The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,393 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,393 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2.
warrior, is without doubt, conformable to Vasudeva’s counsels.  Such an act does not suit one like thee.  Who else, unless he were a friend of Krishna’s, would inflict such a wrong upon lone that is heedlessly engaged with another in battle?  The Vrishnis and the Andhakas are bad Kshatriyas, ever engaged in sinful deeds, and are, by nature, addicted to disreputable behaviour.  Why, O Partha, hast thou taken them as model?  Thus addressed in battle, Partha replied unto Bhurisravas, saying, ’It is evident that with the decrepitude of the body one’s intellect also becomes decrepit, since, O lord, all those senseless words have been uttered by thee.  Although thou knowest Hrishikesa and myself well, how is it that thou rebukest us thus?  Knowing as I do the rules of battle and conversant as I am with the meaning of all the scriptures, I would never do an act that is sinful.  Knowing this well, thou rebukest me yet.  The Kshatriyas fight with their foes, surrounded by their own followers, their brothers, sires, sons, relatives, kinsmen, companions, and friends.  These also fight, relying on the (strength of) arms of those they follow.  Why, then, should I not protect Satyaki, my disciple and dear kinsman, who is fighting for our sake in this battle, regardless of life itself, that is so difficult of being laid down.[169] Invincible in fight, Satyaki, O king, is my right arm in battle.  One should not protect one’s own self only, when one goes to battle, he, O king, who is engaged in the business of another should be protected (by that other).  Such men being protected, the king is protected in press of battle.  If I had calmly beheld Satyaki on the point of being slain in great battle (and had not interfered for saying him), sin would, then, owing to Satyaki’s death, have been mine, for such negligence!  Why then dost thou become angry with me for my having protected Satyaki?  Thou rebukest me, O king, saying, ’Though engaged with another, I have yet been maimed by thee.’  In that matter, I answer, I judged wrongly.  Sometimes shaking my armour; sometimes riding on my car, sometimes drawing the bow-string, I was fighting with my enemies in the midst of a host resembling the vast deep, teeming with cars and elephants and abounding with steeds and foot-soldiers and echoing with fierce leonine shouts.  Amongst friends and foes engaged with one another, how could it be possible that the Satwata warrior was engaged with only one person in battle?  Having fought with many and vanquished many mighty car-warriors, Satyaki had been tired.  He himself, afflicted with weapons, had become cheerless.  Having, under such circumstances, vanquished the mighty car-warrior, Satyaki, and brought him under thy control, thou soughtest to display thy superiority.  Thou. hadst desired to cut off, with thy sword, the head of Satyaki in battle.  I could not possibly behold with indifference Satyaki reduced to that strait.[170] Thou shouldst rather rebuke thy own self, since thou didst not take care of thyself (when seeking to injure another).  Indeed, O hero, how wouldst thou have behaved towards one who is thy dependant?’

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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.