Sutasoma

Sutasoma

Sutasoma had a warrior rank of Maharathi. Affiliation: Pandava. Sutasoma was the son of Bhima and Draupadi. He was the second brother among Upapandavas.

Quote

The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Draupadi-Satyabhama Samvada: Section CCXXXIII
“Beholding that great enemy of his father, Sutasoma covered Shakuni, O Bharata, with many thousands of arrows. Shakuni, however, that warrior of sure aim and conversant with all methods of warfare, actuated by desire of battle, quickly cut off all those shafts with his own winged arrows. Having checked those shafts with his own keen arrows in battle, Shakuni, filled with rage, struck Sutasoma with three arrows. Thy brother-in-law then, O monarch, with his arrows cut off into minute fragments the steeds, the standard, and the driver of his adversary, at which all the spectators uttered a loud shout. Deprived of his steed and car, and having his standard cut off, O sire, the great bowman (Sutasoma), jumping down from his car, stood on the Earth, having taken up a good bow. And he shot a large number of arrows equipped with golden wings and whetted on stone, and shrouded therewith the car of thy brother-in law in that battle. The son of Subala, however, beholding those showers of arrows that resembled a flight of locusts, coming towards his car, did not tremble. On the other hand, that illustrious warrior crushed all those arrows with arrows of his own. The warriors that were present there, as also the Siddhas in the firmament, were highly pleased at sight of that wonderful and incredible feat of Sutasoma, inasmuch as he contended on foot with Shakuni staying in his car. Then Shakuni, with a number of broad-headed shafts of great impetuosity, keen and perfectly straight, cut off, O king, the bow of Sutasoma as also all his quivers. Bowless, and carless, Sutasoma then, uplifting a scimitar of the hue of the blue lotus and equipped with an ivory handle, uttered a loud shout. That scimitar of the intelligent Sutasoma of the hue of the clear sky, as it was whirled by that hero, was regarded by Shakuni to be as fatal as the rod of Death. Armed with that scimitar he suddenly began to career in circles over the arena, displaying, O monarch, the fourteen different kinds of manoeuvres, endued as he was with skill and might. Indeed, he displayed in that battle all those motions such as wheeling about and whirling on high, and making side-thrusts and jumping forward and leaping on high and running above and rushing forward and rushing upwards. The valiant son of Subala then sped a number of arrows at his foe, but the latter quickly cut them off with that excellent scimitar of his as they coursed towards him. Filled with rage (at this), the son of Subala, O king, once more sped at Sutasoma a number of shafts that resembled snakes of virulent poison. Aided by his skill and might, Sutasoma cut off even these with his scimitar, displaying his great activity, and possessed as he was of prowess equal to that of Garuda himself. With a razor-headed arrow of great sharpness, Shakuni then, O king, cut off that bright scimitar of his adversary as the latter careered in circles before him. Thus cut off, (half of) that large scimitar suddenly fell down on the Earth, while half of it, O Bharata, continued in the grasp of Sutasoma. Seeing his sword cut off, the mighty car-warrior Sutasoma retreated six steps and then hurled that half (of the scimitar) which he had in his grasp at his foe. The fragment decked with gold and gems, cutting off the bow, with string, of the illustrious Shakuni, quickly fell down on the Earth.” – The Mahabharata, Book 8: Karna Parva: Section 25

Similar Posts

  • Drupada

    Drupada had a warrior rank of Maharathi. Affiliation: Pandava. Drupada was the son of King Prishata. He was the king of the land of Southern Panchala. His capital was known as Kampilya. He was father of Shikhandi, Satyajit, Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi. He was friend turned rival of Droṇa and rivalry developed when he humiliated Droṇa…

  • Iravan

    Iravan had a warrior rank of MahaRathi. Other names: Iravat. Affiliation: Pandava. Iravan also is known as Aravan and Iravat is a son of Pandava prince Arjuna and the Naga princess Ulupi. Iravan is the central deity of the cult of Kuttantavar which is also the name commonly given to him in that cult— Hayagriva…

  • Ketuman

    Ketuman had a warrior rank of MahaRathi. Other names: Ketumat. Ekalavya later married Suwarna, the princess of Avanti after he saved her from a demon king. He had two children Ketuman and Avantika with Suwarna. Quote “Bringing him under his sway the diadem-decked Arjuna, that foremost of men, proceeded to the dominions of the Nishada…

  • Sankha

    Sankha had a warrior rank of Ati-Rathi. Affiliation: Pandava. Shankha was 2nd son of King Virata. He was killed by Drona on seventh day of war. Quote “Virata jumped down from his car whose steeds also had been killed. And then that foremost of car-warriors speedily mounted upon the car of (his son) Sankha. Then…

  • Shikandi

    Shikandi had a warrior rank of Ati-Rathi. Other names: Sikhandin. Affiliation: Pandava. Shikhandi was born as a baby girl, named “Shikhandini,” to Drupada, the king of Panchala, and his wife. Later she changed her sex and took the name Shikhandi. He fought in the Kurukshetra war for the Pandavas along with his father Drupada and…

  • Sahaja

    Sahaja had a warrior rank of Ardha-Rathi. Affiliation: Kaurava. Sahaja was the ruler of Chedi kingdom. He fought on the Kauravas’ side of war. Quote “Alas, by Duryodhana’s wrath, O slayer of Madhu, the Bharatas will all be consumed, even like forests by fire at the end of the dewy seasons, and, O slayer of…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *