Chapter 27
“Yudhishthira said, ‘In consequence of the fall Abhimanyu of tenderyears, of the sons of Draupadi, of Dhrishtadyumna, of Virata, of kingDrupada, of Vasusena conversant with every duty, of the royalDhrishtaketu, and of diverse other kings hailing from diverse regions, inbattle, grief does not forsake my wretched self that am a slayer ofkinsmen. Indeed, I am inordinately covetous of kingdom and am anexterminator of my own race. He upon whose breast and limbs I used toroll in sport, alas, that Ganga’s son has been slain by me in battlethrough lust of sovereignty. When I beheld that lion among men, viz., ourgrandsire, assailed by Sikhandin and trembling and reeling in consequenceof Partha’s shafts that resembled thunder-bolts in energy, when I beheldhis tall form pierced all over with blazing arrows and himself becomeweak like an aged lion, my heart was deeply pained. When I beheld thatafflictor of hostile cars reel like a mountain summit and fall downstrengthless on the terrace of his own vehicle with his face turnedtowards the east, my senses were stupefied. That scion of Kuru’s race whowith bow and shaft in hand had contended in fierce battle for many dayswith Rama himself of Bhrigu’s line on the field sanctified by Kuru, thatson of Ganga, that hero, who, at Baranasi, for the sake of brides, had,on a single car, challenged to battle the assembled Kshatriyas of theworld, he who had burnt by the energy of his weapons that irresistibleand foremost of kings, viz., Ugrayudha, alas, that hero has been causedby me to be slain in battle. Knowing full well that Sikhandin the princeof Panchala was his destroyer, that hero still refrained from slaying theprince with his shafts. Alas, such a magnanimous warrior was slain byArjuna. O best of sages, at that moment when I beheld the grandsirestretched on the earth and covered with blood, a violent fever afflictedmy heart. He who had protected and reared us when we were children, alas,he was caused to be slain by my sinful self that am covetous of kingdom,that am a slayer of reverend seniors, and a perfect fool, for the sake ofsovereignty that would last but a few days. Our preceptor, the greatarcher Drona, adored by all the kings, was approached by me and addressedfalsely in respect of his son. The memory of that act of mine is burningall my limbs. The preceptor said unto me, ‘Tell me truly, O king, whethermy son liveth still. Expecting truth from me, the Brahmana asked me ofall others. By silently uttering the word elephant, I behaved falselytowards him. Sinful that I am exceedingly covetous of kingdom, and aslayer of my reverend seniors, I behaved even thus towards my preceptorin battle, throwing off the garb of truth (which I was believed to wear),for I said unto him that Aswatthaman had been killed when, in fact, anelephant of that name had been slain. To what regions shall I go(thereafter), having perpetrated such infamous deeds? I caused also myeldest brother Karna to be slain, that terrible warrior who neverretreated from battle. Who is there more sinful than I? Throughcovetousness I caused Abhimanyu of tender years, that hero who resembleda lion born in the hills, to penetrate into the array that was protectedby Drona himself. I am like one guilty of infanticide. Sinful as I am, Ihave not since then, been able to look Arjuna or the lotus-eyed Krishnain the face. I grieve also few Draupadi who is bereft of her five sonslike the Earth bereft of her five mountains. I am a great offender, agreat sinner, and a destroyer of the earth! Without rising from this seatthat I now occupy, I will weaken my body (by starvation) and meet withdeath. Know me who am the slayer of my preceptor as one that has sat downhere in the observance of the Praya vow. An exterminator of my race, Imust do so in order that I may not he reborn in any of other orders ofbeings![78] I shall forgo all food and drink, and without moving fromthis place, O great ascetic, shall dry up my life-breaths that are sodear. I pray you with humility, grant me permission in this and gowhithersoever you please. Let every one grant me permission. I shall castoff this body of mine.’
Vaisampayana continued, “Restraining Pritha’s son who, stupefied bysorrow on account of his kinsmen, uttered such words, Vyasa, that best ofascetics, spoke as follows, first telling him, ‘This can not be!’
“Vyasa said, ‘It behoveth thee not, O monarch, to indulge in suchpoignant grief. I shall repeat what I have once said. All this isDestiny, O puissant one! Without doubt, all creatures that are borndisplay at first a union (of diverse materials and forces). Dissolution.however, overtakes them at the end. Like bubbles in the water they riseand disappear. All things massed together are sure to crumble away andall things that rise must fall down. Union ends in dissolution and lifeends in death. Idleness, though temporarily agreeable, ends in misery,and labour with skill, though temporarily painful, ends in happiness.Affluence, Prosperity, Modesty, Contentment, and Fame dwell in labour andskill but not in idleness. Friends are not competent to bestow happiness,nor foes competent to inflict misery. Similarly wisdom does not bringwealth nor does wealth bring happiness. Since, O son of Kunti, thou hastbeen created by the Maker to engage thyself in Work. Success springs fromWork. Thou art not fit, O king, to avoid Work.'”
