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Mahabharata
Ghosha Yatra Parva
Lamentation of Dhritarashtra. Shakun’s words. Consultation to see the cattle. Duryodhana's arrival at Dvaitavana. The colloquy between Duryodhana's soldiers and the Gandharvas. Defeat of Karna. Duryodhana's discomfiture. Vow to rescue Duryodhana. Battle between the Pandavas and the Gandharvas. Defeat of Gandharvas. Rescue of Duryodhana. The colloquy between Karna and Duryodhana. The fasting of Duryodhana. Return to Hastinapur. Conquest of Karna. Duryodhana's sacrifice. Reflection of Yudhishthira.
Janamejaya said:
O Brahmana, when those foremost of men, the sons of Pritha, were passing their days in the forest exposed to the inclemencies of the winter and the summer, of the wind and the sun, what did they do after they had reached the lake and the forest named Dvaita?
Vaishampayana said:
When the Pandavas reached the lake, they chose a place to live in far from the habitations of men. They roamed through charming forests and delightful mountains and beautiful valleys through which ran many rivers and stream-lets.
When they began to live there, many venerable ascetics, learned in the Vedas, often came to see them. Those foremost of men always received those Veda-knowing Rishis with great respect.
Thereupon one day there came to the Kuru princes a certain Brahmana who was celebrated on earth for his powers of speech. Having talked with them for some time, he went away to the king, the son of Vichitravirya (Dhritarashtra).
Having been received with all respect by that foremost of the Kurus, that old king (Dhritarashtra) the Brahmanas took his seat; and then asked by the king, he talked about the son of Dharma, Pavana, Indra and the twins (Asvinis).
All of whom having fallen into great misery had become emaciated and reduced owing to exposure to the wind and the sun. He also talked of Krishna (Draupadi) who had been overwhelmed with sufferings and who had become protectorless though she had heroes for her lords.
On hearing his words, the king Vichitravirya's son became afflicted with grief, thinking that the royal princess (Draupadi) had been drowned in a river of sorrow.
His inmost soul was afflicted with sorrow. Trembling all over with sighs, he quieted himself with great effort, thinking that his folly was the cause of everything. He said,
"Alas, how is it that Dharmaraja Yudhishthira who is the eldest of my sons, who is truthful and pious and virtuous in his behaviour, who has not a single enemy (on earth) and who formerly used to sleep on beds made of soft Ranku-skins, sleeps now on the bare ground!
He used to be awakened by the Sutas and Magdhas and other singers with his praises melodiously chanted every morning. That Indra-like Kuru prince is now awakened from the bare ground early in the morning by innumerable birds.
How does Vrikodara, reduced by exposure to wind and sun and filled with wrath, sleep on the bare ground in the presence of the Panchala princess unfit as he is to suffer such misery?
Perhaps the intelligent Arjuna who is incapable of bearing pain and who though ever obedient to Yudhishthira yet feels himself pierced by the remembrance of his wrongs, does not at all sleep in the night.
Seeing the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and Krishna (Draupadi) and Yudhishthira and Bhima in the greatest possible misery, Arjuna certainly sighs like a fearful serpent and from wrath does not sleep in the night.
The twins also, who are even like a couple of blessed celestials in heaven, sunk in misery though deserving of happiness and comfort, certainly pass their nights without sleep, only restrained from taking revenge by virtue and truth.
The mighty son of Vayu (Bhima) who is equal to Vayu himself in strength certainly sighs and restrains his wrath tied through his eldest brother (Yudhishthira) to the bond of truth.
Superior in battle to all warriors, he now quietly lies on the ground. Being restrained by virtue and truth but burning to kill my sons, he simply passes his time.
The cruel words that Duhshasana spoke after Ajatshatru (Yudhishthira) had been deceitfully defeated at dice have reached the inner most depth of Vrikodara's heart. They are consuming him as a blazing bundle of straw consumes a faggot of dry wood.
The son of Dharma (Yudhishthira) never sinfully acts. Dhananjaya (Arjuna) also always obeys him, but the anger of Bhima is daily increasing like a fire helped by the wind in consequence of a life of exile.
That hero, burning in wrath, squeezes his hands and breathes hot and fearful sighs, as if he wants to consume by them all my sons and grandsons.
The wielder of Gandiva (Arjuna) and Bhima when angry are like Yama and Kala themselves. Hurling their arrows which are like so many thunderbolts, they exterminate their enemies in battle.
Alas, Duryodhana and Shakuni and Suta's son (Karna) and the wicked minded Duhshasana in robbing the Pandavas of their kingdom by means of dice saw only honey (on the tree) without thinking the terrible fall from it!
A man having acted rightly or wrongly expects to get the fruit of his acts. But fruits however (often) confounds and paralyses him. How can a man thus obtain salvation!
If land is properly cultivated and the seed sown and if the god (Indra) seasonably showers rain, still the crop might not grow. This is what we often hear. How could this be true as I think unless everything here (in the world) is ruled by Destiny. The gambler Shakuni has behaved deceitfully towards the son of Pandu (Yudhishthira) who always acts honestly and virtuously. From the love and fondness that I bear of my wicked sons I also have similarly acted. Alas, it is for this the time, for the destruction of the Kurus has come.
Or perhaps what is inevitable must come to pass. The wind, whether impelled or not, must move. The woman who conceives must give birth to a child. Darkness must pass away in the morning and the day in the evening.
Whatever may be earned by us and others, whether people spend it or not, it would bring us misery when the time would come. Why then people become so anxious to earn wealth? If what is acquired is the result of Fate, then it should be protected, so that is may not be divided nor protected, so that it may not be divided nor lost little by little nor permitted to flow out at once, for if unprotected it may break into one hundred fragments. But whatever the character of our possession may be, our acts in this world are never lost.
Behold what great is the prowess of Arjuna who went to the abode of Indra from the forest. Having secured the four kinds of celestials weapons, he has returned to earth.
What man is there who having gone to heaven in his own human body ever wishes to come back? Because he sees the Kurus at the point of death by Time, he has returned.
The wielder of the bow is Arjuna Savyasachi, the bow is the Gandiva of fearful energy, the weapons are also all celestials, who is there who would be able to withstand the (combination of these) three."
Having heard those words of the king, the son of Subala Shakuni went to Duryodhana who was then with Karna and told them everything in private. The foolish Duryodhana was filled with grief at what he heard.
Vaishampayana said:
Having heard those words of Dhritarashtra, Shakuni, when he got an opportunity through Karna, spoke thus to Duryodhana.
Shakuni said:
Having exiled the heroic Pandavas through your own prowess, O descendant of Bharata, you now rule this earth without a rival, as the slayer of Shambara rules the heaven.
O ruler of men, O king, the kings of the east, west, north and south all pay tribute to you.
O king, the blazing goddess of prosperity, that once used to pay court to the Pandavas, has now been secured by you with your brothers.
O king, the blazing prosperity that we formerly saw in Yudhishthira at Indraprastha is now seen by us in you.
O king of kings, that which you saw not long ago with so much grief has been now snatched by you from the king Yudhishthira by the force of intellect alone.
O mighty armed hero, O chastiser of foes, all the kings of the world are now under your subjection. They now await your commands as they used to do before those of Yudhishthira. O king, the goddess earth bounded with the seas, with her mountains and forests towns and cities and mines, with her woodlands and hills is now yours. Adored by the Brahmanas and worshipped by the kings, O monarch, you (now) blaze forth in your prowess like the sun among the celestials in heaven.
Surrounded by the Kurus, O king, as Yama is surrounded by the Rudras and Vasava by the Marutas, you shine like the moon among the stars.
Let us go and see the Pandavas who are now divested of their prosperity, who are now living in the forest, who never obeyed commands and who never owed you subjection.
O great king, we have heard that they are now living on the banks of the lake situated in the forest named Dvaitavana with many Brahmanas, the dwellers of the wood.
O king, go there with all your prosperity and thus scorch the Pandavas with a sight of your glory, as the sun scorches every thing with his hot rays.
You a (great) sovereign and they deprived of their sovereignty, you in prosperity and they deprived of it, you are in affluence and they are in poverty. O king, go and (now) see the Pandavas.
Let the Pandavas see you like Yayati, the son of Nahusha accompanied by a large number of followers and in the enjoyment of great bliss.
O king, that blazing prosperity which is seen by one's both friend and foe is considered to be the real prosperity.
What happiness could be more complete than what one enjoys by being himself in great prosperity and his enemy being in adversity just like the man on the top of a hill looking down upon another who crawls on the earth.
O foremost of kings, the happiness that one drives from seeing his enemies in grief is greater than what one drives on getting a son or wealth or kingdom.
What happiness will not be his who himself being in affluence sees Dhananjaya (Arjuna) in barks and skins.
Let your wife clad in costly robes look at the afflicted Krishna (Draupadi) now in barks and skins and thus increase her misery.
Let the daughter of Drupada reproach herself and her life deprived as she is of wealth, for the sorrow that she will feel on seeing your wife adorned with ornaments will be far greater than what she had felt in the Sava.
Vaishampayana said:
O Janamejaya, having thus spoken to the king, Shakuni and Karna when their speech was over both became silent.
Having heard the words of Karna, the king Duryodhana became greatly delighted. But soon again the became melancholy and he then thus spoke.
Duryodhana said:
O Karna, what you tell me is always in my mind. But I shall not get permission to go where the Pandavas are.
King Dhritarashtra is always grieving for those heroes. The king considers them (now) more powerful (than before) by their asceticism.
O greatly effulgent one, if the king understands our motives, he will never grant us permission, for we can have no other business in Dvaitavana than to exterminate the Pandavas in their exile.
You know what Khatva (Vidura) said to me, to yourself and to the son of Subala (Shakuni) at the time of the play.
Reflecting on those words and also on (their) lamentations, I cannot make up my mind as to whether I should or should not go.
I shall certainly feel great delight if I see Bhima and Falguna (Arjuna) passing their days with Krishna (Draupadi) in great misery in the forest.
They joy that I may feel by obtaining the entire sovereignty over the earth is nothing in comparison to what I shall obtain on seeing the Pandavas clad in barks and skins.
O Karna, what joy could be greater than what I shall drive on seeing Draupadi, the daughter of Draupada, clad in rags in the forest?
If king Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), Bhima and the son of Pandu (Arjuna) see me graced with great prosperity, then only shall I attain to the great end of my life.
But I do not see the means through which I can go to that forest and by which I may get the permission of the king Dhritarashtra.
Therefore find out some skillful plan with the help of Subala's son (Shakuni) and Duhshasana, by which we may go to the forest (where the Pandavas) are.
I shall also today make up my mind whether I should go or not and then I shall see the king (my father) tomorrow.
When I shall remain seated (tomorrow) with that foremost of the Kurus, you will then with Subala's son propose the pretext you may have fixed upon.
Hearing then the words of Bhishma and of the king (my father) on the subject of this journey, I shall settle everything, beseeching (the permission of) our grand father (Bhishma).
Vaishampayana said:
Having said "So be it." They then all went away to their respective houses. As soon as the night passed, Karna came to the king.
Thereupon Karna thus smilingly spoke to Duryodhana, "O ruler of men, a plan has been fixed upon by me. Hear it.
O ruler, of men, our herds of cattle are now in Dvaitavana all waiting for you. There is no doubt we can go on the pretext of seeing our cattle.
O king, O rulr of earth, it is always proper to go and see the cattle; if you say this to your father, you will get his permission."
When they were thus talking about the cattle, the Gandhara king Shakuni thus smilingly spoke,
"O ruler of men, this plan which has no difficulty to be carried out was what I also saw for the purpose of going (to Dvaitavana). The king will certainly grant us permission or even he may send us there of his own accord. Our herds of cattle are now all waiting in the forest of Dvaitavana. We may certainly go there under the pretext of seeing our cattle."
They then all three laughed together and gave their hands to one another. Having arrived at this conclusion, they then went to see the chief of the Kurus (Dhritarashtra).
Vaishampayana said:
O Janamejaya, O descendant of Bharata, then they all saw Dhritarashtra and asked his welfare; they were also asked their welfare in return.
Then a cowherd named Samanga who had been instructed before-hand come to the king Dhritarashtra and spoke about the cattle.
O king, the son of Radha (Karna) and Shakuni thus spoke to that foremost of kings, the ruler of earth, Dhritarashtra,
"O descendant of Kuru, our cattle are now stationed in a charming place. The time for marking the calves has also come.
O king, this is also an excellent season for your son Duryodhana to go to a hunting expedition. Therefore you should grant him permission to go there.
Dhritarashtra said:
O child, hunting and seeing the cattle are both very proper acts. I think the herdsman should not be (completely) trusted.
But I have heard that those foremost of men (the Pandavas) are living some where near that place; therefore I think you should not yourselves go there.
Defeated by deceitful means, they are now living in the deep forest in great misery. O son of Radha, those greatly powerful car-warriors are now engaged in asceticism.
Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) will never be angry, but Bhimasena is naturally wrathful; the daughter of Yajnasena (Draupadi) also is effulgence herself.
Full of pride and folly as you are you are certain to give her offence. Endued with ascetic merit as she is (now), she will certainly consume you.
Or perhaps, those heroes, armed with swords and other weapons and filled with wrath, may consume you with the fire of their weapons.
Or if from the force of numbers you seek to injure them in any way, even that will be a highly improper act, though I know you will never succeed.
The mighty armed Dhananjaya (Arjuna) had lived in the abode of Indra. Having obtained the celestials weapons, he has returned to the forest.
While unaccomplished in arms, Bibhatsu (Arjuna) conquered the whole earth. He is now a great car-warrior and highly accomplished in arms, why will he not be able (now) to kill you all?
Or if you in obedience to my words on going there, behave carefully you will then never be able to live happily, as you will always be in a state of trustlessness.
Or some soldiers of yours may do some injury to Yudhishthira and that unpremeditated act may be ascribed to you. O descendant of Bharata, therefore let some faithful men go there to count the cattle and mark the calves. I do not think it is proper for your to go in person.
Shakuni said:
O descendant of Bharata, the eldest Pandava is virtuous; he has taken the pledge in the assembly that he will live twelve years in the forest.
The other Pandavas are virtuous and obedient to him. The son of Kunti, Yudhishthira will never be angry with us.
We desire very much to go to a hunting expedition; we shall also take that opportunity to count the cattle. We have no wish to see the Pandavas.
We shall not go to that place where the Pandavas are living. Therefore no misconduct on our part can possibly arise.
Vaishampayana said:
Having been thus addressed by Shakuni, the ruler of earth, Dhritarashtra, unwillingly gave permission to Duryodhana and his counsellors to go.
Having received permission, the son of Gandhari, that foremost of the Bharata race (Duryodhana) with Karna and with a large host started.
He has accompanied by Dushasana the intelligent son of Subala (Shakuni) an, by many others of his brothers and also thousands of women.
When he started to see that lake the Dvaitavana, the citizens also with their wives proceeded towards that forest.
Eight thousand cars, thirty thousand elephants, nine thousand horses and many thousands of foot soldiers,
Carriages, shops, pavilions, traders, bards and men, trained in hunting, by hundred and thousands, followed the king.
O monarch, as the king started, followed by many thousands of men, the uproar caused by the march resembled the deep roar of winds in the rains.
Arriving at the lake of Dvaitavana with his followers and conveyances, king Duryodhana encamped at the distance of four miles from the lake.
Vaishampayana said:
Then the king Duryodhana, living in various parts of that forest, at last came to the cattle stations and encamped there.
Selecting a well known charming place which had a plentiful supply of water and which abounded in trees and possessed every convenience, his attendants built a house for him.
Near the royal residence, they also erected separate houses for Karna, Shakuni and other brothers of the king.
The king saw his cattle by hundreds and thousands. Examining their limbs and marks, he supervised their counting.
He caused the calves to be marked and took notes of those that required to be tamed. He also counted all those cows of which calves had not yet been leaned.
Completing the task of counting and marking every calf which was three years old, the Kuru prince, surrounded by the cow-herds, began cheerfully to sport and wander about (in that forest).
The citizens and the soldiers by thousands sported in that forest as best pleased them like the celestials.
The herdsman, well-skilled in singing and dancing and playing on musical instruments and maidens adorned with ornaments ministered to the pleasures of Dhritarashtra's son.
The king surrounded by the ladies of the royal household began cheerfully to distribute according to the merit of each, wealth, food and drinks of various kinds among those that sought to please him.
Attended by all his followers, the king killed many bison's, buffaloes, deer gavayas, bear and boars. Pierced by his arrows animals by thousands died in that deep forest. He caused the deer to be caught in the most delightful parts of the forest.
Drinking milk and enjoying various other delicious articles, O descendant of Bharata and also seeing as he proceeded many delightful forests and woods swarming with bees intoxicated with the honey of flowers and resounding with the sweet notes of peacock, the king at last reached the sacred lake of Dvaitavana.
The place was swarmed with bees intoxicated with the honey of the flowers; it echoed with the sweet notes of blue throated jay (bird); it was shaded by Saptachadas and Punnyagas and Bakulas.
The king (Duryodhana) graced with great prosperity went there like the wielder of thunder, the lord of the celestials (Indra). O foremost of the Kuru race, the greatly intelligent Dharmaraja Yudhishthira was then,
O king, living near that lake and was performing with his wife Draupadi the sacrifice called Rajarshi according to the ordinance sanctioned for the celestials and persons living in the forest.
O descendant of Bharata, Duryodhana, having arrived at that place, commanded thousands of his men to build there pleasure houses with the least delay.
Saying "So be it", they at the command of the king went towards the banks of the lake to build the pleasure houses.
As the best of the soldiers of Dhritarashtra's son, having reached the lake, were about to enter the woods, many Gandharvas came forward and commanded them not to enter.
O monarch, the king of the Gandharvas with his followers had already arrived there from the abode of Kubera.
He had come surrounded by various Apsaras and also by many sons of the celestials. Having come to that lake to sport, he had closed the place to all comers.
O king, finding the lake closed by the Gandharva king, the royal attendants (of Duryodhana) went back to the place where their king was.
O descendant of Kuru, hearing their words, he (Duryodhana) sent a number of his soldiers, all difficult to be vanquished in battle, commanding them to drive away the Gandharvas.
Those warriors, who formed the vanguard of the Kuru army, having heard those words of the king, went back to the lake of the Dvaitavana and thus spoke to the Gandharvas.
"The powerful king named Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, has come here for sport. Therefore leave this place at once."
Having been thus addressed. O king, the Gandharvas laughed aloud. They thus replied to them in harsh words,
"Your wicked-minded Duryodhana has but little sense. Or else how could he thus command us who are dwellers of heaven as if we are his servants.
You are certainly fools to rush thus to the point of death. You are senseless idiots to bring such massage to us.
Go back soon where that Kuru king is or else you will today go to the abode of Dharmaraja (Yama)."
Having been thus addressed by the Gandharvas, those vanguards (of the Kuru army) ran back to the place where the king (Duryodhana), the son of Dhritarashtra was.
Vaishampayana said:
O great king, they then all came to Duryodhana and spoke to that Kuru prince all that they (the Gandharvas) had spoken to them.
O descendant of Bharata, finding that his soldiers had been opposed by the Gandharvas, the mighty son of Dhritarashtra was filled with great anger and thus spoke to the soldiers,
"Chastise these wicked witches who want to do what is not agreeable to me, even if he be Shatakratu (Indra) who is sporting here with all the celestials."
Having heard the words of Duryodhana, the greatly powerful sons of Dhritarashtra, thousands of warriors armed themselves for battle. Filling ten directions with loud leonine roars and crushing all they entered by force that forest.
O ruler of earth, the Gandharvas, again forbade the Kuru soldiers to advance. Though gently forbidden by the Gandharvas, disregarding all those Gandharvas, they entered that great forest. When the son of Dhritarashtra did not stop his soldiers, then those rangers of the sky went and spoke to Chitrasena.
The Gandharva king, when he heard it, was filled with anger and he thus commanded his followers "Punish and chastise these wicked wretches."
O descendant of Bharata, thus commanded by Chitrasena, the Gandharvas, rushed towards the Dhritarashtra people with weapons in hand.
Seeing the Gandharvas rushing towards them with great force and with uplifted weapons, the Dhritarashtra warriors fled in all directions.
Seeing that all the Dhritarashtra people were flying before the enemy. The heroic son of Radha (Karna) alone did not fly.
Seeing that the great army of the Gandharvas was rushing towards him, the son of Radha stopped them with a very large shower of arrows.
That son of Suta by his great lightness of hands struck hundreds of Gandharvas with Khurupas and arrows and Bhallas and various other weapons made of bones and steel.
That great car-warrior cut off within a moment the heads of many Gandharvas and thus they made the army of Chitrasena yell in pain.
Although the Gandharvas were killed by the greatly intelligent son of Suta (Karna). They returned to the charge by hundreds and thousands; and in consequence of the hoards of Gandharvas rushing to battle, earth became covered over by the Gandharva army.
Then king Duryodhana and also the son of Subala (Shakuni), Duhshasana and Vikarna and the sons of Dhritarashtra, riding on cars, the clatter of the wheels of which resembled the roars of Garuda, followed the lead of Karna and returned to the charge and began to kill the (Gandharva) army.
With the desire of supporting Karna, the (Kuru) princes attacked the Gandharva army. With a very large number of cars and horses, the whole of the Gandharva army began to fight.
The battle that took place was fearful and hair-stirring. Then the Gandharvas, afflicted with the arrows of the Kurus army, seemed to be exhausted. Having seen the Gandharvas afflicted, the Kurus sent up a loud roar.
Seeing the Gandharva army afflicted with fear, Chitrasena jumped up in great anger from his seat and resolved to exterminate the Kuru army.
That hero, learned in the various modes of warfare, fought with his weapons of illusion. The Kuru heroes were all deprived of their senses by the illusion of Chitrasena.
Then, O descendant of Bharata, it appeared that every Kuru warrior was attacked and surrounded by the Gandharvas.
Being thus attacked with great force the Kuru army was afflicted and it was with panic, O king, those that desired to live fled from the field (of battle).
O king, when the whole of the Kuru army broke and fled, the son of Surya (Karna) alone stood there as immoveable as a hill.
Duryodhana, Karna and Shakuni, the son of Subala, all fought with the Gandharvas though they were all severely wounded.
All the Gandharvas then with the desire of killing Karna rushed upon him in battle in hundreds and thousands.
Those greatly powerful heroes, with the desire of killing that Suta's son, surrounded him on all sides with swords, battle axes and spears.
Some cut down the yoke of his car, some its flag-staff, some its shafts, some its horses and some its charioteer.
Some cut down his umbrella, some the wooden fender round his car and some its joints. It was thus many thousands of Gandharvas attacked his car and broke it into many pieces. When his car was thus attacked, Karna leaped from it with sword and shield in his hands. He then jumped upon the car of Vikarna and whipped the horses (to leave the field and) save himself.
Vaishampayana said:
O great king, when the great car-warrior Karna was routed by the Gandharvas, the great army of Dhritarashtra's son fled away in his very sight.
Seeing all the Kuru soldiers flying from the enemy, the great king Duryodhana refused to run away.
Seeing the greatly powerful Gandharva army rushing towards him, that chastiser of foes hurled on them a thick shower of arrows.
Without minding that shower of arrows the Gandharvas, with the desire of killing Duryodhana, surrounded his car.
With their arrows, they cut off into pieces its yoke, shafts, fenders, the flag-staff, threefold bamboo poles and the chief turret. They also cut off his charioteer and horses. When Duryodhana thus deprived to his car fell on the ground, the mighty-armed Chitrasena rushed upon him and seized him with such force that it seemed as if his life itself was taken.
O king of kings, when he was thus taken prisoner, the Gandharvas surrounded the car on which Duhshasana was seated; and they took him also as a prisoner.
Some seized Vivenshati and some Chitrasena and some Vinda and Anuvinda and some again seized all the ladies of the royal household.
The soldiers of the son of Dhritarashtra who were routed by the Gandharvas then came to the Pandavas.
When the king (Duryodhana) was taken prisoner, the vehicles, the shops, the pavilions, the conveyances and the beasts of burden were all made over to the Pandavas for protection.
The soldiers said:
The handsome, the mighty-armed and the greatly powerful son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) is taken away by the Gandharvas as prisoner. O sons of Pritha, follow them.
Duhshasana, Durvisha, Durmukha and Durjaya are all being led away as prisoners bound in chains and also the ladies of the royal household.
Vaishampayana said:
Thus crying, the followers of Duryodhana, afflicted with grief and sorrow, came to Yudhishthira desiring to effect the rescue of their king.
Then to those old counsellors of Duryodhana who came, in grief and being melancholy, to ask protection from Yudhishthira, Bhimsena said,
"That, we ought to have done with great efforts arriving ourselves in the line of battle, supported by horses and elephants has indeed been done (today) by the Gandharvas.
They that came here with other purposes have been overtaken by consequences which they have not foreseen. This is the result of the evil counsels of a king who is fond of gambling.
It has been heard by us that even the enemy of a man who is powerful is overthrown by others, the Gandharvas have done this extraordinary feat before our very eyes.
There is in the world still fortunately (for us) some who is desirous of doing us good and who has taken upon his shoulder our pleasant load.
The wicked-minded wretch had come here to us, himself being in prosperity, while we are now sunk in misery, being emaciated by severe austerities and exposed to wind, cold and heat.
Those that imitate the conduct of that sinful and wicked Kuru (Duryodhana) are now seeing his own disgrace.
He who instructed Duryodhana to do this had certainly acted sinfully. I tell you, the sons of Kunti are not wicked and sinful."
When the son of Kunti Bhimasena was thus talking in a voice of sarcasm, the king (Yudhishthira) said, "This is not the time for using cruel words."
Yudhishthira said:
O child, why do you speak these cruel words to these frightened Kurus who are now in adversity and who have come to us for protection?
O Vrikodara, dissensions and disputes often take place among those that are connected in blood. Such hostilities always exist, but for it family honour is never suffered to be destroyed.
If any stranger seeks to destroy the honour of a family, they that are good never tolerate such insult to be offered by the stranger.
The wretched minded one (Gandharva king) knows that we are living here for some time. (Even knowing this), he has disregarded us and has done this which is disagreeable to us.
O exalted one, from this forcible seizure of Duryodhana and from this insult offered to the ladies of our family by a stranger, our family honour is destroyed.
O foremost of men, arise and arm yourselves without the least delay to rescue those that have sought protection and also to save the honour of our family.
Let Arjuna and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and yourself and also those that are brave and invincible (at once go and) rescue Duryodhana who is even now being taken away as a prisoner.
These blazing cars with golden flag-staffs belonging to the son of Dhritarashtra are now all ready (before you). With Indrasena and other charioteers who are all skilled in arms, ride all of you these ever furnished cars with deep rattling noise. Ride on them and fight to your utmost power with the Gandharvas to rescue Duryodhana. Even an ordinary Kshatriya would try his best to protect one who has come to him for protection. What then, O Vrikodara, shall I speak to you?
Entreated for assistance in such words as these, "O hasten to my help," who is there that is so mean as not to help even his enemy when he see him to crave for protection with joined hands? The bestowal of a boon, a sovereignty and the birth of a son are sources of great happiness. But to rescue an enemy from distress is equal to all three.
What could be greater joy to you than that Duryodhana now in distress seeks his very life which now depends on the strength of your arms?
O Vrikodara, O hero, if the vow which I am engaged in observing were over, I would have certainly myself run to his assistance.
Try by all means, O Bhima, O Kuru prince, to rescue Duryodhana (first) by the act of conciliation. If however the Gandharva king cannot be managed by the act of conciliation, then you must try to rescue Duryodhana by light fighting.
If the Gandharvas do not let off the Kurus, even then, O Bhima, you must then rescue them by crushing the enemy by all means.
O Vrikodara, all this I can tell you now, for my vow has begun, but it has not ended as yet."
Having heard these words of Ajatshatru, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) at the command of his Guru, vowed to rescue the Kurus.
"If the Gandharvas do not peacefully let off the Dhritarashtra people, the earth shall this day drink the blood of the Gandharvas." Hearing the vow of the truthful Arjuna, O king, the Kurus were fully cheered up.
Vaishampayana said:
Having heard the words of Yudhishthira, those foremost of men headed by Bhimasena rose up in great delight.
O descendant of Bharata, those great car-warriors then put on impenetrable armours that were a decked with gold.
They armed themselves with celestials weapons of various kinds. Thus armed, they ascended the cars furnished with flag-staffs with bows and arrows in their hands. The Pandavas looked like so many blazing fires.
Those foremost of car-warriors, riding on those well-fumished cars drawn by fleet horses, went to the place (where the Gandharvas were) without the least delay.
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Thereupon, the Kuru soldiers sent up a very loud shout. O seeing the great car-warriors the sons of Pandu going (to fight with the Gandharvas). Those rangers of the sky (Gandharvas), the great car-warriors, were flushed with victory. Those warriors, the Pandavas, fearlessly encountered one other in the forest.
The Gandharvas, seeing the four sons of Pandu coming to battle on their cars, all turned back towards the advancing combatants. Seeing the Pandavas looking like the blazing Lokapalas, those dwellers of Gandhamadana (Gandharva) were inflamed with anger and they stood in battle array.
In accordance with the command of the greatly intelligent son of Dharma, Yudhishthira, O descendant of Bharata, the battle that took place was but a skirmish.
But the foolish minded soldiers of the Gandharva chief were seen by that chastiser of foes Savyasachi (Arjuna) that they could not be by means of a light skirmish made to understand what was good for them. He thus spoke to those rangers of the sky in these conciliatory words, "Let off my brother, the king Duryodhana."
Having been thus addressed by that illustrious Pandava, the Gandharvas laughed aloud. They thus replied to Partha,
"O child, there is that one whose command we obey and living under whose rule we pass our days being free from all miseries. O descendant of Bharata, we always act as that person commands us."
Having been thus addressed by the Gandharvas in these words, the son of Kunti, Dhananjaya, thus replied to the Gandharvas in these words,
"This contact with other females and this fight with men are not proper for the Gandharva king.
Therefore let off all these mighty sons of Dhritarashtra. Let off also these ladies at the command of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira).
O Gandharva, if you do not set the sons of Dhritarashtra free in peace, I shall certainly rescue Duryodhana by my prowess."
Having said this, the son of Pritha Savyasachi Dhananjaya (Arjuna) hurled a shower of sky-ranging and sharp arrows on those sky-rangers.
Thus attacked, those greatly powerful Gandharvas then rushed on the Pandavas and showered on them innumerable arrows. The Pandavas also in their turn attacked those dwellers of heaven. O descendant of Bharata, then a very fearful battle was fought between the active and energetic Gandharvas and the impetuous Pandavas.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon the Gandharvas armed with celestials weapons and adorned with golden garlands, showering innumerable blazing arrows, surrounded them on all sides.
There were but four Pandavas heroes; on the other hand there were thousands of Gandharvas. Therefore, O king, the battle that was fought was extraordinary.
As the Gandharvas cut off the chariot of Karna and of the sons of Dhritarashtra, so they tried to do the same with respect to their (Pandava's) chariots.
O king, those foremost of men attacked with showers of arrows thousands and thousands of Gandharvas who were rushing towards them.
Those mighty rangers of the sky, thus checked on all sides by that shower of arrows, did not succeed to come even near the Pandavas.
Arjuna who was greatly enraged after carefully aiming at them hurled against the angry Gandharvas his celestials weapons.
In that battle the greatly powerful Arjuna with his Agneya weapon sent ten lakhs of Gandharvas to the abode of Yama.
That great bowman, Bhima, that foremost of all strong men, killed in that battle thousands of Gandharvas with his sharp arrows.
O king, the greatly powerful sons of Madri, fighting with great prowess, attacked hundreds of Gandharvas and killed them all.
When the Gandharvas were thus killed by the mighty heroes with the celestials weapons, they ascended the skies and took with them the son of Dhritarashtra.
But the son of Kunti, Dhananjaya (Arjuna), seeing them rise to the sky, surrounded them on all sides by a net of arrows.
Having been confined within that net of arrows of birds are confined in a cage, they angrily hurled upon Arjuna maces, darts and swords.
But Dhananjaya, learned in weapons, soon stopped that shower of maces, darts and swords. He then mangled the limbs of the enemies by his crescent-shaped arrows.
Heads, legs and arms (of the Gandharvas) began to drop down from above like a shower of stones; thereupon the enemy was struck with terror.
As the Gandharvas were killed by the illustrious Pandava, they hurled a heavy shower of weapons on Arjuna who was on earth.
But that chastiser of foes, that greatly powerful Savyasachi (Arjuna), stopped that shower of weapons with his own weapons and began to wound them.
That descendant of Kuru, Arjuna, shot his well-known weapons, named Sthunakarna, Indrajala, Saura, Agneya and Saumya.
The Gandharvas, consumed by the arrows of the son of Kunti, became greatly afflicted, as the Daityas were by Shakra.
When they attacked Savyasachi (Arjuna) from above, they were stopped by his net of arrows. While they attacked him from all sides on earth, they were stopped by his Bhala (weapon).
O descendant of Bharata, seeing the Gandharvas routed by the son of Kunti, Chitrasena took up a mace and rushed upon Savyasachi.
As he was rushing with his mace in his hand, Partha (Arjuna) cut off that iron mace into seven pieces.
Seeing his mace cut into piece by that very active hero, (Arjuna), with his arrows, he with his own science (of illusion) began to fight with the Pandava.
The heroic Arjuna, however, stopped with his celestials weapons all the celestials weapons that were aimed at him by the Gandharva king.
When the mighty Gandharva king saw that he was checked by the high-souled Arjuna with his weapons, he disappeared from view by the help of illusion.
Seeing that the ranger of sky was striking at him concealed from sight, Arjuna attacked him with his celestials weapons with proper mantras.
Dhananjaya, becoming greatly enraged, prevented the disappearance of his enemy with his weapon called Shabdavedha.
Attacked by those weapons by the illustrious Arjuna, his dear friend the Gandharva king appeared before him.
Chitrasena thus spoke to him, "Behold, your friend is fighting with you." Seeing his friend weak in battle, that foremost of Pandavas withdrew his weapons. The Pandavas, seeing Arjuna withdraw his weapons, checked their flying horses and stopped their weapons and withdrew their bows.
Chitrasena, Bhima and Arjuna and the twins then enquired after one another's welfare and sat down on their respective chariots.
Vaishampayana said:
The greatly effulgent great bowman Arjuna then smilingly thus spoke to Chitrasena in the midst of the Gandharvas soldiers.
"O hero, what purpose do you serve by punishing the Kurus? Why do you persecute Duryodhana with his wives."
Chitrasena said:
O Dhananjaya, I knew long before the (real) purpose of the wicked Duryodhana and the wretched Karna in coming here.
That purpose is this, knowing that you are exiled in the forest and suffering great afflictions, as if you had no one to take care of you, himself in prosperity, this wretch desired to see you in adversity and misfortune.
They came here to mock you and the illustrious Draupadi. Knowing their purpose the lord of the celestials thus spoke to me,
"Go and bring Duryodhana in chains with all his counsellors. Protect Dhananjaya with all his brothers in battle; he is my dear friend and that Pandava is also my disciple."
At these words of the lord of the celestials, I speedily came here. The wicked wretch is now in chains, I shall go to the abode of the celestials. I shall now take this wicked-minded one at the command of the slayer of Paka.
Arjuna said:
O Chitrasena, if you wish to do what is agreeable to me, then set Duryodhana free at the command of Dharmaraja, he is our brother.
Chitrasena said:
This sinful wretch is always full of vanity. He deserves not to be let off. O Dhananjaya, he has deceived and wronged both Dharmaraja and Krishna (Draupadi). The son of Kunti Yudhishthira knows not the purpose in which this wretch came here. Let the king therefore do what he likes after knowing everything.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon all of them went to king Yudhishthira. Going to him they told all that had happened.
Ajatshatru (Yudhishthira), having heard the words of the Gandharva, asked to set them all free and he also praised the Gandharva.
(He said), "It is fortunate for us that though you possess great prowess, you did not kill the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) with all his counsellors and relatives.
O sir, this is a great kindness that has been shown to me by the Gandharvas. The honour of my family is also saved by liberating the wicked wretch.
I am pleased to see you all. Command me what I can do for you. Having received all that you desire to have, go back to the place whence you came."
Thus requested by the greatly intelligent Pandava, the Gandharvas became greatly delighted. They went away with the Apsaras with Chitrasena at their head.
The lord of the celestials then came there and vivified with the celestials Ambrosia all those Gandharvas that were killed in the battle with the Kurus.
The Pandavas also, having rescued their relatives with the ladies of the royal household and having achieved that great feat, became exceedingly delighted.
Those illustrious car-warriors, worshipped by the Kurus with their sons and wives, blazed forth in splendour, as a fire blazes in a sacrifice.
Then Yudhishthira thus spoke out of affection to the liberated Duryodhana in the midst of his brothers.
"O child, O descendant of Bharata never again commit such a rash act. A rash man never becomes happy.
O Kuru prince, be blessed with all your brothers. Go back home as pleases you without any despondency or cheerlessness."
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Having been thus dismissed by the Pandavas, Duryodhana saluted the son of Dharma (Yudhishthira). Overwhelmed with shame, his heart appeared as if rent in two. He mechanically started for his city as one destitute of life.
When that Kuru (Duryodhana), had gone away, the son of Kunti Yudhishthira with his brothers was worshipped by the Brahmanas. Surrounded by these great ascetics, as Indra by the celestials, he lived in great happiness in that forest of Dvaitavana.
Janamejaya said:
After his defeat and capture by the enemy and his subsequent liberation by the high-souled sons of Pandu by their prowess of arms, it seems to me that the entry of the proud, wicked, boastful, vicious insolent and wretched Duryodhana, ever engaged in insulting the Pandavas and boastful of his own superiority into Hastinapur must have been exceedingly difficult. O Vaishampayana, describe to me in detail the entry into the capital of that prince, overwhelmed as he was then with shame and grief.
Vaishampayana said:
Having been dismissed by king Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), the son of Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana, bending his head down in shame and greatly afflicted with grief and sorrow, slowly went away.
The king (Duryodhana), accompanied by his four kinds of forces went towards his city, his heart rent in grief and his mind filled with thoughts of his defeat.
Leaving his chariots in the way in a place which abounded in grass and water, the king encamped on a delightful and good place as pleased him best.
With his elephants, cars, cavalry and infantry stationed all around (the camp), he was seated on an elevated bed-stead as bright as fire.
Himself looking like the moon under eclipse. At the end of the night, Karna came to Duryodhana and thus spoke to him,
"O son of Gandhari, fortunate it is that you are alive. Fortunate it is that we have again met. By good luck you have defeated the Gandharvas who are capable of assuming any form at will.
O descendant of Kuru, by good luck alone that I am enabled to see your brothers, who are all mighty car-warriors, come off victorious from that battle.
As for myself, being attacked by the Gandharvas and being unable to rally our hosts I fled before your eyes. Attacked by the enemy with all the prowess and my body mangled with their arrows, I sought safety in flight. This, however, O descendant of Bharata, seemed to me to be a great wonder that I see you all come back safe with your wives, troops and vehicles out of that super-human battle.
O descendant of Bharata, O great king, that is no other man in this world who can achieve what you have achieved in battle today with your brothers.
Vaishampayana said:
Having been thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana thus spoke in reply to the Anga king (Karna) in a voice choked with tears.
Duryodhana said:
O son of Radha, you do not know what had happened; therefore I am not angry at your word. You think that the hostile Gandharvas had been defeated by my own prowess.
O mighty-armed hero, for a long time my brothers standing by me fought with the Gandharvas. But the slaughter on both the sides was very great.
When those heroes (the Gandharvas) fought with the illusion, then our battle with those rangers of skies became an unequal one.
We then met with defeat and we were then all made prisoners along with our attendants, counsellors, children, wives, troops and cars.
We were overwhelmed with sorrow and we were being taken by them through high skies. Thereupon some of our soldiers and counsellers and great car-warriors.
Went in grief to the Pandavas who never refuse help to those that ask for it; they thus spoke to them, "Here is king Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra with his brothers.
And also with his counsellors and wives. He is being carried away a prisoner by the Gandharvas who are in the sky. Be blessed. Rescue the king with his wives.
Do not allow great insult to be offered to all the Kuru ladies." Having been thus addressed, the eldest Pandava, who is ever virtuous.
Conciliating all the Pandavas ordered them to rescue us. Thereupon those foremost of men, the Pandavas, overtaking them (the Gandharvas), asked them in sweet words to release us, although they were able to rescue us by force. But when they refused to release us in sweet words.
Then the greatly powerful Bhima, Arjuna and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) hurled on the Gandharvas a great shower of arrows.
Thereupon those rangers of skies, abandoning the fight fled through the sky and dragged our poor-selves after them in great joy.
Then we saw a net-work of arrows all around us spread out by Dharmaraja who was shooting extraordinary weapons on the enemy.
Seeing all directions covered with a net work of sharp arrows shot by the Pandavas, that friend of Dhananjaya (the Gandharva king) appeared before him.
Then Chitrasena and the Pandava (Arjuna) embraced each other and enquired after each other's health. The other Pandavas were also embraced by him in return. They also enquired about one another's welfare. The heroic Gandharvas then casting aside their armours and weapons mixed freely with the Pandavas. Then Chitrasena and Dharmaraja worshipped each other with great respect and regard.
Duryodhana said:
That slayer of hostile army, Arjuna, then came to Chitrasena and he smilingly spoke these manly words.
"O hero, O foremost of the Gandharvas, you should release my brothers. They are not to be insulted so long the Pandavas are alive."
Having been thus addressed by the illustrious son of Pandu, O Karna, the Gandharva told him of the (secret) counsel with which we came, namely we had gone there for seeing the Pandavas, with their wife in the greatest misery.
When these counsels of ours were disclosed by the Gandharva, I desired then in great shame to enter the earth.
The Gandharva then accompanied by the Pandavas went to Yudhishthira describing to him our (secret) counsels, bound as we were, he made us over to him.
Alas, what greater sorrow could be mine than that I should thus be offered as tribute to Yudhishthira in the very sight of our women, myself in chains and in great misery and also under the complete control of our enemies!
Alas, they that were ever persecuted by me, they that were my everlasting enemies, released me from captivity! Wretch that I am, I am indebted to them for my life!
O hero, if I had met with my death in that great battle that would have been far better than that I have obtained my life in this way.
If I would have been killed by the Gandharvas, my fame would have spread over the earth. I would have then obtained holy regions of everlasting happiness in the abode of Indra.
O foremost of men, listen to me now as to what I intend to do. I shall stay here fasting, all of you go back home.
Let all my brothers also go to their own city (Hastinapur). Let all our relatives and friends headed by Dushasana go back to the city.
Insulted as I am by the enemy I shall never again return to that city; I was ever respected and feared by my enemy, I who ever enhanced the respect of my friends and relatives,
Have now become a source of sorrow to my friends and joy to my enemies. Having gone to Hastinapura, what shall I say to the king (Dhritarashtra)?
What will Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, the son of Drona (Ashvathama), Vidura, Sanjaya, the son of Balhika (king), the son of Somadatta and the other revered chiefs and also the chief men of independent professions say to me and what shall I say to them in return?
Having hitherto stayed over the heads of my enemies, having hitherto trod upon their breasts, I have been now degraded from my position. What shall I say to them (now)?
Like me who was puffed up with vanity, insolent men, even obtaining prosperity, knowledge and affluence, are never blessed for any length of time.
Alas, led by folly I have done a highly improper and wicked act, for which, fool that I am, I have now fallen into such distress.
I shall therefore die of starvation; I shall not be able to live. Rescued by one's own enemy, what man of manliness cold drag on (a miserable) existence?
Proud as I am, the enemy has laughed at me when they found me deprived of all manliness. The Pandavas, who possessed great prowess (joyously) looked at me who was then in the greatest possible misery."
Vaishampayana said:
When he was thus bewailing, he thus spoke to Dushasana, "O Dushasana, O descendant of Bharata, hear my words.
Accepting this installation offered by me, become king. Ruler over the earth protected by Karna and the son of Subala.
As the slayer of Vritra (Indra) cherishes the Marutas, so cherish our brothers in such a way as they may trust you. Let your friends and relatives depend on you as the celestials depend on you as the celestials depend on Shatakratu (Indra).
Always bestow pensions on Brahmanas; be always the refuge of your friends and relatives.
As Vishnu looks after the celestials, you should also look after all your poor and helpless relatives. Always cherish your Gurus. Go, rule the earth, gladdening all your friends and chastising all your enemies." Clasping his neck he said, "Go."
Having heard his words, Dushasana in great misery and grief said to his eldest brother with joined hands, with bent down head and with voice choked in tears, "Relent." Saying this, he fell down on the earth in the greatest possible misery. In sorrow and grief that foremost of men shed tears on the feet of his brother and thus spoke to him, "This can never be done.
The earth may split, the heavens may fall down in pieces, the sun may lose his rays, the moon may abandon her coolness, the wind may forsake its speed, the Himalayas may be moved from its site, the waters of the ocean may dry up and fire may lose its heat; But, O king, I cannot rule the earth without you." He again and again said, "Relent," "Relent".
"You alone shall be king in our race, for one hundred years." Having said this, he loudly wept before the king.
O descendant of Bharata, catching, the feet of his eldest brother who deserved worship from him. Having seen Dushasana in great grief and Duryodhana in greatest possible misery, Karna came to them and said, "O Kuru princes, why do you childishly weep like ordinary people?
Men can never by weeping drive away their grief. Weeping can never remove one's own grief.
What do you gain by thus giving way to sorrow? Summon patience. Do not grieve and thus give joy to your enemies.
O king, the Pandavas did only their duty in rescuing you. Those that reside in the dominions of the king should always do what is agreeable to the king.
Under your protection, the Pandavas are residing in your dominion in great happiness. You should not indulge in sorrow like ordinary people.
‘Behold, your brothers are all sad and miserable on seeing you resolved to die by starvation. Be blessed. Rise up and come to your city and console your brothers.’
Karna said:
O king, your today's conduct is childish. O hero, what is to be wondered at in all this, that you were rescued by the Pandavas.
When you were defeated by the foe. O chastiser of foes, O descendant of Kuru, those that reside in the dominion of the king, specially the warriors.
Should always do what is agreeable to the king, whether they happen to be known to the king or unknown to him. Often happens that even the foremost of men who are capable of crushing the enemy are often defeated by them; under such circumstances they are often rescued by their troops. The warriors living in a king's dominion should always combine and try their utmost for their king. If, therefore, O king, the Pandavas who live in your dominion have rescued you, what is there to be sorry for? O foremost of kings, O monarch, it was not proper for the Pandavas.
That they did not follow you when you marched to battle at the head of your troops. They have long before come under your power by becoming your slaves. Endued as they are with courage and prowess and incapable as they are to turn back from the field of battle they are bound to help you. You are now enjoying all the rich possessions of the Pandavas; O king, see, the Pandavas are yet active. They have not resolved to die by fasting. Rise, O king, be blessed; you should not grieve.
O lord of men, it is the certain duty of those who live in a king's dominion to do which is agreeable to that king, what is there then to be sorry for?
O king of kings, O chastiser of foes, if you do not act as I say, I shall then stay here and serve at your feet with all respect.
O foremost of men, O king, I do not desire to live without you. If you resolve to die by fasting, you will simply be the laughing-stock of all other kings.
Vaishampayana said :
Having been thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana, being firmly resolved to die, determined not to rise from the place where he sat.
O king, seeing Duryodhana who is always incapable of putting up with an insult, seated with the determination of dying by starvation, the son of Subala, Shakuni, spoke thus.
Shakuni said:
O descendant of Kuru, you have heard that Karna has said. His words are indeed full of wisdom. O king, why should you foolishly throw away the great prosperity that I won for you by abandoning your life today through mere silliness? It appears to me today that you never waited upon (wise) old men.
Like an unburnt earthen vessel in water, he, who is incapable of controlling sudden occasions of joy or grief, is lost even if he obtains prosperity.
The king who is entirely destitute of courage, who has no spark of manliness, who is the slave of procrastination and who is addicted to sensual pleasures is never respected by his subjects.
Befitted as you have been, whence is this unseasonable grief of yours? Do not undo this graceful act done by the sons of Pritha by indulging in grief.
O king of kings, when you should express your joy and reward the Pandavas, you are grieving. Your this behaviour is very inconsistent.
Be cheerful; do not abandon your life. But with a very pleased heart think of the good work they have done to you. Give back to the sons of Pritha their kingdom and win both virtue and renown by your this act.
Establishing brotherly relations with the Pandavas, become their friends and make them your friends, give them back their paternal kingdom, for you will then be happy.
Vaishampayana said:
Having heard the words of Shakuni and having seen Dushashana lying at the feet of the king (Duryodhana) unmanned by fraternal affection, the king raised Dushashana and clasping him in his well formed arms he smelt his head.
Having heard the words of Karna and Subala's son (Shakuni), the king Duryodhana was overwhelmed with shame. He lost heart more than ever and utter despair overtook his soul.
Having heard all that his friends said, he thus again spoke in sorrow, "I have nothing more to do with virtue, wealth, friendship, affluence, sovereignty and enjoyments. Do not oppose me; leave me all of you. I am firmly resolved to abandon my life by fasting. Go back to the city and worship all my Gurus with respect."
Having been thus addressed by him, they thus replied to that royal chastiser of foes, "O king of kings, O descendant of Bharata, the course that is yours is also ours. How can we enter the city without you?"
Vaishampayana said:
Though addressed in all manner of ways by his friends and counsellors and brothers and relatives, the king waved not from his firm resolve.
In accordance with his resolve, he spread Kusha grass on the ground and purifying himself by touching water, he sat down on it. Clad in rags and Kusha grass, he engaged in observing the greatest vow. That foremost of Kings, with the desire of going to heaven, stopped all speech. He began to pray and worship internally and he suspended all external intercourse.
On learning his resolve, the sons of Diti and the Danavas, who live in the nether region and who were once defeated by the celestials, fearing that their party would be destroyed without Duryodhana, began a sacrifice with fire to summon him before them. Mantra-knowing men then commenced with the formulae of Brihaspati and Ushana. Those rites that are indicated in the Atharvaveda and the Upanishadas and which are capable of being achieved by mantras and prayers.
Brahmanas of rigid vows well-versed in the Vedas and their branches began with great and deep meditation to pour libations of ghee and milk into the fire with mantras. After those rites were completed, a strange goddess, O king, rose up saying, "What shall I do?"
With well-pleased hearts the Daityas commanded her by saying, "Bring here the king, the son of Dhritarashtra, who is now engaged in a vow of fanting(?)."
Thus commanded, she went away saying, "So be it." In a moment she came to the place where the king, Duryodhana, was.
Taking up the king, she brought him to the nether world and within a moment she came back to the Danavas and told them (that she had brought the king). Seeing the king brought before them in their assembly in the night, the Danavas. With well-pleased hearts and with expanded eyes in delight, thus spoke these flattering words to Duryodhana.
The Danavas said:
O king of kings, O perpetuator of the Bharata race, O Duryodhana, you are always surrounded by heroes and illustrious men.
Why have you then taken this rash step such as this vow of starvation? Suicide always leads (a man) to hell. It becomes the subject of calumnious speech.
Intelligent men like you never engage in acts that are sinful and opposed to their best interests and which strike at the very root of their purposes.
O king, therefore restrain your this resolve. It is destructive of morality, profit and happiness and of fame, prowess and energy. It enhances the joy of one's enemies.
O king, of lord, know the truth, the celestials origin of your birth and the make up of your body; and then assume patience.
O king, in the days of yore, we obtained you from Maheshvara by ascetic austerities. The upper part of your body is wholly made of Vajra (thunder).
On sinless one, therefore it is invincible to weapons of every description. The lower part of your body, capable of captivating the female heart by its comeliness, was made of flowers by the goddess herself.
O foremost of kings, thus your body was created by Ishvara himself and the goddess. Therefore, O best of kings, your origin is celestials and not human.
Other greatly powerful Kshatriyas headed by Bhagadatta, all learned in the celestials weapons, will kill your enemies.
Therefore there is not need for you grief. You have no cause for fear. In order to help you, many heroic Danavas have been born on earth.
Other Asura will possess Bhishma, Drona and Karna and others. Possessed by the Asuras, those heroes will cast away their kindness and fight with your enemies.
When the Danavas will enter their heart and completely possess them flinging all affection to a distance and becoming hard-hearted, those heroes will then strike every one opposed to them without sparing sons, brothers, fathers, friends, disciples, relatives, even children and old men.
Blinded by ignorance and wrath and impelled by destiny which has been ordained by the creator, those foremost of men with hearts steeped in sin will. O foremost of the Kurus, depopulate the earth by hurling all kinds of weapons with great manliness and strength and always boastfully addressing one another with words such as these, "You will not escape from me today with life." The five illustrious sons of Pandu will fight with these (heroes).
Possessing great strength and favoured by the fate, they would bring about the destruction of all. Many Daityas and Yakshas, that have been born in the Kshatriya order, will fight with great prowess in battle with your enemies using maces, clubs, lances and various weapons.
O hero, as for the fear of Arjuna in your heart, we have already settled the means of killing Arjuna.
The soul of the killed Naraka has assumed the form of Karna. Recollecting. O hero, his former enmity, he will kill both Keshava (Krishna) and Arjuna.
That great car-warrior, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, proud of his prowess, will vanquish Arjuna in battle, as also all your enemies.
The wielder of thunder (Indra), knowing all this and desirous of saving Savyasachi (Arjuna), will in disguise take away from Karna his ear-rings and armour.
We have therefore appointed hundreds upon hundreds and thousands upon thousand of Daityas and Rakshasas; they are known by the name of Samshaptakas.
These illustrious warriors will kill the heroic Arjuna. Do not therefore grieve. O king, you will rule the whole earth without a rival.
Do not give way to despondency. O descendant of Kuru, this conduct does not suit you. If you die, our party will become weak.
O hero, go, you should never direct your mind in any your course. You are our refuge.
Vaishampayana said:
Having thus addressed him, the Daityas embraced that foremost of kings; and those best of the Danavas then cheered that irre-pressible hero like a son.
O descendant of Bharata, cheering his mind by soft speeches, they permitted him to depart saying, "Go and attain victory."
When they had given leave to the mighty armed one, (to depart), that very goddess carried him back to the spot where he had sat down intent upon putting an end to his life.
Having set that hero down and paid him homage, the goddess vanished with the king's permission.
O descendant of Bharata, when she disappeared, the king considered all this to be a dream. (He thought), "I shall defeat the Pandavas in battle."
Duryodhana considered that Karna and the Samshaptaka army were both able to kill that chastiser of foes Partha (Arjuna).
Thus was strengthened the hope of the wicked-minded son of Dhritarashtra, to conquer the Pandavas.
O foremost of Bharatas, Karna also, his soul and mind possessed by Naraka and influenced by the qualities of emotion and darkness, became eagerly desirous of killing Falguni (Arjuna).
Thus those Shanshaptaka various being surrounded by monsters came under sheer influence of Rajas and Tamas property and intedned to kill Arjuna.
Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and others, their mind possessed by the Danavas. O king, were not so affectionate towards the Pandavas as they were before. The king Suyodhana did not tell this to any one.
At the end of the night, the son of the sun, Karna, thus smilingly spoke to Duryodhana with joined hands.
"No dead man can conquer his foes, it is when he is alive that he can see his good. Where is the good of the dead person and O descendant of Kuru, where is his victory?
Therefore this is no time for grief or fear or death." Having with his arms embraced that mighty armed hero,
He further said, "O king, rise up. Why do you lie down? O slayer of foes, why do you wish to die?
Fear has possessed you at the sight of Arjuna. I truly promise to you that I will kill Arjuna in battle.
O ruler of men, I swear by my weapons that when thirteen years have passed away, I will bring the sons of Pritha under your subjection."
Having been thus addressed by Karna and having (also) remembered the words of the Daityas and the supplications made by (his brothers), Duryodhana rose up.
Having heard the words of the Daityas, that foremost of men with a firm resolve in his heart arrayed his army full of horses, elephants, chariots and foot soldiers. O king, as it moved on like the waters of the Ganga.
With numerous white umbrellas and pennons and white Chamaras and chariots and elephants and foot soldiers that great army, looked as beautiful as the sky at a season when the clouds have been dispersed and the signs of autumn have been but partially developed.
O king of kings, eulogised as a monarch by the foremost of Brahmanas who all prayed for his victory, that king, Suyodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, received honours paid (to him by innumerable men) with joined hands.
Blazing in great splendour he went in front (of the army) accompanied by Karna, Subala's son, the gambler (Shakuni), Dushashana and all his other brothers, Bhurishrava, Somadatta, the great king Bahlika followed that foremost of kings with various sorts of chariots, horses and excellent elephants. O foremost of kings, within a short time all those perpetuators of the Kuru race entered their own city.
Janamejaya said:
When the illustrious sons of Pritha were living in the forest, what did those foremost of men and mighty bow-men, the sons of Dhritarashtra do?
What did the son of the sun, Karna and the powerful Shakuni and Bhishma, Drona and Kripa do. You should narrate all this to me.
Vaishampayana said:
O great king, when in this manner the Pandavas had gone away leaving Duryodhana and when having been rescued by the Pandavas, he had gone to Hastinapur, Bhishma spoke thus to the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana),
"O child, I told you before when you intended to go to the forest of the ascetics. That I did not like your journey. But you did go notwithstanding.
O hero, you were forcibly taken captive by the enemy; you were rescued by the virtuous Pandavas, but still you were not ashamed.
O king, O son of Gandhari, even in your presence and also in the presence of your army did the Suta's (Karna) son, struck with panic, fly away from the battle of the Gandharvas.
O king of kings, O son of a king, while you with your army were crying in great distress, you saw, O mighty armed hero, the prowess of the high-souled Pandavas
And also that of the wicked-minded son of the Suta, Karna. O foremost of kings, O lover of virtue, whether in the science of arms or heroism or morality, Karna is not (even) the fourth part of the Pandavas.
Therefore for the welfare of this race, peace is I think most desirable with the sons of Pandu."
Having been thus addressed by Bhishma, that lord of men, the son of Dhritarashtra
(Duryodhana) laughed aloud and he suddenly went away with the son of Subala (Shakuni).
Then knowing that he was gone, those mighty bowmen with Karna and Dushasana at their head followed that mighty bowman and greatly powerful son of Dhritarashtra.
Having seen them gone, Bhishma, the grandfather of the Kurus, bent down his head in shame. O king, he too then went away to his house.
O great king, when Bhishma had gone away, that lord of men, the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) again came there and consulted with his counsellors.
Duryodhana said:
"What is good for me? What remains to be done? How can we most effectually bring about the good that we shall fix upon today?"
Karna said:
O descendant of Kuru, O Duryodhana, lay to your heart the words I say. Bhishma always blames us and praises the Pandavas.
O mighty-armed hero, from the illness he bears towards you, he insults me; O lord of men, in your presence he always abuses me.
O descendant of Bharata, O chastiser of foes, I shall never bear the words that Bhishma has said as regards this matter by praising the Pandavas and censuring you. O king, join with me with your attendants, troops and chariots.
O king, I shall then conquer the earth adorned with mountains, woods and forests. The earth has been conquered by the four mighty Pandavas. I shall certainly conquer it for you single-handed. Let that wretch of the Kuru race, the exceedingly wicked minded Bhishma see it.
He abuses those that do not deserve it and praises those that should not be praised. Let him today see my prowess and blame himself.
O king, command me. Victory shall surely be yours. O king, I swear by my weapon.
Vaishampayana said:
O king, O foremost of the Bharata race, having heard these words of Karna, that lord of men became exceedingly delighted and he thus spoke to Karna.
"I am blessed, for I have been favoured by you. When you who possess the greatest prowess are eager to look after my welfare, my life has borne fruit today.
O hero, you desire to vanquish all my foes. Go. May good come to you. Command me what I am to do."
O chastiser of foes, having been thus addressed by the intelligent son of Dhritarashtra, Karna ordered (to be ready) all the necessaries for expedition.
On an auspicious lunar day and at an auspicious moment and under the influence of a star presided over by an auspicious deity, that mighty bowman, having been honoured by the Brahmanas and bathed with auspicious and holy substances and also worshipped by all, started, filling with the rattle of his car the three worlds with all mobile and immobile objects.
Vaishampayana said:
O foremost of the Bharatas, then the great bowman Karna, surrounded by a large army, attacked the beautiful city of Drupada.
After a great battle, he brought that hero under subjection and O foremost of kings, he made Drupada pay tribute and give silver, gold and gems. O king of kings, after subduing him, he brought under his subjection all those kings that were under him. He made them pay tribute.
He then brought under subjection all the kings to the northern country. Having vanquished Bhagadatta, the son of Rudra (Karna) ascended the great mountain Himalayas fighting all along with many foes. Going on all sides, he conquered and brought under subjection all the kings inhabiting the Himalayas and he made them pay tribute.
Then coming down from the mountain and going towards the east, he vanquished the Angas and the Vangas and the Kalingas and the Shundika and the Mithilas and the Magadhas and the Karkakhandas and also the Avashiras, the Yodhyas and the Ahikshatras. Having conquered the eastern country, he went to Vatsabhumi.
Having then conquered Vatsabhumi, he subjugated Kevala, Mrittikavati, Mohana and Pattana, Tripuri and Kosala. He made them all pay tributes.
Then going towards the south, Karna van-quished many great car-warriors. In the southern country the Suta's son (Karna) fought a great battle with Rukmi. Having fought a great battle, he thus spoke to the Suta's son,
"O foremost of kings, I have been pleased with your strength and prowess. I shall not do you any wrong. I have fulfilled the (Kshatriya) vow.
I shall gladly give you as many gold coins as you desire." Having met with Rukmi, Karna went to Pandya and the mountain.
He then vanquished Kerala and then king Nila, the son of Venudari and other foremost of the kings living in the southern country. He made them all pay tributes.
Then going to the son of Shishupala, the Suta's son defeated him and that greatly powerful hero then brought under subjection all the neighbouring chiefs.
O foremost of Bharata race, having subjugated the Avantis and concluded peace with them and having fought with the Vrishnis, he conquered the west.
Having then gone to the abode of Varuna, he made all the Yavana and Barbara kings pay tributes.
Having conquered the entire earth, east west, south and north, that hero single-handed conquered all the Mleccha nations, the mountaineers, the Bhadras, the Rohitakas, the Agreyas and the Malavas. Having conquered the great car-warriors headed by Nagnajita, the Suta's son brought the Shashakas and the Yavanas under his sway. Having thus conquered and subjugated the whole world, the great car-warrior, that foremost of men (Karna) came back to Hastinapur.
That foremost of men, the son of Dhritarashtra, accompanied by his father and brothers came to that great bowman and duly honoured him. The king (Duryodhana) proclaimed his feat.
Then he said to Karna, "What I have not received from Bhishma, Drona, Kripa or Balhika, I have (today) received from you. Be blessed.
What need is there to speak in length. O Karna, listen to my words. O mighty-armed hero, in you I have got my protector.
O foremost of men, all the Pandavas and other kings who are crowned with success cannot come to sixteenth part of you.
O great bowman, O Karna, look at Dhritarashtra and the illustrious Gandhari as the wielder of thunder (Indra) saw Aditi."
O king, then rose in the city of Hastinapur a great uproar and also cries of "Oh" and "Alas".
O ruler of men, some of the people praised him, While others again remained silent.
O foremost of kings, having thus in a very short time conquered this earth furnished with mountains and forests and skies and with ocean and fields, with high and low tracts and cities and with innumerable islands and thus having obtained inexhaustible wealth, Suta's son presented himself before the king.
O chastiser of foes, then entering the palace, that hero saw Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. O foremost of men, that virtuous one then took hold of their feet as one of their sons. He was first embraced affectionately by Dhritarashtra and was then dismissed.
O descendant of Bharata, from that day king Duryodhana and Shakuni, the son of Subala, thought that the sons of Pritha (the Pandavas) had already been defeated by Karna.
Vaishampayana said:
O king, O lord of men, that slayer of hostile heroes, the Suta's son (Karna) then spoke these words to Duryodhana.
"O descendant of Kuru, O Duryodhana, lay into your heart the words that I shall tell you. O chastiser of foes, after having heard my words, you should act accordingly. O foremost of kings, O hero, the earth has been now got rid of all our enemies. Now rule over the earth like the illustrious Indra."
Having been thus addressed by Karna, the king again thus spoke to him, "O foremost of men, nothing is unattainable to him who has you as a protector and to whom you are attached and on whose welfare you are entirely intent. Now I shall speak to you something which you should listen to.
O Suta's son, seeing the great sacrifice Rajasuya of the Pandavas, I desire to perform the same. Fulfill my this desire."
Having been thus addressed, Karna thus spoke to the king, "Now as all the chief monarchs of the earth have been brought under your subjection, you summon the Brahmanas, O foremost of Kurus and then duly procure the articles required for the sacrifice.
O king, O chastiser of foes, let Ritvijas, learned in the Vedas, celebrate your rites according to the ordinance.
O foremost of the Bharata race, let your great sacrifice also abound in meats and drink and be grand in every thing."
O king, having been thus addressed by Karna, Dhritarashtra's son summoned the priest and spoke to him these words, "Celebrate duly and in proper order the foremost of all sacrifices the Rajasuya abounding in large Dakshinas."
Having been thus addressed that foremost of Brahmanas spoke thus to the king, "You cannot perform that great sacrifice, so long Yudhishthira is alive. O best of the Kurus, O foremost of kings, your long-lived father Dhritarashtra is still alive. For this reason also you cannot perform it. There is.
O lord, another great sacrifice resembling the Rajasuya.
O foremost of kings, perform this sacrifice. Listen to me. All those rulers of earth, O king, who have come to your subjection will pay you tribute in pure and impure gold. O best of kings, with that gold make a (sacrificial) plough.
O descendant of Bharata, with it plough the sacrificial ground. At that spot let there commence, O foremost of kings, with due rites and without any disturbance, the sacrifice sanctified with Mantra and abounding in eatables.
This sacrifice worthy to be performed by virtuous men is called Vaishnava. No person except the ancient Vishnu has ever performed it. This great sacrifice vies with that foremost of sacrifices, the Rajasuya.
It is desired by us and it is also for your good It is capable of being performed without any disturbance. Your desire also will be fulfilled."
Having been thus addressed by those Brahmanas, the son of Dhritarashtra, the king (Duryodhana), thus spoke to Karna, his brothers and the son of Subala (Shakuni).
"The words of the Brahmanas are certainly very much liked by me. If they are liked by you, express it without delay."
Having been thus addressed, they all said to the king, "So be it." Then the king one by one appointed persons to the respective posts (in the sacrifice). He desired the artizans to construct the plough. O foremost of kings, all that was commanded by the king was gradually executed.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon all the artizans, the principal counsellors and the highly wise Vidura thus spoke to Dhritarashtra's son.
"O king, all the preparations for the excellent sacrifice have been made. O descendant of Bharata, the (proper) time (to perform it) has also come. The greatly valuable golden plough has also been made."
O king, having heard this, that foremost of kings, Dhritarashtra's son commanded that foremost of sacrifices to be commenced. Then commenced that sacrifice sanctified by mantras and abounding in food. The son of Gandhari was duly installed according to the ordinance.
Dhritarashtra, the high-souled Vidura, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Karna and the illustrious Gandhari all were filled with great delight.
O king of kings, swift messengers were sent to invite the kings and the Brahmanas.
Ascending swift cars, they went to the directions assigned to them. Then to one messenger at the point of starting thus spoke Dushashana.
"Go soon to the forest of Dvaitavana and in that forest duly invite the Brahmanas and those wicked men, the Pandavas.
Thereupon he went there and bowing down his head to all the Pandavas said “O great king, the foremost of kings that Veda of the Kurus, Duryodhana is performing a sacrifice after having acquired immense wealth by his own prowess. Brahmanas from all quarters are going to it.”
"O king, I have been sent here by that illustrious Kuru king, the lord of men Dhritarashtra's son to invite you. You should therefore see that charming sacrifice of that king.”
Having heard the words of the messenger that foremost of monarchs king Yudhishthira, thus spoke to him, "By good fortune, king Duryodhana, that enhancer of his forefather's glory, is performing this foremost of sacrifices.
We shall certainly go there, but we cannot do now. We shall have to live in the forest for thirteen years according to our pledge."
Hearing the words of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) Bhima thus spoke, "the king Dharmaraja Yudhishthira will then go when he will put him (Duryodhana) into the fire kindled by weapon. Speaks these words to Duryodhana "when at the end of the thirteenth year that lord of men, the Pandavas, will in the sacrifice of battle pour upon the sons of Dhritarashtra, the Ghee of his anger, then will I come."
O king, the other Pandavas did not say anything unpleasant. The messenger on his return told everything to Dhritarashtra's son.
Then there came to the city of Dhritarashtra many foremost of men, the rulers of various countries and also many highly virtuous Brahmanas.
Duly received in accordance to the ordinance, these lords of men felt much delight and they were all well-pleased.
O king of kings that foremost of kings, Dhritarashtra, surrounded by all the Kurus felt the greatest joy and he thus spoke to Vidura.,
"O Khatva, soon act thus that all men present in this sacrifice may with food served to them be refreshed and satisfied.
Then the learned and the virtuous Vidura cheerfully entertained all the orders of men with foods and drinks and also with fragrant garland and various kinds of dresses.
Having built many pavilions that hero and the foremost of kings, duly entertained the monarchs and the Brahmanas by thousands. He bestowed upon them wealth of various kinds and then bade them farewell, having dismissed all the kings, surrounded by his brothers. He (Duryodhana) entered Hastinapur in company with Karna and Subala's son (Shakuni).
Vaishampayana said:
O great king, when he (Duryodhana) was entering (the city) the bards and penegyrists eulogised that undeteriorating one. Other people also eulogised that great bow man, that foremost of kings.
Sprinkling over him fired paddy and sandal paste; the people said "By good luck, O king, your sacrifice has been completed without obstruction.”
Some who were present and who were not very careful in their speech said to that lord of earth, "Surely this sacrifice cannot be compared with that of Yudhishthira.
It does not come to the sixteenth part of that (sacrifice); thus spoke to that king some that were reckless in their speech.
His friends said, "your this sacrifice has surpassed all others. Yayati, Nahusa, Mandhata and Bharata having been sanctified by performing such a sacrifice have all gone to heaven".
O foremost of the Bharatas, hearing such pleasing words from the friends, that ruler of men (Duryodhana) cheerfully entered the city and his iron palace.
O king, then worshipping the feet of his father and mother and others headed by Bhishma, Drona and the wise Vidura and being worshipped also by his younger brothers.
He sat on an excellent seat surrounded by all his brothers. Then O great king, Suta's son (Karna) rose and thus spoke to him.
"O foremost of the Bharata race, by good luck you have completed the great sacrifice. When the Pandavas will be killed in battle and when you will thus complete Rajasuya sacrifice, then at that time again I shall thus honour you."
The greatly illustrious son of Dhritarashtra, that great king (Duryodhana) thus spoke to him, "Truly has this been said by you. When, O foremost of men, the wicked-minded Pandavas have been killed and when the great Rajasuya has been performed by me, then O hero, you shall again thus honour me."
O great king, O descendant of Bharata, having said this, he embraced Karna. That Kuru prince then began to think of that foremost of sacrifices Rajasuya.
That best of kings then thus spoke to the Kurus who were near him. O Kurus, when shall I celebrate that costly and foremost of sacrifices Rajasuya after having killed all the Pandavas?
Thereupon Karna said to the king, "O foremost of kings, hear what I say? As long I do not kill Arjuna, so long I shall not wash my feet. Nor shall I taste meat, I shall observe the Asura vow. Whoever will ask from me any thing, I shall never say "I have it not."
When Karna had thus vowed to kill Arjuna in battle those mighty car-warriors and bowmen, the sons of Dhritarashtra, sent up a loud shout.
Dhritarashtra's sons thought that the Pandavas were already killed. O king of kings, Duryodhana, then leaving those foremost of men, that handsome one entered his house as Kubera the lord enters the garden of Chitraratha. O descendant of Bharata, those great bow-men also went to their own houses.
(Meanwhile) those great bowmen, the Pandavas, moved by the words of the messenger, became anxious and they did not experience the least happiness.
O king of kings, the news had been brought to him by spies that the Suta's son (Karna) had taken the vow to kill Vijaya (Arjuna).
O ruler of men, having heard this the son of Dharma (Yudhishthira) became filled with great anxiety; thinking of the impenetrable armour of the greatly powerful Karna. Remembering all their misery, he felt no peace of mind.
That high-souled hero, filled with anxiety, made up his mind to abandon the forest of Dvaitavana abounding in wild animals.
The king, the son of Dhritarashtra, meanwhile began to rule the earth, along with his heroic brothers as also with Bhishma, Drona and Kripa. With the assistance of the Suta's son crowned with martial glory.
Duryodhana remained ever intent on the welfare of the ruler of earth. He worshipped the foremost of Brahmanas by celebrating sacrifices with large Dakshinas.
O king, that hero, that chastiser of foes was engaged in doing good to his brothers, concluding in his mind that giving and enjoying are the only (proper) uses of the wealth.
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