is acquainted with truths of causes (and effects)
would wish to have even heavenly prosperity?[14] Insignificant
kings, having performed diverse acts relating to the
diverse means of kingcraft (known by the means of
conciliation, gift, &c.) often slay a king through
some contrivance. Reflecting on these circumstances,
this nectar of wisdom hath come to me. Having
attained it, I desire to get a permanent, eternal,
and unchangeable place (for myself). Always (conducting
myself) with such wisdom and acting in this way, I
shall, by betaking myself to that fearless path of
life, terminate this physical frame that is subject
to birth, death, decrepitude, disease, and pain.’”
Bhimasena said, “Thy understanding, O king,
has become blind to the truth, like that of a foolish
and unintelligent reciter of the Veda in consequence
of his repeated recitation of those scriptures.
If censuring the duties of kings thou wouldst lead
a life of idleness, then, O bull of Bharata’s
race, this destruction of the Dhartarashtras was perfectly
uncalled for. Are forgiveness and compassion and
pity and abstention from injury not to be found in
anybody walking along the path of Kshatriya duties?
If we Knew that this was thy intention, we would then
have never taken up arms and slain a single creature.
We would then have lived by mendicancy till the destruction
of this body. This terrible battle between the
rulers of the earth would also have never taken place.
The learned have said this all that we see is food
for the strong. Indeed, this mobile and immobile
world is our object of enjoyment for the person that
is strong. Wise men acquainted with Kshatriya
duties have declared that they who stand in the way
of the person taking the sovereignty of the earth,
should be slain. Guilty of that fault, those that
stood as enemies of our kingdom have all been slain
by us. Having slain them, O Yudhishthira, righteously
govern this earth. This our act (in refusing
the kingdom) is like that of a person who having dug
a well stops in his work before obtaining water and
comes up smutted with mire. Or, this our act
is like that of a person who having climbed up a tall
tree and taken honey there from meets with death before
tasting it. Or, it is like that of a person who
having set out on a long way comes back in despair
without having reached his destination. Or, it
is like that of a person who having slain all his
foes, O thou of Kuru’s race, at last Falls by
his own hand. Or, it is like that of a person
afflicted with hunger, who having obtained food, refuses
to take it, or of a person under the influence of
desire, who having obtained a woman reciprocating his
passion, refuses to meet with her. We have become
objects of censure, O Bharata, because, O king, we
follow thee that art of feeble understanding, in consequence
of thyself being our eldest brother. We are possessed
of mighty arms; we are accomplished in knowledge and
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