O represser of foes, thou hast fallen into this state
along with ourselves. Alas, we also are lost with
thee for this calamity of thine. Therefore, ascending
in thy car furnished with every implement, and making
the superior Brahmanas utter benedictions on thee,
march thou with speed, even this very day, upon Hastinapura,
in order that thou mayst be able to give unto Brahmanas
the spoils of victory. Surrounded by thy brothers,
who are firm wielders of the bow, and by heroes skilled
in weapons and like unto snakes of virulent poison,
set thou out even like the slayer Vritra surounded
by the Marutas. And, O son of Kunti, as thou
art powerful, grind thou with thy might thy weak enemies,
like Indra grinding the Asuras; and snatch thou from
Dhritarashtra’s son the prosperity he enjoyeth.
There is no mortal that can bear the touch of the
shafts furnished with the feathers of the vulture
and resembling snakes of virulent poison, that would
be shot from the Gandiva. And, O Bharata, there
is not a warrior, nor an elephant, nor a horse, that
is able to bear the impetus of my mace when I am angry
in battle. Why, O son of Kunti, should we not
wrest our kingdom from the foe, fighting with the
aid of the Srinjayas and Kaikeyas, and the bull of
the Vrishni race? Why, O king, should we not succeed
in wresting the (sovereignty of the) earth that is
now in the hands of the foe, if, aided by a large
force, we do but strive?”
Vaisampayana said, “Thus addressed by Bhimasena,
the high-souled king Ajatasatru firmly devoted to
truth, mustering his patience, after a few moments
said these words, ’No doubt, O Bharata, all this
is true. I cannot reproach thee for thy torturing
me thus by piercing me with thy arrowy words.
From my folly alone hath this calamity come against
you. I sought to cast the dice desiring to snatch
from Dhritarashtra’s son his kingdom with the
sovereignty. It was therefore that, that cunning
gambler—Suvala’s son—played
against me on behalf of Suyodhana. Sakuni, a
native of the hilly country, is exceedingly artful.
Casting the dice in the presence of the assembly,
unacquainted as I am with artifices of any kind, he
vanquished me artfully. It is, therefore, O Bhimasena,
that we have been overwhelmed with this calamity.
Beholding the dice favourable to the wishes of Sakuni
in odds and evens, I could have controlled my mind.
Anger, however, driveth off a person’s patience.
O child, the mind cannot be kept under control when
it is influenced by hauteur, vanity, or pride.
I do not reproach thee, O Bhimasena, for the words
thou usest. I only regard that what hath befallen
us was pre-ordained. When king Duryodhana, the
son of Dhritarashtra, coveting our kingdom, plunged
us into misery and even slavery, then, O Bhima, it
was Draupadi that rescued us. When summoned again
to the assembly for playing once more, thou knowest
as well as Arjuna what Dhritarashtra’s son told
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