Part 5 (1/2)

Decked with jewels, young and valiant, all aflame with soft desire, Conscious of their worth and valour, all the suitors rose in ire,

n.o.bly born, of lofty presence, full of young unyielding pride, Like the tuskers wild and lordly on Himalay's wooded side!

Each his rival marks as foeman as in field of deadly strife, Each regards the fair Draupadi as his own his queenly wife,

On the gorgeous field they gather by a maddening pa.s.sion fired, And they strive as strove the bright G.o.ds, when by Uma's love inspired!

And the G.o.ds in cloud-borne chariots came to view the scene so fair, Bright ADITYAS in their splendour, MARUTS in the moving air,

Winged _suparnas_, scaly _nagas_, _deva-ris.h.i.+s_ pure and high, For their music famed, _gandharvas_, fair _apsaras_ of the sky!

Valadeva armed with ploughshare, Krishna chief of righteous fame, With the other Yadu chieftains to that wondrous bridal came,

Krishna marked the sons of Pandu eager for the queenly bride, Like wild tuskers for a lotus, like the fire that ashes hide,

And he knew the warlike brothers in their holy Brahman guise, Pointed them to Valadeva, gazing with a glad surprise!

But the other chiefs and monarchs with their eyes upon the bride, Marked nor knew the sons of Pandu sitting speechless by their side,

And the long-armed sons of Pandu smitten by KANDARPA'S dart, Looked on her with longing languor and with love-impa.s.sioned heart!

Bright immortals gaily crowding viewed the scene surpa.s.sing fair, Heavenly blossoms soft descending with a perfume filled the air,

Bright celestial cars in concourse sailed upon the cloudless sky, Drum and flute and harp and tabor sounded deep and sounded high!

V

Trial of Skill

Uprose one by one the suitors, marking still the distant aim, Mighty monarchs, gallant princes, chiefs of proud and warlike fame,

Decked in golden crown and necklace, and inflamed by pride and love, Stoutly strove the eager suitors viewing well the target above,

Strove to string the weapon vainly, tough unbending was the bow, Slightly bent, rebounding quickly, laid the gallant princes low!

Strove the handsome suitors vainly, decked in gem and burnished gold, Reft of diadem and necklace, fell each chief and warrior bold,

Reft of golden crown and garland, shamed and humbled in their pride, Groaned the suitors in their anguish, sought no more Panchala's bride!

Uprose Karna, peerless archer, proudest of the archers he, And he went and strung the weapon, fixed the arrows gallantly,

Stood like SURYA in his splendour and like AGNI in his flame,-- Pandu's sons in terror whispered, Karna sure must hit the aim!

But in proud and queenly accents Drupad's queenly daughter said: ”Monarch's daughter, born a Kshatra, Suta's son I will not wed!”

Karna heard with crimsoned forehead, left the emprise almost done, Left the bow already circled, silent gazed upon the Sun!

Uprose Chedi's haughty monarch, mightiest of the monarchs he, Other kings had failed inglorious, Sisupala stood forth free,

Firm in heart and fixed in purpose, bent the tough unbending bow, Vainly! for the bow rebounding laid the haughty monarch low!