Indian Myth and LegendMackenzie, Donald A. (Donald Alexander)
History
Indian Myth and Legend
Mackenzie, Donald A. (Donald Alexander)
Hindu mythology; Legends -- India
Drona led the right wing of the Kaurava forces, which was strengthened
by Shakuni, the gambler, and his Gandhari lancers. The left wing was
led by Duhsasana, who was followed by Kamboja cavalry and fierce
Sakas and Yavanas mounted on rapid steeds. The peoples of the north
were there and the peoples of the south, and of the east also.[280]
Blind old Dhritarashtra was in the rear, and with him was Sanjaya, his
charioteer, who related all that took place, having been gifted with
divine vision by Vyasa.
[280] The late Professor H. H. Wilson considered that the Kamboja were
troops of Khorasan, Balkh, and Bokhara, that the Sakas, the Sacæ of the
ancients, were some of the Scythians from Turkestan and Tartary, and
that the Yavanas, “Ionians”, were the Greeks of Bactria. The peoples of
south and east included half-breeds and aborigines.
Ere yet the conflict began, Yudhishthira walked unarmed towards
the Kauravas, whereat his kinsmen made merry, thinking he was
terror-stricken. But Pandu's noble son first spake to Bhishma and
asked permission to fight against him. Bhishma gave consent. Then he
addressed Drona in like terms, and Drona gave consent also. And ere he
returned to his place, Yudhishthira called out before the Kaurava army:
“Whoso desireth to help our cause, let him follow me.” When he had
spoken thus, Yuyutsu, the half-brother of Duryodhana, made answer: “If
thou wilt elevate me, I will serve thee well.” Said Yudhishthira: “Be
my brother.” Then Yuyutsu followed Yudhishthira with all his men, and
no man endeavoured to hold him back.
When the armies were being set in order for battle, Arjuna bade Krishna
to drive his chariot to the open space on which the struggle would take
place. Indra's mighty son surveyed the hosts, and when he saw his
kinsmen, young and old, and his friends and all the elders and princes
on either side ready to fall upon one another, his heart was touched,
and he trembled with pity and sorrow. He spake to Krishna, saying: “I
seek nor victory, nor kingdom, nor any joy upon earth. Those for whose
sake we might wish for power are gathered against us in battle. What
joy can come to us if we commit the crime of slaying our own kinsmen?”
So saying, Arjuna let fall his celestial bow and sat down on the bench
of his chariot with a heart full of grief.
Krishna admonished Arjuna, saying: “Thou art a Kshatriya, and it is
thy duty to fight, no matter what may befall thee or befall others. So
I command thee who am responsible for thy doings. He who hath wisdom
sorroweth not for the living or for the dead. As one casteth off old
raiment and putteth on new, so the soul casteth off this body and
entereth the new body. Naught existeth that is not of the soul.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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