(Subhadra-harana Parva continued)
"'Then Dhananjaya, informed of the assent of Yudhishthira, and
ascertaining, O Janamejaya, that the maiden had gone to the Raivataka hill,
obtained the assent of Vasudeva also, after having settled in consultation
with him all that required to be done. Then that bull of Bharata's race,
that foremost of men, with Krishna's assent, riding in his well-built car
of gold equipped with rows of small bells and with every kind of weapon
and the clatter of whose wheels resembled the roar of the clouds and whose
splendour was like unto that of a blazing fire and which struck terror
into the hearts of all foes and unto which were yoked the steeds Saivya
and Sugriva, himself accoutred in mail and armed with sword and his
fingers encased in leathern gloves, set out, as it were, on a hunting
expedition. Meanwhile Subhadra, having paid her homage unto that prince of
hills, Raivataka and having worshipped the deities and made the Brahmanas
utter benedictions upon her, and having also walked round the hill, was
coming towards Dwaravati. The son of Kunti, afflicted with the shafts of
the god of desire, suddenly rushed towards that Yadava girl of faultless
features and forcibly took her into his car. Having seized that girl of
sweet smiles, that tiger among men proceeded in his car of gold towards
his own city (Indraprastha). Meanwhile, the armed attendants of Subhadra,
beholding her thus seized and taken away, all ran crying towards the city
of Dwaraka. Reaching all together the Yadava court called by the name of
Sudharma, they represented everything about the prowess of Partha unto the
chief officer of the court. The chief officer of the court, having heard
everything from those messengers, blew his gold-decked trumpet of loud
blare, calling all to arms. Stirred up by that sound, the Bhojas, the
Vrishnis, and the Andhakas began to pour in from all sides. Those that
were eating left their food, and those that were drinking left their drink.
Those tigers among men, those great warriors of the Vrishni and the
Andhaka tribes, took their seats upon their thousand thrones of gold
covered with excellent carpets and variegated with gems and corals and
possessed of the lustre of blazing fire. Indeed they took their seats upon
those thrones, like blazing fires receiving faggots to increase their
splendour. And after they were seated in that court which was like unto a
conclave of the celestials themselves, the chief officer of the court,
assisted by those that stood at his back, spoke of the conduct of Jishnu.
The proud Vrishni heroes, of eyes red with wine, as soon as they heard of
it, rose up from their seats, unable to brook what Arjuna had done. Some
amongst them said, "Yoke our cars", and some, "Bring our weapons" and some
said, "Bring our costly bows and strong coats of mail," and some loudly
called upon their charioteers to harness their cars, and some, from
impatience, themselves yoked their horses decked with gold unto their cars.
And while their cars and armours and standards were being brought, loud
became the uproar of those heroes. Then Valadeva, white and tall as the
peak of Kailasa, decked with garlands of wild flowers and attired in blue
robes, and proud and intoxicated with drink, said these words:
"'"Ye senseless men, what are ye doing, when Janardana sitteth silent?
Without knowing what is in his mind, vainly do we roar in wrath! Let the
high-souled Krishna give out what he proposeth. Accomplish promptly what
he desireth to do." Then all of them, hearing those words of Halayudha
that deserved to be accepted, exclaimed, "Excellent! Excellent!" They then
all became silent. Silence having been restored by the words of the
intelligent Valadeva, they took their seats once more in that assembly.
Then Rama, that oppressor of foes, spoke unto Vasudeva, saying, "Why, O
Janardana, sittest thou, gazing silently? O Achyuta, it was for thy sake
that the son of Pritha had been welcomed and honoured by us. It seemeth,
however, that that vile wretch deserved not our homage. What man is there
born of a respectable family that would break the plate after having dined
from it! Even if one desireth to make such an alliance, yet remembering
all the services he hath received, who is there, desirous of happiness,
that acts so rashly? That Pandava disregarding us and thee too hath today
outraged Subhadra, desiring (to compass) his own death. He hath placed his
foot on the crown of my head. How shall I, O Govinda, tamely bear it?
Shall I not resent it, even like a snake that is trodden upon? Alone shall
I today make the earth destitute of Kauravas! Never shall I put up with
this transgression by Arjuna." Then all the Bhojas, Vrishnis, and Andhakas,
present there, approved of everything that Valadeva had said, deeply
roaring like unto a kettle-drum or the clouds.'"