Chapter 254

Vaisampayana continued, “Then all the artisans, the principalcounsellors, and the highly wise Vidura said unto Dhritarashtra’s son,”All the preparations for the excellent sacrifice have been made, O king;and the time also hath come, O Bharata. And the exceedingly preciousgolden plough hath been constructed.’ Hearing this, O monarch, that bestof kings, Dhritarashtra’s son commanded that prime among sacrifices to becommenced. Then commenced that sacrifice sanctified by mantras, andabounding in edibles, and the son of Gandhari was duly initiatedaccording to the ordinance. And Dhritarashtra, and the illustriousVidura, and Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa, and Karna, and the celebratedGandhari experienced great delight. And, O foremost of kings, Duryodhanadespatched swift messengers to invite the princes and the Brahmanas. Andmounting fleet vehicles they went to the (respective) directions assignedto them. Then to a certain messenger on the point of setting out,Dussasana said, ‘Go thou speedily to the woods of Dwaita; and in thatforest duly invite the Brahmanas and those wicked persons, the Pandavas.’Thereupon, he repaired thither, and bowing down to all the Pandavas,said, ‘Having acquired immense wealth by his native prowess, that best ofkings and foremost of Kurus, Duryodhana, O monarch, is celebrating asacrifice. Thither are going from various directions the kings and theBrahmanas. O king, I have been sent by the high-souled Kaurava. That kingand lord of men, Dhritarashtra’s son, invites you. It behoveth you,therefore, to witness the delightful sacrifice of that monarch.’

“Hearing these words of the messenger, that tiger among kings, the royalYudhishthira, said, ‘By good luck it is that that enhancer of the gloryof his ancestors, king Suyodhana is celebrating this best of sacrifices.We should certainly repair thither; but we cannot do now; for till (thecompletion of) the thirteenth year, we shall have to observe our vow.’Hearing this speech of Yudhishthira the just, Bhima said these words,’Then will king Yudhishthira the just go thither, when he will cast him(Duryodhana) into the fire kindled by weapons. Do thou say untoSuyodhana. ‘When after the expiration of the thirteenth year, that lordof men, the Pandava, will, in the sacrifice of battle, pour upon theDhritarashtras, the clarified butter of his ire, then will I come!’ Butthe other Pandavas, O king, did not say anything unpleasant. Themessenger (on his return) related unto Dhritarashtra’s son all as it hadfallen out. Then there came to the city of Dhritarashtra many foremost ofmen, lords of various countries, and highly virtuous Brahmanas. And dulyreceived in order according to the ordinance, those lords of menexperienced great delight and were all well-pleased. And that foremostamong monarchs–Dhritarashtra–surrounded by all the Kauravas,experienced the height of joy, and spake unto Vidura, saying, ‘Do thou, OKshatta, speedily so act that all persons in the sacrificial compound maybe served with food, be refreshed and satisfied.’ Thereupon, O represserof foes, assenting to that order, the learned Vidura versed in morality,cheerfully entertained all the orders in proper measure with meat andbeverages to eat and drink, and fragrant garland and various kinds ofattire. And having constructed pavilions (for their accommodation), thathero and foremost of kings, duly entertained the princes and theBrahmanas by thousands, and also bestowing upon them wealth of variouskinds, bade them farewell. And having dismissed all the kings, he enteredHastinapura, surrounded by his brothers, and in company with Karna andSuvala’s son.”