05.060
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
Upon hearing his father's words, Dhritarashtra's son, filled with intense anger, spoke again with great fury.
You think that the sons of Pritha, who are like the ministers of the gods, are impossible to defeat. Let go of that fear, O best of kings.
O Bhārata, the gods attained divinity by being free from desire, hatred, association, malice, greed, and by neglecting beings.
In ancient times, the sages Dvaipayana Vyasa, Narada, and Jamadagnya Rama narrated this story to us.
O best of the Bharatas, the gods do not behave like humans at any time, driven by desire, greed, compassion, or hatred.
If even the elements like fire and wind, along with dharma, Indra, and the Ashvins, were to act under the influence of desire, the sons of Pritha would not encounter sorrow.
Therefore, O Bharata, you should never worry, as these situations are always dependent on divine matters.
Now, if it is observed that due to desire, hatred, and greed, the authority of the gods is questioned, it will not overpower that authority among the gods.
Agni, enchanted by me, eternally praises and desires to consume all worlds, encircling them from every direction.
Know, O Bhārata, that my splendor is supreme and incomparable, even greater than that of the gods, by which they are endowed.
O king, while the world watches, I establish the shattered earth and mountain peaks by incantation.
A very terrible and great sound has arisen to destroy all that is conscious and unconscious, moving and immovable.
I constantly pacify the stone-rain and wind here, frequently observing the world out of compassion for all beings.
In the halted waters, the chariots and foot soldiers proceed by my command; I alone am the initiator of the beings of gods and demons.
I travel with armies to various regions for certain purposes. There, my waters flow wherever I wish.
O king, in my domain, there are no fearful things like serpents and others. Even when I am asleep, creatures do not harm the fearsome ones.
O king, the rain god showers abundant rain upon the subjects. All the people are righteous, and there are no calamities affecting me.
The Ashvins, along with Vayu, Agni, and the Maruts, who are the slayers of Vritra, and dharma itself, cannot protect those whom I despise.
If these people were truly capable, my enemies, the Pārthas, would not have endured suffering for thirteen years.
Neither gods, celestial beings, demons, nor ogres can protect against what I despise. This is the truth I tell you.
Whatever I always contemplate, whether it is auspicious or inauspicious, such a situation has never occurred to me before, neither among friends nor among enemies, in both contexts.
O scorcher of foes, whatever I declare, "This will be," has never been otherwise before; they know me as one who speaks the truth.
This greatness of mine is known throughout the world and is famous everywhere. I have spoken this to you, O king, for your reassurance, not out of pride.
I have never been boastful, O king, at any time in the past. It is indeed improper conduct for one to praise oneself.
You hear that the Pandavas, Matsyas, Panchalas, along with the Kekayas, Satyaki, and Vasudeva, have been conquered by me.
Just as rivers completely disappear upon reaching the ocean, they too, along with their followers, will meet their end upon reaching me.
The supreme intellect, brilliance, and strength reside in me. My supreme knowledge and yoga surpass them.
The knowledge of weapons that Grandfather, Drona, Kripa, Shalya, and Shala possess, all of it exists within me.
Having addressed Sañjaya once more, the descendant of Bharata, aware of the duties at the right time, O subduer of enemies, was eager to fight.
