Vaisampayana continued,—­“Hearing these words of Bhimasena king Duryodhana addressed Yudhishthira who was silent and deprived of his senses, saying,—­’O king, both Bhima and Arjuna, and the twins also, are under thy sway.  Answer thou the question (that hath been asked by Draupadi).  Say, whether thou regardest Krishna as unwon.’  And having spoken thus unto the son of Kunti, Duryodhana. desirous of encouraging the son of Radha and insulting Bhima, quickly uncovered his left thigh that was like unto the stem of a plantain tree or the trunk of an elephant and which was graced with every auspicious sign and endued with the strength of thunder, and showed it to Draupadi in her very sight.  And beholding this, Bhimasena expanding his red eyes, said unto Duryodhana in the midst of all those kings and as if piercing them (with his dart-like words),—­’Let not Vrikodara attain to the regions, obtained by his ancestors, if he doth not break that thigh of thine in the great conflict.  And sparkles of fire began to be emitted from every organ of sense of Bhima filled with wrath, like those that come out of every crack and orifice in the body of a blazing tree.

Vidura then, addressing everybody, said,—­’Ye kings of Pratipa’s race, behold the great danger that ariseth from Bhimasena.  Know ye for certain that this great calamity that threatens to overtake the Bharatas hath been sent by Destiny itself.  The sons of Dhritarashtra have, indeed, gambled disregarding every proper consideration.  They are even now disputing in this assembly about a lady (of the royal household).  The prosperity of our kingdom is at an end.  Alas, the Kauravas are even now engaged in sinful consultations.  Ye Kauravas, take to your heart this high precept that I declare.  If virtue is persecuted, the whole assembly becometh polluted.  If Yudhishthira had staked her before he was himself won, he would certainly have been regarded as her master.  If, however a person staketh anything at a time when he himself is incapable of holding any wealth, to win it is very like obtaining wealth in a dream.  Listening to the words of the king of Gandhara, fall ye not off from this undoubted truth.’

“Duryodhana, hearing Vidura thus speak, said,—­’I am willing to abide by the words of Bhima, of Arjuna and of the twins.  Let them say that Yudhishthira is not their master.  Yajnaseni will then be freed from her state of bondage.”

“Arjuna at this, said,—­“This illustrious son of Kunti, king Yudhishthira the just, was certainly our master before he began to play.  But having lost himself, let all the Kauravas judge whose master he could be after that.”

Vaisampayana continued,—­“Just then, a jackal began to cry loudly in the homa-chamber of king Dhritarashtra’s palace.  And, O king, unto the jackal that howled so, the asses began to bray responsively.  And terrible birds also, from all sides, began to answer with their cries.  And Vidura conversant with everything and the daughter of Suvala, both understood the meaning of those terrible sounds.  And Bhishma and Drona and the learned Gautama loudly cried,—­Swashti!  Swashti![1] Then Gandhari and the learned Vidura beholding that frightful omen, represented everything, in great affliction, unto the king.  And the king (Dhritarashtra) thereupon said,—­