02.068
Core: Bhima, Arjuna, Sahadeva and Nakula each owe to kill Kauravas, Karna, Shakuni and others.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Defeated, the sons of Pṛthā made up their minds to go to the forest; they took deerskins and upper garments in due order. (2-68-1)
When he saw the enemy-subduing princes, deprived of their kingdom, clad in deerskins and setting out for the forest, Duḥśāsana spoke thus. (2-68-2)
The wheel of power of Dhritarashtra's noble king has begun to turn; the sons of Pandu, having been defeated, have fallen into the greatest calamity. (2-68-3)
Today the gods have departed together by equal paths and places; those who are superior in qualities and elders are greater than us by others. (2-68-4)
O sons of Pṛthā, you are cast into hell for a long, endless time, deprived of happiness and kingdom, and ruined for countless ages. (2-68-5)
Those who, intoxicated by their strength, sought to deride the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—those Pāṇḍavas, now defeated and deprived of their wealth, will go to the forest. (2-68-6)
Let their variegated armours be removed, and let them put on divine, radiant garments; let all wear antelope-skins, so that they may approach the contest of Saubala (Shakuni). (2-68-7)
There are no men like these in the worlds; only those whose minds are always cultivated thus indeed. Today, these Pāṇḍavas will know the self; in reversal, they are like impotent, fruitless sesames. (2-68-8)
O Kaurava, this garment is indeed for such high-minded ones; it should not be for you. See the deerskins of the uninitiated, which belong to the stronger—behold those of the Pāṇḍavas. (2-68-9)
The greatly wise Somaka Yajñasena, by giving his daughter Pāñcālī to the Pāṇḍavas, did not commit any evil here; the sons of Pṛthā, husbands of Yājñasenī, are not impotent. (2-68-10)
Having seen the delicate garments and deerskins worn by the impoverished and homeless in the forest, what happiness will you find, O Yajñaseni? Choose as your husband here anyone else you wish. (2-68-11)
All these assembled Kurus are forbearing, self-controlled, and endowed with great wealth. Choose any one of them as your husband; let not this impropriety of time afflict you. (2-68-12)
Just as impotent sesame seeds are fruitless, and deer made of skin are not real, so too are all the Pāṇḍavas, just like even crow-barley. (2-68-13)
Why do you serve the fallen Pāṇḍavas? Your effort is in vain, like worshipping impotent sesame seeds. In this way, O son of Pṛthā, the cruel son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra did not utter such harsh words. (2-68-14)
Hearing that, Bhīmasena, filled with intense anger, rebuked him loudly, seized him in wrath, and suddenly, like a lion of the Himalayas confronting a jackal, spoke these words. (2-68-15)
Bhīmasena said.
You, associated with cruel and wicked people and having achieved nothing, speak arrogantly; indeed, with your Gandhara knowledge, you boast among kings. (2-68-16)
Just as you now wound us deeply with your words, so in battle I will remind you by cutting your vital spots. (2-68-17)
And those who, under the influence of desire and greed, follow you—those protectors and their associates—I will lead them to the abode of Yama. (2-68-18)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, as it was being spoken and driven away by skins, overwhelmed by sorrow, it danced about. In the midst of the Kurus, on the path bound by dharma, the cow, having cast off all shame, kept calling out, "Cow! Cow!" (2-68-19)
Bhīmasena said.
Duḥśāsana, having obtained wealth by deceit in an inhuman, harsh, and cruel manner by you, who indeed deserves to boast? (2-68-20)
Let neither Arjuna nor Bhīma attain the worlds of the virtuous, unless, having pierced your chest in battle, he drinks your blood. (2-68-21)
I tell you truly: Having slain the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra in battle, in the sight of all the bowmen, I will soon attain peace. (2-68-22)
Vaiśampāyana said.
As the Pāṇḍavas were leaving the assembly, Duryodhana, the foolish king, out of joy, playfully imitated the lion-like gait of Bhīmasena. (2-68-23)
Vṛkodara, his body half-withdrawn, said to him, "It is not accomplished by this alone." Quickly, having reminded you—slain with your followers—I will answer you, O deluded one. (2-68-24)
Seeing this insult to himself, Bhima, the strong and proud follower of the king, controlled his anger and, stepping forward in the Kaurava assembly, spoke these words. (2-68-25)
I am the slayer of Duryodhana and Karna, I am Dhananjaya; Sahadeva will slay Shakuni, the gambler with dice. (2-68-26)
I will once again declare these great words in the midst of the assembly: the gods will make true the battle that is to happen for us. (2-68-27)
I will kill this wicked Suyodhana with my mace in battle, and I will set his head on the ground with my foot. (2-68-28)
I will drink the blood of this harsh and wicked Duḥśāsana, who is only brave in words, just as a lion does. (2-68-29)
Arjuna said.
O Bhima, the resolve of the virtuous is not known by words alone; in the fourteenth year from now, observers will see what happens. (2-68-30)
The earth will drink the blood of Duryodhana, Karṇa, Śakuni the wicked-souled, Duḥśāsana, and the fourth among them. (2-68-31)
Those who envy, speak, and instigate the wicked—by the command of Bhīmasena, I am your slayer of Karṇa in battle. (2-68-32)
Arjuna, for the sake of Bhīma's cherished wish, declares: 'I will slay Karna and Karna's followers in battle with arrows.' (2-68-33)
And those other kings who, out of delusion of intellect, will fight against me—I shall lead all of them with sharp arrows to the abode of Yama. (2-68-34)
If the Himalaya were to move from its place, the sun would lose its radiance, and the moon would lose its coolness; only then would my truth waver. (2-68-35)
If Duryodhana does not give back the kingdom after these fourteen years, then this will certainly be the truth. (2-68-36)
Vaiśampāyana said.
When Pārtha had spoken thus, the illustrious son of Mādravatī, the valiant Sahadeva, seized his broad arm. (2-68-37)
Desiring to kill Saubala, he spoke these words, his eyes red with anger, breathing like a serpent. (2-68-38)
O deluded one, you imagine these to be the dice of the Gandharas, O destroyer of fame. But these are not dice; these are sharp arrows used by you in battle. (2-68-39)
Just as Bhīma has said to you and your kinsmen, 'I am the agent of that action,' so you should carry out all the tasks completely. (2-68-40)
I am your slayer by force in battle, having overcome you and your kinsmen. If you stand your ground in battle according to the duty of a warrior, O son of Subala. (2-68-41)
Hearing Sahadeva's words, Nakula, the most handsome among men, also addressed these words, O lord of the kings. (2-68-42)
In this game of dice, this daughter of Yajñasena was subjected to harsh words by the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who stood by, loyal to Duryodhana. (2-68-43)
I will show the greatest destruction by Yama to those ill-behaved sons of Dhritarashtra, who are impelled by Time and desire death. (2-68-44)
Obeying the command of Dharmarāja, I follow Draupadī's path; I will soon make the earth free from the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, without delay, as if immediately. (2-68-45)
Thus, all those strong-armed heroes, tigers among men, having made many vows, approached Dhritarashtra. (2-68-46)
