Chapter 56
“Vaisampayana said, ‘And the ranks of those fierce bowmen, the Kurus,looked like masses of clouds in the rainy season drifting before a gentlewind.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘And the ranks of those fierce bowmen, the Kurus,looked like masses of clouds in the rainy season drifting before a gentlewind.
“Sakuni said,–O thou foremost of victorious persons, I will snatch (forthee) this prosperity of Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, at the sight ofwhich thou grievest so.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘What should a man do in order to pass pleasantlythrough this and the other world. How, indeed, should one conductoneself? What practices should one adopt with this end in view?’
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Upon the completion of this discourse, Nakula whowas an accomplished swordsman thus questioned the Kuru grandsire lying onhis bed of arrows.’
“Dhritarashtra said,–‘How hath Bhishma, that bull among the Kurus, beenslain by Sikhandin? How did my father, who resembled Vasava himself, falldown from his car?
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Beholding the army of the Kurus arrayed in order ofbattle, that descendant of the Kuru race, Partha, addressing Virata’sson, said, ‘Do thou proceed to the spot where Kripa, the son of Saradwat,is going by the southern side of that car whose flag is seen to bear thedevice of a golden altar.’
Vaisampayana said,–“King Dhritarashtra, ascertaining the inclinations ofhis son and knowing that Fate is inevitable, did what I have said.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding then that unrivalled array of the Parthas madeby Dhrishtadyumna which was capable of resisting all hostile armies,Karna proceeded, uttering leonine shouts and causing his car to produce aloud rattle.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘It behoveth, O king to tell me truly which of thetwo viz., man or woman derives the greater pleasure from an act of unionwith each other. Kindly resolve my doubt in this respect.”
“Vaisampayana said, ‘When Bhishma, after having said this, became silent,Yudhishthira (and the others) returned home.