55.  The meaning is rather doubtful.  Duryodhana seems to say that ’the hostile appearance of Arjuna has been an act of imprudence on his part.  The Pandavas, after the expiry of the thirteenth year, would claim their kingdom.  I, Duryodhana, may or may not accede to their demand.  When, therefore, it was not certain that Arjuna would be refused by me, his hostile appearance is unwise.  He has come sure of victory, but he may yet be defeated.’

56.  The sense seems to be that when moralists even are puzzled in judging of the propriety or otherwise of their acts, it can easily be imagined that the Pandavas, however virtuous, have, in the matter of this their appearance, acted wrongly, for, after all, the thirteenth year may not have really been over as believed by them.  Or, it may mean, that as regards our presence here, we have not acted imprudently when even moralists cannot always arrive at right conclusion.  It seems that for this Duryodhana proceeds to justify that presence in the following sentences.

The Mahabharata

of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

BOOK 5

UDYOGA PARVA

Translated into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text

by

Kisari Mohan Ganguli

[1883-1896]

Scanned at sacred-texts.com, 2004.  Proofed by John Bruno Hare, October 2004.

THE MAHABHARATA

UDYOGA PARAVA

SECTION I

Om!  Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara the most exalted of male beings, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya be uttered.

“Vaisampayana said, ’Then those valiant descendants of Kuru, who belonged to the same party (with Virata), having joyfully celebrated the nuptials of Abhimanyu and rested themselves that night, presented themselves at dawn, well pleased, in the court of Virata, And the chamber of the king of the Matsya was full of riches, and variegated with choice gems and precious stones, with seats methodically arranged, adorned with garlands, and filled with fragrance.  And those mighty monarchs of men all came to that place, And on the seats in front sat the two kings Virata and Drupada.  And the revered and aged rulers of the earth, and Valarama and Krishna along with their father, all sat there.  And close to the king of Panchala was seated the great hero of the race of Sini, together with the son of Rohini.  And side by side with the king of the Matsya sat Krishna and Yudhishthira, and all the sons of king Drupada, and Bhima and Arjuna, and the two sons of Madri, and Pradyumna and Samva, both valiant in battle, and Abhimanyu with Virata’s sons.  And those princes, the sons of Draupadi, rivalling their fathers in valour, strength, grace, and prowess, sat upon excellent seats