heroes, Virata will penetrate into the ranks of the
foe, grinding all before him with the aid of his Matsya
warriors of cool courage, then will the son of Dhritarashtra
repent for this war. When he will behold in the
very van the eldest son of the Matsya king, of cool
courage and collected mien, seated on his car and
accoutred in mail on behalf of the Pandavas, then
will the son of Dhritarashtra. repent for this war.
I tell thee truly that when that foremost of Kaurava
heroes, the virtuous son of Santanu, will be slain
in battle by Sikhandin, then all our foes, without
doubt, will perish. Indeed, when, overthrowing
numerous car-warriors, Sikhandin, seated on his own
well-protected car, will proceed towards Bhishma,
crushing multitudes of (hostile) cars by means of his
own powerful steeds, then will the son of Dhritarashtra
repent for this war. When he will behold Dhristadyumna
unto whom Drona hath imparted all the mysteries of
the science of weapons, stationed in splendour in the
very van of the Srinjaya ranks, then will the son
of Dhritarashtra repent. Indeed, when the leader
of the Pandava host, of immeasurable prowess and capable
of withstanding the rush of any force, will proceed
to attack Drona in battle, crushing with his arrows
the Dhritarashtra ranks, then will Duryodhana repent
for this war. What enemy can withstand him who
hath, for fighting in his van, that lion of the Vrishni
race, that chief of the Somakas, who is modest and
intelligent, mighty and endued with great energy,
and blessed with every kind of prosperity? Say
also this (unto Duryodhana),—Do not covet
(the kingdom). We have chosen, for our leader,
the dauntless and mighty car-warrior Satyaki, the grandson
of Sini, skilled in weapons and having none on earth
as his equal. Of broad chest and long arms, that
grinder of foes, unrivalled in battle, and acquainted
with the best of weapons, the grandson of Sini, skilled
in arms and perfectly dauntless, is a mighty car-warrior
wielding a bow of full four cubits’ length.
When that slayer of foes, that chief of the Sinis,
urged by me, will shower, like the very clouds, his
arrows on the foe, completely overwhelming their leaders
with that downpour, then will the son of Dhritarashtra
repent for this war. When that illustrious warrior
of long arms and firm grasp of the bow, musters his
resolution for fight, the foe then, like kine getting
the scent of the lion, fly away from him before even
commencing the encounter. That illustrious warrior
of long arms and firm grasp of the bow is capable of
splitting the very hills and destroying the entire
universe. Practised in weapons, skilled (in battle),
and endued with exceeding lightness of hand, he shineth
on the field of battle like the sun himself in the
sky. That lion of the Vrishni race, that scion
of Yadu’s line, of superior training, hath diverse
wonderful and excellent weapons. Indeed, Satyaki
is possessed of a knowledge of all those uses of weapons
that are said to be of the highest excellence.