Chapter 21

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having heard his words, Bhishma, senior in wisdom,and endued with great effulgence, paid honours to him, and then spokewords suitable to the occasion. And he said, ‘How fortunate that they areall well, with Krishna! How fortunate that they have procured aid, andthat they are inclined to a virtuous course! How fortunate that thosescions of Kuru’s race desire peace with their cousins! There is no doubtthat what thou hast said is true. Thy words, however, are exceedinglysharp,–the reason, I suppose, being that thou art a Brahmana. No doubt,the sons of Pandu were much harassed both here and in woods. No doubt, bylaw they are entitled to get all the property of their father. Arjuna,the son of Pritha, is strong trained in weapons, and is a greatcar-warrior. Who, in sooth, can withstand in battle Dhananjaya the son ofPandu. Even the wielder himself of the thunderbolt cannot,–other bowmenare hardly worth mention. My belief is that he is a match for all thethree worlds!’ And while Bhishma was thus speaking, Karna wrathfully andinsolently interrupted his words, and looking at Duryodhana said, ‘Thereis no creature in the world, O Brahmana, who is not informed of all thesefacts. What is the good of repeating them again and again? On behalf ofDuryodhana, Sakuni formerly won in game of dice. Yudhishthira, the son ofPandu went to the woods according to a stipulation. He is now paying noregard to that stipulation, but confident of aid from the Matsyas andPanchalas, he wisheth to get back his ancestral throne. O learned man,Duryodhana would not yield even a single foot of land if thou appealestto his fears, but if justice requires, he would give up the whole eartheven to a foe. If they wish to get back their ancestral throne, theyshould pass the specified period of time in the forest as had beenstipulated. Afterwards let them live as the dependants of Duryodhana,safe and sound. From dull-headedness, however, let them not turn theirmind towards an absolutely unrighteous course. If, nevertheless,abandoning the path of virtue, they desire war, then when they encounterin battle these praise-worthy Kurus, they will remember these my words.’

“Bhishma said, ‘What is the use of thy talking, O Radha’s son? Thoushouldst remember that occasion when Pritha’s son, single-handed,over-powered in battle six car-warriors. If we do not act as thisBrahmana hath said, to be sure, we shall be all slain by him in battle!”

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Dhritarashtra pacified Bhishma with wordsof entreaty, rebuked the son of Radha, and spoke the following words,What Bhishma, Santanu’s son, hath said is salutary for us, as also forthe Pandavas, and likewise for the whole universe. I shall, however,after deliberation, send Sanjaya to the sons of Pandu. So thou needst notwait. Go thou to the son of Pandu this very day.’ The Kaurava chief thenhonoured Drupada’s priest and sent him back to the Pandavas. Andsummoning Sanjaya to the council-hall, he addressed him in the followingwords.”