Chapter 139
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast laid it down, O mighty one, that no trustshould be placed upon foes. But how would the king maintain himself if hewere not to trust anybody? From trust, O king, thou hast said, greatdanger arises to kings.
Chapter 140
“Yudhishthira said, ‘When both righteousness and men, O Bharata, decay inconsequence of the gradual lapse of Yuga, and when the world becomesafflicted by robbers, how, O Grandsire, should a king then behave?'[419]
Chapter 141
“Yudhishthira said, ‘When the high righteousness suffers decay and istransgressed by all, when unrighteousness becomes righteousness, andrighteousness assumes the form of its reverse,
Chapter 142
“Yudhishthira said, ‘If that which is so horrible and which likefalsehood should never be an object of regard, be cited (as duty), thenwhat act is there from which I should forbear? Why also should notrobbers then be respected? I am stupefied! My heart is pained! All theties that bind me to morality are loosened! I cannot tranquillise my mindand venture to act in the way suggested by you.’
Chapter 143
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, O thou of great wisdom, O thou that areconversant with every kind of scripture, tell me what the merit is of onewho cherishes a suppliant that craves for protection.’
Chapter 144
“Bhishma said, ‘In one of the branches of that tree, a pigeon withbeautiful feathers, O king, lived for many years with his family. Thatmorning his wife had gone out in search of food but had not yet returned.
Chapter 145
“Bhishma said, ‘Hearing those piteous lamentations of the pigeon on thetree, the she-pigeon seized by the fowler began to say to herself asfollows.’
Chapter 146
“Bhishma said, ‘Hearing these words fraught with morality and reason thatwere spoken by his wife, the pigeon became filled with great delight andhis eyes were bathed in tears of joy.
Chapter 147
“Bhishma said, ‘The fowler, seeing the pigeon fall into the fire, becamefilled with compassion and once more said, ‘Alas, cruel and senselessthat I am, what have I done!
Chapter 148
“Bhishma said, ‘After the fowler had left that spot, the she-pigeon,remembering her husband and afflicted with grief on his account, weptcopiously and indulged in these lamentations, ‘I cannot, O dear lord,recollect a single instance of thy having done me an injury!