Chapter 131

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Vidura had said this, Kesava, that slayer ofhostile divisions, endued with great energy, addressed Dhritarashtra’sson, Duryodhana, and said, ‘From delusion, O Suyodhana, thou regardest meto be alone, and it is for this, O thou of little understanding, thatthou seekest to make me a captive after vanquishing me by violence. Here,however, are all the Pandavas and all the Vrishnis and Andhakas. Here areall the Adityas, the Rudras, and the Vasus, with all the great Rishis.Saying this Kesava, that slayer of hostile heroes burst out into a loudlaughter. And as the high-souled Sauri laughed, from his body, thatresembled a blazing fire, issued myriads of gods, each of lightningeffulgence, and not bigger than the thumb. And on his forehead appearedBrahman, and on his breast Rudra. And on his arms appeared the regents ofthe world, and from his mouth issued Agni, the Adityas, the Sadhyas, theVasus, the Aswins, the Marutas, with Indra, and the Viswedevas. Andmyriads of Yakshas, and the Gandharvas, and Rakshasas also, of the samemeasure and form, issued thence. And from his two arms issued Sankarshanaand Dhananjaya. And Arjuna stood on his right, bow in hand, and Ramastood on his left, armed with the plough. And behind him stood Bhima, andYudhishthira, and the two sons of Madri, and before him were all theAndhakas and the Vrishnis with Pradyumna and other chiefs bearing mightyweapons upraised. And on his diverse arms were seen the conch, thediscus, the mace, the bow called Saranga, the plough, the javelin, theNandaka, and every other weapon, all shining with effulgence, andupraised for striking. And from his eyes and nose and ears and every partof his body, issued fierce sparks of fire mixed with smoke. And from thepores of his body issued sparks of fire like unto the rays of the sun.And beholding that awful form of the high-souled Kesava, all the kingsclosed their eyes with affrighted hearts, except Drona, and Bhishma, andVidura, endued with great intelligence, greatly blessed Sanjaya, and theRishis, possessed of wealth of asceticism, for the divine Janardana gaveunto them this divine sight on the occasion. And beholding in the (Kuru)court that highly wonderful sight, celestial drums beat (in the sky) anda floral shower fell (upon him). And the whole Earth trembled (at thetime) and the oceans were agitated. And, O bull of the Bharata’s race,all the denizens of the earth were filled with great wonder. Then thattiger among men, that chastiser of foes, withdrew that divine and highlywonderful, and extremely varied and auspicious form. And arm-in-arm withSatyaki on one side and Hridika’s son (Kritavarman) on the other, andobtaining permission of the Rishis, the slayer of Madhu went out. Andduring the uproar that then took place, the Rishis, Narada and othersvanquished, for repairing to their respective places. And this also wasanother wonderful incident that happened. And seeing that tiger among menleave the court, the Kauravas with all the kings followed him, like thegods following Indra. Sauri, however, of immeasurable soul, withoutbestowing a single thought on those that followed him, issued from thecourt, like a blazing fire mixed with smoke. And he beheld (at the gatehis charioteer) Daruka waiting with his large white car, furnished withrows of tinkling bells, decked with golden ornaments, and endued withgreat speed, the clatter of whose wheels resounded like the rumbling ofthe clouds, and which was covered all over with white tiger-skins, andunto which were harnessed his steeds Saivya (and others). And there alsoappeared, mounted on his car, that favourite hero of Vrishnis, the mightycar-warrior Kritavarman, the son of Hridika. And that chastiser of foes,Sauri, who had his car ready, was about to depart, king Dhritarashtraaddressed him once more and said, ‘O grinder of foes, thou hast seen, OJanardana, the power I wield over my sons! Thou hast, indeed, witnessedall with thy own eyes. Nothing now is unknown to thee. Seeing meendeavour to bring about peace between the Kurus, and the Pandavas, infact, knowing the state (in which I am), it behoveth thee not toentertain any suspicion regarding me. O Kesava, I have no sinful feelingstowards the Pandavas. Thou knowest what words have been spoken by me toSuyodhana. The Kauravas and all the kings of the Earth, also know, OMadhava, that I have made every endeavour to bring about peace.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The mighty-armed Janardana then addressedDhritarashtra, Drona, grandsire Bhishma, Kshattri, Vahlika, and Kripa andsaid, ‘Ye have yourselves witnessed all that hath happened in theassembly of the Kurus, viz., how wicked Duryodhana, like an uneducatedwretch, left the court from anger, and how king Dhritarashtra alsodescribeth himself to be powerless. With the permission of you all, Ishall now go back to Yudhishthira.’ Saluting them, that bull amongst men,Sauri then mounted his car and set out. And those heroic bulls amongstthe Bharatas, those mighty bowmen, viz., Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa, andKshattri, and Aswatthaman and Vikarna, and that mighty car-warriorYuyutsu, all began to follow him. And Kesava, on his large white car,furnished with rows of tinkling bells, proceeded then, in the very sightof the Kurus, to the abode of his paternal aunt (Kunti).'”