he had only, protected Sikhandin while Sikhandin became the cause of the illustrious Bhishma’s death.  Having got thee that is condemned by all righteous men, and thy brother, amongst them, the Panchalas have fallen off from righteousness, and stained with meanness, have become haters of friends and preceptors.  If thou again speakest such words in my presence, I shall then break with this mace of mine that is as strong as the thunderbolt.  Beholding thee that art the slayer of a Brahmana, since thou art guilty of nothing less than the slaughter of a Brahmana., people have to look at the sun for purifying themselves.  Thou wretch of a Panchala, O thou of wicked conduct, speaking all of my preceptor first and then of my preceptor’s preceptor, art thou not ashamed?[265] Wait, wait!  Bear thou but one stroke of this my mace!  I myself will bear many strokes of thine.’  Thus rebuked by the Satwata hero, Prishata’s son, filled with rage, smilingly addressed the angry Satyaki in these harsh words.’

“Dhrishtadyumna said, ’I have heard thy words, O thou of Madhu’s race, but I have forgiven thee.  Being thyself unrighteous and sinful, desirest thou to rebuke them that are righteous and honest?  Forgiveness is applauded in the world.  Sin, however, does not deserve forgiveness.  He that is of sinful soul regards the forgiving person powerless.  Thou art a wretch in thy behaviour.  Thou art of sinful soul.  Thou art wedded to unrighteousness.  Thou art censurable in every respect, from the tip of thy toe to the end of their hair.  Desirest thou still to speak ill of others?  What can be more sinful than that act of thine, viz., thy slaughter of the armless Bhurisravas while sitting in Praya, although thou wert with the aid of celestial weapons.  He had laid aside his weapons and I slew him.  O thou of crooked heart, what is there in that act that is improper?  How can he, O Satyaki, blame such an act who himself has in Praya like an ascetic, and whose arms had been cut off by another?  That valiant enemy of thine had displayed his prowess having struck thee with his foot and thrown thee down on the earth.  Why didst thou not then slay him, showing thy manliness?  When Partha, however, had already vanquished him, it was then that thou, acting most unrighteously, didst kill the brave and valiant Somadatta’s son.  When Drona had sought to rout the forces of the Pandavas, then I proceeded, shooting thousands of arrows.  Having thyself acted in such a way, like a Chandala, and having thyself become worthy of reproach, desirest thou to reproach me in such harsh words?  Thou art a perpetrator of evil deeds, and not I, O wretch the Vrishni race!  Thou art the abode of all sinful deeds.  Do not again blame me.  Be silent.  It behoveth thee.  Don’t say anything unto me after this.  This is the reply I give thee with my lips.  Don’t say anything more.  If, from folly, thou repeatest such harsh words, I shall then, in battle, despatch thee, with my arrows, to Yama’s abode.  By