15. PREPARATION OF WAR AT DWAARAKA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > ARJUNAABHIGAMANA PARVA > CHAPTER 15 - PREPARATION OF WAR AT DWAARAKA

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O Vaasudeva of mighty arms, You tell in detail of the death of the lord of Saubha (Shaalwa). My curiosity has not been satisfied by the narration.’

“Vaasudeva said, ‘O mighty-armed king (Yudhishthira), hearing that the son of Shrutasravas (Son of Shrutasravas is Shishupaala) had been slain by me, Shaalwa, O best of the Bharata race, came to the city of Dwaaravati! O son of Paandu (Yudhishthira), the wicked (Dushtaatma in Sanskrit) king, stationing his forces in array, attacked that city around and above. Stationing himself in the upper regions, the king (Shaalwa) began his fight with the city. That encounter started with a thick shower of weapons from all sides. O bull of the Bharata race (Yudhishthira), the city at that time was well-fortified on all sides, according to the science (of fortification), with flags, arches, combatants, walls, turrets (a small tower on top of a larger tower), engines, miners, streets barricaded with spiked wood-works, towers, buildings with gate-ways well-filled with provisions, engines for hurling burning brands and fires, vessels of deer-skins (for carrying water), trumpets, tabors, drums, spears, forks, Shataaghnis, plough-shares, rockets, balls of stone, battle-axes, other weapons and shield moulded with iron, and engines for hurling balls, bullets and hot liquids!

“The city was also well-defended by numerous chariots, and, O tiger among Kurus (Yudhishthira), by Gada (Sri Krishna’s younger brother who was born to Vasudeva’s wife Devarakshita), Saamba (son of Sri Krishna with Jaambavati), Uddhavaa (Mantri of Sri Krishna) and others, and by warriors of prowess tested in battle, all well-born and capable of encountering any enemy! These all placing themselves on commanding posts, aided by cavalry and standard-bearers, began to defend the town. Ugrasena (Grandfather of Sri Krishna and Ugrasena is also the father of Kamsa), Uddhavaa and others, to prevent carelessness, proclaimed throughout the city that nobody should drink. All the Vrishnis, the Andhakaas, well-knowing that they would be slain by Shaalwa if they behaved carelessly, remained steady and watchful. The police soon drove out of the city all drama troops, dancers and singers of the Anartta country. All the bridges over rivers were destroyed, boats forbidden to ply, and the trenches (around the city) were spiked with poles at the bottom. The land around the city for full two miles was rendered uneven, holes and pits were dug thereon, and combustibles were secretly implanted below the surface.

“Our fort, O sinless one (Yudhishthira), is naturally strong, always well-defended and filled with all kinds of weapons! In consequence of the preparations made, our city was more prepared than ever to meet the enemy. O chief of the Bharatas (Yudhishthira), in consequence of all this, the city looked like that of (Lord) Indra Himself (Indrabhavanam in Sanskrit). O king (Yudhishthira), at the time of Shaalwa’s approach, nobody could either enter or leave the town of the Vrishnis and the Andhakaas without presenting the sign that had been agreed upon. All the streets of the town and the open spaces were filled with numerous elephants and horses! O you of mighty arms (Yudhishthira), the combatants were all specially satisfied with allowances, wages, rations, weapons and dresses! Among the combatants there was none who was not paid in gold, none who was not paid at all, none who was not somehow (compelled) obliged, and none who was not of tested valour! O you of eyes like lotus-leaves, it was thus Dwaaraka, abounding in well-ordered arrangements, was defended by Aahuka (Ugrasena)!’”