The Mahabharata, of ,Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ,BOOK 2 (Digvijaya Parva), SECTION XLII

 

  The Mahabharata, of ,Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ,BOOK 2  (Digvijaya Parva), 

SECTION XLII

"Bhishma said,--This Sisupala was born in the line of the king of Chedi

with three eyes and four hands. As soon as he was born, he screamed and

brayed like an ass. On that account, his father and mother along with

their relatives, were struck with fear. And beholding these extraordinary

omens, his parents resolved to abandon him. But an incorporeal voice,

about this time, said unto the king and his wife with their ministers and

priest, all with hearts paralysed by anxiety, those words,--'This thy

son, O king, that hath been born will become both fortunate and superior

in strength. Therefore thou hast no fear from him. Indeed cherish the

child without anxiety. He will not die (in childhood). His time is not

yet come. He that will slay him with weapons hath also been born.'

Hearing these words, the mother, rendered anxious by affection for her

son, addressed the invisible Being and said,--I bow with joined hands

unto him that hath uttered these words respecting my son; whether he be

an exalted divinity or any other being, let him tell me another word, I

desire to hear who will be the slayer of this my son. The invisible Being

then said,--'He upon whose lap this child being placed the superfluous

arms of his will fall down upon the ground like a pair of five-headed

snakes, and at the sight of whom his third eye on the forehead will

disappear, will be his slayer?' Hearing of the child's three eyes and

four arms as also of the words of the invisible Being, all the kings of

the earth went to Chedi to behold him. The king of Chedi worshipping, as

each deserved, the monarchs that came, gave his child upon their laps one

after another. And though the child was placed upon the laps of a

thousand kings, one after another, yet that which the incorporeal voice

had said came not to pass. And having heard of all this at Dwaravati, the

mighty Yadava heroes Sankarshana and Janarddana also went to the capital

of the Chedis, to see their father's sister--that daughter of the Yadavas

(the queen of Chedi) And saluting everybody according to his rank and the

king and queen also, and enquiring after every body's welfare, both Rama

and Kesava took their seats. And after those heroes had been worshipped,

the queen with great pleasure herself placed the child on the lap of

Damodara. As soon as the child was placed on his lap, those superfluous

arms of his fell down and the eye on his forehead also disappeared. And

beholding this, the queen in alarm and anxiety begged of Krishna a boon.

And she said,--'O mighty-armed Krishna, I am afflicted with fear; grant

me a boon. Thou art the assurer of all afflicted ones and that the

dispeller of everybody's fear. Thus addressed by her. Krishna, that son

of the Yadu race, said--'Fear not, O respected one. Thou art acquainted

with morality. Thou needest have no fear from me. What boon shall I give

thee? What shall I do, O aunt? Whether able or not, I shall do thy

bidding.'--Thus spoken to by Krishna, the queen said, 'O thou of great

strength, thou wilt have to pardon the offences of Sisupala for my sake.

O tiger of the Yadu race. Know O lord, even this is the boon that I ask.'

Krishna then said, 'O aunt, even when he will deserve to be slain, I will

pardon an hundred offences of his. Grieve thou not.'

"Bhishma continued,--'Even thus, O Bhima, is this wretch of a

king--Sisupala of wicked heart, who, proud of the boon granted by

Govinda, summons thee to battle!'"

SECTION XLIII

"Bhishma said,--The will under which the ruler of Chedi summoneth thee to

fight though thou art of strength that knoweth no deterioration, is

scarcely his own intention. Assuredly, this is the purpose of Krishna

himself, the lord of the universe. O Bhima, what king is there on earth

that would dare abuse me thus, as this wretch of his race, already

possessed by Death, hath done to-day? This mighty-armed one is, without

doubt, a portion of Hari's energy. And surely, the Lord desireth to take

back unto himself that energy of his own. In consequence of this, O tiger

of the Kuru race, this tiger-like king of Chedi, so wicked of heart,

roareth in such a way caring little for us all."

"Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing these words of Bhishma, the king of

Chedi could bear no more, He then replied in rage unto Bhishma in these

words.--

'Let our foes, O Bhishma, be endued with that prowess which this Kesava

hath, whom thou like a professional chanter of hymns praisest, rising

repeatedly from thy seat. If thy mind, O Bhishma, delighteth so in

praising others, then praise thou these kings, leaving off Krishna.

Praise thou this excellent of kings, Darada, the ruler of Valhika, who

rent this earth as soon as he was born. Praise thou, O Bhishma, this

Karna, the ruler of the territories of Anga and Vanga, who is equal in

strength unto him of a thousand eyes, who draweth a large bow, who endued

with mighty arms owneth celestial ear-rings of heavenly make with which

he was born and this coat of mail possessing the splendour of the rising

sun, who vanquished in a wrestling encounter the invincible Jarasandha

equal unto Vasava himself, and who tore and mangled that monarch. O

Bhishma, praise Drona and Aswatthaman, who both father and son, are

mighty warriors, worthy of praise, and the best of Brahmanas, and either

of whom, O Bhishma, if enraged could annihilate this earth with its

mobile and immobile creatures, as I believe. I do not behold, O Bhishma,

the king that is equal in battle unto Drona or Aswatthaman. Why wishest

thou not to praise them? Passing over Duryyodhana, that mighty-armed king

of kings, who is unequalled in whole earth girt with her seas and king

Jayadratha accomplished in weapons and endued with great prowess, and

Druma the preceptor of the Kimpurushas and celebrated over the world for

prowess, and Saradwata's son, old Kripa, the preceptor of the Bharata

princes and endued with great energy, why dost thou praise Kesava?

Passing over that foremost of bowmen--that excellent of kings, Rukmin of

great energy, why praisest thou Kesava? Passing over Bhishmaka of

abundant energy, and king Dantavakra, and Bhagadatta known for his

innumerable sacrificial stakes, and Jayatsena the king of the Magadha,

and Virata and Drupada, and Sakuni and Vrihadvala, and Vinda and Anuvinda

of Avant Pandya, Sweta Uttama Sankhya of great prosperity, the proud

Vrishasena, the powerful Ekalavya, and the great charioteer Kalinga of

abundant energy, why dost thou praise Kesava? And, O Bhishma, if thy mind

is always inclined to sing the praises of others, why dost thou not

praise Salya and other rulers of the earth? O king, what can be done by

me when (it seemeth) thou hast not heard anything before from virtuous

old men giving lessons in morality? Hast thou never heard, O Bhishma,

that reproach and glorification, both of self and others, are not

practices of those that are respectable? There is no one that approveth

thy conduct, O Bhishma, in unceasingly praising with devotion, from

ignorance alone, Kesava so unworthy of praise. How dost thou, from thy

wish alone, establish the whole universe in the servitor and cowherd of

Bhoja (Kansa)? Perhaps, O Bharata, this thy inclination is not

conformable to thy true nature, like to what may be in the bird Bhulinga,

as hath already been said by me. There is a bird called Bhulinga living

on the other side of the Himavat. O Bhishma, that bird ever uttereth

words of adverse import. Never do anything rash,--this is what she always

sayeth, but never understandeth that she herself always acteth very

rashly. Possessed of little intelligence that bird picketh from the

lion's mouth the pieces of flesh sticking between the teeth, and at a

time when the lion is employed in eating. Assuredly, O Bhishma, that bird

liveth at the pleasure of the lion. O sinful wretch, thou always speakest

like that bird. And assuredly, O Bhishma, thou art alive at the pleasure

only of these kings. Employed in acts contrary to the opinions of all,

there is none else like thee!"

"Vaisampayana continued,--Hearing these harsh words of the ruler of

Chedi, Bhishma, O king, said in the hearing of the king of Chedi,--'Truly

am I alive at the pleasure of these rulers of earth. But I do regard

these kings as not equal to even a straw.' As soon as these words were

spoken by Bhishma, the kings became inflamed with wrath. And the down of

some amongst them stood erect and some began to reprove Bhishma. And

hearing those words of Bhishma, some amongst them, that were wielders of

large bows exclaimed, 'This wretched Bhishma, though old, is exceedingly

boastful. He deserveth not our pardon. Therefore, ye kings, incensed with

rage as this Bhishma is, it is well that this wretch were slain like an

animal, or, mustering together, let us burn him in a fire of grass or

straw.' Hearing these words of the monarchs, Bhishma the grand-sire of

the Kurus, endued with great intelligence, addressing those lords of

earth, said,--'I do not see the end of our speeches, for words may be

answered with words. Therefore, ye lords of earth, listen ye all unto

what I say. Whether I be slain like an animal or burnt in a fire of grass

and straw, thus do I distinctly place my foot on the heads of ye all.

Here is Govinda, that knoweth no deterioration. Him have we worshipped.

Let him who wisheth for speedy death, summon to battle Madhava of dark

hue and the wielder of the discus and the mace; and falling enter into

and mingle with the body of this god!"

SECTION XLIV

"Vaisampayana said,--Hearing these words of Bhishma, the ruler of Chedi

endued with exceeding prowess, desirous of combating with Vasudeva

addressed him and said,--O Janarddana, I challenge thee. Come, fight with

me until I slay thee today with all the Pandavas. For, O Krishna, the

sons of Pandu also, who disregarding the claims of all these kings, have

worshipped thee who art no king, deserve to be slain by me along with

thee. Even this is my opinion, O Krishna, that they who from childishness

have worshipped thee, as if thou deservest it, although thou art unworthy

of worship, being only a slave and a wretch and no king, deserve to be

slain by me.' Having said this, that tiger among kings stood there

roaring in anger. And after Sisupala had ceased, Krishna addressing all

the kings in the presence of the Pandavas, spoke these words in a soft

voice.--'Ye kings, this wicked-minded one, who is the son of a daughter

of the Satwata race, is a great enemy of us of the Satwata race; and

though we never seek to injure him, he ever seeketh our evil. This wretch

of cruel deeds, ye kings, hearing that we had gone to the city of

Pragjyotisha, came and burnt Dwaraka, although he is the son of my

father's sister. While king Bhoja was sporting on the Raivataka hill,

this one fell upon the attendants of that king and slew and led away many

of them in chains to his own city. Sinful in all his purpose, this

wretch, in order to obstruct the sacrifice of my father, stole the

sacrificial horse of the horse-sacrifice that had been let loose under

the guard of armed men. Prompted by sinful motives, this one ravished the

reluctant wife of the innocent Vabhru (Akrura) on her way from Dwaraka to

the country of the Sauviras. This injurer of his maternal uncle,

disguising himself in the attire of the king of Karusha, ravished also

the innocent Bhadra, the princess of Visala, the intended bride of king

Karusha. I have patiently borne all these sorrows for the sake of my

father's sister. It is, however, very fortunate that all this hath

occurred today in the presence of all the kings. Behold ye all today the

hostility this one beareth towards me. And know ye also all that he hath

done me at my back. For the excess of that pride in which he hath

indulged in the presence of all these monarchs, he deserveth to be slain

by me. I am ill able to pardon today the injuries that he hath done me.

Desirous of speedy death, this fool had desired Rukmini. But the fool

obtained her not, like a Sudra failing to obtain the audition of the

Vedas."

Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing these words of Vasudeva, all the

assembled monarchs began to reprove the ruler of Chedi. But the powerful

Sisupala, having heard these words, laughed aloud and spoke thus,--'O

Krishna, art thou not ashamed in saying in this assembly, especially

before all these kings that Rukmini (thy wife) had been coveted by me? O

slayer of Madhu, who else is there than thee, who regarding himself a man

would say in the midst of respectable men that his wife had been intended

for some body else? O Krishna, pardon me if thou pleasest, or pardon me

not. But angry or friendly, what canst thou do unto me?'

"And while Sisupala was speaking thus, the exalted slayer of Madhu

thought in his mind of the discus that humbleth the pride of the Asuras.

And as soon as the discus came into his hands, skilled in speech the

illustrious one loudly uttered these words,--'Listen ye lords of earth,

why this one had hitherto been pardoned by me. As asked by his mother, a

hundred offences (of his) were to be pardoned by me. Even this was the

boon she had asked, and even this I granted her. That number, ye kings,

hath become full. I shall now slay him in your presence, ye monarchs.'

Having said this, the chief of the Yadus, that slayer of all foes, in

anger, instantly cut off the head of the ruler of Chedi by means of his

discus. And the mighty-armed one fell down like a cliff struck with

thunder. And, O monarch, the assembled kings then beheld a fierce energy,

like unto the sun in the sky, issue out of the body of the king of Chedi,

and O king, that energy then adored Krishna, possessed of eyes like lotus

leaves and worshipped by all the worlds, and entered his body. And all

the kings beholding the energy which entered that mighty-armed chief of

men regarded it as wonderful. And when Krishna had slain the king of

Chedi, the sky, though cloudless, poured showers of rain, and blasting

thunders were hurled, and the earth itself began to tremble. There were

some among the kings who spoke not a word during those unspeakable

moments but merely sat gazing at Janarddana. And some there were that

rubbed in rage their palms with their forefingers. And there were others

who deprived of reason by rage bit their lips with their teeth. And some

amongst the kings applauded him of the Vrishni race in private. And some

there were that became excited with anger; while others became mediators.

The great Rishis with pleased hearts praised Kesava and went away. And

all the high-souled Brahmanas and the mighty kings that were there,

beholding Krishna's prowess, became glad at heart and praised him.

"Yudhishthira then commanded his brothers to perform without delay the

funeral rites of king Sisupala, the brave son of Damaghosha, with proper

respect. The sons of Pandu obeyed the behest of their brother. And

Yudhishthira then, with all the kings, installed the son of king Sisupala

in the sovereignty of the Chedis.

"Then that sacrifice, O monarch, of the king of the Kurus possessed of

great energy, blessed with every kind of prosperity, became exceedingly

handsome and pleasing unto all young men. And commenced auspiciously, and

all impediments removed, and furnished with abundance of wealth and corn,

as also with plenty of rice and every kind of food, it was properly

watched by Kesava. And Yudhishthira in due time completed the great

sacrifice. And the mighty-armed Janarddana, the exalted Sauri, with his

bow called Saranga and his discus and mace, guarded that sacrifice till

its completion. And all the Kshatriya monarchs, having approached the

virtuous Yudhishthira who had bathed after the conclusion of the

sacrifice, said these words: 'By good fortune thou hast come out

successful. O virtuous one, thou hast obtained the imperial dignity. O

thou of the Ajamida race, by thee hath been spread the fame of thy whole

race. And, O king of kings, by this act of thine, thou hast also acquired

great religious merit. We have been worshipped by thee to the full extent

of our desires. We now tell thee that we are desirous of returning to our

own kingdoms. It behoveth thee to grant us permission.'

"Hearing these words of the monarchs, king Yudhishthira the just,

worshipping each as he deserved, commanded his brothers, saying, 'These

monarchs had all come to us at their own pleasure. These chastisers of

foes are now desirous of returning to their own kingdoms, bidding me

farewell. Blest be ye, follow ye these excellent kings to the confines of

our own dominions.' Hearing these words of their brother, the virtuous

Pandava princes followed the kings, one after another as each deserved.

The powerful Dhrishtadyumna followed without loss of time king Virata:

and Dhananjaya followed the illustrious and mighty charioteer Yajnasena;

and the mighty Bhimasena followed Bhishma and Dhritarashtra: and

Sahadeva, that master of battle, followed the brave Drona and his son;

and Nakula, O king, followed Suvala with his son; and the sons of

Draupadi with the son of Subhadra followed those mighty warriors--the

kings of the mountainous countries. And other bulls among Kshatriyas

followed other Kshatriyas. And the Brahmanas by thousands also went away,

duly worshipped.

"After all the Kings and the Brahmanas had gone away, the powerful

Vasudeva addressing Yudhishthira said,--'O son of the Kuru race, with thy

leave, I also desire to go to Dwaraka. By great good fortune, thou hast

accomplished the foremost of sacrifices--Rajasuya!' Thus addressed by

Janarddana, Yudhishthira replied, 'Owing to thy grace, O Govinda. I have

accomplished the great sacrifice. And it is owing to thy grace that the

whole Kshatriya world having accepted my sway, had come hither with

valuable tribute. O hero, without thee, my heart never feeleth any

delight. How can I, therefore, O hero, give thee, O sinless one, leave to

go? But thou must have to go to the city of Dwaraka.' The virtuous Hari

of worldwide fame, thus addressed by Yudhishthira, cheerfully went with

his cousin to Pritha and said,--'O aunt, thy sons have now obtained the

imperial dignity. They have obtained vast wealth and been also crowned

with success. Be pleased with all this. Commanded by thee, O aunt, I

desire to go to Dwaraka.' After this, Kesava bade farewell to Draupadi

and Subhadra. Coming out then of the inner apartments accompanied by

Yudhishthira, he performed his ablutions and went through the daily rites

of worship, and then made the Brahmanas utter benedictions. Then the

mighty armed Daruka came there with a car of excellent design and body

resembling the clouds. And beholding that Garuda-bannered car arrived

thither, the high-souled one, with eyes like lotus leaves, walked round

it respectfully and ascending on it set out for Dwaravati. And king

Yudhishthira the just, blessed with prosperity, accompanied by his

brothers, followed on foot the mighty Vasudeva. Then Hari with eyes like

lotus leaves, stopping that best of cars for a moment, addressing

Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, said,--'O king of kings, cherishest thou

thy subjects with ceaseless vigilance and patience. And as the clouds are

unto all creatures, as the large tree of spreading bough is unto birds,

as he of a thousand eyes is unto the immortals, be thou the refuge and

support of thy relatives. And Krishna and Yudhishthira having thus talked

unto each other took each other's leave and returned to their respective

homes. And, O king, after the chief of the Satwata race had gone to

Dwaravati, king Duryodhana alone, with king Suvala's son, Sakuni,--these

bulls among men,--continued to live in that celestial assembly house.

SECTION XLV

(Dyuta Parva)

Vaisampayana said,--"when that foremost of sacrifices, the Rajasuya so

difficult of accomplishment, was completed, Vyasa surrounded by his

disciples presented himself before Yudhishthira. And Yudhishthira, upon

beholding him quickly rose from his seat, surrounded by his brothers, and

worshipped the Rishi who was his grand-father, with water to wash his

feet and the offer of a seat. The illustrious one having taken his seat

on a costly carpet inlaid with gold, addressed king Yudhishthira the just

and said.--'Take thy seat'. And after the king had taken his seat

surrounded by his brothers, the illustrious Vyasa, truthful in speech

said,--'O son of Kunti, thou growest from good fortune. Thou hast

obtained imperial sway so difficult of acquisition. And O perpetuator of

the Kuru race, all the Kauravas have prospered in consequence of thee. O

Emperor, I have been duly worshipped. I desire now to go with thy leave!

King Yudhishthira the just, thus addressed by the Rishi of dark hue,

saluted (him) his grandfather and touching his feet said,--'O chief of

men, a doubt difficult of being dispelled, hath risen within me. O bull

among regenerate ones, save thee there is none to remove it. The

illustrious Rishi Narada said that (as a consequence of the Rajasuya

sacrifice) three kinds of portents, viz., celestial, atmospherical and

terrestrial ones happen. O grandsire, have those portents been ended by

the fall of the kind of the Chedis?''

Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing these words of the king, the exalted

son of Parasara, the island-born Vyasa of dark hue, spoke these

words,--'For thirteen years, O king, those portents will bear mighty

consequences ending in destruction, O king of kings, of all the

Kshatriyas. In course of time, O bull of the Bharata race, making thee

the sole cause, the assembled Kshatriyas of the world will be destroyed,

O Bharata, for the sins of Duryodhana and through the might of Bhima and

Arjuna. In thy dream, O king of kings thou wilt behold towards the end of

this might the blue throated Bhava, the slayer of Tripura, ever absorbed

in meditation, having the bull for his mark, drinking off the human

skull, and fierce and terrible, that lord of all creatures, that god of

gods, the husband of Uma, otherwise called Hara and Sarva, and Vrisha,

armed with the trident and the bow called Pinaka, and attired in tiger

skin. And thou wilt behold Siva, tall and white as the Kailasa cliff and

seated on his bull, gazing unceasingly towards the direction (south)

presided over by the king of the Pitris. Even this will be the dream thou

wilt dream today, O king of kings. Do not grieve for dreaming such a

dream. None can rise superior to the influence of Time. Blest be thou! I

will now proceed towards the Kailasa mountain. Rule thou the earth with

vigilance and steadiness, patiently bearing every privation!'"

Vaisampayana continued,--"Having said this, the illustrious and

island-born Vyasa of dark hue, accompanied by his disciples ever

following the dictates of the Vedas, proceeded towards Kailasa. And after

the grand-father had thus gone away, the king afflicted with anxiety and

grief, began to think continuously upon what the Rishi hath said. And he

said to himself, 'Indeed what the Rishi hath said must come to pass. We

will succeed in warding off the fates by exertion alone?' Then

Yudhishthira endued with great energy addressing all his brothers, said,

'Ye tigers among men, ye have heard what the island-born Rishi hath told

me. Having heard the words of the Rishi, I have arrived at this firm

resolution viz., that I should die, as I am ordained to be the cause of

the destruction of all Kshatriyas. Ye my dear ones, if Time hath intended

so what need is there for me to live?' Hearing these words of the king,

Arjuna replied, 'O king, yield not thyself to this terrible depression

that is destructive of reason. Mustering fortitude, O great king, do what

would be beneficial.' Yudhishthira then, firm in truth, thinking all the

while of Dwaipayana's words answered his brothers thus,--'Blest be ye.

Listen to my vow from this day. For thirteen years, what ever purpose

have I to live for, I shall not speak a hard word to my brothers or to

any of the kings of the earth. Living under the command of my relatives,

I shall practise virtue, exemplifying my vow. If I live in this way,

making no distinction between my own children and others, there will be

no disagreement (between me and others). It is disagreement that is the

cause of war in the world. Keeping war at a distance, and ever doing what

is agreeable to others, evil reputation will not be mine in the world, ye

bulls among men. Hearing these words of their eldest brother, the

Pandavas, always engaged in doing what was agreeable to him, approved of

them. And Yudhishthira the just, having pledged so, along with his

brothers in the midst of that assembly, gratified his priests as also the

gods with due ceremonies. And, O bull of the Bharata race, after all the

monarchs had gone away, Yudhishthira along with his brothers, having

performed the usual auspicious rites, accompanied by his ministers

entered his own palace. And, O ruler of men, king Duryodhana and Sakuni,

the son of Suvala, continued to dwell in that delightful assembly house.

SECTION XLVI

Vaisampayana said,--"That bull among men, Duryodhana, continued to dwell

in that, assembly house (of the Pandavas). And with Sakuni, the Kuru

prince slowly examined the whole of that mansion, and the Kuru prince

beheld in it many celestial designs, which he had never seen before in

the city called after the elephant (Hastinapore). And one day king

Duryodhana in going round that mansion came upon a crystal surface. And

the king, from ignorance, mistaking it for a pool of water, drew up his

clothes. And afterwards finding out his mistake the king wandered about

the mansion in great sorrow. And sometime after, the king, mistaking a

lake of crystal water adorned with lotuses of crystal petals for land,

fell into it with all his clothes on. Beholding Duryodhana fallen into

the lake, the mighty Bhima laughed aloud as also the menials of the

palace. And the servants, at the command of the king, soon brought him

dry and handsome clothes. Beholding the plight of Duryodhana, the mighty

Bhima and Arjuna and both the twins--all laughed aloud. Being unused to

putting up with insults, Duryodhana could not bear that laugh of theirs.

Concealing his emotions he even did not cast his looks on them. And

beholding the monarch once more draw up his clothes to cross a piece of

dry land which he had mistaken for water, they all laughed again. And the

king sometime after mistook a closed door made of crystal as open. And as

he was about to pass through it his head struck against it, and he stood

with his brain reeling. And mistaking as closed another door made of

crystal that was really open, the king in attempting to open it with

stretched hands, tumbled down. And coming upon another door that was

really open, the king thinking it as closed, went away from it. And, O

monarch, king Duryodhana beholding that vast wealth in the Rajasuya

sacrifice and having become the victim of those numerous errors within

the assembly house at last returned, with the leave of the Pandavas, to

Hastinapore.

And the heart of king Duryodhana, afflicted at sight of the prosperity of

the Pandavas, became inclined to sin, as he proceeded towards his city

reflecting on all he had seen and suffered. And beholding the Pandavas

happy and all the kings of the earth paying homage to them, as also

everybody, young and old, engaged in doing good unto them, and reflecting

also on the splendour and prosperity of the illustrious sons of Pandu,

Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, became pale. In proceeding (to his

city) with an efflicted heart, the prince thought of nothing else but

that assembly house and that unrivalled prosperity of the wise

Yudhishthira. And Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, was so taken up

with his thoughts then that he spoke not a word to Suvala's son even

though the latter addressed him repeatedly. And Sakuni, beholding him

absent-minded, said,--'O Duryodhana, why art thou proceeding thus'?

"Duryodhana replied,--O uncle, beholding this whole earth owning the sway

of Yudhishthira in consequence of the might of the illustrious Arjuna's

weapons and beholding also that sacrifice of the son of Pritha like unto

the sacrifice of Sakra himself of great glory among the celestials, I,

being filled with jealousy and burning day and night, am being dried up

like a shallow tank in the summer season. Behold, when Sisupala was slain

by the chief of the Satwatas, there was no man to take the side of

Sisupala. Consumed by the fire of the Pandava, they all forgave that

offence; otherwise who is there that could forgive it? That highly

improper act of grave consequence done by Vasudeva succeeded in

consequence of the power of the illustrious son of Pandu. And so many

monarchs also brought with them various kinds of wealth for king

Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, like tribute-paying Vaisyas! Beholding

Yudhishthira's prosperity of such splendour, my heart burneth, efflicted

with jealously, although it behoveth me not to be jealous.'

"Having reflected in this way, Duryodhana, as if burnt by fire, addressed

the king of Gandhara again and said,--'I shall throw myself upon a

flaming fire or swallow poison or drown myself in water. I cannot live.

What man is there in the world possessed of vigour who can bear to see

his foes in the enjoyment of prosperity and himself in destitution?

Therefore I who bear to see that accession of prosperity and fortune (in

my foes) am neither a woman nor one that is not a woman, neither also a

man nor one that is not a man. Beholding their sovereignty over the world

and vast affluence, as also that sacrifice, who is there like me that

would not smart under all that? Alone I am incapable of acquiring such

royal prosperity; nor do I behold allies that could help me in the

matter. It is for this that I am thinking of self-destruction. Beholding

that great and serene prosperity of the son of Kunti, I regard Fate as

supreme and exertions fruitless. O son of Suvala, formerly I strove to

compass his destruction. But baffling all my efforts he hath grown in

prosperity even like the lotus from within a pool of water. It is for

this that I regard Fate as supreme and exertions fruitless. Behold, the

sons of Dhritarashtra are decaying and the sons of Pritha are growing day

by day. Beholding that prosperity of the Pandavas, and that assembly

house of theirs, and those menials laughing at me, my heart burneth as if

it were on fire. Therefore, O uncle, know me now as deeply grieved and

filled with jealousy, and speak of it to Dhritarashtra.