Chapter 255

Vaisampayana said, “While, O great king, Duryodhana was entering (thecity), the panegyrists eulogized the prince of unfailing prowess. Andothers also eulogized that mighty bowman and foremost of kings. Andsprinkling over him fried paddy and sandal paste the citizens said, ‘Bygood luck it is, O king, that thy sacrifice hath been completed withoutobstruction.’ And some, more reckless of speech, that were present there,said unto that lord of the earth, ‘Surely this thy sacrifice cannot becompared with Yudhishthira’s: nor doth this come up to a sixteenth partof that (sacrifice).’ Thus spake unto that king some that were recklessof consequences. His friends, however, said, This sacrifice of thine hathsurpassed all others. Yayati and Nahusha, and Mandhata and Bharata,having been sanctified by celebrating such a sacrifice, have all gone toheaven.’ Hearing such agreeable words from his friends, that monarch, Obull of the Bharata’s race, well-pleased, entered the city and finallyhis own abode. Then, O king, worshipping the feet of his father andmother and of others headed by Bhishma, Drona and Kripa, and of the wiseVidura, and worshipped in turn by his younger brothers, that delighter ofbrothers sat down upon an excellent seat, surrounded by the latter. Andthe Suta’s son, rising up, said, ‘By good luck it is, O foremost of theBharata race, that this mighty sacrifice of thine hath been brought to aclose. When, however, the sons of Pritha shall have been slain in battleand thou wilt have completed the Rajasuya sacrifice, once again, O lordof men, shall I honour thee thus.’ Then that mighty king, the illustriousson of Dhritarashtra, replied unto him, ‘Truly hath this been spoken bythee. When, O foremost of men, the wicked-minded Pandavas have beenslain, and when also the grand Rajasuya hath been celebrated by me, thenthou shalt again, O hero, honour me thus.’ And having said this, OBharata, the Kaurava embraced Karna, and began, O mighty king, to thinkof the Rajasuya, that foremost of sacrifices. And that best of kings alsoaddressed the Kurus around him, saying, ‘When shall I, ye Kauravas,having slain all the Pandavas, celebrate that costly and foremost ofsacrifices, the Rajasuya.’ Then spake Karna unto him, saying, ‘Hear me, Oelephant among kings! So long as I do not slay Arjuna, I shall not allowany one to wash my feet, nor shall I taste meat. And I shall observe theAsura vow[84] and whoever may solicit me (for any thing), I never shallsay, ‘I have it not.’ When Karna had thus vowed to slay Phalguna inbattle, those mighty charioteers and bowmen, the sons of Dhritarashtra,sent up a loud cheer; and Dhritarashtra’s sons thought that the Pandavashad already been conquered. Then that chief of kings, the gracefulDuryodhana, leaving those bulls among men, entered his apartment, likethe lord Kuvera entering the garden of Chitraratha. And all those mightybowmen also, O Bharata, went to their respective quarters.

“Meanwhile those mighty bowmen, the Pandavas, excited by the words themessenger had spoken, became anxious, and they did not (from that time)experience the least happiness. Intelligence, further, O foremost ofkings, had been brought by spies regarding the vow of the Suta’s son toslay Vijaya. Hearing this, O lord of men, Dharma’s son became exceedinglyanxious. And considering Karna of the impenetrable mail to be ofwonderful prowess, and remembering all their woes, he knew no peace. Andthat high-souled one filled with anxiety, made up his mind to abandon thewoods about Dwaitavana abounding with ferocious animals.

“Meanwhile the royal son of Dhritarashtra began to rule the earth, alongwith his heroic brothers as also with Bhishma and Drona and Kripa. Andwith the assistance of the Suta’s son crowned with martial glory,Duryodhana remained ever intent on the welfare of the rulers of theearth, and he worshipped the foremost of Brahmanas by celebratingsacrifices with profuse gifts. And that hero and subduer of foes, O king,was engaged in doing good to his brothers, concluding for certain in hismind that giving and enjoying are the only use of riches.”