The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
by any king, ridden in by those warriors Bhima and Arjuna, and driven
by Krishna, looked exceedingly handsome. Indeed, it was upon that car
that Indra and Vishnu had fought of old in the battle (with the Asuras)
in which Taraka (the wife of Vrihaspati) had become the immediate cause
of much slaughter. And riding upon that car Krishna now came out of the
hill-fort. Possessed of the splendour of heated gold, and decked with
rows of jingling bells and furnished with wheels whose clatter was like
the roar of clouds, and ever victorious in battle, and always
slaughtering the foe against whom it was driven, it was that very car
riding upon which Indra had slain ninety-nine Asuras of old. And those
bulls among men (the three cousins) having obtained that car became
exceedingly glad. The people of Magadha, behold the long-armed Krishna
along with the two brothers, seated in that car (of Jarasandha)
wondered much. O Bharata, that car, whereunto were yoked celestial
horses and which possessed the speed of the wind, thus ridden upon by
Krishna, looked exceedingly beautiful. And upon that best of cars was a
flag-staff without being visibly attached thereto, and which was the
product of celestial skill. And the handsome flag-staff, possessed of
the splendour of the rainbow, could be seen from the distance of a
yojana. And Krishna while coming out, thought of Garuda. And Garuda,
thought of by his master, came thither in no time, like a tree of vast
proportions standing in a village worshipped by all. Garuda of immense
weight of body and living upon snakes sat upon that excellent car along
with the numberless open-mouthed and frightfully-roaring creatures on
its flag-staff. And thereupon that best of cars became still more
dazzling with its splendour and was as incapable of being looked at by
created being as the midday sun surrounded by a thousand rays. And, O
king, such was that best of flag-staffs of celestial make that it never
struck against any tree nor could any weapon injure it at all even
though visible to men's eyes. And Achyuta, that tiger among men, riding
with the two sons of Pandu upon that celestial car, the clatter of
whose wheels was like the roar of the clouds, came out of Girivraja.
The car upon which Krishna rode had been obtained by king Vasu from
Vasava, and from Vasu by Vrihadratha, and from the latter in due course
by king Jarasandha. And he of long arms and eyes like lotus-petals and
possessed of illustrious reputation, coming out of Girivraja, stopped
(for some time) on a level plain outside the town. And, O king, all the
citizens then, with the Brahmanas at their head, hastened thither to
adore him with due religious rites. And the kings who had been released
from confinement worshipped the slayer of Madhu with reverence, and
addressing him with eulogies said,--'O thou of long arms, thou hast
to-day rescued us, sunk in the deep mire of sorrow in the hand of
Jarasandha. Such an act of virtue by thee, O son of Devaki, assisted by
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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