by being addressed as ‘thou,’ is killed though not deprived of life.  Bear thyself thus, O son of Kunti, towards king Yudhishthira, the just.  Adopt this censurable behaviour, O perpetuator of Kuru’s race!  This best audition of all auditions, hath been declared by both Atharvan and Angiras.  Men desiring good should always act in this way without scruples of any kind.  Without being deprived of life a superior is yet said to be killed if that venerable one is addressed as ‘thou.’  Conversant with duty as thou art, address king Yudhishthira the just, in the manner I have indicated.  This death, O son of Pandu, at thy hands, king Yudhishthira will never regard as an offence committed by thee.  Having addressed him in this way, thou mayst then worship his feet and speak words of respect unto this son of Pritha and soothe his wounded honour.  Thy brother is wise.  The royal son of Pandu, therefore, will never be angry with thee.  Freed from falsehood as also from fratricide, thou wilt then, O Partha, cheerfully slay the Suta’s son Karna!"’”

70

“Sanjaya said, ’Thus addressed by Janardana, Pritha’s son Arjuna, applauding those counsels of his friend, then vehemently addressed king Yudhishthira the just, in language that was harsh and the like of which he had never used before.

“’Arjuna said, “Do thou not, O king, address these upbraidings to me, thou that art passing thy time full two miles away from battle.  Bhima, however, who is battling with the foremost heroes of the world may upbraid me.  Having afflicted his foes at the proper time in battle, and slain many brave lords of earth and many foremost of car-warriors and huge elephants and many heroic horsemen and countless brave combatants, he hath, in addition, slain a 1,000 elephants and 10,000 Kamboja mountaineers, and is uttering loud roars in battle like a lion after slaying innumerable smaller animals.  That hero achieveth the most difficult feats, the like of which thou canst never achieve.  Jumping down from his car, mace in hand, he hath destroyed a large number of steeds and cars and elephants in battle.  With also his foremost of swords he hath destroyed many horsemen and cars and steeds and elephants.  With the broken limbs of cars, and with his bow also, he consumeth his foes.  Endued with the prowess of Indra, with his feet and also his bare arms he slayeth numerous foes.  Possessed of great might and resembling Kuvera and Yama, he destroyeth the hostile army, putting forth his strength.  That Bhimasena hath the right to upbraid me, but not thou that art always protected by friends.  Agitating the foremost of car-warriors and elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers, Bhima, single-handed, is now in the midst of the Dhartarashtras.  That chastiser of foes hath the right to upbraid me.  The chastiser of foes who is slaying the Kalingas, the Vangas, the Angas, the Nishadas, and the Magadhas, and large numbers of hostile elephants that are ever infuriated and that look like masses of blue clouds,