Chapter 71
Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grand sire, in what way should the kingprotect his subjects so as to be able to avoid grief and so as not tooffend against righteousness?’
Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grand sire, in what way should the kingprotect his subjects so as to be able to avoid grief and so as not tooffend against righteousness?’
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Man, it is said, is endued with a period of lifeextending for a hundred years, and with energy and might that areconsiderable.
“Janamejaya said, ‘After the soldiers had been arrayed thus in order ofbattle (on the field of Kurukshetra), what, O bull among Brahmanas, didthe Kauravas then do, urged as they were by destiny itself?’
“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding Duhsasana’s car staying near his, the son ofBharadwaja, addressing Duhsasana, said these words, ‘Why, O Duhsasana,are all these cars flying away?
“Mahadeva said, ‘Thou wert in thy former life Nara, the friend ofNarayana. In Vadari wert thou engaged in fierce ascetic austerities forseveral thousands of years.
Vaishampayana said, “Listen now to the large bands of the mothers, thoseslayers of foes, O hero, that became the companions of Kumara, as Imention their names.
“Bhishma said, ‘That person, O king, who would protect the good andpunish the wicked, should be appointed as his priest by the king. In thisconnection is cited the old story about the discourse between Pururavas,the son of Aila and Matariswan.’
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast discoursed to us on diverse kinds of gift,on tranquillity of soul, on Truth, on compassion, on contentment withone’s wedded wife, and the merits of gift.
“Sanjaya said, ‘After the high-souled Pandavas, O king, had encamped bythe side of the Hiranwati, the Kauravas also fixed their camps.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Meanwhile, O king, Duhsasana rushed against the grandsonof Sini, scattering thousands of shafts like a mighty cloud pouringtorrents of rain.