Turīya·Sūtrathe thread to the fourth

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STORIES · THE MAHĀBHĀRATA · Virāṭa

Arjuna Routs the Kaurava Host Alone

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As Arjuna's chariot approached, Droṇa read the signs: the chariot's rattle, the trembling earth, weapons losing their shine, horses dejected, crows on the banners. This must be Savyasācin, he said. He advised sending the cattle ahead and drawing up the army. Karṇa answered with a boast: whether it was Virāṭa or Arjuna, he would stand like the shore against the sea, and would settle an old debt by killing Arjuna; he said the Pāṇḍavas, after thirteen years of austerity, would barely feel his blows.

Bhīṣma then explained, from calculating the extra days and months over thirteen years, that the thirteen years had ended, and that the Pāṇḍavas had kept every pledge. Anyone who called them dishonest would be defeated. He advised Duryodhana to make peace on honourable terms. Duryodhana refused to give back the kingdom, and ordered preparations. Bhīṣma sent a quarter of the army to the city, a quarter to escort the cattle, and arranged the rest for battle, with Droṇa in the centre, Aśvatthāman on the left, Kṛpa on the right, Karṇa in front and himself at the rear. Arjuna first scattered the army and recovered the cattle, which ran back toward the city. Then he turned back to fight. He sought Karṇa. Four warriors came to help Karṇa and were burned by his arrows; Vikarṇa fled; Saṅgrāmajit was beheaded. Karṇa, enraged by his brother's death, charged and wounded Arjuna, but Arjuna covered him in arrows until he vanished from sight, and Karṇa fled the field wounded, like an elephant beaten by a stronger one.

Arjuna then asked Uttara to drive him to Droṇa. He greeted his old teacher and said the Pāṇḍavas, having finished their exile, now sought redress; he would not strike first. Droṇa shot twenty arrows, Arjuna cut them in the air, and the duel grew fierce as Gāṇḍīva arrows fell like locusts. The sky above applauded Droṇa; Indra applauded Arjuna. Wounded, with armour and banner gone, Droṇa withdrew. Arjuna then fought Aśvatthāman and the others. He raised a river of blood in which elephants were crocodiles, and no one could see a gap between his taking an arrow, setting it and loosing it.

Duryodhana turned back, stung by Arjuna's taunts. Arjuna used Indra's weapon Sammohana, twanged the Gāṇḍīva and blew his conch, and the whole Kuru host fell senseless with their bows dropped. Bhīṣma alone was not stunned, because he knew a counter. Arjuna told Uttara to go among the sleepers and take the clothes of Droṇa, Kṛpa, Karṇa, Duryodhana and Aśvatthāman. Bhīṣma wounded Arjuna, who killed his horses and charioteer and walked out of the crowd like the sun from clouds. When Duryodhana woke, Bhīṣma told him to go home, since Arjuna would not commit atrocities, even for the three worlds. Arjuna broke Duryodhana's crown with an arrow, saluted the elders, twanged the Gāṇḍīva, and blew Devadatta. The Kurus went back to Hastināpura. Arjuna returned to the śamī tree, put the weapons back, took the reins as Bṛhannaḍā again, and told Uttara to keep the secret.

Told by Vaiśampāyana → Janamejaya

Who: Arjuna, Uttara, Karṇa, Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Duryodhana, Kṛpa, Aśvatthāman

Bound to

The Northern Cattle Raid: Uttara Takes Bṛhannaḍā as Charioteer origin

The arrow-bridge wager and the tortoise mirror

Gandiva: from Brahma to the sea mirror

The Pāṇḍavas Revealed; Uttarā Wed to Abhimanyu origin

Places: Virāṭanagara, Śamī tree, Hastināpura

Where this comes from

See it on the tree · All stories

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