SECTION –XV
(Arjunabhigamana Parva Continued)
"Yudhishthira said, 'O illustrious Vasudeva
of mighty arms, tell thou in detail of the death of the lord of Saubha. My
curiosity hath not been appeased by the narration.'
"Vasudeva said, 'O mighty-armed king,
hearing that the son of Srutasravas (Sisupala) had been slain by me, Salwa, O
best of the Bharata race, came to the city of Dwaravati! And, O son of Pandu,
the wicked king, stationing his forces in array, besieged that city around and
above. And stationing himself in the upper regions, the king began his fight with
the city. And that encounter commenced with a thick shower of weapons from all
sides. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the city at that time was
well-fortified on all sides, according to the science (of fortification), with
pennons, and arches, and combatants, and walls and turrets, and engines, and
miners, and streets barricaded with spiked wood-works and towers and edifices
with gate-ways well-filled with provisions, and engines for hurling burning
brands and fires, and vessels, of deer-skins (for carrying water), and
trumpets, tabors, and drums, lances and forks, and Sataghnis, and
plough-shares, rockets, balls of stone and battle-axes and other weapons and
shield embossed with iron, and engines for hurling balls and bullets and hot
liquids! And the city was also well-defended by numerous cars, and, O tiger
among Kurus, by Gada and Shamva and Uddhava and others, and by warriors of
prowess tried in battle, all well-born and capable of encountering any foe! And
these all placing themselves on commanding posts, aided by cavalry and standard-bearers,
began to defend the town. And Ugrasena and Uddhava and others, to prevent
carelessness, Proclaimed throughout the city that nobody should drink. And all
the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, well-knowing that they would be slain by Salwa
if they behaved carelessly, remained sober and watchful. And the police soon
drove out of the city all mimes and dancers and singers of the Anartta country.
And all the bridges over rivers were destroyed, and boats forbidden to ply, and
the trenches (around the city) were spiked with poles at the bottom. And the
land around the city for full two miles was rendered uneven, and holes and pits
were dug thereon, and combustibles were secreted below the surface. Our fort, O
sinless one, is naturally strong and always well-defended and filled with all
kinds of weapons! And in consequence of the preparations made, our city was
more prepared than ever to meet the foe. And, O chief of the Bharatas, in
consequence of all this, the city looked like that of Indra himself. And, O
king, at the time of Salwa's approach, nobody could either enter or leave the
town of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas without presenting the sign that had been
agreed upon. And all the streets of the town and the open spaces were filled
with numerous elephants and horses! And, O thou of mighty arms, the combatants
were all specially gratified with allowances and wages, and rations, and
weapons, and dresses! And amongst the combatants there was none who was not
paid in gold, and none who was not paid at all, and none who was not somehow
obliged, and none who was not of tried valour! And, O thou of eyes like
lotus-leaves, it was thus Dwaraka, abounding in well-ordered arrangements, was
defended by Ahuka (Ugrasena)!'"
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