Chapter 126
“Bhishma said, ‘The chief of the deities, Indra, after the Pitri hasceased to speak, addressed the puissant Hari, saying, ‘O Lord, what arethose acts by which thou becomest gratified? How, indeed, do men succeedin gratifying thee?’
“Bhishma said, ‘The chief of the deities, Indra, after the Pitri hasceased to speak, addressed the puissant Hari, saying, ‘O Lord, what arethose acts by which thou becomest gratified? How, indeed, do men succeedin gratifying thee?’
Sanjaya said, “Hearing these words of Kripa that were auspicious andfraught with morality and profit, Ashvatthama, O monarch, becameoverwhelmed with sorrow and grief.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by them, Duryodhana, contracting thespace between his eye-brows, became cheerless, and with face bent downbegan to cast oblique glances. And he said not a word in reply.
“Sanjaya said, ‘O monarch! I beholding Vasudeva and Dhananjaya penetrateinto their host, having already pierced through many divisions, the kingsof the army, fled away in fear.
“Vrihadaswa said, ‘After Varshneya had gone away, Pushkara won from therighteous Nala that latter’s kingdom and what else of wealth he had.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Havyavahana (Agni) in anger and disappointment,with his ailment uncured, went back to the Grandsire.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grandsire, how a poor man, desirous ofachieving his own good, should bear himself after having acquired thestatus of humanity and come into this region of acts that is so difficultto attain.
Kripa said, “We have heard all that thou hast said, O puissant one!Listen, however, to a few words of mine, O mighty armed one!
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O Sanjaya, in the midst of all the princes and theservants, the slayer of Madhu took Karna upon his car and went out (ofour city).
“Vasudeva said, ‘Behold, O Dhananjaya, this Suyodhana who hathtransgressed us! I regard this as highly wonderful. There is nocar-warrior equal to him.