“Arjuna replied,—­’Superior persons, O Bharata, never prate about the harsh words that may or may not be uttered by inferior men.  Persons that have earned respect for themselves, even if they are able to retaliate, remember not the acts of hostility done by their enemies, but, on the other hand, treasure up only their good deeds.’

’Bhima said,—­’Shall I, O king, slay, without loss of time all these foes assembled together, even here, or shall I destroy them, O Bharata, by the roots, outside this palace?  Or, what need is there of words or of command?  I shall slay all these even now, and rule thou the whole earth, O king, without a rival.  And saying this, Bhima with his younger brothers, like a lion in the midst of a herd of inferior animals, repeatedly cast his angry glances around.  But Arjuna, however, of white deeds, with appealing looks began to pacify his elder brother.  And the mighty-armed hero endued with great prowess began to burn with the fire of his wrath.  And, O king, this fire began to issue out of Vrikodara’s ears and other senses with smoke and sparks and flames.  And his face became terrible to behold in consequence of his furrowed brows like those of Yama himself at the time of the universal destruction.  Then Yudhishthira forbade the mighty hero, embracing him with his arms and telling him ‘Be not so.  Stay in silence and peace.’  And having pacified the mighty-armed one with eyes red in wrath, the king approached his uncle Dhritarashtra, with hands joined in entreaty.”

SECTION LXXII

“Yudhishthira said,—­’O king, thou art our master.  Command us as to what we shall do.  O Bharata, we desire to remain always in obedience to thee.

“Dhritarashtra replied.—­’O Ajatasatru, blest be thou.  Go thou in peace and safety.  Commanded by me, go, rule thy own kingdom with thy wealth.  And, O child, take to heart this command of an old man, this wholesome advice that I give, and which is even a nutritive regimen.  O Yudhishthira, O child, thou knowest the subtle path of morality.  Possessed of great wisdom, thou art also humble, and thou waitest also upon the old.  Where there is intelligence, there is forbearance.  Therefore, O Bharata, follow thou counsels of peace.  The axe falleth upon wood, not upon stone. (Thou art open to advice, not Duryodhana).  They are the best of men that remember not the acts of hostility of their foes; that behold only the merits, not the faults, of their enemies; and that never enter into hostilities themselves.  They that are good remember only the good deeds of their foes and not the hostile acts their foes might have done unto them.  The good, besides, do good unto others without expectation of any good, in return.  O Yudhishthira, it is only the worst of men that utter harsh words in quarrelling; while they that are indifferent reply to such when spoken by others.  But they that are good and wise never think of or recapitulate such harsh words,