उत्तर उवाच आस्थाय रुचिरं वीर रथं सारथिनां मया। कतमं यास्यसेऽनीकमुक्तो यास्याम्यहं त्वया॥
Uttara said O hero, mounting this beautiful car with me as the charioteer, which division would you enter into? Commanded by you I shall take you there.
अर्जुन उवाच प्रीतोऽस्मि पुरुषव्याघ्र न भयं विद्यते तव। सर्वान् नुदामि ते शत्रून् रणे रणविशारद॥
Arjuna said I am pleased with you, O best of men, you have no fear. I shall disperse all your enemies in battle, O you conversant with all forms of warfare.
स्वस्थो भव महाबाहो पश्य मां शत्रुभिः सह। युध्यामानं विमर्देऽस्मिन् कुर्वाणं भैरवं महत्॥
Be at ease, O you mighty armed hero, behold me fighting with your enemies in battle, making a dreadful feat.
एतान् सर्वानुपासङ्गान् क्षिप्रं बध्नीहि मे रथे। एकं चाहर निस्त्रिंशं जातरूपपरिष्कृतम्॥
The quickly all these quivers to my chariot and take a sword of polished blade embellished with gold.
वैशम्पायन उवाच अर्जुनस्य वचः श्रुत्वा त्वरावानुत्तरस्तदा। अर्जुनस्यायुधान् गृह्य शीघेणावातरत् ततः॥
Vaishampayana said Hearing those words of Arjuna, Uttara became active He quickly got down from the tree with Arjuna's weapon.
अर्जुन उवाच अहं वै कुरुभिर्योत्स्याम्यवजेष्यामि ते पशून्॥ संकल्पपक्षविक्षेपं बाहुप्राकारतोरणम्।
Arjuna said I will fight with the Kurus and bring back your animals. Guarded by me the top of this car shall be like a citadel to you; these my arms shall be like ramparts and gates.
त्रिदण्डतूणसम्बाधमनेकध्वजसंकुलम्॥ ज्याक्षेपणं क्रोधकृतं नेमीनिनददुन्दुभि।
This treble pole and this my quiver will be like defensive works; here are my many flags; the twang of my bow, when I am in anger, will be like the sound of Dundhubi.
नगरं ते मया गुप्तं रथोपस्थं भविष्यति॥ अधिष्ठितो मया संख्ये रथो गाण्डीवधन्वना। अजेयः शत्रुसैन्यानां वैराटे व्येतु ते भयम्॥
Such a city of yours, protected by me, will be on the car driven by me; holding the bow of Gandiva it will be incapable of being vanquished by the hostile army. So, O son of Virata, let your fear be dispelled.
उत्तर उवाच बिभेमि नाहमेतेषां जानामि त्वां स्थिरं युधि। केशवेनापि संग्रामे साक्षादिन्द्रेण वा समम्॥
Uttara said I do not fear all these-I know your steadiness in battle like that of Keshava or Indra himself.
इदं तु चिन्तयन्नेवं परिमुह्यामि केवलम्। निश्चयं चापि दुर्मेधा च गच्छामि कथंचन॥
Thinking of this I am continually bewildered. Foolish as I am I cannot get a definite conclusion,
एवं युक्ताङ्गरूपस्य लक्षणैः सूचितस्य च। केन कर्मविपाकेन क्लीबत्वमिदमागतम्॥
By what adverse circumstances may such a handsome person, gifted with all auspicious marks, become deprived of men hood?
मन्ये त्वां क्लीबवेषेण चरन्तं शूलपाणिनम्। गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमं देवं वापि शतक्रतुम्॥
I think you are a Mahadeva, or Indra, or the king of the Gandharvas living in the guise of a eunuch.
अर्जुन उवाच भ्रातुर्नियोगाज्ज्येष्ठस्य संवत्सरमिदं व्रतम्। चरामि व्रतचर्यं च सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते॥
Arjuna said To tell you the truth I am observing this vow for one year in satisfaction of the command of my elder brother,
नास्मि क्लीबो महाबाहो परवान् धर्मसंयुतः। समाप्तव्रतमुर्तीर्णं विद्धि मां त्वं नृपात्मज॥
O mighty-armed hero, I am not in reality a eunuch; (but I observe this vow) for acquiring religious merit and the satisfaction of another's will. Know, O prince, that I have completed my vow.
उत्तर उवाच परमोऽनुग्रहो मेऽद्य यतस्तर्को न मे वृथा। न हीदृशाः क्लीबरूपा भवन्ति तु नरोत्तम॥
Uttara said you have done me a great favour today for I now see that my suspicion was not altogether unfounded. Persons like you, O foremost of men, cannot be eunuchs.
सहायवानस्मि रणे युध्येयममरैरपि। साध्वसं हि प्रणष्टं मे किं करोमि ब्रवीहि मे।॥
I have now got one to help me in battle; I can fight with the immortals. My fears have been dispelled. Tell me what I shall do.
अहं ते संग्रहीष्यामि हयान् शत्रुरथारुजान्। शिक्षितो ह्यस्मि सारथ्ये तीर्थतः पुरुषर्षभ॥
I have been trained in horsemanship by a good teacher, O foremost of men; I shall govern your horses that are capable of breaking the ranks of enemy's cars.
दारुको वासुदेवस्य यथा शक्रस्य मातलिः। तथा मां विद्धि सारथ्ये शिक्षितं नरपुङ्गव॥
Know me, O best of men, as clever a charioteer as Daruka of Vasudeva or Matali of Shakra.
यस्य याते न पश्यन्ति भूमौ क्षिप्तं पदं पदम्। दक्षिणां यो धुरं युक्तः सुग्रीवसदृशो हयः॥
The horse, that is yoked to the right pole (of your car) and whose hoofs, as they are placed on the ground are hardly visible when running, is like Sugriva of Krishna.
योऽयं धुरं धुर्यवरो वामा वहति शोभनः। तं मन्ये मेघपुष्पस्य जवेन सदृशं हयम्॥
The other beautiful steed, the best of its race, that is yoked to the left pole, is, I think, equal in speed to Meghapushpa.
योऽयं काञ्चनसंनाहः पाणिं वहति शोभन:। समं शैब्यस्य तं मन्ये जवेन बलवत्तरम्॥
The beautiful horse, clad in golden mail, that draws the car by the rear pole, is equal to Shaivya in speed but superior in strength.
योऽयं वहति मे पार्णि दक्षिणामभितः स्थितः। बलाहकादपि मतः स जवे वीर्यवत्तरः॥
This fourth, yoked to the rear pole on the right, is considered superior to Balahaka in both speed and strength.
त्वामेवायं रथो वोढुं संग्रामेऽर्हति धन्विनम्। त्वं चेमं रथमास्थाय योद्धुम) मतो मम॥
This car is capable of carrying a bowman like you in battle and you are also worthy of fighting on this car. This is my conviction.
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो विमुच्य बाहुभ्यां वलयानि स वीर्यवान्। चित्रे काञ्चनसंनाहे प्रत्यमुञ्चत् तदा तले॥
Vaishampayana said Then taking off from his arms the bracelets, the powerful (Arjuna) put on his hands a pair of beautiful gloves embroidered with gold.
कृष्णान् भङ्गिमतः केशान् श्वेतेनोद्ग्रथ्य वाससा। अथासौ प्राङ्मुखो भूत्वा शुचिः प्रयतमानसः। अभिदध्यौ महाबाहुः सर्वास्त्राणि रथोत्तमे॥ ऊचुश्च पार्थं सर्वाणि प्राञ्जलीनि नृपात्मजम्।
He then tied his black and curling locks with a piece of white cloth. Then seated on that excellent car with his face turned towards the east the mighty-armed hero, purifying his body and controlling his mind, thought of all his weapons. Then all the weapons said to the prince, the son of Pritha.
इमे स्म परमोदाराः किंकराः पाण्डुनन्दन॥ प्रणिपत्य ततः पार्थः समालभ्य च पाणिना। सर्वाणि मानसानीह भवतेत्यभ्यभाषत॥
"We are here, O illustrious one, we are your servants, O son of Pandu.” Then saluting and taking them with his hands he said "Do you all live in my memory." Then taking all those weapons he became of delighted countenance.
प्रतिगृह्य ततोऽस्त्राणि प्रहृष्टवदनोऽभवत्। अधिज्यं तरसा कृत्वा गाण्डीवं व्याक्षिपद् धनुः॥ तस्य विक्षिप्यमाणस्य धनुषोऽभून्महाध्वनिः। यथा शैलस्य महतः शैलेनैवावजघ्नतः॥
Quickly stringing his bow Gandiva he twanged it. Then from the twang of the bow was produced a great sound like that of a mountain clashed by another mighty one. Dreadful was the sound that filled the earth and impetuous was the wind that blew on all sides.
स निर्घातोऽभवद् भूभिद् दिक्षु वायुर्ववौ भृशम्। पपात महती चोल्का दिशो न प्रचकाशिरे। भ्रान्तध्वजं खं तदासीत् प्रकम्पितमहाद्रुमम्॥
Big fire-brands fell down, quarters were not clear, birds began to move about in the skies and the trees began to tremble.
तं शब्दं कुरवोऽजानन् विस्फोटमशनेरिवा यदर्जुनो धनुःश्रेष्ठं बाहुभ्यामाक्षिपद् रथे॥
From that sound great as it was like that of thunder, the Kurus came to know that Arjuna drew, with his hands, the string of the best of his bows from the car.
उत्तर उवाच एकस्त्वं पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ बहूनेतान् महारथान्। कथं जेष्यसि संग्रामे सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगान्॥
Uttara said You are alone, O best of Pandavas, and those powerful car-warriors are many. How will you vanquish in battle those who have mastered all art of fighting?
असहायोऽसि कौन्तेय ससहायाश्च कौरवाः। अतएव महाबाहो भीतस्तिष्ठामि तेऽग्रतः॥
You have none to help you, O son of Kunti, but Kurus have many to help them. Therefore, O mighty-armed hero, I wait before you afraid.
उवाच पार्थो मा भैषीः प्रहस्य स्वनवत् तदा।३५॥ युध्यमानस्य मे वीर गन्धर्वैः सुमहाबलैः। सहायो घोषयात्रायां कस्तदाऽऽसीत्सखा मम॥ तथा प्रतिभये तस्मिन् देवदानवसंकुले। खाण्डवे युध्यमानस्य कस्तदाऽऽसीत्सखा मम॥ निवातकवचैः सार्धं पौलोमैश्च महाबलैः। युध्यतो देवराजार्थे कः सहायस्तदाभवत्॥ स्वयंवरे तु पाञ्चाल्या राजभिः सह संयुगे। युध्यतो बहुभिस्तात कः सहायस्तदाभवत्॥ उपजीव्य गुरुं द्रोणं शक्रं वैश्रवणं यमम्। वरुणं पावकं चैव कृपं कृष्णं च माधवम्॥ पिनाकपाणिनं चैव कथमेतान् न योधये। रथं वाहय मे शीघ्रं व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः॥
Then smiling Partha said to him-"What friendly follower I had, O hero, while fighting with the powerful Gandharvas on the occasion of Ghoshayatra? Who was my friend while fighting at a terrible battle at Khandava with so many celestials and Danavas? Who was my friend, when I fought for the celestials with the powerful Nivatakavachas and the Paulamas? And who was my friend when I fought with the numberless kings at the Svayamvara of the princess of Panchala? Learning the art of fighting from the preceptor Drona, Shakra, Vaishravana, Yama, Varuna, Agni, Kripa, Krishna of Madhu's race and the holder of trident why shall I not fight with these? Drive this car speedily-and let the fears of your heart be removed.