why, O king, dost thou not feel indignant?  I grieve, O Bharata, that thy wrath doth not blaze up at sight of that son of Pritha in exile, that prince who deserveth not such distress and who hath been brought up in every luxury!  Why doth not thy wrath blaze up at sight of that Arjuna in exile, who, on a single car, hath vanquished celestials and men and serpents?  Why, O king, doth not thy wrath blaze up at sight of that Arjuna in exile who, honoured with offerings of cars and vehicles of various forms and horses and elephants, forcibly took from the kings of the earth their treasures, who is the chastiser of all foes, and who at one impetus can throw full five hundred arrows?  Why, O king, doth not thy wrath blaze up at sight of Nakula, in exile, who so fair and able-bodied and young, is the foremost of all swordsmen?  Why, O king, dost thou pardon the foe, O Yudhishthira, at sight of Madri’s son, the handsome and brave Sahadeva in exile?  Why doth not thy anger blaze up, O king, it sight of both Nakula and Sahadeva overwhelmed with grief, though so undeserving of distress?  Why also, O king, dost thou pardon the foe at sight of myself in exile who, born in the race of Drupada and, therefore, the sister of Dhrishtadyumna, am the daughter-in-law of the illustrious Pandu and the devoted wife of heroes?  Truly, O thou best of the Bharatas, thou hast no anger, else why is it that thy mind is not moved at sight of thy brothers and myself (in such distress)?  It is said that there is no Kshatriya in the world who is bereft of anger.  I now behold in thee, however, a refutation of the proverb!  That Kshatriya, O son of Pritha, who discovereth not his energy when the opportunity cometh, is ever disregarded by all creatures!  Therefore, O king, thou shouldst not extend thy forgiveness to the foe.  Indeed, with thy energy, without doubt, thou mayst slay them all!  So also, O king, that Kshatriya who is not appeased when the time for forgiveness cometh, becometh unpopular with every creature and meeteth with destruction both in this and the other world!’”

SECTION XXVIII

“Draupadi continued, ’On this subject, the ancient story of the conversation between Prahlada and Vali, the son of Virochana, is quoted as an example.  One day Vali asked his grand-father Prahlada, the chief of the Asuras and the Danavas, possessed of great wisdom and well-versed in the mysteries of the science of duty, saying, “O sire, is forgiveness meritorious or might and energy such?  I am puzzled as regards this; O sire, enlighten me who ask thee this!  O thou conversant with all duties, tell me truly which of these is meritorious?  I will strictly obey whatever thy command may be!” Thus asked (by Vali), his wise grandfather, conversant with every conclusion, replied upon the whole subject unto his grand-son who had sought at his hands the resolution of his doubts.  And Prahlada said, “Know, O child, these two truths with certainty, viz.,