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INDIA. PART II.

Youth and ig

Uttar.

herdsmen urges

against the

that he has no

the women.

was the music and dancing-master. And Uttar was but a HISTORY OF boy, and he had been bred up in the apartments of the women, and knew nothing of war; and when the Chief of the herdsmen told him that the Kauravas had carried away norauce of the cattle, he was in sore dismay. And the Chief of the herdsmen said to Uttar:-"The Raja has left the Raj in The Chief of the your charge, and has often boasted of your prowess; so now Uttar to go out you must go out and make war against the Kauravas, and Kauravas. bring back all the stolen cattle." And Uttar replied:-"I Uttar pleads would go and fight these Kauravas with all readiness, but I charioteer. have no man to drive my chariot ; and how can I go out to battle without a charioteer?" So saying Uttar rose up, and entered the palace, and boasted before the women, say- Boasts before ing :-" If I had but a charioteer I would go forth and conquer the Kauravas." And Draupadí heard his words, and said:"O Uttar, the music and dancing-master has often driven the chariot of Arjuna to battle; and he will now peradventure drive your chariot against the Kauravas." So Arjuna agrees Uttar called his sister, whose name was Uttará, and desired her to ask her teacher to become his charioteer; and she did so, and Arjuna consented to go. Then Arjuna called Mirth of the for a coat of mail, and arrayed himself in armour; and when ing Arjuna putthe damsels saw what he was doing, they began to laugh, saying: "What has a music and dancing-master to do with the weapons of men?" Meanwhile Uttar commanded his servants to put the weapons into his chariot; and he ascended the chariot, and desired Arjuna to mount likewise, and to drive away with all speed. And when the damsels The damsels saw Arjuna driving away, they cried out :-"We commit bring home Uttar into your charge: Take heed that he returns in triumph, and brings us plenty of silks and cloths as spoil." Arjuna replied:" After a victory all things may be obtained." So saying he drove away towards the south to do battle against the Kauravas.

Now when Arjuna had driven Uttar within sight of the army of the Kauravas, the heart of Uttar failed him, and his hair stood on end with terror. And Arjuna said :-" How can I face such mighty warriors as these?" And when Uttar heard

to go.

damsels at see

ting on armour.

pray Arjuna to

plenty of spoil.

Cowardly fear of holding the

Uttar on be

Kauravas.

INDIA.

PART II.

am come,

HISTORY OF these words, he fell down in the chariot in a swoon. Then Arjuna tried to comfort him, but when he opened his eyes, he implored Arjuna to turn the chariot and drive back to the city. But Arjuna said:-"Let not your enemies see your alarm or they will rejoice greatly: You should not have commanded me to drive you here; but now that I I cannot turn back: When you were coming out you boasted of your prowess before the women; and will you now excite their laughter by running away ?" Uttar replied: "I can endure the laughter of the women, but I Uttar runs away cannot face this field of battle." So saying Uttar leaped from the chariot and ran away towards the city; and Arjuna The Kauravas leaped down likewise, and ran after him. And the Kauravas looked on, and saw that it was Arjuna running after thirteenth year the son of Raja Viráta; and they said :—' "The thirteenth

but is pursued

by Arjuna.

discover Arjuna, and discuss whether the

is really over.

Arjuna brings

back Uttar, and

the chariot.

Recovers his own weapons and discovers himself to Uttar.

year is not yet over, and if this be Arjuna then the Pándavas must go again into exile." And there arose a great discussion about the thirteenth year; but Bhíshma said :— "The thirteenth year has already passed away."

Meanwhile Arjuna had caught Uttar by the hair, and makes him drive drawn him back to the chariot, and placed him on the driving seat; and he bade Uttar drive to the burning ground where the weapons of the Pándavas were hung upon a tree. And when they came to the tree Arjuna took his own weaand told Uttar the names of himself and all his brethren; pons, and when Uttar knew that Arjuna was with him, he said :"I am no longer afraid of the army of the Kauravas." And Uttar drove the chariot back to the field, and Arjuna sounded his shell and twanged his bow, and challenged the Kauravas Arjuna defeats one by one to single combat; and he fought and conquered every one, and defeated the whole army of the Kauravas, whilst the cattle returned to the city of their own accord. Then Arjuna blew his shell of triumph, and all the army of the Kauravas, excepting Bhishma only, fell down insensible like men that were asleep; but Arjuna would not slay them, but only commanded Uttar to carry away their fine garments. And when the Kauravas awoke and saw what had

the Kauravas,

and recovers

the cattle.

been done, they returned in great shame and sorrow to the HISTORY OF

city of Hastinapur.

INDIA. PART II.

the city.

bearance as re

and captives.

Uttar halt with

send tidings of

the Raja.

Viráta after the

man.

that Uttar has

battle, but dis

bravery of the

music and danc

Now after this great victory, Arjuna and Uttar returned Arjuna and to the city, and as they went they saw many of the soldiers Uttar return to of the Kauravas flying from the field; but Arjuna said to Arjuna's forthem:-"Fear not, for I will not slay a man unless he be in gards fugitives the field of battle, and fugitives and captives are as women in my eyes." And Arjuna and Uttar halted without the Arjuna and city; and Arjuna laid aside his arms, and put on his disguise out the city, but as before; and messengers were sent on to the city to make the victory to known the victory, and the recovery of all the cattle. Now soon after Arjuna and Uttar had gone out against Return of Raja the Kauravas, Raja Viráta was returning towards the city defeat of Susarin triumph, having routed Raja Susarman and all his army. And the whole city went out to meet Raja Viráta, and to welcome him back with great joy; but Uttar was not amongst them. So the Raja inquired for his son, and learned The Raja hears that he had gone towards the south to fight the Kauravas, gone out to and that the music and dancing-master had gone with him trusts the to drive his chariot; and the Raja said :-"As I myself have defeated Susarman and all his army, the men whom Uttar has gone out to fight must be but weak and few; but I do not like that the music and dancing-master should have gone as charioteer, as he may have been terrified at the battle, and have taken flight." Yudhishthira replied :—" No defeat Yudhishthira can befall that person who has had this music and dancing- valour of the master for his charioteer." At this moment the messengers ing master. of Uttar arrived at the city, and told the Raja how the Kauravas had been defeated and the cattle recovered from their hands; and Yudhishthira said that the victory was most excellent, but was to have been expected from the valour of the charioteer. But the Raja feigned not to hear the words. of Yudhishthira, and cried out:-"Since I have defeated The Raja orders Susarman, and my son has defeated Duryodhana, let the receiving his drums be beaten at all the gates, and musical instruments be played in all the streets, and the city be dressed out in flowers and flags; and let all the most beautiful damsels put

:

ing-master.

praises the

music and danc

preparations for victorious son.

INDIA. PART II.

Sits down to play with

Yudhishthira
ascribes the vic-
tory to the
music and danc-
ing-master.

Wrath of the
Raja.

HISTORY OF On clean garments, and array themselves in all their jewels, and go forth and sing the songs of triumph; and let all the tribes go forth with them and welcome the return of the victorious hero Uttar." Then Raja Viráta ordered the dice to be brought, and called upon Yudhishthira to play a game; but Yudhishthira objected, and said: "It is laid down in the Sástras that no man should play with another who is elated with joy; and this day you are elated with joy." But Viráta persisted, and Yudhishthira at last sat Yudhishthira. down to play; and in the middle of the game the Raja said:"Take notice how my son has fought and defeated the Kauravas!" Yudhishthira replied:-"It is not surprising that your son conquered the Kauravas, when he has had the music and dancing-master for his charioteer." Then Raja Viráta flew into a rage, and said :—“ Let me forbear as long as I will, you are determined still to chaunt the praises of this music and dancing-master: What is a eunuch that his feats should be so applauded? When my son has gained the victory, no man of sense would have brought forward the name of another: So if you wish any longer to retain my friendship, let me hear no more of this music and dancing-master." Yudhishthira answered:"In a field where such warriors as Bhishma, and Drona, and Karna, and Duryodhana are in action, your son is by no means capable of sustaining a battle." Then Raja Viráta was exceedingly wroth, and he cried out :-"Is there no one here to give this foolish fellow his answer, and to stop The Raja dashes his mouth?" And the Raja dashed the dice which he held in his hand so violently at the face of Yudhishthira that the blood fell from his nose, but Draupadí, who was standing by, caught the blood in her veil. At this same instant the Raja's servants came in and said that Uttar and his charioteer had returned to the palace, and were standing at the gate waiting to salute the Raja; and the Raja desired that they might be called in, but Yudhishthira cried out :"Keep back the music and dancing-master, for if he should Uttar enters the see my face besmeared with blood, he will slay the man who the true story. caused it, and all his people." So Uttar was brought in

Yudhishthira repeats his remarks.

the dice at

Yudhishthira

and makes his nose bleed.

palace and tells

INDIA. PART II.

forgives the

whilst Arjuna stayed without; and he told his father truly HISTORY OF all that had taken place, and discovered to him the true names and condition of the Pándavas. When the Raja heard this he was in great alarm, and he begged pardon of Yudhishthira and entreated that he might be forgiven. And Yudhishthira Yudhishthira answered:-"I have banished wrath and Raja. passion altogether from my mind, but had this blood of mine fallen to the ground, it would have been a great misfortune for you, and all your house, and therefore it was fortunate that Draupadí caught it in her veil.” Then Yudhishthira cleansed his face and the blood ceased to flow; and Arjuna was brought in and paid his respects to the Raja; and Uttar praised him to the Raja, and acknowledged his own cowardice; and all the garments of the Kauravas, which had been taken from the Chieftains while Division of the they lay senseless upon the field of battle, were sent to the inner apartments of the palace, and divided amongst the damsels and children.

spoil.

mises in Council Pándavas in re

Raj.

daughter in

Arjuna.

Arjuna's graceful refusal.

After this Raja Viráta held a Council of all his Chief- Raja Viráta protains; and all the Pándavas were there, clothed in their to assist the royal robes, and they related all their adventures to the covering their Raja and the Council. And the Raja paid them every mark of respect, and he pledged his word that he would assist them in recovering their Raj. And the Raja offered his daughter Offers his Uttará in marriage to Arjuna; but Arjuna answered: marriage to "For a whole year I have been teaching this damsel, and I have been to her as a father, and she has been to me as a daughter: It is not therefore meet that I should take her as a wife; but if it please you and my elder brother Yudhishthira, let her be married to my son Abhimanyu." So Raja Viráta agreed, and he gave his daughter Uttará in Marriage of marriage to the son of Arjuna; and a great marriage-feast ter of Raja was held; and Krishna came with his brother Balarama, himanyu, son of and with Subhadrá, the wife of Arjuna, and her son Abhimanyu who was to be married to Uttará; and Raja Drupada came also, with his son Dhrishta-dyumna; as well as all the Chieftains and allies of Raja Viráta. And the marriage of Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, to Uttará, the daughter of

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Uttará, daugh

Viráta, to Ab

Arjuna.

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