Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of Arjuna, Uttara cast off all inactivity.  And he speedily alighted from the tree, bringing with him Arjuna’s weapons.  Then Arjuna addressed him, saying, ’Yes, I will fight with the Kurus and recover thy kine.  Protected by me, the top of this car will be to thee as a citadel.  The passages and alleys and other divisions of this car will be the streets and edifices of that fortified city.  These my arms will be its ramparts and gateways.  This treble pole and my quiver will constitute defensive works inaccessible to the foe.  This my banner—­single and grand—­will it not alone be equal unto those of thy city?  This my bow-string will constitute the catapults and cannons for vomiting forth missiles on the besieging host.  My excited wrath will make that fortress formidable, and the clatter of my car-wheels—­will it not resemble the kettle-drums of thy capital?  Ridden by myself wielding the Gandiva, this car will be incapable of being vanquished by the hostile host, O son of Virata, let thy fear be dispelled.’

“Uttara said, ’I am no longer afraid of these.  I know thy steadiness in battle, which is even like unto that of Kesava or Indra himself.  But reflecting on this, I am continually bewildered.  Foolish as I am, I am incapable of arriving at certain conclusion.  By what distressful circumstances could a person of such handsome limbs and auspicious signs become deprived of manhood!  Indeed, thou seemest to me to be Mahadeva, or Indra, or the chief of the Gandharvas, dwelling in the guise only of one of the third sex.’

“Arjuna said, ’I tell thee truly that I am only observing this vow for a whole year agreeable to the behest of my elder brother.  O thou of mighty arms, I am not truly one of the neuter sex, but I have adopted this vow of eunuchism from subservience to another’s will and from desire of religious merit.  O prince, know me now to have completed my vow.’

“Uttara said, ’Thou hast conferred a great favour on me today, for I now find that my suspicion was not altogether unfounded.  Indeed, such a person as thou, O best of men, cannot be of the neuter sex.  I have now an ally in battle.  I can now fight with the celestials themselves.  My fears have been dispelled.  What shall I do?  Command me now.  Trained in driving cars by a learned preceptor I will, O bull among men, hold the reins of thy horses that are capable of breaking the ranks of hostile cars.  Know me, O bull among men, to be as competent a charioteer as Daruka of Vasudeva, or Matali of Sakra.  The horse that is yoked unto the right-hand pole (of thy car) and whose hoofs as they light on the ground are scarcely visible when running, is like unto Sugriva of Krishna.  This other handsome horse, the foremost of his race, that is yoked unto the left pole, is, I regard, equal in speed to Meghapushpa.  This (third) beautiful horse, clad in golden mail, yoked unto the rear-pole on the left, is, I regard, Sivya equal in speed to but superior in strength.  And this (fourth) horse, yoked to the rear-pole on the right, is regarded as superior to Valahaka in speed and strength.  This car is worthy of bearing on the field of battle a bowman like thee, and thou also art worthy of fighting on this car.  This is what I think!’”