And thou wilt behold Siva, tall and white as the Kailasa
cliff and seated on his bull, gazing unceasingly towards
the direction (south) presided over by the king of
the Pitris. Even this will be the dream thou
wilt dream today, O king of kings. Do not grieve
for dreaming such a dream. None can rise superior
to the influence of Time. Blest be thou!
I will now proceed towards the Kailasa mountain.
Rule thou the earth with vigilance and steadiness,
patiently bearing every privation!’”
Vaisampayana continued,—“Having said
this, the illustrious and island-born Vyasa of dark
hue, accompanied by his disciples ever following the
dictates of the Vedas, proceeded towards Kailasa.
And after the grand-father had thus gone away, the
king afflicted with anxiety and grief, began to think
continuously upon what the Rishi hath said. And
he said to himself, ’Indeed what the Rishi hath
said must come to pass. We will succeed in warding
off the fates by exertion alone?’ Then Yudhishthira
endued with great energy addressing all his brothers,
said, ’Ye tigers among men, ye have heard what
the island-born Rishi hath told me. Having heard
the words of the Rishi, I have arrived at this firm
resolution viz., that I should die, as I am ordained
to be the cause of the destruction of all Kshatriyas.
Ye my dear ones, if Time hath intended so what need
is there for me to live?’ Hearing these words
of the king, Arjuna replied, ’O king, yield
not thyself to this terrible depression that is destructive
of reason. Mustering fortitude, O great king,
do what would be beneficial.’ Yudhishthira
then, firm in truth, thinking all the while of Dwaipayana’s
words answered his brothers thus,—’Blest
be ye. Listen to my vow from this day. For
thirteen years, what ever purpose have I to live for,
I shall not speak a hard word to my brothers or to
any of the kings of the earth. Living under the
command of my relatives, I shall practise virtue,
exemplifying my vow. If I live in this way, making
no distinction between my own children and others,
there will be no disagreement (between me and others).
It is disagreement that is the cause of war in the
world. Keeping war at a distance, and ever doing
what is agreeable to others, evil reputation will
not be mine in the world, ye bulls among men.
Hearing these words of their eldest brother, the Pandavas,
always engaged in doing what was agreeable to him,
approved of them. And Yudhishthira the just,
having pledged so, along with his brothers in the
midst of that assembly, gratified his priests as also
the gods with due ceremonies. And, O bull of
the Bharata race, after all the monarchs had gone
away, Yudhishthira along with his brothers, having
performed the usual auspicious rites, accompanied by
his ministers entered his own palace. And, O
ruler of men, king Duryodhana and Sakuni, the son
of Suvala, continued to dwell in that delightful assembly
house.
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