Chapter 30

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Discomfited before, O monarch, many a time and oftby Matsya’s Suta Kichaka aided by the Matsyas and the Salyas, the mightyking of the Trigartas, Susarman, who owned innumerable cars, regardingthe opportunity to be a favourable one, then spoke the following wordswithout losing a moment. And, O monarch, forcibly vanquished along withhis relatives by the mighty Kichaka, king Susarman, eyeing Karna inaskance, spoke these words unto Duryodhana, ‘My kingdom hath many a timebeen forcibly invaded by the king of the Matsyas. The mighty Kichaka wasthat king’s generalissimo. Crooked and wrathful and of wicked soul, ofprowess famed over all the world, sinful in deeds and highly cruel, thatwretch, however, hath been slain by the Gandharvas, Kichaka being dead,king Virata, shorn of pride and his refuge gone, will, I imagine, loseall courage I think, we ought now to invade that kingdom, if it pleasesthee, O sinless one, as also the illustrious Karna and all the Kauravas.The accident that hath happened is, I imagine, a favourable one for us.Let us, therefore, repair to Virata’s kingdom abounding in corn. We willappropriate his gems and other wealth of diverse kinds, and let us go toshare with each other as regards his villages and kingdom. Or, invadinghis city by force, let us carry off by thousands his excellent kine ofvarious species. Uniting, O king, the forces of the Kauravas and theTrigartas, let us lift his cattle in droves. Or, uniting our forces well,we will check his power by forcing him to sue for peace. Or, destroyinghis entire host, we will bring Matsya under subjection. Having broughthim under subjection by just means, we will live in our kingdom happily,while thy power also will, without doubt, be enhanced.’ Hearing thesewords of Susarman, Karna addressed the king, saying, ‘Susarman hathspoken well; the opportunity is favourable and promises to be profitableto us. Therefore, if it pleases thee, O sinless one, let us, drawing upour forces in battle array and marshalling them in divisions, speedilyset out. Or, let the expedition be managed as Saradwata’s son Kripa, thepreceptor Drona, and the wise and aged grandsire of the Kurus may think.Consulting with each other, let us, O lord of earth, speedily set out toattain our end. What business have we with the sons of Pandu, destituteas they are of wealth, might, and prowess? They have either disappearedfor good or have gone to the abode of Yama? We will, O king, repairwithout anxiety to Virata’s city, and plunder his cattle and other wealthof diverse kinds.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Accepting these words of Karna, the son ofSurya, king Duryodhana speedily commanded his brother Dussasana, bornimmediately after him and always obedient to his wishes, saying,’Consulting with the elders, array without delay, our forces. We will,with all the Kauravas go to the appointed place. Let also the mightywarrior, king Susarman, accompanied by a sufficient force with vehiclesand animals, set out with the Trigartas for the dominions of Matsyas. Andlet Susarman proceed first, carefully concealing his intention. Followingin their wake, we will set out the day after in close array, for theprosperous dominions of king Matsya. Let the Trigartas, however, suddenlyrepair to the city of Virata, and coming upon the cowherds, seize thatimmense wealth (of kine). We also marching in two divisions, will seizethousands of excellent kine furnished with auspicious marks.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then, O Lord of earth, those warriors, theTrigartas, accompanied by their infantry of terrible prowess, marchedtowards the south-eastern direction, intending to wage hostilities withVirata from the desire of seizing his kine. And Susarman set out on theseventh day of the dark fortnight for seizing the kine. And then, O king,on the eighth day following of the dark fortnight, the Kauravas alsoaccompanied by all their troops, began to seize the kine by thousands.”