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| The Defence of Matsya |
Draupadi, who happened to be there, smiled to herself and, suggested to princess Uttara, "O, princess, your brother prince Uttara Kumar, is eager to fight the enemy, but he does not have a charioteer. I have heard that Brihannala has been Arjuna's charioteer and is an expert. Order her to get ready immediately and drive the prince's chariot."
And so, Arjuna was ordered to get ready for battle. Uttara Kumar ordered him to drive the chariot to the place where the Kaurava army had gathered. Seeing the great army, Uttara Kumar's courage, which had been running low all along, vanished completely. In a trembling voice he said, "O Brihannala, turn back the chariot. I do not care about what people will think of me, but how can I be expected to fight an entire army all by myself?"
Arjuna tried to encourage the prince, even while driving steadily towards the enemy. He brought the chariot quite close to them. The prince was near collapse and begged, "Please, please turn back. If you do not, I shall get out and run back." And he leapt out of the chariot and broke into a run.
Arjuna dashed after him and lifted him bodily back onto the chariot. He assured the prince, saying, "Do not be afraid. I shall fight for you. You dirve the chariot, and we will recover the cows." Then he directed the prince to drive the chariot to a tree near the cremation ground. When they reached the tree, he told Uttara Kumar to climb up and bring down the bundle hanging there. Uttara Kumar climbed the tree with great disgust and brought the bundle down. When it was opened he was amazed to see the weapons that shone bright as the sun. He said, "O Brihannala, you say that these weapons belong to the Pandavas. Do you know them?" Arjuna told him that they were all in service at Virata's court and that he himself was Arjuna. Uttara Kumar folded his hands and bowed to him humbly.
Arjuna's chariot sped off, and the Kauravas quaked with fear when they heard the sound of the mighty Gandiva. Drona said, "Let Duryodhana take a part of the army and return to Hastinapura with the cows. With the rest of the army we shall fight Arjuna."
To block their move, Arjuna caught up with Duryodhana and attacked him. Seeing this, Bhishma along with other Kaurava warriors, rushed there in support of Duryodhana. A great fight ensued in which Arjuna defeated them all. Finally he employed a divine weapon and they all fell down unconscious. As they lay on the ground he snatched away their garments and returned to the city, depositing the weapons in the tree on his way. He sent swift messengers in advance to announce the victory of prince Uttara Kumar over the Kauravas. | |
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