Vaisampayana continued, “Then all the artisans, the principalcounsellors, and the highly wise Vidura said unto Dhritarashtra’s son,”All the preparations for the excellent sacrifice have been made, O king;and the time also hath come, O Bharata.
Vaisampayana continued, “O king, O lord of men, that slayer of hostileheroes, the Suta’s son, said these words to Duryodhana, ‘O KauravaDuryodhana, do thou lay unto thy heart the words that I shall tell thee;and, O represser of foes, after having heard my words, it behoveth theeto act accordingly every way.
Vaisampayana continued, “Then, O bull among the Bharatas, that mightybowman, Karna, surrounded by a large army, besieged the beautiful city ofDrupada.
Janamejaya said, “When the high-souled sons of Pritha were living in theforest, what did those foremost of men and mighty archers–the sons ofDhritarashtra–do?
“The Danavas said, ‘O Suyodhana, O great king? O perpetuator of the raceof Bharata, thou art ever surrounded by heroes and illustrious men. Whyhast thou, then, undertaken to do such a rash act as the vow ofstarvation?
Vaisampayana said, “Beholding king Duryodhana, incapable of putting upwith an insult, seated with the resolution of giving up life by forgoingfood, Sakuni, the son of Suvala, said these words to comfort him. Sakunisaid,
“Kama continued, ‘O king, this conduct of thine to-day appeareth to bechildish. O hero, O slayer of foes, what is to be wondered at in thisthat the Pandavas liberated thee when thou wert vanquished by the foe?
Duryodhana said, “That slayer of hostile heroes, Arjuna, then approachingChitrasena, smilingly addressed him in these manly words: ‘O hero, Oforemost of the Gandharvas, it behoveth thee to set my brothers atliberty.
“Duryodhana said, ‘O Radheya, thou knowest not what hath happened.Therefore, I do not resent thy words. Thou thinkest the hostileGandharvas to have been vanquished by me with my own energy.
Janamejaya said, “After his defeat and capture by the foe and hissubsequent liberation by the illustrious sons of Pandu by force of arms,it seemeth to me that the entry into
