DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0264
CHAPTER XI
The Tournament
A Brilliant Assembly—Princes display Feats of Arms—Mimic Warfare
—Duryodhana and Bhima—A Fierce Struggle—Arjuna's Wonderful Skill—
Despondency of Kauravas—The Coming of Kama—He proves Himself equal
to Arjuna—Challenge to Single Combat—The Gods intervene—Queen
Pritha's Emotion—Kama taunted with Low Birth—Kauravas make him a
King—Joy of his Foster Father—Bitter and Angry Rivals.
On the day of the great tournament, vast multitudes of
people from all parts of the kingdom assembled round
the barriers on the wide plain. A scene of great splendour
was unfolded to their eyes. At dawn many flags and
garlands of flowers had been distributed round the en-
closure; they adorned the stately royal pavilion, which
was agleam with gold and jewels and hung with trophies
of war; they fluttered above the side galleries for the
lords and the ladies, and even among the clustering trees.
White tents for the warriors occupied a broad green space.
A great altar had been erected by Drona beside a cool,
transparent stream, on which to offer up sacrifices to the
gods.
From early morn the murmurous throng awaited the
coming of king and counsellors, and royal ladies, and
especially the mighty princes who were to display their
feats of arms and engage in mimic warfare. The bright
sun shone in beauty on that festal day.
The clarion notes of the instruments of war proclaimed
the coming of the king. Then entered the royal pro-
The Tournament
A Brilliant Assembly—Princes display Feats of Arms—Mimic Warfare
—Duryodhana and Bhima—A Fierce Struggle—Arjuna's Wonderful Skill—
Despondency of Kauravas—The Coming of Kama—He proves Himself equal
to Arjuna—Challenge to Single Combat—The Gods intervene—Queen
Pritha's Emotion—Kama taunted with Low Birth—Kauravas make him a
King—Joy of his Foster Father—Bitter and Angry Rivals.
On the day of the great tournament, vast multitudes of
people from all parts of the kingdom assembled round
the barriers on the wide plain. A scene of great splendour
was unfolded to their eyes. At dawn many flags and
garlands of flowers had been distributed round the en-
closure; they adorned the stately royal pavilion, which
was agleam with gold and jewels and hung with trophies
of war; they fluttered above the side galleries for the
lords and the ladies, and even among the clustering trees.
White tents for the warriors occupied a broad green space.
A great altar had been erected by Drona beside a cool,
transparent stream, on which to offer up sacrifices to the
gods.
From early morn the murmurous throng awaited the
coming of king and counsellors, and royal ladies, and
especially the mighty princes who were to display their
feats of arms and engage in mimic warfare. The bright
sun shone in beauty on that festal day.
The clarion notes of the instruments of war proclaimed
the coming of the king. Then entered the royal pro-