गोहरण पर्व — गोहरण में अश्वत्थामा के वचन

Ashvathama said The kine have not yet been acquired. Nor have they gone over the boundary. Nor have they gone to Hastinapur. Why do you, Karna, boast?

Even having won many a battle, amassed a vast fortune, vanquished their enemies, armies, truly heroic men do not utter a single word of their prowess.

Fire burns silently and silently does the sun shine. And the earth does bear creatures mobile and immobile without a single word.

The actions of the four orders have been ordained by the Self Sprung (Brahma) so that they may acquire wealth without committing a sinful act.

Having studied the Vedas, the Brahmanas should perform sacrifices and officiate as priests. Resorting to their vows the Kshatriyas should perform sacrifices and never officiate as priests.

Having amassed wealth the Vaishyas should perform the Vedic rites there with. A Shudra should always attend to and serve the other three orders, having recourse to flattery as the means of livelihood and behaving (cringlingly) like the cane.

Duly following the the scriptures they obtained this entire earth and those great men always act respectfully to their elders even if the latter prove adverse to them,

What Kshatriya on this earth expresses joy for having acquired a kingdom by gambling like this wicked and shameless son of Dhritarashtra?

Having acquired riches in this way by deceit and fraud like a seller of meat what wise man would boast of it?

In what single combat did you ever defeat Dhananjaya, Nakula or Sahadeva although you have robbed them of their riches?

Has Yudhishthira, or Bhima the foremost of the strong, been defeated by you? In what battle was Indraprastha conquered by you?

By what battle did you win Krishna, that, O you of wicked deeds, you did drag her to the assembly when she was in her course and had one cloth on?

You have cut the great root of the Sala tree. Actuated by greed when you made them work as slaves what did Vidura say?

Men and others, even insects and ants show forgiveness as much as lies in their power.

The Pandava can never forgive your distressing Draupadi. Dhananjaya is born for the destruction of Dhritarashtra's sons.

Appearing as a learned man you are making speeches, but will not Bibhatsu, the slayer of enemies, exterminate us all?

Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, never from fear, withdraws himself from fighting even if it be with the Gandharvas, Asuras or Rakshasas.

On whom he will fall enraged in battle he will over-throw him like a tree by the velocity of Garuda.

Who will not praise Partha, who is superior to yourself in prowess, equal to the king of the gods in bowmanship and equal to Vasudeva himself in battle?

What man is equal to Arjuna who counteracts the celestials weapons with celestials and human weapons with human?

Persons conversant with virtue say that a disciple is not different from a son. It is for this reason Arjuna is favourite with Drona.

Do you fight with the Pandavas in the same way by which you defeated them at dice, by which you conquered Indraprastha and dragged Krishna to the assembly hall.

Let your uncle the deceitful gambler Shakuni, the prince of Gandhara, fully versed in the duties of the Kshatriyas, fight now.

The Gandiva (bow) does not cast dice such as, the Krita or Dwapara but it discharges burning and sharpened arrows.

The dreadful arrows, shot from Gandiva of great might and winged like vultures, can rend even the mountains.

The regent of Dead, the god of air and the horse-faced god of fire, leave some thing behind but Dhananjaya, worked up with anger, never does so.

As backed by your uncle you played at dice in the assembly hall so do you now fight well-protected by Subala's son?

Let any one else, if he likes, fight, I shall not fight with Dhananjaya. We shall fight with the king of Matsya's if he comes following the track of kine.