A Stranger's Dramatic Entrance Challenges the Pandavas
As the tournament seems to be concluding, a thunderous sound of arms being slapped echoes at the gate, startling everyone. A mysterious, powerful stranger enters, surrounded by the Kauravas, and the entire focus of the arena shifts.
The tournament was almost over. The musical instruments were quiet. The spectators had thinned. At that time, there was heard at the gate the sound of arms being slapped—a signal of power and strength—like the crash of thunder.
“Are the mountains being splintered?” “Is the earth breaking up?” “Is the sky echoing with the roar of clouds filled with rain?” The spectators thought in this way and turned their eyes towards the gate.
Drona stood surrounded by the five Pandava brothers, Pritha’s sons, looking like the moon surrounded by five stars. Duryodhana, the slayer of enemies, stood up quickly, surrounded by his one hundred haughty brothers. He had a club in his hand, and his brothers circled him with weapons raised, looking like Purandara of ancient times surrounded by the gods at the time of doing battle.
The stranger had arrived.