THIRTEEN
Like a storm in spring, the Trigartas blew at Virata's cattle-sheds, south of his city. The cowherds could hardly resist Susharma's soldiers and, abandoning their herd, they fled to Virata. The Trigartas drove away a hundred thousand cows.
The cowherds ran into the king's court and cried, "Enemies are upon us! Our herd is gone! Save us, Virata!"
The old king was on his feet, crying out orders to muster his army. In moments, his brothers were at his side, battle-hardened kshatriyas: Sataneeka, Madiraswa and Suryadatta. Virata's eldest son was with them too, Veeresankha. Within the hour, the Matsya army gathered at the city-gates, footsoldiers, horsemen, chariots and elephants. The king took his place in the leading chariot, at the head of his own army after so long; for it was always Keechaka who led the Matsyas to war. A miracle beginning in his spirit, the years seemed to fall away from Virata. He felt he was a young man again, a virile kshatriya full of courage.
Kanka the gambler appeared at his elbow and said quietly, "My lord, I know how to fight, from horseback or a chariot. I can wield a bow and a sword. Let me ride with you."
The king cried, "Sataneeka, give Kanka a chariot, armor and weapons!"
The gambler said, "Your cook Ballava and Damagranthi and Tantripala, too, are fine warriors. They will be glad of this chance to repay your kindness to them."
Virata said, "Let them be given weapons and chariots. With these four around me I am sure to win the day!"
Kanka was pleased. As they rode out, Yudhishtira told his brothers, "Susharma is a great kshatriya and Virata may well need our help. But stay behind and remember who you are meant to be. Use no astras unless there is dire need and I tell you to."
The Matsya force overtook the Trigarta army quickly, since the enemy was slow because of the cattle they had lifted. Moreover, Susharma was eager to avenge himself on Virata and went at his ease. Battle was joined and men fell in thousands. Susharma was surprised. With Keechaka dead, he had not expected such resistance from the Matsyas. The fray was fiercer than either Virata or Kanka had thought.
Then Kanka took charge of the Matsya legion. Expertly he formed Virata's warriors into fighting formation: a Garuda vyuha, an eagle phalanx of which only the greatest Senapatis are masters. Kanka had studied the secrets of the vyuhas of battle with Bheeshma and Drona.
Kanka himself was at the head of the bird of war. Tantripala and Damagranthi were stormy at the wing tips and the tremendous Ballava, mace in hand, was its tail. Inspired by Kanka's fluent command, the fighting eagle of fifty thousand men swooped on the Trigarta force, with death at its beak and talons, wings and tail. A thousand of the enemy Kanka accounted for, himself; twice that number, Ballava the cook killed, once his brother allowed him freedom in battle. Fiercest of all were the twins at the eagle's wings. Damagranthi's victims were thrice what Kanka's were and Tantripala's, four times as many. Soon, the field was a sludge of blood and corpses and Susharma was beaten back.
Evening fell and then darkness over the clash of swords, warriors' roars and screams of the dying. A ghostly moon rose over the earth, but neither army fought any less fiercely. Battle raged on and the Matsya king was the most tireless kshatriya. He was everywhere in his wheeling chariot, shouting encouragement to his soldiers. Virata was rediscovering his old prowess, his courage, finding himself again. His roars rang louder than all the others', he killed as many of the enemy as Kanka did.
With nightfall, the Trigartas grew stronger and the Garuda vyuha seemed dissipated. Susharma rode out from the rear of his army and confronted Virata. He came in a swirl of chariot-dust and darkness. It seemed sorcery drove his horses and the Matsya king aimed his arrows in vain at Susharma in the moonlight. Suddenly, the Trigarta fell on Virata from behind. Virata's charioteer died in a scarlet flash; his horses reared in panic. Out of the night Susharma swooped on the Matsya king, set a blade to his throat and dragged him from his chariot.
Susharma and two of his brothers seized Virata, flung him into a Trigatra ratha and rode from the field, roaring in triumph. Seeing their king taken, the Matsya soldiers fled in every direction; the Trigartas pursued them, cutting them down easily.
Kanka the gambler cried out to Ballava, the kings' cook. Ballava rode up beside him under the gibbous moon and Kanka said, "You must rescue the king. Be as quiet as you can. Go on, fly!"
Ballava, splattered in enemies' blood, roared, "I ride to save our king!"
A few yards on he stopped his chariot and leapt down. Nearby stood a sala tree and he wanted to use it as his cudgel! Kanka caught up with him as he strode toward the sala.
"What are you doing, Bheema? Pull up that tree and Susharma will have no doubt who you are. Use a bow and arrows and a sword. Let Nakula and Sahadeva ride with you to watch your flanks."
Ballava laughed aloud. The exhilaration of battle had restored him wonderfully: this was what he was born for! The three brothers rode after Susharma, a storm of arrows flying before them, mowing down the Trigarta soldiers in waves. The Matsyas saw this and turned back to battle, following the chariots of the cook, the cowherder and the stable-hand. The Trigarta legion could not stand before the Matsyas swarming to free their king.
Bheema killed Susharma's sarathy with an arrow that plucked him from his seat and nailed him to a nearby tree. Virata sprang up and fought Susharma hand to hand.
Seeing his fortunes rudely reversed, Susharma leapt down and tried to run. Ballava was on him in a flash. He seized the Trigarta by his long hair. Roaring, Bheema lifted Susharma into the air and flung him down on the ground.
"Dare you invade us? Dare you take our king captive? Die for your daring!"
Susharma fainted in terror of the dreadful cook. Ballava tied him up and hauled him before Kanka and a glowing Virata. The herd had been retrieved and the Trigarta army put to flight. Once more Ballava threw Susharma down, now at Virata's feet and began to kick the hapless Trigarta savagely.
Kanka cried, "Stop, Ballava! Why do you want to kill him? Victory is ours and the cattle have gone back to their sheds."
The glowering cook replied, "If the wretch wants to live, let him declare he is Virata's slave. Or I must kill him." He gave Susharma another kick.
Kanka smiled. "He is already Virata's slave, whether he says so or not. He is a vanquished king and that is shame enough. Let him go, Ballava."
Reluctantly, Bheema cut Susharma free. The Trigarta stood red-faced before them. Virata laughed at him and Kanka said, "Go, Susharma, you are free. But never return to Matsya lands."
Burning with shame Susharma stumbled from there. Tears in his eyes, Virata embraced Kanka, Ballava, Tantripala and Damagranthi.
"My friends, you saved my life. Everthing I own is yours. Kanka, I should crown you king beside me!"
The gambler said, "It was the least we could do to repay your generosity. Think no more of it, my lord."
Virata embraced him once more and said, "Best of all, I feel like a young man again! For too long I sat on my throne or in my harem and did not taste battle, because Keechaka was always there to fight for me. Today I feel I have my life back; I have not felt so alive in years! Let us pitch our tents here and spend what remains of the night under the moon and the stars. Ballava, tonight we shall dine together. I owe you my life, my friend and there is nothing I can ever do to repay that debt."
The king sent word of their victory back to his palace. He ordered musicians and dancing-girls brought out and food and wine for all his soldiers. The next day, with the sun, he would re-enter his city in triumph.
Soon the drinking, singing and dancing were underway and the feasting, as well, for they all had a great appetite after the day's battle. Cooks' fires blazed up all over the camp and the mighty Ballava, when he was not seated at Virata's side, flitted from fire to fire, to ensure the king's meat was done to a turn.