The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 102

Section CII. *( Sambhava Parva continued. )* Vaisampayana said, "O thou of the Kuru race, after Chittrangada was slain, his successor Vichittra-virya being a minor, Bhisma ruled the kingdom placing himself under the commands of Satyavati. And when he saw that his brother who was the foremost of intelligent men attained to majority, Bhisma set his heart upon marying Vichittra-virya. At this time he heard that the three daughters of the king of Kasi, all equal in beauty to the Apsaras themelves, would be married on the same occasion, electing their husbands in *Swyamvara*. Then that foremost of charioteers, the vanquisher of all foes, at the command of his mother went to the city of Baranasi with a single chariot. There Bhisma the son of Shantanu saw that innumerable monarchs had come from all directions; and there he also saw those three maidens that would elect their own husbands. And when the (assembled) kings were being mentioned by name, Bhisma then chose those maidens (on behalf of his brother.) And taking them upon his chariot, Bhisma, that first of smiters in battle, addressed the kings, O monarch, and said in a voice like the roar of the clouds, 'The wise have directed that after inviting an accomplished person a maiden may be bestowed on him, decked in ornaments and along with many valuable presents. Others again may bestow their daughters by accepting of a couple of kine. Some again bestow their daughters by taking a fixed sum, and some take away maidens by force. Some wed with the consent of the maidens, some by drugging them into consent, and some by going unto the maiden's parents and obtaining their sanction. Some again obtain wives as presents, for assisting at sacrifices. Of these, the learned always applaud the eighth form of marriage. Kings, however, speak highly of the *Swyamvara* (the fifth form as above) and themselves wed according to it. But the sages have said that that wife is dearly to be prized who is taken away by force, after slaughter of opponents, from amid the concourse of princes and kings invited to a *Swyamvara*. Therefore, ye monarchs, I bear aways these maidens from hence by force. Strive ye to the best of your might to vanquish me or be vanquished! Ye monarchs, I stand here resolved to fight.' The Kuru prince, endued with great energy, thus addressing the assembled monarchs and the king of Kasi, took up on his car those maidens. And having taken them up, he sped his chariot away, challenging the invited kings to battle. "The challenged monarchs then all stood up, slapping their arms and biting their nether lips in wrath. And loud was the din produced as in great hurry they began to cast off their ornaments and put on their armours. And the motion of their ornaments and armours, O Janamejaya, brilliant as these were, resembled meteoric flashes in the sky. And with brows contracted and eyes red in rage, the monarchs moved in impatience, their armours and war-ornaments dangling or waving with their agitated steps. The charioteers soon brought handsome cars harnessing fine horses thereto. Those splendid warriors then, furnished with all kinds of weapons, rode on those cars, and with upraised weapons pursued the retreating chief of the Kurus. Then, O Bharata, occurred the terrible encounter between those innumerable monarchs on the one side and the Kuru warrior alone on the other. And the assembled monarchs threw at their foe ten thousand arrows at the same time. Bhisma, however, speedily checked those numberless arrows before they could come upon him, by means of a shower of his own arrows innumerable as the down on the body. Then those kings surrounded him on all sides and rained arrows on him like masses of clouds showering on the mountain-breast. But Bhisma arresting by his shafts the course of that arrowy downpour then pierced each of the monarchs with three shafts. The latter, on the other hand, pierced Bhisma, each with five shafts. But, O king, Bhisma checked these by his prowess and pierced each of the contending kings with two shafts. The combat became so fierce with that dense shower of arrows and other missiles, that it looked very like the encounter between the celestials and the Asuras of old, and men of courage, who took no part in it were struck with fear to even loook at the scene. Bhisma cut off on the field of battle, by his arrows, bows, and flag-staffs, and coats of mail, and human heads by hundreds and thousands. And such was his terrible prowess and extraordinary lightness of hand and such the skill with which he protected himself that the contending charioteers, though his enemies, began to applaud him loudly. Then that foremost of all wielders of weapons having vanquished in war all those monarchs, pursued his way towards the capital of the Bharatas, taking those maidens along with him. "It was then, O king, that that mighty charioteer, king Shalya of immeasurable prowess, from behind summoned Bhisma the son of Shantanu to an encounter. And desirous of obtaining the maidens, he came upon Bhisma like a mighty leader of a herd of Elephants rushing upon another and tearing with his tusks the latter's hips at sight of a female elephant in season. And Shalya of mighty arms, moved by wrath addressed Bhisma and said, 'Stay, Stay.' Then Bhisma, that tiger among men, that grinder of hostile armies, provoked by those words, flamed up in wrath like a blazing fire. And with bow in hand, and brow furrowed into wrinkles, he stayed on his car, in obedience to Kshatria usage, having checked its course in expectation of the enemy. And all the monarchs, seeing him stop, stood there to become spectators of the coming encounter between him and Shalya. And the two began to exhibit their prowess towards each other like two roaring bulls of great strength at sight of a cow in season. Then that foremost of men, king Shalya, covered Bhisma the son of Shantanu with hundreds and thousands of swift-winged shafts. And those monarchs seeing Shalya thus covering Bhisma at the outset with innumerable shafts, wondered much and uttered shouts of applause. Beholding his lightness of hand in combat, the crowd of kingly spectators became very glad and applauded Shalya greatly. That reducer of hostile towns, Bhisma then, hearing those shouts of the Kshatrias, became very angry, and said, 'Stay, Stay.' In wrath, he commanded his charioteer, saying, 'Lead thou my chariot to where Shalya is, so that I may slay him instantly as Gadura slays a serpent! Then the Kuru chief fixed the *Varuna* weapon on his bowstring. And with it he slew the four horses of king Shalya. And, O tiger among kings, the Kuru chief then, warding off with his weapons those of his foe, slew Shalya's charioteer. Then that first of men, Bhisma the son of Shantanu, fighting for the sake of those damsels, slew with the *Indra* weapon the (other) noble steeds if his adversary. He then vanquished that best of monarchs but left him with his life. O thou bull of the Bharata race, Shalya after his defeat returned to his kingdom and continued to rule it virtuously. And, O thou conqueror of hostile towns, the other kings also who had come to see the Swyamvara, returned to their own kingdoms. "The foremost of smiters, Bhisma then, after defeating those monarchs, set out, with those damsels, for Hastinapore whence the virtuous Kuru prince Vichittra-virya ruled the Earth like that best of monarchs his father Shantanu. And, O king, passing many forests, rivers, hills, and woods abounding with trees, he arrived (at the capital) in no time. Of immeasurable prowess in war, the son of the ocean-going Ganga, having slain numberless foes in battle without a scratch on his own person, brought the daughters of the king of Kashi unto the Kurus, as tenderly if they were his daughters-in-law or younger sisters, or daughters. And Bhisma of mighty arms, impelled by the desire of benefiting his brother, having by his prowess brought them thus, then offered those maidens possessing every accomplishment unto Vichittra-virya. Conversant with the dictates of virtue, the son of Shantanu, having achieved such an extraordinary feat according to (kingly) custom, then began to make preparations for his brother's wedding. And when everything about the wedding had been settled by Bhisma in consultation with Satyavati, the eldest daughter of the king of Kashi, softly smiling, told him these words: 'In my heart I had chosen the king of Sauva for my husband. He had, in his heart accepted me for his wife. This was also agreeable to my father. In the *swyamvara* I would have also chosen him as my lord. Thou art conversant with all the dictates of virtue! Knowing all this, do as thou likest.' Thus addressed by that maiden in the persence of the Brahmanas, the heroic Bhisma began to reflect upon what should be done. Conversant as he was with the rules of virtue, having consulted with Brahmanas possessing the mastery of the Vedas, he permitted Amvā the eldest daughter of the ruler of Kashi to do as she liked. But he bestowed with due rites the two other daughters, Amvikā and Amvalikā, on his younger brother Vichittra-virya. And though Vichittra-virya was virtuous and abstemious, yet proud of youth and beauty he soon became lustful after his marriage. And both Amvikā and Amvalikā were of tall stature, and of the complexion of heated gold. And their heads were covered with black curly hair, and their fingernails were high and red. And their hips were fair and round, and their breasts full and high. And endued with every auspicious mark, the amiable young ladies considered themselves wedded to a husband who was everyway worthy of themselves. And they loved and respected Vichittra-virya very greatly. And Vichittra-virya also, endued with the prowess of the celestials and the beauty of the twin Aswinas, could steal the heart of every beautiful woman. And the prince passed seven years uninterruptedly in the companionship of his wives. He was attacked, while yet in the prime of youth, with pthisis. Friends and relatives in consultation with each other tried to effect a cure. But in spite of all efforts, the Kuru prince died, setting like the evening sun. The virtuous Bhisma then became plunged in anxiety and grief, and in consultation with Satyavati he caused the obsequial rites of the deceased to be performed by learned priests and the several elders of the Kuru race." Thus ends the hundred and second Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.