The second dice game

Learning that the Pandavas had been commanded by Dhritarashtra to return to their capital, Duhshasana, afflicted with grief, quickly went to his brother Duryodhana who was with his counsellors, and said:

“You mighty warriors! That which we had won after so much trouble, the old man has thrown away. Know you that he has made over the whole of that wealth to the foes.”

At these words, Duryodhana, Karna and Shakuni, of whom were guided by vanity, united together, and desirous of counteracting the sons of Pandu, approaching in haste saw privately the king Dhritarashtra and spoke unto him these pleasing and artful words. Duryodhana said,

“Have you not heard, O king, what the learned Brihaspati the preceptor of the celestials, said in course of counselling Shakra about mortals and politics? Even these were the words of Brihaspati, “Those enemies that always do wrong by stratagem or force, should be slain by every means.” If, therefore, with the wealth of the Pandavas, we gratify the kings of the earth and then fight with the sons of Pandu, what reverses can overtake us? When one has placed on the neck and back of venomous snakes full of wrath for encompassing his destruction, is it possible for him to take them off? Equipped with weapon and seated on their cars, the angry sons of Pandu like wrathful and venomous snakes will assuredly annihilate us, O father. Even now Arjuna proceeds, encased in mail and furnished with his couple of quivers, frequently taking up the Gandiva and breathing hard and casting angry glances around. It has been heard by us that Vrikodara, hastily ordering his car to be made ready and riding on it, is proceeding along, frequently whirling his heavy mace. Nakula also is going along, with the sword in his grasp and the semi-circular shield in his hand. Sahadeva and the Yudhishthira have made signs clearly testifying to their intentions. Having ascended their cars that are full of all kinds of arms, they are whipping their horses and assembling their forces. Persecuted thus by us they are incapable of forgiving us those injuries. Who is there among them that will forgive that insult to Draupadi? Blessed be you. We will again gamble with the son of Pandu for sending them to exile. We are competent to bring them thus under our sway. Dressed in skins, either we or they defeated at dice, shall repair to the woods for twelve years. The thirteenth year shall have to be spent in some inhabited country unrecognised; and, if recognised, an exile for another twelve years shall be the consequence. Either we or they shall live so. Let the play begin, casting the dice, let the sons of Pandu once more play. O king, even this is our highest duty. This Sakuni knows well the whole science of dice. Even if they succeed in observing this vow for thirteen years, we shall be in the meantime firmly rooted in the kingdom and making alliances, assemble a vast invincible host and keep them content, so that we shall, O king, defeat the sons of Pandu if they reappear. Let this plan recommend itself to you.”

Dhritarashtra said,

“Bring back the Pandavas then, indeed, even if they have gone a great way. Let them come at once again to cast dice.”

Then Drona, Somadatta and Balhika, Gautama, Vidura, the son of Drona, and the mighty son of Dhritarashtra by his Vaisya wife, Bhurisravas, and Bhishma, and that mighty warrior Vikarna, all said, “Let not the play commence. Let there be peace!” But Dhritarashtra, partial to his sons, disregarding the counsels of all his wise friends and relatives, summoned the sons of Pandu.

It was then that the virtuous Gandhari, afflicted with grief on account of her affection for her sons, addressed king Dhritarashtra and said,

“When Duryodhana was born, Vidura of great intelligence had said, “It is well to send this disgrace of the race to the other world. He cried repeatedly and dissonantly like a jackal. It is certain he will prove the destruction of our race. Take this to heart, O king, sink not, for your own fault, into an ocean of calamity. Accord not your approbation to the counsels of the wicked ones of immature years. Be not you the cause of the terrible destruction of this race. Who is there that will break an embankment which has been completed, or re-kindle a conflagration which has been extinguished? Who is there that will provoke the peaceful sons of Pritha? You remember everything, but still I will call your attention to this. The scriptures can never control the wicked-minded for good or evil. O king, a person of immature understanding will never act as one of mature years. Let your sons follow you as their leader. Let them not be separated from you for ever. Therefore, at my word, O king, abandon this wretch of our race. You could not, O king, from parental affection, do it before. Know that the time has come for the destruction of race through him. Err not, O king. Let your mind, guided by counsels of peace, virtue, and true policy, be what it naturally is. That prosperity which is acquired by the aid of wicked acts, is soon destroyed; while that which is won by mild means taketh root and descends from generation to generation.”

The king, thus addressed by Gandhari who pointed out to him in such language the path of virtue, replied unto her, saying,

“If the destruction of our race is come, let it take place freely. I am ill able to prevent it. Let it be as they desire. Let the Pandavas return. Let my sons again gamble with the sons of Pandu.”

The royal messenger, agreeably to the commands of the intelligent king Dhritarashtra, coming upon Yudhishthira, the son of Pritha who had by that time gone a great way, addressed the monarch and said,

“These are the words of your father-like uncle, O Bharata, spoken unto you, “The assembly is ready. O son of Pandu, O king Yudhisthira, come and cast the dice.”

Yudhishthira said,

“Creatures obtain fruits good and ill according to the dispensation of the Ordainer of the creation. Those fruits are inevitable whether I play or not. This is a summons to dice; it is, besides the command of the old king. Although I know that it will prove destructive to me, yet I cannot refuse.”

Although animal made of gold was an impossibility, yet Rama suffered himself to be tempted by a deer. Indeed, the minds of men over whom calamities hang, became deranged and out of order. Yudhishthira, therefore, having said these words, retraced his steps along with his brothers. Knowing full well the deception practised by Shakuni, the son of Pritha came back to sit at dice with him again. These mighty warriors again entered that assembly, afflicting the hearts of all their friends. Compelled by Fate they once more sat down at ease for gambling for the destruction of themselves. Shakuni then said,

“The old king has given you back all your wealth. That is well. But, O bull of the Bharata race, listen to me, there is a stake of great value. Either defeated by you at dice, dressed in deer skins we shall enter the great forest and live there for twelve years passing the whole of the thirteenth year in some inhabited region, unrecognised, and if recognised return to an exile of another twelve years; or vanquished by us, dressed in deer skins you shall, with Krishna, live for twelve years in the woods passing the whole of the thirteenth year unrecognised, in some inhabited region. If recognised, an exile of another twelve years is to be the consequence. On the expiry of the thirteenth year, each is to have his kingdom surrendered by the other. O Yudhishthira, with this resolution, play with us, casting the dice.”

At these words, they that were in that assembly, raising up their arms said in great anxiety of mind, and from the strength of their feelings these words,

“Alas, fie on the friends of Duryodhana that they do not apprise him of his great danger. Whether he understands or not, of his own sense, it is your duty to tell him plainly.”

King Yudhishthira, hearing these various remarks, from shame and a sense of virtue again sat at dice. Though possessed of great intelligence and fully knowing the consequences, he again began to play, as if knowing that the destruction of the Kurus was at hand.  Yudhishthira said,

“How can, O Sakuni, a king like me, always observant of the uses of his own order, refuse, when summoned to dice? Therefore I play with you.”

Shakuni answered,

“We have many kine and horses, and milch cows, and an infinite number of goats and sheep; and elephants and treasures and gold and slaves both male and female. All these were staked by us before but now let this be our one stake, exile into the woods, being defeated either you or we will dwell in the woods for twelve years and the thirteenth year, unrecognised, in some inhabited place. With this determination, will we play.”

This proposal about a stay in the woods was uttered but once. The son of Pritha, however, accepted it and Shakuni took up the dice. Casting them he said unto Yudhishthira,

“Lo, I have won!”

Then the vanquished sons of Pritha prepared for their exile into the woods. They, one after another, in due order, casting off their royal robes, attired themselves in deer-skins. Dussasana, beholding those chastisers of foes, dressed in deer-skins and deprived of their kingdom and ready to go into exile, exclaimed

“The absolute sovereignty of the illustrious king Duryodhana has commenced. The sons of Pandu have been vanquished, and plunged into great affliction. Now have we attained the goal either by broad or narrow paths. For today becoming superior to our foes in point of prosperity as also of duration of rule have we become praiseworthy of men. The sons of Pritha have all been plunged by us into everlasting hell. They have been deprived of happiness and kingdom for ever and ever. They who, proud of their wealth, laughed in derision at the son of Dhritarashtra, will now have to go into the woods, defeated and deprived by us of all their wealth. Let them now put off their variegated coats of mail, their resplendent robes of celestial make, and let them all attire themselves in deer-skins according to the stake they had accepted of the son of Subala. They who always used to boast that they had no equals in all the world, will now know and regard themselves in this their calamity as grains of sesame without the kernel. Although in this dress of theirs the Pandavas seem like unto wise and powerful persons installed in a sacrifice, yet they look like persons not entitled to perform sacrifices, wearing such a guise. The wise Yajnasena of the Somaka race, having bestowed his daughter on the sons of Pandu, acted most unfortunately for the husbands of Yajnaseni, these sons of Pritha are as eunuchs. O Yajnaseni, what joy will be yours upon beholding in the woods these your husbands dressed in skins and thread-bare rags, deprived of their wealth and possessions. Elect you a husband, whomsoever you like, from among all these present here. These Kurus assembled here, are all forbearing and self-controlled, and possessed of great wealth. Elect you one amongst these as your lord, so that these great calamity may not drag you to wretchedness. The sons of Pandu now are even like grains of sesame without the kernel, or like show-animals encased in skins, or like grains of rice without the kernel. Why should you then longer wait upon the fallen sons of Pandu? Vain is the labour used upon pressing the sesame grain devoid of the kernel!”

Thus did Dussasana, the son of Dhritarashtra, utter in the hearing of the Pandavas, harsh words of the most cruel import. Hearing them, the un-forbearing Bhima, in wrath suddenly approaching that prince like a Himalayan lion upon a jackal, loudly and chastising rebuked him in these words,

“Wicked-minded villain, rave you so in words that are uttered alone by the sinful? Boast you thus in the midst of the kings, advanced as you are by the skill of the king of Gandhara. As you pierce our hearts hear with these your arrowy words, so shall I pierce your heart in battle, recalling all this to your mind. They also who from anger or covetousness are walking behind you as your protectors, them also shall I send to the abode of Yama with their descendants and relatives.”

Unto Bhima dressed in deer-skins and uttering these words of wrath without doing any thing, for he could not deviate from the path of virtue, Dussasana abandoning all sense of shame, dancing around the Kurus, loudly said, “O cow! O cow!” Bhima at this once more said,

“Wretch dare you, O Dussasana, use harsh words as these? Whom does it behold to boast, thus having won wealth by foul means? I tell you that if Vrikodara, the son of Pritha, drinks not your life-blood, piercing open your breast in battle, let him not attain to regions of blessedness, I tell you truly that by slaying the sons of Dhritarashtra in battle, before the very eyes of all the warriors, I shall pacify this wrath of mine soon enough.”

As the Pandavas were going away from the assembly, the wicked king Duryodhana from excess of joy mimicked by his own steps the playful leonine trade of Bhima. Then Vrikodara, half turning towards the king said,

“Think not you fool that by this you gain any ascendency over me slay you shall I soon with all your followers, and answer you, recalling all this to your mind.”

Beholding this insult offered to him, the mighty and proud Bhima, suppressing his rising rage and following the steps of Yudhishthira, also spoke these words while going out of the Kaurava court,

“I will slay Duryodhana, and Dhananjaya will slay Karna, and Sahadeva will slay Sakuni that gambler with dice. I also repeat in this assembly these proud words which the gods will assuredly make good, if ever we engage in battle with the Kurus, I will slay this wretched Duryodhana in battle with my mace, and prostrating him on the ground I will place my foot on his head. As regards this wicked person Dussasana who is audacious in speech, I will drink his blood like a lion.”

Arjuna said,

“O Bhima, the resolutions of superior men are not known in words only. On the fourteenth year from this day, they shall see what happens.”

Bhima again said,

“The earth shall drink the blood of Duryodhana, and Karna, and the wicked Sakuni, and Dussasana that makes the fourth.”

Arjuna said,

“O Bhima, I will, as you direct, slay in battle this Karna so malicious and jealous and harsh-speeched and vain. For doing what is agreeable to Bhima, Arjuna vows that he will slay in battle with his arrows this Karna with all his followers. I will send unto the regions of Yama also all those other kings that will from foolishness fight against me. The mountains of Himavat might be removed from where they are, the maker of the day lose his brightness, the moon his coldness, but this vow of mine will ever be cherished. All this shall assuredly happen if on the fourteenth year from this, Duryodhana does not, with proper respect, return us our kingdom.”

After Arjuna had said this, Sahadeva the handsome son of Madri, endued with great energy, desirous of slaying Sakuni, waving his mighty arms and sighing like snake, exclaimed, with eyes red with anger,

“You disgrace of the Gandhara kings, those whom you think as defeated are not really so. Those are even sharp-pointed arrows from whose wounds you have run the risk in battle. I shall certainly accomplish all which Bhima has said adverting to you with all your followers. If therefore you have anything to do, do it before that day comes. I shall assuredly slay you in battle with all your followers soon enough, it you, O son of Subala, stay in the light pursuant to the Kshatriya usage.”

Then, hearing these words of Sahadeva, Nakula the handsomest of men spoke these words,

“I shall certainly send unto the abode of Yama all those wicked sons of Dhritarashtra, who desirous of death and impelled by Fate, and moved also by the wish of doing what is agreeable to Duryodhana, have used harsh and insulting speeches towards this daughter of Yajnasena at the gambling match. Soon enough shall I, at the command of Yudhishthira and remembering the wrongs to Draupadi, make the earth destitute of the sons of Dhritarashtra.”

Those tigers among men, all endued with long arms, having thus pledged themselves to virtuous promises approached king Dhritarashtra. Yudhishthira said,

“I bid farewell unto all the Bharatas, unto my old grand-sire Bhishma, king Somadatta, the great king Bahlika, Drona, Kripa, all the other kings, Aswathaman, Vidura, Dhritarashtra, all the sons of Dhritarashtra, Yuyutsu, Sanjaya, and all the courtiers, I bid fare well, all of you and returning again I shall see you.”

Overcome with shame none of those that were present there, could tell Yudhishthira anything. Within their hearts, however, they prayed for the welfare of that intelligent prince. Vidura then said,

“The reverend Pritha is a princess by birth. It beholds her not to go into the woods. Delicate and old and ever known to happiness the blessed one will live, respected by me, in my abode. Known this, you sons of Pandu. Let safety be always yours.”

The Pandavas thereupon said,

“O sinless one, let it be as you say. You are our uncle, and, therefore like as our father. We also are all obedient to you. You are our most respected superior. We should always obey what you choose to command. Order you whatever else there is that remains to be done.”

Vidura replied,

“O Yudhishthira, know this to be my opinion, that one that is vanquished by sinful means need not be pained by such defeat. You know every rule of morality; Dhananjaya is ever victorious in battle; Bhimasena is the slayer of foes; Nakula is the gatherer of wealth; Sahadeva has administrative talents, Dhaumya is the foremost of all conversant with the vedas; and the well-behaved Draupadi is conversant with virtue and economy. You are attached to one another and feel delight at one another's sight and enemies can not separate you from one another, and you are contented. Therefore, who is there that will not envy you? This patient abstraction from the possession of the world will be of great benefit to you. No foe, even if he were equal to Sakra himself, will be able to stand it. Formerly you were instructed on the mountains of Himavat by Meru Savarni; in the town of Varanavata by Krishna Dwaipayana; on the cliff of Bhrigu by Rama; and on the banks of the Dhrishadwati by Sambhu himself. You have also listened to the instruction of the great Rishi Asita on the hills of Anjana; and you became a disciple of Bhrigu on the banks of the Kalmashi. Narada and this your priest Dhaumya will now become your instructors. In the matter of the next world, abandon not these excellent lessons you have obtained from the Rishis. You surpass in intelligence even Pururavas, the son of Ila; in strength, all other monarchs, and in virtue, even the Rishis. Therefore, resolve you earnestly to win victory, which belongs to Indra; to control your wrath, which belongs to Yama; to give in charity, which belongs to Kubera; and to control all passions, which belongs to Varuna. Obtain you the power of gladdening from the moon, the power of sustaining all from water; forbearance from the earth; energy from the entire solar disc; strength from the winds, and affluence from the other elements. Welfare and immunity from ailment be yours; I hope to see you return. O Yudhishthira, act properly and duly in all seasons, in those of distress, in those of difficulty, indeed, in respect of everything, with our leave go hence. Blessing be yours. No one can say that you have done anything sinful before. We hope to see you, therefore, return in safety and crowned with success.”

Thus addressed by Vidura, Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, of prowess incapable of being baffled, saying, “So be it,” bowing low unto Bhishma and Drona, went away.

Then when Draupadi was about to set out she went unto the illustrious Pritha and solicited her leave. She also asked leave of the other ladies of the household who had all been plunged into grief. Saluting and embracing every one of them as each deserved, she desired to go away. Then there arose within the inner apartments of the Pandavas a loud wail of woe. Kunti, terribly afflicted upon beholding Draupadi on the eve of her journey, uttered these words in a voice choked with grief,

“O child, grieve not that this great calamity has overtaken you. You are well conversant with the duties of the female sex, and your behaviour and conduct also are as they should be. It beholds me not to instruct you as to your duties towards your lords. You are chaste and accomplished, and your qualities have adorned the race of your birth as also the race into which you have been admitted by marriage. Fortunate are the Kauravas that they have not been burnt by your wrath. O child, safely go you blessed by my prayers. Good women never suffer their hearts to the un-stung at what is inevitable. Protected by virtue that is superior to everything, soon shall you obtain good fortune. While living in the woods, keep your eye on my child Sahadeva. See that his heart sinks not under this great calamity.”

Saying “So be it!” the princess Draupadi bathed in tears, and clad in one piece of cloth, stained with blood, and with hair dishevelled left her mother-in-law. As she went away weeping and wailing Pritha herself in grief followed her. She had not gone far when she saw her sons shorn of their ornaments and robes, their bodies clad in deerskins, and their heads down with shame. She beheld them surrounded by rejoicing foes' and pitied by friends. Endued with excess of parental affection, Kunti approached her sons in that state, and embracing them all, and in accents choked by woe, She said these words,

“You are virtuous and good-mannered, and adorned with all excellent qualities and respectful behaviour. You are all high-minded, and engaged in the service of your superiors. And you are also devoted to the gods and the performance of sacrifices. Why, then, has this calamity overtaken you. Whence is this reverse of fortune? I do not see by whose wickedness this sin has overtaken you. Alas I have brought you forth. All this must be due to my ill fortune. It is for this that you have been overtaken by this calamity, though you all are endued with excellent virtues. In energy and prowess and strength and firmness and might, you are not wanting. How shall you now, losing your wealth and possessions, live poor in the pathless woods? If I had known before that you were destined to live in the woods, I would not have on Pandu's death come from the mountains of Satasringa to Hastinapur. Fortunate was your father, as I now regard, for he truly reaped the fruit of his asceticism, and he was gifted with foresight, as he entertained the wish of ascending heaven, without having to feel any pain on account of his sons. Fortunate also was the virtuous Madri, as I regard her today, who had, it seems, a fore-knowledge of what would happen and who on that account, obtained the high path of emancipation and every blessing therewith. Madri looked upon me as her stay, and her mind and her affections were ever fixed on me. Oh, fie on my desire of life, owing to which suffer all this woe. Ye children, you are all excellent and dear unto me. I have obtained you alter much suffering. I cannot leave you. Even I will go with you. Alas, O Krishna, why do you leave me so? Everything endued with life is sure to perish. Has Dhata himself forgotten to ordain my death? Perhaps, it is so, and, therefore, life doth not quit me. O Krishna, O you who dwells in Dwaraka, O younger brother of Sankarshana, where are you? Why do you not deliver me and these best of men also from such woe? They say that you who are without beginning and without end delivers those that think of you. Why does this saying become untrue. These my sons are ever attached to virtue and nobility and good fame and prowess. They deserve not to suffer affliction. Oh, show them mercy. Alas, when there are such elders amongst our race as Bhishma and Drona and Kripa, all conversant with morality and the science of worldly concerns, how could such calamity at all come? O Pandu, O king, where are you? Why suffer you quietly your good children to be thus sent into exile, defeated at dice? O Sahadeva, desist from going. You are my dearest child, dearer, O son of Madri, than my body itself. Forsake me not. It beholds you to have some kindness for me. Bound by the ties of virtue, let these your brothers go. But then, earn you that virtue which springs from waiting upon me.”

The Pandavas then consoled their weeping mother and with hearts plunged in grief set out for the woods. Vidura himself also much afflicted, consoling the distressed Kunti with reasons, and led her slowly to his house. The ladies of Dhritarashtra's house, hearing everything as it happened, the exile and the dragging of Krishna into the assembly where the princes had gambled, loudly wept censuring the Kauravas. The ladies of the royal household also sat silent for a long time, covering their lotus-like faces with their fair hands. king Dhritarashtra also thinking of the dangers that threatened his sons, became a prey to anxiety and could not enjoy peace of mind. Anxiously meditating on everything, and with mind deprived of its equanimity through grief, he sent a messenger unto Vidura, saying,

“Let Kshatta come to me without a moment's delay.”

At this summons, Vidura quickly came to Dhritarashtra's palace. As soon as Vidura endued with great foresight came unto him king Dhritarashtra, timidly asked his brother,

“How did Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, proceed along? How Arjuna? How the twin sons of Madri? How, O Kshatta, did Dhaumya proceed along? How the illustrious Draupadi? I desire to hear everything, O Kshatta; describe to me all their acts.”

Vidura replied,

“Yudhishthira has gone away covering his face with his cloth. Bhima has gone away looking at his own mighty arms. Arjuna has gone away, following the king spreading sand-grains around. Sahadeva has gone away besmearing his face, and Nakula has gone away, staining himself with dust and his heart in great affliction. The large-eyed and beautiful Krishna has gone away, covering her face with her dishevelled hair following in the wake of the king, weeping and in tears. Dhaumya goes along the road, with kusa grass in hand, and uttering the awful mantras of Sama Veda that relate to Yama.”

Dhritarashtra asked,

“Tell me, O Vidura, why is it that the Pandavas are leaving Hastinapur in such varied guise.”

Vidura replied,

“Though persecuted by your sons and robbed of his kingdom and wealth the mind of the wise king Yudhishthira has not yet deviated from the path of virtue. King Yudhishthira is always kind to your children. Though deprived by foul means, filled with wrath as he is, he does not open eyes. “I should not burn the people by looking at them with angry eyes,” thinking so, the royal son of Pandu goes covering his face. Listen to me as I tell you why Bhima goes so. “There is none equal to me in strength of arms,” thinking so Bhima goes repeatedly stretching forth his mighty arms. Proud of the strength of his arms, Vrikodara goes, exhibiting them and desiring to do unto his enemies deeds worthy of those arms. Arjuna, capable of using both his arms, follows the footsteps of Yudhishthira, scattering sand-grains emblematical of the arrows he would shower in battle. He indicates that as the sand-grains are scattered by him with ease, so will he rain arrows with perfect ease on the foe. Sahadeva goes besmearing his lace, thinking “None may recognise me in this day of trouble.” Nakula goes staining himself with dust thinking, “Lest otherwise I steal the hearts of the ladies that may look at me.” Draupadi goes, attired in one piece of stained cloth, her hair dishevelled, and weeping, signifying “The wives of those for whom I have been reduced to such a plight, shall on the fourteenth year hence be deprived of husbands, sons and relatives and dear ones and smeared all over with blood, with hair dishevelled and all in their feminine seasons enter Hastinapur having offered oblations of water. The learned Dhaumya with passions under full control, holding the kusa grass in his hand and pointing the same towards the south-west, walks before, singing the mantras of the Sama Veda that relate to Yama. That learned Brahmana goes, also signifying, “When the Bharatas shall be slain in battle, the priests of the Kurus will thus sing the Soma mantras.” The citizens, afflicted with great grief, are repeatedly crying out, “Alas, alas, behold our masters are going away! O fie on the Kuru elders that have acted like foolish children in thus banishing heirs of Pandu from covetousness alone. Alas, separated from the son of Pandu we all shall become master less. What love can we bear to the wicked and avaricious Kurus?” Thus O king, have the sons of Kunti, endued with great energy of mind, gone away, indicating, by manner and signs, the resolutions that are in their hearts. As those foremost of men had gone away from Hastinapur, flashes of lightning appeared in the sky though without clouds and the earth itself began to tremble. Rahu came to devour the Sun, although it was not the day of conjunction. Meteors began to fall, keeping the city to their right. Jackals and vultures and ravens and other carnivorous beasts and birds began to shriek and cry aloud from the temples of the gods and the tops of sacred trees and walls and house-tops. These extraordinary calamitous portents, O king, were seen and heard, indicating the destruction of the Bharatas as the consequence of your evil counsels.”

While king Dhritarashtra and the wise Vidura were thus talking with each other, there appeared in that assembly of the Kauravas and before the eyes of all, the best of the celestial Rishis. Appealing before them all, he uttered these terrible words,

“On the fourteenth year hence, the Kauravas, in consequence of Duryodhana's fault, will all be destroyed by the might of Bhima and Arjuna”.

Having said this, that best of celestial Rishis, adorned with surpassing Vedic grace, passing through the skies, disappeared from the scene.

Then Duryodhana and Karna and Shakuni, the son of Subala regarding Drona as their sole refuge, offered the kingdom to him. Drona then, addressing the envious and wrathful Duryodhana and Dussasana and Karna and all the Bharata, said,

“The Brahmanas have said that the Pandavas being of celestial origin are incapable of being slain. The sons of Dhritarashtra, however, having, with all the kings, heartily and with reverence sought my protection, I shall look after them to the best of my power. Destiny is supreme, I cannot abandon them. The sons of Pandu, defeated at dice, are going into exile in pursuance of their promise. They will live in the woods for twelve years. Practising the Brahmacharya mode of life for this period, they will return in anger and to our great grief take the amplest vengeance on their foes. I had formerly deprived Drupada of his kingdom in a friendly dispute. Robbed of his kingdom by me, O Bharata, the king performed a sacrifice for obtaining a son. Aided by the ascetic power of Yaja and Upayaja, Drupada obtained from the fire a son named Dhrishtadyumna and a daughter, the faultless Krishna, both risen from the sacrificial platform. That Dhrishtadyumna is the brother-in-law of the sons of Pandu by marriage, and dear unto them. It is for him, therefore that I have much fear. Of celestial origin and resplendent as the fire, he was born with bow, arrows, and encased in mail. I am a being that is mortal. Therefore it is for him that I have great fear. That slayer of all foes, the son of Parshata, has taken the side of the Pandavas. I shall have to lose my life, if he and I ever encounter each other in battle. What grief can be greater to me in this world than this, you Kauravas that Dhrishtadyumna is the destined slayer of Drona, this belief is general. That he has been born for slaying me has been heard by me and is widely known also in the world. For your sake, O Duryodhana, that terrible season of destruction is almost come. Do without loss of time, what may be beneficial unto you. Think not that everything has been accomplished by sending the Pandavas into exile. This your happiness will last for but a moment, even as in winter the shadow of the top of the palm tree rests at its base. Perform various kinds of sacrifices, and enjoy, and give O Bharata, everything you like. On the fourteenth year hence, a great calamity will overwhelm you.”

Hearing these words of Drona, Dhritarashtra said,

“O Kshatta, the preceptor has uttered what is true. Go you and bring back the Pandavas. If they do not come back, let them go treated with respect and affection. Let those my sons go with weapons, and cars, and infantry, and enjoying every other good thing.”

Defeated at dice, after the Pandavas had gone to the woods, Dhritarashtra, was overcome with anxiety. While he was seated restless with anxiety and sighing in grief, Sanjaya approaching him said,

“O lord of the earth having now obtained the whole earth with all its wealth and sent away the sons of Pandu into exile, why is it, O king, that you grieve so?”

Dhritarashtra said,

“What have they not to grieve for who will have to encounter in battle those bulls among warriors, the sons of Pandu, fighting on great cars and aided by allies?”

Sanjaya said,

“O king, all this great hostility is inevitable on account of your mistaken action, and this will assuredly bring about the wholesale destruction of the whole world. Forbidden by Bhishma, by Drona, and by Vidura, your wicked-minded and shameless son Duryodhana sent his Suta messenger commanding him to bring into court the beloved and virtuous wife of the Pandavas. The gods first deprive that man of his reason unto whom they send defeat and disgrace. It is for this that such a person sees things in a strange light. When destruction is at hand, evil appears as good unto the understanding polluted by sin, and the man adheres to it firmly. That which is improper appears as proper, and that which is proper appears as improper unto the man about to be overwhelmed by destruction, and evil and impropriety are what he likes. The time that brings on destruction doth not come with upraised club and smash one's head. On the other hand the peculiarity of such a time is that it makes a man behold evil in good and good in evil. The wretches have brought on themselves this terrible, wholesale, and horrible destruction by dragging the helpless princess of Panchala into the court. Who else than Duryodhana, that false player of dice could bring into the assembly, with insults, the daughter of Drupada, endued with beauty and intelligence, and conversant with every rule of morality and duty, and sprung not from any woman's womb but from the sacred fire? The handsome Krishna, then in her season, attired in one piece of stained cloth when brought into the court cast her eyes upon the Pandavas. She beheld them, however, robbed of their wealth, of their kingdom, of even their attire, of their beauty, of every enjoyment, and plunged into a state of bondage. Bound by the tie of virtue, they were then unable to exert their prowess. Before all the assembled kings Duryodhana and Karna spoke cruel and harsh words unto the distressed and enraged Krishna undeserving of such treatment. O monarch, all this appears to me as foreboding fearful consequences.”

Dhritarashtra said,

“O Sanjaya, the glances of the distressed daughter of Drupada might consume the whole earth. Can it be possible that even a single son of mine will live? The wives of the Bharatas, uniting with Gandhari upon beholding virtuous Krishna, the wedded wife of the Pandavas, endued with beauty and youth, dragged into the court, set up frightful wail. Even now, along with all my subjects, they weep every day. Enraged at the ill treatment of Draupadi, the Brahmanas in a body did not perform that evening their Agnihotra ceremony. The winds blew mightily as they did at the time of the universal dissolution. There was a terrible thunder-storm also. Meteors fell from the sky, and Rahu by swallowing the Sun unseasonably alarmed the people terribly. Our war-chariots were suddenly ablaze, and all their flag staffs fell down foreboding evil unto the Bharatas. Jackals began to cry frightfully from within the sacred fire-chamber of Duryodhana, and asses from all directions began to bray in response. Then Bhishma and Drona, and Kripa, and Somadatta and the high-souled Bahlika, all left the assembly. It was then that at the advice of Vidura I addressed Krishna and said, “I will grant you boons, O Krishna, indeed, whatever you would ask?” The princess of the Panchala there begged of me the liberation of the Pandavas. Out of my own motion I then set free the Pandavas, commanding them to return on their cars and with their bows and arrows. It was then that Vidura told me, “Even this will prove the destruction of the Bharata race, this dragging of Krishna into the court. This daughter of the King of Panchala is the faultless Sree herself. Of celestial origin, she is the wedded wife of the Pandavas. The wrathful sons of Pandu will never forgive this insult offered unto her. Nor will the mighty bowmen of the Vrishni race, nor the mighty warriors amongst the Panchalas suffer this in silence. Supported by Vasudeva of unbaffled prowess, Arjuna will assuredly come back, surrounded by the Panchala host. That mighty warrior amongst them, Bhimasena endued with surpassing strength, will also come back, whirling his mace like Yama himself with his club. These kings will scarcely be able to bear the force of Bhima's mace. Therefore, O king, not hostility but peace for ever with the sons of Pandu is what seem to me to be the best. The sons of Pandu are always stronger than the Kurus. You know, O king, that the illustrious and mighty king Jarasandha was slain in battle by Bhima with his bare arms alone. Therefore, it beholds you to make peace with the sons of Pandu. Without scruples of any kind, unite the two parties. If you act in this way, you are sure to obtain good luck.” It was thus, O son of Gavalgani, that Vidura addressed me in words of both virtue and profit. I did not accept this counsel, moved by affection for my son.”