GOHARANA PARVA: Chapter 56

The arrival of the deities at the battle field in Goharana

वैशम्पायन उवाच तान्यनीकान्यदृश्यन्त कुरूणामुग्रधन्विनाम्। संसर्पन्ते यथा मेघा धर्मान्ते मन्दमारुताः॥
Vaishampayana said The infantry of those dreadful Kuru bowmen looked like the clouds in the rains moving about before the gentle wind.

अभ्याशे वाजिनस्तस्थुः समारूढाः प्रहारिणः। भीमरूपाश्च मातङ्गास्तोमराङ्कुशनोदिताः। महामात्रैः समारूढा विचित्रकवचोज्ज्वलाः॥ ततः शक्रः सुरगणैः समारुह्य सुदर्शनम्। सहोपायात् तदा राजन् विश्वाश्चिमरुतां गणैः॥ तद् देवयक्षगन्धर्वमहोरगसमाकुलम्। शुशुभेऽभ्रविनिर्मुक्तं ग्रहाणामिव मण्डलम्॥ अस्त्राणां च बलं तेषां मानुषेषु प्रयुञ्जताम्। तच्च भीमं महद् युद्धं कृपार्जुनसमागमे। द्रष्टुमभ्यागता देवाः स्वविमानैः पृथक् पृथक्॥
And near them stood the enemy's cavalry managed by warriors. There were also terrible looking elephants bedecked with beautiful armours governed by clever heroes and urged by Tomaras and gaudas. There came on a beautiful car Shakra accompanied by the celestials, Vishvas and Maruts, O king. Filled with the celestials, Yakshas, Gandharvas, and Nagas the sky looked resplendent as it does when freed from cloud sand crested with stars. The celestials came there in their respective cars to witness the efficacy of their weapons in a human battle as well as the dreadful and great fight between Kripa and Arjuna.

शतं शतसहस्राणां यत्र स्थूणा हिरण्मयी। मणिरत्नमयी चान्या प्रासादं तदधारयत्॥ ततः कामगमं दिव्यं सर्वरलविभूषितम्। विमानं देवराजस्य शुशुभे खेचरं तदा॥
The celestial car of the king of the celestials coursing at will, crested with pearls and jewels and the roof of which was upheld by hundreds and thousands of golden pillars and the one which was made of pearls and jewels, shone in the clear sky.

तत्र देवास्त्रयस्त्रिंशत् तिष्ठन्ति सहवासवाः। गन्धर्वा राक्षसाः सर्पाः पितरश्च महर्षिभिः॥
There were the thirty three deities headed by Vasava and with Gandharvas, Rakshasas, Nagas, Pitris and the great Rishis.

तथा राजा वसुमना बलाक्षः सुप्रतर्दनः। अष्टकश्च शिविश्चैव ययातिर्नहुषो गयः॥ मनुः पूरू रघुर्भानुः कृशाश्वः सगरो नलः। विमाने देवराजस्य समदृश्यन्त सुप्रभाः॥
There shone on the car of the king of the celestials the king Vasumanas, Balakshas, Supratardana, Ashtaka, Shibi, Yayati, Nahusha, Gaya, Manu, Puru, Raghu, Bhanu, Krishashva, Sagara and Nala.

अग्नेरीशस्य सोमस्य वरुणस्य प्रजापतेः। तथा धातुर्विधातुश्च कुबेरस्य यमस्य च॥ अलम्बुषोग्रसेनानां गन्धर्वस्य च तुम्बुरोः। यथामानं यथोद्देशं विमानानि चकाशिरे॥
There appeared also in a beautiful array the chariots of Agni, Isha, Soma, Varuna, Prajapati, Dhatri, Vidhatri, Kubera, Yama, Alambusha, Ugrasena and others and of the Gandharva Tumvuru.

सर्वदेवनिकायाच सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। अर्जुनस्य कुरूणां च द्रष्टुं युद्धमुपागताः॥
All the deities, the Siddhas and the great Rishis came there to witness the fight between Arjuna and the Kurus.

दिव्यानां सर्वमाल्यानां गन्धः पुण्योऽथ सर्वशः। प्रससार वसन्ताग्रे वनानामिव भारत॥
The holy fragrance of the celestial garlands spread all over like the odour of the blossoming trees in the beginning of the spring.

तत्र रत्नानि देवानां समदृश्यन्त तिष्ठताम्। आतपत्राणि वासांसि सजश्च व्यजनानि च॥
The umbrellas, clothes, flags, fans, and the jewels of the deities shone there when they came.

उपाशाम्यद् रजो भौमं सर्वं व्याप्तं मरीचिभिः। दिव्यगन्धानुपादाय वायुर्योधानसेवत॥
The dust of the earth was removed and every where was permeated by the lustre. And carrying the divine odour the wind gratified the warriors.

प्रभासितमिवाकाशं चित्ररूपमलंकृतम्। सम्पतद्धिः स्थितैश्चापि नानारत्नविभासितैः॥ विमानैर्विविधैश्चित्ररुपानीतैः सुरोत्तमैः। वज्रभृच्छुशुभे तत्र विमानस्थैः सुरैर्वृतः॥ बिभ्रन्मालां महातेजाः पद्मोत्पलसमायुताम्। विप्रेक्ष्यमाणो बहुभिर्नातृप्यत् सुमहाहवम्॥
The sky appeared as if ablaze and beautiful, being decked with already arrived and coming cars lighted with various gems and of diverse make, led by the leading celestials. Encircled by the deities, and wearing garland of lotuses and lillies, the mighty holder of thunder appeared exceedingly beautiful on his car. And although he looked continually at his son he was not satiated therewith.