राजधर्मानुशासन पर्व — अपने जनों की मृत्यु पर युधिष्ठिर का विलाप; व्यास यह कहकर सान्त्वना देते हैं कि यह सब दैव का विधान है

Yudhishthira said On account of the death of young Abhimanyu of the sons of Draupadi, of Draupadi, of Dhrishtadyumna, of Virata, of king Drupada, of Vasusena conversant with every duty, of the royal Dhrishtaketu, and of Various other kings coming from various, countries in battle, grief does not forsake my wretched self that am a destroyer of kinsmen! Indeed, I covet very much for kingdom and am an exterminator of my own race.

He upon whose breast and limbs I used to play, alas, that Ganga's son has been killed by me in battle out of desire for sovereignty.

When I saw that foremost of men, viz., our grandfather, assailed by Shikhandin and trembling and reeling in consequence of Partha's arrows that resembled thunder-bolts in power, when I saw his tall form cut all over with blazing arrows and himself become weak like an aged lion, my heart was greatly pained.

When I saw that destroyer of hostile cars reel like a mountain summit and drop down on the terrace of his own car with his face turned towards the east, my senses were bewildered.

That foremost of Kuru's race who with bow and arrow in hand had fought in dreadful battle for inany days with Rama himself of Bhrigu's race on the field purified by Kuru, that son of Ganga, that hero, who, at Varanasi, for the sake of maidens, had, on a single car, challenged to battle the assembled Kshatriyas of the world, he who had consumed by the power of his weapons that irresistible and best of kings Ugrayudha, alas, that hero has been killed in battle by me.

Knowing full well that Shikhandin the prince of Panchala was his slayer, that hero still refrained from killing the prince with his arrow. Alas, such a magnanimous warrior was killed by Arjuna.

O best of sages, when I saw the grandfather stretched on the Earth and bathed in blood, a violent fever afflicted my heart.

He who had protected and brought us up when we were children alas, he was caused to be killed by my sinful self that am covetous of kingdom, that am a slayer of reverend elders, and a perfect fool, for the sake of fickle sovereignty.

I gave a false statement of his son to our preceptor, the great bowman Drona, worshipped of all the kings.

The recollection of that act of mine is burning all my limbs. The preceptor said to me,-Tell me truly, O king, whether my son lives still,—Expecting truth from me, the Brahmana asked me only. By silently saying the word elephant, I behaved falsely towards him.

Sinful that I am, highly covetous of kingdom, and a destroyer of my reverend elders, I behaved even thus towards my preceptor in battle, casting off the garb of truth-for I said to him that Ashvatthama had been slain when, in sooth, an elephant of the name had been slain.

To what regions shall I go (hereafter) having committed such a crime? I caused also my eldest brother Karna to be killed, that terrible warrior who never retreated from battle. Who is there more sinful than I?

Through covetousness I caused young Abhimanyu that hero who resembled a lion born in the hills, to enter into the array that was protected by Drona himself.

I am guilty of infanticide. Sinful as I am, I have not, since then, been able to look at the face of Arjuna or the lotus-eyed Krishna.

I grieve also for Draupadi who is deprived of her five sons like the Earth shorn of her five mountains.

I am a great sinner and a destroyer of the Earth. Not rising from this seat which I now occupy, I will emaciate my body (by starvation) and meet with death.

Know me who am the destroyer of my preceptor as one who has sat down here observing the Praya vow. A destroyer of my family, I must do so in order that I may not be born again in any of other orders of being.

I shall abstain from taking all food and drink, and without moving from here, O great ascetic, shall dry up my life-breaths which are sodear.

I humbly pray you to grant me permission in this and go wherever you please. Let every one grant me permission. I shall renounce this body of mine."

Vaishampayana said Preventing Pritha's son, who beside himself with sorrow on account of his kinsmen, gave vent to such words, Vyasa, that best of ascetics, said, first telling him,-'This cannot be.'

Vyasa said 'You should not, O king, indulge in such painful grief. I shall again say what I have once said. All this is Destiny, O powerful one.

Forsooth, all creatures that are born show at first a union (of various ingredients and forces). Dissolution, however, overtakes them at the end. Like bubbles in water they come and go away. All things collected together are sure to be dissipated, and all things that rise must fall down. Union terininates in dissolution and life terininates in death.

Idleness, though pleasant for the time being, ends in misery, and skilful labour, though painful in beginning, ends in happiness. Affluence, Prosperity, Modesty, Contentment, and Fame reside in labour and skill but not in idleness.

Friends cannot confer happiness nor foes inflict misery. Likewise wisdom does not give wealth nor does wealth bring happiness.

O son of Kunti, you have been created by your Maker to engage yourself in action. Success originates from work, You cannot, O king, avoid Work."