Adi Parva Part 4

When the Kauravas saw them introduced as the sons of Pandu, the distinguished class of citizens shouted exceedingly for joy.

Some, however, said, they were not the sons of Pandu; others said, they were; while a few asked how they could be his

offspring, seeing he had been so long dead. Still on all sides voices were heard crying, 'They are on all accounts welcome!

Through divine Providence we behold the family of Pandu! Let their welcome be proclaimed!' As these acclamations ceased,

the plaudits of invisible spirits, causing every point of the heavens to resound, were tremendous. There were showers of sweet-

scented flowers, and the sound of shells and kettle-drums. Such were the wonders that happened on the arrival of the young

princes. The joyful noise of all the citizens, in expression of their satisfaction on the occasion, was so great that it reached the

very heavens in magnifying plaudits.

Having studied the whole of the Vedas and sundry other shastras, the Pandavas resided there, respected by all and without

apprehension from any one.

The principal men were pleased with the purity of Yudhishthira, the courage of Arjuna, the submissive attention of Kunti to her

superiors, and the humility of the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva; and all the people rejoiced in their heroic virtues.

After a while, Arjuna obtained the virgin Krishna at the swayamvara, in the midst of a concourse of Rajas, by performing a

very difficult feat of archery. And from this time he became very much respected in this world among all bowmen; and in

fields of battle also, like the sun, he was hard to behold by foe-men. And having vanquished all the neighbouring princes and

every considerable tribe, he accomplished all that was necessary for the Raja (his eldest brother) to perform the great sacrifice

called Rajasuya.

Yudhishthira, after having, through the wise counsels of Vasudeva and by the valour of Bhimasena and Arjuna, slain

Jarasandha (the king of Magadha) and the proud Chaidya, acquired the right to perform the grand sacrifice of Rajasuya

abounding in provisions and offering and fraught with transcendent merits. And Duryodhana came to this sacrifice; and when

he beheld the vast wealth of the Pandavas scattered all around, the offerings, the precious stones, gold and jewels; the wealth in

cows, elephants, and horses; the curious textures, garments, and mantles; the precious shawls and furs and carpets made of the

skin of the Ranku; he was filled with envy and became exceedingly displeased. And when he beheld the hall of assembly

elegantly constructed by Maya (the Asura architect) after the fashion of a celestial court, he was inflamed with rage. And

having started in confusion at certain architectural deceptions within this building, he was derided by Bhimasena in the

presence of Vasudeva, like one of mean descent.

And it was represented to Dhritarashtra that his son, while partaking of various objects of enjoyment and diverse precious

things, was becoming meagre, wan, and pale. And Dhritarashtra, some time after, out of affection for his son, gave his consent

to their playing (with the Pandavas) at dice. And Vasudeva coming to know of this, became exceedingly wroth. And being

dissatisfied, he did nothing to prevent the disputes, but overlooked the gaming and sundry other horried unjustifiable

transactions arising therefrom: and in spite of Vidura, Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa, the son of Saradwan, he made the

Kshatriyas kill each other in the terrific war that ensued.'

"And Dhritarashtra hearing the ill news of the success of the Pandavas and recollecting the resolutions of Duryodhana, Kama,

and Sakuni, pondered for a while and addressed to Sanjaya the following speech:--

'Attend, O Sanjaya, to all I am about to say, and it will not become thee to treat me with contempt. Thou art well-versed in the

shastras, intelligent and endowed with wisdom. My inclination was never to war, not did I delight in the destruction of my race.

I made no distinction between my own children and the children of Pandu. My own sons were prone to wilfulness and despised

me because I am old. Blind as I am, because of my miserable plight and through paternal affection, I bore it all. I was foolish

alter the thoughtless Duryodhana ever growing in folly. Having been a spectator of the riches of the mighty sons of Pandu, my

son was derided for his awkwardness while ascending the hall. Unable to bear it all and unable himself to overcome the sons of

Pandu in the field, and though a soldier, unwilling yet to obtain good fortune by his own exertion, with the help of the king of

Gandhara he concerted an unfair game at dice.

'Hear, O Sanjaya, all that happened thereupon and came to my knowledge. And when thou hast heard all I say, recollecting

everything as it fell out, thou shall then know me for one with a prophetic eye. When I heard that Arjuna, having bent the bow,

had pierced the curious mark and brought it down to the ground, and bore away in triumph the maiden Krishna, in the sight of

the assembled princes, then, O Sanjaya I had no hope of success. When I heard that Subhadra of the race of Madhu had, after

forcible seizure been married by Arjuna in the city of Dwaraka, and that the two heroes of the race of Vrishni (Krishna and

Balarama the brothers of Subhadra) without resenting it had entered Indraprastha as friends, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of

success. When I heard that Arjuna, by his celestial arrow preventing the downpour by Indra the king of the gods, had gratified

Agni by making over to him the forest of Khandava, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the five

Pandavas with their mother Kunti had escaped from the house of lac, and that Vidura was engaged in the accomplishment of

their designs, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, after having pierced the mark in the arena

had won Draupadi, and that the brave Panchalas had joined the Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I

heard that Jarasandha, the foremost of the royal line of Magadha, and blazing in the midst of the Kshatriyas, had been slain by Bhima with his bare arms alone, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that in their general campaign the

sons of Pandu had conquered the chiefs of the land and performed the grand sacrifice of the Rajasuya, then, O Sanjaya, I had

no hope of success. When I heard that Draupadi, her voice choked with tears and heart full of agony, in the season of impurity

and with but one raiment on, had been dragged into court and though she had protectors, she had been treated as if she had

none, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the wicked wretch Duhsasana, was striving to strip her of

that single garment, had only drawn from her person a large heap of cloth without being able to arrive at its end, then, O

Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Yudhishthira, beaten by Saubala at the game of dice and deprived of his

kingdom as a consequence thereof, had still been attended upon by his brothers of incomparable prowess, then, O Sanjaya, I

had no hope of success. When I heard that the virtuous Pandavas weeping with affliction had followed their elder brother to the

wilderness and exerted themselves variously for the mitigation of his discomforts, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success.