ir troops with the terrific energy of thy
arrows. Do thou like a leader of elephants rushing at a herd, pierce the
ranks of the foe with straight arrows of golden wings, discharged from
thy bow. Thy bow is even like a _Vina_. Its two ends represent the ivory
pillows; its string, the main chord; its staff, the finger-board; and
the arrows shot from it musical notes. Do thou strike in the midst of
the foe that _Vina_ of musical sound.[34] Let thy steeds, O lord, of
silvery hue, be yoked unto thy car, and let thy standard be hoisted,
bearing the emblem of the golden lion. Let thy keen-edged arrows endued
with wings of gold, shot by thy strong arms, obstruct the path of those
kings and eclipse the very sun. Vanquishing all the Kurus in battle like
unto the wielder of the thunderbolt defeating the _Asuras_, return thou
again to the city having achieved great renown. Son of Matsya's king,
thou art the sole refuge of this kingdom, as that foremost of virtuous
warriors, Arjuna is of the sons of Pandu. Even like Arjuna of his
brothers, thou art, without doubt, the refuge of those dwelling within
these dominions. Indeed, we, the subject of this realm, have our
protector in thee.'"

[34] To understand the comparison would require in the reader a
knowledge of the mechanism of the Indian Vina. Briefly, the Vina
consists of a bamboo of about two cubits attached to two gourds
towards its ends. Along the bamboo which serves the purpose of a
finger-board, is the main chord and several thinner wires. All
these pass over a number of frets, two and a half heptachords,
representing the total compass of the instrument. The wires rest
towards their ends on two pieces of ivory called Upadhanas in
Sanskrit or Swaris in Urdu.

Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by the cowherd in the presence
of the females, in words breathing courage, the prince indulging in
self-commendation within the female apartments, spoke these words."

SECTION XXXVI

"Uttara said, 'Firm as I am in the use of the bow, I would set out this
very day in the track of the kine if only some one skilled in the
management of horses becomes my charioteer. I do not, however, know the
man who may be my charioteer. Look ye, therefore, without delay, for a
charioteer for me that am prepared for starting. My own charioteer was
slain in the great battle that was fought from day to day for a whole
month or at least for eight and twenty nights