Chapter 199
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hadst referred to the dispute between Time,Mrityu, Yama, Ikshvaku, and a Brahmana. It behoveth thee to narrate thestory in full.’
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hadst referred to the dispute between Time,Mrityu, Yama, Ikshvaku, and a Brahmana. It behoveth thee to narrate thestory in full.’
Sauti said, ‘And Ruru, on hearing those words, replied, ‘My wife, dear tome as life, was bit by a snake; upon which, I took, O snake, a dreadfulvow, viz., that I would kill every snake that I might come across.Therefore shall I smite thee and thou shalt be deprived of life.’
“Sanjaya said, ‘Then the mighty and heroic bowman Karna began to smitethe Pandava army in that battle, with his straight shafts.
Vaisampayana said, “After this, Arjuna once more addressed his eldestbrother of unfading glory, viz., king Yudhishthira of cheerless heart,and said these words:
Dhritarashtra said,–“When that great bowman Sweta proceeded towardsSalya’s car, what did the Kauravas and the Pandavas do, O Sanjaya? Andwhat also did Bhishma the son of Santanu do? Tell me who ask thee, allthis.”
“Markandeya said, ‘Meanwhile the mighty Dyumatsena, having regained hissight, could see everything. And when his vision grew clear he saweverything around him.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grandsire, what reply was given by eitherthe Brahmana or the monarch to Virupa after the conclusion of thelatter’s speech.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘What are the fruits of the yoga represented byKnowledge, of all the Vedas, and of the (various) observances and vows?How also may the creature-soul be known? Tell us, this, O grandsire!’
Vaishampayana said: “That scorcher of foes, Vibhatsu, thus addressed byhis maternal uncle, replied, with great cheerlessness of heart, untoVasudeva who was equally cheerless, saying, O uncle, I am unable to lookat this Earth when she is reft of that hero of Vrishnis race and those myother kinsmen.
“Sauti continued ‘The Dundubha then said, ‘In former times, I had afriend Khagama by name.