SECTION –CCXLIX
(Ghosha-yatra Parva Continud)
Vaisampayana said, "Beholding king
Duryodhana, incapable of putting up with an insult, seated with the resolution
of giving up life by forgoing food, Sakuni, the son of Suvala, said these words
to comfort him. Sakuni said, O son of the Kuru race, you have just heard what
Kama hath said. His words are, indeed fraught with wisdom. Why wouldst thou
abandoning from foolishness the high prosperity that I won for thee, cast off
thy life today, O king, yielding to silliness? It seemeth to me to-day that
thou hast never waited upon the old. He that cannot control sudden accession of
joy or grief, is lost even though he may have obtained prosperity, like an
unburnt earthen vessel in water. That king who is entirely destitute of
courage, who hath no spark of manliness, who is the slave of procrastination,
who always acts with indiscretion, who is addicted to sensual pleasures, is
seldom respected by his subjects. Benefited as thou has been, whence is this
unreasonable grief of thine? Do not undo this graceful act done by the sons of
Pritha, by indulging in such grief. When thou shouldst joy and reward the
Pandavas, thou art grieving, O king? Indeed, this behaviour of thine is
inconsistent. Be cheerful, do not cast away thy life; but remember with a
pleased heart the good they have done thee. Give back unto the sons of Pritha
their kingdom, and win thou both virtue and renown by such conduct. By acting
in this way, thou mayst be grateful. Establish brotherly relations with the
Pandavas by being friends, and give them their paternal kingdom, for then thou
wilt be happy!'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words
of Sakuni, and seeing the brave Dussasana lying prostrate before him unmanned
by fraternal love, the king raised Dussasana and, clasping him in his well
round arms, smelt his head from affection. And hearing these words of Karna and
Sauvala, king Duryodhana lost heart more than ever, and he was overwhelmed with
shame and utter despair overtook his soul. And hearing all that his friends
said, he answered with sorrow, 'I have nothing more to do with virtue, wealth,
friendship, affluence, sovereignty, and enjoyments. Do not obstruct my purpose,
but leave me all of you. I am firmly resolved to cast away my life by forgoing
food. Return to the city, and treat my superiors there respectfully.'
"Thus addressed by him, they replied unto
that royal grinder of foes, saying, 'O monarch, the course that is thine, is
also ours, O Bharata. How can we enter the city without thee?'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Though addressed in
all manner of ways by his friends and counsellors and brothers and relatives,
the king wavered not from his purpose. And the son of Dhritarashtra in
accordance with his purpose spread Kusa grass on the earth, and purifying
himself by touching water, sat down upon that spot. And clad in rags and Kusa
grass he set himself to observe the highest vow. And stopping all speech, that
tiger among kings, moved by the desire of going to heaven, began to pray and
worship internally suspending all external intercourse.
"Meanwhile the fierce Daityas and the
Danavas who had been defeated of old by the celestials and had been dwelling in
the nether regions having ascertained Duryodhana's purpose and knowing that if
the king died their party would be weakened, commenced a sacrifice with fire
for summoning Duryodhana to their presence. And mantra knowing persons then
commenced with the help of formulae declared by Brihaspati and Usanas, those
rites that are indicated in the Atharva Veda and the Upanishads and which are
capable of being achieved by mantras and prayers. And Brahmins of rigid vows,
well-versed in the Vedas and the branches, began, with rapt soul, to pour
libations of clarified butter and milk into the fire, uttering mantras. And
after those rites were ended, a strange goddess, O king, with mouth wide open,
arose (from the sacrificial fire), saying, 'What am I to do?' And the Daityas
with well-pleased hearts, commanded her, saying, 'Bring thou hither the royal son
of Dhritarashtra, who is even now observing the vow of starvation for getting
rid of his life.' Thus commanded, she went away saying, 'So be it.' And she
went in the twinkling of an eye to that spot where Suyodhana was. And taking up
the king back to the nether regions, and having brought him thus in a moment,
she apprised the Danavas of it. And the Danavas beholding the king brought into
their midst in the night, united together, and all of them with well-pleased
hearts and eyes expanded in delight addressed these flattering words to
Duryodhana."
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