Anudyuta Parva — Words of Dhritarashtra

Vaishampayana said As soon as Vidura of great foresight came, the king Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, asked him timidly.

Dhritarashtra said How does the son of Kunti, and Dharma, Yudhisthira, proceed along? How does Bhimasena also Savyasachi (Arjuna) and the two Pandavas, the sons of Madri?

O Khattwa, how does Dhaumya? How does the illustrious Draupadi (proceed along)? I desire to hear everything. Describe to me all their acts.

Vidura said The son of Kunti (has gone away), covering his face with cloth, the Pandava Bhima has proceeded along looking at his mighty arms.

Savyasachi (Arjuna) has followed the king, (Yudhisthira) scattering sands along. The son of Madri, Sahadeva proceeds (the way) besmearing his face.

That handsomest of men in the world, Nakula, has gone following the king in great grief, staining himself with dust.

The large eyed and beautiful Krishna (Draupadi) has followed the king, covering her face with her dishevelled hair and bathing in tears.

O king, Dhaumya proceeds along with Kusha grass in hand, uttering the fearful Mantras of the Sama Veda relating to Yama.

Dhritarashtra said The Pandavas are going assuming various guise. O Vidura, tell me why they are going in this way.

Vidura said Through persecuted by your sons, and robbed off his kingdom and wealth, the mind of the wise Dharmaraja (Yudhisthira) has not deviated from the path of virtue.

O descendant of Bharata, the king (Yudhisthira) is always kind to the sons of Dhritarashtra. Deprived of kingdom by foul means, he does not open his eyes in anger.

"I shall not consume men by looking at them with fearful eyes," thinking this, the Pandava king proceeds along with covered face.

Hear, I tell you, why Bhima goes in this way. O best of the Bharata race, thinking “There is none equal to me in strength of arms."

O king Bhima ever proud of his strength of arms, goes repeatedly stretching forth his mighty arms and exhibiting them and desiring to do to his enemies, deeds worthy of those arms. The son of Kunti, Arjuna, capable of using both his arms (in throwing weapon),

That Savyasachi, O descendant of Bharata, follows the king, scattering dust emblematical of the arrows he will shower in the battle. O descendant of Bharata, it indicated that as the sand grains are scattered by him with ease, so will he rain arrows with ease on the enemy. O lord, thinking “None may recognise me in this day of calamity,"

Sahadeva proceeds along besmearing his face. Nakula goes with his body besmeared with ashes, thinking, “I may steal the hearts of the ladies that may look at me."

Draupadi, attired in one piece of cloth, stained with blood, and her hair dishevelled (proceeds along) weeping and saying.

“The wives of those for whom I have been reduced to such a plight shall, on the fourteenth year hence, deprived of their husbands, sons, relatives and dear ones smeared all over with blood, all in their seasons, and with hair dishevelled enter Hastinapur having offered oblations of water to the manes of their dead husbands.

O descendant of Bharata, the learned and self controlled priest Dhaumya, holding the Kusha (grass) in his hand and pointing them towards the south west, walk before (the Pandavas) singing the Mantras of the Samaveda.

Dhaumya is preceding, saying "When the descendant of Bharata will be killed in battle, the priests and preceptors of the Kurus will thus sing the Sama Mantras."

“Alas, alas, our lords are going away! O fie on the Kuru chiefs who have acted like children.

In thus banishing the heirs of Pandu from covetousness! We shall be masterless, being thus separated from the Pandavas,

What love can we bear for the wicked and covetous Kurus”? The citizens repeatedly bewailed thus in great grief.

The son of Kunti, all possessing great energy of mind, has gone away to the forest indicating by signs the resolution that were in their minds.

At the departure of those foremost of men from Hastinapur, lightning flashed in the cloudless sky, earth began to tremble,

Rahu came to devour the sun, although it was not the day of an eclipse, meteors began to fall, keeping the city to their right.

Jackals, vultures, ravens, and other carnivorous beasts and birds began to shriek from the temples of the gods, from the tops of sacred trees and from walls and housetops.

O king, thus extraordinary and fearful protents were seen and heard, indicating the destruction of the Bharata race the consequence of your evil counsels;

Vaishampayana said O king, when the king Dhritarashtra and the intelligent Vidura were thus talking, there as came.

To the Sabha (and stood) in the midst of the Kurus, Narada surrounded by great Rishis. He then uttered these terrible words.

Narada said On the fourteenth year hence, for the fault of Duryodhana will be destroyed the Kurus by the prowess of Bhima and Arjuna.

Vaishampayana said Having said this, that foremost of all celestial Rishis, adorned with surprising Vedic grace, disappeared from the scene, passing into the sky.

Thereupon Duryodhana, Karna and the son of Subala, Shakuni, considering Drona as the island (refuse) offered him the kingdom.

Then Drona spoke thus to the wicked Duryodhana, Dushasana, Karna and all the other Bharatas.

Drona said The Brahmanas have said that the Pandavas of celestial origin are incapable of being killed. The sons of Dhritarashtra, with all their forces, heartily and with reverence have sought my protection; I shall look after them to the best of my power. I cannot abandon them. Destiny is Supreme.

The sons of Pandu, being defeated at dice, are going to the forest to save their virtue. The Pandavas will live for twelve years in the forest.

Practising Brahmacharya. The Pandavas will to our great grief return in anger (at the end of the thirteenth) to take great ngeanceve on their foes.

I formerly deprived Drupada of his kingdom in a quarrel over friendship. O descendant of Bharata, robbed of his kingdom, the king (Drupada) performed a sacrifice to obtain a son who would kill me.

By the ascetic power of Yaja and Upayaja, he has obtained a son from (the sacrificial) fire, (namely) Dhristadyumna and (a daughter) the faultless Krishna (Draupadi), both risen from the sacrificial alter.

Dhristadyumna is the brother-in-law of the sons of Pritha by marriage; he is ever engaged in doing the favourite works of the Pandavas. I have, therefore, a great fear.

Of celestial origin and of effulgence as that of fire, he was born with bow, arrows and armour. I have great fear from him.

The slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Prishata (Drupada), has taken the side of that your hero who stands at the head of all great car warriors.

I shall have to lose my life if he and I have ever to meet each other in battle. O Kurus, what could be a greater grief to me than this in the world?

“Dhristadyumna is the slayer of Drona" is the general belief. I have heard that he is born to kill me. This is also widely known in the world.

For your sake, that fearful time of destruction has come, Do without any loss of time what may be beneficial to you.

Your happiness will last but for a moment as the shadow of the top of the palm tree rests in winter only but a moment at its base. Perform various sacrifices; enjoy and give away every thing at your heart's content.

On the fourteenth year a great calamity will overwhelm you. (Vaishampayana said) Having heard the words of Drona, Dhritarashtra said.

Dhritarashtra said O Kshatta (Vidura), the preceptor has said what is true. Go and back the Pandavas. If they do not come back, let them go, but after being treated with respect and affection; let my these children (the Pandavas) go with arms, soldiers and cars, enjoying every good thing.