Dhananjaya the son of Pandu.  Even the wielder himself of the thunderbolt cannot,—­other bowmen are hardly worth mention.  My belief is that he is a match for all the three worlds!’ And while Bhishma was thus speaking, Karna wrathfully and insolently interrupted his words, and looking at Duryodhana said, ’There is no creature in the world, O Brahmana, who is not informed of all these facts.  What is the good of repeating them again and again?  On behalf of Duryodhana, Sakuni formerly won in game of dice.  Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu went to the woods according to a stipulation.  He is now paying no regard to that stipulation, but confident of aid from the Matsyas and Panchalas, he wisheth to get back his ancestral throne.  O learned man, Duryodhana would not yield even a single foot of land if thou appealest to his fears, but if justice requires, he would give up the whole earth even to a foe.  If they wish to get back their ancestral throne, they should pass the specified period of time in the forest as had been stipulated.  Afterwards let them live as the dependants of Duryodhana, safe and sound.  From dull-headedness, however, let them not turn their mind towards an absolutely unrighteous course.  If, nevertheless, abandoning the path of virtue, they desire war, then when they encounter in battle these praise-worthy Kurus, they will remember these my words.’

“Bhishma said, ’What is the use of thy talking, O Radha’s son?  Thou shouldst remember that occasion when Pritha’s son, single-handed, over-powered in battle six car-warriors.  If we do not act as this Brahmana hath said, to be sure, we shall be all slain by him in battle!”

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Then Dhritarashtra pacified Bhishma with words of entreaty, rebuked the son of Radha, and spoke the following words, What Bhishma, Santanu’s son, hath said is salutary for us, as also for the Pandavas, and likewise for the whole universe.  I shall, however, after deliberation, send Sanjaya to the sons of Pandu.  So thou needst not wait.  Go thou to the son of Pandu this very day.’  The Kaurava chief then honoured Drupada’s priest and sent him back to the Pandavas.  And summoning Sanjaya to the council-hall, he addressed him in the following words.”

SECTION XXII

“Dhritarashtra said, ’They say, O Sanjaya, that the Pandavas have arrived at Upaplavya.  Go thou and enquire after them.  Thou must greet Ajatasatru in the following words, ’By good luck it is that (emerged from the woods) thou hast reached such a city.  And to all of them thou must say, O Sanjaya, these words.  Are ye well, having spent that harassing period of sojourn, ye who were unworthy of such harassment?’ In no time will they be appeased towards us, for though treated treacherously (by foes), yet they are righteous and good.  In no case, O Sanjaya, have I ever met with any untruthfulness on the part of the Pandavas.  It was by their own