Mahabharata 3.238: aṣṭātriṃśadadhika dviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ

3.238.1

duryodhana uvāca |
citrasenaṃ samāgamya prahasannarjunastadā |
idaṃ vacanamaklībamabravītparavīrahā || 1 ||

Duryodhana said, "That slayer of hostile heroes, Arjuna, then approaching Chitrasena, smilingly addressed him in these manly words: 'O hero, O foremost of the Gandharvas, it behoveth thee to set my brothers at liberty. They are incapable of being insulted as long as the sons of Pandu are alive.' 'Thus addressed by the illustrious son of Pandu, the chief of the Gandharvas, O Karna, disclosed unto the Pandavas the object we had in view in proceeding to that place, viz., that we came there for casting our eyes on the sons of Pandu with their wife, all plunged in misery. And while the Gandharva was disclosing those counsels of ours, overwhelmed with shame I desired the earth to yield me a crevice, so that I might disappear there and then. The Gandharvas then, accompanied by the Pandavas, went to Yudhishthira, and, disclosing unto him also counsels, made us over, bound as we were, to him. Alas, what greater sorrow could be mine than that I should thus be offered as a tribute unto Yudhishthira, in the very sight of the women of our household, myself in chains and plunged in misery, and under the absolute control of my enemies. Alas, they, who have ever been persecuted by me, they unto whom I have ever been a foe released me from captivity, and wretch that I am, I am indebted to them for my life. If, O hero, I had met with my death in that great battle, that would have been far better than that I should have obtained my life in this way. If I had been slain by the Gandharvas, my fame would have spread over the whole earth, and I should have obtained auspicious regions of eternal bliss in the heaven of Indra. Listen to me therefore, ye bulls among men, as to what I intend to do now. I will stay here forgoing all food, while ye all return home. Let all my brothers also go to Hastinapura. Let all our friends, including Karna, and all our relatives headed by Dussasana, return now to the capital. Insulted by the foe, I myself will not repair thither. I who had before wrested from the foe his respect, I who had always enchanced the respect of my friends, have now become a source of sorrow unto friends and of joy unto enemies. What shall I now say unto the king, going to the city named after the elephant? What will Bhishma and Drona, Kripa, and Drona's son, Vidura and Sanjaya, Vahuka and Somadatta and other revered seniors,--what will the principal men of the other orders and men of independent professions, say to me and what shall I say unto them in reply? Having hitherto stayed over the heads of my enemies, having hitherto trod upon their breasts, I have fallen away from my position. How shall I ever speak with them? Insolent men having obtained prosperity and knowledge and affluence, are seldom blest for any length of time like myself puffed up with vanity. Alas, led by folly I have done a highly improper and wicked act, for which, fool that I am, I have fallen into such distress. Therefore, will I perish by starving, life having become insupportable to me. Relieved from distress by the foe, what man of spirit is there who can drag on his existence? Proud as I am, shorn of manliness, the foe hath laughed at me, for the Pandavas possessed of prowess have looked at me plunged in misery!"

Duryodhana said, "That slayer of hostile heroes, Arjuna, then approaching Chitrasena, smilingly addressed him in these manly words: 'O hero, O foremost of the Gandharvas, it behoveth thee to set my brothers at liberty. They are incapable of being insulted as long as the sons of Pandu are alive.' 'Thus addressed by the illustrious son of Pandu, the chief of the Gandharvas, O Karna, disclosed unto the Pandavas the object we had in view in proceeding to that place, viz., that we came there for casting our eyes on the sons of Pandu with their wife, all plunged in misery. And while the Gandharva was disclosing those counsels of ours, overwhelmed with shame I desired the earth to yield me a crevice, so that I might disappear there and then. The Gandharvas then, accompanied by the Pandavas, went to Yudhishthira, and, disclosing unto him also counsels, made us over, bound as we were, to him. Alas, what greater sorrow could be mine than that I should thus be offered as a tribute unto Yudhishthira, in the very sight of the women of our household, myself in chains and plunged in misery, and under the absolute control of my enemies. Alas, they, who have ever been persecuted by me, they unto whom I have ever been a foe released me from captivity, and wretch that I am, I am indebted to them for my life. If, O hero, I had met with my death in that great battle, that would have been far better than that I should have obtained my life in this way. If I had been slain by the Gandharvas, my fame would have spread over the whole earth, and I should have obtained auspicious regions of eternal bliss in the heaven of Indra. Listen to me therefore, ye bulls among men, as to what I intend to do now. I will stay here forgoing all food, while ye all return home. Let all my brothers also go to Hastinapura. Let all our friends, including Karna, and all our relatives headed by Dussasana, return now to the capital. Insulted by the foe, I myself will not repair thither. I who had before wrested from the foe his respect, I who had always enchanced the respect of my friends, have now become a source of sorrow unto friends and of joy unto enemies. What shall I now say unto the king, going to the city named after the elephant? What will Bhishma and Drona, Kripa, and Drona's son, Vidura and Sanjaya, Vahuka and Somadatta and other revered seniors,--what will the principal men of the other orders and men of independent professions, say to me and what shall I say unto them in reply? Having hitherto stayed over the heads of my enemies, having hitherto trod upon their breasts, I have fallen away from my position. How shall I ever speak with them? Insolent men having obtained prosperity and knowledge and affluence, are seldom blest for any length of time like myself puffed up with vanity. Alas, led by folly I have done a highly improper and wicked act, for which, fool that I am, I have fallen into such distress. Therefore, will I perish by starving, life having become insupportable to me. Relieved from distress by the foe, what man of spirit is there who can drag on his existence? Proud as I am, shorn of manliness, the foe hath laughed at me, for the Pandavas possessed of prowess have looked at me plunged in misery!"

Vaisampayana continued, 'While giving way to such reflections Duryodhana spoke unto Dussasana thus: 'O Dussasana, listen to these words of mine, O thou of the Bharata race! Accepting this installation that I offer thee, be thou king in my place. Rule thou the wide earth protected by Karna and Suvala's sons. Like Indra himself looking after the Maruts, cherish thou thy brothers in such a way that they may all confide in thee. Let the friends and relatives depend on thee like the gods depending on him of a hundred sacrifices. Always shouldst thou bestow pensions on Brahmanas, without idleness, and be thou ever the refuge of thy friends and relatives. Like Vishnu looking after the celestials, thou shouldst always look after all consanguineous relatives. Thou shouldst also ever cherish thy superiors. Go, rule thou the earth gladdening thy friends and reproving thy foes.' And clasping his neck, Duryodhana said, 'Go!' Hearing these words of his, Dussasana in perfect cheerlessness and overwhelmed with great sorrow, his voice choked in tears, said, with joined hands and bending his head unto his eldest brother, 'Relent!' And saying this he fell down on earth with heavy heart. And afflicted with grief that tiger among men, shedding his tears on the feet of his brother again said, 'This will never be! The earth may split, the vault of heaven may break in pieces, the sun may cast off his splendour, the moon may abandon his coolness, the wind may forsake its speed, the Himavat may be moved from its site, the waters of the ocean may dry up, and fire may abandon its heat, yet I, O king, may never rule the earth without thee.' And Dussasana repeatedly said, 'Relent, O king! Thou alone shall be king in our race for a hundred years.' And having spoken thus unto the king, Dussasana began to weep melodiously catching, O Bharata, the feet of his eldest brother deserving of worship from him.

"And beholding Dussasana and Duryodhana thus weeping, Karna in great grief approached them both and said, 'Ye, Kuru princes, why do you thus yield to sorrow like ordinary men, from senselessness? Mere weeping can never ease a sorrowing man's grief. When weeping can never remove one's griefs, what do you gain by thus giving way to sorrow? Summon patience to your aid to not gladden the foe by such conduct. O king, the Pandavas only did their duty in liberating thee. They that reside in the dominions of the king, should always do what is agreeable to the king. Protected by thee, the Pandavas are residing happily in thy dominion. It behoveth thee not to indulge in such sorrow like an ordinary person. Behold, thy uterine brothers are all sad and cheerless at seeing thee resolved to put an end to thy life by forgoing food. Blest be thou! Rise up and come to thy city and console these thy uterine brothers."

3.238.2

bhrātṝnarhasi no vīra moktuṃ gandharvasattama |
anarhā dharṣaṇaṃ hīme jīvamāneṣu pāṇḍuṣu || 2 ||

3.238.3

evamuktastu gandharvaḥ pāṇḍavena mahātmanā |
uvāca yatkarṇa vayaṃ mantrayanto vinirgatāḥ |
draṣṭāraḥ sma sukhāddhīnānsadārānpāṇḍavāniti || 3 ||

3.238.4

tasminnuccāryamāṇe tu gandharveṇa vacasyatha |
bhūmervivaramanvaicchaṃ praveṣṭuṃ vrīḍayānvitaḥ || 4 ||

3.238.5

yudhiṣṭhiramathāgamya gandharvāḥ saha pāṇḍavaiḥ |
asmaddurmantritaṃ tasmai baddhāṃścāsmānnyavedayan || 5 ||

3.238.6

strīsamakṣamahaṃ dīno baddhaḥ śatruvaśaṃ gataḥ |
yudhiṣṭhirasyopahṛtaḥ kiṃ nu duḥkhamataḥ param || 6 ||

3.238.7

ye me nirākṛtā nityaṃ ripuryeṣāmahaṃ sadā |
tairmokṣito'haṃ durbuddhirdattaṃ tairjīvitaṃ ca me || 7 ||

3.238.8

prāptaḥ syāṃ yadyahaṃ vīra vadhaṃ tasminmahāraṇe |
śreyastadbhavitā mahyamevaṃbhūtaṃ na jīvitam || 8 ||

3.238.9

bhavedyaśaḥ pṛthivyāṃ me khyātaṃ gandharvato vadhāt |
prāptāśca lokāḥ puṇyāḥ syurmahendrasadane'kṣayāḥ || 9 ||

3.238.10

yattvadya me vyavasitaṃ tacchṛṇudhvaṃ nararṣabhāḥ |
iha prāyamupāsiṣye yūyaṃ vrajata vai gṛhān |
bhrātaraścaiva me sarve prayāntvadya puraṃ prati || 10 ||

3.238.11

karṇaprabhṛtayaścaiva suhṛdo bāndhavāśca ye |
duḥśāsanaṃ puraskṛtya prayāntvadya puraṃ prati || 11 ||

3.238.12

na hyahaṃ pratiyāsyāmi puraṃ śatrunirākṛtaḥ |
śatrumānāpaho bhūtvā suhṛdāṃ mānakṛttathā || 12 ||

3.238.13

sa suhṛcchokado bhūtvā śatrūṇāṃ harṣavardhanaḥ |
vāraṇāhvayamāsādya kiṃ vakṣyāmi janādhipam || 13 ||

3.238.14

bhīṣmo droṇaḥ kṛpo drauṇirviduraḥ saṃjayastathā |
bāhlīkaḥ somadattaśca ye cānye vṛddhasaṃmatāḥ || 14 ||

3.238.15

brāhmaṇāḥ śreṇimukhyāśca tathodāsīnavṛttayaḥ |
kiṃ māṃ vakṣyanti kiṃ cāpi prativakṣyāmi tānaham || 15 ||

3.238.16

ripūṇāṃ śirasi sthitvā tathā vikramya corasi |
ātmadoṣātparibhraṣṭaḥ kathaṃ vakṣyāmi tānaham || 16 ||

3.238.17

durvinītāḥ śriyaṃ prāpya vidyāmaiśvaryameva ca |
tiṣṭhanti na ciraṃ bhadre yathāhaṃ madagarvitaḥ || 17 ||

3.238.18

aho bata yathedaṃ me kaṣṭaṃ duścaritaṃ kṛtam |
svayaṃ durbuddhinā mohādyena prāpto'smi saṃśayam || 18 ||

3.238.19

tasmātprāyamupāsiṣye na hi śakṣyāmi jīvitum |
cetayāno hi ko jīvetkṛcchrācchatrubhiruddhṛtaḥ || 19 ||

3.238.20

śatrubhiścāvahasito mānī pauruṣavarjitaḥ |
pāṇḍavairvikramāḍhyaiśca sāvamānamavekṣitaḥ || 20 ||

3.238.21

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
evaṃ cintāparigato duḥśāsanamathābravīt |
duḥśāsana nibodhedaṃ vacanaṃ mama bhārata || 21 ||

Vaisampayana continued, 'While giving way to such reflections Duryodhana spoke unto Dussasana thus: 'O Dussasana, listen to these words of mine, O thou of the Bharata race! Accepting this installation that I offer thee, be thou king in my place. Rule thou the wide earth protected by Karna and Suvala's sons. Like Indra himself looking after the Maruts, cherish thou thy brothers in such a way that they may all confide in thee. Let the friends and relatives depend on thee like the gods depending on him of a hundred sacrifices. Always shouldst thou bestow pensions on Brahmanas, without idleness, and be thou ever the refuge of thy friends and relatives. Like Vishnu looking after the celestials, thou shouldst always look after all consanguineous relatives. Thou shouldst also ever cherish thy superiors. Go, rule thou the earth gladdening thy friends and reproving thy foes.' And clasping his neck, Duryodhana said, 'Go!' Hearing these words of his, Dussasana in perfect cheerlessness and overwhelmed with great sorrow, his voice choked in tears, said, with joined hands and bending his head unto his eldest brother, 'Relent!' And saying this he fell down on earth with heavy heart. And afflicted with grief that tiger among men, shedding his tears on the feet of his brother again said, 'This will never be! The earth may split, the vault of heaven may break in pieces, the sun may cast off his splendour, the moon may abandon his coolness, the wind may forsake its speed, the Himavat may be moved from its site, the waters of the ocean may dry up, and fire may abandon its heat, yet I, O king, may never rule the earth without thee.' And Dussasana repeatedly said, 'Relent, O king! Thou alone shall be king in our race for a hundred years.' And having spoken thus unto the king, Dussasana began to weep melodiously catching, O Bharata, the feet of his eldest brother deserving of worship from him.

3.238.22

pratīccha tvaṃ mayā dattamabhiṣekaṃ nṛpo bhava |
praśādhi pṛthivīṃ sphītāṃ karṇasaubalapālitām || 22 ||

3.238.23

bhrātṝnpālaya visrabdhaṃ maruto vṛtrahā yathā |
bāndhavāstvopajīvantu devā iva śatakratum || 23 ||

3.238.24

brāhmaṇeṣu sadā vṛttiṃ kurvīthāścāpramādataḥ |
bandhūnāṃ suhṛdāṃ caiva bhavethāstvaṃ gatiḥ sadā || 24 ||

3.238.25

jñātīṃścāpyanupaśyethā viṣṇurdevagaṇāniva |
guravaḥ pālanīyāste gaccha pālaya medinīm || 25 ||

3.238.26

nandayansuhṛdaḥ sarvāñśātravāṃścāvabhartsayan |
kaṇṭhe cainaṃ pariṣvajya gamyatāmityuvāca ha || 26 ||

3.238.27

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā dīno duḥśāsano'bravīt |
aśrukaṇṭhaḥ suduḥkhārtaḥ prāñjaliḥ praṇipatya ca |
sagadgadamidaṃ vākyaṃ bhrātaraṃ jyeṣṭhamātmanaḥ || 27 ||

3.238.28

prasīdetyapatadbhūmau dūyamānena cetasā |
duḥkhitaḥ pādayostasya netrajaṃ jalamutsṛjan || 28 ||

3.238.29

uktavāṃśca naravyāghro naitadevaṃ bhaviṣyati |
vidīryetsanagā bhūmirdyauścāpi śakalībhavet |
ravirātmaprabhāṃ jahyātsomaḥ śītāṃśutāṃ tyajet || 29 ||

3.238.30

vāyuḥ śaighryamatho jahyāddhimavāṃśca parivrajet |
śuṣyettoyaṃ samudreṣu vahnirapyuṣṇatāṃ tyajet || 30 ||

3.238.31

na cāhaṃ tvadṛte rājanpraśāseyaṃ vasuṃdharām |
punaḥ punaḥ prasīdeti vākyaṃ cedamuvāca ha |
tvameva naḥ kule rājā bhaviṣyasi śataṃ samāḥ || 31 ||

3.238.32

evamuktvā sa rājendra sasvanaṃ praruroda ha |
pādau saṃgṛhya mānārhau bhrāturjyeṣṭhasya bhārata || 32 ||

3.238.33

tathā tau duḥkhitau dṛṣṭvā duḥśāsanasuyodhanau |
abhigamya vyathāviṣṭaḥ karṇastau pratyabhāṣata || 33 ||

"And beholding Dussasana and Duryodhana thus weeping, Karna in great grief approached them both and said, 'Ye, Kuru princes, why do you thus yield to sorrow like ordinary men, from senselessness? Mere weeping can never ease a sorrowing man's grief. When weeping can never remove one's griefs, what do you gain by thus giving way to sorrow? Summon patience to your aid to not gladden the foe by such conduct. O king, the Pandavas only did their duty in liberating thee. They that reside in the dominions of the king, should always do what is agreeable to the king. Protected by thee, the Pandavas are residing happily in thy dominion. It behoveth thee not to indulge in such sorrow like an ordinary person. Behold, thy uterine brothers are all sad and cheerless at seeing thee resolved to put an end to thy life by forgoing food. Blest be thou! Rise up and come to thy city and console these thy uterine brothers."

3.238.34

viṣīdathaḥ kiṃ kauravyau bāliśyātprākṛtāviva |
na śokaḥ śocamānasya vinivarteta kasyacit || 34 ||

3.238.35

yadā ca śocataḥ śoko vyasanaṃ nāpakarṣati |
sāmarthyaṃ kiṃ tvataḥ śoke śocamānau prapaśyathaḥ |
dhṛtiṃ gṛhṇīta mā śatrūñśocantau nandayiṣyathaḥ || 35 ||

3.238.36

kartavyaṃ hi kṛtaṃ rājanpāṇḍavaistava mokṣaṇam |
nityameva priyaṃ kāryaṃ rājño viṣayavāsibhiḥ |
pālyamānāstvayā te hi nivasanti gatajvarāḥ || 36 ||

3.238.37

nārhasyevaṃgate manyuṃ kartuṃ prākṛtavadyathā |
viṣaṇṇāstava sodaryāstvayi prāyaṃ samāsthite |
uttiṣṭha vraja bhadraṃ te samāśvāsaya sodarān || 37 ||

3.238.38

rājannadyāvagacchāmi taveha laghusattvatām |
kimatra citraṃ yadvīra mokṣitaḥ pāṇḍavairasi |
sadyo vaśaṃ samāpannaḥ śatrūṇāṃ śatrukarśana || 38 ||

"Kama continued, 'O king, this conduct of thine to-day appeareth to be childish. O hero, O slayer of foes, what is to be wondered at in this that the Pandavas liberated thee when thou wert vanquished by the foe? O son of the Kuru race, those that reside in the territories of the king, especially those (amongst them) that lead the profession of arms, should always do what is agreeable to the king whether they happen to be known to their monarch or unknown to him. It happened often that foremost men who crush the ranks of the hostile host, are vanquished by them, and are rescued by their own troops. They that leading the profession of arms, reside in the king's realm should always combine and exert themselves to the best of their power, for the king. If, therefore, O king, the Pandavas, who live in the territories, have liberated thee, what is there to be regretted at in this? That the Pandavas, O best of kings, did not follow thee when thou didst march forth to battle at the head of thy troops, has been an improper act on their part. They had before this come under thy power, becoming thy slaves. They are, therefore, bound to aid thee now, being endued with courage and might and incapable of turning away from the field of battle. Thou art enjoying all the rich possessions of the Pandavas. Behold them yet alive, O king! They have not resolved to die, forgoing all food. Blest be thou! Rise up, O king! It behoveth thee not to indulge in great sorrow long. O king, it is the certain duty of those that reside in the king's realm to do what is agreeable to the king. Where should the regret be in all this? If thou, O king, dost not act according to my words I shall stay here employed in reverentially serving thy feet. O bull among men, I do not desire to live deprived of thy company. O king, if thou resolvest to slay thyself by forgoing food, thou wilt simply be an object of laughter with other kings."

"Kama continued, 'O king, this conduct of thine to-day appeareth to be childish. O hero, O slayer of foes, what is to be wondered at in this that the Pandavas liberated thee when thou wert vanquished by the foe? O son of the Kuru race, those that reside in the territories of the king, especially those (amongst them) that lead the profession of arms, should always do what is agreeable to the king whether they happen to be known to their monarch or unknown to him. It happened often that foremost men who crush the ranks of the hostile host, are vanquished by them, and are rescued by their own troops. They that leading the profession of arms, reside in the king's realm should always combine and exert themselves to the best of their power, for the king. If, therefore, O king, the Pandavas, who live in the territories, have liberated thee, what is there to be regretted at in this? That the Pandavas, O best of kings, did not follow thee when thou didst march forth to battle at the head of thy troops, has been an improper act on their part. They had before this come under thy power, becoming thy slaves. They are, therefore, bound to aid thee now, being endued with courage and might and incapable of turning away from the field of battle. Thou art enjoying all the rich possessions of the Pandavas. Behold them yet alive, O king! They have not resolved to die, forgoing all food. Blest be thou! Rise up, O king! It behoveth thee not to indulge in great sorrow long. O king, it is the certain duty of those that reside in the king's realm to do what is agreeable to the king. Where should the regret be in all this? If thou, O king, dost not act according to my words I shall stay here employed in reverentially serving thy feet. O bull among men, I do not desire to live deprived of thy company. O king, if thou resolvest to slay thyself by forgoing food, thou wilt simply be an object of laughter with other kings."

Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana, firmly resolved to leave the world, desired not to rise from where he sat."

3.238.39

senājīvaiśca kauravya tathā viṣayavāsibhiḥ |
ajñātairyadi vā jñātaiḥ kartavyaṃ nṛpateḥ priyam || 39 ||

3.238.40

prāyaḥ pradhānāḥ puruṣāḥ kṣobhayantyarivāhinīm |
nigṛhyante ca yuddheṣu mokṣyante ca svasainikaiḥ || 40 ||

3.238.41

senājīvāśca ye rājñāṃ viṣaye santi mānavāḥ |
taiḥ saṃgamya nṛpārthāya yatitavyaṃ yathātatham || 41 ||

3.238.42

yadyevaṃ pāṇḍavai rājanbhavadviṣayavāsibhiḥ |
yadṛcchayā mokṣito'dya tatra kā paridevanā || 42 ||

3.238.43

na caitatsādhu yadrājanpāṇḍavāstvāṃ nṛpottama |
svasenayā saṃprayāntaṃ nānuyānti sma pṛṣṭhataḥ || 43 ||

3.238.44

śūrāśca balavantaśca saṃyugeṣvapalāyinaḥ |
bhavataste sabhāyāṃ vai preṣyatāṃ pūrvamāgatāḥ || 44 ||

3.238.45

pāṇḍaveyāni ratnāni tvamadyāpyupabhuñjase |
sattvasthānpāṇḍavānpaśya na te prāyamupāviśan |
uttiṣṭha rājanbhadraṃ te na cintāṃ kartumarhasi || 45 ||

3.238.46

avaśyameva nṛpate rājño viṣayavāsibhiḥ |
priyāṇyācaritavyāni tatra kā paridevanā || 46 ||

3.238.47

madvākyametadrājendra yadyevaṃ na kariṣyasi |
sthāsyāmīha bhavatpādau śuśrūṣannarimardana || 47 ||

3.238.48

notsahe jīvitumahaṃ tvadvihīno nararṣabha |
prāyopaviṣṭastu nṛpa rājñāṃ hāsyo bhaviṣyasi || 48 ||

3.238.49

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
evamuktastu karṇena rājā duryodhanastadā |
naivotthātuṃ manaścakre svargāya kṛtaniścayaḥ || 49 ||

Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana, firmly resolved to leave the world, desired not to rise from where he sat."