03.229
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then King Duryodhana, while dwelling in various places in the forest, went all around to the herdsmen's settlements and there established his camp. (03-229-1)
In that delightful and famed region, furnished with water and trees and endowed with all virtues, the men made their dwelling. (03-229-2)
Likewise, all those who were near, those in separate dwellings, many belonging to Karṇa, to Śakuni, and all the brothers (were present). (03-229-3)
Then he saw cows by the hundreds, and thousands, and by identifying marks and by lakhs; the king observed all of them. (03-229-4)
She placed the calves in her lap and was born among those who had come near you; she also detained those cows who had young calves. (03-229-5)
Then, after recalling and observing three years, he, surrounded by cowherds and pleased, conducted himself, O descendant of Kuru. (03-229-6)
He and all the citizens, together with thousands of soldiers, sported in that forest as delightedly as the gods. (03-229-7)
Thereafter, the cowherds and skilled singers adept in dance and music approached Dhritarashtra, and the well-adorned maidens too. (03-229-8)
The king, delighted and surrounded by women, gave wealth and offered them foods and various kinds of drinks according to their worth. (03-229-9)
Then all of them together drove away the jackals, buffaloes, deer, wild oxen, bears, and boars from all sides. (03-229-10)
He pierced those elephants with arrows and bound them in the great forest, and indeed had the deer caught in beautiful places. (03-229-11)
O Bhārata, consuming fresh cow's milk and various enjoyments, he beheld the exceedingly beautiful blooming forests. (03-229-12)
He, like Mahendra the wielder of the thunderbolt, endowed with supreme prosperity, went in succession to the holy lake in Dwaita forest, filled with intoxicated bees and the cries of peacocks. (03-229-13)
By his own will, O best of Kurus, the son of Dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira, then indeed performed the royal sage's sacrifice at once, O lord of men, with the divine ritual method and forest produce. (03-229-14)
The wise king, descendant of Kuru, established a dwelling around that lake together with his lawful wife Draupadī. (03-229-15)
Then Duryodhana, joined by his brothers, ordered the messengers, saying, "Quickly have the sporting halls prepared," O Bhārata. (03-229-16)
They, having replied to Kauravya with 'so be it' and being obedient to his command, wishing then to engage in play, went to the lake in the Dvaita forest. (03-229-17)
The vanguard of Dhritarashtra's army, having arrived at the lake in Dwaita forest and entering at the forest gate, was prevented by the Gandharvas. (03-229-18)
There, O king, the king of the Gandharvas, having come earlier from Kubera's abode, arrived surrounded by attendants. (03-229-19)
That lake was filled for sport by groups of apsarases as well as the sons of the gods who enjoyed amusement. (03-229-20)
O king, having seen that place covered by him, those royal attendants went from there to where Duryodhana, the king, was. (03-229-21)
But he, O Kauravya, having heard their words, sent forth the soldiers who were mad with the pride of battle, saying, "Drive them away." (03-229-22)
Having heard his speech, the king's army leaders went to the Dwaita forest lake and said this to the Gandharvas. (03-229-23)
King Duryodhana, son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, strong and desiring conquest, is approaching here; move away for that purpose. (03-229-24)
Thus, O lord of men, when addressed, the gandharvas laughed and replied to those men with these very harsh words. (03-229-25)
The king, dull-minded Suyodhana, does not understand you, who commands us in this way as if we were controllable like the gods. (03-229-26)
You, who wish for death and are of dull intellect, there is no doubt; those who, from his words, thus address us are indeed lacking in understanding. (03-229-27)
All of you go quickly to the place where the king, the Kaurava, is; do not go today to the residence of Dharmaraja, which is hateful. (03-229-28)
Thus, having been addressed by the Gandharvas, the king's vanguard fled, so the king, son of Dhritarashtra, was left behind. (03-229-29)
