The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION CCV (Viduragamana Parva continued)

   The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

SECTION CCV

(Viduragamana Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Asked by Dhritarashtra to give his opinion, Bhishma

replied, 'O Dhritarashtra, a quarrel with the Pandavas is what I can

never approve of. As thou art to me, so was Pandu without doubt. And the

sons of Gandhari are to me, as those of Kunti. I should protect them as

well as I should thy sons, O Dhritarashtra! And, O king, the Pandavas are

as much near to me as they are to prince Duryodhana or to all the other

Kurus. Under these circumstances a quarrel with them is what I never

like. Concluding a treaty with those heroes, let half the land be given

unto them. This is without doubt, the paternal kingdom of those foremost

ones of the Kuru race. And, O Duryodhana, like thee who lookest upon this

kingdom as thy paternal property, the Pandavas also look upon it as their

paternal possession. If the renowned sons of Pandu obtain not the

kingdom, how can it be thine, or that of any other descendant of the

Bharata race? If thou regardest thyself as one that hath lawfully come

into the possession of the kingdom, I think they also may be regarded to

have lawfully come into the possession of this kingdom before thee. Give

them half the kingdom quietly. This, O tiger among men, is beneficial to

all. If thou actest otherwise, evil will befall us all. Thou too shall be

covered with dishonour. O Duryodhana, strive to maintain thy good name. A

good name is, indeed, the source of one's strength. It hath been said

that one liveth in vain whose reputation hath gone. A man, O Kaurava,

doth not die so long as his fame lasteth. One liveth as long as one's

fame endureth, and dieth when one's fame is gone. Follow thou, O son of

Gandhari, the practice that is worthy of the Kuru race. O thou of mighty

arms, imitate thy own ancestors. We are fortunate that the Pandavas have

not perished. We are fortunate that Kunti liveth. We are fortunate that

the wretch Purochana without being able to accomplish his purpose hath

himself perished. From that time when I heard that the sons of

Kuntibhoja's daughter had been burnt to death, I was, O son of Gandhari,

ill able to meet any living creature. O tiger among men, hearing of the

fate that overtook Kunti, the world doth not regard Purochana so guilty

as it regardeth thee. O king, the escape, therefore, of the sons of Pandu

with life from that conflagration and their re-appearance, do away with

thy evil repute. Know, O thou of Kuru's race, that as long as those

heroes live, the wielder of the thunder himself cannot deprive them of

their ancestral share in the kingdom. The Pandavas are virtuous and

united. They are being wrongly kept out of their equal share in the

kingdom. If thou shouldst act rightly, if thou shouldst do what is

agreeable to me, if thou shouldst seek the welfare of all, then give half

the kingdom unto them.'"

SECTION CCVI

(Viduragamana Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'After Bhishma had concluded, Drona spoke, saying, 'O

king Dhritarashtra, it hath been heard by us that friends summoned for

consultation should always speak what is right, true, and conductive to

fame. O sire, I am of the same mind in this matter with the illustrious

Bhishma. Let a share of the kingdom be given unto the Pandavas. This is

eternal virtue. Send, O Bharata, unto Drupada without loss of time some

messenger of agreeable speech, carrying with him a large treasure for the

Pandavas. And let the man go unto Drupada carrying costly presents for

both the bridegrooms and the bride, and let him speak unto that monarch

of thy increase of power and dignity arising from this new alliance with

him. And, O monarch, let the man know also that both thyself and

Duryodhana have become exceedingly glad in consequence of what hath

happened. Let him say this repeatedly unto Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna.

And let him speak also about the alliance as having been exceedingly

proper, and agreeable unto thee, and of thyself being worthy of it. And

let the man repeatedly propitiate the sons of Kunti and those of Madri

(in proper words). And at thy command, O king, let plenty of ornaments of

pure gold be given unto Draupadi. And let, O bull of Bharata's race,

proper presents be given unto all the sons of Drupada. Let the messenger

then propose the return of the Pandavas to Hastinapura. After the heroes

will have been permitted (by Drupada), to come hither, let Duhsasana and

Vikarna go out with a handsome train to receive them. And when they will

have arrived at Hastinapura, let those foremost of men be received with

affection by thee. And let them then be installed on their paternal

throne, agreeably to the wishes of the people of the realm. This, O

monarch of Bharata's race, is what I think should be thy behaviour

towards the Pandavas who are to thee even as thy own sons.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'After Drona had ceased, Karna spake again,

'Both Bhishma and Drona have been pampered with wealth that is thine and

favours conferred by thee! They are also always regarded by thee as thy

trusted friends! What can therefore be more amusing than that they both

should give thee advice which is not for thy good? How can the wise

approve that advice which is pronounced good by a person speaking with

wicked intent but taking care to conceal the wickedness of his heart?

Indeed, in a season of distress, friends can neither benefit nor injure.

Every one's happiness or the reverse dependeth on destiny. He that is

wise and he that is foolish, he that is young (in years) and he that is

old, he that hath allies and he that hath none, all become, it is seen

everywhere, happy or unhappy at times. It hath been heard by us that

there was, of old, a king by name Amvuvicha. Having his capital at

Rajagriha, he was the king of all the Magadha chiefs. He never attended

to his affairs. All his exertion consisted in inhaling the air. All his

affairs were in the hands of his minister. And his minister, named

Mahakarni, became the supreme authority in the state. Regarding himself

all powerful, he began to disregard the king. And the wretch himself

appropriated everything belonging unto the king, his queens and treasures

and sovereignty. But the possession of all these, instead of satisfying

his avarice, only served to inflame him the more. Having appropriated

everything belonging to the king, he even coveted the throne. But it hath

been heard by us that with all his best endeavours he succeeded not in

acquiring the kingdom of the monarch, his master, even though the latter

was inattentive to business and content with only breathing the air. What

else can be said, O king, than that monarch's sovereignty was dependent

on destiny? If, therefore, O king, this kingdom be established in thee by

destiny, it will certainly continue in thee, even if the whole world were

to become thy enemy! If, however, destiny hath ordained otherwise,

howsoever mayest thou strive, it will not last in thee! O learned one,

remembering all this, judge of the honesty or otherwise of thy advisers.

Ascertain also who amongst them are wicked and who have spoken wisely and

well.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words of Karna, Drona replied,

'As thou art wicked it is evident thou sayest so in consequence of the

wickedness of thy intent. It is for injuring the Pandavas that thou

findest fault with us. But know, O Karna, what I have said is for the

good of all and the prosperity of the Kuru race. If thou regardest all

this as productive of evil, declare thyself what is for our good. If the

good advice I have given be not followed, I think the Kurus will be

exterminated in no time.'"

SECTION CCVII

(Viduragamana Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'After Drona had ceased, Vidura spoke, saying, 'O

monarch, thy friends without doubt, are saying unto thee what is for thy

good. But as thou art unwilling to listen to what they say, their words

scarcely find a place in thy ears. What that foremost one of Kuru's race,

viz., Bhishma, the son of Santanu, hath said, is excellent and is for thy

good. But thou dost not listen to it. The preceptor Drona also hath said

much that is for thy good which however Karna, the son of Radha, doth not

regard to be such. But, O king, reflecting hard I do not find any one who

is better a friend to thee than either of these two lions among men

(viz., Bhishma and Drona), or any one who excels either of them in

wisdom. These two, old in years, in wisdom, and in learning, always

regard thee, O king, and the sons of Pandu with equal eyes. Without

doubt, O king of Bharata's race, they are both, in virtue and

truthfulness, not inferior to Rama, the son of Dasaratha, and Gaya. Never

before did they give thee any evil advice. Thou also, O monarch, hast

never done them any injury. Why should, therefore, these tigers among

men, who are ever truthful, give thee wicked advice, especially when thou

hast never injured them? Endued with wisdom these foremost of men, O

king, will never give thee counsels that are crooked. O scion of Kuru's

rate, this is my firm conviction that these two, acquainted with all

rules of morality, will never, tempted by wealth, utter anything

betraying a spirit of partisanship. What they have said, O Bharata, I

regard highly beneficial to thee. Without doubt, O monarch, the Pandavas

are thy sons as much as Duryodhana and others are. Those ministers,

therefore, that give thee any counsel fraught with evil unto the

Pandavas, do not really look to thy interests. If there is any partiality

in thy heart, O king, for thy own children, they who by their counsel

seek to bring it out, certainly do thee no good. Therefore, O king, these

illustrious persons endued with great splendour, have not I think, said

anything that leadeth to evil. Thou, however, dost not understand it.

What these bulls among men have said regarding the invincibility of the

Pandavas is perfectly true. Think not otherwise of it, O tiger among men.

Blest be thou! Can the handsome Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, using the

right and the left hand with equal activity, be vanquished in battle even

by Maghavat himself? Can the great Bhimasena of strong arms possessing

the might of ten thousand elephants, be vanquished in battle by the

immortals themselves? Who also that desireth to live can overcome in

battle the twins (Nagula and Sahadeva) like unto the sons of Yama

himself, and well-skilled in fight? How too can the eldest one of the

Pandavas in whom patience, mercy, forgiveness, truth, and prowess always

live together, be vanquished? They who have Rama (Valadeva) as their

ally, and Janardana (Krishna) as their counsellor, and Satyaki as their

partisan, have already defeated everybody in war. They who have Drupada

for their father-in-law, and Drupada's sons--the heroic brothers, viz.,

Dhristadyumna and others of Prishata's race for their brothers-in-law,

are certainly invincible. Remembering this, O monarch, and knowing that

their claim to the kingdom is even prior to thine, behave virtuously

towards them. The stain of calumny is on thee, O monarch, in consequence

of that act of Purochana. Wash thyself of it now, by a kindly behaviour

towards the Pandavas. This kindly behaviour of thine, O monarch, towards

the Pandavas will be an act of great benefit to us, protecting the lives

of us all that belong to Kuru's race, and leading to the growth of the

whole Kshatriya order! We had formerly warred with king Drupada; if we

can now secure him as an ally, it will strengthen our party. The

Dasarhas, O king, are numerous and strong. Know where Krishna is, all of

them must be, and where Krishna is, there victory also must be! O king,

who, unless cursed by the gods, would seek, to effect that by means of

war which can be effected by conciliation? Hearing that the sons of

Pritha are alive, the citizens and other subjects of the realm have

become exceedingly glad and eager for beholding them. O monarch, act in a

way that is agreeable to them. Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni, the son

of Suvala, are sinful, foolish and young; listen not to them. Possessed

of every virtue thou art I long ago told thee, O monarch that for

Duryodhana's fault, the subjects of this kingdom would be exterminated.'"

SECTION CCVIII

(Viduragamana Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing these various speeches, Dhritarashtra said,

The learned Bhishma, the son of Santanu, and the illustrious Rishi Drona,

and thyself also (O Vidura), have said the truth and what also is most

beneficial to me. Indeed, as those mighty car-warriors, the heroic sons

of Kunti. are the children of Pandu, so are they, without doubt, my

children according to the ordinance. And as my sons are entitled to this

kingdom, so are the sons of Pandu certainly entitled to it. Therefore,

hasten to bring hither the Pandavas along with their mother, treating

them with affectionate consideration. O thou of Bharata's race, bring

also Krishna of celestial beauty along with them. From sheer good fortune

the sons of Pritha are alive; and from good fortune alone those mighty

car-warriors have obtained the daughter of Drupada. It is from good

fortune alone that our strength hath increased, and it is from good

fortune alone that Purochana hath perished. O thou of great splendour, it

is from good fortune that my great grief hath been killed!'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Vidura, at the command of Dhritarashtra,

repaired, O Bharata, unto Yajnasena and the Pandavas. And he repaired

thither carrying with him numerous jewels and various kinds of wealth for

Draupadi and the Pandavas and Yajnasena also. Arrived at Drupada's abode,

Vidura conversant with every rule of morality and deep in every science,

properly accosted the monarch and waited upon him. Drupada received

Vidura in proper form and they both enquired after each other's welfare.

Vidura then saw there the Pandavas and Vasudeva. As soon as he saw them

he embraced them from affection and enquired after their well being. The

Pandavas also along with Vasudeva, in due order, worshipped Vidura of

immeasurable intelligence. But Vidura, O king, in the name of

Dhritarashtra repeatedly enquired with great affection after their

welfare. He then gave, O monarch, unto the Pandavas and Kunti and

Draupadi, and unto Drupada and Drupada's sons, the gems and various kinds

of wealth that the Kauravas had sent through him. Possessed of

immeasurable intelligence, the modest Vidura then, in the presence of the

Pandavas and Keshava, addressed the well-behaved Drupada thus:

"With thy ministers and sons, O monarch, listen to what I say. King

Dhritarashtra, with ministers, sons, and friends, hath with a joyous

heart, O king, repeatedly enquired after thy welfare. And, O monarch, he

hath been highly pleased with this alliance with thee. So also, O king,

Bhishma of great wisdom, the son of Santanu, with all the Kurus, enquired

after thy welfare in every respect. Drona also of great wisdom the son of

Bharadwaja and thy dear friend, embracing thee mentally, enquired of thy

happiness. And, O king of Panchalas, Dhritarashtra and all the Kurus, in

consequence of this alliance with thee regard themselves supremely blest.

O Yajnasena, the establishment of this alliance with thee hath made them

happier than if they had acquired a new kingdom. Knowing all this, O

monarch, permit the Pandavas to re-visit their ancestral kingdom. The

Kurus are exceedingly eager to behold the sons of Pandu. These bulls

among men have been long absent (from their kingdom). They as well as

Pritha must be very eager to behold their city. And all the Kuru ladies

and the citizens and our subjects are eagerly waiting to behold Krishna

the Panchala Princess. This, therefore, is my opinion, O monarch, that

thou shouldst, without delay, permit the Pandavas to go thither with

their wife. And after the illustrious Pandavas, O king, will have

received thy permission to go thither, I shall send information unto

Dhritarashtra by quick messengers. Then, O king, will the Pandavas set

out with Kunti and Krishna.'"

SECTION CCIX

(Viduragamana Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing these words of Vidura, Drupada said, 'It is

even so as thou, O Vidura of great wisdom, hast said. Venerable one, I

too have been exceedingly happy in consequence of this alliance. It is

highly proper that these illustrious princes should return to their

ancestral kingdom. But it is not proper for me to say this myself. If the

brave son of Kunti viz., Yudhishthira, if Bhima and Arjuna, if these

bulls among men, viz., the twins, themselves desire to go and if Rama

(Valadeva) and Krishna, both acquainted with every rule of morality, be

of the same mind, then let the Pandavas go thither. For these tigers

among men (Rama and Krishna) are ever engaged in doing what is agreeable

and beneficial to the sons of Pandu.'

"Hearing this, Yudhishthira said, 'We are now, O monarch, with all our

younger brothers, dependent on thee. We shall cheerfully do what thou art

pleased to command.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Vasudeva said, 'I am of opinion that the

Pandavas should go. But we should all abide by the opinion of king

Drupada who is conversant with every rule of morality.'

"Drupada then spoke, 'I certainly agree with what this foremost of men,

thinketh, having regard to the circumstances. For the illustrious sons of

Pandu now are to me as they are, without doubt, to Vasudeva. Kunti's son

Yudhishthira himself doth not seek the welfare of the Pandavas so

earnestly as, Kesava, that tiger among men.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Commanded by the illustrious Drupada, the

Pandavas, then, O king, and Krishna and Vidura, taking with them Krishna,

the daughter of Drupada, and the renowned Kunti, journeyed towards the

city called after the elephant, stopping at various places along the way

for purposes of pleasure and enjoyment. King Dhritarashtra, hearing that

those heroes had neared the capital sent out the Kauravas to receive

them. They who were thus sent out were, O Bharata, Vikarna of the great

bow, and Chitrasena, and Drona that foremost of warriors, and Kripa of

Gautama's line. Surrounded by these, those mighty heroes, their splendour

enhanced by that throng slowly entered the city of Hastinapura. The whole

city became radiant, as it were, with the gay throng of sight-seers

animated by curiosity. Those tigers among men gladdened the hearts of all

who beheld them. And the Pandavas, dear unto the hearts of the people,

heard, as they proceeded, various exclamations with the citizens, ever

desirous of obeying the wishes of those princes, loudly uttered. Some

exclaimed, 'Here returns that tiger among men, conversant with all the

rules of morality and who always protects us as if we were his nearest

relatives.' And elsewhere they said, 'It seems that king Pandu--the

beloved of his people--returneth today from the forest, doubtless to do

what is agreeable to us.' And there were some that said, 'What good is

not done to us today when the heroic sons of Kunti come back to our town?

If we have ever given away in charity, if we have ever poured libations

of clarified butter on the fire, if we have any ascetic merit, let the

Pandavas, by virtue of all those acts stay in our town for a hundred

years.'

"At last the Pandavas, on arriving at the place, worshipped the feet of

Dhritarashtra, as also those of the illustrious Bhishma. They also

worshipped the feet of everybody else that deserved that honour. And they

enquired after the welfare of every citizen (there present). At last, at

the command of Dhritarashtra they entered the chambers that had been

assigned to them.

"After they had rested there for some time, they were summoned (to the

court) by king Dhritarashtra and Bhishma, the son of Santanu. When they

came, king Dhritarashtra addressing Yudhishthira, said, 'Listen, O son of

Kunti, with thy brothers, to what I say. Repair ye to Khandavaprastha so

that no difference may arise again (between you and your cousins). If you

take up your quarters there no one will be able to do you any injury.

Protected by Partha (Arjuna), like the celestials by the thunderbolt,

reside ye at Khandavaprastha, taking half of the kingdom.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Agreeing to what Dhritarashtra said, those

bulls among men worshipping the king set out from Hastinapura. And

content with half the kingdom, they removed to Khandavaprastha, which was

in unreclaimed desert. Then those heroes of unfading splendour, viz., the

Pandavas, with Krishna at their head, arriving there, beautified the

place and made it a second heaven. And those mighty car-warriors,

selecting with Dwaipayana's assistance a sacred and auspicious region,

performed certain propitiatory ceremonies and measured out a piece of

land for their city. Then surrounded by a trench wide as the sea and by

walls reaching high up to the heavens and white as the fleecy clouds or

the rays of the moon, that foremost of cities looked resplendent like

Bhogavati (the capital of the nether kingdom) decked with the Nagas. And

it stood adorned with palatial mansions and numerous gates, each

furnished with a couple of panels resembling the out-stretched wings of

Garuda. And it was protected with gateways looking like the clouds and

high as the Mandara mountains. And well-furnished with numerous weapons

of attack the missiles of the foes could not make slightest impression on

them. And they were almost covered with darts and other missiles like

double-tongued snakes. The turrets along the walls were filled with armed

men in course of training; and the walls were lined with numerous

warriors along their whole length. And there were thousands of sharp

hooks and Sataghnis (machines slaying a century of warriors) and numerous

other machines on the battlements. There were also large iron wheels

planted on them. And with all these was that foremost of cities adorned.

The streets were all wide and laid out excellently; and there was no fear

in them of accident. And decked with innumerable mansions, the city

became like unto Amaravati and came to be called Indraprastha (like unto

Indra's city). In a delightful and auspicious part of the city rose the

palace of the Pandavas filled with every kind of wealth and like unto the

mansion of the celestial treasurer (Kuvera) himself. And it looked like a

mass of clouds charged with lightning.

"When the city was built, there came, O king, numerous Brahmanas

well-acquainted with all the Vedas and conversant with every language,

wishing to dwell there. And there came also unto that town numerous

merchants from every direction, in the hope of earning wealth. There also

came numerous persons well-skilled in all the arts, wishing to take up

their abode there. And around the city were laid out many delightful

gardens adorned with numerous trees bearing both fruits and flowers.

There were Amras (mango trees) and Amaratakas, and Kadamvas and Asokas,

and Champakas; and Punnagas and Nagas and Lakuchas and Panasas; and Salas

and Talas (palm trees) and Tamalas and Vakulas, and Ketakas with their

fragrant loads; beautiful and blossoming and grand Amalakas with branches

bent down with the weight of fruits and Lodhras and blossoming Ankolas;

and Jamvus (blackberry trees) and Patalas and Kunjakas and Atimuktas; and

Karaviras and Parijatas and numerous other kinds of trees always adorned

with flowers and fruits and alive with feathery creatures of various

species. And those verdant groves always resounded with the notes of

maddened peacocks and Kokilas (blackbirds). And there were various

pleasure-houses, bright as mirrors, and numerous bowers of creepers, and

charming and artificial hillocks, and many lakes full to the brim of

crystal water, and delightful tanks fragrant with lotuses and lilies and

adorned with swans and ducks and chakravakas (brahminy ducks). And there

were many delicious pools overgrown with fine aquatic plants. And there

were also diverse ponds of great beauty and large dimension. And, O king,

the joy of the Pandavas increased from day to day, in consequence of

their residence in that large kingdom that was peopled with pious men.

"Thus in consequence of the virtuous behaviour of Bhishma and king

Dhritarashtra towards them, the Pandavas took up their abode in

Khandavaprastha. Adorned with those five mighty warriors, each equal unto

Indra himself, that foremost of cities looked like Bhogavati (the capital

of the nether kingdom) adorned with the Nagas. And, O monarch, having

settled the Pandavas there, the heroic Krishna, obtaining their leave,

came back with Rama to Dwaravati.'"