INDIA. PART II. Karna with a true enough, but where was the manhood when Draupadí HISTORY OF was insulted in the midst of the assembly, and when you and five or six more surrounded the stripling Abhimanyu, and put him to death without pity?" When Arjuna heard this Arjuna slays allusion to the slaughter of his son, the fire of wrath burst crescent-shaped from his eyes and nostrils, and he drew forth an arrow with a broad sharp blade at the end shaped like a crescent; and he discharged it with all his strength whilst Karna was endeavouring to release his chariot-wheel, and it struck the neck of Karna and severed his head from his body. arrow. Pandavas and the Kauravas. Kauravas. Duryodhana to treaty. Then the Pandavas beat their drums, and sounded the Triumph of the trumpets of triumph, but the Kauravas were filled with consternation of great grief and consternation; for they said that they had no other hero now that Bhíshma, and Drona, and Karna were numbered with the slain. And they fled in all direc- Flight of the tions like scattered sheep, and Duryodhana tried to rally them against Arjuna, but in vain. And Kripa said to Kripa advises Duryodhana:-"Those heroes upon whom you depended for conclude a success are now no more: I therefore advise you to enter into a treaty with the Pándavas: From what I know of the character of Yudhishthira I do not consider that it is too late to propose peace: If you make your intentions known to him, he will still be glad to share the Raj with you; whereas it would be folly for you to continue this destructive war." Duryodhana replied:-"I am perfectly aware Refusal of of your friendship for me, and of the services rendered by you in this very war: I know that what you say does not proceed from any selfish motive, but from a pure regard for my own welfare; but I cannot act according to your counsel, as a man who is destined to die will not follow the advice of a physician: After all the wrongs I have inflicted upon the Pándavas, with what face can I now ask for a treaty? I am therefore resolved to carry on this war, be the consequences what they may." And the whole army of the Kauravas was filled with new life by this speech of Duryodhana; and their despair left them, and they re- The Kauravas solved that on the morrow they would renew the attack upon the battle on the the Pándavas. Duryodhana. resolve to renew morrow. HISTORY OF INDIA. foregoing nar command. The foregoing narrative of the war during the PART II. two days in which the command was held by Karna Review of the scarcely calls for much consideration. On the first rative of Karna's day the two armies confined themselves to general charges, but the second day is filled with single combats which seem to have decided the fortunes of the war. The battles between Karna and Yudhishthira, Bhíma and Duhsásana, Arjuna and Karna, are all curious and interesting, but seem to require no explanation.3 4th, Sálya's command-one day. Election of Sálya to be Generalissimo of the Kauravas. The narrative of the eighteenth day of the war, and single day of Sálya's command, is as follows: - Now on the evening of the seventeenth day of the war, being the day in which Karna was slain by Arjuna, the Kauravas appointed Sálya to be their Generalissimo in the room of Karna. And Duryodhana said to Sálya :"The time has come when friends and enemies are to be tested I considered you as my friend; do you therefore prove yourself to be such by accepting the post of Generalissimo." And Sálya replied:-"I am ready to do as you 3 The description of the battle between Arjuna and Karna is overlaid in the original by many supernatural details, and it may be convenient to record in a note the seven mythical circumstances to which the death of Karna is ascribed by Nárada the sage. 1st, He is said to have surreptitiously induced Parasu Ráma, the Brahmanical hero, to teach him the Brahmanical mode of archery, which ought only to be imparted to a Brahman, after which Parasu Ráma prayed that the archery might fail him in battle. 2nd, He was cursed by a Bráhman for having killed the man's calf while aiming at a deer, that the earth should arrest his chariot-wheel in battle. 3rd, He had given to Indra the golden cuirass and earrings with which he had been born. This myth is connected with the fable that he was begotten upon Kunti by the Sun god. 4th, He had presumed to be the rival of Bhishma. 5th, He had disobeyed his assumed mother Kunti by fighting Arjuna. 6th, His enemy Arjuna was steadily assisted by Krishna throughout the battle. 7th, When Karna shot a snake at Arjuna instead of an arrow, Arjuna was saved from certain death by Krishna, who miraculously lowered the chariot, and thus prevented the snake from doing more than cut off Arjuna's tiara. INDIA. PART II. order: My Raj, my wealth, and my life, are all at your HISTORY OF service: I accept the post you offer me, and I promise that the sun when it sets on the morrow shall either see you without an enemy upon this earth, or else see me slain upon the plain of Kurukshetra." And Duryodhana and the remaining Kauravas rejoiced as they heard the words of Sálya, and they set up a loud shout which reached the camp of the Pándavas; and Yudhishthira, hearing that the Kauravas had appointed Sálya to be their Generalissimo, issued the necessary orders for renewing the battle on the morrow, which would be the eighteenth day of the war. Then both armies retired to rest, and slumbered until the dawn of morning. last day of the stain from single Now the eighteenth day was the last of the great war, Eighteenth and and the Kauravas, seeing that their numbers were few, made war. a new rule, that no man should engage in single combat with Kauravas abany of the Pandavas, but that all should fight together in sup- combats. port of the common cause. Then the battle commenced, and both sides fought desperately; and Yudhishthira engaged Salya slain by with Sálya, and slew him after much fighting. And the Utter defeat of Kauravas were beaten on all sides, and Duryodhana, seeing that all was lost, fled secretly from the battle like one distracted, but he still carried his mace in his hand. Yudhishthira. the Kauravas. conceals himself Now there was a lake in the plain of Kurukshetra, and Duryodhana Duryodhana possessed a charm by which he could remain un- in the lake. der water for as long as he pleased, so he plunged into the lake, and no man knew where he was concealed. Meantime all the warriors on the side of the Kauravas were slain, excepting Three survivors three only, namely, Kripa, Aswattháma, and Kritavarman 1; but these three continued fighting with the Pándavas, until they saw that Duryodhana was no longer present in the field. Then they said one to another:-"We are fighting the battle of Duryodhana, but lo, he himself is not to be found: Wherefore then should we expose ourselves to the last extremity for nothing? Let us go and look for Duryodhana!" So the three warriors left the field of battle and General search searched for Duryodhana all over the fatal plain of Kuruk- for Duryodhana. shetra; and the Pándavas in like manner searched for Duryodhana, but they could find no trace of him, and accord PART II. The three Kaurava warriors discover Duryodhana, and pray him to re Duryodhana declines, and recommends concealment. HISTORY OF ingly returned to their own quarters. Meanwhile the three INDIA. Kaurava warriors were told that Duryodhana had concealed himself beneath the waters of the lake, and they went to the side of the lake, and cried out:-"O Raja, arise out of the water, that we may still do battle in your service, and under new the battle. your auspices make another struggle for victory." Duryodhana replied with a loud voice :-"I see you all three from where I am, and I thank God that he has preserved your lives; but his favour is now with the Pándavas, and it is not advisable for us to continue the contest against them: Do you therefore remain in quiet, until I shall see what turn may be taken by the hidden events of futurity." Aswattháma replied :"Be not too much troubled by the slaughter of your armies, for while we three are in your service, we are still able to slay a thousand such as the Pándavas; and if you will only come out of this lake we will avenge you completely upon your enemies." Aswattháma vainly remonstrates. Failure of the hana. Bhima's servants discover him Meantime Yudhishthira had sent many men in all direcCover Duryod- tions to procure tidings of Duryodhana, but they had all returned without finding him. And Yudhishthira and his brethren were very uneasy, and they said one to the other: "All the anxieties and fatigues we have endured during this war are of no avail so long as Duryodhana is missing; for whilst he lives he may yet find means to raise another army, and renew the war against us." Now it so happened that at this time some of the servants of Bhíma, who had gone out to hunt game for their master's supper, had come to the lake to drink water; and they overheard this discourse between Aswattháma and Duryodhana, and discovered that Duryodhana was concealed in the lake; and accordingly they hastened away to carry the news to the Pándavas that they might obtain a reward for their discovery. When the Pandavas heard that Duryodhana had been found, they were overjoyed, and bestowed great rewards upon the servants of Bhíma, and all set off at once for the lake. And when Aswattháma and Kripa and Kritavarman saw them coming, they said to one another:-" If Duryodhana would join us we would certainly fight them, but as we have no The Pandavas proceed to the lake. So the three HISTORY OF INDIA. PART II. Yudhishthira yodhana to leave prays for rest be the combat. remonstrates. leader it is useless to expose our lives." warriors hid themselves in a great tree, whence they could see all that took place; and the Pándavas came up to the side of the lake, and Yudhishthira called out with a loud calls upon Durvoice :—“ 0 Duryodhana, you have caused the death of so the lake. many thousands of people, that it is now shameful in you to hide yourself at the bottom of this lake: You fought manfully enough at first; so come out now and let us see whether God will give the victory to you or to us: A man of your rank ought not to turn his face from a challenge: Why do you, being a Kshatriya, care so much for your own life after the sacrifice of the lives of your friends and relatives?" Duryodhana replied :—“ I did not enter this lake from fear; Duryodhana but as all my people have been killed, and my arms and char- fore renewing iots are all broken in pieces, and my charioteer is slain, and I myself am extremely weary and worn out, I am come hither to rest and refresh myself a little, and when I am somewhat recovered, I will come out and renew the contest with you." Yudhishthira replied:-" Our ease and comfort for to-day Yudhishthira is to fight with you: Come out therefore and fight us, and if you conquer, go and take your ease upon the throne: The refreshment you would now take at the bottom of the lake is too mean for you." Duryodhana answered:-" My Duryodhana Raj consisted of my brethren, and friends, and kinsmen; davas to take the and now that they are gone, what sort of Rajaship can I exercise? Take you the Raj, and I wish you joy of it, for your brethren are all still living, and most of your friends and your troops still remain to serve you: Even now, if I wished, I could conquer all five of you and all your allies; but seeing that Bhishma, and Drona, and Karna are no more, I do not want to fight: So leave me to my fate, for I shall assume the garb of skins, and retire in prayer to the desert; and do you take upon yourself the government of the Raj, and leave me to myself." Yudhishthira said :-" Think not Yudhishthira of exciting any pity by speaking to me in this manner: the Raj except Your language now is not consistent with your former resolution not to give us an inch of land except by war: You may now be disposed to give me my share in the Raj, but I myself am not disposed to accept anything from you, even prays the Pán Raj, and let him retire to the desert. refuses to take by conquest. |