The Mahabharata. Book 1, Adi Parva, Section 202nd. Viduragamana Parva.
"Vaisampayana said, 'The news was carried unto all the monarchs (who had come to the
Self-choice of Draupadi) by their trusted
spies that the handsome Draupadi had been
united in marriage with the sons of Pandu.
And they were also informed that the illustrious
hero who had bent the bow and shot the mark
was none else than Arjuna, that foremost of victorious warriors and first of all wielders
of the bow and arrows.
And it became known that the mighty warrior
who had dashed Salya, the king of Madra, on
the ground, and who in wrath had terrified
the assembled monarchs by means of the tree
(he had uprooted), and who had taken his stand
before all foes in perfect fearlessness, was
none else than Bhima, that feller of hostile
ranks, whose touch alone was sufficient to
take the lives out of all foes.
The monarchs, upon being informed that the
Pandavas had assumed the guise of peaceful
Brahmanas, wondered much.
They even heard that Kunti with all her sons
had been burnt to death in the conflagration
of the house of lac.
They, therefore, now regarded the Pandavas
in the light of persons who had come back
from the region of the dead.
And recollecting the cruel scheme contrived
by Purochana, they began to say, 'O, fie on
Bhishma, fie on Dhritarashtra of the Kuru
race!'
"After the Self-choice was over, all the monarchs
(who had come thither), hearing that Draupadi
had been united with the Pandavas, set out
for their own dominions.
And Duryodhana, hearing that Draupadi had
selected the owner of white steeds (Arjuna)
as her lord, became greatly depressed.
Accompanied by his brothers, Aswatthaman,
his uncle (Sakuni), Karna and Kripa the prince
set out with a heavy heart for his capital.
Then Duhsasana, blushing with shame, addressed
his brother softly and said, 'If Arjuna had
not disguised himself as a Brahmana, he could
never have succeeded in obtaining Draupadi.
It was for this disguise, O king, that no
one could recognise him as Dhananjaya.
Fate, I ween, is ever supreme.
Exertion is fruitless; fie on our exertions,
O brother!
The Pandavas are still alive!'
Speaking unto one another thus and blaming
Purochana (for his carelessness), they then
entered the city of Hastinapura, with cheerless
and sorrowful hearts.
Beholding the mighty sons of Pritha, escaped
from the burning house of lac and allied with
Drupada, and thinking of Dhrishtadyumna and
Sikhandin and the other sons of Drupada all
accomplished in fight, they were struck with
fear and overcome with despair.
"Then Vidura, having learnt that Draupadi
had been won by the Pandavas and that the
sons of Dhritarashtra had come back (to Hastinapura)
in shame, their pride humiliated, became filled
with joy.
And, O king, approaching Dhritarashtra, Kshattri
said, 'The Kurus are prospering by good luck!'
Hearing those words of Vidura, the son of
Vichitravirya, wondering, said in great glee,
'What good luck, O Vidura!
What good luck!'
From ignorance, the blind monarch understood
that his eldest son Duryodhana had been chosen
by Drupada's daughter as her lord.
And the king immediately ordered various ornaments
to be made for Draupadi.
And he commanded that both Draupadi and his
son Duryodhana should be brought with pomp
to Hastinapura.
It was then that Vidura told the monarch that
Draupadi had chosen the Pandavas for her lords,
and that those heroes were all alive and at
peace, and that they had been received with
great respect by king Drupada.
And he also informed Dhritarashtra that the
Pandavas had been united with the many relatives
and friends of Drupada, each owning large
armies, and with many others who had come
to that self-choice.
"Hearing these words of Vidura, Dhritarashtra
said, 'Those children are to me as dear as
they were to Pandu.
Nay, more.
O listen to me why my affection for them now
is even greater!
The heroic sons of Pandu are well and at ease.
They have obtained many friends.
Their relatives, and others whom they have
gained as allies, are all endued with great
strength.
Who amongst monarchs in prosperity or adversity
would not like to have Drupada with his relatives
as an ally?'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having heard these
words of the monarch, Vidura said, 'O king,
let thy understanding remain so without change
for a hundred years!'
Having said this Vidura returned to his own
abode.
Then, O monarch, there came unto Dhritarashtra,
Duryodhana and the son of Radha, Karna.
Addressing the monarch, they said, 'We cannot,
O king, speak of any transgression in the
presence of Vidura!
We have now found thee alone, and will, therefore,
say all we like!
What is this that thou hast, O monarch, desired
to do?
Dost thou regard the prosperity of thy foes
as if it were thy own, that thou hast been
applauding the Pandavas, O foremost of men,
in the presence of Vidura?
O sinless one, thou actest not, O king, in
the way thou shouldst!
O father, we should now act every day in such
a way as to weaken (the strength of) the Pandavas.
The time hath come, O father, for us to take
counsel together, so that the Pandavas may
not swallow us all with our children and friends
and relatives.'"
Adi Parva, Section 203rd, Viduragamana Parva
continued.
"Vaisampayana said, 'Dhritarashtra replied
saying, I desire to do exactly what you would
recommend.
But I do not wish to inform Vidura of it even
by a change of muscle.
It was, therefore, O son, that I was applauding
the Pandavas in Vidura's presence, so that
he might not know even by a sign what is in
my mind.
Now that Vidura hath gone away, this is the
time, O Suyodhana (Duryodhana), for telling
me what thou hast hit upon, and what, O Radheya
(Karna), thou too hast hit upon.'
"Duryodhana said.
'Let us, O father, by means of trusted and
skilful and adroit Brahmanas, seek to produce
dissensions between the sons of Kunti and
Madri.
Or, let king Drupada and his sons, and all
his ministers of state, be plied with presents
of large wealth, so that they may abandon
the cause of Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti.
Or, let our spies induce the Pandavas to settle
in Drupada's dominions, by describing to them,
separately, the inconvenience of residing
in Hastinapura, so that, separated from as,
they may permanently settle in Panchala.
Or, let some clever spies, full of resources,
sowing the seeds of dissension among the Pandavas,
make them jealous of one another.
Or, let them incite Krishna against her husbands.
She has many lords and this will not present
any difficulty.
Or, let some seek to make the Pandavas themselves
dissatisfied with Krishna, in which case Krishna
also will be dissatisfied with them.
Or, let, O king, some clever spies, repairing
thither, secretly compass the death of Bhimasena.
Bhima is the strongest of them all.
Relying upon Bhima alone, the Pandavas used
to disregard us, of old.
Bhima is fierce and brave and the (sole) refuge
of the Pandavas.
If he be slain, the others will be deprived
of strength and energy.
Deprived of Bhima who is their sole refuge,
they will no longer strive to regain their
kingdom.
Arjuna, O king, is invincible in battle, if
Bhima protecteth him from behind.
Without Bhima, Arjuna is not equal to even
a fourth part of Radheya.
Indeed, O king, the Pandavas conscious of
their own feebleness without Bhima and of
our strength would not really strive to recover
the kingdom.
Or, if, O monarch, coming hither, they prove
docile and obedient to us, we would then seek
to repress them according to the dictates
of political science (as explained by Kanika).
Or, we may tempt them by means of handsome
girls, upon which the princess of Panchala
will get annoyed with them.
Or, O Radheya, let messengers be despatched
to bring them hither, so that, when arrived,
we may through trusted agents, by some of
the above methods, cause them to be slain.
Strive, O father, to employ any of these (various)
methods that may appear to thee faultless.
Time passeth.
Before their confidence in king Drupada--that
bull amongst kings--is established we may
succeed, O monarch, to encounter them.
But after their confidence hath been established
in Drupada, we are sure to fail.
These, O father, are my views for the discomfiture
of the Pandavas.
Judge whether they be good or bad.
What, O Karna, dost thou think?'"
Adi Parva, Section 204th, Viduragamana Parva
continued.
"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by Duryodhana,
Karna said, 'It doth not seem to me, O Duryodhana,
that thy reasoning is well-founded.
O perpetuator of the Kuru race, no method
will succeed against the Pandavas.
O brave prince, thou hast before, by various
subtle means, striven to carry out thy wishes.
But ever hast thou failed to slay thy foes.
They were then living near thee, O king!
They were then unfledged and of tender years,
but thou couldst not injure them then.
They are now living at a distance, grown up,
full-fledged.
The sons of Kunti, O thou of firm resolution,
cannot now be injured by any subtle contrivances
of thine.
This is my opinion.
As they are aided by the very Fates, and as
they are desirous of regaining their ancestral
kingdom, we can never succeed in injuring
them by any means in our power.
It is impossible to create disunion amongst
them.
They can never be disunited who have all taken
to a common wife.
Nor can we succeed in estranging Krishna from
the Pandavas by any spies of ours.
She chose them as her lords when they were
in adversity.
Will she abandon them now that they are in
prosperity?
Besides women always like to have many husbands,
Krishna hath obtained her wish.
She can never be estranged from the Pandavas.
The king of Panchala is honest and virtuous;
he is not avaricious.
Even if we offer him our whole kingdom he
will not abandon the Pandavas.
Drupada's son also possesseth every accomplishment,
and is attached to the Pandavas.
Therefore, I do not think that the Pandavas
can now be injured by any subtle means in
thy power.
But, O bull amongst men, this is what is good
and advisable for us now, viz., to attack
and smite them till they are exterminated.
Let this course recommend itself to thee.
As long as our party is strong and that of
the king of the Panchalas is weak, so long
strike them without any scruple.
O son of Gandhari, as long as their innumerable
vehicles and animals, friends, and friendly
tribes are not mustered together, continue,
O king, to exhibit thy prowess.
As long as the king of the Panchalas together
with his sons gifted with great prowess, setteth
not his heart upon fighting with us, so long,
O king, exhibit thy prowess.
And, O king, exert thy prowess before he of
the Vrishni race (Krishna) cometh with the
Yadava host into the city of Drupada, carrying
everything before him, to restore the Pandavas
to their paternal kingdom.
Wealth, every article of enjoyment, kingdom,
there is nothing that Krishna may not sacrifice
for the sake of the Pandavas.
The illustrious Bharata had acquired the whole
earth by his prowess alone.
Indra hath acquired sovereignty of the three
worlds by prowess alone.
O king, prowess is always applauded by the
Kshatriyas.
O bull amongst Kshatriyas, prowess is the
cardinal virtue of the brave.
Let us, therefore, O monarch, with our large
army consisting of four kinds of forces, grind
Drupada without loss of time, and bring hither
the Pandavas.
Indeed, the Pandavas are incapable of being
discomfited by any policy of conciliation,
of gift, of wealth and bribery, or of disunion.
Vanquish them, therefore, by thy prowess.
And vanquishing them by thy prowess, rule
thou this wide earth.
O monarch, I see not any other means by which
we may accomplish our end.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words
of Radheya, Dhritarashtra, endued with great
strength, applauded him highly.
The monarch then addressed him and said, 'Thou,
O son of a Suta, art gifted with great wisdom
and accomplished in arms.
This speech, therefore, favouring the exhibition
of prowess suiteth thee well.
But let Bhishma, and Drona, and Vidura, and
you two, take counsel together and adopt that
proposal which may lead to our benefit.'
Vaisampayana continued, "'Then king Dhritarashtra
called unto him, all those celebrated ministers
and took counsel with them.'"
Adi Parva, Section 205th, Viduragamana Parva
continued.
"Vaisampayana said, 'Asked by Dhritarashtra
to give his opinion, Bhishma replied, 'O Dhritarashtra,
a quarrel with the Pandavas is what I can
never approve of.
As thou art to me, so was Pandu without doubt.
And the sons of Gandhari are to me, as those
of Kunti.
I should protect them as well as I should
thy sons, O Dhritarashtra!
And, O king, the Pandavas are as much near
to me as they are to prince Duryodhana or
to all the other Kurus.
Under these circumstances a quarrel with them
is what I never like.
Concluding a treaty with those heroes, let
half the land be given unto them.
This is without doubt, the paternal kingdom
of those foremost ones of the Kuru race.
And, O Duryodhana, like thee who lookest upon
this kingdom as thy paternal property, the
Pandavas also look upon it as their paternal
possession.
If the renowned sons of Pandu obtain not the
kingdom, how can it be thine, or that of any
other descendant of the Bharata race?
If thou regardest thyself as one that hath
lawfully come into the possession of the kingdom,
I think they also may be regarded to have
lawfully come into the possession of this
kingdom before thee.
Give them half the kingdom quietly.
This, O tiger among men, is beneficial to
all.
If thou actest otherwise, evil will befall
us all.
Thou too shall be covered with dishonour.
O Duryodhana, strive to maintain thy good
name.
A good name is, indeed, the source of one's
strength.
It hath been said that one liveth in vain
whose reputation hath gone.
A man, O Kaurava, doth not die so long as
his fame lasteth.
One liveth as long as one's fame endureth,
and dieth when one's fame is gone.
Follow thou, O son of Gandhari, the practice
that is worthy of the Kuru race.
O thou of mighty arms, imitate thy own ancestors.
We are fortunate that the Pandavas have not
perished.
We are fortunate that Kunti liveth.
We are fortunate that the wretch Purochana
without being able to accomplish his purpose
hath himself perished.
From that time when I heard that the sons
of Kuntibhoja's daughter had been burnt to
death, I was, O son of Gandhari, ill able
to meet any living creature.
O tiger among men, hearing of the fate that
overtook Kunti, the world doth not regard
Purochana so guilty as it regardeth thee.
O king, the escape, therefore, of the sons
of Pandu with life from that conflagration
and their re-appearance, do away with thy
evil repute.
Know, O thou of Kuru's race, that as long
as those heroes live, the wielder of the thunder
himself cannot deprive them of their ancestral
share in the kingdom.
The Pandavas are virtuous and united.
They are being wrongly kept out of their equal
share in the kingdom.
If thou shouldst act rightly, if thou shouldst
do what is agreeable to me, if thou shouldst
seek the welfare of all, then give half the
kingdom unto them.'"
Adi Parva, Section 206th, Viduragamana Parva
continued.
"Vaisampayana said, 'After Bhishma had concluded,
Drona spoke, saying, 'O king Dhritarashtra,
it hath been heard by us that friends summoned
for consultation should always speak what
is right, true, and conductive to fame.
O sire, I am of the same mind in this matter
with the illustrious Bhishma.
Let a share of the kingdom be given unto the
Pandavas.
This is eternal virtue.
Send, O Bharata, unto Drupada without loss
of time some messenger of agreeable speech,
carrying with him a large treasure for the
Pandavas.
And let the man go unto Drupada carrying costly
presents for both the bridegrooms and the
bride, and let him speak unto that monarch
of thy increase of power and dignity arising
from this new alliance with him.
And, O monarch, let the man know also that
both thyself and Duryodhana have become exceedingly
glad in consequence of what hath happened.
Let him say this repeatedly unto Drupada and
Dhrishtadyumna.
And let him speak also about the alliance
as having been exceedingly proper, and agreeable
unto thee, and of thyself being worthy of
it.
And let the man repeatedly propitiate the
sons of Kunti and those of Madri (in proper
words).
And at thy command, O king, let plenty of
ornaments of pure gold be given unto Draupadi.
And let, O bull of Bharata's race, proper
presents be given unto all the sons of Drupada.
Let the messenger then propose the return
of the Pandavas to Hastinapura.
After the heroes will have been permitted
(by Drupada), to come hither, let Duhsasana
and Vikarna go out with a handsome train to
receive them.
And when they will have arrived at Hastinapura,
let those foremost of men be received with
affection by thee.
And let them then be installed on their paternal
throne, agreeably to the wishes of the people
of the realm.
This, O monarch of Bharata's race, is what
I think should be thy behaviour towards the
Pandavas who are to thee even as thy own sons.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'After Drona had
ceased, Karna spake again, 'Both Bhishma and
Drona have been pampered with wealth that
is thine and favours conferred by thee!
They are also always regarded by thee as thy
trusted friends!
What can therefore be more amusing than that
they both should give thee advice which is
not for thy good?
How can the wise approve that advice which
is pronounced good by a person speaking with
wicked intent but taking care to conceal the
wickedness of his heart?
Indeed, in a season of distress, friends can
neither benefit nor injure.
Every one's happiness or the reverse dependeth
on destiny.
He that is wise and he that is foolish, he
that is young (in years) and he that is old,
he that hath allies and he that hath none,
all become, it is seen everywhere, happy or
unhappy at times.
It hath been heard by us that there was, of
old, a king by name Amvuvicha.
Having his capital at Rajagriha, he was the
king of all the Magadha chiefs.
He never attended to his affairs.
All his exertion consisted in inhaling the
air.
All his affairs were in the hands of his minister.
And his minister, named Mahakarni, became
the supreme authority in the state.
Regarding himself all powerful, he began to
disregard the king.
And the wretch himself appropriated everything
belonging unto the king, his queens and treasures
and sovereignty.
But the possession of all these, instead of
satisfying his avarice, only served to inflame
him the more.
Having appropriated everything belonging to
the king, he even coveted the throne.
But it hath been heard by us that with all
his best endeavours he succeeded not in acquiring
the kingdom of the monarch, his master, even
though the latter was inattentive to business
and content with only breathing the air.
What else can be said, O king, than that monarch's
sovereignty was dependent on destiny?
If, therefore, O king, this kingdom be established
in thee by destiny, it will certainly continue
in thee, even if the whole world were to become
thy enemy!
If, however, destiny hath ordained otherwise,
howsoever mayest thou strive, it will not
last in thee!
O learned one, remembering all this, judge
of the honesty or otherwise of thy advisers.
Ascertain also who amongst them are wicked
and who have spoken wisely and well.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words
of Karna, Drona replied, 'As thou art wicked
it is evident thou sayest so in consequence
of the wickedness of thy intent.
It is for injuring the Pandavas that thou
findest fault with us.
But know, O Karna, what I have said is for
the good of all and the prosperity of the
Kuru race.
If thou regardest all this as productive of
evil, declare thyself what is for our good.
If the good advice I have given be not followed,
I think the Kurus will be exterminated in
no time.'"
Adi Parva, Section 207th, Viduragamana Parva
continued.
"Vaisampayana said, 'After Drona had ceased,
Vidura spoke, saying, 'O monarch, thy friends
without doubt, are saying unto thee what is
for thy good.
But as thou art unwilling to listen to what
they say, their words scarcely find a place
in thy ears.
What that foremost one of Kuru's race, viz.,
Bhishma, the son of Santanu, hath said, is
excellent and is for thy good.
But thou dost not listen to it.
The preceptor Drona also hath said much that
is for thy good which however Karna, the son
of Radha, doth not regard to be such.
But, O king, reflecting hard I do not find
any one who is better a friend to thee than
either of these two lions among men (viz.,
Bhishma and Drona), or any one who excels
either of them in wisdom.
These two, old in years, in wisdom, and in
learning, always regard thee, O king, and
the sons of Pandu with equal eyes.
Without doubt, O king of Bharata's race, they
are both, in virtue and truthfulness, not
inferior to Rama, the son of Dasaratha, and
Gaya.
Never before did they give thee any evil advice.
Thou also, O monarch, hast never done them
any injury.
Why should, therefore, these tigers among
men, who are ever truthful, give thee wicked
advice, especially when thou hast never injured
them?
Endued with wisdom these foremost of men,
O king, will never give thee counsels that
are crooked.
O scion of Kuru's rate, this is my firm conviction
that these two, acquainted with all rules
of morality, will never, tempted by wealth,
utter anything betraying a spirit of partisanship.
What they have said, O Bharata, I regard highly
beneficial to thee.
Without doubt, O monarch, the Pandavas are
thy sons as much as Duryodhana and others
are.
Those ministers, therefore, that give thee
any counsel fraught with evil unto the Pandavas,
do not really look to thy interests.
If there is any partiality in thy heart, O
king, for thy own children, they who by their
counsel seek to bring it out, certainly do
thee no good.
Therefore, O king, these illustrious persons
endued with great splendour, have not I think,
said anything that leadeth to evil.
Thou, however, dost not understand it.
What these bulls among men have said regarding
the invincibility of the Pandavas is perfectly
true.
Think not otherwise of it, O tiger among men.
Blest be thou!
Can the handsome Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu,
using the right and the left hand with equal
activity, be vanquished in battle even by
Maghavat himself?
Can the great Bhimasena of strong arms possessing
the might of ten thousand elephants, be vanquished
in battle by the immortals themselves?
Who also that desireth to live can overcome
in battle the twins (Nagula and Sahadeva)
like unto the sons of Yama himself, and well-skilled
in fight?
How too can the eldest one of the Pandavas
in whom patience, mercy, forgiveness, truth,
and prowess always live together, be vanquished?
They who have Rama (Valadeva) as their ally,
and Janardana (Krishna) as their counsellor,
and Satyaki as their partisan, have already
defeated everybody in war.
They who have Drupada for their father-in-law,
and Drupada's sons--the heroic brothers, viz.,
Dhristadyumna and others of Prishata's race
for their brothers-in-law, are certainly invincible.
Remembering this, O monarch, and knowing that
their claim to the kingdom is even prior to
thine, behave virtuously towards them.
The stain of calumny is on thee, O monarch,
in consequence of that act of Purochana.
Wash thyself of it now, by a kindly behaviour
towards the Pandavas.
This kindly behaviour of thine, O monarch,
towards the Pandavas will be an act of great
benefit to us, protecting the lives of us
all that belong to Kuru's race, and leading
to the growth of the whole Kshatriya order!
We had formerly warred with king Drupada;
if we can now secure him as an ally, it will
strengthen our party.
The Dasarhas, O king, are numerous and strong.
Know where Krishna is, all of them must be,
and where Krishna is, there victory also must
be!
O king, who, unless cursed by the gods, would
seek, to effect that by means of war which
can be effected by conciliation?
Hearing that the sons of Pritha are alive,
the citizens and other subjects of the realm
have become exceedingly glad and eager for
beholding them.
O monarch, act in a way that is agreeable
to them.
Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni, the son of
Suvala, are sinful, foolish and young; listen
not to them.
Possessed of every virtue thou art I long
ago told thee, O monarch that for Duryodhana's
fault, the subjects of this kingdom would
be exterminated.'"
Adi Parva, Section 208th, Viduragamana Parva
continued.
"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing these various
speeches, Dhritarashtra said, The learned
Bhishma, the son of Santanu, and the illustrious
Rishi Drona, and thyself also (O Vidura),
have said the truth and what also is most
beneficial to me.
Indeed, as those mighty car-warriors, the
heroic sons of Kunti. are the children of
Pandu, so are they, without doubt, my children
according to the ordinance.
And as my sons are entitled to this kingdom,
so are the sons of Pandu certainly entitled
to it.
Therefore, hasten to bring hither the Pandavas
along with their mother, treating them with
affectionate consideration.
O thou of Bharata's race, bring also Krishna
of celestial beauty along with them.
From sheer good fortune the sons of Pritha
are alive; and from good fortune alone those
mighty car-warriors have obtained the daughter
of Drupada.
It is from good fortune alone that our strength
hath increased, and it is from good fortune
alone that Purochana hath perished.
O thou of great splendour, it is from good
fortune that my great grief hath been killed!'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Vidura, at
the command of Dhritarashtra, repaired, O
Bharata, unto Yajnasena and the Pandavas.
And he repaired thither carrying with him
numerous jewels and various kinds of wealth
for Draupadi and the Pandavas and Yajnasena
also.
Arrived at Drupada's abode, Vidura conversant
with every rule of morality and deep in every
science, properly accosted the monarch and
waited upon him.
Drupada received Vidura in proper form and
they both enquired after each other's welfare.
Vidura then saw there the Pandavas and Vasudeva.
As soon as he saw them he embraced them from
affection and enquired after their well being.
The Pandavas also along with Vasudeva, in
due order, worshipped Vidura of immeasurable
intelligence.
But Vidura, O king, in the name of Dhritarashtra
repeatedly enquired with great affection after
their welfare.
He then gave, O monarch, unto the Pandavas
and Kunti and Draupadi, and unto Drupada and
Drupada's sons, the gems and various kinds
of wealth that the Kauravas had sent through
him.
Possessed of immeasurable intelligence, the
modest Vidura then, in the presence of the
Pandavas and Keshava, addressed the well-behaved
Drupada thus:
"With thy ministers and sons, O monarch, listen
to what I say.
King Dhritarashtra, with ministers, sons,
and friends, hath with a joyous heart, O king,
repeatedly enquired after thy welfare.
And, O monarch, he hath been highly pleased
with this alliance with thee.
So also, O king, Bhishma of great wisdom,
the son of Santanu, with all the Kurus, enquired
after thy welfare in every respect.
Drona also of great wisdom the son of Bharadwaja
and thy dear friend, embracing thee mentally,
enquired of thy happiness.
And, O king of Panchalas, Dhritarashtra and
all the Kurus, in consequence of this alliance
with thee regard themselves supremely blest.
O Yajnasena, the establishment of this alliance
with thee hath made them happier than if they
had acquired a new kingdom.
Knowing all this, O monarch, permit the Pandavas
to re-visit their ancestral kingdom.
The Kurus are exceedingly eager to behold
the sons of Pandu.
These bulls among men have been long absent
(from their kingdom).
They as well as Pritha must be very eager
to behold their city.
And all the Kuru ladies and the citizens and
our subjects are eagerly waiting to behold
Krishna the Panchala Princess.
This, therefore, is my opinion, O monarch,
that thou shouldst, without delay, permit
the Pandavas to go thither with their wife.
And after the illustrious Pandavas, O king,
will have received thy permission to go thither,
I shall send information unto Dhritarashtra
by quick messengers.
Then, O king, will the Pandavas set out with
Kunti and Krishna.'"
Adi Parva, Section 209th, Viduragamana Parva
continued.
"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing these words of
Vidura, Drupada said, 'It is even so as thou,
O Vidura of great wisdom, hast said.
Venerable one, I too have been exceedingly
happy in consequence of this alliance.
It is highly proper that these illustrious
princes should return to their ancestral kingdom.
But it is not proper for me to say this myself.
If the brave son of Kunti viz., Yudhishthira,
if Bhima and Arjuna, if these bulls among
men, viz., the twins, themselves desire to
go and if Rama (Valadeva) and Krishna, both
acquainted with every rule of morality, be
of the same mind, then let the Pandavas go
thither.
For these tigers among men (Rama and Krishna)
are ever engaged in doing what is agreeable
and beneficial to the sons of Pandu.'
"Hearing this, Yudhishthira said, 'We are
now, O monarch, with all our younger brothers,
dependent on thee.
We shall cheerfully do what thou art pleased
to command.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Vasudeva said,
'I am of opinion that the Pandavas should
go.
But we should all abide by the opinion of
king Drupada who is conversant with every
rule of morality.'
"Drupada then spoke, 'I certainly agree with
what this foremost of men, thinketh, having
regard to the circumstances.
For the illustrious sons of Pandu now are
to me as they are, without doubt, to Vasudeva.
Kunti's son Yudhishthira himself doth not
seek the welfare of the Pandavas so earnestly
as, Kesava, that tiger among men.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Commanded by the
illustrious Drupada, the Pandavas, then, O
king, and Krishna and Vidura, taking with
them Krishna, the daughter of Drupada, and
the renowned Kunti, journeyed towards the
city called after the elephant, stopping at
various places along the way for purposes
of pleasure and enjoyment.
King Dhritarashtra, hearing that those heroes
had neared the capital sent out the Kauravas
to receive them.
They who were thus sent out were, O Bharata,
Vikarna of the great bow, and Chitrasena,
and Drona that foremost of warriors, and Kripa
of Gautama's line.
Surrounded by these, those mighty heroes,
their splendour enhanced by that throng slowly
entered the city of Hastinapura.
The whole city became radiant, as it were,
with the gay throng of sight-seers animated
by curiosity.
Those tigers among men gladdened the hearts
of all who beheld them.
And the Pandavas, dear unto the hearts of
the people, heard, as they proceeded, various
exclamations with the citizens, ever desirous
of obeying the wishes of those princes, loudly
uttered.
Some exclaimed, 'Here returns that tiger among
men, conversant with all the rules of morality
and who always protects us as if we were his
nearest relatives.'
And elsewhere they said, 'It seems that king
Pandu--the beloved of his people--returneth
today from the forest, doubtless to do what
is agreeable to us.'
And there were some that said, 'What good
is not done to us today when the heroic sons
of Kunti come back to our town?
If we have ever given away in charity, if
we have ever poured libations of clarified
butter on the fire, if we have any ascetic
merit, let the Pandavas, by virtue of all
those acts stay in our town for a hundred
years.'
"At last the Pandavas, on arriving at the
place, worshipped the feet of Dhritarashtra,
as also those of the illustrious Bhishma.
They also worshipped the feet of everybody
else that deserved that honour.
And they enquired after the welfare of every
citizen (there present).
At last, at the command of Dhritarashtra they
entered the chambers that had been assigned
to them.
"After they had rested there for some time,
they were summoned (to the court) by king
Dhritarashtra and Bhishma, the son of Santanu.
When they came, king Dhritarashtra addressing
Yudhishthira, said, 'Listen, O son of Kunti,
with thy brothers, to what I say.
Repair ye to Khandavaprastha so that no difference
may arise again (between you and your cousins).
If you take up your quarters there no one
will be able to do you any injury.
Protected by Partha (Arjuna), like the celestials
by the thunderbolt, reside ye at Khandavaprastha,
taking half of the kingdom.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Agreeing to what
Dhritarashtra said, those bulls among men
worshipping the king set out from Hastinapura.
And content with half the kingdom, they removed
to Khandavaprastha, which was in unreclaimed
desert.
Then those heroes of unfading splendour, viz.,
the Pandavas, with Krishna at their head,
arriving there, beautified the place and made
it a second heaven.
And those mighty car-warriors, selecting with
Dwaipayana's assistance a sacred and auspicious
region, performed certain propitiatory ceremonies
and measured out a piece of land for their
city.
Then surrounded by a trench wide as the sea
and by walls reaching high up to the heavens
and white as the fleecy clouds or the rays
of the moon, that foremost of cities looked
resplendent like Bhogavati (the capital of
the nether kingdom) decked with the Nagas.
And it stood adorned with palatial mansions
and numerous gates, each furnished with a
couple of panels resembling the out-stretched
wings of Garuda.
And it was protected with gateways looking
like the clouds and high as the Mandara mountains.
And well-furnished with numerous weapons of
attack the missiles of the foes could not
make slightest impression on them.
And they were almost covered with darts and
other missiles like double-tongued snakes.
The turrets along the walls were filled with
armed men in course of training; and the walls
were lined with numerous warriors along their
whole length.
And there were thousands of sharp hooks and
Sataghnis (machines slaying a century of warriors)
and numerous other machines on the battlements.
There were also large iron wheels planted
on them.
And with all these was that foremost of cities
adorned.
The streets were all wide and laid out excellently;
and there was no fear in them of accident.
And decked with innumerable mansions, the
city became like unto Amaravati and came to
be called Indraprastha (like unto Indra's
city).
In a delightful and auspicious part of the
city rose the palace of the Pandavas filled
with every kind of wealth and like unto the
mansion of the celestial treasurer (Kuvera)
himself.
And it looked like a mass of clouds charged
with lightning.
"When the city was built, there came, O king,
numerous Brahmanas well-acquainted with all
the Vedas and conversant with every language,
wishing to dwell there.
And there came also unto that town numerous
merchants from every direction, in the hope
of earning wealth.
There also came numerous persons well-skilled
in all the arts, wishing to take up their
abode there.
And around the city were laid out many delightful
gardens adorned with numerous trees bearing
both fruits and flowers.
There were Amras (mango trees) and Amaratakas,
and Kadamvas and Asokas, and Champakas; and
Punnagas and Nagas and Lakuchas and Panasas;
and Salas and Talas (palm trees) and Tamalas
and Vakulas, and Ketakas with their fragrant
loads; beautiful and blossoming and grand
Amalakas with branches bent down with the
weight of fruits and Lodhras and blossoming
Ankolas; and Jamvus (blackberry trees) and
Patalas and Kunjakas and Atimuktas; and Karaviras
and Parijatas and numerous other kinds of
trees always adorned with flowers and fruits
and alive with feathery creatures of various
species.
And those verdant groves always resounded
with the notes of maddened peacocks and Kokilas
(blackbirds).
And there were various pleasure-houses, bright
as mirrors, and numerous bowers of creepers,
and charming and artificial hillocks, and
many lakes full to the brim of crystal water,
and delightful tanks fragrant with lotuses
and lilies and adorned with swans and ducks
and chakravakas (brahminy ducks).
And there were many delicious pools overgrown
with fine aquatic plants.
And there were also diverse ponds of great
beauty and large dimension.
And, O king, the joy of the Pandavas increased
from day to day, in consequence of their residence
in that large kingdom that was peopled with
pious men.
"Thus in consequence of the virtuous behaviour
of Bhishma and king Dhritarashtra towards
them, the Pandavas took up their abode in
Khandavaprastha.
Adorned with those five mighty warriors, each
equal unto Indra himself, that foremost of
cities looked like Bhogavati (the capital
of the nether kingdom) adorned with the Nagas.
And, O monarch, having settled the Pandavas
there, the heroic Krishna, obtaining their
leave, came back with Rama to Dwaravati.'"
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