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The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2 by Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

T >> Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli >> The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2




Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana
replied unto the ruler of the Angas in a voice choked with tears."


SECTION CCXLVI

"Duryodhana said, 'O Radheya, thou knowest not what hath happened.
Therefore, I do not resent thy words. Thou thinkest the hostile
Gandharvas to have been vanquished by me with my own energy. O thou of
mighty arms, my brothers, indeed had for a long time, aided by me fought
with the Gandharvas. The slaughtered, indeed, on both sides were great.
But when those brave Gandharvas, resorting to their many powers of
illusion, ascended the skies and began to fight with us thence, our
encounter with them ceased to be an equal one. Defeat then was ours and
even captivity. And afflicted with sorrow, we along with our attendants
and counsellors and children and wives and troops and vehicles were
being taken by them through the skies. It was then that some soldiers of
ours and some brave officers repaired in grief unto the sons of
Pandu--those heroes that never refuse succour to those that ask for it.
And having gone to them they said, "Here is king Duryodhana, the son of
Dhritarashtra, who with his younger brothers and friends and wives is
being led away a captive by the Gandharvas along the sky. Blest be ye.
Liberate the king along with the women of the royal household! Suffer no
insult to be offered unto all the ladies of the Kuru race." And when
they had spoken thus, the eldest of Pandu's sons, who is endued with a
virtuous soul then conciliated his brothers and commanded them to
liberate us. Then those bulls among men, the Pandavas, overtaking the
Gandharvas, solicited our release in soft words, although fully able to
effect it by force of arms. And when the Gandharvas, addressed in such
conciliatory words, refused to set us at liberty, then Arjuna and Bhima
and the twins endued with mighty energy, shot showers of arrows at the
Gandharvas. Then the Gandharvas, abandoning the fight, fled through the
sky, dragging our melancholy selves after them, filled with joy. Then we
beheld a network of arrows spread all around by Dhananjaya, who was also
shooting celestial weapons upon the foe. And seeing the points of the
horizon covered by Arjuna with a thick network of sharp arrows, his
friend, the chief of the Gandharvas, showed himself. And Chitrasena and
Arjuna, embracing each other, enquired after each other's welfare. And
the other sons of Pandu also embraced the chief of the Gandharvas and
were embraced by him. And enquiries of courtesy passed between them
also. And the brave Gandharvas then abandoning their weapons and mail
mingled in a friendly spirit with the Pandavas. And Chitrasena and
Dhananjaya worshipped each other with regard.'"


SECTION CCXLVII

"Duryodhana said, 'That slayer of hostile heroes, Arjuna, then
approaching Chitrasena, smilingly addressed him in these manly words: "O
hero, O foremost of the Gandharvas, it behoveth thee to set my brothers
at liberty. They are incapable of being insulted as long as the sons of
Pandu are alive." Thus addressed by the illustrious son of Pandu, the
chief of the Gandharvas, O Karna, disclosed unto the Pandavas the object
we had in view in proceeding to that place, viz., that we came there for
casting our eyes on the sons of Pandu with their wife, all plunged in
misery. And while the Gandharva was disclosing those counsels of ours,
overwhelmed with shame I desired the earth to yield me a crevice, so
that I might disappear there and then. The Gandharvas then, accompanied
by the Pandavas, went to Yudhishthira, and, disclosing unto him also
counsels, made us over, bound as we were, to him. Alas, what greater
sorrow could be mine than that I should thus be offered as a tribute
unto Yudhishthira, in the very sight of the women of our household,
myself in chains and plunged in misery, and under the absolute control
of my enemies. Alas, they, who have ever been persecuted by me, they
unto whom I have ever been a foe released me from captivity, and wretch
that I am, I am indebted to them for my life. If, O hero, I had met with
my death in that great battle, that would have been far better than that
I should have obtained my life in this way. If I had been slain by the
Gandharvas, my fame would have spread over the whole earth, and I should
have obtained auspicious regions of eternal bliss in the heaven of
Indra. Listen to me therefore, ye bulls among men, as to what I intend
to do now. I will stay here forgoing all food, while ye all return home.
Let all my brothers also go to Hastinapura. Let all our friends,
including Karna, and all our relatives headed by Dussasana, return now
to the capital. Insulted by the foe, I myself will not repair thither. I
who had before wrested from the foe his respect, I who had always
enhanced the respect of my friends, have now become a source of sorrow
unto friends and of joy unto enemies. What shall I now say unto the
king, going to the city named after the elephant? What will Bhishma and
Drona, Kripa, and Drona's son, Vidura and Sanjaya, Vahuka and Somadatta
and other revered seniors,--what will the principal men of the other
orders and men of independent professions, say to me and what shall I
say unto them in reply? Having hitherto stayed over the heads of my
enemies, having hitherto trod upon their breasts, I have fallen away
from my position. How shall I ever speak with them? Insolent men having
obtained prosperity and knowledge and affluence, are seldom blest for
any length of time like myself puffed up with vanity. Alas, led by folly
I have done a highly improper and wicked act, for which, fool that I am,
I have fallen into such distress. Therefore, will I perish by starving,
life having become insupportable to me. Relieved from distress by the
foe, what man of spirit is there who can drag on his existence? Proud as
I am, shorn of manliness, the foe hath laughed at me, for the Pandavas
possessed of prowess have looked at me plunged in misery!'"

Vaisampayana continued, "While giving way to such reflections Duryodhana
spoke unto Dussasana thus: 'O Dussasana, listen to these words of mine,
O thou of the Bharata race! Accepting this installation that I offer
thee, be thou king in my place. Rule thou the wide earth protected by
Karna and Suvala's sons. Like Indra himself looking after the Maruts,
cherish thou thy brothers in such a way that they may all confide in
thee. Let thy friends and relatives depend on thee like the gods
depending on him of a hundred sacrifices. Always shouldst thou bestow
pensions on Brahmanas, without idleness, and be thou ever the refuge of
thy friends and relatives. Like Vishnu looking after the celestials,
thou shouldst always look after all consanguineous relatives. Thou
shouldst also ever cherish thy superiors. Go, rule thou the earth
gladdening thy friends and reproving thy foes.' And clasping his neck,
Duryodhana said, 'Go!' Hearing these words of his, Dussasana in perfect
cheerlessness and overwhelmed with great sorrow, his voice choked in
tears, said, with joined hands and bending his head unto his eldest
brother, 'Relent!' And saying this he fell down on earth with heavy
heart. And afflicted with grief that tiger among men, shedding his tears
on the feet of his brother again said, 'This will never be! The earth
may split, the vault of heaven may break in pieces, the sun may cast off
his splendour, the moon may abandon his coolness, the wind may forsake
its speed, the Himavat may be moved from its site, the waters of the
ocean may dry up, and fire may abandon its heat, yet I, O king, may
never rule the earth without thee.' And Dussasana repeatedly said,
'Relent, O king! Thou alone shall be king in our race for a hundred
years.' And having spoken thus unto the king, Dussasana began to weep
melodiously catching, O Bharata, the feet of his eldest brother
deserving of worship from him.

"And beholding Dussasana and Duryodhana thus weeping, Karna in great
grief approached them both and said, 'Ye Kuru princes, why do you thus
yield to sorrow like ordinary men, from senselessness? Mere weeping can
never ease a sorrowing man's grief. When weeping can never remove one's
griefs, what do you gain by thus giving way to sorrow? Summon patience
to your aid to not gladden the foe by such conduct. O king, the Pandavas
only did their duty in liberating thee. They that reside in the
dominions of the king, should always do what is agreeable to the king.
Protected by thee, the Pandavas are residing happily in thy dominion. It
behoveth thee not to indulge in such sorrow like an ordinary person.
Behold, thy uterine brothers are all sad and cheerless at seeing thee
resolved to put an end to thy life by forgoing food. Blest be thou! Rise
up and come to thy city and console these thy uterine brothers.'"


SECTION CCXLVIII

"Karna continued, 'O king, this conduct of thine to-day appeareth to be
childish. O hero, O slayer of foes, what is to be wondered at in this
that the Pandavas liberated thee when thou wert vanquished by the foe? O
son of the Kuru race, those that reside in the territories of the king,
especially those (amongst them) that lead the profession of arms, should
always do what is agreeable to the king whether they happen to be known
to their monarch or unknown to him. It happened often that foremost men
who crush the ranks of the hostile host, are vanquished by them, and are
rescued by their own troops. They that leading the profession of arms,
reside in the king's realm should always combine and exert themselves to
the best of their power, for the king. If, therefore, O king, the
Pandavas, who live in the territories, have liberated thee, what is
there to be regretted at in this? That the Pandavas, O best of kings,
did not follow thee when thou didst march forth to battle at the head of
thy troops, has been an improper act on their part. They had before this
come under thy power, becoming thy slaves. They are, therefore, bound to
aid thee now, being endued with courage and might and incapable of
turning away from the field of battle. Thou art enjoying all the rich
possessions of the Pandavas. Behold them yet alive, O king! They have
not resolved to die, forgoing all food. Blest be thou! Rise up, O king!
It behoveth thee not to indulge in great sorrow long. O king, it is the
certain duty of those that reside in the king's realm to do what is
agreeable to the king. Where should the regret be in all this? If thou,
O king, dost not act according to my words I shall stay here employed in
reverentially serving thy feet. O bull among men, I do not desire to
live deprived of thy company. O king, if thou resolvest to slay thyself
by forgoing food, thou wilt simply be an object of laughter with other
kings.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana,
firmly resolved to leave the world, desired not to rise from where he
sat."


SECTION CCXLIX

Vaisampayana said, "Beholding king Duryodhana, incapable of putting up
with an insult, seated with the resolution of giving up life by forgoing
food, Sakuni, the son of Suvala, said these words to comfort him. Sakuni
said, 'O son of the Kuru race, you have just heard what Karna hath said.
His words are, indeed fraught with wisdom. Why wouldst thou abandoning
from foolishness the high prosperity that I won for thee, cast off thy
life today, O king, yielding to silliness? It seemeth to me to-day that
thou hast never waited upon the old. He that cannot control sudden
accession of joy or grief, is lost even though he may have obtained
prosperity, like an unburnt earthen vessel in water. That king who is
entirely destitute of courage, who hath no spark of manliness, who is
the slave of procrastination, who always acts with indiscretion, who is
addicted to sensual pleasures, is seldom respected by his subjects.
Benefited as thou has been, whence is this unreasonable grief of thine?
Do not undo this graceful act done by the sons of Pritha, by indulging
in such grief. When thou shouldst joy and reward the Pandavas, thou art
grieving, O king? Indeed, this behaviour of thine is inconsistent. Be
cheerful, do not cast away thy life; but remember with a pleased heart
the good they have done thee. Give back unto the sons of Pritha their
kingdom, and win thou both virtue and renown by such conduct. By acting
in this way, thou mayst be grateful. Establish brotherly relations with
the Pandavas by being friends, and give them their paternal kingdom, for
then thou wilt be happy!'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Sakuni, and seeing the
brave Dussasana lying prostrate before him unmanned by fraternal love,
the king raised Dussasana and, clasping him in his well round arms,
smelt his head from affection. And hearing these words of Karna and
Sauvala, king Duryodhana lost heart more than ever, and he was
overwhelmed with shame and utter despair overtook his soul. And hearing
all that his friends said, he answered with sorrow, 'I have nothing more
to do with virtue, wealth, friendship, affluence, sovereignty, and
enjoyments. Do not obstruct my purpose, but leave me all of you. I am
firmly resolved to cast away my life by forgoing food. Return to the
city, and treat my superiors there respectfully.'

"Thus addressed by him, they replied unto that royal grinder of foes,
saying, 'O monarch, the course that is thine, is also ours, O Bharata.
How can we enter the city without thee?'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Though addressed in all manner of ways by his
friends and counsellors and brothers and relatives, the king wavered not
from his purpose. And the son of Dhritarashtra in accordance with his
purpose spread _Kusa_ grass on the earth, and purifying himself by
touching water, sat down upon that spot. And clad in rags and _Kusa_
grass he set himself to observe the highest vow. And stopping all
speech, that tiger among kings, moved by the desire of going to heaven,
began to pray and worship internally suspending all external
intercourse.

"Meanwhile the fierce _Daityas_ and the _Danavas_ who had been defeated
of old by the celestials and had been dwelling in the nether regions
having ascertained Duryodhana's purpose and knowing that if the king
died their party would be weakened, commenced a sacrifice with fire for
summoning Duryodhana to their presence. And _mantra_ knowing persons
then commenced with the help of formulae declared by Brihaspati and
Usanas, those rites that are indicated in the _Atharva Veda_ and the
_Upanishads_ and which are capable of being achieved by _mantras_ and
prayers. And Brahmins of rigid vows, well-versed in the _Vedas_ and the
branches, began, with rapt soul, to pour libations of clarified butter
and milk into the fire, uttering _mantras_. And after those rites were
ended, a strange goddess, O king, with mouth wide open, arose (from the
sacrificial fire), saying, 'What am I to do?' And the Daityas with
well-pleased hearts, commanded her, saying, 'Bring thou hither the royal
son of Dhritarashtra, who is even now observing the vow of starvation
for getting rid of his life.' Thus commanded, she went away saying, 'So
be it.' And she went in the twinkling of an eye to that spot where
Suyodhana was. And taking up the king back to the nether regions, and
having brought him thus in a moment, she apprised the _Danavas_ of it.
And the _Danavas_ beholding the king brought into their midst in the
night, united together, and all of them with well-pleased hearts and
eyes expanded in delight addressed these flattering words to
Duryodhana."


SECTION CCL

"The Danavas said, 'O Suyodhana, O great king! O perpetuator of the race
of Bharata, thou art ever surrounded by heroes and illustrious men. Why
hast thou, then, undertaken to do such a rash act as the vow of
starvation? The suicide ever sinketh into hell and becometh the subject
of calumnious speech. Nor do intelligent persons like thee ever set
their hands to acts that are sinful and opposed to their best interests
and striking at the very root of their purposes. Restrain this resolve
of thine, therefore, O king, which is destructive of morality, profit,
and happiness, of fame, prowess, and energy, and which enhanceth the joy
of foes. O exalted king, know the truth, the celestial origin of thy
soul, and the maker of thy body, and then summon thou patience to thy
aid. In days of old, O king, we have obtained thee, by ascetic
austerities from Maheswara. The upper part of thy body is wholly made of
an assemblage of _Vajras_, and is, therefore, invulnerable to weapons of
every description, O sinless one. The lower part of thy body, capable of
captivating the female heart by its comeliness was made of flowers by
the goddess herself--the wife of Mahadeva. Thy body is thus, O best of
kings, the creation of Maheswara himself and his goddess. Therefore, O
tiger among kings, thou art of celestial origin, not human. Other brave
Kshatriyas of mighty energy headed by Bhagadatta, and all acquainted
with celestial weapons, will slay thy foes. Therefore, let this grief of
thine cease. Thou hast no cause for fear. For aiding thee, many heroic
_Danavas_ have been born on the earth. Other Asuras will also possess
Bhishma and Drona and Karna and others. Possessed by those Asuras, these
heroes will cast away their kindness and fight with thy foes. Indeed,
when the _Danavas_ will enter their heart and possess them completely,
flinging all affections to a distance, becoming hard-hearted, these
warriors will strike every body opposed to them in battle without
sparing sons, brothers, fathers, friends, disciples, relatives, even
children and old men. Blinded by ignorance and wrath, and impelled by
that destiny which hath been ordained by the Creator, these tigers among
men, with hearts steeped in sin, will, O thou foremost of the Kurus,
depopulate the earth by hurling and shooting all kinds of weapons, with
great manliness and strength and always addressing one another
boastfully with words such as these, "_Thou shall not escape from me
today with life_." And these illustrious sons of Pandu also, five in
number, will fight with these. And, endued with mighty strength and
favoured by Fate, they will compass the destruction of these. And, O
king, many _Daityas_ and _Rakshasas_ also that have been born in the
Kshatriya order, will fight with great prowess in the battle with thy
foes, using maces and clubs and lances and various weapons of a superior
kind. And, O hero, with respect to the fear that is in thy heart rising
from Arjuna, we have already settled the means for slaying Arjuna. The
soul of the slain Naraka hath assumed the form of Karna. Recollecting
his former hostility he will encounter both Kesava and Arjuna. And that
mighty warrior and foremost of smiters, proud of his prowess will
vanquish Arjuna in battle as also all thy enemies. The wielder of the
thunder-bolt, knowing all this, and desirous of saving Arjuna, will in
disguise take away from Karna his ear-rings and coat of mail. We also
have for that reason appointed hundreds upon hundreds and thousands upon
thousands of _Daityas_ and _Rakshasas_, viz., those that are known by
the name of _Samsaptakas_.[43] These celebrated warriors will slay the
heroic Arjuna. Therefore, grieve not, O king. Thou wilt rule the whole
earth, O monarch, without a rival. Do not yield to despondency. Conduct
such as this does not suit thee. O thou of the Kuru race, if thou diest,
our party becometh weak. Go thou, O hero, and let not thy mind be
directed to any other course of action. Thou art ever our refuge as,
indeed, the Pandavas are the refuge of the gods.'"

[43] Lit, Soldiers that have sworn to conquer or die. A full
Akshauhini of these soldiers was owned by Krishna, who gave them
to Duryodhana to fight for him. The story of Krishna's offering
to Duryodhana the choice between these soldiers on the one side,
and himself sworn not to fight but only to aid with his counsels
on the other, is given in full in the Udyoga Parva. Duryodhana,
from folly, accepted the former, who were all slain by Arjuna.

Vaisampayana continued, "Having addressed him thus, those _Daityas_
embraced that elephant among kings, and those bulls among the _Danavas_
cheered that irrepressible one like a son. And, O Bharata, pacifying his
mind by soft speech, they permitted him to depart, saying, 'Go and
attain victory!' And when they had given leave to the mighty-armed one,
that very goddess carried him back to the spot where he had sat down,
intent upon putting an end to his life. And having set that hero down
and paid him homage, the goddess vanished, taking the king's permission.
O Bharata, when she had gone, king Duryodhana considered all (that had
happened) as a dream. He then thought within himself, 'I shall defeat
the Pandavas in battle.' And Suyodhana thought that Karna and the
Samsaptaka army were both able (to destroy) and intent upon destroying
that slayer of foes, Partha. Thus, O bull of the Bharata race, the hope
was strengthened of the wicked minded son of Dhritarashtra, of
conquering the Pandavas. And Karna also, his soul and faculties
possessed by the inmost soul of Naraka, had at that time cruelly
determined to slay Arjuna. And those heroes--the Samsaptakas
also--having their sense possessed by the _Rakshasas_, and influenced by
the qualities of emotion and darkness, were desirous of slaying
Phalguna. And, O king, others with Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa at their
head, having their faculties influenced by the Danavas, were not so
affectionate towards the sons of Pandu as they had been. But king
Suyodhana did not tell any one of this.

"When the night passed away, Karna, that offspring of the Sun, with
joined hands, smilingly addressed these wise words to king Duryodhana,
'No dead man conquereth his foes: it is when he is alive that he can see
his good. Where is the good of the dead person; and, O Kauravya, where
is his victory? Therefore, this is no time for grief, or fear or death.'
And having, with his arms embraced that mighty-armed one, he further
said, 'Rise up, O king! Why dost thou lie down? Why dost thou grieve, O
slayer of foes? Having afflicted thy enemies by thy prowess, why dost
thou wish for death? Or (perhaps) fear hath possessed thee at the sight
of Arjuna's prowess. I truly promise unto thee that I will slay Arjuna
in battle. O lord of men, I swear by my weapon that when the three and
ten years shall have passed away, I will bring the sons of Pritha under
thy subjection.' Thus addressed by Karna, and remembering the words of
the _Daityas_ and supplications made by them (his brothers), Suyodhana
rose up. And having heard those words of the _Daityas_ that tiger among
men, with a firm resolve in his heart arrayed his army, abounding in
horses and elephants and cars and infantry. And, O monarch, immensely
swarming with white umbrellas, and pennons, and white _Chamaras_, and
cars, and elephants, and foot-soldiers, that mighty army, as it moved
like the waters of the Ganga, looked graceful like the firmament, at a
season when the clouds have dispersed and the signs of autumn have been
but partially developed. And, O foremost of kings, eulogised like a
monarch by the best of the Brahmanas blessing with victory, that lord of
men Suyodhana, Dhritarashtra's son, receiving honours paid with
innumerable joined palms, and flaming in exceeding splendour, went in
the front, accompanied by Karna, and that gambler, the son of Suvala.
And all his brothers with Dussasana at their head, and Bhurisrava, and
Somadatta, and the mighty king Vahlika, followed that lion among kings
on his way, with cars of various forms, and horses, and the best of
elephants. And, O prime among monarchs, in a short time, those
perpetuators of the Kuru race entered their own city."


SECTION CCLI

Janamejaya said, "When the high-souled sons of Pritha were living in the
forest, what did those foremost of men and mighty archers--the sons of
Dhritarashtra--do? And what did the offspring of the Sun, Karna, and the
mighty Sakuni, and Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa do? It behoveth thee to
relate this unto me."

Vaisampayana said, "When, O mighty king, in this manner the Pandavas had
gone, leaving Suyodhana, and when, having been liberated by Pandu's
sons, he had come to Hastinapura, Bhishma said these words to the son of
Dhritarashtra, 'O child, I had told thee before, when thou wert intent
upon going to the hermitage that thy journey did not please me. But thou
didst do so. And as a consequence, O hero, wert thou forcibly taken
captive by the enemy, and wert delivered by the Pandavas versed in
morality. Yet art thou not ashamed. Even in the presence of thee, O son
of Gandhari, together with thy army, did the Suta's son, struck with
panic, fly from the battle of the Gandharvas, O king. And, O foremost of
kings, O son of the monarch! while thou with thy army wert crying
distressfully, thou didst witness the prowess of the high-souled
Pandavas, and also, O mighty-armed one, of the wicked son of the Suta,
Karna. O best of kings, whether in the science of arms, or heroism, or
morality, Karna, O thou devoted to virtue, is not a fourth part of the
Pandavas. Therefore, for the welfare of this race, the conclusion of
peace is, I think, desirable with the high-souled Pandavas.'