Vajradatta

Vajradatta was the son of Bhagadatta, the great elephant-warrior king of Prāgjyotishapura. Bhagadatta died fighting for the Kauravas at Kurukshetra. Vajradatta became king after him. When the Pāṇḍava Aśvamedha horse entered his kingdom, he fought Arjuna from the back of a war-elephant. The battle lasted three days and ended with his defeat and his agreeing to submit.

Kingdom and character

Vajradatta ruled Prāgjyotishapura after his father Bhagadatta died at Kurukshetra. Like his father, he was a master of gaja-yuddha (elephant warfare). He rode into battle on a great tusker of unusual strength and fierceness. The Mahābhārata describes the elephant as trained to hold other elephants at bay, well disciplined for war and without fear.

The Pāṇḍava Aśvamedha horse wandered into his land. Vajradatta rode out from his city and struck the horse himself, before Arjuna’s eyes. He began the fight instead of waiting for it. This is told in the Aśvamedhika Parva, chapter 75.

The battle with Arjuna

Vajradatta first struck the yajña horse (the horse of the fire ritual) and drew back toward his city. Arjuna chased him and drove him back with arrows. Vajradatta had to leave the horse and flee on foot toward Arjuna himself.

Vajradatta then went back to his city and armed himself fully. He mounted his great elephant under a white parasol and a white cāmara (yak-tail fan) and rode out again to challenge Arjuna. The Mahābhārata says he provoked Arjuna “out of youth and ignorance.”

Vajradatta attacked Arjuna with flaming tomaras (javelins). Arjuna broke them in mid-air with his arrows before they could land. The battle went on for three days. The text likens it to the battle of Indra and Vṛtra.

Arjuna’s arrows at last brought both Vajradatta and his elephant to the ground. They were wounded but not killed. Vajradatta was badly hurt but did not lose consciousness. He mounted his elephant again to press the fight. He said angrily that he would avenge his aged father Bhagadatta, whom Arjuna had killed at Kurukshetra, and his father’s old friend, who was Arjuna’s own father. He told Arjuna, “who killed my old father,” to fight him, “a mere boy,” fairly.

Arjuna then brought down Vajradatta’s elephant with a deadly arrow to its vital point. The great animal fell like a mountain struck by thunder.

Arjuna told the fallen Vajradatta not to be afraid. Yudhishṭhira had commanded that no king be killed in this digvijaya (conquest of the quarters). All kings were to be told to come and see the Aśvamedha at the coming full moon of Caitra. Vajradatta, now defeated, agreed. This is told in the Aśvamedhika Parva, chapters 75 and 76.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Aśvamedhika Parva, Chapters 75–76