inlaid with gold.  And when those mighty heroes wearing shining ornaments and robes had set themselves down, that gorgeous assembly of kings looked beautiful like the firmament spangled with resplendent stars.  And those valiant men, assembled together, having conversed with one another upon various topics, remained for some time in a pensive mood, with their eyes fixed upon Krishna.  And at the end of their talk, Krishna drew their attention to the affairs of the Pandavas.  And those powerful kings together listened to Krishna’s speech, pregnant and lofty.  And Krishna said, It is known to you all, how this Yudhishthira was deceitfully defeated at dice by the son of Suvala, and how he was robbed of his kingdom and how a stipulation was made by him concerning his exile in the forest.  And capable as they were of conquering the earth by force, the sons of Pandu remained firm in their plighted faith.  And accordingly for six and seven years these incomparable men accomplished the cruel task imposed upon them.  And this last, the thirteenth year, was exceedingly hard for them to pass.  Yet unrecognised by any one they have passed it, as known to you, suffering unendurable hardships of various kinds.  This is known to you all.  These illustrious men have spent the thirteenth year, employed in menial service of others.  This being so, it is for you to consider what will be for the good of both Yudhishthira and Duryodhana, and what, as regards the Kurus and the Pandavas, will be consistent with the rules of righteousness and, propriety and what will meet with the approbation of all.  The virtuous king Yudhishthira would not unrighteously covet even the celestial kingdom.  But righteously he would accept the rule even of a single village.  How the sons of Dhritarashtra fraudulently robbed him of his paternal kingdom, and how he hath passed a life of unendurable hardships, are known to all the kings assembled here.  The sons of Dhritarashtra are incapable of overcoming by strength Arjuna, the son of Pritha.  Nevertheless, king Yudhishthira and his friends have no other desire than the good of Dhritarashtra’s son.  These brave sons of Kunti, and the two sons of Madri, ask for only what they themselves, achieving victory in battle, had won from the defeated kings.  You, no doubt, know full well how those enemies of the Pandavas—­with the object of possessing themselves of the kingdom, endeavoured by various means to destroy them, when they were yet mere boys.  So wicked and rancorous they were.  Consider, how grasping they are and how virtuous Yudhishthira is.  Consider also the relationship that exists between them.  I beseech you all to consult together and also think separately.  The Pandavas have always had a regard for truth.  They have fulfilled their promise to the very letter.  If now treated wrongfully by the sons of Dhritarashtra, they would slay them all though banded together.  They have friends, who, on being informed of their unworthy treatment at the hands of others, would stand by them,