men that were in that assembly began to say,—’Alas!
the Kauravas answer not the question that hath been
put to them by Draupadi. And all censuring Dhritarashtra
together, made a loud clamour. Then Vidura, that
master of the science of morality, waving his hands
and silencing every one, spake these words;—’Ye
that are in this assembly, Draupadi having put her
question is weeping helplessly. Ye are not answering
her. Virtue and morality are being persecuted
by such conduct. An afflicted person approacheth
an assembly of good men, like one that is being consumed
by fire. They that are in the assembly quench
that fire and cool him by means of truth and morality.
The afflicted person asketh the assembly about his
rights, as sanctioned by morality. They that are
in the assembly should, unmoved by interest and anger,
answer the question. Ye kings, Vikarna hath answered
the question, according to his own knowledge and judgment.
Ye should also answer it as ye think proper. Knowing
the rules of morality, and having attended an assembly,
he that doth not answer a query that is put, incurreth
half the demerit that attacheth to a lie. He,
on the other hand, who, knowing the rules of morality
and having joined an assembly answereth falsely, assuredly
incurreth the sin of a lie. The learned quote
as an example in this connection the old history of
Prahlada and the son of Angirasa.
“There was of old a chief of the Daityas of
the name Prahlada. He had a son named Virochana.
And Virochana, for the sake of obtaining a bride,
quarrelled with Sudhanwan, the son of Angiras.
It hath been heard by us that they mutually wagered
their lives, saying—I am superior,—I
am superior,—for the sake of obtaining
a bride. And after they had thus quarrelled with
each other, they both made Prahlada the arbitrator
to decide between them. And they asked him, saying;—Who
amongst us is superior (to the other)? Answer
this question. Speak not falsely. Frightened
at this quarrel, Prahlada cast his eyes upon Sudhanwan.
And Sudhanwan in rage, burning like unto the mace
of Yama, told him,—If thou answerest falsely,
or dost not answer at all thy head will then be split
into a hundred pieces by the wielder of the thunderbolt
with that bolt of his.—Thus addressed by
Sudhanwan, the Daitya, trembling like a leaf of the
fig tree, went to Kasyapa of great energy, for taking
counsel with him. And Prahlada said,—’Thou
art, O illustrious and exalted one, fully conversant
with the rules of morality that should guide both the
gods and the Asuras and the Brahmanas as well.
Here, however, is a situation of great difficulty
in respect of duty. Tell me, I ask thee, what
regions are obtainable by them who upon being asked
a question, answer it not, or answer it falsely.
Kasyapa thus asked answered.—’He that
knoweth, but answereth not a question from temptation,
anger or fear, casteth upon himself a thousand nooses
of Varuna. And the person who, cited as a witness
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