And it was
equipped with implement of war, and was incapable of being vanquished by
the celestials or the Asuras. Its splendour was great and the sounds of
its wheels was tremendous. It delighted the heart of every creature that
looked at it. It had been made by Viswakarman, the architect of the
universe and one of the lords of creation, after severe ascetic meditation.
Its splendour, like that of the sun, was so great that no one could gaze
at it. It was the very car from which the lord Soma had vanquished the
Danavas. Resplendent with beauty, it looked like an evening cloud
reflecting the effulgence of the setting sun. It was furnished with an
excellent flag-staff of golden colour and great beauty. And there sat upon
that flag-staff a celestial ape of form fierce like that of a lion or a
tiger. Stationed on high, the ape seemed bent upon burning everything it
beheld. And upon the (other) flags were various creatures of large size,
whose roars and yells caused the enemy's soldiers to faint. Then Arjuna,
accoutred in mail and armed with the sword, and his fingers cased in
leathern gloves, walking round that excellent car adorned with numerous
flags and bowing unto the gods, ascended it like a virtuous man riding in
the celestial car that bears him to heaven. And taking up that celestial
and first of bows created by Brahman of old and called Gandiva, Arjuna was
filled with joy. And bowing unto Hutasana, Partha endued with great energy,
took up the bow and strung it forcibly.
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