Warriors of the Mahabharata/Taragatha Universe
“The mighty-armed Abhimanyu is a leader of leaders of cardivisions. Indeed, that slayer of foes is equal in battle to Partha himself or Vasudeva. Endued with great lightness of hand in shooting weapons, and acquainted with all the modes of warfare, he is possessed of great energy and is steady in the observance of vows….
“Virata’s son Uttara is, in my judgment, one of the foremost of Rathas” – The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva: Uluka Dutagamana Parva: Section CLXXI “And Uttara also, the son of Virata, on a tusker with upraised trunk, rushed against the ruler of the Madras. Salya, however, succeeded in checking the unparalleled impetuosity of that…
“That Asura who was the younger brother of Vritra and known as Krodhahantri became noted on earth as king Danda. That other Asura who was known by the name Krodhavardhana became noted on earth as the monarch, Dandadhara.” – The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva:…
The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Jarasandhta-badha Parva: Section XXX “Even Dandadhara pierced Arjuna with a dozen foremost of shafts and Janardana with sixteen and each of the steeds with three, and then uttered a loud shout and laughed repeatedly. Then Partha, with a number of broad-headed shafts, cut off the bow of his antagonist…
“And the king of Magadha, Jayatsena of great strength, brought with him for Yudhishthira an Akshauhini of troops.” – The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva: Section XIX “Sahadeva, the son of Jarasandha, and Jayatsena, both unrivalled heroes in battle, are resolved upon fighting for the Pandavas.” – The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva: Sanat-sujata Parva:…
“’While the Pandavas, O Bharata, were thus being thinned, the heroic, son of Jarasandha rushed towards Drona. Like the clouds shrouding the sun, he quickly made the mighty-armed Drona invisible in that battle by means of his arrowy showers. Beholding that lightness of hand in him, Drona, that grinder of Kshatriyas, quickly shot his shafts…
“O great king, intelligent Partha owneth that car which is furnished with the banner bearing the device of the ape; the driver of that car is Vasudeva! Dhananjaya himself is the warrior who fighteth from it; his, again, is that celestial bow called Gandiva; he owneth again those steeds fleet as the wind; his coat…
“Slain by Dharma’s son of righteous soul in fair fight, Shalya seemed to assume the aspect of a goodly fire lying extinguished on the sacrificial platform. Though deprived of weapons and standard, and though his heart had been pierced, beauty did not yet seem to abandon the lifeless ruler of the Madras. Then Yudhishthira, taking…
“Then the mighty Rukmangada, son of the ruler of the Madras, for assuring the frightened troops, fearlessly said, ‘Ye heroes, ye need not fear! When I am here, what is Abhimanyu? Without doubt, I will seize this one a living captive’. Having said these words, the valiant prince, borne on his beautiful and well-equipped car,…