22. SHAALWA VADHA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > ARJUNAABHIGAMANA PARVA > CHAPTER 22 - SHAALWA VADHA

“Vaasudeva continued, ‘Then, O you foremost of the Bharata race (Yudhishthira), taking up my beautiful bow, I began to cut off with my arrows the heads of the enemies of Devas, from off that Saubha! I began to discharge from the Shaaranga many well-looking arrows of the forms of snakes, capable of going at a great height and possessing intense energy. O preserver of the Kuru race, I could not then see Saubha, for it had vanished, through illusion (Maayaa in Sanskrit)! I was then filled with wonder! That army of Daanavaas then, O Bharata (Yudhishthira), of frightful appearance and hair, set up a loud howl while I was waiting for it. In that fierce battle, I then, with the object of destroying them, fixed on my bow-string the weapon capable of piercing the enemies only when the sound was audible. Upon this, their shouts ceased. But those Daanavaas that had sent up that shout were all slain by those arrows of mine blazing as the Sun himself, and capable of striking at the perception of sound alone. After the shout had stopped at one place, O mighty king, another yell proceeded from another quarter. At that time, I sent my arrows. In this way, O Bharata (Yudhishthira), the Asuras began to send up yells in all the ten directions above and across. These were all slain by me – those that were in the skies and that were invisible, with arrows of diverse forms, and divine weapons inspired with mantras.

“Then, O hero (Yudhishthira), that Saubha (meaning chariot of precious metals) capable of going anywhere at will, confusing my eyes, reappeared at Praagjyotisha! Then the destroying Daanavaas of fierce forms suddenly drowned me with a mighty shower of rocks. O you foremost of monarchs (Yudhishthira), torrents of rocks falling upon me covered me up, and I began to grow like an ant-hill (with its summits and peaks)! Covered along with my horses, charioteer and flagstaffs, with rocks on all sides, I disappeared from sight altogether. Then those foremost of heroes of the Vrishni race who were of my army were, struck with panic, and all on a sudden began to fly in all directions. Seeing me in that plight, O king (Yudhishthira), the heaven, the sky, and the earth were filled with exclamation of ‘Oh!’ and ‘Alas!’

“Then, O monarch (Yudhishthira), my friends filled with sorrow and grief began to weep and wail with heavy hearts! Delight filled the hearts of the enemies. O you who never waver (Yudhishthira), I heard of this after I had defeated the enemy! Then wielding the Vajra, that favourite (weapon) of (Lord) Indra, capable of tearing stones, I destroyed that entire mass of rocks! But my horses, pained with the weight of the stones and almost on the point of death began to tremble. Looking me, all my friends rejoiced again as men rejoice on seeing the Sun rise in the sky, dispersing the clouds. Seeing my horses almost in their last gasp for breath, pained with that load of stones, my charioteer said to me in words suitable to the occasion, ‘O you of the Vrishni race (Sri Krishna), look at Shaalwa – the owner of Saubha. Do not disregard him! You do exert Yourself! You do abandon Your mildness and consideration for Shaalwa. Slay Shaalwa, O You of mighty arms! O Keshava, do not let him live! O hero, O You destroyer of those that are not Your friends (enemies), an enemy should be slain with every effort! A weak enemy who is under the feet of a man filled with strength, should not be disregarded by the latter: then (what shall I say) of one that dares us to the fight? Therefore, O You tiger among men (Sri Krishna), putting forth every exertion, slay him, O lord, O You foremost of the Vrishni race! You do not delay again! This one is not capable of being vanquished by milder measures. He cannot in my opinion be Your friend who is fighting You and who devastated Dwaaraka!’

“O Kaunteya (Yudhishthira), hearing such words of my charioteer, and knowing that what he said was true, I directed my attention to the battle (afresh), with the view of slaying Shaalwa and destroying Saubha! O hero (Yudhishthira), saying to Daaruka, ‘Stay a moment (Stheeyataamiti in Sanskrit)’ I fixed on my bow-string my favourite weapon of fire (Aagneyaastram in Sanskrit), blazing and of divine origin, of irresistible force, incapable of being confused, bursting with energy, capable of penetrating into everything, and of great splendor, which reduces to ashes in battle Yakshas, Raakshasaas, Daanavaas and kings born in impure tribes, sharp-edged like the razor, without stain, like to Yama – the destroyer, incomparable, and which kills enemies, saying, ‘Destroy Saubha together with all those enemies that are in it.’ (जहि सौभं स्ववीर्येण ये चात्र रिपवो मम).

“I launched with the might of my arms and in anger with mantras, the great powerful chakra Sudarshana. Rising into the sky, it seemed like a second Sun of exceeding brightness at the end of the Yuga. Approaching the town of Saubha whose splendour had disappeared, the Chakra went right through it, as a saw divides a tall tree. Cut in two by the strength of the Sudarshana it fell like the city of Tripura shaken by the arrow of Maheshwara (Lord Shiva). After the town of Saubha had fallen, the Chakra came back into my hands. Taking it up, I once more hurled it with force saying, ‘You go to Shaalwa.’ The chakra then cut Shaalwa in two who in that fierce conflict was at the point of hurling a heavy mace. With its energy it set the enemy (Shaalwa) ablaze. After that brave warrior was slain, the disheartened Daanavaa women fled in all directions, exclaiming ‘Oh!’ and ‘Alas!’ Taking my chariot in front of the town of Saubha, I cheerfully blew my conch (Paanchajanya) and gladdened the hearts of my friends. Seeing their town (Saubha), high as the peak of the Meru, with its palaces and gate-ways utterly destroyed, and all ablaze, the Daanavaas fled in fear. Having thus destroyed the town of Saubha and slain Shaalwa, I returned to the Aanarttas and delighted my friends. O king (Yudhishthira), it is for this reason that I could not come to the city named after the elephant (Haastinapura), O destroyer of hostile heroes! O warrior (Yudhishthira), if I had come, Suyodhana (Duryodhana) would not have been alive or the match at dice would not have taken place. What can I do now? It is difficult to confine the waters after the dam is broken!’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Having addressed the Kaurava (Yudhishthira) thus, that foremost of male persons, of mighty arms, Madhusoodana, possessed of every grace, saluting the Paandavaas, prepared for departure. The mighty-armed hero reverentially saluted (Abhivaadya in Sanskrit) Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, and the king (Yudhishthira) in return and Bhima also smelt the crown of His head. He (Sri Krishna) was embraced by Arjuna, and the twins saluted Him with respect. He was duly honoured by Dhaumya and worshipped with tears by Draupadi. Making Subhadra and Abhimanyu to ascend his golden chariot, (Sri) Krishna, mounted it Himself, worshipped by the Paandavaas. Consoling Yudhishthira, (Sri) Krishna set out for Dwaaraka on His chariot magnificient as the Sun and to which were attached the horses Shaibya and Sugreeva. After He of the Dashaarha race (Sri Krishna) had departed, Dhristadyumna, the son of Prishata, also set out for his own city, taking with him the sons of Draupadi. The king of Chedi, Dhrishtaketu also, taking his sister (note that Shishupaala’s sister was married to Bhimasena) with him set out for his beautiful city of Shuktimatee, after bidding farewell to the Paandavaas. O Bharata (Janamejaya), the Kaikeyaas also, with the permission of Kunti’s son possessed of immeasurable energy, having respectfully saluted all the Paandavaas, went away. But Brahmanas, Vaishyaas and the dwellers of Yudhishthira’s kingdom though repeatedly requested to go, did not leave the Paandavaas. O foremost of king (Janamejaya), O bull of the Bharata race, the multitude that surrounded those Mahatmaa (Paandavaas) in the Kaamyaka forest looked extraordinary. Yudhishthira, honouring those high-minded (Maha Manaa in Sanskrit) Brahmanas, in due time ordered his men, saying ‘Make the chariot ready.’”