Chapter 251

Janamejaya said, “When the high-souled sons of Pritha were living in theforest, what did those foremost of men and mighty archers–the sons ofDhritarashtra–do? And what did the offspring of the Sun, Karna, and themighty Sakuni, and Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa do? It behoveth thee torelate this unto me.”

Vaisampayana said, “When, O mighty king, in this manner the Pandavas hadgone, leaving Suyodhana, and when, having been liberated by Pandu’s sons,he had come to Hastinapura, Bhishma said these words to the son ofDhritarashtra, ‘O child, I had told thee before, when thou wert intentupon going to the hermitage that thy journey did not please me. But thoudidst do so. And as a consequence, O hero, wert thou forcibly takencaptive by the enemy, and wert delivered by the Pandavas versed inmorality. Yet art thou not ashamed. Even in the presence of thee, O sonof Gandhari, together with thy army, did the Suta’s son, struck withpanic, fly from the battle of the Gandharvas, O king. And, O foremost ofkings, O son of the monarch! while thou with thy army wert cryingdistressfully, thou didst witness the prowess of the high-souledPandavas, and also, O mighty-armed one, of the wicked son of the Suta,Karna. O best of kings, whether in the science of arms, or heroism, ormorality, Karna, O thou devoted to virtue, is not a fourth part of thePandavas. Therefore, for the welfare of this race, the conclusion ofpeace is, I think, desirable with the high-souled Pandavas.”

‘Having been thus addressed by Bhishma, Dhritarashtra’s son the king,laughed a good deal, and then suddenly sailed out with the son of Suvala.thereupon, knowing that he was gone, those mighty bowmen with Karna, andDussasana at their head, followed the highly powerful son ofDhritarashtra. And seeing them gone, Bhishma, the grandfather of theKurus, hung down his head from shame, and then, O king, went to his ownquarters. And, O mighty monarch, when Bhishma had left, that lord of men,Dhritarashtra’s son came there again, and began to consult with hiscounsellors, ‘What is it that is good for me? What remaineth to be done?And how we can most effectively bring about the good we shall discussto-day.’ Karna said, ‘O Kuru’s son, Duryodhana, do thou lay to heart tiewords that I say. Bhishma always blameth us, and praiseth the Pandavas.And from the ill-will he beareth towards thee, he hateth me also. And, Olord of men, in thy presence he ever crieth me down. I shall never, OBharata, bear these words that Bhishma had said in thy presence inrelation to this matter, extolling the Pandavas, and censuring thee, Orepresser of foes! Do thou, O king, enjoin on me, together with servants,forces, and cars. I shall, O monarch, conquer the earth furnished withmountains and woods and forests. The earth had been conquered by the fourpowerful Pandavas. I shall, without doubt, conquer it for theesingle-handed. Let that wretch of the Kuru race, the exceedinglywicked-minded Bhishma, see it,–he who vilifies those that do not deservecensure, and praises those that should not be praised. Let him this daywitness my might, and blame himself. Do thou, O king, command me. Victoryshall surely be thine. By my weapon, O monarch, I swear this before thee.’

“O king, O bull of the Bharata race, hearing those words of Karna, thatlord of men, experiencing the highest delight, spoke unto Karna, saying,’I am blessed. I have been favoured by thee,–since thou, endued withgreat strength, art ever intent on my welfare. My life hath borne fruit,to-day. As thou, O hero, intendest to subdue all our enemies, repairthou. May good betide thee! Do thou command me (what I am to do),’ Osubduer of foes, having been thus addressed by Dhritarashtra’sintelligent son, Karna ordered all the necessaries for the excursion. Andon an auspicious lunar day, at an auspicious moment, and under theinfluence of a star presided over by an auspicious deity, that mightybowman, having been honoured by twice-born ones, and been bathed withauspicious and holy substances and also worshipped by speech set out,filling with the rattle of his car the three worlds, with their mobileand immobile objects.”