सञ्जययान पर्व — युधिष्ठिरका प्रश्न

Vaishampayana said Sanjaya, having heard the words of king Dhritarashtra, to Upaplavya to see the sons of Pandu of illimitable strength.

And having reached the presence of king Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, the son of Suta (caste) first made his obeisance and then said-

And Sanjaya the son of Gavalgana and the son of a Suta (caste) cheerfully said to him who had created no enemies. It is fortunate, O king, that I see you without decease, having friends and equal to the great Indra.

The aged and wise king Dhritarashtra the son of Ambika, asks about your health. Is Bhima the foremost among the sons of Pandu well and is Dhananjaya so are these two sons of the king of Madri,

How is the princess Krishna, the daughter of Drupada, who is truthful, wife of a hero, with her sons, that spirited lady for whose benefit you pray for (the accomplishment of your fondest wishes) O son of Bharata, O you of good desires?

Yudhishthira said O son of Gavalgana, O Sanjaya, you are welcome. We are delighted at seeing you. In return to know about your health. I am well with my younger brothers. O you learned man.

Having after a long time, heard the news of the health of the aged king of the Kurus, O Suta and having seen you, O Sanjaya, am I so pleased that regard as having seen the king himself.

Our grandsire is aged, wise, great in wisdom and endued with every virtue. Is this Bhishma, the son of Kunti, in health? Is he of the same habits, as in days of old?

Is the large-minded king Dhritarashtra, the son of Vichitravirya, well along with his sons. Is the great king Balhika, the son of Pratipa, O you learned son of Suta (caste).

Is Somadatta, well? How are Bhurishrava, Satyasandha, Shalya, Drona and Kripa, the twice born with his sons, all endued with great qualities? How are these? Are they without illness?

All the foremost bowmen in the world have, O Sanjaya, side with the Kurus and so have the foremost of all those who are endued with great wisdom and know all sciences and can wield the bow in the world.

Do these wielders of the bow get honours? Are they without disease in whose kingdom worth seeing lives the well-behaved son of Drona endued with great qualities?

Is the very wise prince Yuyutsu, the son of (Dhritarashtra by) the Vaishya lady in health? Is the minister Karna in health whose advice the dull-headed Suyodhana follows?

Are the aged ladies the mothers of the sons of Bharata and the slave-wives of the great one, O Suta and daughter-in law, sons, sister' sons and daughter' sons in peace?

Dose the king grant suitable annuities to the Brahmanas as in former days? Have the sons of Dhritarashtra discontinued the annuities granted by me the twice-born, O Sanjaya?

Dose the king Dhritarashtra, with his sons, treat with contempt the Brahmanas when they commit breaches of law? Dose he treat with lightness the provision for Brahmanas which is the road to heaven?

This light has been instituted by Providence for the good of beings in this world. If those dull-headed ones do not treat with forbearance their short-comings will the sons of Kuru meet with ruin.

Dose the king Dhritarashtra with his sons make provisions for his group of ministers. Are there no enemies in the disguise of well wishers combined for their ruin?

Do all those sons of Kuru tall of crimes committed by the sons of Pandu? Do Drona and hero Kripa with his sons speak of our crimes.

Do all the sons of Kuru speak of Dhritarashtra, with his sons as their king? Do they, when they see a band of highway men assembled, remember in battle (Arjuna).

Do they remember, the arrows shot from the Gandiva bow by means of the string of the bow and dexterity of the hands, the former shaking often and again and making a noise like the roaring of the clouds and flying swiftly.

I have not seen in this world any warrior who is superior to Arjuna or even equal to him, who with single effort, can send out sixty one whetted arrows with good feathers and with sharp edges.

Bhimasena is strong indeed with the mace in hand and makes a large number of enemies in an army tremble with fear as an elephant does in a place abounding with reeds. Do they remember him?

Sahadeva, the son of the king of Madri, conquered the combined Kalingas and Dantakura by (shooting arrows with) his right and left hands; do they remember this strong one?

In days of was Nakula sent to conquer the Shibis and the Trigartas. This is within your knowledge. O Sanjaya, they subjugated the western countries. Do they remember these sons of the king of Madri.

The defeat that they met with in the forest named when ill advised they went there and when Bhimasena and Arjuna faced these dull headed ones who were imprisoned by the enemy.

Where I protected Arjuna, in the rear and Bhimasena protecting the rear of the two sons of the king of Madri and where the wielder of the Gandiva bow issued out uninjured after rendering the enemy depressed do they remember?

It is not by a single good deed that we can be happy in this world, O Sanjaya, when with all our endeavors are we unable to win over the son of Dhritarashtra.