Dhritarashtra distributes money

Vaishampayana said After that night had passed away, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, sent Vidura to Yudhishthira's place.

Gifted with great energy and the foremost of all persons endued with intelligence, Vidura. having arrived at at Yudhishthira's palace, addressed that foremost of men, that king of undecaying glory, in these words:—King Diritarashtra has perforined the preliminary rites for accomplishing his purpose of retiring into the forest. He will start for the woods, O king, on the coming day of full moon of the month of Kartika.

He now solicits from you, O foremost of Kuru's race, some money. He wishes to perform the Shraddha of the great son of Ganga, as also of Drona and Somadatta and Vallika of great intelligence, and of all his sons as also of all other wishers of his who have been killed, and, if you permit it, of that wicked king of the Sindhus.

Hearing these words of Vidura, both Yudhishthira, and Pandus' son Arjuna of curly hair, became very glad and applauded them highly.

Bhima, however, of great energy and an unappeasable anger, did not accept those words of Vidura in good spirits, recollecting the acts of Duryodhana. Understanding the thoughts of Bhimasena, the diadem-decked Phalguna, slightly bending bending his face downwards, addressed that foremost of men in these words: 'O Bhima, our royal lather who is old, has resolved to retire into the forest.

He wishes to make gifts for advancing the happiness of his killed kinsmen and wellwishers now in the other world. O you of Kuru's race, he wishes to give away wealth that belongs to you by conquest.

Indeed, O mighty-armed one, it is for Bhishma and others that the old king is desirous of making those gifts. You should grant your permission. By good luck it is, O you of mighty arms, that Dhritarashtra today begs wealth of us, he who was formerly begged by us. Mark the reverses brought about by time. That king who was before the lord and protector of the whole Earth, now wishes to go into the forest, his kinsmen and associates all killed by enemies. O king, let not your views deviate from granting the permission asked.

O mighty-armed one, refusal, besides bringing infamy, will yield demerit. Do you learn your duty in this matter from the king, your eldest brother, who is lord of all.

You should give instead of refusing, O chief of Bharata's race!' Bibhatsu who was saying so was applauded by king Yudhishthira the just.

Yielding to anger Bhimasena said these words :-O Phalguna, it is we that shall make gifts in the matter of Bhishma's obsequies, as also of king Somavatta and of Bhurishravas, of the royal sage Valhika, and of the great Drona, and of all others. Our mother Kunti shall make such obsequial offerings for Karna. O foremost of men, let not Dhritarashtra perform those Sharaddhas.

This is what I think. Let not our enemies be gladdened. Let Duryodhana and others sink from a miserable to a more miserable position.

Alas, it was those wretches of their family who caused the whole Earth to be exterininated? How have you been able to forget that anxiety of twelve long years and out living in deep forest in cognite that was so painful to Draupadi? Where was Dhritarashtra's affection for us then?

Clad in a black deer-skin and divested of all your ornaments, with the Princess of Panchala in your company, did you not follow this king?

Where were Bhishma and Drona then, and where was Somadatta? You had to live for thirteen years in the forest depending on the products of the wilderness.

Your eldest father did not then look at you with eyes of parental affection. Have you forgotten, O Partha, that it was this wretch of our family, of wicked understanding, who enquired of Vidura, when the match at dice was going on, 'What has been won?' Hearing thus far, king Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, gifted with great intelligence, rebuked him and told him to be silent.