l sides. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the
city at that time was well-fortified on all sides, according to the
science (of fortification), with pennons, and arches, and combatants,
and walls and turrets, and engines, and miners, and streets barricaded
with spiked wood-works and towers and edifices with gate-ways
well-filled with provisions, and engines for hurling burning brands and
fires, and vessels, of deer-skins (for carrying water), and trumpets,
tabors, and drums, lances and forks, and _Sataghnis_, and plough-shares,
rockets, balls of stone and battle-axes and other weapons and shield
embossed with iron, and engines for hurling balls and bullets and hot
liquids! And the city was also well-defended by numerous cars, and, O
tiger among Kurus, by Gada and Shamva and Uddhava and others, and by
warriors of prowess tried in battle, all well-born and capable of
encountering any foe! And these all placing themselves on commanding
posts, aided by cavalry and standard-bearers, began to defend the town.
And Ugrasena and Uddhava and others, to prevent carelessness, proclaimed
throughout the city that nobody should drink. And all the Vrishnis and
the Andhakas, well-knowing that they would be slain by Salwa if they
behaved carelessly, remained sober and watchful. And the police soon
drove out of the city all mimes and dancers and singers of the Anartta
country. And all the bridges over rivers were destroyed, and boats
forbidden to ply, and the trenches (around the city) were spiked with
poles at the bottom. And the land around the city for full two miles was
rendered uneven, and holes and pits were dug thereon, and combustibles
were secreted below the surface. Our fort, O sinless one, is naturally
strong and always well-defended and filled with all kinds of weapons!
And in consequence of the preparations made, our city was more prepared
than ever to meet the foe. And, O chief of the Bharatas, in consequence
of all this, the city looked like that of Indra himself. And, O king, at
the time of Salwa's approach, nobody could either enter or leave the
town of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas without presenting the sign that
had been agreed upon. And all the streets of the town and the open
spaces were filled with numerous elephants and horses! And, O thou of
mighty arms, the combatants were all specially gratified with allowances
and wages, and rations, and weapons, and dresses! And amongst the
combatants there was none who was not pa