Chapter 143
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, O thou of great wisdom, O thou that areconversant with every kind of scripture, tell me what the merit is of onewho cherishes a suppliant that craves for protection.’
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, O thou of great wisdom, O thou that areconversant with every kind of scripture, tell me what the merit is of onewho cherishes a suppliant that craves for protection.’
“Sanjaya said, ‘Upon the fall of Drona, O king, the Kurus, afflicted withweapons, deprived of their leader, broken and routed, became filled withexertion, and deprived of energy through grief.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by Yudhishthira Susarman wasoverwhelmed with shame and hung down his head. And liberated (fromslavery), he went to king Virata, and having saluted the monarch, tookhis departure.
Vaisampayana said,–“then, O king, Yudhishthira, having approached andworshipped his grandfather and his preceptor, addressed Bhishma and Dronaand Kripa and the son of Drona and Duryyodhana and Vivingsati, andsaid,–‘Help me ye all in the mater of this sacrifice. This largetreasure that is here is yours. Consult ye with one another and guide meas ye desire.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Thus addressed by Janardana, Pritha’s son Arjuna,applauding those counsels of his friend, then vehemently addressed kingYudhishthira the just, in language that was harsh and the like of whichhe had never used before.
“Bhishma said, ‘In one of the branches of that tree, a pigeon withbeautiful feathers, O king, lived for many years with his family. Thatmorning his wife had gone out in search of food but had not yet returned.
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Hearing, O Sanjaya, of the slaughter, byunrighteous means, of his aged sire, by Dhrishtadyumna, what, did thevaliant
“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the king of the Matsyas, anxious of recoveringthe kine, had set out in pursuit of the Trigartas, Duryodhana with hiscounsellors invaded the dominions of Virata.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, Kunti’s son owning whitesteeds, filled with rage, drew his sword for slaying that bull ofBharata’s race.
“Bhishma said, ‘One should always offer the most reverent worship untothe Brahmanas. They have Soma for their king, and they it is who conferhappiness and misery upon others.