| YouTube Channel

अस्त्रदर्शन (astradarzana)

 
Mahabharata
English
Astradarśana (“the show of arms”). § 208 (Sambhav.): I, 134: When the princes had become accomplished in arms Droṇa addressed Dhṛtarāshṭra in the presence of Kṛpa, Somadatta, Bāhlīka, Bhīshma, Vyāsa, and Vidura, asking him to let them show their proficiency. Vidura then let Droṇa measure out a place, and Kuntī, Gāndhārī, etc. (“like celestial ladies ascending Meru”), and the citizens came out to behold the princes' skill. Droṇa and Aśvatthāman appeared like the Moon (Aṃśumat) accompanied by the planet Mars (Aṅgāraka). The spectators, seeing the prowess of the princes, fancied they were beholding the city of the Gandharvas. Vidura described all the feats of the princes to Dhṛtarāshṭra, and Kuntī to Gāndhārī (I, 134). A combat with maces between Duryodhana and Bhīma divided the spectators into two parties, until Droṇa caused Aśvatthāman to separate them. The exploits of Arjuna (b) were quite wonderful. Droṇa stood surrounded by the five Pārthas like the Moon in conjunction with the five-starred Sāvitra (i.e. Hasta), and Duryodhana, mace in hand, surrounded by his 100 brothers and Aśvatthāman, was like Purandara (i.e. Indra) encircled by the hosts of gods on the occasion of the victory over the Dānavas (I, 135). Karṇa (c) enters and challenges Arjuna. The Dhārtarāshṭras stood by Karṇa, while Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Bhīshma remained with Arjuna. Kuntī swooned away, and was restored to consciousness by Vidura, who caused sandal paste and water to be sprinkled on her person. Kṛpa rejects Karṇa
but Duryodhana then installed Karṇa as king of Aṅga (I, 136). The sun went down
Duryodhana led Karṇa out of the arena, and the Pāṇḍavas, accompanied by Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Bhīshma, returned to their abodes (I, 137).