srimahabharat -sabha parva - chapters 21st to 50th

The Mahabharat

 

The Mahabharata The Sacred  Scripture of

 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

                                      Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
                                                        translated by
                                  Sreemaan Brahmasri  Kisari Mohan Ganguli

 

Book 2 (Sabha Parva)

Book 2
Chapter 21

 1 [v]
      tatas taṃ niścitātmānaṃ yuddhāya yadunandanaḥ
      uvāca vāgmī rājānaṃ jarāsaṃdham adhokṣajaḥ
  2 trayāṇāṃ kena te rājan yoddhuṃ vitarate manaḥ
      asmad anyatameneha sajjībhavatu ko yudhi
  3 evam uktaḥ sa kṛṣṇena yuddhaṃ vavre mahādyutiḥ
      jarāsaṃdhas tato rājan bhīmasenena māgadhaḥ
  4 dhārayann agadān mukhyān nirvṛtīr vedanāni ca
      upatasthe jarāsaṃdhaṃ yuyutsuṃ vai purohitaḥ
  5 kṛtasvastyayano vidvān brāhmaṇena yaśasvinā
      samanahyaj jarāsaṃdhaḥ kṣatradharmam anuvrataḥ
  6 avamucya kirīṭaṃ sa keśān samanumṛjya ca
      udatiṣṭhaj jarāsaṃdho velātiga ivārṇavaḥ
  7 uvāca matimān rājā bhīmaṃ bhīmaparākramam
      bhīma yotsye tvayā sārdhaṃ śreyasā nirjitaṃ varam
  8 evam uktvā jarāsaṃdho bhīmasenam ariṃdamaḥ
      pratyudyayau mahātejāḥ śakraṃ balir ivāsuraḥ
  9 tataḥ saṃmantrya kṛṣṇena kṛtasvastyayano balī
      bhīmaseno jarāsaṃdham āsasāda yuyutsayā
  10 tatas tau naraśārdūlau bāhuśastrau samīyatuḥ
     vīrau paramasaṃhṛṣṭāv anyonyajaya kāṅkṣiṇau
 11 tayor atha bhujāghātān nigrahapragrahāt tathā
     āsīt subhīma saṃhrādo vajraparvatayor iva
 12 ubhau paramasaṃhṛṣṭau balenātibalāv ubhau
     anyonyasyāntaraṃ prepsū parasparajayaiṣiṇau
 13 tad bhīmam utsārya janaṃ yuddham āsīd upahvare
     balinoḥ saṃyuge rājan vṛtravāsavayor iva
 14 prakarṣaṇākarṣaṇābhyām abhyākarṣa vikarṣaṇaiḥ
     ākarṣetāṃ tathānyonyaṃ jānubhiś cābhijaghnatuḥ
 15 tataḥ śabdena mahatā bhartsayantau parasparam
     pāṣāṇa saṃghātanibhaiḥ prahārair abhijaghnatuḥ
 16 vyūḍhoraskau dīrghabhujau niyuddha kuśalāv ubhau
     bāhubhiḥ samasajjetām āyasaiḥ parighair iva
 17 kārttikasya tu māsasya pravṛttaṃ prathame 'hani
     anārataṃ divārātram aviśrāntam avartata
 18 tadvṛttaṃ tu trayodaśyāṃ samavetaṃ mahātmanoḥ
     caturdaśyāṃ niśāyāṃ tu nivṛtto māgadhaḥ klamāt
 19 taṃ rājānaṃ tathā klāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā rājañ janārdanaḥ
     uvāca bhīmakarmāṇaṃ bhīmaṃ saṃbodhayann iva
 20 klāntaḥ śatrur na kaunteya labhyaḥ pīḍayituṃ raṇe
     pīḍyamāno hi kārtsnyena jahyāj jīvitam ātmanaḥ
 21 tasmāt te naiva kaunteya pīḍanīyo narādhipaḥ
     samam etena yudhyasva bāhubhyāṃ bharatarṣabha
 22 evam uktaḥ sa kṛṣṇena pāṇḍavaḥ paravīrahā
     jarāsaṃdhasya tad randhraṃ jñātvā cakre matiṃ vadhe
 23 tatas tam ajitaṃ jetuṃ jarāsaṃdhaṃ vṛkodaraḥ
     saṃrabhya balināṃ mukhyo jagrāha kurunandanaḥ

SECTION XXI

"Vasudeva said,--'behold, O Partha, the great capital of Magadha, standing in all its beauty. Filled with flocks and herds and its stock of water never exhausted, and adorned also with fine mansions standing in excellent array, it is free from every kind of calamity. The five large hills of Vaihara, Varaha, Vrishava, Rishigiri, and the delightful Chaitya, all of high peaks
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and overgrown with tall trees of cool shade and connected with one another, seem to be jointly protecting the city of Girivraja. The breasts of the hills are concealed by forests of delightful and fragrant Lodhras having the ends of their branches covered with flowers. It was here that the illustrious Gautama of rigid vows begat on the Sudra woman Ausinari (the daughter of Usinara) Kakshivat and other celebrated sons. That the race sprung from Gautama doth yet live under the sway of an ordinary human race (of monarchs) is only evidence of Gautama's kindness to kings. And, O Arjuna, it was here that in olden times the mighty monarchs of Anga, and Vanga and other countries, came to the abode of Gautama, and passed their days in joy and happiness. Behold, O Partha, those forests of delightful Pippalas and beautiful Lodhras standing near the side of Gautama's abode. There dwelt in old days those Nagas, Arvuda and Sakravapin, those persecutors of all enemies, as also the Naga Swastika and that other excellent Naga called Manu. Manu himself had ordered the country of the Magadhas to be never afflicted with drought, and Kaushika and Manimat also have favoured the country. Owning such a delightful and impregnable city, Jarasandha is ever bent on seeking the fruition of his purposes unlike other monarchs. We shall, however, by slaying him to-day humble his pride."
Vaisampayana said,--Thus saying those brothers of abundant energy, viz., he of the Vrishni race and the two Pandavas entered the city of Magadha. They then approached towards the impregnable city of Girivraja that was full of cheerful and well-fed inhabitants belonging to all the four orders, and where festivities were perennial. On arriving then at the gate of the city, the brothers (instead of passing through it) began to pierce (with their shafts) the heart of the high Chaityaka peak that was worshipped by the race of Vrihadratha, as also by the citizens and which delighted the hearts of all the Magadhas. There Vrihadratha had slain a cannibal called Rishava and having slain the monster made of his hide three drums which he placed in his own city. And those drums were such that once beaten their sound lasted one full month. And the brothers broke down the Chaityaka peak that was delightful to all the Magadhas, at that point where those drums covered with celestial flowers used to yield their continuous sound. And desirous of slaying Jarasandha they seemed by that act of theirs to place their feet upon the head of their foe. And attacking with their mighty arms that immovable and huge and high and old and celebrated peak always worshipped with perfumes and floral wreaths, those heroes broke it down. And with joyful hearts they then entered the city. And it so happened that the learned Brahmanas residing within the city saw many evil omens which they reported to Jarasandha. And the priest making the king mount an elephant whirled lighted brands about him. And king Jarasandha also, possessed of great prowess, with a view to warding of those evils, entered upon the celebration of a sacrifice, with proper vows and
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fasts. Meanwhile, O Bharata, the brothers unarmed, or rather with their bare arms as their only weapons, desirous of fighting with Jarasandha, entered the capital in the guise of Brahmanas. They beheld the extraordinary beauty of the shops full of various edibles and floral wreaths, and supplied with articles of every variety of various qualities that man can desire. Those best of men, Krishna, Bhima, and Dhananjaya, beholding in those shops their affluence, passed along the public road. And endued with great strength they snatched forcibly from the flower-vendors the garlands they had exposed for sale. And attired in robes of various colours and decked in garlands and ear-rings the heroes entered the abode of Jarasandha possessed of great intelligence, like Himalayan lions eyeing cattle-folds. And the arms of those warriors, O king, besmeared with sandal paste, looked like the trunks of sala trees. The people of Magadha, beholding those heroes looking like elephants, with necks broad like those of trees and wide chests, began to wonder much. Those bull among men, passing through three gates that were crowded with men, proudly and cheerfully approached the king. And Jarasandha rising up in haste received them with water to wash their feet with, and honey and the other ingredients of the Arghya--with gifts of kine, and with other forms of respect. The great king addressing them said,--'Ye are welcome'! And, O Janamejaya, both Partha and Bhima remained silent at this. And addressing the monarch Krishna said,--'O king of kings these two are now in the observance of a vow. Therefore they will not speak. Silent they will remain till midnight After that hour they will speak with thee!' The king then quartering his guests in the sacrificial apartments retired into his private chambers. And when midnight arrived, the monarch arrived at the place where his guests attired as Brahmanas were. For, O King, that ever victorious monarch observed this vow which was known throughout the Worlds that as soon as he should hear of the arrival of Snataka Brahmanas at his place, should it be even at midnight, he would immediately, O Bharata, come out and grant them an audience. Beholding the strange attire of his guests that best of kings wondered much. For all that, however, he waited on them respectfully. Those bulls among men, those slayers of all foes, on the other hand, O thou best of the Bharata race, beholding king Jarasandha, said,--'Let salvation be attained by thee, O king, without difficulty.' And, O tiger among kings, having said this unto the monarch, they stood looking at each other. And, O king of kings, Jarasandha then said unto those sons of Pandu and him of the Yadu race, all disguised as Brahmanas--'Take your seats.' And those bulls among men sat themselves down, and like the three priests of a great sacrifice blazed forth in their beauty. And king Jarasandha, O thou of the Kuru race, firmly devoted to truth, censuring the disguised guests, said unto them,--'It is well known to me that in the whole world Brahmanas in the observance of Snataka vow never deck their persons with garlands and fragrant paste unseasonably.
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[paragraph continues] Who are ye, therefore, thus decked with flowers, and with hands bearing the marks of the bow-string? Attired in coloured robes and decked unseasonably with flowers and paste, ye give me to understand that ye are Brahmanas, although ye bear Kshatriya energy. Tell me truly who ye are. Truth decks even kings. Breaking down the peak of the Chaityaka hill, why have ye, in disguise, entered (the city) by an improper gate without fear of the royal wrath? The energy of a Brahmana dwelleth in his speech, (not in act). This your feat is not suited to the order to which ye profess to belong. Tell us therefore, the end ye have in view. Arrived here by such an improper way, why accept ye not the worship I offer? What is your motive for coming to me? Thus addressed by the king, the high-souled Krishna, well-skilled in speech, thus replied unto the monarch in a calm and grave voice.
"Krishna said,--'O king, know us for Snataka Brahmanas. Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are all, O monarch, competent to observe the vow of Snataka. This vow, besides, hath (many) especial and general rules. A Kshatriya observing this vow with especial rules always achieve prosperity. Therefore, have we decked ourselves with flowers. Kshatriyas again, O king, exhibit their energy by their arms and not in speech. It is, therefore, O son of Vrihadratha, that the speeches uttered by a Kshatriya are never audacious. O monarch, the creator hath planted his own energy in the aim of the Kshatriya. If thou wishest to behold it, thou shalt certainly behold it today. These are the rules of the ordinance, viz., that an enemy's abode should be entered through a wrong gate and a friend's abode through the right one. And know, O monarch, that this also is our eternal vow that having entered the foe's abode for the accomplishment of our purpose, we accept not the worship offered to us!"

Book 2
Chapter 22

1 [v]
      bhīmasenas tataḥ kṛṣṇam uvāca yadunandanam
      buddhim āsthāya vipulāṃ jarāsaṃdha jighāṃsayā
  2 nāyaṃ pāpo mayā kṛṣṇa yuktaḥ syād anurodhitum
      prāṇena yaduśārdūla baddhavaṅkṣaṇa vāsasā
  3 evam uktas tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pratyuvāca vṛkodaram
      tvarayan puruṣavyāghro jarāsaṃdha vadhepsayā
  4 yat te daivaṃ paraṃ sattvaṃ yac ca te mātariśvanaḥ
      balaṃ bhīma jarāsaṃdhe darśayāśu tad adya naḥ
  5 evam uktas tadā bhīmo jarāsaṃdham ariṃdamaḥ
      utkṣipya bhrāmayad rājan balavantaṃ mahābalaḥ
  6 bhrāmayitvā śataguṇaṃ bhujābhyāṃ bharatarṣabha
      babhañja pṛṣṭhe saṃkṣipya niṣpiṣya vinanāda ca
  7 tasya niṣpiṣyamāṇasya pāṇḍavasya ca garjataḥ
      abhavat tumulo nādaḥ sarvaprāṇi bhayaṃkaraḥ
  8 vitresur māgadhāḥ sarve strīṇāṃ garbhāś ca susruvuḥ
      bhīmasenasya nādena jarāsaṃdhasya caiva ha
  9 kiṃ nu svid dhimavān bhinnaḥ kiṃ nu svid dīryate mahī
      iti sma māgadhā jajñur bhīmasenasya nisvanāt
  10 tato rājakuladvāri prasuptam iva taṃ nṛpam
     rātrau parāsum utsṛjya niścakramur ariṃdamāḥ
 11 jarāsaṃdha rathaṃ kṛṣṇo yojayitvā patākinam
     āropya bhrātarau caiva mokṣayām āsa bāndhavān
 12 te vai ratnabhujaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ ratnārhaṃ pṛthivīśvarāḥ
     rājānaś cakrur āsādya mokṣitā mahato bhayāt
 13 akṣataḥ śastrasaṃpanno jitāriḥ saha rājabhiḥ
     ratham āsthāya taṃ divyaṃ nirjagāma girivrajāt
 14 yaḥ sasodaryavān nāma dviyodhaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ
     abhyāsaghātī saṃdṛśyo durjayaḥ sarvarājabhiḥ
 15 bhīmārjunābhyāṃ yodhābhyām āsthitaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ
     śuśubhe rathavaryo 'sau durjayaḥ sarvadhanvibhiḥ
 16 śakra viṣṇū hi saṃgrāme ceratus tārakā maye
     rathena tena taṃ kṛṣṇa upāruhya yayau tadā
 17 taptacāmīkarābheṇa kiṅkiṇījālamālinā
     meghanirghoṣanādena jaitreṇāmitra ghātinā
 18 yena śakro dānavānāṃ jaghāna navatīr nava
     taṃ prāpya samahṛṣyanta rathaṃ te puruṣarṣabhāḥ
 19 tataḥ kṛṣṇaṃ mahābāhuṃ bhrātṛbhyāṃ sahitaṃ tadā
     rathasthaṃ māgadhā dṛṣṭvā samapadyanta vismitāḥ
 20 hayair divyaiḥ samāyukto ratho vāyusamo jave
     adhiṣṭhitaḥ sa śuśubhe kṛṣṇenātīva bhārata
 21 asaṅgī deva vihitas tasmin rathavare dhvajaḥ
     yojanād dadṛśe śrīmān indrāyudhasamaprabhaḥ
 22 cintayām āsa kṛṣṇo 'tha garutmantaṃ sa cābhyayāt
     kṣaṇe tasmin sa tenāsīc caityayūpa ivocchritaḥ
 23 vyāditāsyair mahānādaiḥ saha bhūtair dhvajālayaiḥ
     tasthau rathavare tasmin garutmān pannagāśanaḥ
 24 durnirīkṣyo hi bhūtānāṃ tejasābhyadhikaṃ babhau
     āditya iva madhyāhne sahasrakiraṇāvṛtaḥ
 25 na sa sajjati vṛkṣeṣu śastraiś cāpi na riṣyate
     divyo dhvajavaro rājan dṛśyate deva mānuṣaiḥ
 26 tam āsthāya rathaṃ divyaṃ parjanyasamanisvanam
     niryayau puruṣavyāghraḥ pāṇḍavābhyāṃ sahācyutaḥ
 27 yaṃ lebhe vāsavād rājā vasus tasmād bṛhadrathaḥ
     bṛhadrathāt krameṇaiva prāpto bārhadrathaṃ nṛpam
 28 sa niryayau mahābāhuḥ puṇḍarīkekṣaṇas tataḥ
     girivrajād bahis tasthau same deśe mahāyaśāḥ
 29 tatrainaṃ nāgarāḥ sarve satkāreṇābhyayus tadā
     brāhmaṇa pramukhā rājan vidhidṛṣṭeṇa karmaṇā
 30 bandhanād vipramuktāś ca rājāno madhusūdanam
     pūjayām āsur ūcuś ca sāntvapūrvam idaṃ vacaḥ
 31 naitac citraṃ mahābāho tvayi devakinandana
     bhīmārjunabalopete dharmasya paripālanam
 32 jarāsaṃdha hrade ghore duḥkhapaṅke nimajjatām
     rājñāṃ samabhyuddharaṇaṃ yad idaṃ kṛtam adya te
 33 viṣṇo samavasannānāṃ giridurge sudāruṇe
     diṣṭyā mokṣād yaśo dīptam āptaṃ te puruṣottama
 34 kiṃ kurmaḥ puruṣavyāghra bravīhi puruṣarṣabha
     kṛtam ity eva taj jñeyaṃ nṛpair yady api duṣkaram
 35 tān uvāca hṛṣīkeśaḥ samāśvāsya mahāmanāḥ
     yudhiṣṭhiro rājasūyaṃ kratum āhartum icchati
 36 tasya dharmapravṛttasya pārthiva tvaṃ cikīrṣataḥ
     sarvair bhavadbhir yajñārthe sāhāyyaṃ dīyatām iti
 37 tataḥ pratītamanasas te nṛpā bharatarṣabha
     tathety evābruvan sarve pratijajñuś ca tāṃ giram
 38 ratnabhājaṃ ca dāśārhaṃ cakrus te pṛthivīśvarāḥ
     kṛcchrāj jagrāha govindas teṣāṃ tad anukampayā
 39 jarāsaṃdhātmajaś caiva sahadevo mahārathaḥ
     niryayau sajanāmātyaḥ puraskṛtya purohitam
 40 sa nīcaiḥ praśrito bhūtvā bahuratnapurogamaḥ
     sahadevo nṛṇāṃ devaṃ vāsudevam upasthitaḥ
 41 bhayārtāya tatas tasmai kṛṣṇo dattvābhayaṃ tadā
     abhyaṣiñcata tatraiva jarāsaṃdhātmajaṃ tadā
 42 gatvaikatvaṃ ca kṛṣṇena pārthābhyāṃ caiva satkṛtaḥ
     viveśa rājā matimān punar bārhadrathaṃ puram
 43 kṛṣṇas tu saha pārthābhyāṃ śriyā paramayā jvalan
     ratnāny ādāya bhūrīṇi prayayau puṣkarekṣaṇaḥ
 44 indraprastham upāgamya pāṇḍavābhyāṃ sahācyutaḥ
     sametya dharmarājānaṃ prīyamāṇo 'bhyabhāṣata
 45 diṣṭyā bhīmena balavāñ jarāsaṃdho nipātitaḥ
     rājāno mokṣitāś ceme bandhanān nṛpasattama
 46 diṣṭyā kuśalinau cemau bhīmasenadhanaṃjayau

     punaḥ svanagaraṃ prāptāv akṣatāv iti bhārata
 47 tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ kṛṣṇaṃ pūjayitvā yathārhataḥ
     bhīmasenārjunau caiva prahṛṣṭaḥ pariṣasvaje
 48 tataḥ kṣīṇe jarāsaṃdhe bhrātṛbhyāṃ vihitaṃ jayam
     ajātaśatrur āsādya mumude bhrātṛbhiḥ saha
 49 yathā vayaḥ samāgamya rājabhis taiś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     satkṛtya pūjayitvā ca visasarja narādhipān
 50 yudhiṣṭhirābhyanujñātās te nṛpā hṛṣṭamānasāḥ
     jagmuḥ svadeśāṃs tvaritā yānair uccāvacais tataḥ
 51 evaṃ puruṣaśārdūlo mahābuddhir janārdanaḥ
     pāṇḍavair ghātayām āsa jarāsaṃdham ariṃ tadā
 52 ghātayitvā jarāsaṃdhaṃ buddhipūrvam ariṃdamaḥ
     dharmarājam anujñāpya pṛthāṃ kṛṣṇāṃ ca bhārata
 53 subhadrāṃ bhīmasenaṃ ca phālguṇaṃ yamajau tathā
     dhaumyam āmantrayitvā ca prayayau svāṃ purīṃ prati
 54 tenaiva rathamukhyena taruṇādityavarcasā
     dharmarāja visṛṣṭena divyenānādayan diśaḥ
 55 tato yudhiṣṭhira mukhāḥ pāṇḍavā bharatarṣabha
     pradakṣiṇam akurvanta kṛṣṇam akliṣṭakāriṇam
 56 tato gate bhagavati kṛṣṇe devakinandane
     jayaṃ labdhvā suvipulaṃ rājñām abhayadās tadā
 57 saṃvardhitaujaso bhūyo karmaṇā tena bhārata
     draupadyāḥ pāṇḍavā rājan parāṃ prītim avardhayan
 58 tasmin kāle tu yad yuktaṃ dharmakāmārtha saṃhitam
     tad rājā dharmataś cakre rājyapālana kīrtimān

SECTION XXII

"Jarasandha said,--'I do not recollect if I ever acted injuriously towards ye! Even upon a careful mental scrutiny I fail to see the injury I did unto ye. When I have never done ye an injury, why, ye Brahmanas do ye regard me, who am innocent, as your foe? O, answer me truly, for this, indeed, is the rule followed by the honest. The mind is pained at the injury to one's pleasure and morality. That Kshatriya who injures an innocent man's (sources of) pleasure and morality even if he be otherwise a great warrior and well-versed in all rules of morality, obtains, without any doubt the fate of sinners (hereafter) and falls off from prosperity. The practices of the Kshatriyas are the best of those that are honest in the three worlds Indeed, those that are acquainted with morality applaud the Kshatriya
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practices. Adhering to those practices of my order with steady soul, I never injure those that are under me. In bringing this charge, therefore, against me, it appears that ye speak erroneously!'
"Krishna said,--'O thou of mighty arms, there is a certain person of the head of a (royal) line who upholdeth the dignity of his race At his command have we come against thee. Thou hast brought, O king, many of the Kshatriyas of the world as captives (to thy city.) Having perpetrated that wicked wrong how dost thou regard thyself as innocent? O best of monarchs, how can a king act wrongfully towards other virtuous kings? But thou, O king, treating other kings with cruelty, seekest to offer them as sacrifice unto the god Rudra! O son of Vrihadratha, this sin committed by thee may touch even us, for as we are virtuous in our practices, we are capable of protecting virtue. The slaughter of human being as sacrifice unto the gods is never seen. Why dost thou, therefore, seek to perform a sacrifice unto god Sankara by slaughtering human beings? Thou art addressing persons belonging to thy own order as animals (fit for sacrifice)! Fool as thou art, who else, O Jarasandha, is capable of behaving in this way? One always obtaineth the fruits of whatever acts one performeth under whatever circumstances. Therefore, desirous as we are of helping all distressed people, we have, for the prosperity of our race, come hither to slay thee, the slaughterer of our relatives. Thou thinkest that there is no man among the Kshatriyas (equal to thee). This, O king, is a great error of judgment on thy part. What Kshatriya is there, O king, who endued with greatness of soul and recollecting the dignity of his own parentage, would not ascend to eternal heaven that hath not its like anywhere, falling in open fight? Know O bull among men, that Kshatriyas engage themselves in battle, as persons installed in sacrifices, with heaven in view, and vanquish the whole world! Study of the Vedas, great fame, ascetic penances, and death in battle, are all acts that lead to heaven. The attainment of heaven by the three other acts may be uncertain, but death in battle hath that for its certain consequence. Death in battle is the sure cause of triumph like Indra's. It is graced by numerous merits. It is for this reason that he of a hundred sacrifices (Indra) hath become what he is, and by vanquishing the Asuras he ruleth the universe. Hostility with whom else than thee is so sure of leading to heaven, proud as thou art of the excessive strength of thy vast Magadha host? Don't disregard others, O king. Valour dwelleth in every man. O king of men, there are many men whose valour may be equal or superior to thine. As long as these are not known, so long only art thou noted for thy valour. Thy prowess, O king, can be borne by us. It is, therefore, that I say so. O king of Magadha, cast off thy superiority and pride in the presence of those that are thy equals. Go not, O king, with thy children and ministers and army, into the regions of Yama. Damvodhava, Kartavirya, Uttara, and Vrihadratha, were kings that met with destruction, along with all their forces, for having disregarded their superiors. Desirous of liberating the captive monarchs
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from thee, know that we are certainly not Brahmanas. I am Hrishesha otherwise called Sauri, and these two heroes among men are the sons of Pandu. O king of Magadha, we challenge thee. Fight standing before us. Either set free all the monarchs, or go thou to the abode of Yama.
"Jarasandha said,--'I never make a captive of a king without first vanquishing him. Who hath been kept here that hath not been defeated in war? This, O Krishna, it hath been said, is the duty that should be followed by the Kshatriyas, viz., to bring others under sway by the exhibition of prowess and then to treat them as slaves. Having gathered these monarchs with the intention of offering them as sacrifices unto the god, how shall I, O Krishna, from fear liberate them to-day, when I recollect also the duty I have recited of a Kshatriya? With troops against troops arrayed in order of battle, or alone against one, or against two, or against three, at the same time or separately, I am ready to fight.'"
Vaisampayana said,--"Having spoken thus, and desiring to fight with those heroes of terrible achievements, king Jarasandha ordered (his son) Sahadeva to be installed on the throne. Then, O bull of the Bharata race, the king, on the eve of battle, thought of his two generals Kausika and Chitrasena. These two, O king, were formerly called by everybody in the world of men by the respectful appellations of Hansa and Dimvaka. And, O monarch, that tiger among men, the lord Sauri ever devoted to truth, the slayer of Madhu, the younger brother of Haladhara, the foremost of all persons having their senses under complete control, keeping in view the command of Brahma and remembering that the ruler of Magadha was destined to be slain in battle by Bhima and not by the descendant of Madhu (Yadavas), desired not to slay himself king Jarasandha, that foremost of all men endued with strength, that hero possessed of the prowess of a tiger, that warrior of terrible valour."

Book 2
Chapter 23

  1 [v]
      pārthaḥ prāpya dhanuḥśreṣṭham akṣayyau ca maheṣudhī
      rathaṃ dhvajaṃ sabhāṃ caiva yudhiṣṭhiram abhāṣata
  2 dhanur astraṃ śarā vīryaṃ pakṣo bhūmir yaśobalam
      prāptam etan mayā rājan duṣprāpaṃ yad abhīpsitam
  3 tatra kṛtyam ahaṃ manye kośasyāsya vivardhanam
      karam āhārayiṣyāmi rājñaḥ sarvān nṛpottama
  4 vijayāya prayāsyāmi diśaṃ dhanada rakṣitām
      tithāv atha muhūrte ca nakṣatre ca tathā śive
  5 dhanaṃjaya vaco śrutvā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
      snigdhagambhīra nādinyā taṃ girā pratyabhāṣata
  6 svasti vācyārhato viprān prayāhi bharatarṣabha
      durhṛdām apraharṣāya suhṛdāṃ nandanāya ca
      vijayas te dhruvaṃ pārtha priyaṃ kāmam avāpnuhi
  7 ity uktaḥ prayayau pārthaḥ sainyena mahatā vṛtaḥ
      agnidattena divyena rathenādbhutakarmaṇā
  8 tathaiva bhīmaseno 'pi yamau ca puruṣarṣabhau
      sa sainyāḥ prayayuḥ sarve dharmarājābhi pūjitāḥ
  9 diśaṃ dhanapater iṣṭām ajayat pākaśāsaniḥ
      bhīmasenas tathā prācīṃ sahadevas tu dakṣiṇām
  10 pratīcīṃ nakulo rājan diśaṃ vyajayad astravit
     khāṇḍava prastham adhyāste dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 11 [j]
     diśām abhijayaṃ brahman vistareṇānukīrtaya
     na hi tṛpyāmi pūrveṣāṃ śṛṇvānaś caritaṃ mahat
 12 [vai]
     dhanaṃjayasya vakṣyāmi vijayaṃ pūrvam eva te
     yaugapadyena pārthair hi vijiteyaṃ vasuṃdharā
 13 pūrvaṃ kuṇinda viṣaye vaśe cakre mahīpatīn
     dhanaṃjayo mahābāhur nātitīvreṇa karmaṇā
 14 ānartān kālakūṭāṃś ca kuṇindāṃś ca vijitya saḥ
     sumaṇḍalaṃ pāpajitaṃ kṛtavān anu sainikam
 15 sa tena sahito rājan savyasācī paraṃtapaḥ
     vijigye sakalaṃ dvīpaṃ prativindhyaṃ ca pārthivam
 16 sakala dvīpavāsāṃś ca sapta dvīpe ca ye nṛpāḥ
     arjunasya ca sainyānāṃ vigrahas tumulo 'bhavat
 17 sa tān api maheṣvāso vijitya bharatarṣabha
     tair eva sahitaḥ sarvaiḥ prāgjyotiṣam upādravat
 18 tatra rājā mahān āsīd bhagadatto viśāṃ pate
     tenāsīt sumahad yuddhaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ
 19 sa kirātaiś ca cīnaiś ca vṛtaḥ prāgjyotiṣo 'bhavat
     anyaiś ca bahubhir yodhaiḥ sāgarānūpavāsibhiḥ
 20 tataḥ sa divasān aṣṭau yodhayitvā dhanaṃjayam
     prahasann abravīd rājā saṃgrāme vigataklamaḥ
 21 upapannaṃ mahābāho tvayi pāṇḍavanandana
     pākaśāsanadāyāde vīryam āhavaśobhini
 22 ahaṃ sakhā surendrasya śakrād anavamo raṇe
     na ca śaknomi te tāta sthātuṃ pramukhato yudhi
 23 kim īpsitaṃ pāṇḍaveya brūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te
     yad vakṣyasi mahābāho tat kariṣyāmi putraka
 24 [ar]
     kurūṇām ṛṣabho rājā dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     tasya pārthivatām īpse karas tasmai pradīyatām
 25 bhavān pitṛsakhā caiva prīyamāṇo mayāpi ca
     tato nājñāpayāmi tvāṃ prītipūrvaṃ pradīyatām
 26 [bha]
     kuntī mātar yathā me tvaṃ tathā rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     sarvam etat kariṣyāmi kiṃ cānyat karavāṇi te

SECTION XXIII

Vaisampayana said,--'then that foremost of all speakers, Krishna of the Yadava race, addressing king Jarasandha who was resolved upon fighting, said,--'O king, with whom amongst us three dost thou desire to fight? Who amongst us shall prepare himself for battle (with thee)?' Thus addressed, the ruler of Magadha, king Jarasandha of great splendour, expressed his desire for fighting with Bhima. The priest then, bringing with him the yellow pigment obtained from the cow and garlands of flowers and other auspicious articles, as also various excellent medicines for restoring lost consciousness and alleviating pain, approached Jarasandha, panting for battle. The king Jarasandha, on whose behalf propitiatory ceremonies
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with benedictions were performed by a renowned Brahmana, remembering the duty of a Kshatriya dressed himself for battle. Taking off his crown and binding his hair properly, Jarasandha stood up like an ocean bursting its continents. Then the monarch possessed of terrible prowess, addressing Bhima. said, 'I will fight with thee. It is better to be vanquished by a superior person.' And saying this, Jarasandha, that represser of all foes endued, rushed with great energy at Bhimasena like the Asura Vala or old who rushed at the chief of the celestials. And the mighty Bhimasena, on whose behalf the gods had been invoked by Krishna, that cousin of his, having consulted with advanced towards Jarasandha, impelled by the desire of fight. Then those tigers among men, those heroes of great prowess, with their bare arms as their only weapons, cheerfully engaged themselves in the encounter, each desirous of vanquishing the other. And seizing each other's arms and twining each other's legs, (at times) they slapped their arm-pits, causing the enclosure to tremble at the sound. And frequently seizing each other's necks with their hands and dragging and pushing it with violence, and each pressing every limb of his body against every limb of the other, they continued, O exalted one, to slap their arm-pits (at time). And sometimes stretching their arms and sometimes drawing them close, and now raising them up and now dropping them down, they began to seize each other. And striking neck against neck and forehead against forehead, they caused fiery sparks to come out like flashes of lightning. And grasping each other in various ways by means of their arms, and kicking each other with such violence as to affect the innermost nerves, they struck at each other's breasts with clenched fists. With bare arms as their only weapons roaring like clouds they grasped and struck each other like two mad elephants encountering each other with their trunks. Incensed at each other's blow, they fought on dragging and pushing each other and fiercely looking at each other like two wrathful lions. And each striking every limb of the other with his own and using his arms also against the other, and catching hold of each other's waist, they hurled each other to a distance. Accomplished in wrestling, the two heroes clasping each other with their arms and each dragging the other unto himself, began to press each other with great violence. The heroes then performed those grandest of all feats in wrestling called Prishtabhanga, which consisted in throwing each other down with face towards the earth and maintaining the one knocked down in that position as long as possible. And employing his arms, each also performed the feats called Sampurna-murchcha and Purna-kumbha. At times they twisted each other's arms and other limbs as if these were vegetable fibres that were to be twisted into chords. And with clenched fists they struck each other at times, pretending to aim at particular limbs while the blows descended upon other parts of the body. It was thus that those heroes fought with each other. The citizens consisting of thousands, of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras, and even women and the
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aged, O tiger among men, came out and gathered there to behold the fight. And the crowd became so great that it was one solid mass of humanity with no space between body and body. The sound the wrestlers made by the slapping of their arms, the seizing of each other's necks for bringing each other down, and the grasping of each other's legs for dashing each other to the ground, became so loud that it resembled the roar of thunder or of falling cliffs. Both of them were foremost of mighty men, and both took great delight in such encounter. Desirous of vanquishing the other, each was on the alert for taking advantage of the slightest lapse of the other. And, O monarch, the mighty Bhima and Jarasandha fought terribly on in those lists, driving the crowd at times by the motions of their hands like Vritra and Vasava of old. Thus two heroes, dragging each other forward and pressing each other backward and with sudden jerks throwing each other face downward and sideways, mangled each other dreadfully. And at times they struck each other with their knee-joints. And addressing each other loudly in stinging speeches, they struck each other with clenched fists, the blows descending like a mass of stone upon each other. With broad shoulders and long arms and both well-skilled in wrestling encounters, they struck each other with those long arms of theirs that were like maces of iron. That encounter of the heroes commenced on the first (lunar) day of the month of Kartic (October) and the illustrious heroes fought on without intermission and food, day and night, till the thirteenth lunar day. It was on the night of the fourteenth of the lunar fortnight that the monarch of Magadha desisted from fatigue. And O king, Janardana beholding the monarch tired, addressed Bhima of terrible deeds, and as if to stimulate him said,--'O son of Kunti, a foe that is fatigued cannot be pressed for if pressed at such a time he may even die. Therefore, O son of Kunti, this king should not be oppressed by thee. On the other hand, O bull of the Bharata race, fight with him With thy arms, putting forth as much strength only as thy antagonist hath now left!' Then that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Pandu, thus addressed by Krishna, understood the plight of Jarasandha and forthwith resolved upon taking his life. And that foremost of all men endued with strength, that prince of the Kuru race, desirous of vanquishing the hitherto unvanquished Jarasandha, mustered all his strength and courage."

Book 2
Chapter 24

 1 [vai]
      taṃ vijitya mahābāhuḥ kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ
      prayayāv uttarāṃ tasmād diśaṃ dhanada pālitam
  2 antar giriṃ ca kaunteyas tathaiva ca bahir girim
      tathopari giriṃ caiva vijigye puruṣarṣabhaḥ
  3 vijitya parvatān sarvān ye ca tatra narādhipāḥ
      tān vaśe sthāpayitvā sa ratnāny ādāya sarvaśaḥ
  4 tair eva sahitaḥ sarvair anurajya ca tān nṛpān
      kulūtavāsinaṃ rājan bṛhantam upajagmivān
  5 mṛdaṅgavaranādena rathanemi svanena ca
      hastināṃ ca ninādena kampayan vasudhām imām
  6 tato bṛhantas taruṇo balena caturaṅginā
      niṣkramya nagarāt tasmād yodhayām āsa pāṇḍavam
  7 sumahān saṃnipāto 'bhūd dhanaṃjaya bṛhantayoḥ
      na śaśāka bṛhantas tu soḍhuṃ pāṇḍava vikramam
  8 so 'viṣahyatamaṃ jñātvā kaunteyaṃ parvateśvaraḥ
      upāvartata durmedhā ratnāny ādāya sarvaśaḥ
  9 sa tad rājyam avasthāpya kulūta sahito yayau
      senā bindum atho rājan rājyād āśu samākṣipat
  10 modā puraṃ vāmadevaṃ sudāmānaṃ susaṃkulam
     kulūtān uttarāṃś caiva tāṃś ca rājñaḥ samānayat
 11 tatrasthaḥ puruṣair eva dharmarājasya śāsanāt
     vyajayad dhanaṃjayo rājan deśān pañca pramāṇataḥ
 12 sa divaḥ prastham āsādya senā bindoḥ puraṃ mahat
     balena caturaṅgeṇa niveśam akarot prabhuḥ
 13 sa taiḥ parivṛtaḥ sarvair viṣvag aśvaṃ narādhipam
     abhyagacchan mahātejāḥ pauravaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
 14 vijitya cāhave śūrān pārvatīyān mahārathān
     dhvajinyā vyajayad rājan puraṃ pauravarakṣitam
 15 pauravaṃ tu vinirjitya dasyūn parvatavāsinaḥ
     gaṇān utsava saṃketān ajayat sapta pāṇḍavaḥ
 16 tataḥ kāśmīrakān vīrān kṣatriyān kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ
     vyajayal lohitaṃ caiva maṇḍalair daśabhiḥ saha
 17 tatas trigartān kaunteyo dārvān koka nadāś ca ye
     kṣatriyā bahavo rājann upāvartanta sarvaśaḥ
 18 abhisārīṃ tato ramyāṃ vijigye kurunandanaḥ
     uragāvāsinaṃ caiva rocamānaṃ raṇe 'jayat
 19 tataḥ siṃhapuraṃ ramyaṃ citrāyudhasurakṣitam
     prāmathad balam āsthāya pākaśāsanir āhave
 20 tataḥ suhmāṃś ca colāṃś ca kirīṭī pāṇḍavarṣabhaḥ
     sahitaḥ sarvasainyena prāmathat kurunandanaḥ
 21 tataḥ paramavikrānto bāhlīkān kurunandanaḥ
     mahatā parimardena vaśe cakre durāsadān
 22 gṛhītvā tu balaṃ sāraṃ phalgu cotsṛjya pāṇḍavaḥ
     daradān saha kāmbojair ajayat pākaśāsaniḥ
 23 prāguttarāṃ diśaṃ ye ca vasanty āśritya dasyavaḥ
     nivasanti vane ye ca tān sarvān ajayat prabhuḥ
 24 lohān paramakāmbojān ṛṣikān uttarān api
     sahitāṃs tān mahārāja vyajayat pākaśāsaniḥ
 25 ṛṣikeṣu tu saṃgrāmo babhūvātibhayaṃ karaḥ
     tārakā maya saṃkāśaḥ paramarṣika pārthayoḥ
 26 sa vijitya tato rājann ṛṣikān raṇamūrdhani
     śukodara samaprakhyān hayān aṣṭau samānayat
     mayūrasadṛśān anyān ubhayān eva cāparān
 27 sa vinirjitya saṃgrāme himavantaṃ sa niṣkuṭam
     śvetaparvatam āsādya nyavasat puruṣarṣabhaḥ

SECTION XXIV

Vaisampayana said,--"thus addressed, Bhima firmly resolved upon slaying Jarasandha, replied unto Krishna of the Yadu race, saying,--O tiger of the
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[paragraph continues] Yadu race, O Krishna, this wretch that yet stayeth before me with sufficient strength and bent upon fight, should not be forgiven by me. Hearing these words of Vrikodara (Bhima), that tiger among men, Krishna, desiring to encourage that hero to accomplish the death of Jarasandha without any delay, answered,--'O Bhima, exhibit today upon Jarasandha the strength thou hast luckily derived, the might thou hast obtained from (thy father), the god Maruta.' Thus addressed by Krishna, Bhima, that slayer of foes, holding up in the air the powerful Jarasandha, began to whirl him on high. And, O bull of the Bharata race, having so whirled him in the air full hundred times, Bhima pressed his knee against Jarasandha's backbone and broke his body in twain. And having killed him thus, the mighty Vrikodara uttered a terrible roar. And the roar of the Pandava mingling with that death knell of Jarasandha, while he was being broken on Bhima's knee, caused a loud uproar that struck fear into the heart of every creature. And all the citizens of Magadha became dumb with terror and many women were even prematurely delivered. And hearing those roars, the people of Magadha thought that either the Himavat was tumbling down or the earth itself was being rent asunder. And those oppressors of all foes then, leaving the lifeless body of the king at the palace gate where he lay as one asleep, went out of the town. And Krishna, causing Jarasandha's car furnished with an excellent flagstaff to be made ready and making the brothers (Bhima and Arjuna) ride in it, went in and released his (imprisoned) relatives. And those kings rescued from terrible fate, rich in the possession of jewels, approaching Krishna made presents unto him of jewels and gems. And having vanquished his foe, Krishna furnished with weapons and unwounded and accompanied by the kings (he had released), came out of Girivraja riding in that celestial car (of Jarasandha). And he also who could wield the bow with both hands (Arjuna), who was incapable of being vanquished by any of the monarchs on earth, who was exceedingly handsome in person and well-skilled in the destruction of the foe, accompanied by the possessor of great strength (Bhima), came out of that tort with Krishna driving the car whereon he rode. And that best of cars, incapable of being vanquished by any king, ridden in by those warriors Bhima and Arjuna, and driven by Krishna, looked exceedingly handsome. Indeed, it was upon that car that Indra and Vishnu had fought of old in the battle (with the Asuras) in which Taraka (the wife of Vrihaspati) had become the immediate cause of much slaughter. And riding upon that car Krishna now came out of the hill-fort. Possessed of the splendour of heated gold, and decked with rows of jingling bells and furnished with wheels whose clatter was like the roar of clouds, and ever victorious in battle, and always slaughtering the foe against whom it was driven, it was that very car riding upon which Indra had slain ninety-nine Asuras of old. And those bulls among men (the three cousins) having obtained that car became exceedingly glad. The people of Magadha, behold the long-armed Krishna
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along with the two brothers, seated in that car (of Jarasandha) wondered much. O Bharata, that car, whereunto were yoked celestial horses and which possessed the speed of the wind, thus ridden upon by Krishna, looked exceedingly beautiful. And upon that best of cars was a flag-staff without being visibly attached thereto, and which was the product of celestial skill. And the handsome flag-staff, possessed of the splendour of the rainbow, could be seen from the distance of a yojana. And Krishna while, coming out, thought of Garuda. And Garuda, thought of by his master, came thither in no time, like a tree of vast proportions standing in a village worshipped by all. Garuda of immense weight of body and living upon snakes sat upon that excellent car along with the numberless open-mouthed and frightfully-roaring creatures on its flag-staff. And thereupon that best of cars became still more dazzling with its splendour and was as incapable of being looked at by created being as the midday sun surrounded by a thousand rays. And, O king, such was that best of flag-staffs of celestial make that it never struck against any tree nor could any weapon injure it at all even though visible to men's eyes. And Achyuta, that tiger among men, riding with the two sons of Pandu upon that celestial car, the clatter of whose wheels was like the roar of the clouds, came out of Girivraja. The car upon which Krishna rode had been obtained by king Vasu from Vasava, and from Vasu by Vrihadratha, and from the latter in due course by king Jarasandha. And he of long arms and eyes like lotus-petals and possessed of illustrious reputation, coming out of Girivraja, stopped (for some time) on a level plain outside the town. And, O king, all the citizens then, with the Brahmanas at their head, hastened thither to adore him with due religious rites. And the kings who had been released from confinement worshipped the slayer of Madhu with reverence, and addressing him with eulogies said,--O thou of long arms, thou hast to-day rescued us, sunk in the deep mire of sorrow in the hand of Jarasandha. Such an act of virtue by thee, O son of Devaki, assisted by the might of Bhima and Arjuna, is most extraordinary. O Vishnu, languishing as we all were in the terrible hill-fort of Jarasandha, it was verily from sheer good fortune alone that thou hast rescued us, O son of the Yadu race, and achieved thereby a remarkable reputation. O tiger among men, we bow down to thee. O, command us what we shall do. However difficult of accomplishment, thy command being made known to us, O lord (Krishna), it will at once be accomplished by us. Thus addressed by the monarchs, the high-souled Hrishikesa gave them every assurance and said,--'Yudhishthira is desirous of performing the sacrifice of Rajasuya. That monarch, ever guided by virtue, is solicitous of acquiring the imperial dignity. Having known this from me assist ye him in his endeavours. Then, O king, all those monarchs with joyous hearts accepted the words of Krishna, saying,--'So be it! And saying this, those lords of earth made presents of jewels unto him of the Dasarha race. And Govinda, moved by kindness towards them, took a portion of those presents,
p. 55
"Then the son of Jarasandha, the high-souled Sahadeva, accompanied by his relatives and the principal officers of state, and with his priest in front came thither. And the prince, bending himself low and making large presents of jewels and precious stones, worshipped Vasudeva, that god among men. Then that best of men, Krishna, giving every assurance unto the prince afflicted with fear, accepted those presents of his of great value. And Krishna joyfully installed the prince there and then in the sovereignty of Magadha. And the strong-armed and illustrious son of Jarasandha, thus installed on the throne by those most exalted of men and having obtained the friendship of Krishna and treated with respect and kindness by the two sons of Pritha, re-entered the city of his father. And that bull amongst men, Krishna, accompanied by the sons of Pritha and graced with great good fortune, left the city of Magadha, laden with numerous jewels. Accompanied by the two sons of Pandu, Achyuta (Krishna) arrived at Indraprastha, and approaching Yudhishthira joyfully addressing that monarch said,--'O best of kings, from good fortune, the mighty Jarasandha hath been slain by Bhima, and the kings confined (at Girivraja) have been all set free. From good fortune also, these two, Bhima and Dhananjaya, are well and arrived, O Bharata, it their own city unwounded. Then Yudhishthira worshipped Krishna as he deserved and embraced Bhima and Arjuna in joy. And the monarch who had no enemy, having obtained victory through the agency of his brothers in consequence of the death of Jarasandha, gave himself up to pleasure and merriment with all his brothers. And the oldest son of Pandu (Yudhisthira) together with his brothers approached the kings who had come to Indraprastha and entertaining and worshipping them, each according to his age, dismissed them all. Commanded by Yudhishthira those kings with joyful hearts, set out for their respective countries without loss of time, riding upon excellent vehicles. Thus, O king, did that tiger among men. Janardana of great intelligence, caused his foe Jarasandha to be slain through the instrumentality of the Pandavas. And, O Bharata, that chastiser of all foes having thus caused Jarasandha to be slain, took leave of Yudhishthira and Pritha, and Draupadi and Subhadra, and Bhimasena and Arjuna and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. After taking leave of Dhananjaya also, he set out for his own city (of Dwarka), riding upon that best of cars of celestial make, possessed of the speed of the mind and given unto him by Yudhishthira, filling the ten points of the horizon with the deep rattle of its wheels. And, O bull of the Bharata race, just as Krishna was on the point of setting out, the Pandavas with Yudhishthira at their head walked round that tiger among men who was never fatigued with exertion.'
"And after the illustrious Krishna, the son of Devaki, had departed (from Indraprastha) having acquired that great victory and having also dispelled the fears of the kings, that feat, O Bharata, swelled the fame of the Pandavas. And, O king, the Pandavas passed their days, continuing to
p. 56
gladden the heart of Draupadi. And at that time, whatever was proper and consistent with virtue, pleasure, and profit, continued to be properly executed by king Yudhishthira in the exercise of his duties of protecting his subjects."

Book 2
Chapter 25

 1 [v]
      sa śvetaparvataṃ vīraḥ samatikramya bhārata
      deśaṃ kiṃ puruṣāvāsaṃ drumaputreṇa rakṣitam
  2 mahatā saṃnipātena kṣatriyāntakareṇa ha
      vyajayat pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaḥ kare caiva nyaveśayat
  3 taṃ jitvā hāṭakaṃ nāma deśaṃ guhyaka rakṣitam
      pākaśāsanir avyagraḥ saha sainyaḥ samāsadat
  4 tāṃs tu sāntvena nirjitya mānasaṃ sara uttamam
      ṛṣikulyāś ca tāḥ sarvā dadarśa kurunandanaḥ
  5 saro mānasam āsādya hāṭakān abhitaḥ prabhuḥ
      gandharvarakṣitaṃ deśaṃ vyajayat pāṇḍavas tataḥ
  6 tatra tittiri kalmāṣān maṇḍūkākṣān hayottamān
      lebhe sa karam atyantaṃ gandharvanagarāt tadā
  7 uttaraṃ harivarṣaṃ tu samāsādya sa pāṇḍavaḥ
      iyeṣa jetuṃ taṃ deśaṃ pākaśāsananandanaḥ
  8 tata enaṃ mahākāyā mahāvīryā mahābalāḥ
      dvārapālāḥ samāsādya hṛṣṭā vacanam abruvan
  9 pārtha nedaṃ tvayā śakyaṃ puraṃ jetuṃ kathaṃ cana
      upāvartasva kalyāṇa paryāptam idam acyuta
  10 idaṃ puraṃ yaḥ praviśed dhruvaṃ sa na bhaven naraḥ
     prīyāmahe tvayā vīra paryāpto vijayas tava
 11 na cāpi kiṃ cij jetavyam arjunātra pradṛśyate
     uttarāḥ kuravo hy ete nātra yuddhaṃ pravartate
 12 praviṣṭaś cāpi kaunteya neha drakṣyasi kiṃ cana
     na hi mānuṣadehena śakyam atrābhivīkṣitum
 13 atheha puruṣavyāghra kiṃ cid anyac cikīrṣasi
     tad bravīhi kariṣyāmo vacanāt tava bhārata
 14 tatas tān abravīd rājann arjunaḥ pākaśāsaniḥ
     pārthivatvaṃ cikīrṣāmi dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ
 15 na pravekṣyāmi vo deśaṃ bādhyatvaṃ yadi mānuṣaiḥ
     yudhiṣṭhirāya tat kiṃ cit karavan naḥ pradīyatām
 16 tato divyāni vastrāṇi divyāny ābharaṇāni ca
     mokājināni divyāni tasmai te pradaduḥ karam
 17 evaṃ sa puruṣavyāghro vijigye diśam uttarām
     saṃgrāmān subahūn kṛtvā kṣatriyair dasyubhis tathā
 18 sa vinirjitya rājñas tān kare ca viniveśya ha
     dhanāny ādhāya sarvebhyo ratnāni vividhāni ca
 19 hayāṃs tittiri kalmāṣāñ śukapatranibhān api
     mayūrasadṛśāṃś cānyān sarvān anilaraṃhasaḥ
 20 vṛtaḥ sumahatā rājan balena caturaṅgiṇā
     ājagāma punar vīraḥ śakra prasthaṃ purottamam

SECTION XXV

(Digvijaya Parva)

Vaisampayana said,--Arjuna, having obtained that best of bows and that couple of inexhaustible quivers and that car and flag-staff, as also that assembly-house, addressing Yudhisthira said,--Bow, weapons, great energy, allies, territory, fame, army-those, O king, difficult of acquisition however desirable, have all been obtained by me. I think, therefore, that what should now be done is for the swelling up of our treasury. I desire, O best of monarchs, to make the kings (of the earth) pay tributes to us. I desire to set out, in an auspicious moment of a holy day of the moon under a favourable constellation for the conquest of the direction that is presided over by the Lord of treasures (viz. the North)."
Vaisampayana continued,--"King Yudhisthira the just, hearing these words of Dhananjaya, replied unto him in a grave and collected tone, saying,--O bull of the Bharata race, set thou out, having made holy Brahmanas utter benedictions on thee, to plunge thy enemies in sorrow and to fill thy friend with joy. Victory, O son of Pritha, will surely be thine, and thou wilt surely obtain thy desires fulfilled.
"Thus addressed, Arjuna, surrounded by a large host, set out in that celestial car of wonderful achievements he had obtained from Agni. And Bhimasena also, and those bull among men, the twins, dismissed with affection by Yudhishthira the just set out, each at the head of a large army. And Arjuna, the son of the chastiser of Paka then brought under subjugation that direction (the North) which was presided over by the Lord of treasures. And Bhimasena overcome by force the East and Sahadeva the South, and Nakula, O king, acquainted with all the weapons, conquered the West. Thus while his brothers were so employed, the exalted king Yudishthira the just stayed within Khandavaprastha in the enjoyment of great affluence in the midst of friends and relatives."
"Bhagadatta, hearing this, said,--'O thou who hast Kunto for thy mother, as thou art to me, so is Yudhishthira also. I shall do all this. Tell me, what else I may do for thee."

Book 2
Chapter 26

 1 [v]
      etasminn eva kāle tu bhīmaseno 'pi vīryavān
      dharmarājam anujñāpya yayau prācīṃ diśaṃ prati
  2 mahatā balacakreṇa pararāṣṭrāvamardinā
      vṛto bharataśārdūlo dviṣac chokavivardhanaḥ
  3 sa gatvā rājaśārdūlaḥ pāñcālānāṃ puraṃ mahat
      pāñcālān vividhopāyaiḥ sāntvayām āsa pāṇḍavaḥ
  4 tataḥ sagaṇḍakīṃ śūro videhāṃś ca nararṣabhaḥ
      vijityālpena kālena daśārṇān agamat prabhuḥ
  5 tatra dāśārhako rājā sudharmā lomaharṣaṇam
      kṛtavān karma bhīmena mahad yuddhaṃ nirāyudham
  6 bhīmasenas tu tad dṛṣṭvā tasya karma paraṃtapaḥ
      adhisenā patiṃ cakre sudharmāṇaṃ mahābalam
  7 tataḥ prācīṃ diśaṃ bhīmo yayau bhīmaparākramaḥ
      sainyena mahatā rājan kampayann iva medinīm
  8 so 'śvamedheśvaraṃ rājan rocamānaṃ sahānujam
      jigāya samare vīro balena balināṃ varaḥ
  9 sa taṃ nirjitya kaunteyo nātitīvreṇa karmaṇā
      pūrvadeśaṃ mahāvīryo vijigye kurunandanaḥ
  10 tato dakṣiṇam āgamya pulinda nagaraṃ mahat
     sukumāraṃ vaśe cakre sumitraṃ ca narādhipam
 11 tatas tu dharmarājasya śāsanād bharatarṣabhaḥ
     śiśupālaṃ mahāvīryam abhyayāj janamejaya
 12 cedirājo 'pi tac chrutvā pāṇḍavasya cikīrṣitam
     upaniṣkramya nagarāt pratyagṛhṇāt paraṃtapaḥ
 13 tau sametya mahārāja kuru cedivṛṣau tadā
     ubhayor ātmakulayoḥ kauśalyaṃ paryapṛcchatām
 14 tato nivedya tad rāṣṭraṃ cedirājo viśāṃ pate
     uvāca bhīmaṃ prahasan kim idaṃ kuruṣe 'nagha
 15 tasya bhīmas tadācakhyau dharmarāja cikīrṣitam
     sa ca tat pratigṛhyaiva tathā cakre narādhipaḥ
 16 tato bhīmas tatra rājann uṣitvā tridaśāḥ kṣapāḥ
     satkṛtaḥ śiśupālena yayau sabalavāhanaḥ

SECTION XXVI

Vaisampayana continued,--thus addressed, Dhananjaya replied unto Bhagadatta, saying,--'If thou wilt give thy promise to do this, thou hast done all I desire. And having thus subjugated the king of Pragjyotisha, Dhananjaya of long arms, the son of Kunti, then marched towards the north--the direction presided over by the lord of treasures. That bull amongst men, that son of Kunti, then conquered the mountainous tracts and their outskirts, as also the hilly regions. And having conquered all the mountains and the kings that reigned there, and bringing them under his sway, he exacted tributes from all. And winning the affections of those kings and uniting himself with them, he next marched, O king, against Vrihanta, the king of Uluka, making this earth tremble with the sound of his drums, the clatter of his chariot-wheels, and the roar of the elephants in his train. Vrihanta, however, quickly coming out of his city followed by his army consisting of four kinds of troops, gave battle to Falguna (Arjuna). And the fight that took place between Vrihanta and Dhananjaya was terrible. It so happened that Vrihanta was unable to bear the prowess of the son of Pandu. Then that invincible king of the mountainous region regarding the son of Kunti irresistible, approached him with all his wealth. Arjuna snatched out the kingdom from Vrihanta, but having made peace with him marched, accompanied by that king, against Senavindu whom he soon expelled from his kingdom. After this he subjugated Modapura, Vamadeva, Sudaman, Susankula, the Northern Ulukas, and the kings of those countries and peoples. Hereafter at the command of Yudhishthira, O monarch, Arjuna, did not move from the city of Senavindu but sent his troops only and brought under his sway those five countries and peoples. For Arjuna, having arrived at Devaprastha, the city of Senavindu, took up his quarters there with his army consisting of four kinds of forces. Thence, surrounded by the kings and the peoples he had subjugated, the hero marched against king Viswagaswa--that bull of Puru's race. Having vanquished in battle the brave mountaineers, who were all great warriors, the son of Pandu, O king, then occupied with the help of his troops, the town protected by the Puru king. Having vanquished in battle the Puru king, as also the robber tribes, of the mountains, the son of Pandu brought under his sway the seven tribes called Utsava-sanketa. That bull of the Kshatriya race then defeated the brave Kshatriyas of Kashmira and also king Lohita along with ten minor chiefs. Then the Trigartas, the Daravas, the Kokonadas, and various other Kshatriyas, O king, advanced against the son of Pandu. That Prince of the Kuru race then took the delightful town of Avisari, and then brought under his sway Rochamana ruling in Uraga.
p. 58
[paragraph continues] Then the son of Indra (Arjuna), putting forth his might, pressed the delightful town of Singhapura that was well-protected with various weapons. Then Arjuna, that bull amongst the son of Pandu, at the head of all his troops, fiercely attacked the regions called Suhma and Sumala. Then the son of Indra, endued with great prowess, after pressing them with great force, brought the Valhikas always difficult of being vanquished, under his sway. Then Falguna, the son of Pandu, taking with him a select force, defeated the Daradas along with the Kambojas. Then the exalted son of Indra vanquished the robber tribes that dwelt in the north-eastern frontier and those also that dwelt in the woods. And, O great king, the son of Indra also subjugated the allied tribes of the Lohas, the eastern Kambojas, and northern Rishikas. And the battle with the Rishikas was fierce in the extreme. Indeed, the fight that took place between them and the son of Pritha was equal to that between the gods and the Asuras in which Taraka (the wife of Vrihaspati) had become the cause of so much slaughter. And defeating, O king, the Rishikas in the field of battle, Arjuna took from them as tribute eight horses that were of the colour of the parrot's breast, as also other horses of the hues of the peacock, born in northern and other climes and endued with high speed. At last having conquered all the Himalayas and the Nishkuta mountains, that bull among men, arriving at the White mountains, encamped on its breast."

Book 2
Chapter 27

1 [v]
      tataḥ kumāra viṣaye śreṇimantam athājayat
      kosalādhipatiṃ caiva bṛhadbalam ariṃdamaḥ
  2 ayodhyāyāṃ tu dharmajñaṃ dīrghaprajñaṃ mahābalam
      ajayat pāṇḍavaśreṣṭho nātitīvreṇa karmaṇā
  3 tato gopāla kacchaṃ ca sottamān api cottarān
      mallānām adhipaṃ caiva pārthivaṃ vyajayat prabhuḥ
  4 tato himavataḥ pārśve samabhyetya jarad gavam
      sarvam alpena kālena deśaṃ cakre vaśe balī
  5 evaṃ bahuvidhān deśān vijitya puruṣarṣabhaḥ
      unnāṭam abhito jigye kukṣimantaṃ ca parvatam
      pāṇḍavaḥ sumahāvīryo balena balināṃ varaḥ
  6 sa kāśirājaṃ samare subandham anivartinam
      vaśe cakre mahābāhur bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ
  7 tataḥ supārśvam abhitas tathā rājapatiṃ kratham
      yudhyamānaṃ balāt saṃkhye vijigye pāṇḍavarṣabhaḥ
  8 tato matsyān mahātejā malayāṃś ca mahābalān
      anavadyān gayāṃś caiva paśubhūmiṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
  9 nivṛtya ca mahābāhur madarvīkaṃ mahīdharam
      sopadeśaṃ vinirjitya prayayāv uttarā mukhaḥ
      vatsabhūmiṃ ca kaunteyo vijigye balavān balāt
  10 bhargāṇām adhipaṃ caiva niṣādādhipatiṃ tathā
     vijigye bhūmipālāṃś ca maṇimat pramukhān bahūn
 11 tato dakṣiṇamallāṃś ca bhogavantaṃ ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     tarasaivājayad bhīmo nātitīvreṇa karmaṇā
 12 śarmakān varmakāṃś caiva sāntvenaivājayat prabhuḥ
     vaidehakaṃ ca rājānaṃ janakaṃ jagatīpatim
     vijigye puruṣavyāghro nātitīvreṇa karmaṇā
 13 vaidehasthas tu kaunteya indra parvatam antikāt
     kirātānām adhipatīn vyajayat sapta pāṇḍavaḥ
 14 tataḥ suhmān prācya suhmān samakṣāṃś caiva vīryavān
     vijitya yudhi kaunteyo māgadhān upayād balī
 15 daṇḍaṃ ca daṇḍadhāraṃ ca vijitya pṛthivīpatīn
     tair eva sahitaḥ sarvair girivrajam upādravat
 16 jārā saṃdhiṃ sāntvayitvā kare ca viniveśya ha
     tair eva sahito rājan karṇam abhyadravad balī
 17 sa kampayann iva mahīṃ balena caturaṅgiṇā
     yuyudhe pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaḥ karṇenāmitra ghātinā
 18 sa karṇaṃ yudhi nirjitya vaśe kṛtvā ca bhārata
     tato vijigye balavān rājñaḥ parvatavāsinaḥ
 19 atha modā giriṃ caiva rājānaṃ balavattaram
     pāṇḍavo bāhuvīryeṇa nijaghāna mahābalam
 20 tataḥ pauṇḍrādhipaṃ vīraṃ vāsudevaṃ mahābalam
     kauśikī kaccha nilayaṃ rājānaṃ ca mahaujasam
 21 ubhau balavṛtau vīrāv ubhau tīvraparākramau
     nirjityājau mahārāja vaṅga rājam upādravat
 22 samudrasenaṃ nirjitya candra senaṃ ca pārthivam
     tāmraliptaṃ ca rājānaṃ kācaṃ vaṅgādhipaṃ tathā
 23 suhmānām adhipaṃ caiva ye ca sāgaravāsinaḥ
     sarvān mleccha gaṇāṃś caiva vijigye bharatarṣabhaḥ
 24 evaṃ bahuvidhān deśān vijitya pavanātmajaḥ
     vasu tebhya upādāya lauhityam agamad balī
 25 sa sarvān mleccha nṛpatin sāgaradvīpavāsinaḥ
     karam āhārayām āsa ratnāni vividhāni ca
 26 candanāguruvastrāṇi maṇimuktam anuttamam
     kāñcanaṃ rajataṃ vajraṃ vidrumaṃ ca mahādhanam
 27 sa koṭiśatasaṃkhyena dhanena mahatā tadā
     abhyavarṣad ameyātmā dhanavarṣeṇa pāṇḍavam
 28 indraprastham athāgamya bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ
     nivedayām āsa tadā dharmarājāya tad dhanam

SECTION XXVII

Vaisampayana said,--"that heroic and foremost of the Pandavas endued with great energy, crossing the White mountains, subjugated the country of the Limpurushas ruled by Durmaputra, after a collision involving a great slaughter of Kshatriyas, and brought the region under his complete sway. Having reduced that country, the son of Indra (Arjuna) with a collected mind marched at the head of his troops to the country called Harataka, ruled by the Guhakas. Subjugating them by a policy of conciliation, the Kuru prince beheld (in that region) that excellent of lakes called Manasa and various other lakes and tanks sacred to the Rishis. And the exalted prince having arrived at the lake Manasa conquered the regions ruled by the Gandharvas that lay around the Harataka territories. Here the conqueror took, as tribute from the country, numerous excellent horses called Tittiri, Kalmasha, Manduka. At last the son of the slayer of Paka, arriving in the country of North Harivarsha desired to conquer it. Thereupon certain frontier-guards of huge bodies and endued with great strength and energy, coming to him with gallant hearts, said, 'O son of Pritha, this
p. 59
country can be never conquered by thee. If thou seekest thy good, return hence. He that entereth this region, if human, is sure to perish. We have been gratified with thee; O hero, thy conquests have been enough. Nor is anything to be seen here, O Arjuna, that may be conquered by thee. The Northern Kurus live here. There cannot be war here. Even if thou enterest it, thou will not be able to behold anything, for with human eyes nothing can be seen here. If, however thou seekest anything else, O Bharata tell us, O tiger among men, so that we may do thy bidding. Thus addressed by them, Arjuna smilingly addressing them, said,--'I desire the acquisition of the imperial dignity by Yudhishthira the just, of great intelligence. If your land is shut against human beings, I shall not enter it. Let something be paid unto Yudhishthira by ye as tribute. Hearing these words of Arjuna, they gave him as tribute many cloths and ornaments of celestial make, silks of celestial texture and skins of celestial origin.
"It was thus that tiger among men subjugated the countries that lay to the North, having fought numberless battles with both Kshatriya and robber tribes. And having vanquished the chiefs and brought them under his sway he exacted from them much wealth, various gems and jewels, the horses of the species called Tittiri and Kalmasha, as also those of the colour of the parrot's wings and those that were like the peacocks in hue and all endued with the speed of the wind. And surrounded, O king, by a large army consisting of the four kinds of forces, the hero came back to the excellent city of Sakraprastha. And Partha offered the whole of that wealth, together with the animals he had brought, unto Yudhishthira the just. And commanded by the monarch, the hero retired to a chamber of the palace for rest."

Book 2
Chapter 28

1 [v]
      tathaiva sahadevo 'pi dharmarājena pūjitaḥ
      mahatyā senayā sārdhaṃ prayayau dakṣiṇāṃ diśam
  2 sa śūrasenān kārtsnyena pūrvam evājayat prabhuḥ
      matsyarājaṃ ca kauravyo vaśe cakre balād balī
  3 adhirājādhipaṃ caiva dantavakraṃ mahāhave
      jigāya karadaṃ caiva svarājye saṃnyaveśayat
  4 sukumāraṃ vaśe cakre sumitraṃ ca narādhipam
      tathaivāparamatsyāṃś ca vyajayat sa paṭac carān
  5 niṣādabhūmiṃ gośṛṅgaṃ parvata pravaraṃ tathā
      tarasā vyajayad dhīmāñ śreṇimantaṃ ca pārthivam
  6 nava rāṣṭraṃ vinirjitya kuntibhojam upādravat
      prītipūrvaṃ ca tasyāsau pratijagrāha śāsanam
  7 tataś carmaṇvatī kūle jambhakasyātmajaṃ nṛpam
      dadarśa vāsudevena śeṣitaṃ pūrvavairiṇā
  8 cakre tatra sa saṃgrāmaṃ saha bhojena bhārata
      sa tam ājau vinirjitya dakṣiṇābhimukho yayau
  9 karāṃs tebhya upādāya ratnāni vividhāni ca
      tatas tair eva sahito narmadām abhito yayau
  10 vindānuvindāv āvantyau sainyena mahatā vṛtau
     jigāya samare vīrāv āśvineyaḥ pratāpavān
 11 tato ratnāny upādāya purīṃ māhiṣmatīṃ yayau
     tatra nīlena rājñā sacakre yuddhaṃ nararṣabhaḥ
 12 pāṇḍavaḥ paravīraghnaḥ sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
     tato 'sya sumahad yuddham āsīd bhīru bhayaṃkaram
 13 sainyakṣayakaraṃ caiva prāṇānāṃ saṃśayāya ca
     cakre tasya hi sāhāyyaṃ bhagavān havyavāhanaḥ
 14 tato hayā rathā nāgāḥ puruṣāḥ kavacāni ca
     pradīptāni vyadṛśyanta sahadeva bale tadā
 15 tataḥ susaṃbhrānta manā babhūva kurunandanaḥ
     nottaraṃ prativaktuṃ ca śakto 'bhūj janamejaya
 16 [j]
     kimarthaṃ bhagavān agniḥ pratyamitro 'bhavad yudhi
     sahadevasya yajñārthaṃ ghaṭamānasya vai dvija
 17 [v]
     tatra māhiṣmatī vāsī bhagavān havyavāhanaḥ
     śrūyate nigṛhīto vai purastat pāradārikaḥ
 18 nīlasya rājñaḥ pūrveṣām upanītaś ca so 'bhavat
     tadā brāhmaṇarūpeṇa caramāṇo yadṛcchayā
 19 taṃ tu rājā yathāśāstram anvaśād dhārmikas tadā
     prajajvāla tataḥ kopād bhagavān havyavāhanaḥ
 20 taṃ dṛṣṭvā vismito rājā jagāma śirasā kavim
     cakre prasādaṃ ca tadā tasya rājño vibhāvasuḥ
 21 vareṇa chandayām āsa taṃ nṛpaṃ sviṣṭakṛttamaḥ
     abhayaṃ ca sa jagrāha svasainye vai mahīpatiḥ
 22 tataḥ prabhṛti ye ke cid ajñānāt tāṃ purīṃ nṛpāḥ
     jigīṣanti balād rājaṃs te dahyantīha vahninā
 23 tasyāṃ puryāṃ tadā caiva māhiṣmatyāṃ kurūdvaha
     babhūvur anabhigrāhyā yoṣitaś chandataḥ kila
 24 evam agnir varaṃ prādāt strīṇām aprativāraṇe
     svairiṇyas tatra nāryo hi yatheṣṭaṃ pracaranty uta
 25 varjayanti ca rājānas tad rāṣṭraṃ puruṣottama
     bhayād agner mahārāja tadā prabhṛti sarvadā
 26 sahadevas tu dharmātmā sainyaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhayārditam
     parītam agninā rājan nākampata yathā giriḥ
 27 upaspṛśya śucir bhūtvā so 'bravīt pāvakaṃ tataḥ
     tvadartho 'yaṃ samārambhaḥ kṛṣṇavartman namo 'stu te
 28 mukhaṃ tvam asi devānāṃ yajñas tvam asi pāvaka
     pāvanāt pāvakaś cāsi vahanād dhavyavāhanaḥ
 29 vedās tvadarthaṃ jātāś ca jātavedās tato hy asi
     yajñavighnam imaṃ kartuṃ nārhas tvaṃ havyavāhana
 30 evam uktvā tu mādreyaḥ kuśair āstīrya medinīm
     vidhivat puruṣavyāghraḥ pāvakaṃ pratyupāviśat
 31 pramukhe sarvasainyasya bhītodvignasya bhārata
     na cainam atyagād vahnir velām iva mahodadhiḥ
 32 tam abhyetya śanair vahnir uvāca kurunandanam
     sahadevaṃ nṛṇāṃ devaṃ sāntvapūrvam idaṃ vacaḥ
 33 uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha kauravya jijñāseyaṃ kṛtā mayā
     vedmi sarvam abhiprāyaṃ tava dharmasutasya ca
 34 mayā tu rakṣitavyeyaṃ purī bharatasattama
     yāvad rājño 'sya nīlasya kulavaṃśadharā iti
     īpsitaṃ tu kariṣyāmi manasas tava pāṇḍava
 35 tata utthāya hṛṣṭātmā prāñjaliḥ śirasānataḥ
     pūjayām āsa mādreyaḥ pāvakaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
 36 pāvake vinivṛtte tu nīlo rājābhyayāt tadā
     satkāreṇa naravyāghraṃ sahadevaṃ yudhāṃ patim
 37 pratigṛhya ca tāṃ pūjāṃ kare ca viniveśya tam
     mādrī sutas tataḥ prāyād vijayī dakṣiṇāṃ diśam
 38 traipuraṃ sa vaśe kṛtvā rājānam amitaujasam
     nijagrāha mahābāhus tarasā potaneśvaram
 39 āhṛtiṃ kauśikācāryaṃ yatnena mahatā tataḥ
     vaśe cakre mahābāhuḥ surāṣṭrādhipatiṃ tathā
 40 surāṣṭra viṣayasthaś ca preṣayām āsa rukmiṇe
     rājñe bhojakaṭasthāya mahāmātrāya dhīmate
 41 bhīṣmakāya sa dharmātmā sākṣād indra sakhāya vai
     sa cāsya sasuto rājan pratijagrāha śāsanam
 42 prītipūrvaṃ mahābāhur vāsudevam avekṣya ca
     tataḥ sa ratnāny ādāya punaḥ prāyād yudhāṃ patiḥ
 43 tataḥ śūrpārakaṃ caiva gaṇaṃ copakṛtāhvayam
     vaśe cakre mahātejā daṇḍakāṃś ca mahābalaḥ
 44 sāgaradvīpavāsāṃś ca nṛpatīn mleccha yonijān
     niṣādān puruṣādāṃś ca karṇaprāvaraṇān api
 45 ye ca kālamukhā nāma narā rākṣasayonayaḥ
     kṛtsnaṃ kolla giriṃ caiva muracī pattanaṃ tathā
 46 dvīpaṃ tāmrāhvayaṃ caiva parvataṃ rāmakaṃ tathā
     timiṅgilaṃ ca nṛpatiṃ vaśe cakre mahāmatiḥ
 47 ekapādāṃś ca puruṣān kevalān vanavāsinaḥ
     nagarīṃ saṃjayantīṃ ca picchaṇḍaṃ karahāṭakam
     dūtair eva vaśe cakre karaṃ cainān adāpayat
 48 pāṇḍyāṃś ca dravidāṃś caiva sahitāṃś codra keralaiḥ
     andhrāṃs talavanāṃś caiva kaliṅgān oṣṭra karṇikān
 49 antākhīṃ caiva romāṃ ca yavanānāṃ puraṃ tathā
     dūtair eva vaśe cakre karaṃ cainān adāpayat
 50 bharu kacchaṃ gato dhīmān dūtān mādravatīsutaḥ
     preṣayām āsa rājendra paulastyāya mahātmane
     vibhīṣaṇāya dharmātmā prītipūrvam ariṃdamaḥ
 51 sa cāsya pratijagrāha śāsanaṃ prītipūrvakam
     tac ca kālakṛtaṃ dhīmān anvamanyata sa prabhuḥ
 52 tataḥ saṃpreṣayām āsa ratnāni vividhāni ca
     candanāgurumukhyāni divyāny ābharaṇāni ca
 53 vāsāṃsi ca mahārhāṇi maṇīṃś caiva mahādhanān
     nyavartata tato dhīmān sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
 54 evaṃ nirjitya tarasā sāntvena vijayena ca
     karadān pārthivān kṛtvā pratyāgacchad ariṃdamaḥ
 55 dharmarājāya tat sarvaṃ nivedya bharatarṣabha
     kṛtakarmā sukhaṃ rājann uvāsa janamejaya

SECTION XXVIII

Vaisampayana said,--in the meantime, Bhimasena also endued with great energy, having obtained the assent of Yudhishthira the just marched towards the eastern direction. And the tiger among the Bharatas, possessed of great valour and ever increasing the sorrows of his foes, was accompanied by a mighty host with the full complement of elephants and horses and cars, well-armed and capable of crushing all hostile kingdoms. That tiger among men, the son of Pandu, going first into the great country of the Panchalas, began by various means to conciliate that tribe. Then that hero, that bull of the Bharata race, within a short time, vanquished the Gandakas and the Videhas. That exalted one then subjugated the Dasarnas. There in the country of the Dasarnas, the king called Sudharman with his bare
p. 60
arms fought a fierce battle with Bhimasena. And Bhimasena, beholding that feat of the illustrious king, appointed the mighty Sudharman as the first in command of his forces. Then Bhima of terrible prowess marched towards the east, causing the earth itself to tremble with the tread of the mighty host that followed him. Then that hero who in strength was the foremost of all strong men defeated in battle Rochamana, the king of Aswamedha, at the head of all his troops. And the son of Kunti, having vanquished that monarch by performing feats that excelled in fierceness, subjugated the eastern region. Then that prince of the Kuru race, endued with great prowess going into the country of Pulinda in the south, brought Sukumara and the king Sumitra under his sway. Then, O Janamejaya, that bull in the Bharata race, at the command of Yudhishthira the just marched against Sisupala of great energy. The king of Chedi, hearing of the intentions of the son of Pandu, came out of his city. And that chastiser of all foes then received the son of Pritha with respect. Then, O king, those bulls of the Chedi and the Kuru lines, thus met together, enquired after each other's welfare. Then, O monarch, the king of Chedi offered his kingdom unto Bhima and said smilingly,--'O sinless one, upon what art thou bent?' And Bhima thereupon represented unto him the intentions of king Yudhishthira. And Bhima dwelt there, O king, for thirty nights, duly entertained by Sisupala. And after this he set out from Chedi with his troops and vehicles."

Book 2
Chapter 29

1 [v]
      nakulasya tu vakṣyāmi karmāṇi vijayaṃ tathā
      vāsudeva jitām āśāṃ yathāsau vyajayat prabhuḥ
  2 niryāya khāṇḍava prasthāt pratīcīm abhito diśam
      uddiśya matimān prāyān mahatyā senayā saha
  3 siṃhanādena mahatā yodhānāṃ garjitena ca
      rathanemi ninādaiś ca kampayan vasudhām imām
  4 tato bahudhanaṃ ramyaṃ gavāśvadhanadhānyavat
      kārtikeyasya dayitaṃ rohītakam upādravat
  5 tatra yuddhaṃ mahad vṛttaṃ śūrair mattamayūrakaiḥ
      maru bhūmiṃ ca kārtsnyena tathaiva bahu dhānyakam
  6 śairīṣakaṃ mahecchaṃ ca vaśe cakre mahādyutiḥ
      śibīṃs trigartān ambaṣṭhān mālavān pañca karpaṭān
  7 tathā madhyamikāyāṃś ca vāṭadhānān dvijān atha
      punaś ca parivṛtyātha puṣkarāraṇyavāsinaḥ
  8 gaṇān utsava saṃketān vyajayat puruṣarṣabha
      sindhukūlāśritā ye ca grāmaṇeyā mahābalāḥ
  9 śūdrābhīra gaṇāś caiva ye cāśritya sarasvatīm
      vartayanti ca ye matsyair ye ca parvatavāsinaḥ
  10 kṛtsnaṃ pañcanadaṃ caiva tathaivāparaparyaṭam
     uttarajyotikaṃ caiva tathā vṛṇḍāṭakaṃ puram
     dvārapālaṃ ca tarasā vaśe cakre mahādyutiḥ
 11 ramaṭhān hārahūṇāṃś ca pratīcyāś caiva ye nṛpāḥ
     tān sarvān sa vaśe cakre śāsanād eva pāṇḍavaḥ
 12 tatrasthaḥ preṣayām āsa vāsudevāya cābhibhuḥ
     sa cāsya daśabhī rājyaiḥ pratijagrāha śāsanam
 13 tataḥ śākalam abhyetya madrāṇāṃ puṭabhedanam
     mātulaṃ prītipūrveṇa śalyaṃ cakre vaśe balī
 14 sa tasmin satkṛto rājñā satkārārho viśāṃ pate
     ratnāni bhūrīṇy ādāya saṃpratasthe yudhāṃ patiḥ
 15 tataḥ sāgarakukṣisthān mlecchān paramadāruṇān
     pahlavān barbarāṃś caiva tān sarvān anayad vaśam
 16 tato ratnāny upādāya vaśe kṛtvā ca pārthivān
     nyavartata naraśreṣṭho nakulaś citramārgavit
 17 karabhāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi kośaṃ tasya mahātmanaḥ
     ūhur daśa mahārāja kṛcchrād iva mahādhanam
 18 indraprasthagataṃ vīram abhyetya sa yudhiṣṭhiram
     tato mādrī sutaḥ śrīmān dhanaṃ tasmai nyavedayat
 19 evaṃ pratīcīṃ nakulo diśaṃ varuṇapālitām
     vijigye vāsudevena nirjitāṃ bharatarṣabhaḥ

SECTION XXIX

Vaisampayana said,--that chastiser of all foes then vanquished king Srenimat of the country of Kumara, and then Vrihadvala, the king of Kosala. Then the foremost of the sons of Pandu, by performing feats excelling in fierceness, defeated the virtuous and mighty king Dirghayaghna of Ayodhya. And the exalted one then subjugated the country of Gopalakaksha and the northern Kosalas and also the king of Mallas. And the mighty one, arriving then in the moist region at the foot of the Himalayas soon brought the whole country under his sway. And that bull of Bharata race brought under control in this way diverse countries. And endued with great energy and in strength the foremost of all strong men, the son of Pandu next conquered the country of Bhallata, as also the mountain of Suktimanta that was by the side of Bhallata. Then Bhima of terrible prowess and long arms, vanquishing in battle the unretreating Suvahu the king of Kasi, brought him under complete sway. Then that bull among the sons of Pandu overcame in battle, by sheer force,
p. 61
the great king Kratha reigning in the region lying about Suparsa. Then the hero of great energy vanquished the Matsya and the powerful Maladas and the country called Pasubhumi that was without fear or oppression of any kind. And the long-armed hero then, coming from that land, conquered Madahara, Mahidara, and the Somadheyas, and turned his steps towards the north. And the mighty son of Kunti then subjugated, by sheer force, the country called Vatsabhumi, and the king of the Bhargas, as also the ruler of the Nishadas and Manimat and numerous other kings. Then Bhima, with scarcely any degree of exertion and very soon, vanquished the southern Mallas and the Bhagauanta mountains. And the hero next vanquished, by policy alone, the Sarmakas and the Varmakas. And that tiger among men then defeated with comparative ease that lord of earth, Janaka the king of the Videhas. And the hero then subjugated strategically the Sakas and the barbarians living in that part of the country. And the son of Pandu, sending forth expeditions from Videha, conquered the seven kings of the Kiratas living about the Indra mountain. The mighty hero then, endued with abundant energy, vanquished in battle the Submas and the Prasuhmas. And winning them over to his side, the son of Kunti, possessed of great strength, marched against Magadha. On his way he subjugated the monarchs known by the names of Danda and Dandadhara, And accompanied by those monarchs, the son of Pandu marched against Girivraja. After bringing the son of Jarasandha under his sway by conciliation and making him pay tribute, the hero then accompanied by the monarchs he had vanquished, marched against Kansa. And making the earth tremble by means of his troops consisting of the four kinds of forces, the foremost of the Pandavas then encountered Karna that slayer of foes. And, O Bharata, having subjugated Karna and brought him under his sway, the mighty hero then vanquished the powerful king of the mountainous regions. And the son of Pandu then slew in a fierce encounter, by the strength of his arms, the mighty king who dwelt in Madagiri. And the Pandava then, O king, subjugated in battle those strong and brave heroes of fierce prowess, viz., the heroic and mighty Vasudeva, the king of Pundra and king Mahaujah who reigned in Kausika-kachchha, and then attacked the king of Vanga. And having vanquished Samudrasena and king Chandrasena and Tamralipta, and also the king of the Karvatas and the ruler of the Suhmas, as also the kings that dwelt on the sea-shore, that bull among the Bharatas then conquered all Mlechchha tribes. The mighty son of the wind-god having thus conquered various countries, and exacting tributes from them all advanced towards Lohity. And the son of Pandu then made all the Mlechchha kings dwelling in the marshy regions on the sea-coast, pay tributes and various kinds of wealth, and sandal wood and aloes, and clothes and gems, and pearls and blankets and gold and silver and valuable corals. The Mlechchha kings showered upon the illustrious
p. 62
son of Kunti a thick downpour of wealth consisting of coins and gems counted by hundreds of millions. Then returning to Indraprastha, Bhima of terrible prowess offered the whole of that wealth unto king Yudhisthira the just."

Book 2
Chapter 30

1 [v]
      rakṣaṇād dharmarājasya satyasya paripālanāt
      śatrūṇāṃ kṣapaṇāc caiva svakarmaniratāḥ prajāḥ
  2 balīnāṃ samyag ādānād dharmataś cānuśāsanāt
      nikāmavarṣī parjanyaḥ sphīto janapado 'bhavat
  3 sarvārambhāḥ supravṛttā gorakṣaṃ karṣaṇaṃ vanik
      viśeṣāt sarvam evaitat saṃjajñe rājakarmaṇaḥ
  4 dasyubhyo vañcakebhyo vā rājan prati parasparam
      rājavallabhataś caiva nāśrūyanta mṛṣā giraḥ
  5 avarṣaṃ cātivarṣaṃ ca vyādhipāvaka mūrchanam
      sarvam etat tadā nāsīd dharmanitye yudhiṣṭhire
  6 priyaṃ kartum upasthātuṃ balikarma svabhāvajam
      abhihartuṃ nṛpā jagmur nānyaiḥ kāryaiḥ pṛthak pṛthak
  7 dharmyair dhanāgamais tasya vavṛdhe nicayo mahān
      kartuṃ yasya na śakyeta kṣayo varṣaśatair api
  8 svakośasya parīmāṇaṃ koṣṭhasya ca mahīpatiḥ
      vijñāya rājā kaunteyo yajñāyaiva mano dadhe
  9 suhṛdaś caiva taṃ sarve pṛthak ca saha cābruvan
      yajñakālas tava vibho kriyatām atra sāṃpratam
  10 athaivaṃ bruvatām eva teṣām abhyāyayau hariḥ
     ṛṣiḥ purāṇo vedātmā dṛśyaś cāpi vijānatām
 11 jagatas tasthuṣāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ prabhavaś cāpyayaś ca ha
     bhūtabhavya bhavan nāthaḥ keśavaḥ keśi sūdanaḥ
 12 prākāraḥ sarvavṛṣṇīnām āpatsv abhayado 'rihā
     balādhikāre nikṣipya saṃhatyānaka dundubhim
 13 uccāvacam upādāya dharmarājāya mādhavaḥ
     dhanaughaṃ puruṣavyāghro balena mahatā vṛtaḥ
 14 taṃ dhanaugham aparyantaṃ ratnasāgaram akṣayam
     nādayan rathaghoṣeṇa praviveśa purottamam
 15 asūryam iva sūryeṇa nivātam iva vāyunā
     kṛṣṇena samupetena jahṛṣe bhārataṃ puram
 16 taṃ mudābhisamāgamya satkṛtya ca yathāvidhi
     saṃpṛṣṭvā kuśalaṃ caiva sukhāsīnaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 17 dhaumya dvaipāyana mukhair ṛtvigbhiḥ puruṣarṣabha
     bhīmārjunayamaiś cāpi sahitaḥ kṛṣṇam abravīt
 18 tvatkṛte pṛthivī sarvā mad vaśe kṛṣṇa vartate
     dhanaṃ ca bahu vārṣṇeya tvatprasādād upārjitam
 19 so 'ham icchāmi tat sarvaṃ vidhivad devakī suta
     upayoktuṃ dvijāgryeṣu havyavāhe ca mādhava
 20 tad ahaṃ yaṣṭum icchāmi dāśārha sahitas tvayā
     anujaiś ca mahābāho tan mānujñātum arhasi
 21 sa dīkṣāpaya govinda tvam ātmānaṃ mahābhuja
     tvayīṣṭavati dāśārha vipāpmā bhavitā hy aham
 22 māṃ vāpy abhyanujānīhi sahaibhir anujair vibho
     anujñātas tvayā kṛṣṇa prāpnuyāṃ kratum uttamam
 23 taṃ kṛṣṇaḥ pratyuvācedaṃ bahūktvā guṇavistaram
     tvam eva rājaśārdūla samrāḍ arho mahākratum
     saṃprāpnuhi tvayā prāpte kṛtakṛtyās tato vayam
 24 yajasvābhīpsitaṃ yajñaṃ mayi śreyasy avasthite
     niyuṅkṣva cāpi māṃ kṛtye sarvaṃ kartāsmi te vacaḥ
 25 [y]
     saphalaḥ kṛṣṇa saṃkalpaḥ siddhiś ca niyatā mama
     yasya me tvaṃ hṛṣīkeśayathepsitam upasthitaḥ
 26 [v]
     anujñātas tu kṛṣṇena pāṇḍavo bhrātṛbhiḥ saha
     īhituṃ rājasūyāya sādhanāny upacakrame
 27 tata ājñāpayām āsa pāṇḍavo 'rinibarhaṇaḥ
     sahadevaṃ yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ mantriṇaś caiva sarvaśaḥ
 28 asmin kratau yathoktāni yajñāṅgāni dvijātibhiḥ
     tathopakaraṇaṃ sarvaṃ maṅgalāni ca sarvaśaḥ
 29 adhiyajñāṃś ca saṃbhārān dhaumyoktān kṣipram eva hi
     samānayantu puruṣā yathāyogaṃ yathākramam
 30 indraseno viśokaś ca pūruś cārjuna sārathiḥ
     annādyāharaṇe yuktāḥ santu matpriyakāmyayā
 31 sarvakāmāś ca kāryantāṃ rasagandhasamanvitāḥ
     manoharāḥ prītikarā dvijānāṃ kurusattama
 32 tad vākyasamakālaṃ tu kṛtaṃ sarvam avedayat
     sahadevo yudhāṃ śreṣṭho dharmarāje mahātmani
 33 tato dvaipāyano rājann ṛtvijaḥ samupānayat
     vedān iva mahābhāgān sākṣān mūrtimato dvijān
 34 svayaṃ brahmatvam akarot tasya satyavatī sutaḥ
     dhanaṃjayānām ṛṣabhaḥ susāmā sāmago 'bhavat
 35 yājñavalkyo babhūvātha brahmiṣṭho 'dhvaryu sattamaḥ
     pailo hotā vasoḥ putro dhaumyena sahito 'bhavat
 36 eteṣāṃ śiṣyavargāś ca putrāś ca bharatarṣabha
     babhūvur hotragāḥ sarve vedavedāṅgapāragāḥ
 37 te vācayitvā puṇyāham īhayitvā ca taṃ vidhim
     śāstroktaṃ yojayām āsus tad devayajanaṃ mahat
 38 tatra cakrur anujñātāḥ śaraṇāny uta śilpinaḥ
     ratnavanti viśālāni veśmānīva divaukasām
 39 tata ājñāpayām āsa sa rājā rājasattamaḥ
     sahadevaṃ tadā sadyo mantriṇaṃ kurusattamaḥ
 40 āmantraṇārthaṃ dūtāṃs tvaṃ preṣayasvāśugān drutam
     upaśrutya vaco rājño sa dūtān prāhinot tadā
 41 āmantrayadhvaṃ rāṣṭreṣu brāhmaṇān bhūmipān api
     viśaś ca mānyāñ śūdrāṃś ca sarvān ānayateti ca
 42 te sarvān pṛthivīpālān pāṇḍaveyasya śāsanāt
     āmantrayāṃ babhūvuś ca preṣayām āsa cāparān
 43 tatas te tu yathākālaṃ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     dīkṣayāṃ cakrire viprā rājasūyāya bhārata
 44 dīkṣitaḥ sa tu dharmātmā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     jagāma yajñāyatanaṃ vṛto vipraiḥ sahasraśaḥ
 45 bhrātṛbhir jñātibhiś caiva suhṛdbhiḥ sacivais tathā
     kṣatriyaiś ca manuṣyendra nānādeśasamāgataiḥ
     amātyaiś ca nṛpaśreṣṭho dharmo vigrahavān iva
 46 ājagmur brāhmaṇās tatra viṣayebhyas tatas tataḥ
     sarvavidyāsu niṣṇātā vedavedāṅgapāra gāḥ
 47 teṣām āvasathāṃś cakrur dharmarājasya śāsanāt
     bahv annāñ śayanair yuktān sagaṇānāṃ pṛthak pṛthak
     sarvartuguṇasaṃpannāñ śilpino 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 48 teṣu te nyavasan rājan brāhmaṇā bhṛśasatkṛtāḥ
     kathayantaḥ kathā bahvīḥ paśyanto naṭanartakān
 49 bhuñjatāṃ caiva viprāṇāṃ vadatāṃ ca mahāsvanaḥ
     aniśaṃ śrūyate smātra muditānāṃ mahātmanām
 50 dīyatāṃ dīyatām eṣāṃ bhujyatāṃ bhujyatām iti
     evaṃ prakārāḥ saṃjalpāḥ śrūyante smātra nityaśaḥ
 51 gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi śayanānāṃ ca bhārata
     rukmasya yoṣitāṃ caiva dharmarājaḥ pṛthag dadau
 52 prāvartataivaṃ yajñaḥ sa pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ
     pṛthivyām ekavīrasya śakrasyeva triviṣṭape
 53 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā preṣayām āsa pāṇḍavam
     nakulaṃ hāstinapuraṃ bhīṣmāya bharatarṣabha
 54 droṇāya dhṛtarāṣṭrāya vidurāya kṛpāya ca
     bhrātṝṇāṃ caiva sarveṣāṃ ye 'nuraktā yudhiṣṭhira

SECTION XXX

Vaisampayana said,--"thus also Sahadeva, dismissed with affection by king Yudhisthira the just, marched towards the southern direction accompanied by a mighty host. Strong in strength, that mighty prince of the Kuru race, vanquishing completely at the outset the Surasenas, brought the king of Matsya under his sway. And the hero then, defeating Dantavakra, the mighty king of the Adhirajas and making him pay tribute, re-established him on his throne. The prince then brought under his sway Sukumara and then king Sumitra, and he next vanquished the other Matsyas and then the Patacharas. Endued with great intelligence, the Kuru warrior then conquered soon enough the country of the Nishadas and also the high hill called Gosringa, and that lord of earth called Srenimat. And subjugating next the country called Navarashtra, the hero marched against Kuntibhoja, who with great willingness accepted the sway of the conquering hero. And marching thence to the banks of the Charmanwati, the Kuru warrior met the son of king Jamvaka, who had, on account of old hostilities, been defeated before by Vasudeva. O Bharata, the son of Jamvaka gave battle to Sahadeva. And Sahadeva defeating the prince marched towards the south. The mighty warrior then vanquished the Sekas and others, and exacted tributes from them and also various kinds of gems and wealth. Allying himself with the vanquished tribes the prince then marched towards the countries that lay on the banks of the Narmada. And defeating there in battle the two heroic kings of Avanti, called Vinda and Anuvinda, supported by a mighty host, the mighty son of the twin gods exacted much wealth from them. After this the hero marched towards the town of Bhojakata, and there, O king of unfading glory, a fierce encounter took place between him and the king of that city for two whole days. But the son of Madri, vanquishing the invincible Bhismaka, then defeated in battle the king of Kosala and the ruler of the territories lying on the banks of the Venwa, as also the Kantarakas and the kings of the eastern Kosalas. The hero then defeating both the Natakeyas and the Heramvaks in battle, and subjugating the country of Marudha, reduced Munjagrama by sheer strength. And the son of Pandu then vanquished the mighty monarchs of the Nachinas and the Arvukas and the various forest king of that part of
p. 63
the country. Endued with great strength the hero then reduced to subjection king Vatadhipa. And defeating in battle the Pulindas, the hero then marched southward. And the younger brother of Nakula then fought for one whole day with the king of Pandrya. The long-armed hero having vanquished that monarch marched further to the south. And then he beheld the celebrated caves of Kishkindhya and in that region fought for seven days with the monkey-kings Mainda and Dwivida. Those illustrious kings however, without being tired an the encounter, were gratified with Sahadeva. And joyfully addressing the Kuru prince, they said,--'O tiger among the sons of Pandu, go hence, taking with the tribute from us all. Let the mission of the king Yudhishthira the just possessed of great intelligence, be accomplished without hindrance. And taking jewels and gems from them all, the hero marched towards the city of Mahishmati, and there that bull of men did battle with king Nila. The battle that took place between king Nila and the mighty Sahadeva the son of Pandu, that slayer of hostile heroes, was fierce and terrible. And the encounter was an exceedingly bloody one, and the life of the hero himself was exposed to great risk, for the god Agni himself assisted king Nila in that fight. Then the cars, heroes, elephants, and the soldiers in their coats of mail of Sahadeva's army all appeared to be on fire. And beholding this the prince of the Kuru race became exceedingly anxious. And, O Janamejaya, at sight of this the hero could not resolve upon what he should do.
Janamejaya said,--O regenerate one, why was it that the god Agni become hostile in battle unto Sahadeva, who was fighting simply for the accomplishment of a sacrifice (and therefore, for the gratification of Agni himself)?
Vaisampayana said,--'It is said, O Janamejaya, that the god Agni while residing in Mahishmati, earned the reputation of a lover. King Nila had a daughter who was exceedingly beautiful. She used always to stay near the sacred fire of her father, causing it to blaze up with vigour. And it so happened that king Nila's fire, even if fanned, would not blaze up till agitated by the gentle breath of that girl's fair lips. And it was said in King Nila's palace and in the house of all his subjects that the god Agni desired that beautiful girl for his bride. And it so happened that he was accepted by the girl herself. One day the deity assuming the form of a Brahmana, was happily enjoying the society of the fair one, when he was discovered by the king. And the virtuous king thereupon ordered the Brahmana to be punished according to law. At this the illustrious deity flamed up in wrath. And beholding this, the king wondered much and bent his head low on the ground. And after some time the king bowing low bestowed the daughter of his upon the god Agni, disguised as a Brahmana. And the god Vibhabasu (Agni) accepting that fair-browed daughter of king Nila, became gracious unto that monarch. And Agni, the illustrious gratifier
p. 64
of all desires also asked the monarch to beg a boon of him. And the king begged that his troops might never be struck with panic while engaged in battle. And from that time, O king, those monarchs who from ignorance of this, desire to subjugate king Nila's city, are consumed by Hutasana (Agni). And from that time, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, the girls of the city of Mahishmati became rather unacceptable to others (as wives). And Agni by his boon granted them sexual liberty, so that the women of that town always roam about at will, each unbound to a particular husband. And, O bull of the Bharata race, from that time the monarchs (of other countries) forsake this city for fear of Agni. And the virtuous Sahadeva, beholding his troops afflicted with fear and surrounded by flames of fire, himself stood there immovable as a mountain. And purifying himself and touching water, the hero (Sahadeva) then addressed Agni, the god that sanctifieth everything, in these words,--
'I bow unto thee, O thou whose track is always marked with smoke. These my exertions are all for thee. O thou sanctifier of all, thou art the mouth of the gods and thou art Sacrifice personified. Thou art called Pavaka because thou sanctifiest everything, and thou art Havyavahana, because thou carriest the clarified butter that is poured on thee. The Veda have sprung for ministering unto thee, and, therefore, thou art called Jataveda. Chief of the gods as thou art, thou art called Chitrabhanu, Anala, Vibhavasu, Hutasana, Jvalana, Sikhi, Vaiswanara, Pingesa, Plavanga, Bhuritejah. Thou art he from whom Kumara (Kartikeya) had his origin; thou art holy; thou art called Rudragarva and Hiranyakrit. Let thee, O Agni, grant me energy, let Vayu grant me life, let Earth grant me nourishment and strength, and let Water grant me prosperity. O Agni, thou who art the first cause of the waters, thou who art of great purity, thou for ministering unto whom the Vedas have sprung, thou who art the foremost of the deities, thou who art their mouth, O purify me by thy truth. Rishis and Brahmanas, Deities and Asuras pour clarified butter every day, according to the ordinance into thee during sacrifices. Let the rays of truth emanating from thee, while thou exhibitest thyself in those sacrifices, purify me. Smoke-bannered as thou art and possessed of flames, thou great purifier from all sins born of Vayu and ever present as thou art in all creatures, O purify me by the rays of thy truth. Having cleansed myself thus cheerfully, O exalted one, do I pray unto thee. O Agni, grant me now contentment and prosperity, and knowledge and gladness.
Vaisampayana continued.--'He that will pour clarified butter into Agni reciting these mantras, will ever be blessed with prosperity, and having his soul under complete control will also be cleansed from all his sins.
"Sahadeva, addressing Agni again, said,--'O carrier of the sacrificial libations, it behoveth thee not to obstruct a sacrifice!' Having said this, that tiger among men--the son of Madri--spreading some kusa grass on earth
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sat down in expectation of the (approaching) fire and in front of those terrified and anxious troops of his. And Agni, too, like the ocean that never transgresseth its continents, did not pass over his head. On the other hand approaching Sahadeva quietly and addressing that prince of the Kuru race, Agni that god of men gave him every assurance and said,--'O thou of the Kuru race, rise up from this posture. O rise up, I was only trying thee. I know all thy purpose, as also those of the son of Dharma (Yudhisthira). But, O best of the Bharata race, as long as there is a descendant of king Nila's line, so long should this town be protected by me. I will, however O son of Pandu, gratify the desires of thy heart. And at these words of Agni, O bull of the Bharata race, the son of Madri rose up with a cheerful heart, and joining his hands and bending his head worshipped that god of fire, sanctifier of all beings. And at last, after Agni had disappeared, king Nila came there, and at the command of that deity, worshipped with due rites Sahadeva, that tiger among men--that master of battle. And Sahadeva accepted that worship and made him pay tribute. And having brought king Nila under his sway thus, the victorious son of Madri then went further towards the south. The long-armed hero then brought the king of Tripura of immeasurable energy under his sway. And next turning his forces against the Paurava kingdom, he vanquished and reduced to subjection the monarch thereof. And the prince, after this, with great efforts brought Akriti, the king of Saurashtra and preceptor of the Kausikas under his sway. The virtuous prince, while staying in the kingdom of Saurashtra sent an ambassador unto king Rukmin of Bhishmaka within the territories of Bhojakata, who, rich in possessions and intelligence, was the friend of Indra himself. And the monarch along with his son, remembering their relationship with Krishna, cheerfully accepted, O king, the sway of the son of Pandu. And the master of battle then, having exacted jewels and wealth from king Rukmin, marched further to the south. And, endued with great energy and great strength, the hero then, reduced to subjection, Surparaka and Talakata, and the Dandakas also. The Kuru warrior then vanquished and brought under his subjection numberless kings of the Mlechchha tribe living on the sea coast, and the Nishadas and the cannibals and even the Karnapravarnas, and those tribes also called the Kalamukhas who were a cross between human beings and Rakshasas, and the whole of the Cole mountains, and also Surabhipatna, and the island called the Copper island, and the mountain called Ramaka. The high-souled warrior, having brought under subjection king Timingila, conquered a wild tribe known by the name of the Kerakas who were men with one leg. The son of Pandu also conquered the town of Sanjayanti and the country of the Pashandas and the Karahatakas by means of his messengers alone, and made all of them pay tributes to him. The hero brought under his subjection and exacted tributes from the Paundrayas
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and the Dravidas along with the Udrakeralas and the Andhras and the Talavanas, the Kalingas and the Ushtrakarnikas, and also the delightful city of Atavi and that of the Yavanas. And, O king of kings, that slayer of all foes, the virtuous and intelligent son of Madri having arrived at the sea-shore, then despatched with great assurance messengers unto the illustrious Vibhishana, the grandson of Pulastya. And the monarch willingly accepted the sway of the son of Pandu, for that intelligent and exalted king regarded it all as the act of Time. And he sent unto the son of Pandu diverse kinds of jewels and gems, and sandal and also wood, and many celestial ornaments, and much costly apparel, and many valuable pearls. And the intelligent Sahadeva, accepting them all, returned to his own kingdom.
"Thus it was, O king, that slayer of all foes, having vanquished by conciliation and war numerous kings and having also made them pay tribute, came back to his own city. The bull of the Bharata race, having presented the whole of that wealth unto king Yudhisthira the just regarded himself, O Janamejaya, as crowned with success and continued to live happily."

Book 2
Chapter 31

1 [v]
      sa gatvā hāstinapuraṃ nakulaḥ samitiṃjayaḥ
      bhīṣmam āmantrayām āsa dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca pāṇḍavaḥ
  2 prayayuḥ prītamanaso yajñaṃ brahma puraḥsarāḥ
      saṃśrutya dharmarājasya yajñaṃ yajñavidas tadā
  3 anye ca śataśas tuṣṭair manobhir manujarṣabha
      draṣṭukāmāḥ sabhāṃ caiva dharmarājaṃ ca pāṇḍavam
  4 digbhyaḥ sarve samāpetuḥ pārthivās tatra bhārata
      samupādāya ratnāni vividhāni mahānti ca
  5 dhṛtarāṣṭraś ca bhīṣmaś ca viduraś ca mahāmatiḥ
      duryodhana purogāś ca bhrātaraḥ sarva eva te
  6 satkṛtyāmantritāḥ sarve ācārya pramukhā nṛpāḥ
      gāndhārarājaḥ subalaḥ śakuniś ca mahābalaḥ
  7 acalo vṛṣakaś caiva karṇaś ca rathināṃ varaḥ
      ṛtaḥ śalyo madrarājo bāhlikaś ca mahārathaḥ
  8 somadatto 'tha kauravyo bhūrir bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ
      aśvatthāmā kṛpo droṇaḥ saindhavaś ca jayadrathaḥ
  9 yajñasenaḥ saputraś ca śālvaś ca vasudhādhipaḥ
      prāgjyotiṣaś ca nṛpatir bhagadatto mahāyaśāḥ
  10 saha sarvais tathā mlecchaiḥ sāgarānūpavāsibhiḥ
     pārvatīyāś ca rājāno rājā caiva bṛhadbalaḥ
 11 pauṇḍrako vāsudevaś ca vaṅgaḥ kāliṅgakas tathā
     ākarṣaḥ kuntalaś caiva vānavāsyāndhrakās tathā
 12 draviḍāḥ siṃhalāś caiva rājā kāśmīrakas tathā
     kuntibhojo mahātejāḥ suhmaś ca sumahābalaḥ
 13 bāhlikāś cāpare śūrā rājānaḥ sarva eva te
     virāṭaḥ saha putraiś ca mācellaś ca mahārathaḥ
     rājāno rājaputrāś ca nānājanapadeśvarāḥ
 14 śiśupālo mahāvīryaḥ saha putreṇa bhārata
     āgacchat pāṇḍaveyasya yajñaṃ saṃgrāmadurmadaḥ
 15 rāmaś caivāniruddhaś ca babhruś ca sahasā raṇaḥ
     gada pradyumna sāmbāś ca cāru deṣṇaś ca vīryavān
 16 ulmuko niśaṭhaś caiva vīraḥ prādyumnir eva ca
     vṛṣṇayo nikhilenānye samājagmur mahārathāḥ
 17 ete cānye ca bahavo rājāno madhyadeśajāḥ
     ājagmuḥ pāṇḍuputrasya rājasūyaṃ mahākratum
 18 dadus teṣām āvasathān dharmarājasya śāsanāt
     bahu kakṣyānvitān rājan dīrghikā vṛkṣaśobhitān
 19 tathā dharmātmajas teṣāṃ cakre pūjām anuttamām
     satkṛtāś ca yathoddiṣṭāñ jagmur āvasathān nṛpāḥ
 20 kailāsaśikharaprakhyān manojñān dravyabhūṣitān
     sarvataḥ saṃvṛtān uccaiḥ prākāraiḥ sukṛtaiḥ sitaiḥ
 21 suvarṇajālasaṃvītān maṇikuṭṭima śobhitān
     sukhārohaṇa sopānān mahāsanaparicchadān
 22 sragdāma samavachannān uttamāguru gandhinaḥ
     haṃsāṃśu varṇasadṛśān āyojanasudarśanān
 23 asaṃbādhān samadvārān yutān uccāvacair guṇaiḥ
     bahudhātupinaddhāṅgān himavacchikharān iva
 24 viśrāntās te tato 'paśyan bhūmipā bhūridakṣiṇam
     vṛtaṃ sadasyair bahubhir dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
 25 tat sado pārthivaiḥ kīrṇaṃ brāhmaṇaiś ca mahātmabhiḥ
     bhrājate sma tadā rājan nākapṛṣṭham ivāmaraiḥ

SECTION XXXI

Vaisampayana said,--"I shall now recite to you the deeds and triumphs of Nakula, and how that exalted one conquered the direction that had once been subjugated by Vasudeva. The intelligent Nakula, surrounded by a large host, set out from Khandavaprastha for the west, making this earth tremble with the shouts and the leonine roars of the warriors and the deep rattle of chariot wheels. And the hero first assailed the mountainous country called Rohitaka that was dear unto (the celestial generalissimo) Kartikeya and which was delightful and prosperous and full of kine and every kind of wealth and produce. And the encounter the son of Pandu had with the Mattamyurakas of that country was fierce. And the illustrious Nakula after this, subjugated the whole of the desert country and the region known as Sairishaka full of plenty, as also that other one called Mahetta. And the hero had a fierce encounter with the royal sage Akrosa. And the son of Pandu left that part of the country having subjugated the Dasarnas, the Sivis, the Trigartas, the Amvashtas, the Malavas, the five tribes of the Karnatas, and those twice born classes that were called the Madhyamakeyas and Vattadhanas. And making circuitous journey that bull among men then conquered the (Mlechcha) tribes called the Utsava-sanketas. And the illustrious hero soon brought under subjection the
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mighty Gramaniya that dwelt on the shore of the sea, and the Sudras and the Abhiras that dwelt on the banks of the Saraswati, and all those tribes that lived upon fisheries, and those also that dwelt on the mountains, and the whole of the country called after the five rivers, and the mountains called Amara, and the country called Uttarayotisha and the city of Divyakutta and the tribe called Dwarapala. And the son of Pandu, by sheer force, reduced to subjection the Ramathas, the Harahunas, and various kings of the west. And while staying there Nakula sent. O Bharata, messengers unto Vasudeva. And Vasudeva with all the Yadavas accepted his sway. And the mighty hero, proceeding thence to Sakala, the city of the Madras, made his uncle Salya accept from affection the sway of the Pandavas. And, O monarch, the illustrious prince deserving the hospitality and entertainment at his uncle's hands, was well entertained by his uncle. And skilled in war, the prince, taking from Salya a large quantity of jewels and gems, left his kingdom. And the son of Pandu then reduced to subjection the fierce Mlechchas residing on the sea coast, as also the wild tribes of the Palhavas, the Kiratas, the Yavanas, and the Sakas. And having subjugated various monarchs, and making all of them pay tributes, Nakula that foremost of the Kurus, full of resources, retraced his way towards his own city. And, O king, so great was the treasure which Nakula brought that ten thousand camels could carry it with difficulty on their backs. And arriving at Indraprastha, the heroic and fortunate son of Madri presented the whole of that wealth unto Yudhishthira.
"Thus, O king, did Nakula subjugate the countries that lay to the west--the direction that is presided over by the god Varuna, and that had once before been subjugated by Vasudeva himself!"

Book 2
Chapter 32

  1 [v]
      pitā mahaṃ guruṃ caiva pratyudgamya yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
      abhivādya tato rājann idaṃ vacanam abravīt
      bhīṣmaṃ droṇaṃ kṛpaṃ drauṇiṃ duryodhana viviṃśatī
  2 asmin yajñe bhavanto mām anugṛhṇantu sarvaśaḥ
      idaṃ vaḥ svam ahaṃ caiva yad ihāsti dhanaṃ mama
      prīṇayantu bhavanto māṃ yatheṣṭam aniyantritāḥ
  3 evam uktvā sa tān sarvān dīkṣitaḥ pāṇḍavāgrajaḥ
      yuyoja ha yathāyogam adhikāreṣv anantaram
  4 bhakṣyabhojyādhikāreṣu duḥśāsanam ayojayat
      parigrahe brāhmaṇānām aśvatthāmānam uktavān
  5 rājñāṃ tu pratipūjārthaṃ saṃjayaṃ saṃnyayojayat
      kṛtākṛta parijñāne bhīṣmadroṇau mahāmatī
  6 hiraṇyasya suvarṇasya ratnānāṃ cānvavekṣaṇe
      dakṣiṇānāṃ ca vai dāne kṛpaṃ rājā nyayojayat
      tathānyān puruṣavyāghrāṃs tasmiṃs tasmin nyayojayat
  7 bāhliko dhṛtarāṣṭraś ca somadatto jayadrathaḥ
      nakulena samānītāḥ svāmivat tatra remire
  8 kṣattā vyayakaras tv āsīd viduraḥ sarvadharmavit
      duryodhanas tv arhaṇāni pratijagrāha sarvaśaḥ
  9 sarvalokaḥ samāvṛttaḥ piprīṣuḥ phalam uttamam
      draṣṭukāmaḥ sabhāṃ caiva dharmarājaṃ ca pāṇḍavam
  10 na kaś cid āharat tatra sahasrāvaram arhaṇam
     ratnaiś ca bahubhis tatra dharmarājam avardhayan
 11 kathaṃ nu mama kauravyo ratnadānaiḥ samāpnuyāt
     yajñam ity eva rājānaḥ spardhamānā dadur dhanam
 12 bhavanaiḥ savimānāgraiḥ sodarkair balasaṃvṛtaiḥ
     lokarāja vimānaiś ca brāhmaṇāvasathaiḥ saha
 13 kṛtair āvasathair divyair vimānapratimais tathā
     vicitrai ratnavadbhiś ca ṛddhyā paramayā yutaiḥ
 14 rājabhiś ca samāvṛttair atīva śrīsamṛddhibhiḥ
     aśobhata sado rājan kaunteyasya mahātmanaḥ
 15 ṛddyā ca varuṇaṃ devaṃ spardhamāno yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     ṣaḍ agninātha yajñena so 'yajad dakṣiṇāvatā
     sarvāñ janān sarvakāmaiḥ samṛddhair samatarpayat
 16 annavān bahubhakṣyaś ca bhuktavaj janasaṃvṛtaḥ
     ratnopahāra karmaṇyo babhūva sa samāgamaḥ
 17 iḍājya homāhutibhir mantraśikṣā samanvitaiḥ
     tasmin hi tatṛpur devās tate yajñe maharṣibhiḥ
 18 yathā devās tathā viprā dakṣiṇānna mahādhanaiḥ
     tatṛpuḥ sarvavarṇāś ca tasmin yajñe mudānvitāḥ

SECTION XXXII

(Rajasuyika Parva)

Vaisampayana said,--"in consequence of the protection afforded by Yudhisthira the just, and of the truth which he ever cherished in his behaviour, as also of the check under which he kept all foes, the subjects of that virtuous monarch were all engaged in their respective avocations. And by reason of the equitable taxation and the virtuous rule of the monarch, clouds in his kingdom poured as much rain as the people desired, and the cities and the town became highly prosperous. Indeed as a consequence of the monarch's acts; every affair of the kingdom, especially cattle bleeding, agriculture and trade prospered highly. O king, during those days even robbers and cheats never spoke lies amongst themselves, nor they that were the favourites of the monarch. There were no droughts and floods and plagues and fires and premature deaths in those days of
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[paragraph continues] Yudhishthira devoted to virtue. And it was only for doing agreeable services, or for worshipping, or for offering tributes that would not impoverish, that other kings used to approach Yudhisthira (and not for hostility or battle.) The large treasure room of the king became so much filled with hoards of wealth virtuously obtained that it could not be emptied even in a hundred years. And the son of Kunti, ascertaining the state of his treasury and the extent of his possessions, fixed his heart upon the celebration of a sacrifice. His friends and officers, each separately and all together, approaching him said,--'The time hath come, O exalted one, for thy sacrifice. Let arrangements, therefore, be made without loss of time.' While they were thus talking, Hari (Krishna), that omniscient and ancient one, that soul of the Vedas, that invincible one as described by those that have knowledge, that foremost of all lasting existences in the universe, that origin of all things, as also that in which all things come to be dissolved, that lord of the past, the future, and the present Kesava--the slayer of Kesi, and the bulwark of all Vrishnis and the dispeller of all fear in times of distress and the smiter of all foes, having appointed Vasudeva to the command of the (Yadava) army, and bringing with him for the king Yudhishthira just a large mass of treasure; entered that excellent city of cities. Khandava, himself surrounded by a mighty host and filling the atmosphere with the rattle of his chariot-wheels. And Madhava, that tiger among men enhancing that limitless mass of wealth the Pandavas had by that inexhaustible ocean of gems he had brought, enhanced the sorrows of the enemies of the Pandavas. The capital of the Bharata was gladdened by Krishna's presence just as a dark region is rendered joyful by the sun or a region of still air by a gentle breeze. Approaching him joyfully and receiving him with due respect, Yudhishthira enquired of his welfare. And after Krishna had been seated at ease, that bull among men, the son of Pandu, with Dhaumya and Dwaipayana and the other sacrificial priests and with Bhima and Arjuna and the twins, addressed Krishna thus,--
'O Krishna it is for thee that the whole earth is under my sway. And, O thou of the Vrishni race, it is through thy grace that vast wealth had been got by me. And, O son of Devaki, O Madhava, I desire to devote that wealth according to the ordinance, unto superior Brahmanas and the carrier of sacrificial libations. And, O thou of the Dasarha race, it behoveth thee, O thou of mighty arms, to grant me permission to celebrate a sacrifice along with thee and my younger brothers. Therefore, O Govinda, O thou of long arms, install thyself at that sacrifice; for, O thou of the Dasarha race, if thou performed the sacrifice, I shall be cleansed of sin. Or, O exalted one, grant permission for myself being installed at the sacrifice along with these my younger brothers, for permitted by thee, O Krishna. I shall be able to enjoy the fruit of an excellent sacrifice.
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Vaisampayana continued,--"Unto Yudhisthira after he had said this, Krishna, extolling his virtues, said.--'Thou, O tiger among kings, deservest imperial dignity. Let, therefore, the great sacrifice be performed by thee. And if thou performest that sacrifice an obtainest its fruit we all shall regard ourselves as crowned with success. I am always engaged in seeking good. Perform thou then the sacrifice thou desirest. Employ me also in some office for that purpose, for I should obey all thy commands. Yudhisthira replied--O Krishna, my resolve is already crowned with fruit, and success also is surely mine, when thou, O Harishikesa, hast arrived here agreeably to my wish!'
Vaisampayana continued,--"Commanded by Krishna, the son of Pandu along with his brothers set himself upon collecting the materials for the performance of the Rajasuya sacrifice. And that chastiser of all foes, the son of Pandu, then commanded Sahadeva that foremost of all warriors and all ministers also, saying,--Let persons be appointed to collect without loss of time, all those articles which the Brahmanas have directed as necessary for the performance of this sacrifice, and all materials and auspicious necessaries that Dhaumya may order as required for it, each of the kind needed and one after another in due order. Let Indrasena and Visoka and Puru with Arjuna for his charioteer be engaged to collect food if they are to please me. Let these foremost of the Kurus also gather every article of agreeable taste and smell that may delight and attract the hearts of the Brahmanas.'
"Simultaneously with these words of king Yudhisthira the just, Sahadeva that foremost of warriors, having accomplished everything, represented the matter to the king. And Dwaipayana, O king, then appointed as sacrificial priests exalted Brahmanas that were like the Vedas themselves in embodied forms. The son of Satyavati became himself the Brahma of that sacrifice. And that bull of the Dhananjaya race, Susaman, became the chanter of the Vedic (Sama) hymns. Yajnavalkya devoted to Brahma became the Adhyaryu, and Paila--the son of Vasu and Dhaumya became the Hotris. And O bull of the Bharata race, the disciples and the sons of these men, all well-acquainted with the Vedas and the branches of the Vedas, became Hotragts. And all of them, having uttered benedictions and recited the object of the sacrifice, worshipped, according to the ordinance the large sacrificial compound. Commanded by the Brahmanas, builders and artificers erected numerous edifices there that were spacious and well-perfumed like unto the temples of the gods. After these were finished, that best of kings and that bull among men Yudhishthira. commanded his chief adviser Sahadeva, saying,--'Despatch thou, without loss of time, messengers endued with speed to invite all to the sacrifice. And Sahadeva, hearing these words of the king, despatched messengers telling them,--'Invite ye all the Brahmanas in the kingdom and all the
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owners of land (Kshatriyas) and all the Vaisyas and also all the respectable Sudras, and bring them hither!'
Vaisampayana continued,--"Endued with speed, these messengers then, thus commanded, invited everybody according to the orders of the Pandava, without losing any time, and brought with them many persons, both friends and strangers. Then, O Bharata, the Brahmanas at the proper time installed Yudhishthira the son of Kunti at the Rajasuya sacrifice. And after the ceremony of installation was over, that foremost of men, the virtuous king Yudhishthira the just like the god Dharma himself in human frame, entered the sacrificial compound, surrounded by thousands of Brahmanas and his brothers and the relatives and friends and counsellors, and by a large number of Kshatriya kings who had come from various countries, and by the officers of State. Numerous Brahmanas, well-skilled in all branches of knowledge and versed in the Vedas and their several branches, began to pour in from various countries. Thousands of craftsmen, at the command of king Yudhishthira the just, erected for those Brahmanas with their attendants separate habitations well-provided with food and clothes and the fruits and flowers of every season. And, O king, duly worshipped by the monarch the Brahmanas continued to reside there passing their time in conversation on diverse topics and beholding the performances of actors and dancers. And the clamour of high-souled Brahmanas, cheerfully eating and talking, was heard there without intermission. 'Give,' and 'Eat' were the words that were heard there incessantly and every day. And, O Bharata, king Yudhishthira the just gave unto each of those Brahmanas thousands of kine and beds and gold coins and damsels.
Thus commenced on earth the sacrifice of that unrivalled hero, the illustrious son of Pandu, like the sacrifice in heaven of Sakra himself. Then that bull among men, king Yudhishthira despatched Nakula the son of Pandu unto Hastinapura to bring Bhishma and Drona, Dhritarashtra and Vidura and Kripa and those amongst his cousins that were well-disposed towards him."

Book 2
Chapter 33

  1 [v]
      tato 'bhiṣecanīye 'hni brāhmaṇā rājabhiḥ saha
      antar vedīṃ praviviśuḥ satkārārthaṃ maharṣayaḥ
  2 nāradapramukhās tasyām antar vedyāṃ mahātmanaḥ
      samāsīnāḥ śuśubhire saha rājarṣibhis tadā
  3 sametā brahmabhavane devā devarṣayo yathā
      karmāntaram upāsanto jajalpur amitaujasaḥ
  4 idam evaṃ na cāpy evam evam etan na cānyathā
      ity ūcur bahavas tatra vitaṇḍānāḥ parasparam
  5 kṛśān arthāṃs tathā ke cid akṛśāṃs tatra kurvate
      akṛśāṃś ca kṛśāṃś cakrur hetubhiḥ śāstraniścitaiḥ
  6 tatra medhāvinaḥ ke cid artham anyaiḥ prapūritam
      vicikṣipur yathā śyenā nabhogatam ivāmiṣam
  7 ke cid dharmārthasaṃyuktāḥ kathās tatra mahāvratāḥ
      remire kathayantaś ca sarvavedavidāṃ varāḥ
  8 sā vedir vedasaṃpannair devadvija maharṣibhiḥ
      ābabhāse samākīrṇā nakṣatrair dyaur ivāmalā
  9 na tasyāṃ samidhau śūdraḥ kaś cid āsīn na cāvrataḥ
      antar vedyāṃ tadā rājan yudhiṣṭhira niveśane
  10 tāṃ tu lakṣmīvato lakṣmīṃ tadā yajñavidhānajām
     tutoṣa nāradaḥ paśyan dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ
 11 atha cintāṃ samāpede sa munir manujādhipa
     nāradas taṃ tadā paśyan sarvakṣatrasamāgamam
 12 sasmāra ca purāvṛttāṃ kathāṃ tāṃ bharatarṣabha
     aṃśāvataraṇe yāsau brahmaṇo bhavane 'bhavat
 13 devānāṃ saṃgamaṃ taṃ tu vijñāya kurunandana
     nāradaḥ puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ sasmāra manasā harim
 14 sākṣāt sa vibudhārighnaḥ kṣatre nārāyaṇo vibhuḥ
     pratijñāṃ pālayan dhīmāñ jātaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ
 15 saṃdideśa purā yo 'sau vibudhān bhūtakṛt svayam
     anyonyam abhinighnantaḥ punar lokān avāpsyatha
 16 iti nārāyaṇaḥ śambhur bhagavāñ jagataḥ prabhuḥ
     ādiśya vibudhān sarvān ajāyata yadukṣaye
 17 kṣitāv andhakavṛṣṇīṇāṃ vaṃśe vaṃśabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
     parayā śuśubhe lakṣmyā nakṣatrāṇām ivoḍurāṭ
 18 yasya bāhubalaṃ sendrāḥ surāḥ sarva upāsate
     so 'yaṃ mānuṣavan nāma harir āste 'rimardanaḥ
 19 aho bata mahad bhūtaṃ svayambhūr yad idaṃ svayam
     ādāsyati punaḥ kṣatram evaṃ balasamanvitam
 20 ity etāṃ nāradaś cintāṃ cintayām āsa dharmavit
     hariṃ nārāyaṇaṃ jñātvā yajñair īḍyaṃ tam īśvaram
 21 tasmin dharmavidāṃ śreṣṭho dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ
     mahādhvare mahābuddhis tasthau sa bahumānataḥ
 22 tato bhīṣmo 'bravīd rājan dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     kriyatām arhaṇaṃ rājñāṃ yathārham iti bhārata
 23 ācāryam ṛtvijaṃ caiva saṃyuktaṃ ca yudhiṣṭhira
     snātakaṃ ca priyaṃ cāhuḥ ṣaḍ arghyārhān nṛpaṃ tathā
 24 etān arhān abhigatān āhuḥ saṃvatsaroṣitān
     ta ime kālapūgasya mahato 'smān upāgatāḥ
 25 eṣām ekaikaśo rājann arghyam ānīyatām iti
     atha caiṣāṃ variṣṭhāya samarthāyopanīyatām
 26 [y]
     kasmai bhavān manyate 'rgham ekasmai kurunandana
     upanīyamānaṃ yuktaṃ ca tan me brūhi pitāmaha
 27 [v]
     tato bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo buddhyā niścitya bhārata
     vārṣṇeyaṃ manyate kṛṣṇam arhaṇīyatamaṃ bhuvi
 28 eṣa hy eṣāṃ sametānāṃ tejobalaparākramaiḥ
     madhye tapann ivābhāti jyotiṣām iva bhāskaraḥ
 29 asūryam iva sūryeṇa nivātam iva vāyunā
     bhāsitaṃ hlāditaṃ caiva kṛṣṇenedaṃ sado hi naḥ
 30 tasmai bhīṣmābhyanujñātaḥ sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
     upajahre 'tha vidhivad vārṣṇeyāyārghyam uttamam
 31 pratijagrāha tat kṛṣṇaḥ śāsra dṛṣṭena karmaṇā
     śiśupālas tu tāṃ pūjāṃ vāsudeve na cakṣame
 32 sa upālabhya bhīmaṃ ca dharmarājaṃ ca saṃsadi
     apākṣipad vāsudevaṃ cedirājo mahābalaḥ

SECTION XXXIII

Vaisampayana said,--"the ever-victorious Nakula, the son of Pandu, having reached Hastinapura, formally invited Bhishma and Dhritarashtra. The elder of the Kuru race with the preceptor at their head, invited with due ceremonies, came with joyous hearts to that sacrifice, with Brahmanas walking before them. And, O hull of the Bharata race, having heard of
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king Yudhishthira's sacrifice, hundreds of other Kshatriyas acquainted with the nature of the sacrifice, with joyous hearts came there from various countries, desiring to behold king Yudhishthira the son of Pandu and his sacrificial mansion, and brought with them many costly jewels of various kinds. And Dhritarashtra and Bhishma and Vidura of high intelligence; and all Kaurava brothers with Duryyodhana at their head; and Suvala the king of Gandhara and Sakuni endued with great strength; and Achala, and Vrishaka, and Karna that foremost of all charioteers; and Salya endued with great might and the strong Valhika; and Somadatta, and Bhuri of the Kuru race, and Bhurisravas and Sala; and Aswatthama, Kripa, Drona, and Jayadratha, the ruler of Sindhu; and Yajnasena with his sons, and Salya that lord of earth and that great car warrior king Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisha accompanied by all Mlechcha tribes inhabiting the marshy regions on the sea-shore; and many mountain kings, and king Vrihadvala; and Vasudeva the king of the Paundrayas, and the kings of Vanga and Kalinga; and Akastha and Kuntala and the kings of the Malavas and the Andhrakas; and the Dravidas and the Singhalas and the king of Kashmira, and king Kuntibhoja of great energy and king Gauravahana, and all the other heroic kings of Valhika; and Virata with his two sons, and Mavella endued with great might; and various kings and princes ruling in various countries; and, O Bharata king Sisupala endued with great energy and invincible in battle accompanied by his son--all of them came to the sacrifice of the son of Pandu. And Rama and Aniruddha and Kanaka and Sarana; and Gada, Pradyumna, Shamva, and Charudeshna of great energy; and Ulmuka and Nishatha and the brave Angavaha; and innumerable other Vrishnis--all mighty car-warriors--came there.
"These and many other kings from the middle country came, O monarch, to that great Rajasuya sacrifice of the son of Pandu. And, O king, at the command of king Yudhishthira the just, mansions were assigned to all those monarchs, that were full of various kinds of edibles and adorned with tanks and tall trees. And the son of Dharma worshipped all those illustrious monarchs as they deserved. Worshipped by the king they retired to mansions that were assigned to them. Those mansions were (white and high) like the cliffs of Kailasa, and delightful to behold, and furnished with every kind of furniture. They were enclosed on all sides with well-built and high white-washed walls; their windows were covered with net-works of gold and their interiors were furnished with rows of pearls, their flights of stairs were easy of ascent and the floors were all laid over with costly carpets. They were all hung over with garlands of flowers and perfumed with excellent aloes. White as snow or the moon, they looked extremely handsome even from the distance of a yojana. Their doors and entrances were set uniformly and were wide enough to admit a crowd of
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persons. Adorned with various costly articles and built with various metals, they looked like peaks of the Himavat. Having rested a while in those mansions the monarchs beheld king Yudhishthira the just surrounded by numerous Sadasyas (sacrificial priests) and ever performing sacrifices distinguished by large gifts to Brahmanas. That sacrificial mansion wherein were present the kings and Brahmanas and great Rishis looked, O king, as handsome as heaven itself crowded with the gods!"
Thus ends the thirty-fourth section in the Rajasuyika Parva of the Sabha Parva.

Book 2
Chapter 34

1 [ṣ]
      nāyam arhati vārṣṇeyas tiṣṭhatsv iha mahātmasu
      mahīpatiṣu kauravya rājavat pārthivārhaṇam
  2 nāyaṃ yuktaḥ samācāraḥ pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu
      yat kāmāt puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ pāṇḍavārcitavān asi
  3 bālā yūyaṃ na jānīdhvaṃ dharmaḥ sūkṣmo hi pāṇḍavāḥ
      ayaṃ tatrābhyatikrānta āpageyo 'lpadarśanaḥ
  4 tvādṛśo dharmayukto hi kurvāṇaḥ priyakāmyayā
      bhavaty abhyadhikaṃ bhīṣmo lokeṣv avamataḥ satām
  5 kathaṃ hy arājā dāśārho madhye sarvamahīkṣitām
      arhaṇām arhati tathā yathā yuṣmābhir arcitaḥ
  6 atha vā manyase kṛṣṇaṃ sthaviraṃ bharatarṣabha
      vasudeve sthite vṛddhe katham arhati tat sutaḥ
  7 atha vā vāsudevo 'pi priyakāmo 'nuvṛttavān
      drupade tiṣṭhati kathaṃ mādhavo 'rhati pūjanam
  8 ācāryaṃ manyase kṛṣṇam atha vā kurupuṃgava
      droṇe tiṣṭhati vārṣṇeyaṃ kasmād arcitavān asi
  9 ṛtvijaṃ manyase kṛṣṇam atha vā kurunandana
      dvaipāyane sthite vipre kathaṃ kṛṣṇo 'rcitas tvayā
  10 naiva ṛtvin na cācāryo na rājā madhusūdanaḥ
     arcitaś ca kuruśreṣṭha kim anyat priyakāmyayā
 11 atha vāpy arcanīyo 'yaṃ yuṣmākaṃ madhusūdanaḥ
     kiṃ rājabhir ihānītair avamānāya bhārata
 12 vayaṃ tu na bhayād asya kaunteyasya mahātmanaḥ
     prayacchāmaḥ karān sarve na lobhān na ca sāntvanāt
 13 asya dharmapravṛttasya pārthiva tvaṃ cikīrṣataḥ
     karān asmai prayacchāmaḥ so 'yam asmān na manyate
 14 kim anyad avamānād dhi yad imaṃ rājasaṃsadi
     aprāptalakṣaṇaṃ kṛṣṇam arghyeṇārcitavān asi
 15 akasmād dharmaputrasya dharmātmeti yaśo gatam
     ko hi dharmacyute pūjām evaṃ yuktāṃ prayojayet
     yo 'yaṃ vṛṣṇikule jāto rājānaṃ hatavān purā
 16 adya dharmātmatā caiva vyapakṛṣṭā yudhiṣṭhirāt
     kṛpaṇatvaṃ niviṣṭaṃ ca kṛṣṇe 'rghyasya nivedanāt
 17 yadi bhītāś ca kaunteyāḥ kṛpaṇāś ca tapasvinaḥ
     nanu tvayāpi boddhavyaṃ yāṃ pūjāṃ mādhavo 'rhati
 18 atha vā kṛpaṇair etām upanītāṃ janārdana
     pūjām anarhaḥ kasmāt tvam abhyanujñātavān asi
 19 ayuktām ātmanaḥ pūjāṃ tvaṃ punar bahu manyase
     haviṣaḥ prāpya niṣyandaṃ prāśituṃ śveva nirjane
 20 na tv ayaṃ pārthivendrāṇām avamānaḥ prayujyate
     tvām eva kuravo vyaktaṃ pralambhante janārdana
 21 klībe dārakriyā yādṛg andhe vā rūpadarśanam
     arājño rājavat pūjā tathā te madhusūdana
 22 dṛṣṭo yudhiṣṭhiro rājā dṛṣṭo bhīṣmaś ca yādṛśaḥ
     vāsudevo 'py ayaṃ dṛṣṭaḥ sarvam etad yathātatham
 23 ity uktvā śiśupālas tān utthāya paramāsanāt
     niryayau sadasas tasmāt sahito rājabhis tadā

SECTION XXXIV

Vaisampayana said,--"then, O king, Yudhishthira, having approached and worshipped his grandfather and his preceptor, addressed Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and the son of Drona and Duryyodhana and Vivingsati, and said,--'Help me ye all in the mater of this sacrifice. This large treasure that is here is yours. Consult ye with one another and guide me as ye desire.
"The eldest of the sons of Pandu, who had been installed at the sacrifice, having said this unto all, appointed every one of them to suitable offices. He appointed Dussasana to superintend the department of food and other enjoyable articles. Aswatthama was asked to attend on the Brahmanas. Sanjaya was appointed to offer return-worship unto the kings. Bhishma and Drona, both endued with great intelligence, were appointed to see what was done and what was left undone. And the king appointed Kripa to look after the diamonds and gold and the pearls and gems, as also after the distribution of gifts to Brahmanas. And so other tigers among men were appointed to similar offices. Valhika and Dhritarashtra and Somadatta and Jayadratha, brought thither by Nakula, went about, enjoying themselves as lords of the sacrifice. Vidura otherwise called Kshatta, conversant with every rule of morality, became the disburser. Duryyodhana became the receiver of the tributes that were brought by the kings. Krishna who was himself the centre of all worlds and round whom moved every creature, desirous of acquiring excellent fruits, was engaged at his own will in washing the feet of the Brahmanas.
"And desirous of beholding that sacrificial mansion, as also king Yudhishthira the just, none came there with tribute less than a thousand (in number, weight or measure). Everyone honoured the king Yudhishthira the just with large presents of jewels. And each of the kings made a present of his wealth, flattering himself with the proud belief that the jewels he gave would enable the Kuru king Yudhisthira to complete his sacrifice.
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[paragraph continues] And, O monarch, the sacrificial compound of the illustrious son of Kunti looked extremely handsome--with the multitude of palaces built so as to last for ever and crowded with guards and warriors. These were so high that their tops touched the cars of the gods that came to behold that sacrifice; as also with the cars themselves of the celestials, and with the dwelling of the Brahmanas and the mansions made there for the kings resembling the cars of the celestials and adorned with gems and filled with every kind of wealth, and lastly with crowds of the kings that came there all endued with beauty and wealth. Yudhisthira, as though vying with Varuna himself in wealth, commenced the sacrifice (of Rajasuya) distinguished by six fires and large gifts to Brahmanas. The King gratified everybody with presents of great value and indeed with every kind of object that one could desire. With abundance of rice and of every kind of food, as also with a mass of jewels brought as tribute, that vast concourse consisted of persons every one of whom was fed to the full. The gods also were gratified at the sacrifice by the Ida, clarified butter, Homa and libations poured by the great Rishis versed in mantras and pronunciation. Like the gods, the Brahmanas also were gratified with the sacrificial gifts and food and great wealth. And all the other orders of men also were gratified at that sacrifice and filled with joy."

Book 2
Chapter 35

 1 [v]
      tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā śiśupālam upādravat
      uvāca cainaṃ madhuraṃ sāntvapūrvam idaṃ vacaḥ
  2 nedaṃ yuktaṃ mahīpāla yādṛśaṃ vai tvam uktavān
      adharmaś ca paro rājan pāruṣyaṃ ca nirarthakam
  3 na hi dharmaṃ paraṃ jātu nāvabudhyeta pārthiva
      bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavas tv enaṃ māvamaṃsthā ato 'nyathā
  4 paśya cemān mahīpālāṃs tvatto vṛddhatamān bahūn
      mṛṣyante cārhaṇāṃ kṛṣṇe tadvat tvaṃ kṣantum arhasi
  5 veda tattvena kṛṣṇaṃ hi bhīṣmaś cedipate bhṛśam
      na hy enaṃ tvaṃ tathā vettha yathainaṃ veda kauravaḥ
  6 [bhs]
      nāsmā anunayo deyo nāyam arhati sāntvanam
      lokavṛddhatame kṛṣṇe yo 'rhaṇāṃ nānumanyate
  7 kṣatriyaḥ kṣatriyaṃ jitvā raṇe raṇakṛtāṃ varaḥ
      yo muñcati vaśe kṛtvā gurur bhavati tasya saḥ
  8 asyāṃ ca samitau rājñām ekam apy ajitaṃ yudhi
      na paśyāmi mahīpālaṃ sātvatī putra tejasā
  9 na hi kevalam asmākam ayam arcyatamo 'cyutaḥ
      trayāṇām api lokānām arcanīyo janārdanaḥ
  10 kṛṣṇena hi jitā yuddhe bahavaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ
     jagat sarvaṃ ca vārṣṇeye nikhilena pratiṣṭhitam
 11 tasmāt satsv api vṛddheṣu kṛṣṇam arcāma netarān
     evaṃ vaktuṃ na cārhas tvaṃ mā bhūt te buddhir īdṛśī
 12 jñānavṛddhā mayā rājan bahavaḥ paryupāsitāḥ
     teṣāṃ kathayatāṃ śaurer ahaṃ guṇavato guṇān
     samāgatānām aśrauṣaṃ bahūn bahumatān satām
 13 karmāṇy api ca yāny asya janmaprabhṛti dhīmataḥ
     bahuśaḥ kathyamānāni narair bhūyo śrutāni me
 14 na kevalaṃ vayaṃ kāmāc cedirājajanārdanam
     na saṃbandhaṃ puraskṛtya kṛtārthaṃ vā kathaṃ cana
 15 arcāmahe 'rcitaṃ sadbhir bhuvi bhauma sukhāvaham
     yaśo śaucaṃ jayaṃ cāsya vijñāyārcāṃ prayujmahe
 16 na hi kaś cid ihāsmābhiḥ subālo 'py aparīkṣitaḥ
     guṇair vṛddhān atikramya harir arcyatamo mataḥ
 17 jñānavṛddho dvijātīnāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ balādhikaḥ
     pūjye tāv iha govinde hetū dvāv api saṃsthitau
 18 vedavedāṅgavijñānaṃ balaṃ cāpy amitaṃ tathā
     nṛṇāṃ hi loke kasyāsti viśiṣṭaṃ keśavād ṛte
 19 dānaṃ dākṣyaṃ śrutaṃ śauryaṃ hrīḥ kīrtir buddhir uttamā
     saṃnatiḥ śrīr dhṛtis tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭiś ca niyatācyute
 20 tam imaṃ sarvasaṃpannam ācāryaṃ pitaraṃ gurum
     arcyam arcitam arcārhaṃ sarve saṃmantum arthatha
 21 ṛtvig gurur vivāhyaś ca snātako nṛpatiḥ priyaḥ
     sarvam etad dhṛṣī keśe tasmād abhyarcito 'cyutaḥ
 22 kṛṣṇa eva hi lokānām utpattir api cāpyayaḥ
     kṛṣṇasya hi kṛte bhūtam idaṃ viśvaṃ samarpitam
 23 eṣa prakṛtir avyaktā kartā caiva sanātanaḥ
     paraś ca sarvabhūtebhyas tasmād vṛddhatamo 'cyutaḥ
 24 buddhir mano mahān vāyus tejo 'mbhaḥ khaṃ mahī ca yā
     caturvidhaṃ ca yad bhūtaṃ sarvaṃ kṛṣṇe pratiṣṭhitam
 25 ādityaś candramāś caiva nakṣatrāṇi grahāś ca ye
     diśaś copadiśaś caiva sarvaṃ kṛṣṇe pratiṣṭhitam
 26 ayaṃ tu puruṣo bālaḥ śiśupālo na budhyate
     sarvatra sarvadā kṛṣṇaṃ tasmād evaṃ prabhāṣate
 27 yo hi dharmaṃ vicinuyād utkṛṣṭaṃ matimān naraḥ
     sa vai paśyed yathā dharmaṃ na tathā cedirāḍ ayam
 28 sa vṛddhabāleṣv atha vā pārthiveṣu mahātmasu
     ko nārhaṃ manyate kṛṣṇaṃ ko vāpy enaṃ na pūjayet
 29 athemāṃ duṣkṛtāṃ pūjāṃ śiśupālo vyavasyati
     duṣkṛtāyāṃ yathānyāyaṃ tathāyaṃ kartum arhati

SECTION XXXV

(Arghyaharana Parva)

"Vaisampayana said,--On the last day of the sacrifice when the king was to be sprinkled over with the sacred water, the great Brahmana Rishis ever deserving of respectful treatment, along with the invited kings, entered together the inner enclosure of the sacrificial compound. And those illustrious Rishis with Narada as their foremost, seated at their ease with those royal sages within that enclosure, looked like the gods seated in the mansion of Brahma in the company of the celestial Rishis. Endued with immeasurable energy those Rishis, having obtained leisure, started various topics of conversation. 'This is so,' 'This is not so,' 'This is even so.' 'This cannot be otherwise,'--thus did many of them engage in discussions with one another. Some amongst the disputants, by well-chosen arguments made the weaker position appear the stronger and the stronger the weaker. Some disputants endued with great intelligence fell upon the position urged by others like hawks darting at meat thrown up into the air, while some amongst them versed in the interpretations of religious treatises and others of rigid vows, and well-acquainted with every commentary and gloss engaged themselves in pleasant converse. And, O king, that platform
p. 74
crowded with gods, Brahmanas and great Rishis looked extremely handsome like the wide expanse of the firmament studded with stars. O monarch, there was then no Sudra near that platform of Yudhisthira's mansion, nor anybody that was without vows.
"And Narada, beholding the fortunate Yudhisthira's prosperity that was born of that sacrifice, became highly gratified. Beholding that vast concourse all the Kshatriyas, the Muni Narada, O king of men, became thoughtful. And, O bull amongst men, the Rishi began to recollect the words he had heard of old in the mansion of Brahma regarding the incarnation on earth of portions of every deity. And knowing, O son of the Kuru race, that that was a concourse (of incarnate) gods, Narada thought in his mind of Hari with eyes like lotus-petals. He knew that that creator himself of every object one, that exalted of all gods--Narayana--who had formerly commanded the celestials, saying,--'Be ye born on earth and slay one another and come back to heaven'--that slayer of all the enemies of the gods, that subjugator of all hostile towns, in order to fulfil his own promise, had been born in the Kshatriya order. And Narada knew that the exalted and holy Narayana, also called Sambhu the lord of the universe, having commanded all the celestials thus, had taken his birth in the race of Yadus and that foremost of all perpetuator of races, having sprung from the line of the Andhaka-Vrishnis on earth was graced with great good fortune and was shining like the moon herself among stars. Narada knew that Hari the grinder of foes, whose strength of arm was ever praised by all the celestials with Indra among them, was then living in the world in human form. Oh, the Self-Create will himself take away (from the earth) this vast concourse of Kshatriyas endued with so much strength. Such was the vision of Narada the omniscient who knew Hari or Narayana to be that Supreme Lord whom everybody worshipped with sacrifice. And Narada, gifted with great intelligence and the foremost of all persons and conversant with morality, thinking of all this, sat at that sacrifice of the wise king Yudhisthira the just with feelings of awe.
"Then Bhishma, O king, addressing king Yudhisthira the just, said, "O Bharata, let Arghya (an article of respect) be offered unto the kings as each of them deserveth. Listen, O Yudhishthira, the preceptor, the sacrificial priest, the relative, the Snataka, the friend, and the king, it hath been said are the six that deserve Arghya. The wise have said that when any of these dwell with one for full one year he deserveth to be worshipped with Arghya. These kings have been staying with us for some time. Therefore, O king, let Arghyas be procured to be offered unto each of them. And let an Arghya be presented first of all unto him among those present who is the foremost.
"Hearing these words of Bhishma, Yudhishthira said--'O Grandsire, O thou of the Kuru race, whom thou deemest the foremost amongst these
p. 75
and unto whom the Arghya should be presented by us, O tell me.'
"Vaisampayana continued,--Then, O Bharata, Bhishma the son of Santanu, judged it by his intelligence that on earth Krishna was the foremost of all. And he said--'As is the sun among all luminous objects, so is the one (meaning Krishna) (who shines like the sun) among us all, in consequence of his energy, strength and prowess. And this our sacrificial mansion is illuminated and gladdened by him as a sunless region by the sun, or a region of still air by a gust of breeze. Thus commanded by Bhishma, Sahadeva endued with great prowess duly presented the first Arghya of excellent ingredients unto Krishna of the Vrishni race. Krishna also accepted it according to the forms of the ordinance. But Sisupala could not bear to see that worship offered unto Vasudeva. And this mighty king of Chedi, reproving in the midst of that assembly both Bhishma and. Yudhishthira, censured Vasudeva thereafter."

Book 2
Chapter 36

1 [v]
      evam uktvā tato bhīṣmo virarāma mahāyaśāḥ
      vyājahārottaraṃ tatra sahadevo 'rthavad vacaḥ
  2 keśavaṃ keśi hantāram aprameyaparākramam
      pūjyamānaṃ mayā yo vaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ na sahate nṛpāḥ
  3 sarveṣāṃ balināṃ mūrdhni mayedaṃ nihitaṃ padam
      evam ukte mayā samyag uttaraṃ prabravītu saḥ
  4 matimantas tu ye ke cid ācāryaṃ pitaraṃ gurum
      arcyam arcitam arcārham anujānantu te nṛpāḥ
  5 tato na vyājahāraiṣāṃ kaś cid buddhimatāṃ satām
      mānināṃ balināṃ rājñāṃ madhye saṃdarśite pade
  6 tato 'patat puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ sahadevasya mūrdhani
      adṛśya rūpā vācaś cāpy abruvan sādhu sādhv iti
  7 āvidhyad ajinaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ bhaviṣyad bhūtajalpakaḥ
      sarvasaṃśaya nirmoktā nāradaḥ sarvalokavit
  8 tatrāhūtāgatāḥ sarve sunītha pramukhā gaṇāḥ
      saṃprādṛśyanta saṃkruddhā vivarṇavadanās tathā
  9 yudhiṣṭhirābhiṣekaṃ ca vāsudevasya cārhaṇam
      abruvaṃs tatra rājāno nirvedād ātmaniścayāt
  10 suhṛdbhir vāryamāṇānāṃ teṣāṃ hi vapur ābabhau
     āmiṣād apakṛṣṭānāṃ siṃhānām iva garjatām
 11 taṃ balaugham aparyantaṃ rājasāgaram akṣayam
     kurvāṇaṃ samayaṃ kṛṣṇo yuddhāya bubudhe tadā
 12 pūjayitvā tu pūjārhaṃ brahmakṣatraṃ viśeṣataḥ
     sahadevo nṛṇāṃ devaḥ samāpayata karma tat
 13 tasminn abhyarcite kṛṣṇe sunīthaḥ śatrukarṣaṇaḥ
     atitāmrekṣaṇaḥ kopād uvāca manujādhipān
 14 sthitaḥ senāpatir vo 'haṃ manyadhvaṃ kiṃ nu sāṃpratam
     yudhi tiṣṭhāma saṃnahya sametān vṛṣṇipāṇḍavān
 15 iti sarvān samutsāhya rājñas tāṃś cedipuṃgavaḥ
     yajñopaghātāya tataḥ so 'mantrayata rājabhiḥ

SECTION XXXVI

"Sisupala said--'O thou of the Kuru race, this one of the Vrishni race doth not deserve royal worship as if he were a king, in the midst of all these illustrious monarchs. O son of Pandu, this conduct of thine in thus willingly worshipping him with eyes like lotus-petals is not worthy of the illustrious Pandavas. Ye sons of Pandu. Ye are children. Ye know not what morality is, for that is very subtle. Bhishma, this son also of Ganga is of little knowledge and hath transgressed the rules of morality (by giving ye such counsel). And, O Bhishma, if one like thee, possessed of virtue and morality acteth from motives of interest, he is deserving of censure among the honest and the wise. How doth he of the Dasarha race, who is not even a king, accept worship before these kings and how is it that he hath been worshipped by ye? O bull of the Kuru race, if thou regardest Krishna as the oldest in age, here is Vasudeva, and how can his son be said so in his presence? Or, if thou regardest Vasudeva as your well-wisher and supporter, here is Drupada; how then can Madhava deserve the (first) worship? Or, O son of Kuru, regardest thou Krishna as preceptor? When Drona is here, how hast thou worshipped him of the Vrishni race? Or, O son of Kuru, regardest thou Krishna as the Ritwija? When old Dwaipayana is here, how hath Krishna been worshipped by thee? Again when old Bhishma, the son of Santanu, that foremost of men who is not to die save at his own wish is here, why, O king, hath Krishna been worshipped by thee? When the brave Aswatthaman, versed in every branch of knowledge is here, why, O king, hath Krishna, O thou of the Kuru race, been worshipped by thee? When that King of kings, Duryyodhana, that foremost
p. 76
of men, is here, as also Kripa the preceptor of the Bharata princes, why hath Krishna been worshipped by thee? How, O son of Pandu, passing over Druma, the preceptor of the Kimpurusas, hast thou worshipped Krishna? When the invincible Bhishmaka and king Pandya possessed of every auspicious mark, and that foremost of kings--Rukmi and Ekalavya and Salya, the king of the Madras, are here, how, O son of Pandu, hast thou offered the first worship unto Krishna? Here also is Karna ever boasting of his strength amongst all kings, and (really) endued with great might, the favourite disciple of the Brahmana Jamadagnya, the hero who vanquished in battle all monarchs by his own strength alone. How, O Bharata, hast thou, passing him over, offered the first worship unto Krishna? The slayer of Madhu is neither a sacrificial priest nor a preceptor, nor a king. That thou hast notwithstanding all these worshipped him, O chief of the Kurus, could only have been from motives of gain. If, O Bharata, it was your wish to offer the first worship unto the slayer of Madhu, why were these monarchs brought here to be insulted thus? We have not paid tributes to the illustrious son of Kunti from fear, from desire of gain, or from having been won over by conciliation. On the other hand, we have paid him tribute simply because he hath been desirous of the imperial dignity from motives of virtue. And yet he it is that thus insulteth us. O king, from what else, save motives of insult, could it have been that thou hast worshipped Krishna, who possesseth not the insignia of royalty, with the Arghya in the midst of the assembled monarchs? Indeed, the reputation for virtue that the son of Dharma hath acquired, hath been acquired by him without cause, for who would offer such undue worship unto one that hath fallen off from virtue. This wretch born in the race of the Vrishnis unrighteously slew of old the illustrious king Jarasandha. Righteousness hath today been abandoned by Yudhishthira and meanness only hath been displayed by him in consequence of his having offered the Arghya to Krishna. If the helpless sons of Kunti were affrighted and disposed to meanness, thou, O Madhava, ought to have enlightened them as to thy claims to the first worship? Why also, O Janarddana, didst thou accept the worship of which thou art unworthy, although it was offered unto thee by those mean-minded princes? Thou thinkest much of the worship unworthily offered unto thee, like a dog that lappeth in solitude a quantity of clarified butter that it hath obtained. O Janarddana, this is really no insult offered unto the monarchs; on the other hand it is thou whom the Kurus have insulted. Indeed, O slayer of Madhu, as a wife is to one that is without virile power, as a fine show is to one that is blind, so is this royal worship to thee who art no king. What Yudhishthira is, hath been seen; what Bhishma is, hath been seen; and what this Vasudeva is hath been seen. Indeed, all these have been seen as they are!"
p. 77
"Having spoken these words, Sisupala rose from his excellent seat, and accompanied by the kings, went out of that assembly."

Book 2
Chapter 37

1 [v]
      tataḥ sāgarasaṃkāśaṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpatisāgaram
      roṣāt pracalitaṃ sarvam idam āha yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
  2 bhīṣmaṃ matimatāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ vṛddhaṃ kuru pitā maham
      bṛhaspatiṃ bṛhat tejāḥ puruhūtā ivārihā
  3 asau roṣāt pracalito mahān nṛpatisāgaraḥ
      atra yat pratipattavyaṃ tan me brūhi pitāmaha
  4 yajñasya ca na vighnaḥ syāt prajānāṃ ca śivaṃ bhavet
      yathā sarvatra tat sarvaṃ brūhi me 'dya pitāmaha
  5 ity uktavati dharmajñe dharmarāje yudhiṣṭhire
      uvācedaṃ vaco bhīṣmas tataḥ kuru pitā mahaḥ
  6 mā bhais tvaṃ kuruśārdūla śvā siṃhaṃ hantum arhati
      śivaḥ panthāḥ sunīto 'tra mayā pūrvataraṃ vṛtaḥ
  7 prasupte hi yathā siṃhe śvānas tatra samāgatāḥ
      bhaṣeyuḥ sahitāḥ sarve tatheme vasudhādhipāḥ
  8 vṛṣṇisiṃhasya suptasya tatheme pramukhe sthitāḥ
      bhaṣante tāta saṃkruddhāḥ śvānaḥ siṃhasya saṃnidhau
  9 na hi saṃbudhyate tāvat suptaḥ siṃha ivācyutaḥ
      tena siṃhī karoty etān nṛsiṃhaś cedipuṃgavaḥ
  10 pārthivān pārthivaśreṣṭha śiśupālo 'lpacetanaḥ
     sarvān sarvātmanā tāta netu kāmo yamakṣayam
 11 nūnam etat samādātuṃ punar icchaty adho 'kṣajaḥ
     yad asya śiśupālasthaṃ tejas tiṣṭhati bhārata
 12 viplutā cāsya bhadraṃ te buddhir buddhimatāṃ vara
     cedirājasya kaunteya sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām
 13 ādātuṃ hi naravyāghro yaṃ yam icchaty ayaṃ yadā
     tasya viplavate buddhir evaṃ cedipater yathā
 14 caturvidhānāṃ bhūtānāṃ triṣu lokeṣu mādhavaḥ
     prabhavaś caiva sarveṣāṃ nidhanaṃ ca yudhiṣṭhira
 15 iti tasya vaco śrutvā tataś cedipatir nṛpaḥ
     bhīṣmaṃ rūkṣākṣarā vācaḥ śrāvayām āsa bhārata

SECTION XXXVII

"Vaisampayana said,--Then the king Yudhishthira hastily ran after Sisupala and spoke unto him sweetly and in a conciliating tone the following words,--'O lord of earth, what thou hast said is scarcely proper for thee. O king, it is highly sinful and needlessly cruel. Insult not Bhishma, O king, by saying that he doth not know what virtue is. Behold, these many kings, older than thou art, all approve of the worship offered unto Krishna. It behoveth thee to bear it patiently like them. O ruler of Chedi, Bhishma knoweth Krishna truly. Thou knowest him not so well as this one of the Kuru race.'"
"Bhishma also, after this, said,--He that approveth not the worship offered unto Krishna, the oldest one in the universe, deserveth neither soft words nor conciliation. The chief of warriors of the Kshatriya rare who having overcome a Kshatriya in battle and brought him under his power, setteth him free, becometh the guru (preceptor or master) of the vanquished one. I do not behold in this assembly of kings even one ruler of men who hath not been vanquished in battle by the energy of this son of the Satwata race. This one (meaning Krishna) here, of undefiled glory, deserveth to be worshipped not by ourselves alone, but being of mighty arms, he deserveth to be worshipped by the three worlds also. Innumerable warriors among Kshatriyas have been vanquished in battle by Krishna. The whole universe without limit is established in him of the Vrishni race. Therefore do we worship Krishna amongst the best and the oldest, and not others. It behoveth thee not to say so. Let thy understanding be never so. I have, O king, waited upon many persons that are old in knowledge. I have heard from all those wise men, while talking; of the numerous much-regarded attributes of the accomplished Sauri. I have also heard many times all the acts recited by people that Krishna of great intelligence hath performed since his birth. And, O king of Chedi, we do not from caprice, or keeping in view our relationship or the benefits he may confer on us, worship Janarddana who is worshipped by the good on earth and who is the source of the happiness of every creature. We have offered unto him the first worship because of his fame, his heroism, his success. There is none here of even tender years whom we have not taken into consideration. Passing over many persons that are foremost
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for their virtues, we have regarded Hari as deserving of the first worship. Amongst the Brahmanas one that is superior in knowledge, amongst the Kshatriyas one that is superior in strength, amongst the Vaisyas one that is superior in possessions and wealth, and amongst the Sudras one that is superior in years, deserveth to be worshipped. In the matter of the worship offered unto Govinda, there are two reason, viz., knowledge of the Vedas and their branches, and also excess of strength. Who else is there in the world of men save Kesava that is so distinguished? Indeed, liberality, cleverness, knowledge of the Vedas, bravery, modesty, achievements, excellent intelligence, humility, beauty, firmness, contentment and prosperity--all dwell for ever in Achyuta. Therefore, ye kings; it behoveth ye to approve of the worship that hath been offered unto Krishna who is of great accomplishments, who as the preceptor, the father, the guru, is worthy of the Arghya and deserving of (everybody's) worship. Hrishikesa is the sacrificial priest, the guru, worthy of being solicited to accept one's daughter in marriage, the Snataka, the king, the friend: therefore hath Achyuta been worshipped by us. Krishna is the origin of the universe and that in which the universe is to dissolve. Indeed, this universe of mobile and immobile creatures hath sprung into existence from Krishna only. He is the unmanifest primal cause (Avyakta Prakriti), the creator, the eternal, and beyond the ken of all creatures. Therefore doth he of unfading glory deserve highest worship. The intellect, the seat of sensibility, the five elements, air, heat, water, ether, earth, and the four species of beings (oviparous, viviparous, born of filthy damp and vegetal) are all established in Krishna. The sun, the moon, the constellations, the planets, all the principal directions, the intermediate directions, are all established in Krishna. As the Agnihotra is the foremost among all Vedic sacrifices, as the Gayatri is the foremost among metres, as the king is the foremost among men, as the ocean is the foremost among all rivers, as the moon is the foremost among all constellations, as the sun is the foremost among all luminous bodies, as the Meru is the foremost among all mountains, as Garuda is the foremost among all birds, so as long as the upward, downward, and sideway course of the universe lasteth, Kesava is the foremost in all the worlds including the regions of the celestials. This Sisupala is a mere boy and hence he knoweth not Krishna, and ever and everywhere speaketh of Krishna thus. This ruler of Chedi will never see virtue in that light in which one that is desirous of acquiring high merit will see it. Who is there among the old and the young or among these illustrious lords of earth that doth not regard Krishna as deserving of worship or that doth not worship Krishna? If Sisupala regardeth this worship as undeserved, it behoveth him to do what is proper in this matter.'"

Book 2
Chapter 38

1 śiśupāla uvāca
      vibhīṣikābhir bahvībhir bhīṣayan sarvapārthivān
      na vyapatrapase kasmād vṛddhaḥ san kulapāṃsanaḥ
  2 yuktam etat tṛtīyāyāṃ prakṛtau vartatā tvayā
      vaktuṃ dharmād apetārthaṃ tvaṃ hi sarvakurūttamaḥ
  3 nāvi naur iva saṃbaddhā yathāndho vāndham anviyāt
      tathābhūtā hi kauravyā bhīṣma yeṣāṃ tvam agraṇīḥ
  4 pūtanāghātapūrvāṇi karmāṇy asya viśeṣataḥ
      tvayā kīrtayatāsmākaṃ bhūyaḥ pracyāvitaṃ manaḥ
  5 avaliptasya mūrkhasya keśavaṃ stotum icchataḥ
      kathaṃ bhīṣma na te jihvā śatadheyaṃ vidīryate
  6 yatra kutsā prayoktavyā bhīṣma bālatarair naraiḥ
      tam imaṃ jñānavṛddhaḥ san gopaṃ saṃstotum icchasi
  7 yady anena hatā bālye śakuniś citram atra kim
      tau vāśvavṛṣabhau bhīṣma yau na yuddhaviśāradau
  8 cetanārahitaṃ kāṣṭhaṃ yady anena nipātitam
      pādena śakaṭaṃ bhīṣma tatra kiṃ kṛtam adbhutam
  9 valmīkamātraḥ saptāhaṃ yady anena dhṛto 'calaḥ
      tadā govardhano bhīṣma na tac citraṃ mataṃ mama
  10 bhuktam etena bahv annaṃ krīḍatā nagamūrdhani
     iti te bhīṣma śṛṇvānāḥ paraṃ vismayam āgatāḥ
 11 yasya cānena dharmajña bhuktam annaṃ balīyasaḥ
     sa cānena hataḥ kaṃsa ity etan na mahādbhutam
 12 na te śrutam idaṃ bhīṣma nūnaṃ kathayatāṃ satām
     yad vakṣye tvām adharmajña vākyaṃ kurukulādhama
 13 strīṣu goṣu na śastrāṇi pātayed brāhmaṇeṣu ca
     yasya cānnāni bhuñjīta yaś ca syāc charaṇāgataḥ
 14 iti santo 'nuśāsanti sajjanā dharmiṇaḥ sadā
     bhīṣma loke hi tat sarvaṃ vitathaṃ tvayi dṛśyate
 15 jñānavṛddhaṃ ca vṛddhaṃ ca bhūyāṃsaṃ keśavaṃ mama
     ajānata ivākhyāsi saṃstuvan kurusattama
     goghnaḥ strīghnaś ca san bhīṣma kathaṃ saṃstavam arhati
 16 asau matimatāṃ śreṣṭho ya eṣa jagataḥ prabhuḥ
     saṃbhāvayati yady evaṃ tvadvākyāc ca janārdanaḥ
     evam etat sarvam iti sarvaṃ tad vitathaṃ dhruvam
 17 na gāthā gāthinaṃ śāsti bahu ced api gāyati
     prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni bhūliṅgaśakunir yathā
 18 nūnaṃ prakṛtir eṣā te jaghanyā nātra saṃśayaḥ
     ataḥ pāpīyasī caiṣāṃ pāṇḍavānām apīṣyate
 19 yeṣām arcyatamaḥ kṛṣṇas tvaṃ ca yeṣāṃ pradarśakaḥ
     dharmavāk tvam adharmajñaḥ satāṃ mārgād avaplutaḥ
 20 ko hi dharmiṇam ātmānaṃ jānañ jñānavatāṃ varaḥ
     kuryād yathā tvayā bhīṣma kṛtaṃ dharmam avekṣatā
 21 anyakāmā hi dharmajña kanyakā prājñamāninā
     ambā nāmeti bhadraṃ te kathaṃ sāpahṛtā tvayā
 22 yāṃ tvayāpahṛtāṃ bhīṣma kanyāṃ naiṣitavān nṛpaḥ
     bhrātā vicitravīryas te satāṃ vṛttam anuṣṭhitaḥ
 23 dārayor yasya cānyena miṣataḥ prājñamāninaḥ
     tava jātāny apatyāni sajjanācarite pathi
 24 na hi dharmo 'sti te bhīṣma brahmacaryam idaṃ vṛthā
     yad dhārayasi mohād vā klībatvād vā na saṃśayaḥ
 25 na tv ahaṃ tava dharmajña paśyāmy upacayaṃ kva cit
     na hi te sevitā vṛddhā ya evaṃ dharmam abruvan
 26 iṣṭaṃ dattam adhītaṃ ca yajñāś ca bahudakṣiṇāḥ
     sarvam etad apatyasya kalāṃ nārhati ṣoḍaśīm
 27 vratopavāsair bahubhiḥ kṛtaṃ bhavati bhīṣma yat
     sarvaṃ tad anapatyasya moghaṃ bhavati niścayāt
 28 so 'napatyaś ca vṛddhaś ca mithyādharmānuśāsanāt
     haṃsavat tvam apīdānīṃ jñātibhyaḥ prāpnuyā vadham
 29 evaṃ hi kathayanty anye narā jñānavidaḥ purā
     bhīṣma yat tad ahaṃ samyag vakṣyāmi tava śṛṇvataḥ
 30 vṛddhaḥ kila samudrānte kaś cid dhaṃso 'bhavat purā
     dharmavāg anyathāvṛttaḥ pakṣiṇaḥ so 'nuśāsti ha
 31 dharmaṃ carata mādharmam iti tasya vacaḥ kila
     pakṣiṇaḥ śuśruvur bhīṣma satataṃ dharmavādinaḥ
 32 athāsya bhakṣyam ājahruḥ samudrajalacāriṇaḥ
     aṇḍajā bhīṣma tasyānye dharmārtham iti śuśruma
 33 tasya caiva samabhyāśe nikṣipyāṇḍāni sarvaśaḥ
     samudrāmbhasy amodanta caranto bhīṣma pakṣiṇaḥ
 34 teṣām aṇḍāni sarveṣāṃ bhakṣayām āsa pāpakṛt
     sa haṃsaḥ saṃpramattānām apramattaḥ svakarmaṇi
 35 tataḥ prakṣīyamāṇeṣu teṣv aṇḍeṣv aṇḍajo 'paraḥ
     aśaṅkata mahāprājñas taṃ kadā cid dadarśa ha
 36 tataḥ sa kathayām āsa dṛṣṭvā haṃsasya kilbiṣam
     teṣāṃ paramaduḥkhārtaḥ sa pakṣī sarvapakṣiṇām
 37 tataḥ pratyakṣato dṛṣṭvā pakṣiṇas te samāgatāḥ
     nijaghnus taṃ tadā haṃsaṃ mithyāvṛttaṃ kurūdvaha
 38 te tvāṃ haṃsasadharmāṇam apīme vasudhādhipāḥ
     nihanyur bhīṣma saṃkruddhāḥ pakṣiṇas tam ivāṇḍajam
 39 gāthām apy atra gāyanti ye purāṇavido janāḥ
     bhīṣma yāṃ tāṃ ca te samyak kathayiṣyāmi bhārata
 40 antarātmani vinihite; rauṣi patraratha vitatham
     aṇḍabhakṣaṇam aśuci te; karma vācam atiśayate

SECTION XXXVIII

"Vaisampayana said,--The mighty Bhishma ceased, having said this. Sahadeva then answered (Sisupala) in words of grave import, saying,--'If amongst ye there be any king that cannot bear to see Kesava of dark hue, the slayer of Kesi, the possessor of immeasurable energy, worshipped by me, this my foot is placed on the heads of all mighty ones (like him). When I say this, let that one give me an adequate reply. And let those kings that possess intelligence approve the worship of Krishna who is the preceptor, the father, the guru, and deserveth the Arghya and the worship (already offered unto him).'
"When Sahadeva thus showed his foot, no one among those intelligent and wise and proud and mighty monarchs said anything. And a shower of flowers fell on Sahadeva's head, and an incorporeal voice said--'Excellent, excellent.' Then Narada clad in black deer-skin, speaking of both the future and the past, that dispeller of all doubts, fully acquainted with all the worlds, said in the midst of innumerable creatures, these words of the clearest import,--'Those men that will not worship the lotus-eyed Krishna should be regarded as dead though moving, and should never be talked to on any occasion.'"
"Vaisampayana continued,--Then that god among men, Sahadeva cognisant of the distinction between a Brahmana and a Kshatriya, having worshipped those that deserved worship, completed that ceremony. But upon Krishna having received the first worship, Sunitha (Sisupala) that mower of foes--with eyes red as copper from anger, addressed those rulers of men and said,--'When I am here to head ye all, what are ye thinking of now? Arrayed let us stand in battle against the assembled Vrishnis and the Pandavas?' And the bull of the Chedis, having thus stirred the kings up, began to consult with them how to obstruct the completion of the sacrifice. All the invited monarchs who had come to the sacrifice, with Sunitha as their chief, looked angry and their faces became pale. They all said, 'We must so act that the final sacrificial rite performed by Yudhishthira and the worship of Krishna may not be regarded as having been acquiesced in by us. And impelled by a belief in their power and great assurance, the kings, deprived of reason through anger, began to say this. And being moved by self-confidence and smarting under the insult offered unto them, the monarchs repeatedly exclaimed thus. Though their friends sought to appease them, their faces glowed with anger like those of roaring lions driven away from their preys. Krishna then understood that the vast sea of monarchs with its countless waves of troops was preparing for a terrific rush."

Book 2
Chapter 39

1 [ṣiṣu]
      sa me bahumato rājā jarāsaṃdho mahābalaḥ
      yo 'nena yuddhaṃ neyeṣa dāso 'yam iti saṃyuge
  2 keśavena kṛtaṃ yat tu jarāsaṃdha vadhe tadā
      bhīmasenārjunābhyāṃ ca kas tat sādhv iti manyate
  3 advāreṇa praviṣṭena chadmanā brahmavādinā
      dṛṣṭaḥ prabhāvaḥ kṛṣṇena jarāsaṃdhasya dhīmataḥ
  4 yena dharmātmanātmānaṃ brahmaṇyam abhijānatā
      naiṣitaṃ pādyam asmai tad dātum agre durātmane
  5 bhujyatām iti tenoktāḥ kṛṣṇa bhīma dhanaṃjayāḥ
      jarāsaṃdhena kauravya kṛṣṇena vikṛtaṃ kṛtam
  6 yady ayaṃ jagataḥ kartā yathainaṃ mūrkha manyase
      kasmān na brāhmaṇaṃ samyag ātmānam avagacchati
  7 idaṃ tv āścaryabhūtaṃ me yad ime pāṇḍavās tvayā
      apakṛṣṭāḥ satāṃ mārgān manyante tac ca sādhv iti
  8 atha vā naitad āścaryaṃ yeṣāṃ tvam asi bhārata
      strī sadharmā ca vṛddhaś ca sarvārthānāṃ pradarśakaḥ
  9 [v]
      tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rūkṣaṃ rūkṣākṣaraṃ bahu
      cukopa balināṃ śreṣṭho bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān
  10 tasya padmapratīkāśe svabhāvāyata vistṛte
     bhūyo krodhābhitāmrānte rakte netre babhūvatuḥ
 11 triśikhāṃ bhrukuṭīṃ cāsya dadṛśuḥ sarvapārthivāḥ
     lalāṭasthāṃ trikūṭasthāṃ gaṅgāṃ tripathagām iva
 12 dantān saṃdaśatas tasya kopād dadṛśur ānanam
     yugānte sarvabhūtāni kālasyeva didhakṣataḥ
 13 utpatantaṃ tu vegena jagrāhainaṃ manasvinam
     bhīṣma eva mahābāhur mahāsenam iveśvaraḥ
 14 tasya bhīmasya bhīṣmeṇa vāryamāṇasya bhārata
     guruṇā vividhair vākyaiḥ krodhaḥ praśamam āgataḥ
 15 nāticakrāma bhīṣmasya sa hi vākyam ariṃdamaḥ
     samuddhūto ghanāpāye velām iva mahodadhiḥ
 16 śiśupālas tu saṃkruddhe bhīmasene narādhipa
     nākampata tadā vīraḥ pauruṣe sve vyavasthitaḥ
 17 utpatantaṃ tu vegena punaḥ punar ariṃdamaḥ
     na sa taṃ cintayām āsa siṃhaḥ kṣudramṛgaṃ yathā
 18 prahasaṃś cābravīd vākyaṃ cedirājaḥ pratāpavān
     bhīmasenam atikruddhaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmaparākramam
 19 muñcainaṃ bhīṣma paśyantu yāvad enaṃ narādhipāḥ
     mat pratāpāgninirdagdhaṃ pataṃgam iva vahninā
 20 tataś cedipater vākyaṃ tac chrutvā kurusattamaḥ
     bhīmasenam uvācedaṃ bhīṣmo matimatāṃ varaḥ

SECTION XXXIX

(Sisupala-badha Parva)

"Vaisampayana said,--Beholding that vast assembly of kings agitated with wrath, even like the terrific sea agitated by the winds that blow at the time of the universal dissolution, Yudhishthira addressing the aged Bhishma, that chief of intelligent men and the grandsire of the Kurus, even like Puruhita (Indra) that slayer of foes, of abundant energy addressing Vrihaspati, said,--'This vast ocean of kings, hath been agitated by wrath. Tell me, O Grandsire, what I should do in view of this. O Grandsire, now what I should do that my sacrifice may not be obstructed and my subjects may not be injured.'
"When king Yudhishthira the just, conversant with morality, said this, Bhishma the grandsire of the Kurus, spoke these words in reply,--'Fear not, O tiger of the Kurus. Can the dog slay the lion? I have before this found out a way that is both beneficial and comfortable to practise. As dogs in a pack approaching the lion that is asleep bark together, so are all these lords of earth. Indeed, O child, like dogs before the lion, these (monarchs) are barking in rage before the sleeping lion of the Vrishni race. Achyuta now is like a lion that is asleep. Until he waketh up, this chief of the Chedis--this lion among men--maketh these monarchs look like lions. O child, O thou foremost of all monarchs, this Sisupala possessed of little intelligence is desirous of taking along with him all these kings, through the agency of him who is the soul of the universe, to the regions of Yama. Assuredly, O Bharata Vishnu hath been desirous of taking back unto himself the energy that existeth in this Sisupala. O Chief of all intelligent men, O son of Kunti, the intelligence of this wicked-minded king of the Chedis, as also of all these monarchs, hath become perverse. Indeed, the intelligence of all those whom this tiger among men desireth to take unto himself, becometh perverse even like that of this king of the Chedis. O Yudhishthira, Madhava is the progenitor as also the destroyer of all created beings of the four species, (oviparous, etc.,) existing in the three worlds.'"
"Vaisampayana continued--Then the ruler of Chedis, having heard these words of Bhishma, addressed the latter, O Bharata, in words that were stern and rough."

Book 2
Chapter 40

 1 [bh]
      cedirājakule jātas tryakṣa eṣa caturbhujaḥ
      rāsabhārāva sadṛśaṃ rurāva ca nanāda ca
  2 tenāsya mātā pitarau tresatus tau sa bāndhavau
      vaikṛtaṃ tac ca tau dṛṣṭvā tyāgāya kurutāṃ matim
  3 tataḥ sabhāryaṃ nṛpatiṃ sāmātyaṃ sapurohitam
      cintā saṃmūḍhahṛdayaṃ vāg uvācāśarīriṇī
  4 eṣa te nṛpate putraḥ śrīmāñ jāto mahābalaḥ
      tasmād asmān na bhetavyam avyagraḥ pāhi vai śiśum
  5 na caivaitasya mṛtyus tvaṃ na kālaḥ pratyupasthitaḥ
      mṛtyur hantāsya śastreṇa sa cotpanno narādhipa
  6 saṃśrutyodāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ bhūtam antarhitaṃ tataḥ
      putrasnehābhisaṃtaptā jananī vākyam abravīt
  7 yenedam īritaṃ vākyaṃ mamaiva tanayaṃ prati
      prāñjalis taṃ namasyāmi bravītu sa punar vacaḥ
  8 śrotum icchāmi putrasya ko 'sya mṛtyur bhaviṣyati
      antarhitaṃ tato bhūtam uvācedaṃ punar vacaḥ
  9 yenotsaṅge gṛhītasya bhujāv abhyadhikāv ubhau
      patiṣyataḥ kṣititale pañcaśīrṣāv ivoragau
  10 tṛtīyam etad bālasya lalāṭasthaṃ ca locanam
     nimajjiṣyati yaṃ dṛṣṭvā so 'sya mṛtyur bhaviṣyati
 11 tryakṣaṃ caturbhujaṃ śrutvā tathā ca samudāhṛtam
     dharaṇyāṃ pārthivāḥ sarve abhyagacchan didṛkṣavaḥ
 12 tān pūjayitvā saṃprāptān yathārhaṃ sa mahīpatiḥ
     ekaikasya nṛpasyāṅke putram āropayat tadā
 13 evaṃ rājasahasrāṇāṃ pṛthaktvena yathākramam
     śiśur aṅke samārūḍho na tat prāpa nidarśanam
 14 tataś cedipuraṃ prāptau saṃkarṣaṇa janārdanau
     yādavau yādavīṃ drastuṃ svasāraṃ tāṃ pitus tadā
 15 abhivādya yathānyāyaṃ yathā jyeṣṭhaṃ nṛpāṃś ca tān
     kuśalānāmayaṃ pṛṣṭvā niṣaṇṇau rāma keśavau
 16 abhyarcitau tadā vīrau prītyā cābhyadhikaṃ tataḥ
     putraṃ dāmodarotsaṅge devī saṃnyadadhāt svayam
 17 nyastamātrasya tasyāṅke bhujāv abhyadhikāv ubhau
     petatus tac ca nayanaṃ nimamajja lalāṭajam
 18 tad dṛṣṭvā vyathitā trastā varaṃ kṛṣṇam ayācata
     dadasva me varaṃ kṛṣṇa bhayārtāya mahābhuja
 19 tvaṃ hy ārtānāṃ samāśvāso bhītānām abhayaṃkaraḥ
     pitṛsvasāraṃ mā bhaiṣīr ity uvāca janārdanaḥ
 20 dadāni kaṃ varaṃ kiṃ vā karavāṇi pitṛsvasaḥ
     śakyaṃ vā yadi vāśakyaṃ kariṣyāmi vacas tava
 21 evam uktā tataḥ kṛṣṇam abravīd yadunandanam
     śiśupālasyāparādhān kṣamethās tvaṃ mahābala
 22 [k]
     aparādhaśataṃ kṣāmyaṃ mayā hy asya pitṛṣvasaḥ
     putrasya te vadhārhāṇāṃ mā tvaṃ śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ
 23 [bhs]
     evam eṣa nṛpaḥ pāpaḥ śiśupālaḥ sumandadhīḥ
     tvāṃ samāhvayate vīra govinda varadarpitaḥ

SECTION XL

'Sisupala said,--'Old and infamous wretch of thy race, art thou not ashamed of affrighting all these monarchs with these numerous false terrors! Thou art the foremost of the Kurus, and living as thou dost in the third state (celibacy) it is but fit for thee that thou shouldst give such counsel that is so wide of morality. Like a boat tied to another boat or the blind following the blind, are the Kurus who have thee for their guide. Thou hast once more simply pained our hearts by reciting particularly the deeds of this one (Krishna), such as the slaying of Putana and others. Arrogant and ignorant as thou art, and desirous of praising Kesava, why doth not this tongue of thine split up into a hundred parts? How dost thou, superior as thou art in knowledge, desire to praise that cow-boy in respect of whom even men of little intelligence may address invectives? If Krishna in his infancy slew a vulture, what is there remarkable in that, or in that other feat of his, O Bhishma, viz., in his slaughter of Aswa and Vrishava, both of whom were unskilled in battle? If this one threw drown by a kick an inanimate piece of wood, viz., a car, what is there, O Bhishma, wonderful in that? O Bhishma, what is there remarkable in this one's having supported for a week the Govardhan mount which is like an anthill? 'While sporting on the top of a mountain this one ate a large quantity of food,'--hearing these words of thine many have wondered exceedingly. But, O thou who art conversant with the rules of morality, is not this still more wrongful that that great person, viz., Kansa, whose food this one ate, hath been slain by him? Thou infamous one of the Kuru race, thou art ignorant of the rules of morality. Hast thou not ever heard, from wise men speaking unto thee, what I would now tell thee? The virtuous and the wise always instruct the honest that weapons must never be made to descend upon women and kine and Brahmanas and upon those whose food hath been taken, as also upon those whose shelter hath been enjoyed. It seemeth, O Bhishma, that all these teachings hath been thrown away by thee. O infamous one of the Kuru race, desiring to praise Kesava, thou describest him before me as great and superior in knowledge and in age, as if I knew nothing. If at thy word, O Bhishma, one that hath slain women (meaning Putana) and kine be worshipped, then what is to become of this great lesson? How can one who is such, deserve praise, O Bhishma? 'This one is the foremost of all wise men,--'This one is the lord of the universe'--hearing these words of thine, Janarddana believeth that these are all true. But surely, they are all false. The verses that a chanter sings, even if he sings them often, produce no impression on him. And every creature acts according to his disposition,
p. 82
even like the bird Bhulinga (that picks the particles of flesh from between the lion's teeth, though preaching against rashness). Assuredly thy disposition is very mean. There is not the least doubt about it. And so also, it seemeth, that the sons of Pandu who regard Krishna as deserving of worship and who have thee for their guide, are possessed of a sinful disposition. Possessing a knowledge of virtue, thou hast fallen off from the path of the wise. Therefore thou art sinful. Who, O Bhishma, knowing himself to be virtuous and superior in knowledge, will so act as thou hast done from motives of virtue? If thou knowest the ways of the morality, if thy mind is guided by wisdom, blessed be thou. Why then, O Bhishma, was that virtuous girl Amva, who had set her heart upon another, carried off by thee, so proud of wisdom and virtue? Thy brother Vichitravirya conformably to the ways of the honest and the virtuous, knowing that girl's condition, did not marry her though brought by thee. Boasting as thou dost of virtue, in thy very sight, upon the widow of thy brother were sons begotten by another according to the ways of the honest. Where is thy virtue, O Bhishma? This thy celebacy, which thou leadest either from ignorance or from impotence, is fruitless. O thou who art conversant with virtue, I do not behold thy well-being. Thou who expoundest morality in this way dost not seem to have ever waited upon the old. Worship, gift, study,--sacrifices distinguished by large gifts to the Brahmanas,--these all equal not in merit even one-sixteenth part of that which is obtainable by the possession of a son. The merit, O Bhishma, that is acquired by numberless vows and fasts assuredly becomes fruitless in the case of one that is childless. Thou art childless and old and the expounder of false morality. Like the swan in the story, thou shalt now die at the hands of thy relatives. Other men possessed of knowledge have said this of old. I will presently recite it fully in thy hearing.
"There lived of yore an old swan on the sea-coast. Ever speaking of morality, but otherwise in his conduct, he used to instruct the feathery tribe. Practise ye virtue and forego sin,--these were the words that other truthful birds, O Bhishma, constantly heard him utter And the other oviparous creatures ranging the sea, it hath been heard by us, O Bhishma use for virtue's sake to bring him food. And, O Bhishma, all those other birds, keeping their eggs, with him, ranged and dived in the waters of the sea. And the sinful old swan, attentive to his own pursuits, used to eat up the eggs of all those birds that foolishly trusted in him. After a while when the eggs were decreasing in number, a bird of great wisdom had his suspicions roused and he even witnessed (the affair) one day. And having witnessed the sinful act of the old swan, that bird in great sorrow spoke unto all the other birds. Then, O thou best of the Kurus, all those birds witnessing with their own eyes the act of the old swan, approached that wretch of false conduct and slew him.
p. 83
"Thy behaviour, O Bhishma, is even like that of the old swan. These lords of earth might slay thee in anger like those creatures of the feathery tribe slaying the old swan. Persons conversant with the Puranas recite a proverb, O Bhishma, as regards this occurrence, I shall, O Bharata, repeat it to thee fully. It is even this: O thou that supportest thyself on thy wings, though thy heart is affected (by the passions), thou preachest yet (of virtue); but this thy sinful act of eating up the eggs transgresseth thy speech!"

Book 2
Chapter 41

 1 [bhs]
      naiṣā cedipater buddhir yayā tv āhvayate 'cyutam
      nūnam eṣa jagad bhartuḥ kṛṣṇasyaiva viniścayaḥ
  2 ko hi māṃ bhīmasenādya kṣitāv arhati pārthivaḥ
      kṣeptuṃ daivaparītātmā yathaiṣa kulapāṃsanaḥ
  3 eṣa hy asya mahābāho tejo 'ṃśaś ca harer dhruvam
      tam eva punar ādātum icchat pṛthu yaśā hariḥ
  4 yenaiṣa kuruśārdūla śārdūla iva cedirāṭ
      garjaty atīva durbuddhiḥ sarvān asmān acintayan
  5 [v]
      tato na mamṛṣe caidyas tad bhīṣma vacanaṃ tadā
      uvāca cainaṃ saṃkruddhaḥ punar bhīṣmam athottaram
  6 [ṣ]
      dviṣatāṃ no 'stu bhīṣmaiṣa prabhāvaḥ keśavasya yaḥ
      yasya saṃstava vaktā tvaṃ bandivat satatotthitaḥ
  7 saṃstavāya mano bhīṣma pareṣāṃ ramate sadā
      yadi saṃstauṣi rājñas tvam imaṃ hitvā janārdanam
  8 daradaṃ stuhi bāhlīkam imaṃ pārthiva sattamam
      jāyamānena yeneyam abhavad dāritā mahī
  9 vaṅgāṅgaviṣayādhyakṣaṃ sahasrākṣasamaṃ bale
      stuhi karṇam imaṃ bhīṣma mahācāpa vikarṣaṇam
  10 droṇaṃ drauṇiṃ ca sādhu tvaṃ pitā putrau mahārathau
     stuhi stutyāv imau bhīṣma satataṃ dvijasattamau
 11 yayor anyataro bhīṣma saṃkruddhaḥ sa carācarām
     imāṃ vasumatīṃ kuryād aśeṣām iti me matiḥ
 12 droṇasya hi samaṃ yuddhe na paśyāmi narādhipam
     aśvatthāmnas tathā bhīṣma na caitau stotum icchasi
 13 śalyādīn api kasmāt tvaṃ na stauṣi vasudhādhipān
     stavāya yadi te buddhir vartate bhīṣma sarvadā
 14 kiṃ hi śakyaṃ mayā kartuṃ yad vṛddhānāṃ tvayā nṛpa
     purā kathayatāṃ nūnaṃ na śrutaṃ dharmavādinām
 15 ātmanindātmapūjā ca paranindā parastavaḥ
     anācaritam āryāṇāṃ vṛttam etac caturvidham
 16 yad astavyam imaṃ śaśvan mohāt saṃstauṣi bhaktitaḥ
     keśavaṃ tac ca te bhīṣma na kaś cid anumanyate
 17 kathaṃ bhojasya puruṣe varga pāle durātmani
     samāveśayase sarvaṃ jagat kevalakāmyayā
 18 atha vaiṣā na te bhaktiḥ pakṛtiṃ yāti bhārata
     mayaiva kathitaṃ pūrvaṃ bhūliṅgaśakunir yathā
 19 bhūliṅgaśakunir nāma pārśve himavataḥ pare
     bhīṣma tasyāḥ sadā vāco śrūyante 'rthavigarhitāḥ
 20 mā sāhasam itīdaṃ sā satataṃ vāśate kila
     sāhasaṃ cātmanātīva carantī nāvabudhyate
 21 sā hi māṃsārgalaṃ bhīṣma mukhāt siṃhasya khādataḥ
     dantāntara vilagnaṃ yat tad ādatte 'lpacetanā
 22 icchataḥ sā hi siṃhasya bhīṣma jīvaty asaṃśayam
     tadvat tvam apy adharmajña sadā vāco prabhāṣase
 23 icchatāṃ pārthivendrāṇāṃ bhīṣma jīvasy asaṃśayam
     lokavidviṣṭa karmā hi nānyo 'sti bhavatā samaḥ
 24 [v]
     tataś cedipateḥ śrutvā bhīṣmaḥ sakaṭukaṃ vacaḥ
     uvācedaṃ vaco rājaṃś cedirājasya śṛṇvataḥ
 25 icchatāṃ kila nāmāhaṃ jīvāmy eṣāṃ mahīkṣitām
     yo 'haṃ na gaṇayāmy etāṃs tṛṇānīva narādhipān
 26 evam ukte tu bhīṣmeṇa tataḥ saṃcukrudhur nṛpāḥ
     ke cij jahṛṣire tatra ke cid bhīṣmaṃ jagarhire
 27 ke cid ūcur maheṣvāsāḥ śrutvā bhīṣmasya tad vacaḥ
     pāpo 'valipto vṛddhaś ca nāyaṃ bhīṣmo 'rhati kṣamām
 28 hanyatāṃ durmatir bhīṣmaḥ paśuvat sādhv ayaṃ nṛpaiḥ
     sarvaiḥ sametya saṃrabdhair dahyatāṃ vā kaṭāgninā
 29 iti teṣāṃ vaco śrutvā tataḥ kuru pitā mahaḥ
     uvāca matimān bhīṣmas tān eva vasudhādhipān
 30 uktasyoktasya nehāntam ahaṃ samupalakṣaye
     yat tu vakṣyāmi tat sarvaṃ śṛṇudhvaṃ vasudhādhipāḥ
 31 paśuvad ghātanaṃ vā me dahanaṃ vā kaṭāgninā
     kriyatāṃ mūrdhni vo nyastaṃ mayedaṃ sakalaṃ padam
 32 eṣa tiṣṭhati govindaḥ pūjito 'smābhir acyutaḥ
     yasya vas tvarate buddhir maraṇāya sa mādhavam
 33 kṛṣṇam āhvayatām adya yuddhe śārṅgagadādharam
     yāvad asyaiva devasya dehaṃ viśatu pātitaḥ

SECTION XLI

"Sisupala said,--"That mighty king Jarasandha who desired not to fight with Krishna, saying 'He is a slave,' was worthy of my greatest esteem. Who will regard as praiseworthy the act which was done by Kesava, as also by Bhima and Arjuna, in the matter of Jarasandha's death? Entering by an improper gate, disguised as a Brahmana, thus Krishna observed the strength of king Jarasandha. And when that monarch offered at first unto this wretch water to wash his feet, it was then that he denied his Brahmanahood from seeming motives of virtue. And when Jarasandha, O thou of the Kuru race, asked Krishna and Bhima and Dhananjaya to eat, it was this Krishna that refused that monarch's request. If this one is the lord of the universe, as this fool representeth him to be, why doth he not regard himself as a Brahmana? This, however, surpriseth me greatly that though thou leadest the Pandavas away from the path of the wise, they yet regard thee as honest. Or, perhaps, this is scarcely a matter of surprise in respect of those that have thee, O Bharata, womanish in disposition and bent down with age, for their counsellor in everything."
"Vaisampayana continued,--Hearing these words of Sisupala, harsh both in import and sound, that foremost of mighty men, Bhimasena endued with energy became angry. And his eyes, naturally large and expanding and like unto lotus leaves became still more extended and red as copper under the influence of that rage. And the assembled monarchs beheld on his forehead three lines of wrinkles like the Ganga of treble currents on the treble-peaked mountain. When Bhimasena began to grind his teeth in rage, the monarchs beheld his face resembling that of Death himself, at the end of the Yuga, prepared to swallow every creature. And as the hero endued with great energy of mind was about to leap up impetuously, the mighty-armed Bhishma caught him like Mahadeva seizing Mahasena (the celestial generalissimo). And, O Bharata, Bhima's wrath was soon appeased by Bhishma, the grand-sire of the Kurus, with various kinds
p. 84
of counsel. And Bhima, that chastiser of foes, could not disobey Bhishma's words, like the ocean that never transgresseth (even when swollen with the waters of the rainy season) its continents. But, O king, even though Bhima was angry, the brave Sisupala depending on his own manhood, did not tremble in fear. And though Bhima was leaping up impetuously every moment, Sisupala bestowed not a single thought on him, like a lion that recks not a little animal in rage. The powerful king of Chedi, beholding Bhima of terrible prowess in such rage, laughingly said,--'Release him, O Bhishma! Let all the monarchs behold him scorched by my prowess like an insect in fire.' Hearing these words of the ruler of the Chedis, Bhishma, that foremost of the Kurus and chief of all intelligent men, spoke unto Bhima these words."

Book 2
Chapter 42

 1 [v]
      tataḥ śrutvaiva bhīṣmasya cedirāḍ uruvikramaḥ
      yuyutsur vāsudevena vāsudevam uvāca ha
  2 āhvaye tvāṃ raṇaṃ gaccha mayā sārdhaṃ janārdana
      yāvad adya nihanmi tvāṃ sahitaṃ sarvapāṇḍavaiḥ
  3 saha tvayā hi me vadhyāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ kṛṣṇa sarvathā
      nṛpatīn samatikramya yair arājā tvam arcitaḥ
  4 ye tvāṃ dāsam arājānaṃ bālyād arcanti durmatim
      anarham arhavat kṛṣṇa vadhyās ta iti me matiḥ
      ity uktvā rājaśārdūlas tasthau garjann amarṣaṇaḥ
  5 evam ukte tataḥ kṛṣṇo mṛdupūrvam idaṃ vacaḥ
      uvāca pārthivān sarvāṃs tatsamakṣaṃ ca pāṇḍavān
  6 eṣa naḥ śatrur atyantaṃ pārthivāḥ sātvatī sutaḥ
      sātvatānāṃ nṛśaṃsātmā na hito 'napakāriṇām
  7 prāgjyotiṣa puraṃ yātān asmāñ jñātvā nṛśaṃsakṛt
      adahad dvārakām eṣa svasrīyaḥ san narādhipāḥ
  8 krīḍato bhojarājanyān eṣa raivatake girau
      hatvā baddhvā ca tān sarvān upāyāt svapuraṃ purā
  9 aśvamedhe hayaṃ medhyam utsṛṣṭaṃ rakṣibhir vṛtam
      pitur me yajñavighnārtham aharat pāpaniścayaḥ
  10 suvīrān pratipattau ca babhror eṣa yaśasvinaḥ
     bhāryām abhyaharan mohād akāmāṃ tām ito gatām
 11 eṣa māyā praticchannaḥ karūṣārthe tapasvinīm
     jahāra bhadrāṃ vaiśālīṃ mātulasya nṛśaṃsakṛt
 12 pitṛsvasuḥ kṛte duḥkhaṃ sumahan marṣayāmy aham
     diṣṭyā tv idaṃ sarvarājñāṃ saṃnidhāv adya vartate
 13 paśyanti hi bhavanto 'dya mayy atīva vyatikramam
     kṛtāni tu parokṣaṃ me yāni tāni nibodhata
 14 imaṃ tv asya na śakṣyāmi kṣantum adya vyatikramam
     avalepād vadhārhasya samagre rājamaṇḍale
 15 rukmiṇyām asya mūḍhasya prārthanāsīn mumūrṣataḥ
     na ca tāṃ prāptavān mūḍhaḥ śūdro vedaśrutiṃ yathā
 16 evamādi tataḥ sarve sahitās te narādhipāḥ
     vāsudeva vaco śrutvā cedirājaṃ vyagarhayan
 17 tatas tad vacanaṃ śrutvā śiśupālaḥ pratāpavān
     jahāsa svanavad dhāsaṃ prahasyedam uvāca ha
 18 mat pūrvāṃ rukmiṇīṃ kṛṣṇa saṃsatsu parikīrtayan
     viśeṣataḥ pārthiveṣu vrīḍāṃ na kuruṣe katham
 19 manyamāno hi kaḥ satsu puruṣaḥ parikīrtayet
     anyapūrvāṃ striyaṃ jātu tvadanyo madhusūdana
 20 kṣama vā yadi te śraddhā mā vā kṛṣṇa mama kṣama
     kruddhād vāpi prasannād vā kiṃ me tvatto bhaviṣyati
 21 tathā bruvata evāsya bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ
     vyapāharac chiro kruddhaś cakreṇāmitra karṣaṇaḥ
     sa papāta mahābāhur vajrāhata ivācalaḥ
 22 tataś cedipater dehāt tejo 'gryaṃ dadṛśur nṛpāḥ
     utpatantaṃ mahārāja gagaṇād iva bhāskaram
 23 tataḥ kamalapatrākṣaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ lokanamaskṛtam
     vavande tat tadā tejo viveśa ca narādhipa
 24 tad adbhutam amanyanta dṛṣṭvā sarve mahīkṣitaḥ
     yad viveśa mahābāhuṃ tat tejo puruṣottamam
 25 anabhre pravavarṣa dyauḥ papāta jvalitāśaniḥ
     kṛṣṇena nihate caidye cacāla ca vasuṃdharā
 26 tataḥ ke cin mahīpālā nābruvaṃs tatra kiṃ cana
     atītavākpathe kāle prekṣamāṇā janārdanam
 27 hastair hastāgram apare pratyapīṣann amarṣitāḥ
     apare daśanair oṣṭhān adaśan krodhamūrchitāḥ
 28 rahas tu ke cid vārṣṇeyaṃ praśaśaṃsur narādhipāḥ
     ke cid eva tu saṃrabdhā madhyasthās tv apare 'bhavan
 29 prahṛṣṭāḥ keśavaṃ jagmuḥ saṃstuvanto maharṣayaḥ
     brāhmaṇāś ca mahātmānaḥ pārthivāś ca mahābalāḥ
 30 pāṇḍavas tv abravīd bhrātṝn satkāreṇa mahīpatim
     damaghoṣātmajaṃ vīraṃ saṃsādhayata māciram
     tathā ca kṛtavantas te bhrātur vai śāsanaṃ tadā
 31 cedīnām ādhipatye ca putram asya mahīpatim
     abhyasiñcat tadā pārthaḥ saha tair vasudhādhipaiḥ
 32 tataḥ sa kururājasya kratuḥ sarvaṃ samṛddhimān
     yūnāṃ prītikaro rājan saṃbabhau vipulaujasaḥ
 33 śāntavighnaḥ sukhārambhaḥ prabhūtadhanadhānyavān
     annavān bahubhakṣyaś ca keśavena surakṣitaḥ
 34 samāpayām āsa ca taṃ rājasūyaṃ mahākratum
     taṃ tu yajñaṃ mahābāhur ā samāpter janārdanaḥ
     rarakṣa bhagavāñ śauriḥ śārṅgacakragadādharaḥ
 35 tatas tv avabhṛtha snātaṃ dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     samastaṃ pārthivaṃ kṣatram abhigamyedam abravīt
 36 diṣṭyā vardhasi dharmajña sāmrājyaṃ prāptavān vibho
     ājamīḍhājamīḍhānāṃ yaśo saṃvardhitaṃ tvayā
     karmaṇaitena rājendra dharmaś ca sumahān kṛtaḥ
 37 āpṛcchāmo naravyāghra sarvakāmaiḥ supūjitāḥ
     svarāṣṭrāṇi gamiṣyāmas tadanujñātum arhasi
 38 śrutvā tu vacanaṃ rājñāṃ dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     yathārhaṃ pūjya nṛpatīn bhrātṝn sarvān uvāca ha
 39 rājānaḥ sarva evaite prītyāsmān samupāgatāḥ
     prasthitāḥ svāni rāṣṭrāṇi mām āpṛcchya paraṃtapāḥ
     te 'nuvrajata bhadraṃ te viṣayāntaṃ nṛpottamān
 40 bhrātur vacanam ājñāya pāṇḍavā dharmacāriṇaḥ
     yathārhaṃ nṛpa mukhyāṃs tān ekaikaṃ samanuvrajan
 41 virāṭam anvayāt tūrṇaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān
     dhanaṃjayo yajñasenaṃ mahātmānaṃ mahārathaḥ
 42 bhīṣmaṃ ca dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     droṇaṃ ca sa sutaṃ vīraṃ sahadevo mahārathaḥ
 43 nakulaḥ subalaṃ rājan saha putraṃ samanvayāt
     draupadeyāḥ sa saubhaudrāḥ pārvatīyān mahīpatīn
 44 anvagacchaṃs tathaivānyān kṣatriyān kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ
     evaṃ saṃpūjitās te vai jagmur viprāś ca sarvaśaḥ
 45 gateṣu pārthivendreṣu sarveṣu bharatarṣabha
     yudhiṣṭhiram uvācedaṃ vāsudevaḥ pratāpavān
 46 āpṛcche tvāṃ gamiṣyāmi dvārakāṃ kurunandana
     rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhaṃ diṣṭyā tvaṃ prāptavān asi
 47 tam uvācaivam uktas tu dharmarāṇ madhusūdanam
     tava prasādād govinda prāptavān asmi vai kratum
 48 samastaṃ pārthivaṃ kṣatraṃ tvatprasādād vaśānugam
     upādāya baliṃ mukhyaṃ mām eva samupasthitam
 49 na vayaṃ tvām ṛte vīra raṃsyāmeha kathaṃ cana
     avaśyaṃ cāpi gantavyā tvayā dvāravatī purī
 50 evam uktaḥ sa dharmātmā yudhiṣṭhira sahāyavān
     abhigamyābravīt prītaḥ pṛthāṃ pṛthu yaśā hariḥ
 51 sāmrājyaṃ samanuprāptāḥ putrās te 'dya pitṛṣvasaḥ
     siddhārthā vasumantaś ca sā tvaṃ prītim ivāpnuhi
 52 anujñātas tvayā cāhaṃ dvārakāṃ gantum utsahe
     subhadrāṃ draupadīṃ caiva sabhājayata keśavaḥ
 53 niṣkramyāntaḥpurāc caiva yudhiṣṭhira sahāyavān
     snātaś ca kṛtajapyaś ca brāhmaṇān svasti vācya ca
 54 tato meghavaraprakhyaṃ syandanaṃ vai sukalpitam
     yojayitvā mahārāja dārukaḥ pratyupasthitaḥ
 55 upasthitaṃ rathaṃ dṛṣṭvā tārkṣya pravara ketanam
     pradakṣiṇam upāvṛtya samāruhya mahāmanāḥ
     prayayau puṇḍarīkākṣas tato dvāravatīṃ purīm
 56 taṃ padbhyām anuvavrāja dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitaḥ śrīmān vāsudevaṃ mahābalam
 57 tato muhūrtaṃ saṃgṛhya syandanapravaraṃ hariḥ
     abravīt puṇḍarīkākṣaḥ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
 58 apramattaḥ sthito nityaṃ prajāḥ pāhi viśāṃ pate
     parjanyam iva bhūtāni mahādrumam ivāṇḍajāḥ
     bāndhavās tvopajīvantu sahasrākṣam ivāmarāḥ
 59 kṛtvā paraspareṇaiva saṃvidaṃ kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
     anyonyaṃ samanujñāpya jagmatuḥ svagṛhān prati
 60 gate dvāravatīṃ kṛṣṇe sātvata pravare nṛpa
     eko duryodhano rājā śakuniś cāpi saubalaḥ
     tasyāṃ sabhāyāṃ divyāyām ūṣatus tau nararṣabhau

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
p. 85
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!'"

Book 2
Chapter 43

 1 [v]
      vasan duryodhanas tasyāṃ sabhāyāṃ bharatarṣabha
      śanair dadarśa tāṃ sarvāṃ sabhāṃ śakuninā saha
  2 tasyāṃ divyān abhiprāyān dadarśa kurunandanaḥ
      na dṛṣṭapūrvā ye tena nagare nāgasāhvaye
  3 sa kadā cit sabhāmadhye dhārtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ
      sphāṭikaṃ talam āsādya jalam ity abhiśaṅkayā
  4 svavastrotkarṣaṇaṃ rājā kṛtavān buddhimohitaḥ
      durmanā vimukhaś caiva paricakrāma tāṃ sabhām
  5 tataḥ sphāṭikatoyāṃ vai sphāṭikāmbuja śobhitām
      vāpīṃ matvā sthalam iti sa vāsāḥ prāpataj jale
  6 jale nipatitaṃ dṛṣṭvā kiṃ karā jahasur bhṛśam
      vāsāṃsi ca śubhāny asmai pradadū rājaśāsanāt
  7 tathāgataṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
      arjunaś ca yamau cobhau sarve te prāhasaṃs tadā
  8 nāmarṣayat tatas teṣām avahāsam amarṣaṇaḥ
      ākāraṃ rakṣamāṇas tu na sa tān samudaikṣata
  9 punar vasanam utkṣipya pratariṣyann iva sthalam
      āruroha tataḥ sarve jahasus te punar janāḥ
  10 dvāraṃ ca vivṛtākāraṃ lalāṭena samāhanat
     saṃvṛtaṃ ceti manvāno dvāradeśād upāramat
 11 evaṃ pralambhān vividhān prāpya tatra viśāṃ pate
     pāṇḍaveyābhyanujñātas tato duryodhano nṛpaḥ
 12 aprahṛṣṭena manasā rājasūye mahākratau
     prekṣyatām adbhutām ṛddhiṃ jagāma gajasāhvayam
 13 pāṇḍava śrīprataptasya dhyānaglānasya gacchataḥ
     duryodhanasya nṛpateḥ pāpā matir ajāyata
 14 pārthān sumanaso dṛṣṭvā pārthivāṃś ca vaśānugān
     kṛtsnaṃ cāpihitaṃ lokam ā kumāraṃ kurūdvaha
 15 mahimānaṃ paraṃ cāpi pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
     duryodhano dhārtarāṣṭro vivarṇaḥ samapadyata
 16 sa tu gacchann anekāgraḥ sabhām evānucintayan
     śriyaṃ ca tām anupamāṃ dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ
 17 pramatto dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putro duryodhanas tadā
     nābhyabhāṣat subalajaṃ bhāṣamāṇaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
 18 anekāgraṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā śakuniḥ pratyabhāṣata
     duryodhana kuto mūlaṃ niḥśvasann iva gacchasi
 19 [d]
     dṛṣṭvemāṃ pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ yudhiṣṭhira vaśānugām
     jitām astrapratāpena śvetāśvasya mahātmanaḥ
 20 taṃ ca yajñaṃ tathā bhūtaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthasya mātula
     yathā śakrasya deveṣu tathā bhūtaṃ mahādyute
 21 amarṣeṇa susaṃpūrṇo dahyamāno divāniśam
     śuci śukrāgame kāle śuṣye toyam ivālpakam
 22 paśya sātvata mukhyena śiśupālaṃ nipātitam
     na ca tatra pumān āsīt kaś cit tasya padānugaḥ
 23 dahyamānā hi rājānaḥ pāṇḍavotthena vahninā
     kṣāntavanto 'parādhaṃ taṃ ko hi taṃ kṣantum arhati
 24 vāsudevena tat karma tathāyuktaṃ mahat kṛtam
     siddhaṃ ca pāṇḍaveyānāṃ pratāpena mahātmanām
 25 tathā hi ratnāny ādāya vividhāni nṛpā nṛpam
     upatiṣṭhanti kaunteyaṃ vaiśyā iva karapradāḥ
 26 śriyaṃ tathāvidhāṃ dṛṣṭvā jvalantīm iva pāṇḍave
     amarṣavaśam āpanno dahye 'ham atathocitaḥ
 27 vahnim eva pravekṣyāmi bhakṣayiṣyāmi vā viṣam
     apo vāpi pravekṣyāmi na hi śakṣyāmi jīvitum
 28 ko hi nāma pumāṁl loke marṣayiṣyati sattvavān
     sapatnān ṛdhyato dṛṣṭvā hānim ātmana eva ca
 29 so 'haṃ na strī na cāpy astrī na pumān nāpumān api
     yo 'haṃ tāṃ marṣayāmy adya tādṛśīṃ śriyam āgatām
 30 īśvaratvaṃ pṛthivyāś ca vasumattāṃ ca tādṛśīm
     yajñaṃ ca tādṛśaṃ dṛṣṭvā mādṛśaḥ ko na saṃjvaret
 31 aśaktaś caika evāhaṃ tām āhartuṃ nṛpa śriyam
     sahāyāṃś ca na paśyāmi tena mṛtyuṃ vicintaye
 32 daivam eva paraṃ manye pauruṣaṃ tu nirarthakam
     dṛṣṭvā kuntīsute śubhrāṃ śriyaṃ tām āhṛtāṃ tathā
 33 kṛto yatno mayā pūrvaṃ vināśe tasya saubala
     tac ca sarvam atikramya savṛddho 'psv iva paṅkajam
 34 tena daivaṃ paraṃ manye pauruṣaṃ tu nirarthakam
     dhārtarāṣṭrā hi hīyante pārthā vardhanti nityaśaḥ
 35 so 'haṃ śriyaṃ ca tāṃ dṛṣṭvā sabhāṃ tāṃ ca tathāvidhām
     rakṣibhiś cāvahāsaṃ taṃ paritapye yathāgninā
 36 sa mām abhyanujānīhi mātulādya suduḥkhitam
     amarṣaṃ ca samāviṣṭaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭre nivedaya

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.--
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'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
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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!"

Book 2
Chapter 44

1 [ṣ]
      duryodhana na te 'marṣaḥ kāryaḥ prati yudhiṣṭhiram
      bhāgadheyāni hi svāni pāṇḍavā bhuñjate sadā
  2 anekair abhyupāyaiś ca tvayārabdhāḥ purāsakṛt
      vimuktāś ca naravyāghrā bhāgadheya puraskṛtāḥ
  3 tair labdhā draupadī bhāryā drupadaś ca sutaiḥ saha
      sahāyaḥ pṛthivī lābhe vāsudevaś ca vīryavān
  4 labdhaś ca nābhibhūto 'rthaḥ pitryo 'ṃśaḥ pṛthivīpate
      vivṛddhas tejasā teṣāṃ tatra kā paridevanā
  5 dhanaṃjayena gāṇḍīvam akṣayyau ca maheṣudhī
      labdhāny astrāṇi divyāni tarpayitvā hutāśanam
  6 tena kārmukamukhyena bāhuvīryeṇa cātmanaḥ
      kṛtā vaśe mahīpālās tatra kā paridevanā
  7 agnidāhān mayaṃ cāpi mokṣayitvā sadānavam
      sabhāṃ tāṃ kārayām āsa savyasācī paraṃtapaḥ
  8 tena caiva mayenoktāḥ kiṃ karā nāma rākṣasāḥ
      vahanti tāṃ sabhāṃ bhīmās tatra kā paridevanā
  9 yac cāsahāyatāṃ rājann uktavān asi bhārata
      tan mithyā bhrātaro hīme sahāyās te mahārathāḥ
  10 droṇas tava maheṣvāsaḥ saha putreṇa dhīmatā
     sūtaputraś ca rādheyo gautamaś ca mahārathaḥ
 11 ahaṃ ca saha sodaryaiḥ saumadattiś ca vīryavān
     etais tvaṃ sahitaḥ sarvair jaya kṛtsnāṃ vasuṃdharām
 12 [d]
     tvayā ca sahito rājann etaiś cānyair mahārathaiḥ
     etān eva vijeṣyāmi yadi tvam anumanyase
 13 eteṣu vijiteṣv adya bhaviṣyati mahī mama
     sarve ca pṛthivīpālāḥ sabhā sā ca mahādhanā
 14 [ṣ]
     dhanaṃjayo vāsudevo bhīmaseno yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca drupadaś ca sahātma jaiḥ
 15 naite yudhi balāj jetuṃ śakyāḥ suragaṇair api
     mahārathā maheṣvāsāḥ kṛtāstrā yuddhadurmadāḥ
 16 ahaṃ tu tad vijānāmi vijetuṃ yena śakyate
     yudhiṣṭhiraṃ svayaṃ rājaṃs tan nibodha juṣasva ca
 17 [d]
     apramādena suhṛdām anyeṣāṃ ca mahātmanām
     yadi śakyā vijetuṃ te tan mamācakṣva mātula
 18 [ṣ]
     dyūtapriyaś ca kaunteyo na ca jānāti devitum
     samāhūtaś ca rājendro na śakṣyati nivartitum
 19 devane kuśalaś cāhaṃ na me 'sti sadṛśo bhuvi
     triṣu lokeṣu kaunteyaṃ taṃ tvaṃ dyūte samāhvaya
 20 tasyākṣakuśalo rājann ādāsye 'ham asaṃśayam
     rājyaṃ śriyaṃ ca tāṃ dīptāṃ tvadarthaṃ puruṣarṣabha
 21 idaṃ tu sarvaṃ tvaṃ rājñe duryodhana nivedaya
     anujñātas tu te pitrā vijeṣye taṃ na saṃśayaḥ
 22 [d]
     tvam eva kurumukhyāya dhṛtarāṣṭrāya saubala
     nivedaya yathānyāyaṃ nāhaṃ śakṣye niśaṃsitum

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
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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
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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
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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
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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.

Book 2
Chapter 45

1 [v]
      anubhūya tu rājñas taṃ rājasūyaṃ mahākratum
      yudhiṣṭhirasya nṛpater gāndhārī putra saṃyutaḥ
  2 priyakṛn matam ājñāya pūrvaṃ duryodhanasya tat
      prajñā cakṣuṣam āsīnaṃ śakuniḥ saubalas tadā
  3 duryodhana vaco śrutvā dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ janādhipam
      upagamya mahāprājñaṃ śakunir vākyam abravīt
  4 duryodhano mahārāja vivarṇo hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ
      dīnaś cintāparaś caiva tad viddhi bharatarṣabha
  5 na vai parīkṣase samyag asahyaṃ śatrusaṃbhavam
      jyeṣṭhaputrasya śokaṃ tvaṃ kimarthaṃ nāvabudhyase
  6 [dh]
      duryodhana kuto mūlaṃ bhṛśam ārto 'si putraka
      śrotavyaś cen mayā so 'rtho brūhi me kurunandana
  7 ayaṃ tvāṃ śakuniḥ prāha vivarṇaṃ hariṇaṃ kṛśam
      cintayaṃś ca na paśyāmi śokasya tava saṃbhavam
  8 aiśvaryaṃ hi mahat putra tvayi sarvaṃ samarpitam
      bhrātaraḥ suhṛdaś caiva nācaranti tavāpriyam
  9 ācchādayasi prāvārān aśnāsi piśitaudanam
      ājāneyā vahanti tvāṃ kenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ
  10 śayanāni mahārhāṇi yoṣitaś ca manoramāḥ
     guṇavanti ca veśmāni vihārāś ca yathāsukham
 11 devānām iva te sarvaṃ vāci baddhaṃ na saṃśayaḥ
     sadīna iva durdharṣaḥ kasmāc chocasi putraka
 12 [d]
     aśnāmy ācchādaye cāhaṃ yathā kupuruṣas tathā
     amarṣaṃ dhāraye cograṃ titikṣan kālaparyayam
 13 amarṣaṇaḥ svāḥ prakṛtīr abhibhūya pare sthitāḥ
     kleśān mumukṣuḥ parajān sa vai puruṣa ucyate
 14 saṃtoṣo vai śriyaṃ hanti abhimānaś ca bhārata
     anukrośa bhaye cobhe yair vṛto nāśnute mahat
 15 na mām avati tad bhuktaṃ śriyaṃ dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhire
     jvalantīm iva kaunteye vivarṇakaraṇīṃ mama
 16 sapatnān ṛdhyata ātmānaṃ hīyamānaṃ niśāmya ca
     adṛśyām api kaunteye sthitāṃ paśyann ivodyatām
     tasmād ahaṃ vivarṇaś ca dīnaś ca hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ
 17 aṣṭāśīti sahasrāṇi snātakā gṛhamedhinaḥ
     triṃśad dāsīka ekaiko yān bibharti yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 18 daśānyāni sahasrāṇi nityaṃ tatrānnam uttamam
     bhuñjate rukmapātrībhir yudhiṣṭhira niveśane
 19 kadalī mṛgamokāni kṛṣṇa śyāmāruṇāni ca
     kāmbojaḥ prāhiṇot tasmai parārdhyān api kambalān
 20 rathayoṣid gavāśvasya śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
     triṃśataṃ coṣṭra vāmīnāṃ śatāni vicaranty uta
 21 pṛthagvidhāni ratnāni pārthivāḥ pṛthivīpate
     āharan kratumukhye 'smin kuntīputrāya bhūriśaḥ
 22 na kvacid dhi mayā dṛṣṭas tādṛśo naiva ca śrutaḥ
     yādṛg dhanāgamo yajñe pāṇḍuputrasya dhīmataḥ
 23 aparyantaṃ dhanaughaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā śatror ahaṃ nṛpa
     śarma naivādhigacchāmi cintayāno 'niśaṃ vibho
 24 brāhmaṇā vāṭadhānāś ca gomantaḥ śatasaṃghaśaḥ
     traikharvaṃ balim ādāya dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ
 25 kamaṇḍalūn upādāya jātarūpamayāñ śubhān
     evaṃ baliṃ samādāya praveśaṃ lebhire tataḥ
 26 yan naiva madhu śakrāya dhārayanty amara striyaḥ
     tad asmai kāṃsyam āhārṣīd vāruṇaṃ kalaśodadhiḥ
 27 śaikyaṃ rukmasahasrasya bahuratnavibhūṣitam
     dṛṣṭvā ca mama tat sarvaṃ jvara rūpam ivābhavat
 28 gṛhītvā tat tu gacchanti samudrau pūrvadakṣiṇau
     tathaiva paścimaṃ yānti gṛhītvā bharatarṣabha
 29 uttaraṃ tu na gacchanti vinā tāta patatribhiḥ
     idaṃ cādbhutam atrāsīt tan me nigadataḥ śṛṇu
 30 pūrṇe śatasahasre tu viprāṇāṃ pariviṣyatām
     sthāpitā tatra saṃjñābhūc chaṅkho dhmāyati nityaśaḥ
 31 muhur muhuḥ pranadatas tasya śaṅkhasya bhārata
     uttamaṃ śabdam aśrauṣaṃ tato romāṇi me 'hṛṣan
 32 pārthivair bahubhiḥ kīrṇam upasthānaṃ didṛkṣubhiḥ
     sarvaratnāny upādāya pārthivā vai janeśvara
 33 yajñe tasya mahārāja pāṇḍuputrasya dhīmataḥ
     vaiśyā iva mahīpālā dvijātipariveṣakāḥ
 34 na sā śrīr devarājasya yamasya varuṇasya vā
     guhyakādhipater vāpi yā śrīrājan yudhiṣṭhire
 35 tāṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍuputrasya śriyaṃ paramikām aham
     śāntiṃ na parigacchāmi dahyamānena cetasā
 36 [ṣ]
     yām etām uttamāṃ lakṣmīṃ dṛṣṭavān asi pāṇḍave
     tasyāḥ prāptāv upāyaṃ me śṛṇu satyaparākrama
 37 aham akṣeṣv abhijñātaḥ pṛthivyām api bhārata
     hṛdayajñaḥ paṇajñaś ca viśeṣajñaś ca devane
 38 dyūtapriyaś ca kaunteyo na ca jānāti devitum
     āhūtaś caiṣyati vyaktaṃ dīvyāvety āhvayasva tam
 39 [v]
     evam uktaḥ śakuninā rājā duryodhanas tadā
     dhṛtarāṣṭram idaṃ vākyam apadāntaram abravīt
 40 ayam utsahate rājañ śriyam āhartum akṣavit
     dyūtena pāṇḍuputrasya tadanujñātum arhasi
 41 [dh]
     kṣattā mantrī mahāprājñaḥ sthito yasyāsmi śāsane
     tena saṃgamya vetsyāmi kāryasyāsya viniścayam
 42 sa hi dharmaṃ puraskṛtya dīrghadarśī paraṃ hitam
     ubhayoḥ pakṣayor yuktaṃ vakṣyaty arthaviniścayam
 43 [d]
     nivartayiṣyati tvāsau yadi kṣattā sameṣyati
     nivṛtte tvayi rājendra mariṣye 'ham asaṃśayam
 44 sa mayi tvaṃ mṛte rājan vidureṇa sukhī bhava
     bhokṣyase pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ kiṃ mayā tvaṃ kariṣyasi
 45 [v]
     ārtavākyaṃ tu tat tasya praṇayoktaṃ niśamya saḥ
     dhṛtarāṣṭro 'bravīt preṣyān duryodhana mate sthitaḥ
 46 sthūṇā sahasrair bṛhatīṃ śatadvārāṃ sabhāṃ mama
     manoramāṃ darśanīyām āśu kurvantu śilpinaḥ
 47 tataḥ saṃstīrya ratnais tām akṣān āvāpya sarvaśaḥ
     sukṛtāṃ supraveśāṃ ca nivedayata me śanaiḥ
 48 duryodhanasya śānty artham iti niścitya bhūmipaḥ
     dhṛtarāṣṭro mahārāja prāhiṇod vidurāya vai
 49 apṛṣṭvā viduraṃ hy asya nāsīt kaś cid viniścayaḥ
     dyūtadoṣāṃś ca jānan saputrasnehād akṛṣyata
 50 tac chrutvā viduro dhīmān kalidvāram upasthitam
     vināśamukham utpannaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭram upādravat
 51 so 'bhigamya mahātmānaṃ bhrātā bhrātaram agrajam
     mūrdhnā praṇamya caraṇāv idaṃ vacanam abravīt
 52 nābhinandāmi te rājan vyavasāyam imaṃ prabho
     putrair bhedo yathā na syād dyūtahetos tathā kuru
 53 [dhṛ]
     kṣattaḥ putreṣu putrair me kalaho na bhaviṣyati
     divi devāḥ prasādaṃ naḥ kariṣyanti na saṃśayaḥ
 54 aśubhaṃ vā śubhaṃ vāpihitaṃ vā yadi vāhitam
     pravartatāṃ suhṛd dyūtaṃ diṣṭam etan na saṃśayaḥ
 55 mayi saṃnihite caiva bhīṣme ca bharatarṣabhe
     anayo daivavihito na kathaṃ cid bhaviṣyati
 56 gaccha tvaṃ ratham āsthāya hayair vātasamair jave
     khāṇḍava prastham adyaiva samānaya yudhiṣṭhiram
 57 na vāryo vyavasāyo me viduraitad bravīmi te
     daivam eva paraṃ manye yenaitad upapadyate
 58 ity ukto viduro dhīmān naitad astīti cintayan
     āpageyaṃ mahāprājñam abhyagacchat suduḥkhitaḥ

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
p. 92
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
p. 93
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.

Book 2
Chapter 46

1 [j]
      kathaṃ samabhavad dyūtaṃ bhrātṝṇāṃ tan mahātyayam
      yatra tad vyasanaṃ prāptaṃ pāṇḍavair me pitāmahaiḥ
  2 ke ca tatra sabhāstārā rājāno brahmavittama
      ke cainam anvamodanta ke cainaṃ pratyaṣedhayan
  3 vistareṇaitad icchāmi kathyamānaṃ tvayā dvija
      mūlaṃ hy etad vināśasya pṛthivyā dvijasattama
  4 [sūta]
      evam uktas tadā rājñā vyāsa śiṣyaḥ pratāpavān
      ācacakṣe yathāvṛttaṃ tat sarvaṃ sarvavedavit
  5 [v]
      śṛṇu me vistareṇemāṃ kathāṃ bharatasattama
      bhūya eva mahārāja yadi te śravaṇe matiḥ
  6 vidurasya mataṃ jñātvā dhṛtarāṣṭro 'mbikā sutaḥ
      duryodhanam idaṃ vākyam uvāca vijane punaḥ
  7 alaṃ dyūtena gāndhāre viduro na praśaṃsati
      na hy asau sumahābuddhir ahitaṃ no vadiṣyati
  8 hitaṃ hi paramaṃ manye viduro yat prabhāṣate
      kriyatāṃ putra tat sarvam etan manye hitaṃ tava
  9 devarṣir vāsava gurur devarājāya dhīmate
      yat prāha śāstraṃ bhagavān bṛhaspatir udāradhīḥ
  10 tad veda viduraḥ sarvaṃ sarahasyaṃ mahākaviḥ
     sthitaś ca vacane tasya sadāham api putraka
 11 viduro vāpi medhāvī kurūṇāṃ pravaro mataḥ
     uddhavo vā mahābuddhir vṛṣṇīṇām arcito nṛpa
 12 dyūtena tad alaṃ putra dyūte bhedo hi dṛśyate
     bhede vināśo rājyasya tat putra parivarjaya
 13 pitrā mātrā ca putrasya yad vai kāryaṃ paraṃ smṛtam
     prāptas tvam asi tat tāta pitṛpaitāmahaṃ padam
 14 adhītavān kṛtī śāstre lālitaḥ satataṃ gṛhe
     bhrātṛjyeṣṭhaḥ sthito rājye vindase kiṃ na śobhanam
 15 pṛthagjanair alabhyaṃ yad bhojanācchādanaṃ param
     tat prāpto 'si mahābāho kasmāc chocasi putraka
 16 sphītaṃ rāṣṭraṃ mahābāho pitṛpaitāmahaṃ mahat
     nityam ājñāpayan bhāsi divi deveśvaro yathā
 17 tasya te viditaprajña śokamūlam idaṃ katham
     samutthitaṃ duḥkhataraṃ tan me śaṃsitum arhasi
 18 [d]
     aśnāmy ācchādayāmīti prapaśyan pāpapūruṣaḥ
     nāmarṣaṃ kurute yas tu puruṣaḥ so 'dhamaḥ smṛtaḥ
 19 na māṃ prīṇāti rājendra lakṣmīḥ sādhāraṇā vibho
     jvalitām iva kaunteye śriyaṃ dṛṣṭvā ca vivyathe
 20 sarvāṃ hi pṛthivīṃ dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhira vaśānugām
     sthiro 'smi yo 'haṃ jīvāmi duḥkhād etad bravīmi te
 21 āvarjitā ivābhānti nighnāś caitraki kaukurāḥ
     kāraḥ karā lohajaṅghā yudhiṣṭhira niveśane
 22 himavatsāgarānūpāḥ sarvaratnākarās tathā
     antyāḥ sarve paryudastā yudhiṣṭhira niveśane
 23 jyeṣṭho 'yam iti māṃ matvā śreṣṭhaś ceti viśāṃ pate
     yudhiṣṭhireṇa satkṛtya yukto ratnaparigrahe
 24 upasthitānāṃ ratnānāṃ śreṣṭhānām argha hāriṇām
     nādṛśyata paraḥ prānto nāparas tatra bhārata
 25 na me hastaḥ samabhavad vasu tat pratigṛhṇataḥ
     prātiṣṭhanta mayi śrānte gṛhya dūrāhṛtaṃ vasu
 26 kṛtāṃ bindusaro ratnair mayena sphāṭikac chadām
     apaśyaṃ nalinīṃ pūrṇām udakasyeva bhārata
 27 vastram utkarṣati mayi prāhasat sa vṛkodaraḥ
     śatror ṛddhiviśeṣeṇa vimūḍhaṃ ratnavarjitam
 28 tatra sma yadi śaktaḥ syāṃ pātayeyaṃ vṛkodaram
     sapatnenāvahāso hi sa māṃ dahati bhārata
 29 punaś ca tādṛśīm eva vāpīṃ jalaja śālinīm
     matvā śilā samāṃ toye patito 'smi narādhipa
 30 tatra māṃ prāhasat kṛṣṇaḥ pārthena saha sasvanam
     draupadī ca saha strībhir vyathayantī mano mama
 31 klinnavastrasya ca jale kiṃ karā rājacoditāḥ
     dadur vāsāṃsi me 'nyāni tac ca duḥkhataraṃ mama
 32 pralambhaṃ ca śṛṇuṣvānyaṃ gadato me narādhipa
     advāreṇa vinirgacchan dvārasaṃsthāna rūpiṇā
     abhihatya śilāṃ bhūyo lalāṭenāsmi vikṣataḥ
 33 tatra māṃ yamajau dūrād ālokya lalitau kila
     bāhubhiḥ parigṛhṇītāṃ śocantau sahitāv ubhau
 34 uvāca sahadevas tu tatra māṃ vismayann iva
     idaṃ dvāram ito gaccha rājann iti punaḥ punaḥ
 35 nāmadheyāni ratnānāṃ purastān na śrutāni me
     yāni dṛṣṭāni me tasyāṃ manas tapati tac ca me

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)
p. 94
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.

Book 2
Chapter 47

  1 [d]
      yan mayā pāṇḍavānāṃ tu dṛṣṭaṃ tac chṛṇu bhārata
      āhṛtaṃ bhūmipālair hi vasu mukhyaṃ tatas tataḥ
  2 na vinde dṛḍham ātmāmaṃ dṛṣṭvāhaṃ tad arer dhanam
      phalato bhūmito vāpi pratipadyasva bhārata
  3 aiḍāṃś cailān vārṣadaṃśāñ jātarūpapariṣkṛtām
      prāvārājina mukhyāṃś ca kambojaḥ pradadau vasu
  4 aśvāṃs tittiri kalmāṣāṃs triśataṃ śukanāsikān
      uṣṭravāmīs triśataṃ ca puṣṭāḥ pīlu śamīṅgudaiḥ
  5 govāsanā brāhmaṇāś ca dāsamīyāś ca sarvaśaḥ
      prītyarthaṃ te mahābhāgā dharmarājño mahātmanaḥ
      trikharvaṃ balim ādāya dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ
  6 kamaṇḍalūn upādāya jātarūpamayāñ śubhān
      evaṃ baliṃ pradāyātha praveśaṃ lebhire tataḥ
  7 śataṃ dāsī sahasrāṇāṃ kārpāsika nivāsinām
      śyāmās tanvyo dīrghakeśyo hemābharaṇa bhūṣitāḥ
      śūdrā viprottamārhāṇi rāṅkavāny ajināni ca
  8 baliṃ ca kṛtsnam ādāya bharu kaccha nivāsinaḥ
      upaninyur mahārāja hayān gāndhāradeśajān
  9 indra kṛṣṭair vartayanti dhānyair nadī mukhaiś ca ye
      samudraniṣkuṭe jātāḥ parisindu ca mānavāḥ
  10 te vairāmāḥ pāradāś ca vaṅgāś ca kitavaiḥ saha
     vividhaṃ balim ādāya ratnāni vividhāni ca
 11 ajāvikaṃ gohiraṇyaṃ kharoṣṭraṃ phalajaṃ madhu
     kambalān vividhāṃś caiva dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ
 12 prāgjyotiṣādhipaḥ śūro mlecchānām adhipo balī
     yanavaiḥ sahito rājā bhagadatto mahārathaḥ
 13 ājāneyān hayāñ śīghrān ādāyānila raṃhasaḥ
     baliṃ ca kṛtsnam ādāya dvāri tiṣṭhati vāritaḥ
 14 aśmasāramayaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ śuddhadantatsarūn asīn
     prāgjyotiṣo 'tha tad dattvā bhagadatto 'vrajat tadā
 15 dvyakṣāṃs tryakṣāṁl lalāṭākṣān nānādigbhyaḥ samāgatān
     auṣṇīṣān anivāsāṃś ca bāhukān puruṣādakān
 16 ekapādāṃś ca tatrāham apaśyaṃ dvāri vāritān
     balyarthaṃ dadatas tasmai hiraṇyaṃ rajataṃ bahu
 17 indra gopa kavarṇābhāñ śukavarṇān manojavān
     tathaivendrāyudha nibhān saṃdhyābhrasadṛśān api
 18 anekavarṇān āraṇyān gṛhītvāśvān manojavān
     jātarūpam anarghyaṃ ca dadus tasyaika pādakāḥ
 19 cīnān hūnāñ śakān oḍūn parvatāntaravāsinaḥ
     vārṣṇeyān hārahūṇāṃś ca kṛṣṇān haimavatāṃs tathā
 20 na pārayāmy abhigatān vividhān dvāri vāritān
     balyarthaṃ dadatas tasya nānārūpān anekaśaḥ
 21 kṛṣṇa grīvān mahākāyān rāsabhāñ śatapātinaḥ
     āhārṣur daśasāhasrān vinītān dikṣu viśrutān
 22 pramāṇa rāgasparśāḍhyaṃ bāhlī cīna samudbhavam
     aurṇaṃ ca rāṅkavaṃ caiva kīṭajaṃ paṭṭajaṃ tathā
 23 kuṭṭī kṛtaṃ tathaivānyat kamalābhaṃ sahasraśaḥ
     ślakṣṇaṃ vastram akārpāsam āvikaṃ mṛdu cājinam
 24 niśitāṃś caiva dīrghāsīn ṛṣṭiśaktiparaśvadhān
     aparānta samudbhūtāṃs tathaiva paraśūñ śitān
 25 rasān gandhāṃś ca vividhān ratnāni ca sahasraśaḥ
     baliṃ ca kṛtsnam ādāya dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ
 26 śakās tukhārāḥ kaṅkāś ca romaśāḥ śṛṅgiṇo narāḥ
     mahāgamān dūragamān gaṇitān arbudaṃ hayān
 27 koṭiśaś caiva bahuśaḥ suvarṇaṃ padmasaṃmitam
     balim ādāya vividhaṃ dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ
 28 āsanāni mahārhāṇi yānāni śayanāni ca
     maṇikāñcanacitrāṇi gajadanta mayāni ca
 29 rathāṃś ca vividhākārāñ jātarūpapariṣkṛtān
     hayair vinītaiḥ saṃpannān vaiyāghraparivāraṇān
 30 vicitrāṃś ca paristomān ratnāni ca sahasraśaḥ
     nārācān ardhanārācāñ śastrāṇi vividhāni ca
 31 etad dattvā mahad dravyaṃ pūrvadeśādhipo nṛpaḥ
     praviṣṭo yajñasadanaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ

SECTION XLVII

"Sakuni said.--'O Duryodhana, thou shouldst not be jealous of Yudhishthira. The sons of Pandu are enjoying what they deserve in consequence of their own good fortune. O slayer of foes, O great king, thou couldst not destroy them by repeatedly devising numberless plans, many of which thou hadst even put to practice. Those tigers among men out of sheer luck escaped all those machinations. They have obtained Draupadi for wife and Drupada with his sons as also Vasudeva of great prowess as allies, capable of helping them in subjugating the whole world. And O king, having inherited the paternal share of the kingdom without being deprived of it they have grown in consequence of their own energy. What is there to make thee sorry for this? Having gratified Hustasana, Dhananjaya hath obtained the bow Gandiva and the couple of inexhaustible quivers and many celestial weapons. With that unique bow and by the strength of his own arms also he hath brought all the kings of the world under his sway. What is there to make thee sorry for this? Having saved the Asura Maya from a conflagration, Arjuna, that slayer of foes, using both his hands with equal skill, caused him to build that assembly house. And it is for this also that commanded by Maya, those grim Rakshasas called Kinkaras supported that assembly house. What is there in this to make thee sorry? Thou hast said, O king, that thou art without allies. This, O Bharata, is not true. These thy brothers are obedient to thee. Drona of great prowess and wielding the large bow along with his son, Radha's son Karna, the great warrior Gautama (Kripa), myself with my brothers and king Saumadatti--these are thy allies. Uniting thyself with these, conquer thou the whole of the earth.'
"Duryodhana said,--'O king, with thee, as also with these great warriors, I shall subjugate the Pandavas, if it pleases thee. If I can now subjugate them, the world will be mine and all the monarchs, and that assembly house so full of wealth.'
"Sakuni replied,--'Dhananjaya and Vasudeva, Bhimasena and Yudhishthira, Nakula and Sahadeva and Drupada with his sons,--these cannot be vanquished in battle by even the celestials, for they are all great warriors wielding the largest bows, accomplished in weapons, and delighting in battle. But, O king, I know the means by which Yudhishthira himself may be vanquished. Listen to me and adopt it.'
"Duryodhana said,--'without danger to our friends and other illustrious men, O uncle, tell me if there is any way by which I may vanquish him.'
"Sakuni said,--'The son of Kunti is very fond of dice-play although he doth not know how to play. That king if asked to play, is ill able to refuse.
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[paragraph continues] I am skillful at dice. There is none equal to me in this respect on earth, no, not even in the three worlds, O son of Kuru. Therefore, ask him to play at dice. Skilled at dice, I will win his kingdom, and that splendid prosperity of his for thee, O bull among men. But, O Duryodhana, represent all this unto the king (Dhritarashtra). Commanded by thy father I will win without doubt the whole of Yudhishthira's possessions.'
"Duryodhana said 'O son of Suvala, thou thyself represent properly all this to Dhritarashtra, the chief of the Kurus. I shall not be able to do so.

Book 2
Chapter 48

 1 [d]
      dāyaṃ tu tasmai vividhaṃ śṛṇu me gadato 'nagha
      yajñārthaṃ rājabhir dattaṃ mahāntaṃ dhanasaṃcayam
  2 merumandarayor madhye śailodām abhito nadīm
      ye te kīcaka veṇūnāṃ chāyāṃ ramyām upāsate
  3 khaśā ekāśanājyohāḥ pradarā dīrghavenavaḥ
      paśupāś ca kuṇindāś ca taṅgaṇāḥ parataṅgaṇāḥ
  4 te vai pipīlikaṃ nāma varadattaṃ pipīlikaiḥ
      jātarūpaṃ droṇa meyam ahārṣuḥ puñjaśo nṛpāḥ
  5 kṛṣṇāṁl lalāmāṃś camarāñ śuklāṃś cānyāñ śaśiprabhān
      himavatpuṣpajaṃ caiva svādu kṣaudraṃ tathā bahu
  6 uttarebhyaḥ kurubhyaś cāpy apoḍhaṃ mālyam ambubhiḥ
      uttarād api kailāsād oṣadhīḥ sumahābalāḥ
  7 pārvatīyā baliṃ cānyam āhṛtya praṇatāḥ sthitāḥ
      ajātaśatror nṛpater dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ
  8 ye parārdhe himavataḥ sūryodayagirau nṛpāḥ
      vāri ṣeṇa samudrānte lohityam abhitaś ca ye
      phalamūlāśanā ye ca kirātāś carma vāsasaḥ
  9 candanāgurukāṣṭhānāṃ bhārān kālīyakasya ca
      carma ratnasuvarṇānāṃ gandhānāṃ caiva rāśayaḥ
  10 kairātikānām ayutaṃ dāsīnāṃ ca viśāṃ pate
     āhṛtya ramaṇīyārthān dūrajān mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ
 11 nicitaṃ parvatebhyaś ca hiraṇyaṃ bhūri varcasam
     baliṃ ca kṛtsnam ādāya dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ
 12 kāyavyā daradā dārvāḥ śūrā vaiyamakās tathā
     audumbarā durvibhāgāḥ pāradā bāhlikaiḥ saha
 13 kāśmīrāḥ kundamānāś ca paurakā haṃsakāyanāḥ
     śibitrigartayaudheyā rājanyā madrakekayāḥ
 14 ambaṣṭhāḥ kaukurās tārkṣyā vastrapāḥ pahlavaiḥ saha
     vasātayaḥ samauleyāḥ saha kṣudrakamālavaiḥ
 15 śauṇḍikāḥ kukkurāś caiva śakāś caiva viśāṃ pate
     aṅgā vaṅgāś ca puṇḍrāś ca śānavatyā gayās tathā
 16 sujātayaḥ śreṇimantaḥ śreyāṃsaḥ śastrapāṇayaḥ
     āhārṣuḥ kṣatriyā vittaṃ śataśo 'jātaśatrave
 17 vaṅgāḥ kaliṅga patayas tāmraliptāḥ sapuṇḍrakāḥ
     dukūlaṃ kauśikaṃ caiva patrorṇaṃ prāvarān api
 18 tatra sma dvārapālais te procyante rājaśāsanāt
     kṛtakārāḥ subalayas tato dvāram avāpsyatha
 19 īṣā dantān hemakakṣān padmavarṇān kuthāvṛtān
     śailābhān nityamattāṃś ca abhitaḥ kāmyakaṃ saraḥ
 20 dattvaikaiko daśaśatān kuñjarān kavacāvṛtān
     kṣamāvataḥ kulīnāṃś ca dvāreṇa prāviśaṃs tataḥ
 21 ete cānye ca bahavo gaṇā digbhyaḥ samāgatāḥ
     anyaiś copāhṛtāny atra ratnānīha mahātmabhiḥ
 22 rājā citraratho nāma gandharvo vāsavānugaḥ
     śatāni catvāry adadad dhayānāṃ vātaraṃhasām
 23 tumburus tu pramudito gandharvo vājināṃ śatam
     āmrapatra savarṇānām adadad dhemamālinām
 24 kṛtī tu rājā kauravya śūkarāṇāṃ viśāṃ pate
     adadad gajaratnānāṃ śatāni subahūny api
 25 virāṭena tu matsyena balyarthaṃ hemamālinām
     kuñjarāṇāṃ sahasre dve mattānāṃ samupāhṛte
 26 pāṃśurāṣṭrād vasu dāno rājā ṣaḍ viṃśatiṃ gajān
     aśvānāṃ ca sahasre dve rājan kāñcanamālinām
 27 javasattvopapannānāṃ vayaḥsthānāṃ narādhipa
     baliṃ ca kṛtsnam ādāya pāṇḍavebhyo nyavedayat
 28 yajñasenena dāsīnāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa
     dāsānām ayutaṃ caiva sadārāṇāṃ viśāṃ pate
 29 gajayuktā mahārāja rathāḥ ṣaḍ viṃśatis tathā
     rājyaṃ ca kṛtsnaṃ pārthebhyo yajñārthaṃ vai niveditam
 30 samudrasāraṃ vaiḍūryaṃ muktāḥ śaṅkhāṃs tathaiva ca
     śataśaś ca kuthāṃs tatra sinhalāḥ samupāharan
 31 saṃvṛtā maṇicīrais tu śyāmās tāmrānta locanāḥ
     tān gṛhītvā narās tatra dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ
 32 prītyarthaṃ brāhmaṇaiś caiva kṣatriyāś ca vinirjitāḥ
     upājahrur viśaś caiva śūdrāḥ śuśrūṣavo 'pi ca
     prītyā ca bahumānāc ca abhyagacchan yudhiṣṭhiram
 33 sarve mlecchāḥ sarvavarṇā ādimadhyāntajās tathā
     nānādeśasamutthaiś ca nānā jātibhir āgataiḥ
     paryasta iva loko 'yaṃ yudhiṣṭhira niveśane
 34 uccāvacān upagrāhān rājabhiḥ prahitān bahūn
     śatrūṇāṃ paśyato duḥkhān mumūrṣā me 'dya jāyate
 35 bhṛtyās tu ye pāṇḍavānāṃ tāṃs te vakṣyāmi bhārata
     yeṣām āmaṃ ca pakvaṃ ca saṃvidhatte yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 36 ayutaṃ trīṇi padmāni gajārohāḥ sasādinaḥ
     rathānām arbudaṃ cāpi pādātā bahavas tathā
 37 pramīyamānam ārabdhaṃ pacyamānaṃ tathaiva ca
     visṛjyamānaṃ cānyatra puṇyāhasvana eva ca
 38 nābhuktavantaṃ nāhṛṣṭaṃ nāsubhikṣaṃ kathaṃ cana
     apaśyaṃ sarvavarṇānāṃ yudhiṣṭhira niveśane
 39 aṣṭāśīti sahasrāṇi snātakā gṛhamedhinaḥ
     triṃśad dāsīka ekaiko yān bibharti yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     suprītāḥ parituṣṭāś ca te 'py āśaṃsanty arikṣayam
 40 daśānyāni sahasrāṇi yatīnām ūrdhvaretasām
     bhuñjate rukmapātrīṣu yudhiṣṭhira niveśane
 41 bhuktābhuktaṃ kṛtākṛtaṃ sarvam ā kubja vāmanam
     abhuñjānā yājñasenī pratyavaikṣad viśāṃ pate
 42 dvau karaṃ na prayacchetāṃ kuntīputrāya bhārata
     vaivāhikena pāñcālāḥ sakhyenāndhakavṛṣṇayaḥ

SECTION XLVIII

Vaisampayana said--"O king, impressed with the great Rajasuya sacrifice of king Yudhishthira, Sakuni, the son of Suvala, having learnt before the intentions of Duryodhana, while accompanying him in the way from the assembly house, and desirous of saying what was agreeable to him, approached Dhritarashtra endued with great wisdom, and finding the monarch deprived of his eye seated (in his throne), told him these words,--'Know, O great king, O bull of the Bharata race, that Duryodhana, having lost colour, hath become pale and emaciated and depressed and a prey to anxiety. Why dost thou not, after due enquiry, ascertain the grief that is in the heart of thy eldest son, the grief that is caused by the foe?'
"Dhritarashtra said,--'Duryodhana, what is the reason of thy great affliction. O son of the Kuru race? If it is fit for me to hear it, then tell me the reason. This Sakuni here says that thou hast lost colour, become pale and emaciated, and a prey to anxiety. I do not know what can be the reason of the sorrow. This vast wealth of mine is at thy control. Thy brothers and all our relations never do anything that is disagreeable to thee. Thou wearest the best apparel and eatest the best food that is prepared with meat. The best of horse carries thee. What it is, therefore, that hath made thee pale and emaciated? Costly beds, beautiful damsels, mansions decked with excellent furniture, and sport of the delightful kind, without doubt these all wait but at thy command, as in the case of the gods themselves Therefore, O proud one, why dost thou grieve, O son, as if thou wert destitute.'
"Duryodhana said,--'I eat and dress myself like a wretch and pass my time all the while a prey to fierce jealousy. He indeed is a man, who incapable of bearing the pride of the foe, liveth having vanquished that foe with the desire of liberating his own subjects from the tyranny of the foe. Contentment, as also pride, O Bharata, are destructive of prosperity; and those other two qualities also, viz., compassion and fear. One who acteth
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under the influence of these, never obtaineth anything high. Having beheld Yudhishthira's prosperity, whatever I enjoy brings me no gratification. The prosperity of Kunti's son that is possessed of such splendour maketh me pale. Knowing the affluence of the foe and my own destitution, even though that affluence is not before me, I yet see it before me. Therefore, have I lost colour and become melancholy, pale and emaciated. Yudhishthira supporteth eighty-eight thousand Snataka Brahmanas leading domestic lives, giving unto each of them thirty slave-girls. Beside this, thousand other Brahmanas daily eat at his palace the best of food on golden plates. The king of Kambhoja sent unto him (as tribute) innumerable skins, black, darkish, and red, of the deer Kadali, as also numberless blankets of excellent textures. And hundreds and thousands and thousands of she-elephants and thirty thousand she-camels wander within the palace, for the kings of the earth brought them all as tribute to the capital of the Pandavas. And, O lord of earth, the kings also brought unto this foremost of sacrifices heaps upon heaps of jewels and gems for the son of Kunti. Never before did I see or hear of such enormous wealth as was brought unto the sacrifice of the intelligent sons of Pandu. And, O king, beholding that enormous collection of wealth belonging to the foe, I can not enjoy peace of mind. Hundreds of Brahmanas supported by the grants that Yudhishthira hath given them and possessing wealth of kine, waited at the palace gate with three thousands of millions of tribute but were prevented by the keepers from entering the mansion. Bringing with them clarified butter in handsome Kamandalus made of gold, they did not obtain admission into the palace, and Ocean himself brought unto him in vessels of white copper the nectar that is generated within his waters and which is much superior to that which flowers and annual plants produce for Sakra. And Vasudeva (at the conclusion of the sacrifice) having brought an excellent conch bathed the Sun of Pritha with sea water brought in thousand jars of gold, all well adorned with numerous gems. Beholding all this I became feverish with jealousy. Those jars had been taken to the Eastern and the Southern oceans. And they had also been taken on the shoulders of men to the Western ocean, O bull among men. And, O father, although none but birds only can go to the Northern region Arjuna, having gone thither, exacted as tribute a vast quantity of wealth. There is another wonderful incident also which I will relate to thee. O listen to me. When a hundred thousand Brahmanas were fed, it had been arranged that to notify this act every day conches would be blown in a chorus. But, O Bharata, I continually heard conches blown there almost repeatedly. And hearing those notes my hair stood on end. And, O great king, that palatial compound, filled with innumerable monarchs that came there as spectators, looked exceedingly handsome like the cloudless firmament with stars. And, O king of men, the monarchs came into that sacrifice of the
p. 98
wise son of Pandu bringing with them every kind of wealth. And the kings that came there became like Vaisyas the distributors of food unto the Brahmanas that were fed. And O king, the prosperity that I beheld of Yudhishthira was such that neither the chief himself of the celestials, nor Yama or Varuna, nor the lord of the Guhyakas owneth the same. And beholding that great prosperity of the son of Pandu, my heart burneth and I cannot enjoy peace.
"Hearing these words of Duryodhana, Sakuni replied,--'Hear how thou mayest obtain this unrivalled prosperity that thou beholdest in the son of Pandu, O thou that hast truth for thy prowess. O Bharata, I am an adept at dice, superior to all in the world. I can ascertain the success or otherwise of every throw, and when to stake and when not. I have special knowledge of the game. The Son of Kunti also is fond of dice playing though he possesseth little skill in it. Summoned to play or battle, he is sure to come forward, and I will defeat him repeatedly at every throw by practising deception. I promise to win all that wealth of his, and thou, O Duryodhana, shalt then enjoy the same.'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"King Duryodhana, thus addressed by Sakuni, without allowing a moment to elapse, said unto Dhritarashtra,--'This, Sakuni, an adept at dice, is ready to win at dice, O king, the wealth of the sons of Pandu. It behoveth thee to grant him permission to do so.'
"Dhritarashtra replied,--'I always follow the counsels of Kshatta, my minister possessed of great wisdom. Having consulted with him, I will inform thee what my judgment is in respect of this affair. Endued with great foresight, he will, keeping morality before his eyes, tell us what is good and what is proper for both parties, and what should be done in this matter.'
"Duryodhana said,--'If thou consultest with Kshatta he will make thee desist. And if thou desist, O king, I will certainly kill myself. And when I am dead, O king, thou wilt become happy with Vidura. Thou wilt then enjoy the whole earth; what need hast thou with me?'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Dhritarashtra, hearing these words of affliction uttered by Duryodhana from mixed feeling, himself ready to what Duryodhana had dictated, commanded his servant, saying,--'Let artificers be employed to erect without delay a delightful and handsome and spacious palace with an hundred doors and a thousand columns. And having brought carpenters and joiners, set ye jewels and precious stones all over the walls. And making it handsome and easy of access, report to me when everything is complete. And, O monarch, king Dhritarashtra having made this resolution for the pacification of Duryodhana, sent messengers unto Vidura for summoning him. For without taking counsel with Vidura never did the monarch form any resolution. But as regards the matter at hand, the king although he knew the evils of gambling, was
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yet attracted towards it. The intelligent Vidura, however, as soon as he heard of it, knew that the arrival of Kali was at hand. And seeing that the way to destruction was about to open, he quickly came to Dhritarashtra. And Vidura approaching his illustrious eldest brother and bowing down unto his feet, said these words:
'O exalted king, I do not approve of this resolution that thou hast formed. It behave thee, O king, to act in such a way that no dispute may arise between thy children on account of this gambling match.'
Dhritarashtra replied,--'O Kshatta, if the gods be merciful unto us, assuredly no dispute will ever arise amongst my sons. Therefore, auspicious or otherwise, beneficial or otherwise, let this friendly challenge at dice proceed. Even this without doubt is what fate hath ordained for us. And, O son of the Bharata race, when I am near, and Drona and Bhishma and thou too, nothing evil that even Fate might have ordained is likely to happen. Therefore, go thou on a car yoking thereto horses endued with the speed of the wind, so that thou mayest reach Khandavaprastha even today and bring thou Yudhishthira with thee. And, O Vidura, I tell that even this is my resolution. Tell me nothing. I regard Fate as supreme which bringeth all this.' Hearing these words of Dhritarashtra and concluding that his race was doomed, Vidura in great sorrow went unto Bhishma with great wisdom."

Book 2
Chapter 49

1 [d]
      āryās tu ye vai rājānaḥ satyasaṃdhā mahāvratāḥ
      paryāptavidyā vaktāro vedāntāvabhṛthāplutāḥ
  2 dhṛtimanto hrīniṣedhā dharmātmāno yaśasvinaḥ
      mūrḍhābhiṣiktās te cainaṃ rājānaḥ paryupāsate
  3 dakṣiṇārthaṃ samānītā rājabhiḥ kāṃsyadohanāḥ
      āraṇyā bahusāhasrā apaśyaṃ tatra tatra gāḥ
  4 ājahrus tatra satkṛtya svayam udyamya bhārata
      abhiṣekārtham avyagrā bhāṇḍam uccāvacaṃ nṛpāḥ
  5 bāhlīko ratham āhārṣīj jāmbūnadapariṣkṛtam
      sudakṣiṇas taṃ yuyuje śvetaiḥ kāmbojajair hayaiḥ
  6 sunītho 'pratimaṃ tasya anukarṣaṃ mahāyaśāḥ
      dhvajaṃ cedipatiḥ kṣipram ahārṣīt svayam udyatam
  7 dākṣiṇātyaḥ saṃnahanaṃ srag uṣṇīṣe ca māgadhaḥ
      vasu dāno maheṣvāso gajendraṃ ṣaṣṭihāyanam
  8 matsyas tv akṣān avābadhnād ekalavya upānahau
      āvantyas tv abhiṣekārtham āpo bahuvidhās tathā
  9 cekitāna upāsaṅgaṃ dhanuḥ kāśya upāharat
      asiṃ rukmatsaruṃ śalyaḥ śaikyaṃ kāñcanabhūṣaṇam
  10 abhyaṣiñcat tato dhaumyo vyāsaś ca sumahātapāḥ
     nāradaṃ vai puraskṛtya devalaṃ cāsitaṃ munim
 11 prītimanta upātiṣṭhann abhiṣekaṃ maharṣayaḥ
     jāmadagnyena sahitās tathānye vedapāragāḥ
 12 abhijagmur mahātmānaṃ mantravad bhūridakṣiṇam
     mahendram iva devendraṃ divi saptarṣayo yathā
 13 adhārayac chatram asya sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
     dhanaṃjayaś ca vyajane bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
 14 upāgṛhṇād yam indrāya purākalpe prajāpatiḥ
     tam asmai śaṅkham āhārṣīd vāruṇaṃ kalaśodadhiḥ
 15 siktaṃ niṣkasahasreṇa sukṛtaṃ viśvakarmaṇā
     tenābhiṣiktaḥ kṛṣṇena tatra me kaśmalo 'bhavat
 16 gacchanti pūrvād aparaṃ samudraṃ cāpi dakṣiṇam
     uttaraṃ tu na gacchanti vinā tāta patatribhiḥ
 17 tatra sma dadhmuḥ śataśaḥ śaṅkhān maṅgalya kāraṇāt
     prāṇadaṃs te samādhmātās tatra romāṇi me 'hṛṣan
 18 praṇatā bhūmipāś cāpi petur īnāḥ svatejasā
     dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pāṇḍavāś ca sātyakiḥ keśavo 'ṣṭamaḥ
 19 sattvasthāḥ śauryasaṃpannā anyonyapriyakāriṇaḥ
     visaṃjñān bhūmipān dṛṣṭvā māṃ ca te prāhasaṃs tadā
 20 tataḥ prahṛṣṭo bībhatsuḥ prādād dhemaviṣāṇinām
     śatāny anaḍuhāṃ pañca dvijamukhyeṣu bhārata
 21 naivaṃ śambara hantābhūd yauvanāśvo manur na ca
     na ca rājā pṛthur vainyo na cāpy āsīd bhagīrathaḥ
 22 yathātimātraṃ kaunteyaḥ śriyā paramayā yutaḥ
     rājasūyam avāpyaivaṃ hariś candra iva prabhuḥ
 23 etāṃ dṛṣṭvā śriyaṃ pārthe hariś candre yathā vibho
     kathaṃ nu jīvitaṃ śreyo mama paśyasi bhārata
 24 andheneva yugaṃ naddhaṃ viparyastaṃ narādhipa
     kanīyāṃso vivardhante jyeṣṭhā hīyanti bhārata
 25 evaṃ dṛṣṭvā nābhivindāmi śarma; parīkṣamāṇo 'pi kurupravīra
     tenāham evaṃ kṛṣatāṃ gataś ca; vivarṇatāṃ caiva sa śokatāṃ ca

SECTION XLIX

Janamejaya said,--"O thou foremost of all conversant with the Vedas, how did that game at dice take place, fraught with such evil to the cousins and through which my grand-sires, the son of Pandu, were plunged into such sorrow? What kings also were present in that assembly, and who amongst them approved of the gambling match and who amongst them forbade it? O sinless one, O chief of regenerate ones, I desire thee to recite in detail all about this, which, indeed, was the cause of the destruction of the world."
Santi said,--"Thus addressed by the king, the disciple of Vyasa, endued with great energy and conversant with the entire Vedas, narrated everything that had happened."
Vaisampayana said,--"O best of the Bharatas, O great king, if thou desirest to hear, then listen to me as I narrate to thee everything again in detail.
"Ascertaining the opinion of Vidura, Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika, calling Duryodhana told him again in private--'O son of Gandhari,
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have nothing to do with dice. Vidura doth not speak well of it. Possessed of great wisdom, he will never give me advice that is not for my good. I also regard what Vidura sayeth as exceedingly beneficial for me. Do that, O son, for I regard it all as for thy good also. Indeed, Vidura knoweth with all its mysteries the science (of political morality) that the illustrious and learned and wise Vrihaspati, the celestial Rishi who is the spiritual guide of Vasava--had unfolded unto the wise chief of the immortals. And O son, I always accept what Vidura adviseth. O king, as the wise Uddhava is ever regarded amongst the Vrishnis, so is Vidura possessed of great intelligence esteemed as the foremost of the Kurus. Therefore, O son, have nothing to do with dice. It is evident that dice soweth dissensions. And dissensions are the ruin of the kingdom. Therefore, O son, abandon this idea of gambling. O son, thou hast obtained from us what, it hath been ordained, a father and a mother should give unto their son, viz., ancestral rank and possessions. Thou art educated and clever in every branch of knowledge, and hast been brought up with affection in thy paternal dwelling. Born the eldest among all thy brothers, living within thy own kingdom, why regardest thou thyself as unhappy? O thou of mighty arms, thou obtainest food and attire of the very best kind and which is not obtainable by ordinary men. Why dost thou grieve yet. O son, O mighty-armed one, ruling thy large ancestral kingdom swelling with people and wealth, thou shinest as splendidly as the chief of the celestials in heaven. Thou art possessed of wisdom. It behoveth thee to tell me what can be the root of this grief that hath made thee so melancholy.
"Duryodhana replied,--'I am a sinful wretch, O king, because I eat and dress beholding (the prosperity of the foes). It hath been said that man is a wretch who is not filled with jealousy at the sight of his enemy's prosperity. O exalted one, this kind of prosperity of mine doth not gratify me. Beholding that blazing prosperity of the son of Kunti, I am very much pained. I tell thee strong must be my vitality, in as much as I am living even at the sight of the whole earth owning the sway of Yudhishthira. The Nipas, the Chitrakas, the Kukkuras, the Karaskaras, and the Lauha-janghas are living in the palace of Yudhishthira like bondsmen. The Himavat, the ocean, the regions on the sea-shore, and the numberless other regions that yield jewels and gems, have all acknowledged superiority of the mansion of Yudhishthira in respect of wealth it containeth. And, O Monarch, regarding me as the eldest and entitled to respect, Yudhishthira having received me respectfully, appointed me in receiving the jewels and gems (that were brought as tribute). O Bharata, the limit and the like of the excellent and invaluable jewels that were brought there have not been seen. And O king, my hands were fatigued in receiving that wealth. And when I was tired, they that brought those valuable articles from distant
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regions used to wait till I was able to resume my labour. Bringing jewels from the lake Vindu, the Asura architect Maya constructed (for the Pandavas) a lake-like surface made of crystal. Beholding the (artificial) lotuses with which it was filled, I mistook it, O king for water. And seeing me draw up my clothes (while about to cross it), Vrikodara (Bhima) laughed at me, regarding me as wanting in jewels and having lost my head at the sight of the affluence of my enemy. If I had the ability, I would, O king, without the loss of a moment, slay Vrikodara for that. But, O monarch, if we endeavour to slay Bhima now, without doubt, ours will be the fate of Sisupala. O Bharata, that insult by the foe burneth me. Once again, O king, beholding a similar lake that is really full of water but which I mistook for a crystal surface, I fell into it. At that, Bhima with Arjuna once more laughed derisively, and Draupadi also accompanied by other females joined in the laughter. That paineth my heart exceedingly. My apparel having been wet, the menials at the command of the king gave me other clothes. That also is my great sorrow. And O king, hear now of another mistake that I speak of. In attempting to pass through what is exactly of the shape of a door but through which there was really no passage, I struck my forehead against stone and injured myself. The twins Nakula and Sahadeva beholding from a distance that I was so hit at the head came and supported me in their arms, expressing great concern for me. And Sahadeva repeatedly told me, as if with a smile,--'This O king, is the door. Go this way!' And Bhimasena, laughing aloud, addressed me and said,--'O son of Dhritarashtra, this is the door. And, O king I had not even heard of the names of those gems that I saw in that mansion. And it is for these reasons that my heart so acheth."

Book 2
Chapter 50

  1 [d]
      tvaṃ vai jyeṣṭho jyaiṣṭhineyaḥ putra mā pāṇḍavān dviṣaḥ
      dveṣṭā hy asukham ādatte yathaiva nidhanaṃ tathā
  2 avyutpannaṃ samānārthaṃ tulyamitraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
      adviṣantaṃ kathaṃ dviṣyāt tvādṛśo bharatarṣabha
  3 tulyābhijanavīryaś ca kathaṃ bhrātuḥ śriyaṃ nṛpa
      putra kāmayase mohān maivaṃ bhūḥ śāmya sādhv iha
  4 atha yajñavibhūtiṃ tāṃ kāṅkṣase bharatarṣabha
      ṛtvijas tava tanvantu sapta tantuṃ mahādhvaram
  5 āhariṣyanti rājānas tavāpi vipulaṃ dhanam
      prītyā ca bahumānāc ca ratnāny ābharaṇāni ca
  6 anarthācaritaṃ tāta parasvaspṛhaṇaṃ bhṛśam
      svasaṃtuṣṭaḥ svadharmastho yaḥ sa vai sukham edhate
  7 avyāpāraḥ parārtheṣu nityodyogaḥ svakarmasu
      udyamo rakṣaṇe sveṣām etad vaibhava lakṣaṇam
  8 vipattiṣv avyatho dakṣo nityam utthānavān naraḥ
      apramatto vinītātmā nityaṃ bhadrāṇi paśyati
  9 antar vedyāṃ dadad vittaṃ kāmān anubhavan priyān
      krīḍan strībhir nirātaṅkaḥ praśāmya bharatarṣabha
  10 [d]
     jānan vai mohayasi māṃ nāvi naur iva saṃyatā
     svārthe kiṃ nāvadhānaṃ te utāho dveṣṭi māṃ bhavān
 11 na santīme dhārtarāṣṭrā yeṣāṃ tvam anuśāsitā
     bhaviṣyam artham ākhyāsi sadā tvaṃ kṛtyam ātmanaḥ
 12 parapraṇeyo 'graṇīr hi yaś ca mārgāt pramuhyati
     panthānam anugaccheyuḥ kathaṃ tasya padānugāḥ
 13 rājan parigata prajño vṛddhasevī jitendriyaḥ
     pratipannān svakāryeṣu saṃmohayasi no bhṛṣam
 14 lokavṛttād rājavṛttam anyad āha bṛhaspatiḥ
     tasmād rājñā prayatnena svārthaś cintyaḥ sadaiva hi
 15 kṣatriyasya mahārāja jaye vṛttiḥ samāhitā
     sa vai dharmo 'stv adharmo vā svavṛttau bharatarṣabha
 16 prakālayed diśaḥ sarvāḥ pratodeneva sārathiḥ
     praty amitraśriyaṃ dīptāṃ bubhūṣur bharatarṣabha
 17 pracchanno vā prakāśo vā yo yogo ripubāndhanaḥ
     tad vai śastraṃ śastravidāṃ na śastraṃ chedanaṃ smṛtam
 18 asaṃtoṣaḥ śriyo mūlaṃ tasmāt taṃ kāmayāmy aham
     samucchraye yo yatate sa rājan paramo nayī
 19 mama tvaṃ hi na kartavyam aiśvarye vā dhane 'pi vā
     pūrvāvāptaṃ haranty anye rājadharmaṃ hi taṃ viduḥ
 20 adrohe samayaṃ kṛtvā ciccheda namuceḥ śiraḥ
     śakraḥ sā hi matā tasya ripau vṛttiḥ sanātanī
 21 dvāv etau grasate bhūmiḥ sarpo bilaśayān iva
     rājānaṃ cāviroddhāraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ cāpravāsinam
 22 nāsti vai jātitaḥ śatruḥ puruṣasya viśāṃ pate
     yena sādhāraṇī vṛttiḥ sa śatrur netaro janaḥ
 23 śatrupakṣaṃ samṛdhyantaṃ yo mohāt samupekṣate
     vyādhir āpyāyita iva tasya mūlaṃ chinatti saḥ
 24 alpo 'pi hy arir atyantaṃ vardhamānaparākramaḥ
     valmīko mūlaja iva grasate vṛkṣam antikāt
 25 ājamīḍha ripor lakṣmīr mā te rociṣṭa bhārata
     eṣa bhāraḥ sattvavatāṃ nayaḥ śirasi dhiṣṭhitaḥ
 26 janma vṛddhim ivārthānāṃ yo vṛddhim abhikāṅkṣate
     edhate jñātiṣu sa vai sadyo vṛddhir hi vikramaḥ
 27 nāprāpya pāṇḍavaiśvaryaṃ saṃśayo me bhaviṣyati
     avāpsye vā śriyaṃ tāṃ hi śeṣye vā nihato yudhi
 28 atādṛśasya kiṃ me 'dya jīvitena viśāṃ pate
     vardhante pāṇḍavā nityaṃ vayaṃ tu sthiravṛddhayaḥ

SECTION L

Duryodhana said,--'Listen now, O Bharata, about all the most costly articles I saw, belonging unto the sons of Pandu, and brought one after another by the kings of the earth. Beholding that wealth of the foe, I lost my reason and scarcely knew myself. And, O Bharata, listen as I describe that wealth consisting of both manufactures and the produce of the land. The king of Kamboja gave innumerable skins of the best king, and blankets made of wool, of the soft fur of rodents and other burroughers, and of the hair of cats,--all inlaid with threads of gold. And he also gave three hundred horses of the Titteti and the Kalmasha species possessing noses like parrots. And he also gave three hundred camels and an equal number of
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she-asses, all fattened with the olives and the Pilusha. And innumerable Brahmanas engaged in rearing cattle and occupied in low offices for the gratification of the illustrious king Yudhishthira the just waited at the gate with three hundred millions of tribute but they were denied admission into the palace. And hundred upon hundreds of Brahmanas possessing wealth of kine and living upon the lands that Yudhishthira had given them, came there with their handsome golden Kamandalus filled with clarified butter. And though they had brought such tribute, they were refused admission into the palace. And the Sudra kings that dwelt in the regions on the seacoast, brought with them, O king, hundred thousands of serving girls of the Karpasika country, all of beautiful features and slender waist and luxuriant hair and decked in golden ornaments; and also many skins of the Ranku deer worthy even of Brahmanas as tribute unto king Yudhishthira. And the tribes Vairamas, Paradas, Tungas, with the Kitavas who lived upon crops that depended on water from the sky or of the river and also they who were born in regions on the sea-shore, in woodlands, or countries on the other side of the ocean waited at the gate, being refused permission to enter, with goats and kine and asses and camels and vegetable, honey and blankets and jewels and gems of various kinds. And that great warrior king Bhagadatta, the brave ruler of Pragjyotisha and the mighty sovereign of the mlechchas, at the head of a large number of Yavanas waited at the gate unable to enter, with a considerable tribute comprising of horses of the best breed and possessing the speed of the wind. And king Bhagadatta (beholding the concourse) had to go away from the gate, making over a number of swords with handles made of the purest ivory and well-adorned with diamonds and every kind of gems. And many tribes coming from different regions, of whom some possess two eyes, some three and some had eyes on their foreheads, and those also called Aushmikas, and Nishadas, and Romakas, some cannibals and many possessing only one leg. I say, O king, standing at the gate, being refused permission to enter. And these diverse rulers brought as tribute ten thousand asses of diverse hues and black necks and huge bodies and great speed and much docility and celebrated all over the world. And these asses were all of goodly size and delightful colour. And they were all bred on the coast of Vankhu. And there were many kings that gave unto Yudhishthira much gold and silver. And having given much tribute they obtained admission into the palace of Yudhishthira. The people that came there possessing only one leg gave unto Yudhishthira many wild horses, some of which were as red as the cochineal, and some white, and some possessing the hues of the rainbow and some looking like evening clouds, and some that were of variegated colour. And they were all endued with the speed of the mind. And they also gave unto the king enough gold of superior quality. I also saw numberless Chins and Sakas and Uddras and many barbarous tribes living in
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the woods, and many Vrishnis and Harahunas, and dusky tribes of the Himavat, and many Nipas and people residing in regions on the sea-coast, waiting at the gate being refused permission to enter. And the people of Valhika gave unto him as tribute ten thousand asses, of goodly size and black necks and daily running two hundred miles, And those asses were of many shapes. And they were well-trained and celebrated all over the world. And possessed of symmetrical proportion and excellent colour, their skins were pleasant to the touch. And the Valhikas also presented numerous blankets of woollen texture manufactured in Chin and numerous skins of the Ranku deer, and clothes manufactured from jute, and others woven with the threads spun by insects. And they also gave thousands of other clothes not made of cotton, possessing the colour of the lotus. And these were all of smooth texture. And they also gave soft sheep-skins by thousands. And they also gave many sharp and long swords and scimitars, and hatchets and fine-edged battle-axes manufactured in the western countries. And having presented perfumes and jewels and gems of various kinds by thousands as tribute, they waited at the gate, being refused admission into the palace. And the Sakas and Tukhatas and Tukharas and Kankas and Romakas and men with horns bringing with them as tribute numerous large elephants and ten thousand horses, and hundreds and hundreds of millions of gold waited at the gate, being refused permission to enter. And the kings of the eastern countries having presented numerous valuable articles including many costly carpets and vehicles and beds, and armours of diverse hues decked with jewels and gold and ivory, and weapons of various kinds, and cars of various shapes and handsome make and adorned with gold, with well-trained horses trimmed with tiger skins, and rich and variegated blankets for caprisoning elephants, and various kinds of jewels and gems, arrows long and short and various other kinds of weapons, obtained permission to enter the sacrificial palace of the illustrious Pandava!'"

( My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguli ji for the collection)