Chapter 35
Janamejaya said, “On the eve of the great battle (between the Kurus andthe Pandus), the lord Rama, with Keshava’s leave, had gone away (fromDwaraka) accompanied by many of the Vrishnis.
Janamejaya said, “On the eve of the great battle (between the Kurus andthe Pandus), the lord Rama, with Keshava’s leave, had gone away (fromDwaraka) accompanied by many of the Vrishnis.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘What should be the characteristics, O grandsire, ofthe legislators, the ministers of war, the courtiers, the generalissimos,and the counsellors of a king!’
“Yudhishthira said, ‘How, O Bharata, should a learned man adorned withmodesty behave, O chastiser of foes, when assailed with harsh speeches inthe midst of assemblies by an ignorant person swelling with conceit?'[346]
“Bhishma said, ‘That subjugator of hostile cities, Sikhandin, the son ofthe king of the Panchalas, is, O king, in my judgment, one of theforemost of Yudhishthira’s Rathas.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Then the carless Karna, thus once more completelydefeated by Bhima, mounted another car and speedily began to pierce theson of Pandu.
“Draupadi continued, ‘On this subject, the ancient story of theconversation between Prahlada and Vali, the son of Virochana, is quotedas an example.
“Sanjaya said, ‘When that fierce battle, O monarch, was about tocommence, and when all the high-souled
“‘Bhishma said, ‘In this connection, O Yudhishthira, the old account of aconversation between Vrihaspati and Sakra is cited.’
“Bhishma said, ‘O great king, Rochamana is another Maharatha of thePandavas. He will, O Bharata, contend in battle against hostile warriors,like a second god.
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘I think, Destiny is supreme. Fie on exertion whichis useless, inasmuch as the son of Adhiratha, though fighting resolutely,could not vanquish the son of Pandu.