Chapter 3
Vaishampayana said: “Then Shakra, causing the firmament and the Earth tobe filled by a loud sound, came to the son of Pritha on a car and askedhim to ascend it.
Vaishampayana said: “Then Shakra, causing the firmament and the Earth tobe filled by a loud sound, came to the son of Pritha on a car and askedhim to ascend it.
“Sauti said, ‘the god of fire enraged at the curse of Bhrigu, thusaddressed the Rishi, ‘What meaneth this rashness, O Brahmana, that thouhast displayed towards me? What transgression can be imputed to me whowas labouring to do justice and speak the truth impartially?
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Describe to me the battle of Arjuna with thesamsaptakas, and of the other kings with the Pandavas. Narrate to mealso, O Sanjaya, the battle of Arjuna with Ashvatthama, and of the otherlords of the Earth with Partha.’
“Yudhishthira said, ‘I am conversant with both the Vedas and thescriptures that lead to the attainment of Brahma.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast said that as regards Reciters, they obtainthis very high end.[627] I beg to enquire whether this is their only endor there is any other to which they attain.’
Sanjaya said, “On the forenoon of that awful day, O king, the terriblebattle that mangled the bodies of (so many) kings commenced.
“Surya said, ‘Never do, O Karna, anything that is harmful to thy self andthy friends; thy sons, thy wives, thy father, and thy mother; O thou bestof those that bear life, people desire renown (in this world) and lastingfame in heaven, without wishing to sacrifice their bodies.
Vaishampayana said: “Those princes of restrained souls and devoted toYoga, proceeding to the north, beheld Himavat, that very large mountain.Crossing the Himavat, they beheld a vast desert of sand.
“Sauti said, ‘O Brahmana, Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu, begot a son in thewomb of his wife Sukanya. And that son was the illustrious Pramati ofresplendent energy. And Pramati begot in the womb of Ghritachi a soncalled Ruru. And Ruru begot on his wife Pramadvara a son called Sunaka.And I shall relate to you in detail, O Brahmana, the entire history ofRuru of abundant energy. O listen to it then in full!
“Sanjaya said, ‘Endued with the greatest activity, Drona’s son, O king,displaying the lightness of his arms, pierced Bhima with an arrow.