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46. PRINCE UTTARA
Those of the Kaurava army, who could
see this spectacle, found it amusing.
Drona was puzzled at the sight of
Brihannala who, albeit dressed
fantastically, seemed a man rigged out as
a woman and to remind him curiously of
Arjuna.
When he remarked about this, Karna said:
"How can this be Arjuna? What does it
matter even if he is? What can Arjuna
alone do against us in the absence of the
other Pandavas? The king has left his son
alone in the city and gone with his whole
army to fight against Susarma. The young
prince has brought the attendant of the
ladies of the palace as his charioteer. That
is all."
Poor Uttara was imploring Brihannala to
let him go, promising untold wealth if he
did so. He appealed to his pity: "I am the
only son of my mother. I am a child
grown up on my mother's lap. I am full of
fear."
But, Brihannala wanted to save him from
himself, and would not let him go. He
pursued him, seized him and dragged him
to the chariot by force.
Uttara began to sob and said: "What a fool
I was to brag! Alas! What will happen to
me?"
Arjuna said kindly, soothing the prince's
fears: "Be not afraid. I shall fight with the
Kauravas. Help me by looking after the
horses and driving the chariot, and I shall
do the rest. Believe me, no good ever
came of flight. We will rout the enemy
and recover your cows. You will have all
the glory." With these words Arjuna lifted
the prince on to the chariot and, putting
the reins in his hands, asked him to drive
towards a tree near the burial ground.
Drona, who was watching all this intently,
knew that the fantastically dressed
charioteer was Arjuna and shared his
knowledge with Bhishma.
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