Chapter 26

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having listened to these words of his spies, kingDuryodhana reflected inwardly for some time and then addressed hiscourtiers, saying, ‘It is difficult to ascertain the course of eventsdefinitely. Discern ye all, therefore, whither the sons of Pandu havegone, of this thirteenth year which they are to pass undiscovered by usall, the greater part hath already expired. What remains is by much thesmaller. If, indeed, the sons of Pandu can pass undiscovered what remainsof this year, devoted to the vow of truth as they are, they will thenhave fulfilled their pledge. They will then return like mighty elephantswith temporal juice trickling down, or like snakes of virulent poison.Filled with wrath, they will, without doubt, be inflicters of terriblechastisement on the Kurus. It behoveth ye, therefore, to make suchefforts without loss of time as may induce the sons of Pandu, acquaintedas they are with the proprieties of time, and staying as they now are inpainful disguise, to re-enter the woods suppressing their rage. Indeed,adopt ye such means as may remove all causes of quarrel and anxiety fromthe kingdom, making it tranquil and foeless and incapable of sustaining adiminution of territory.’ Hearing these words of Duryodhana, Kama said,’Let other spies, abler and more cunning, and capable of accomplishingtheir object, quickly go hence, O Bharata. Let them, well-disguised,wander through swelling kingdoms and populous provinces, prying intoassemblies of the learned and delightful retreats of provinces. In theinner apartments of palaces, in shrines and holy spots, in mines anddiverse other regions, the sons of Pandu should be searched after withwell-directed eagerness. Let the sons of Pandu who are living in disguisebe searched after by well-skilled spies in large numbers, devoted totheir work, themselves well-disguised, and all well-acquainted with theobjects of their search. Let the search be made on the banks of rivers,in holy regions, in villages and towns, in retreats of ascetics, indelightful mountains and mountain-caves.’ When Karna ceased, Duryodhana’ssecond brother Dussasana, wedded to a sinful disposition, then addressedhis eldest brother and said, ‘O monarch, O lord of men, let those spiesonly in whom we have confidence, receiving their rewards in advance, oncemore go after the search. This and what else hath been said by Karna haveour fullest approval. Let all the spies engage themselves in the searchaccording to the directions already given. Let these and others engage inthe search from province to province according to approved rules. It ismy belief, however, that the track the Pandavas have followed or theirpresent abode or occupation will not be discovered. Perhaps, they areclosely concealed; perhaps, they have gone to the other side of theocean. Or, perhaps, proud as they are of their strength and Courage, theyhave been devoured by wild beasts; or perhaps, having been overtaken bysome unusual danger, they have perished for eternity. Therefore, O princeof the Kuru race, dispelling all anxieties from thy heart, achieve whatthou wilt, always acting according to thy energy.'”