Chapter 60
Vrihadaswa said. “Bhima’s daughter, the cool-headed Damayanti, seeing therighteous king maddened and deprived of his senses at dice, was filled, Oking, with alarm and grief.
Vrihadaswa said. “Bhima’s daughter, the cool-headed Damayanti, seeing therighteous king maddened and deprived of his senses at dice, was filled, Oking, with alarm and grief.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Which is of superior efficacy, Conciliation orGifts? Tell me, O chief of Bharata’s race, which of these two is superiorin point of efficacy.’
Om! Having bowed down unto Narayana, and Nara the most exalted of malebeings, and unto the goddess Sarasvati, must the word Jaya be uttered!
“Karna said, ‘Without doubt, O Kesava, thou hast said these words fromthy love, affection, and friendship for me, as also in consequence of thydesire of doing me good, O thou of Vrishni’s race.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Saying these words, king Duryodhana pierced Arjuna withthree shafts of great impetuosity and capable of penetrating into thevery vitals.
“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Having made this compact with Dwapara, Kali came tothe place where the king of the Nishadhas was.
“Vaisampayana, said, ‘Thus addressed by Arjuna, the smoke-banneredHutasana, desirous of an interview with Varuna, recollected that son ofAditi,–that deity protecting one of the points of the heavens and havinghis home in the water and ruling that element.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O thou that art conversant with all duties, I desireto hear, in detail, what the excellent behaviour is of good and chastewomen. Do thou, O grandsire, discourse to me on this.’
“Sanjaya said, ‘Having heard of Duryodhana’s fall from the messengers,those mighty car-warriors, the unslain remnant of the Kaurava army,exceedingly wounded with keen shafts, and maces and lances and darts,those three,
“Sanjaya said, ‘Hearing these words of Karna, Kesava, that slayer ofhostile heroes, spoke unto him these words smilingly, ‘Do not the meansof winning an empire recommend themselves to thee.