महाभारतम् — ४.३५

वैशंपायन उवाच ।

स तां दृष्ट्वा विशालाक्षीं राजपुत्रीं सखीं सखा ।
प्रहसन्नब्रवीद्राजन्कुत्रागमनमित्युत ॥

M N Dutt Beholding his friend the princess of expansive eyes in that condition, her friend (Arjuna) o king, smilingly asked her of the cause of coming.

४.३५.२

तमब्रवीद्राजपुत्री समुपेत्य नरर्षभम् ।
प्रणयं भावयन्ती स्म सखीमध्य इदं वचः ॥

M N Dutt Then approaching that best of men, that princess, bending low with humility addressed to him (the following) words in the midst of her companions.

४.३५.३

गावो राष्ट्रस्य कुरुभिः काल्यन्ते नो बृहन्नडे ।
तान्विजेतुं मम भ्राता प्रयास्यति धनुर्धरः ॥

M N Dutt O Brihannala, the kine of this kingdom are being carried away by the Kurus; my brother is about to start for their discomfiture, with bow in hand.

४.३५.४

नचिरं च हतस्तस्य संग्रामे रथसारथिः ।
तेन नास्ति समः सूतो योऽस्य सारथ्यमाचरेत् ॥

M N Dutt Very recently the charioteer of his car was slain in battle; there is none equal to him who can act as his (my brother's) charioteer.

४.३५.५

तस्मै प्रयतमानाय सारथ्यर्थं बृहन्नडे ।
आचचक्षे हयज्ञाने सैरन्ध्री कौशलं तव ॥

M N Dutt O Brihannala, while he was trying to find out a charioteer, Sairandhri spoke to him about your skill in the management of horses.

४.३५.६

सा सारथ्यं मम भ्रातुः कुरु साधु बृहन्नडे ।
पुरा दूरतरं गावो ह्रियन्ते कुरुभिर्हि नः ॥

M N Dutt Our kine (by this time) have been taken away to a greater distance by the Kurus. If you do not comply with my words as requested.

४.३५.७

अथैतद्वचनं मेऽद्य नियुक्ता न करिष्यसि ।
प्रणयादुच्यमाना त्वं परित्यक्ष्यामि जीवितम् ॥

M N Dutt I, who have asked you for this, shall give up my life. Being thus accosted by his friend of fair hips, that slayer of foes,

४.३५.८

एवमुक्तस्तु सुश्रोण्या तया सख्या परंतपः ।
जगाम राजपुत्रस्य सकाशममितौजसः ॥

M N Dutt Of incomparable energy went to the prince. The large eyed (princess) followed him who was proceeding quickly like an elephant in rut as a she-elephant runs after its young one. Seeing him from a distance the prince said.

४.३५.९

तं सा व्रजन्तं त्वरितं प्रभिन्नमिव कुञ्जरम् ।
अन्वगच्छद्विशालाक्षी शिशुर्गजवधूरिव ॥

M N Dutt Of incomparable energy went to the prince. The large eyed (princess) followed him who was proceeding quickly like an elephant in rut as a she-elephant runs after its young one. Seeing him from a distance the prince said.

४.३५.१०

दूरादेव तु तं प्रेक्ष्य राजपुत्रोऽभ्यभाषत ।
त्वया सारथिना पार्थः खाण्डवेऽग्निमतर्पयत् ॥

M N Dutt Having got you as his charioteer, Kunti's son Partha, the conqueror of the god of riches, offered oblation to Khandava fire and completely subjugated the world.

४.३५.११

पृथिवीमजयत्कृत्स्नां कुन्तीपुत्रो धनंजयः ।
सैरन्ध्री त्वां समाचष्ट सा हि जानाति पाण्डवान् ॥

M N Dutt Sairandhri spoke of you to me; she knows the Pandavas; O Brihannala, govern in the same way, my horses,

४.३५.१२

संयच्छ मामकानश्वांस्तथैव त्वं बृहन्नडे ।
कुरुभिर्योत्स्यमानस्य गोधनानि परीप्सतः ॥

M N Dutt Who am desirous of fighting with the Kurus and rescuing the precious kine. You were formerly the favourite charioteer of Arjuna.

४.३५.१३

अर्जुनस्य किलासीस्त्वं सारथिर्दयितः पुरा ।
त्वयाजयत्सहायेन पृथिवीं पाण्डवर्षभः ॥

M N Dutt Formerly you were the favourite charioteer of Arjuna and with you as his help that foremost of Pandavas conquered the earth; O good Brihannala, act (therefore) as the charioteer of my brother.

४.३५.१४

एवमुक्ता प्रत्युवाच राजपुत्रं बृहन्नडा ।
का शक्तिर्मम सारथ्यं कर्तुं संग्राममूर्धनि ॥

M N Dutt (Saying): “What power have I that I can act as your charioteer in the field of battle. If it were singing, dancing, musical instruments or any other similar thing I could have entertained you. But how can I work as a charioteer?”

४.३५.१५

गीतं वा यदि वा नृत्तं वादित्रं वा पृथग्विधम् ।
तत्करिष्यामि भद्रं ते सारथ्यं तु कुतो मयि ॥

M N Dutt (Saying): “What power have I that I can act as your charioteer in the field of battle. If it were singing, dancing, musical instruments or any other similar thing I could have entertained you. But how can I work as a charioteer?”

उत्तर उवाच ।

४.३५.१६

बृहन्नडे गायनो वा नर्तनो वा पुनर्भव ।
क्षिप्रं मे रथमास्थाय निगृह्णीष्व हयोत्तमान् ॥

M N Dutt Uttara said O Brihannala, a singer or a dancer, whatever you may be, quickly ascend my chariot and restrain the best of horses.

वैशंपायन उवाच ।

४.३५.१७

स तत्र नर्मसंयुक्तमकरोत्पाण्डवो बहु ।
उत्तरायाः प्रमुखतः सर्वं जानन्नरिंदम ॥

M N Dutt Vaishampayana said Although knowing everything, that slayer of foes, the son of Pandu, as if to make a fun, committed many mistakes before Uttara.

४.३५.१८

ऊर्ध्वमुत्क्षिप्य कवचं शरीरे प्रत्यमुञ्चत ।
कुमार्यस्तत्र तं दृष्ट्वा प्राहसन्पृथुलोचनाः ॥

M N Dutt And while by raising it upwards he tried to put the coat of mail on his body, the large-eyed maidens, seeing it, began to laugh.

४.३५.१९

स तु दृष्ट्वा विमुह्यन्तं स्वयमेवोत्तरस्ततः ।
कवचेन महार्हेण समनह्यद्बृहन्नडाम् ॥

M N Dutt Beholding him bewildered Uttara himself dressed Brihannala with a highly precious coat of mail.

४.३५.२०

स बिभ्रत्कवचं चाग्र्यं स्वयमप्यंशुमत्प्रभम् ।
ध्वजं च सिंहमुच्छ्रित्य सारथ्ये समकल्पयत् ॥

M N Dutt Himself putting on an armour effulgent like the sun and hoisting the lion flag he appointed him (Brihannala, as his charioteer).

४.३५.२१

धनूंषि च महार्हाणि बाणांश्च रुचिरान्बहून् ।
आदाय प्रययौ वीरः स बृहन्नडसारथिः ॥

M N Dutt With Brihannala as his charioteer and taking many costly bows and beautiful arrows the hero issued out.

४.३५.२२

अथोत्तरा च कन्याश्च सख्यस्तामब्रुवंस्तदा ।
बृहन्नडे आनयेथा वासांसि रुचिराणि नः ॥

M N Dutt His friend Uttara and other maidens then said:-"O Brihannala, bring for our dolls fine, beautiful and soft cloths of various kinds (when you will come back) after defeating the Kurus in battle headed by Bhishma and Drona.”

४.३५.२३

पाञ्चालिकार्थं सूक्ष्माणि चित्राणि विविधानि च ।
विजित्य संग्रामगतान्भीष्मद्रोणमुखान्कुरून् ॥

M N Dutt His friend Uttara and other maidens then said:-"O Brihannala, bring for our dolls fine, beautiful and soft cloths of various kinds (when you will come back) after defeating the Kurus in battle headed by Bhishma and Drona.”

४.३५.२४

अथ ता ब्रुवतीः कन्याः सहिताः पाण्डुनन्दनः ।
प्रत्युवाच हसन्पार्थो मेघदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनः ॥

M N Dutt The maidens thus speaking, Partha, the son of Pandu, smilingly replied in words deep as the muttering of clouds.

४.३५.२५

यद्युत्तरोऽयं संग्रामे विजेष्यति महारथान् ।
अथाहरिष्ये वासांसि दिव्यानि रुचिराणि च ॥

M N Dutt Brihannala said If Uttara can defeat those mighty carwarriors I shall bring many beautiful clothes for you.

४.३५.२६

एवमुक्त्वा तु बीभत्सुस्ततः प्राचोदयद्धयान् ।
कुरूनभिमुखाञ्शूरो नानाध्वजपताकिनः ॥

M N Dutt Vaishampayana said Having said this the heroic Arjuna drove the horses towards the Kuru army over which were flowing many flags.