राजधर्मानुशासन पर्व — व्यास युधिष्ठिर से भीष्म द्वारा चारों वर्णों के धर्म पूछने को कहते हैं

Vaishampayana said Then the sons of Pritha entered the city, thousands of citizens came out to see the spectacle.

The well adorned squares and streets, with the crowd of men, shone like the ocean rising at the rise of the moon.

The large palaces that stood on the streetsides, gaily decked and full of ladies seemed to shake, O Bharata, with their fair denizens.

With soft and modest voices they described the praises of Yudhishthira, of Bhima and Arjuna, and of the two sons of Madri.

And they said,-You deserve every praise, O blessed princess of Panchala, who wait by the side of these foremost of men like Gautaini by the side of the (seven) Rishis.

'Your acts and vows have fructified, O lady.' Thus, O king, the ladies praised the princess Krishna.

Praises being thus chanted, O Bharata, and they conversing with one another, and for the shouts of joy (uttered by the men), the city became filled with a loud noise.

Having passed through the streets with becoming conduct, Yudhishthira then entered the beautiful palace (of the Kurus) adorned with all ornaments.

Approaching the palace, citizens and villagers uttered speeches that were pleasing to his ears.

'By good luck, O foremost of kings, you have defeated your enemies, O slayer of foes. By good luck, you have regained your kingdom through virtue and prowess.

Be, O foremost of king, our monarch for a century and protect your subjects virtuously like Indra protecting the celestials'.

Thus welcomed at the palace-gate with words of blessings and accepting the benedictions uttered by the Brahmanas from all sides, the king, graced with victory and the blessings of his people, entered the palace resembling the mansion of Indra himself, and then got down from his car.

Entering the palace, Yudhishthira approached the tutelary deities and adored them with gems and scents and garlands.

Endued with great fame and prosperity, the king came out once more and saw a number of Brahmanas waiting with sacred articles in their hands.

Surrounded by those Brahmanas desirous of uttering blessings on him, the king shone beautiful like the spotless moon in the midst of the stars.

Accompanied by his priest Dhaumya and his eldest uncle, the son of Kunti gladly adored, with due rites, those Brahmanas with sweets, gems, and profuse gold, and kine and dresses, O king, and with various other articles that each desired.

Then loud acclamations of—This is a blessed day,-arose, filling the entire sky, O Bharata. That sacred sound which was sweet to the ear was highly gratifying to the friends and well-wishers of the Pandavas.

The king heard that sound uttered by those learned Brahmanas loud and clear like the sound of swans. He listened also to the melodious and significant speeches, of those persons well read in the Vedas.

Then arose, O king, the peal of drums and the pleasant blare of conchs, indicative of triumph.

Some time after, when the Brahmanas had become silent, a Rakshasa of the name of Charvaka, who had disguised himself as a Brahmana, addressed the king.

He was a friend of Duryodhana and stood there under the disguise of a religious mendicant. With a rosary, with a tuft of hair on his head, and with a staff in his hand, he stood proudly and fearlessly in the midst of all those Brahmanas that had come there in thousands for uttering for blessings, (upon the king) O king, and all of whom had practised penances and vows.

That wicked Rakshasa, desirous of doing evil to the high-souled Pandavas, and without having consulted those Brahmanas, said these words to the king.

Charvaka said Making me their spokesman all these Brahmanas, are saying,-Fie on you. You are a wicked king. You are a destroyer of kinsmen.

What will you gain, O son of Kunti, by having thus exterminated your race? Having killed also your elders and preceptor, it is proper for you to cast away your life.

'Hearing these words of that wicked Rakshasa, the Brahmanas there were greatly moved. Cut to the quick by that speech, they set up a loud uproar.

And all those Brahmanas, with king Yudhishthira, O king, became silent from anxiety and shame.

Yudhishthira said I bow down to you and solicit you humbly, to be pleased with me. You should not cry fie on me. I shall soon cast off my life. not

Vaishampayana said O lord of men, then all those Brahmanas, loudly said,-These are our words. Prosperity to you, O king.

Those great persons, well read in the Vedas, with understandings rendered clear by penances, then learnt the disguise of the speaker by means of their spiritual sight.

This is the Rakshasa Charvaka, the friend of Duryodhana. Having put on the guise of a religious mendicant, he seeks the well-being of his friend Duryodhana.

We have not, O you righteous soul, said anything of the kind. Drive away your anxiety. May prosperity be with you and your brothers.

Vaishampayana said Those Brahmanas then, beside themselves with anger, uttered the sound hum. Freed off of all sins, they censured the sinful Rakshasa and killed him there.

Consumed by by the power of those Brahmavadins, Charvaka fell down dead, like a tree with all its blasted spouts by the thunder of Indra.

Duly adored the Brahmanas went away, having pleased the king with their blessing. The royal son of Pandu also, with all his friends, became highly happy. tree with all its blasted spouts by the thunder of Indra.

Duly adored the Brahmanas went away, having pleased the king with their blessing. The royal son of Pandu also, with all his friends, became highly happy.