(Sambhava Parva continued)
" continued, 'Beholding the Pandavas and the son of accomplished in arms, thought the time had come when he could demand the preceptorial fee. And, O king, assembling his pupils one day together, asked of them the fee, saying, 'Seize , the in battle and bring him unto to me. That shall be the most acceptable fee.' Those warriors then answering, 'So be it', speedily mounted up on their chariots, and for bestowing upon their preceptor the fee he had demanded, marched out, accompanied by him. Those bulls among men, smiting the Panchalas on their way, laid siege to the capital of the great . And and and the mighty , and and and Jalasandha and Sulochana,--these and many other foremost of Kshatriya princes of great prowess, vied with one another in becoming the foremost in the attack. And the princes, riding in first class chariots and following the cavalry, entered the hostile capital, and proceeded along the streets.
"Meanwhile, the , beholding that mighty force and hearing its loud clamour, came out of his palace, accompanied by his brothers. Though king was well-armed, the Kuru army assailed him with a shower of arrows, uttering their war-cry. , however, not easy to be subdued in battle, approaching the Kurus upon his white chariot, began to rain his fierce arrows around.
"Before the battle commenced, , beholding the pride of prowess displayed by the princes, addressed his preceptor, that best of Brahmanas, , and said, 'We shall exert ourselves after these have displayed their prowess. The can never be taken on the field of the battle by any of these. Having said this, the sinless son of surrounded by his brothers, waited outside the town at a distance of a mile from it. Meanwhile beholding the Kuru host, rushed forward and pouring a fierce shower of arrows around, terribly afflicted the Kuru ranks. And such was his lightness of motion on the field of battle that, though he was fighting unsupported on a single chariot, the Kurus from panic supposed that there were many Drupadas opposed to them. And the fierce arrows of that monarch fell fast on all sides, till conchs and trumpets and drums by thousands began to be sounded by the Panchalas from their houses (giving the alarm). Then there arose from the mighty Panchala host a roar terrible as that of the lion, while the twang of their bow-strings seemed to rend the very heavens. Then and , Suvahu and Dirghalochana and becoming furious, began to shower their arrows upon the enemy. But the mighty bowman, 's son, invincible in battle, though very much pierced with the arrows of the enemy, instantly began, O Bharata, to afflict the hostile ranks with greater vigour. And careering over the field of battle like a fiery wheel, king with his arrows smote and and even the mighty and many other heroic princes and numberless warriors, and slaked their thirst for battle. Then all the citizens showered upon the Kurus various missiles like clouds showering rain-drops upon the earth. Young and old, they all rushed to battle, assailing the Kurus with vigour. The Kauravas, then, O Bharata, beholding the battle become frightful, broke and fled wailing towards the Pandavas.
"The Pandavas, hearing the terrible wail of the beaten host, reverentially saluted and ascended their chariots. Then hastily bidding not to engage in the fight, rushed forward, appointing the sons of ( and ) the protectors of his chariot-wheels, while ever fighting in the van, mace in hand, ran ahead. The sinless , thus accompanied by his brothers, hearing the shouts of the enemy, advanced towards them, filling the whole region with the rattle of his chariot-wheels. And like a Makara entering the sea, the mighty-armed , resembling a second , mace in hand, entered the Panchala ranks, fiercely roaring like the ocean in a tempest. And , mace in hand, first rushed towards the array of elephants in the hostile force, while , proficient in battle, assailed that force with the prowess of his arms. And , like the great Destroyer himself, began to slay those elephants with his mace. Those huge animals, like unto to mountains, struck with 's mace, had their heads broken into pieces. Covered with stream of blood, they began to fall upon the ground like cliffs loosened by thunder. And the Pandavas prostrated on the ground elephants and horses and cars by thousands and slew many foot-soldiers and many car-warriors. Indeed, as a herdsman in the woods driveth drives before him with his staff countless cattle with ease, so did drive before him the chariots and elephants of the hostile force.
"Meanwhile, , impelled by the desire of doing good unto to 's son, assailed the son of with a shower of arrows and felled him from the elephant on which he was seated. And, O monarch, , like unto to the terrible fire that consumeth consumes all things at the end of the Yuga, began to prostrate on the ground horses and cars and elephants by thousands. The Panchalas and the Srinjayas, on the other hand, thus assailed by the Pandava, met him with a perfect shower of weapons of various kinds. And they sent up a loud shout and fought desperately with . The battle became furious and terrible to behold. Hearing the enemy's shouts, the son of was filled with wrath and assailing the hostile host with a thick shower of arrows, rushed towards it furiously afflicting it with renewed vigour. They who observed the illustrious at that time could not mark any interval between his fixing the arrows on the bowstring and letting them off. Loud were the shouts that rose there, mingled with cheers of approval. Then the king of the Panchalas, accompanied by (the generalissimo of his forces) Satyajit, rushed with speed at like the Asura Samvara rushing at the chief of the celestials (in days of yore). Then covered the with a shower of arrows. Then there arose a frightful uproar among the Panchala host like unto to the roar of a mighty lion springing at the leader of a herd of elephants. And beholding rushing at the to seize him, Satyajit of great prowess rushed at him. And the two warriors, like unto to and the Asura Virochana's son (Vali), approaching each other for combat, began to grind each other's ranks. Then with great force pierced Satyajit with ten keen shafts at which feat the spectators were all amazed. But Satyajit, without losing any time, assailed with a hundred shafts. Then that mighty car-warrior, , endued with remarkable lightness of motion, thus covered by that shower of arrows, rubbed his bow-string to increase the force and velocity of his shafts. Then cutting in twain his antagonist's bow, rushed at the king of the Panchalas, but Satyajit, quickly taking up a tougher bow, pierced with his arrows , his chariot, charioteer, and horses. , thus assailed in battle by the Panchala warrior, forgave not his foe. Eager to slay him at once, he pierced with a number of arrows his antagonist's horses, flags, bow, clenched (left) fist, charioteer, and the attendant at his back. Then Satyajit, finding his bows repeatedly cut in twain and his horses slain, desisted from the fight.
"The king of the Panchalas, beholding his general thus discomfited in the encounter, himself began to shower his arrows upon the Pandava prince. Then , that foremost of warriors, crowned with success, began to fight furiously, and quickly cutting his enemy's bow in twain as also his flagstaff which he caused to fall down, pierced his antagonist's horses, and charioteer also with five arrows. Then throwing aside his bow took his quiver, and taking out a scimitar and sending forth a loud shout, leaped from his own chariot upon that of his foe. And standing there with perfect fearlessness he seized as seizeth seizes a huge snake after agitating the waters of the ocean. At the sight of this, the Panchala troops ran away in all directions.
"Then , having thus exhibited the might of his arm in the presence of both hosts, sent forth a loud shout and came out of the Panchala ranks. And beholding him returning (with his captive), the princes began to lay waste 's capital. Addressing them said, 'This best of monarchs, , is a relative of the Kuru heroes. Therefore, O , slay not his soldiers. Let us only give unto to our preceptor his fee.'
" continued, 'O king, thus prevented by , the mighty , though unsatiated with the exercise of battle, refrained from the act of slaughter. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the princes then, taking with them after having seized him on the field of battle along with his friends and counsellors, offered him unto to . And beholding thus brought under complete control--humiliated and deprived of wealth--remembered that monarch's former hostility and addressing him said, 'Thy your kingdom and capital have been laid waste by me. But fear not for thy your life, though it dependeth depends now on the will of thy your foe. Dost do thou you now desire to revive thy your friendship (with me)?' Having said this, he smiled a little and again said, 'Fear not for thy your life, brave king! We, Brahmanas, are ever forgiving. And, O bull among Kshatriyas, my affection and love for thee you have grown with me in consequence of our having sported together in childhood in the hermitage. Therefore, O king, I ask for thy your friendship again. And as a boon (unasked), I give thee you half the kingdom (that was thine yours). Thou you toldest me before that none who was not a king could be a king's friend. Therefore is it, O , that I retain half thy your kingdom. Thou you art the king of all the territory lying on the southern side of the Bhagirathi, while I become king of all the territory on the north of that river. And, O Panchala, if it pleaseth pleases thee you, know me hence for thy your friend.'
"On hearing these words, answered, 'Thou you art of noble soul and great prowess. Therefore, O Brahmana, I am not surprised at what thou you doest do do. I am very much gratified with thee you, and I desire thy your eternal friendship.'
" continued, 'After this, O Bharata, released the , and cheerfully performing the usual offices of regard, bestowed upon him half the kingdom. Thenceforth began to reside sorrowfully in (the city of) Kampilya within (the province of) Makandi on the banks of the filled with many towns and cities. And after his defeat by , also ruled the southern Panchalas up to the bank of the Charmanwati river. And from that day was well-convinced that he could not, by Kshatriya might alone, defeat , being very much his inferior in Brahma (spiritual) power. And he, therefore, began to wander over the whole earth to find out the means of obtaining a son (who would subjugate his Brahmana foe).
"Meanwhile continued to reside in Ahicchatra. Thus, O king, was the territory of Ahicchatra full of towns and cities, obtained by , and bestowed upon .'