There is no mortal that can bear the touch of the shafts furnished with the feathers of the vulture and resembling snakes of virulent poison, that would be shot from the Gandiva.  And, O Bharata, there is not a warrior, nor an elephant, nor a horse, that is able to bear the impetus of my mace when I am angry in battle.  Why, O son of Kunti, should we not wrest our kingdom from the foe, fighting with the aid of the Srinjayas and Kaikeyas, and the bull of the Vrishni race?  Why, O king, should we not succeed in wresting the (sovereignty of the) earth that is now in the hands of the foe, if, aided by a large force, we do but strive?’”

SECTION XXXIV

Vaisampayana said, “Thus addressed by Bhimasena, the high-souled king Ajatasatru firmly devoted to truth, mustering his patience, after a few moments said these words, ’No doubt, O Bharata, all this is true.  I cannot reproach thee for thy torturing me thus by piercing me with thy arrowy words.  From my folly alone hath this calamity come against you.  I sought to cast the dice desiring to snatch from Dhritarashtra’s son his kingdom with the sovereignty.  It was therefore that, that cunning gambler—­Suvala’s son—­played against me on behalf of Suyodhana.  Sakuni, a native of the hilly country, is exceedingly artful.  Casting the dice in the presence of the assembly, unacquainted as I am with artifices of any kind, he vanquished me artfully.  It is, therefore, O Bhimasena, that we have been overwhelmed with this calamity.  Beholding the dice favourable to the wishes of Sakuni in odds and evens, I could have controlled my mind.  Anger, however, driveth off a person’s patience.  O child, the mind cannot be kept under control when it is influenced by hauteur, vanity, or pride.  I do not reproach thee, O Bhimasena, for the words thou usest.  I only regard that what hath befallen us was pre-ordained.  When king Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, coveting our kingdom, plunged us into misery and even slavery, then, O Bhima, it was Draupadi that rescued us.  When summoned again to the assembly for playing once more, thou knowest as well as Arjuna what Dhritarashtra’s son told me, in the presence of all the Bharatas, regarding the stake for which we were to play.  His words were, O prince Ajatsatru, (if vanquished), thou shalt have with all thy brothers, to dwell, to the knowledge of all men, for twelve years in the forest of thy choice, passing the thirteenth year in secrecy.  If during the latter period, the spies of the Bharatas, hearing of thee, succeed in discovering thee, thou shalt have again to live in the forest for the same period, passing once more the last year in secrecy.  Reflecting upon this, pledge thyself to it.  As regards myself, I promise truly in this assembly of the Kurus, that if thou canst pass this time confounding my spies and undiscovered by them, then, O Bharata, this kingdom of the five rivers is once more thine.  We also,