INDIA. PART II. HISTORY OF Raja and his ladies. Instances of all these different forms of exhibitions of arms are to be found in the Mahá Bhárata, and will in due course be brought under consideration. The narrative. Maharaja Dhritaráshtra di The narrative of the exhibition of arms at Hastinapur may now be related as follows: After a while the Kauravas and Pándavas became fully rects Drona to practised in the use of arms; and Drona told the Maháraja, make prepara exhibition of arms. 4 tions for a pub-, saying :-"Your own sons, and the sons of brother your Pándu, are well skilled in the use of weapons, and able to fight against other men on the field of battle." Then the Maharaja replied:-" Let a place be prepared in the great plain without the city, that the young men may engage in mock-fighting, and display their skill before all the Chiefs Space set apart and people of the Raj." So Drona ordered every preparation, and a large space was set apart in the great plain, and fenced round about with barriers. And on one side of the ground galleries were built for the Maháraja and his Chieftains; and on the other side galleries were set up in like manner for the ladies of the royal house of Hastinapur. in the great plain. The galleries. Morning of the exhibition. ed with flags and garlands. Now when every preparation had been made, the Maharaja appointed a day for the exhibition of arms. And Galleries adorn- when the morning of the day had begun to dawn, the galleries on either side, and the trees that were round about, were adorned with flags of various colours, and long garlands The multitude. of sweetly-smelling flowers. After a while all the people of Hastinapur, and great multitudes from all parts of the Raj, gathered together round the barriers and between the galleries, to behold the exercises of the sons of Dhritarashtra The blind Mahá- and the sons of Pándu. Presently the blind Maharaja was led in and took his seat upon his throne; and Bhishma, who managed the affairs of the Raj, sat upon his right hand; and on his left sat Vidura, who was appointed to describe to the blind Maháraja all that took place in the plain below. And The Chieftains all the Chieftains of the royal house, and all the ladies of raja. and ladies. 4 Dhritarashtra is always alluded to throughout the Mahá Bhárata as the Maharaja, or "Great Raja," or Raja of Rajas. INDIA. PART II. Hastinapur, were arrayed in many-coloured cloths, and gar- HISTORY OF lands of flowers, and bright jewels, and took their seats in like manner upon the galleries; and chief amongst the ladies were Gándhári, the mother of the Kauravas, and Kuntí, the mother of the Pándavas. son Aswatthá gods. and Pandavas Archery on foot, phants, and cha When all was ready Drona, the preceptor, and his son Drona and his Aswattháma, entered the area in pure white garments, and ma invoke the offered up prayers to the praise and glory of the gods. Then the young Princes in like manner entered the area The Kauravas arrayed in garments of different colours, and lightly girded enter the area. for exertion. Each young man carried his bow and Salute Drona. arrows in his hand, and respectfully saluted the feet of his preceptor, and awaited his commands. Each one then in Feats of arms. turn exhibited his skill by shooting arrows at a butt, first horseback, eleon foot, and then mounted in succession upon a horse, an riots. elephant, and a chariot. Next followed mock fights with Sword-fighting. the sword and buckler. Then the whole body of pupils, first on foot, and afterwards mounted as before on horses, elephants, and chariots, exhibited their skill in archery, whilst running, galloping, or driving round the area at full speed. After this the young men fought with clubs, and Club-fighting. the fighting was terrible to behold; and then it was manifest to all men that there was ill blood between the Kauravas and Pandavas. At one end of the area Duryod- Combat between hana engaged with Bhíma, and after exchanging some and Bhima. heavy blows, the mock combat became a downright battle. The young men rushed upon each other like wild elephants, and laid about them right manfully; whilst the multitude without caught the spirit of the fray, and ran to and fro, shouting some for Duryodhana and others for Bhíma, until the air was filled with noise and dust, and the whole plain was in great commotion. Drona sent his son Aswattháma to put an end to the combat, but no one heeded him; and Drona at last went himself with all haste, and parted the Interference of combatants by main force, and thus put a stop to the turmoil. upon Duryodhana Drona. Handsome appearance of When the uproar was somewhat over, Drona called his favourite pupil Arjuna to exhibit his accomplishments Arjuna. INDIA. PART II. of Arjuna in HISTORY OF before the assembly. The young Chieftain was as handsome as one of the bright gods; and when he entered the area, clad in golden mail, and carrying in his hand a bow inlaid with various colours, the multitude hailed him as another Indra, and the heart of his mother Kuntí was filled with pride and exultation. Arjuna then performed very many excellent feats of arms, which surpassed any Marvellous feats which had ever before been seen. He set up an iron figure archery, sword- of a boar upon a pillar of wood, and shot five arrows into playing, whirling the chakra, its mouth at one bending of the bow. Next he tied a and throwing the noose. cow's horn on a pole, and in one discharge shot twenty-one arrows into the hollow of the horn. Then he mounted his chariot and was driven swiftly along, whilst he shot his arrows right and left with such rapidity and dexterity as bewildered all the beholders. His sword-playing was equally excellent, and he flourished the blade so fiercely that men thought they saw the lightning on the earth and heard the thunder in the sky. Then he took his quoitshaped chakra, and whirled it at different objects without missing one. Lastly, he armed himself with the noose, and threw it about with such skill, that horse or deer, or any other animal at which he cast it, was invariably brought down. At length he finished his exercises, and respectfully saluted the feet of his preceptor, upon which Drona affectionately embraced him amidst the applause of the whole assembly." Sudden appear ance of Karna, At this time, whilst the Pándavas were exulting in the the son of a cha- triumph of Arjuna, and Duryodhana was bursting with jealous rage, another young warrior suddenly entered the rioteer. 5 The description of this exhibition of arms, as it appears in the Mahá Bhárata, is filled with Brahmanical exaggerations, which are pleasing to the present taste of the Hindús, but which are excluded from the above text, as they would be tedious to the last degree to European readers. They include the use of weapons which combine contradictory powers, such as arrows having a broad blade at the point which will cut a man's head off; or weapons of a supernatural character, such as arrows producing fire, water, venom, diseases, tempests, and other extraordinary phenomena. It will, however, be seen hereafter that the weapons described by the Brahmanical compilers of the Rámáyana are, if possible, still more extravagant. The Brahmans in the present day point to the fire-producing arrows as proofs that the ancient Hindús were possessed of fire-arms. -- INDIA. PART II. At these Exultation of Duryodhana tion of Arjuna. lenges Arjuna to area, striking his arms together with a great noise, after HISTORY OF the manner of the ancient wrestlers. This was Karna, the son of a charioteer from the country of Anga, who was very skilful in the use of arms. Karna then said :-" O Arjuna, you have exhibited all your feats of arms; come and look on whilst I perform each one better than you." words Duryodhana was in an ecstasy of joy, whilst Arjuna and mortificawas much displeased, and held his peace. Karna then, to the delight of the Kauravas, and the disquietude of the Pándavas, executed every feat which had been performed by Arjuna; and Duryodhana came forward and embraced Karna, and praised his prowess, and called him "brother." At this honour, Karna was greatly pleased, and said before Karna chalthem all that it was his desire to fight Arjuna. Then single combat. Arjuna was in a great rage, and cried out :- "You desire Mutual abuse. to place yourself on an equality with me, but I will so handle. you, that you shall learn what it is for men like you to come here without being invited, and to speak before they are spoken to." Karna replied:-" O Arjuna, waste not your words, for when it comes to open fight between you and me, you shall see who will be roughly handled and as you taunt me with having come without invitation, let me tell you that this plain is none of your property that I may not enter it without your invitation: All other questions between us must be settled by the sword and bow, and I will so handle you in the presence of your tutor here, that all present shall be astonished." These words filled Drona Drona calls upon Arjuna to fight with wrath, and he cried out:-"Why do you listen to Karna. Karna with patience? You have my leave: Go, and fight him at once!" So Arjuna and his brothers stepped into the field to face Karna, and Duryodhana and his brothers came forward to back Karna; when a kinsman of the royal house, named Kripa, who was the brother of the wife of Drona, interposed to prevent a battle between the son of Kripa interposes a Raja and the son of a charioteer. Kripa said to Karna :— battle. "O young man, are you come hither to measure weapons with Arjuna? Know you that he is the son of Raja Pándu and the Rání Kuntí, and you must now declare the names : to prevent the INDIA. PART II. HISTORY OF of your father and mother, that we may know whether you dhana. Appearance of Karna's aged father. Karna's filial reverence. Duryodhana took Karna by the hand, and led him to a golden seat, and ordered the umbrella of royalty to be held over his head. At this moment the father of Karna appeared, trembling with age, but rejoicing in the honours bestowed upon his son; and when Karna saw him he threw down his bow and arrow and advanced to meet the old man, and kissed his feet. Then the Pándavas looked upon the two with smiles of contempt, and Bhíma said to Karna :"Is it with such a father as this that you presume to match guage towards yourself with Arjuna: You, the son of a charioteer, what have you to do with a bow and arrows? You had better far take a whip and drive a bullock-cart after your father." Karna was enraged at their taunts, but made no reply; and the darkness came on very rapidly. And Duryodhana led Karna away to his own palace, and the multitude dispersed to their several homes. Bhima's contemptuous lanKarna. Combat prevented by the approach of night. Review of the foregoing tradi bition of arms. Question respecting the The picture presented in the foregoing tradition tion of the exhi- calls for little or no remárk. The description of the mock combats, and the ill feeling displayed by Duryodhana and Bhíma, are perfectly true to human nature, and there is no doubt that the story is so far authentic. But the abrupt appearance of Karna birth of Karna. on this occasion, and his sudden elevation to the dignity of Raja, are points of considerable interest, and seem to invite a close investigation. That Karna was of low birth may be accepted as a fact ; but the implication that he was of low birth by reason of his being the son of a charioteer seems |