unto the prince, saying, 'What ability
have I to act as a charioteer in the field of battle? If it is song or
dance or musical instruments or such other things, I can entertain thee
therewith, but where is my skill for becoming a charioteer?'
[39] The words in the original is _pranayam_, lit., love.
Nilakantha, however, explains it as meaning modesty, humility. I
think, Nilakantha is right. The relations between Arjuna and the
princess were like those between father and daughter.
"Uttara said, 'O Vrihannala, be thou a singer or a dancer, hold thou
(for the present), without loss of time, the reins of my excellent
steeds, mounting upon my car!'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Although that oppressor of foes, the son of
Pandu, was acquainted with everything, yet in the presence of Uttara, he
began to make many mistakes for the sake of fun. And when he sought to
put the coat of mail on his body by raising it upwards, the large-eyed
maidens, beholding it, burst out into a loud laughter. And seeing him
quite ignorant of putting on armour, Uttara himself equipped Vrihannala
with a costly coat of mail. And casing his own person in an excellent
armour of solar effulgence, and hoisting his standard bearing the figure
of a lion, the prince caused Vrihannala to become his charioteer. And
with Vrihannala to hold his reins, the hero set out, taking with him
many costly bows and a large number of beautiful arrows. And his friend,
Uttara and her maidens then said unto Vrihannala, 'Do thou, O
Vrihannala, bring for our dolls (when thou comest back) various kinds of
good and fine cloths after vanquishing the Kurus assembled for battle of
whom Bhishma and Drona are foremost!' Thus addressed, Partha the son of
Pandu, in a voice deep as the roar of the clouds, smilingly said unto
that bevy of fair maidens. 'If thus Uttara can vanquish those mighty
warriors in battle, I will certainly bring excellent and beautiful
cloths.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Having said these words, the heroic Arjuna
urged the steeds towards the Kuru army over which floated innumerable
flags. Just, however, as they were starting, elderly dames and maidens,
and Brahmanas of rigid vows, beholding Uttara seated on his excellent
car with Vrihannala as charioteer and under that great banner hoisted on
high, walked round the car to bless the hero. And the women said, 'Let
the victory that Arjuna treading like a bull had achieved of old on the
occasion of burning the forest of Khandava, be thine, O Vrihannala, when
thou encounterest the Kurus today with prince Uttara.'"