Chapter 157
“Bhishma said, ‘Having settled this in his mind, the Salmali. in sorrow,himself caused all his branches, principal and subsidiary, to be cut off.
“Bhishma said, ‘Having settled this in his mind, the Salmali. in sorrow,himself caused all his branches, principal and subsidiary, to be cut off.
“Dhritarashtra said,–‘The names of rivers and mountains, O Sanjaya, asalso of provinces, and all other things resting on the earth, and theirdimensions, O thou that are acquainted with the measures of things of theearth in its entirety and the forests, O Sanjaya, recount to me indetail.’
“Karna said, ‘I behold all these blessed ones, looking as if alarmed andpanic-struck and unresolved and unwilling to fight.
“Sakuni said.–‘O Duryodhana, thou shouldst not be jealous ofYudhishthira. The sons of Pandu are enjoying what they deserve inconsequence of their own good fortune.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Meanwhile the son of Drona (Ashvatthama), beholdingYudhishthira protected by the grandson of Sini (Satyaki) and by theheroic sons of
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me why had that lady no fear of Ashtavakra’scurse although Ashtavakra was endued with great energy? How also didAshtavakra succeed in coming back from that place?'”
“Yudhishthira said, ‘I desire, O bull of Bharata’s race, to hear indetail the source from which sin proceeds and the foundation upon whichit rests.’
“Dhritarashtra said.—“Thou art intelligent, O Sanjaya, and acquaintedwith the truth (about everything). Thou hast duly given a description ofthe island in brief.
“Kripa said, ‘O Radheya, thy crooked heart always inclineth to war. Thouknowest not the true nature of things; nor dost thou take into accounttheir after-consequences.
Vaisampayana said–“O king, impressed with the great Rajasuya sacrificeof king Yudhishthira, Sakuni, the son of Suvala, having learnt before theintentions of Duryodhana, while accompanying him in the way from theassembly house, and desirous of saying what was agreeable to him,approached Dhritarashtra endued with great wisdom,