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.

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Having said this, king Duryodhana laughed aloud.  And addressing Uluka again, he said, ’Say once more unto Dhananjaya in the bearing of Vasudeva these words, viz.,—­O hero, either vanquishing us rule thou this world, or vanquished by us lie thou down on the field (deprived of life)!  Recalling to thy mind the sufferings occasioned by your banishment from the kingdom, the woes of your sojourn in the woods, and ’he affliction of Krishna, be a man, O son of Pandu!  That for which a Kshatriya lady bringeth forth a son is now arrived!  Displaying, therefore, in battle, thy might, energy, courage, manliness, and great dexterity and speed in the use of weapons, appease thy wrath!  Afflicted with woe, and dispirited and exiled (from home) for a long time, and driven from his kingdom, who is there whose heart would not break?  Who is there, well-born, and brave, and uncovetous of other’s wealth, that would not have his wrath excited when his kingdom descending from generation to generation is attacked?  Realise in deeds those high words that thou hadst said!  One that only boasts without being able to do anything is regarded as a worthless man by those that are good.  Recover thy kingdom and those possessions that are now owned by thy foes!  Even these two are the purposes which a person desirous of war hath in view.  Exert, therefore, thy manliness!  Thou wert won (as a slave) at dice!  Krishna was caused by us to be brought into the assembly!  One that regardeth himself a man should certainly display his wrath at this!  For twelve long years hadst thou been exiled from home into the woods, and one whole year hadst thou passed in Virata’s service!  Remembering the pangs of banishment from the kingdom and of thy sojourn in the woods, as also those which Krishna had suffered, be thou a man!  Display thy wrath towards those that repeatedly utter harsh words at thee and thy brothers! indeed, wrath (such as that) would consist in manliness!  Let thy anger, thy might and prowess, and knowledge, and thy lightness of hand in the use of weapons, be exhibited?  Fight, O son of Pritha, and prove to be a man!  The incantations in respect of all thy weapons have been performed.  The field of Kurukshetra is free from mire.  Thy steeds are hale and strong.  Thy soldiers have received their pay.  With Kesava, therefore, as (thy) second, fight (with us)!  Without encountering Bhishma as yet, why dost thou indulge in such boasts?  Like a fool, who, without having ascended the Gandhamadana mountains, boasts (of his would-be feat), thou, O son of Kunti, art indulging in a similar bragging, be a man!  Without having vanquished in battle the invincible Karna of the Suta race, or Salya, that foremost of persons, or Drona, the first of all mighty warriors and equal unto the lord of Sachi in battle, how canst thou, O Partha, covet for thy kingdom?  He that is a preceptor of both Vedic lore and bowmanship, he that hath crossed both those branches of learning, he that is foremost

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