of mighty energy in the very presence of the Kuru
chiefs. I am sure he will reap the fruit of that
behaviour, for Vrikodara, provoked by a foe, knoweth
no peace. Indeed, once provoked, Bhima forgets
it not for a long while, even until that grinder of
foes exterminates the enemy and his allies. The
loss of kingdom did not grieve me; the defeat at dice
did not grieve me. That the illustrious and beautiful
princess of Panchala was dragged into the assembly
while clad in a single raiment and made to hear bitter
words grieved me most. What, O Krishna, could
be a greater grief to me? Alas, ever devoted
to Kshatriya customs and endued with great beauty,
the princess, while ill, underwent that cruel treatment,
and though possessing powerful protectors was then
as helpless as if she had none. O slayer of Madhu,
having thee and that foremost of all mighty persons,
Rama, and that mighty car-warrior Pradyumna for me
and my children’s protectors and having, O foremost
of men, my sons the invincible Bhima and the unretreating
Vijaya both alive, that I had still such grief to
bear is certainly strange!’
“Vaisampayana continued, ’Thus addressed
by her, Sauri the friend of Partha, then comforted
his paternal aunt, Pritha, afflicted with grief on
account of her sons. And Vasudeva said, ’What
woman is there, O aunt, in the world who is like thee?
The daughter of king Surasena, thou art, by marriage,
admitted into Ajamida’s race. High-born
and highly married, thou art like a lotus transplanted
from one mighty lake into another. Endued with
every prosperity and great good fortune, thou wert
adored by thy husband. The wife of hero, thou
hast again given birth to heroic sons. Possessed
of every virtue, and endued with great wisdom, it
behoveth thee to bear with patience, both happiness
and misery. Overcoming sleep and langour, and
wrath and joy, and hunger and thirst, and cold and
heat, thy children are always in the enjoyment of that
happiness, which, as heroes, should by theirs.
Endued with great exertion and great might, thy sons,
without affecting the comforts derivable from the
senses such as satisfy only the low and the mean, always
pursue that happiness which as heroes they should.
Nor are they satisfied like little men having mean
desires. They that are wise enjoy or suffer the
same of whatever enjoyable or sufferable, Indeed,
ordinary persons, affecting comforts that satisfy
the low and the mean, desire an equable state of dullness,
without excitement of any kind. They, however,
that are superior, desire either the acutest of human
suffering or the highest of all enjoyments that is
given to man. The wise always delight in extremes.
They find no pleasure betwixt; they regard the extreme
to be happiness, while that which lies between is
regarded by them as misery. The Pandavas with
Krishna saluteth thee through me. Representing
themselves to be well, they have enquired after thy
welfare. Thou wilt soon behold them become the
lords of the whole world, with their foe slain, and
themselves invested with prosperity.’
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