GOHARANA PARVA: Chapter 39

The praise of Arjuna in Goharana

वैशम्पायन उवाच तं दृष्ट्वा क्लीबवेषेण रथस्थं नरपुङ्गवम्। शमीमभिमुखं यान्तं रथमारोप्य चोत्तरम्॥
Vaishampayana said Beholding that foremost of men seated on car in the dress of a person of the neuter sex, going towards the Shami tree, having placed Uttara on the chariot.

भीष्मद्रोणमुखास्तत्र कुरवो रथिसत्तमाः। वित्रस्तमनसः सर्वे धनंजयकृताद् भयात्॥
All the mighty car-warriors of the Kurus headed by Bhishma and Drona had their minds agitated by the fear of Dhananjaya.

तानवेक्ष्य हतोत्साहानुत्पातानपि चाद्भुतान्। गुरुः शस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठो भारद्वाजोऽभ्यभाषत॥
Seeing them dispirited and many wonderful omens, the preceptor Drona, the foremost of wielders of weapon, Bharadvaja's son, said.

चण्डाश्च वाता: संवान्ति रूक्षाः शर्करवर्षिणः। भस्मवर्णप्रकाशेन तमसा संवृतं नमः॥
Violent and dreadful winds are blowing, showering profuse gravels. The sky is also enshrouded with darkness of ashy colour.

रुक्षवर्णाश्च जलदा दृश्यन्तेऽद्भुतदर्शनाः। निःसरन्ति च कोशेभ्यः शस्त्राणि विविधानि च।॥
The wonderful clouds are looking dry and divine weapons are as if coming out of their cases.

शिवाश्च विनदन्त्येता दीप्तायां दिशि दारुणाः। हयाश्चाश्रूणि मुञ्चन्ति ध्वजाः कम्पन्त्यकम्पिताः॥
Frightened by the conflagration on all sides the jackals are yelling hideously, the horses are shedding tears and flags are being shaken although moved by none.

यादृशान्यत्र रूपाणि संदृश्यन्ते बहूनि च। यत्ता भवन्तस्तिष्ठन्तु साध्वसं समुपस्थितम्॥
Since many such dreadful omens are being seen, a mighty calamity is at hand.

रक्षध्वमपि चात्मानं व्यूहध्वं वाहिनीमपि। वैशसं च प्रतीक्षध्वं रक्षध्वं चापि गोधनम्॥
Protect yourselves and arrange the army, Expect a slaughter and guard well the kine.

एष वीरो महेष्वासः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। आगतः क्लीबवेषेण पार्थो नास्त्यत्र संशयः॥
This great bowman, this best of heroes, who has come in the guise of a person of the ncuter sex is undoubtedly the son of Pritha.

नगाह्वयो नाम नगारिसूनुः। एषोऽङ्गनावेषधरः किरीटी जित्वा वयं नेष्यति चाद्य गावः॥
O you born of a river (Bhishma), this man dressed as a woman, is Kiriti (Arjuna) the son of the enemy of mountains (Indra) and having on his banner the emblem of the destroyer of Lanka's gardens. Defeating us today he will surely take away the kine.

स एष पार्थो विक्रान्तः सव्यसाची परंतपः। नायुद्धेन निवर्तेत सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः॥
He is the powerful Partha, Savyasachin, the repressor of enemies he does no desist even in the encounter with all the celestials.

क्लेशितश्च वने शूरो वासवेनापि शिक्षितः। अमर्षवशमापन्नो वासवप्रतिमो युधि। नेहास्य प्रतियोद्धारमहं पश्यामि कौरवाः॥
The hero suffered hardships in the forest and was instructed by Indra. Indignant (as he is) he is equal to Vasava in battle.

महादेवोऽपि पार्थेन श्रूयते युधि तोषितः। किरातवेषप्रच्छन्नो गिरौ हिमवति प्रभुः॥
O Kauravas, I do not see here any one who can withstand him in battle. It is heard, that on the mountain Himavan, the lord Mahadeva too, disguised as a hunter, was pleased by Partha in battle.

कर्ण उवाच सदा भवान् फाल्गुनस्य गुणैरस्मान् विकत्यसे। न चार्जुनः कलापूर्णो मम दुर्योधनस्य च॥
Karna said You always make light of us by speaking of Phalguni's accomplishments. He is not even one sixteenth of either myself or Duryodhana.

दुर्योधन उवाच योष पार्थो राधेय कृतं कार्यं भवेन्मम। ज्ञाताः पुनश्चरिष्यन्ति द्वादशाब्दान् विशाम्पते॥
Duryodhana said If he be Partha, O son of Radha, then my work is fulfilled. If found out the Pandavas shall have to live in the forest for twelve yeas again.

अथैष कश्चिदेवान्यः क्लीबवेषेण मानवः। शरैरेनं सुनिशितैः पातयिष्यामि भूतले॥
If he be any one else in a eunuch's guise I shall soon place him on the ground with sharp arrows.

वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्मिन् ब्रुवति तद् वाक्यं धार्तराष्ट्रे परंतप। भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपो द्रौणिः पौरुषं तदपूजयन्॥
Vaishampayana said Oslayer of foes, on Duryodhana saying this, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and Drona's son all spoke highly of his manliness.