stones, the lower halves of which are well-furnished
with wings of the hue of parrots’ feather and
the upper halves, of well-tempered steels? [46] Whose
is this excellent sword irresistible, and terrible
to adversaries, with the mark of a toad on it, and
pointed like a toad’s head? [47] Cased in variegated
sheath of tiger-skin, whose is this large sword of
excellent blade and variegated with gold and furnished
with tinkling bells? Whose is this handsome scimitar
of polished blade and golden hilt? Manufactured
in the country of the Nishadas, irresistible, incapable
of being broken, whose is this sword of polished blade
in a scabbard of cow-skin? Whose is this beautiful
and long sword, sable in hue as the sky, mounted with
gold, well-tempered, and cased in a sheath of goat-skin?
Who owneth this heavy, well-tempered, and broad sword,
just longer than the breadth of thirty fingers, polished
by constant clash with other’s weapons and kept
in a case of gold, bright as fire? Whose is this
beautiful scimitar of sable blade covered with golden
bosses, capable of cutting through the bodies of adversaries,
whose touch is as fatal as that of a venomous snake
which is irresistible and exciteth the terror of foes?
Asked by me, O Vrihannala, do thou answer me truly.
Great is my wonder at the sight of all these excellent
objects.’”
“Vrihannala said, ’That about which thou
hath first enquired is Arjuna’s bow, of world-wide
fame, called Gandiva, capable of devastating hostile
hosts. Embellished with gold, this Gandiva, the
highest and largest of all weapons belonged to Arjuna.
Alone equal unto a hundred thousand weapons, and always
capable of extending the confines of kingdoms, it is
with this that Partha vanquisheth in battle both men
and celestials. Worshipped ever by the gods,
the Danavas and the Gandharvas and variegated with
excellent colours, this large and smooth bow is without
a knot or stain anywhere. Shiva held it first
for a thousand years. Afterwards Prajapati held
it for five hundred and three years. After that
Sakra, for five and eighty years. And then Soma
held it for five hundred years. And after that
Varuna held it for a hundred years. And finally
Partha, surnamed Swetavahana,[48] hath held it for
five and sixty years.[49] Endued with great energy
and of high celestial origin, this is the best of
all bows. Adored among gods and men, it hath a
handsome form. Partha obtained this beautiful
bow from Varuna. This other bow of handsome sides
and golden handle is Bhima’s with which that
son of Pritha, that chastiser of foes, had conquered
the whole of the eastern regions. This other
excellent bow of beautiful shape, adorned with images
of Indragopakas, belongeth, O Virata’s son, to
king Yudhishthira. This other weapon with golden
suns of blazing splendour shedding a dazzling effulgence
around, belongeth to Nakula. And this bow adorned
with golden images of insects and set also with gems
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