SECTION XLI

“Sanjaya said, ‘Thou askest me, O monarch, about the prowess of the ruler

of the Sindhus. Listen to me as I describe in detail how he fought with

the Pandavas. Large steeds of the Sindhu breed, well-trained and fleet as

the wind, and obedient to the commands of the charioteer, bore him (on

that occasion). His car, duly equipped, looked like a vapoury edifice in

the welkin. His standard bearing the device of a large boar in silver,

looked exceedingly beautiful. With his white umbrella and banners, and

the yak-tails with which he was fanned--which are regal indications--he

shone like the Moon himself in the firmament. His car-fence made of iron

was decked with pearls and diamonds and gems and gold. And it looked

resplendent like the firmament bespangled with luminous bodies. Drawing

his large bow and scattering countless shafts, he once more filled up

that array in those places where openings had been made by the son of

Arjuna. And he pierced Satyaki with three arrows, and Vrikodara with

eight; and having pierced Dhrishtadyumna with sixty arrows, he pierced

Drupada with five sharp ones, and Sikhandin with ten. Piercing then the

Kaikeyas with five and twenty arrows, Jayadratha pierced each of the five

sons of Draupadi with three arrows. And piercing Yudhishthira then with

seventy arrows, the ruler of the Sindhus pierced the other heroes of the

Pandava army with thick showers of shafts. And that feat of his seemed

exceedingly wonderful. Then, O monarch, the valiant son of Dharma, aiming

Jayadratha’s bow, cut it off with a polished and well-tempered shaft,

smiling the while. Within the twinkling, however, of the eye, the ruler

of the Sindhus took up another bow and piercing Pratha (Yudhishthira)

with ten arrows struck each of the others with three shafts. Marking that

lightness of hands showed by Jayadratha, Bhima then with three

broad-headed shafts, quickly felled on the earth his bow, standard and

umbrella. The mighty Jayadratha then, taking up another bow, strung it

and felled Bhima’s standard and bow and steeds, O sire! His bow cut off,

Bhimasena then jumping down from that excellent car whose steeds had been

slain, mounted on the car of Satyaki, like a lion jumping to the top of a

mountain. Seeing this, thy troops were filled with joy. And they loudly

shouted, “Excellent! Excellent!” And they repeatedly applauded that feat

of the ruler of the Sindhus. Indeed, all creatures highly applauded that

feat of his, which consisted in his resisting, single-handed, all the

Pandavas together, excited with wrath. The path that the son of Subhadra

had made for the Pandavas by the slaughter of numerous warriors and

elephants was then filled up by the ruler of the Sindhus. Indeed, those

heroes, viz., the Matsyas, the Panchalas, the Kaikeyas, and the Pandavas,

exerting themselves vigorously, succeeded in approaching the presence of

Jayadratha, but none of them could bear him. Everyone amongst thy enemies

who endeavoured to pierce the array that had been formed by Drona, was

checked by the ruler of the Sindhus in consequence of the boon he had got

(from Mahadeva).’”

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 Books 4, 5, 6 and 7 · 第 41 / 200 章