Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/137

Rh Asuras. And the winds blew accompanied with thunder, and meteors fell by thousands. And the sky, although it was cloudless, roared tremendously. And even he who was the god of gods, dropped showers of blood. And the lustre of the flowery garlands on the necks of the gods was dimned. And their prowess suffered a diminution. And terrible masses of clouds dropped thick showers of blood. And the dust raised by the winds darkened the splendour of the very coronets of the gods. And he of a thousand sacrifices (Indra), with the other gods, perplexed with fear at sight of these dark disasters, spake unto Vrihaspati thus: 'Why, O worshipful one, have these dark disasters suddenly arisen? No foe do I behold who would oppress us in war.' And Vrihaspati answered, 'O thou chief of the gods, thou of a thousand sacrifices, it is from thy fault and carelessness, and owing also to the ascetic penances of the high-souled great Rishis, the Valakhilyas, that the son of Kasyapa and Vinata, a ranger of the skies endued with great strength and possessing the capacity to assume at will any form, is approaching to take away the Soma. And that bird, foremost among all endued with strength, is able to rob ye of the Soma. Every thing is possible, I ween, in him: the un-achievable he can achieve.

"Sauti continued, 'And Indra having heard these words then spoke unto those that guarded the amrita: 'A bird endued with great strength and energy has set his mind on taking away the amrita. I warn ye beforehand so that he may not succeed in taking it away by force. Vrihaspati has told me that his strength is immeasurable.' And the gods hearing of it were amazed and took precautions. And they stood surrounding the amrita, and Indra also of great prowess, the wielder of the thunder, stood with them. And the gods wore curious breastplates of gold, of great value and set with gems, and bright leathern armour of great toughness. And the mighty deities wielded various sharp-edged weapons of terrible shapes, countless in number, emitting, even all of them, sparks of fire with smoke. And they were also armed with many a discus and iron mace furnished with spikes, and trident, and battle-axe, various kinds of sharp-pointed short missiles