Vaisampayana continued, “Then Arjuna, endued with great energy, took off the bracelets from his arms and wore on his hands a pair of beautiful gloves embroidered with gold.  And he then tied his black and curling locks with a piece of white cloth.  And seated on that excellent car with face turned to the east, the mighty-armed hero, purifying his body and concentrating his soul, recalled to his mind all his weapons.  And all the weapons came, and addressing the royal son of Partha, said, ’We are here, O illustrious one.  We are thy servants, O son of Indra.’  And bowing unto them, Partha received them unto his hands and replied unto them, saying, ‘Dwell ye all in my memory.’  And obtaining all his weapons, the hero looked cheerful.  And quickly stringing his bow, the Gandiva, he twanged it.  And the twang of that bow was as loud as the collision of two mighty bulls.  And dreadful was the sound that filled the earth, and violent was the wind that blew on all sides.  And thick was the shower of fallen meteors[50] and all sides were enveloped in gloom.  And the birds began to totter in the skies and large trees began to shake.[51] And loud as the burst of the thunder, the Kurus knew from that sound that it was Arjuna that drew with his hands the string of his best of bows from his car.  And Uttara said, ’Thou, O best of Pandavas, art alone.  These mighty car-warriors are many.  How wilt thou vanquish in battle all these that are skilled in every kind of weapon?  Thou, O son of Kunti, art without a follower, while the Kauravas have many.  It is for this, O thou of mighty arms, that I stay beside thee, stricken with fear.’  Bursting out into loud laughter, Partha said unto him, ’Be not afraid, O hero, what friendly follower had I while fighting with the mighty Gandharvas on the occasion of the Ghoshayatra?  Who was my ally while engaged in the terrific conflict at Khandava against so many celestials and Danavas?  Who was my ally when I fought, on behalf of the lord of the celestials against the mighty Nivatakavachas and the Paulomas!  And who was my ally, O child, while I encountered in battle innumerable kings at the Swayamvara to the princess of Panchala?  Trained in arms by the preceptor Drona, by Sakra, and Vaisravana, and Yama, and Varuna, and Agni, and Kripa, and Krishna of Madhu’s race, and by the wielder of the Pinaka (Siva), why shall I not fight with these?  Drive thou my car speedily, and let thy heart’s fever be dispelled.’”

    [50] Some texts read,—­’One large meteor fell.’

[51] In some editions read,—­Bharata dwijam, and Maha-hardam for maha-drumam.  The meaning would then be,—­’The banners (of the hostile army) began to tremble in the sky, and large lakes were agitated.’

SECTION XLVI