SECTION LXXIII
(Dyuta Parva Continued)
Janamejaya said,--"How did the sons of
Dhritarashtra feel, when they came to know that the Pandavas had, with
Dhritarashtra's leave, left Hastinapore with all their wealth and jewels?"
Vaisampayana said,--"O king, learning that
the Pandavas had been commanded by the wise Dhritarashtra to return to their
capital, Dussasana went without loss of time unto his brother. And, O bull of
the Bharata race, having arrived before Duryodhana with his counsellor, the
prince, afflicted with grief, began to say,--'Ye mighty warriors, that which we
had won after so much trouble, the old man (our father) hath thrown away. Know
ye that he hath made over the whole of that wealth to the foes. At these words,
Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, all of whom were guided by
vanity, united together, and desirous of counteracting the sons of Pandu,
approaching in haste saw privately the wise king Dhritarashtra--the son of
Vichitravirya and spake unto him these pleasing and artful words. Duryodhana
said,--
'Hast thou not heard, O king, what the learned
Vrihaspati the preceptor of the celestials, said in course of counselling Sakra
about mortals and politics? Even these, O slayer of foes, were the words of Vrihaspati,
'Those enemies that always do wrong by stratagem or force, should be slain by
every means.' If, therefore, with the wealth of the Pandavas, we gratify the
kings of the earth and then fight with the sons of Pandu, what reverses can
overtake us? When one hath placed on the neck and back of venomous snakes full
of wrath for encompassing his destruction, is it possible for him to take them
off? Equipped with weapon and seated on their cars, the angry sons of Pandu
like wrathful and venomous snakes will assuredly annihilate us, O father. Even
now Arjuna proceedeth, encased in mail and furnished with his couple of
quivers, frequently taking up the Gandiva and breathing hard and casting angry
glances around. It hath (also) been heard by us that Vrikodara, hastily
ordering his car to be made ready and riding on it, is proceeding along,
frequently whirling his heavy mace. Nakula also is going along, with the sword
in his grasp and the semi-circular shield in his hand. And Sahadeva and the
king (Yudhishthira) have made signs clearly testifying to their intentions.
Having ascended their cars that are full of all kinds of arms, they are
whipping their horses (for going to Khandava soon) and assembling their forces.
Persecuted thus by us they are incapable of forgiving us those injuries. Who is
there among them that will forgive that insult to Draupadi? Blest be thou. We
will again gamble with the son of Pandu for sending them to exile. O bull among
men, we are competent to bring them thus under our sway. Dressed in skins,
either we or they defeated at dice, shall repair to the woods for twelve years.
The thirteenth year shall have to be spent in some inhabited country
unrecognised; and, if recognised, an exile for another twelve years shall be
the consequence. Either we or they shall live so. Let the play begin, casting
the dice, let the sons of Pandu once more play. O bull of the Bharata race, O
king, even this is our highest duty. This Sakuni knoweth well the whole science
of dice. Even if they succeed in observing this vow for thirteen years, we
shall be in the meantime firmly rooted in the kingdom and making alliances,
assemble a vast invincible host and keep them content, so that we shall, O
king, defeat the sons of Pandu if they reappear. Let this plan recommend itself
to thee, O slayer of foes.
"Dhritarashtra said,--Bring back the
Pandavas then, indeed, even if they have gone a great way. Let them come at
once again to cast dice."
Vaisampayana continued,--"Then Drona,
Somadatta and Valhika, Gautama, Vidura, the son of Drona, and the mighty son of
Dhritarashtra by his Vaisya wife, Bhurisravas, and Bhishma, and that mighty
warrior Vikarna,--all said, 'Let not the play commence. Let there be peace. But
Dhritarashtra, partial to his sons, disregarding the counsels of all his wise
friends and relatives, summoned the sons of Pandu."
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