on all sides with trees and diverse kinds of luminous medicinal herbs, it was inhabited by Siddhas and Gandharvas.  And there we all saw a quantity of honey, of a bright yellow colour and of the measure of a jar, placed on an inaccessible precipice of the mountain.  That honey, which was Kuvera’s favourite drink, was guarded by snakes of virulent poison.  And it was such that a mortal, drinking of it would win immortality, a sightless man obtain sight, and an old man would become a youth.  It was that those Brahmanas conversant with sorcery spoke about that honey.  And the hunters’ seeing that honey, desired, O king, to obtain it.  And they all perished in that inaccessible mountain-cave abounding with snakes.  In the same way, this thy son desireth to enjoy the whole earth without a rival.  He beholdeth the honey, but seeth not, from folly, the terrible fall.  It is true, Duryodhana desireth an encounter in battle with Savyasachin, but I do not see that energy or prowess in him which may carry him safe through it.  On a single car Arjuna conquered the whole earth.  At the head of their hosts Bhishma and Drona and others were frightened by Arjuna and utterly routed at the city of Virata.  Remember what took place on that occasion.  He forgiveth still, looking up to thy face and waiting to know what thou wouldst do.  Drupada, and the king of Matsyas, and Dhananjaya, when angry, will, like flames of fire urged by the wind, leave no remnant (of thy army).  O Dhritarashtra, take king Yudhishthira on thy lap since both parties can, under no circumstances, have victory when thy will be engaged in battle.’”

SECTION LXV

“Dhritarashtra said, ’Consider, O Duryodhana, O dear son, what I tell thee.  Like an ignorant traveller thou thinkest, the wrong path to be the right one, since thou art desirous of robbing the energy of the five sons of Pandu, who are even as the five elements of the universe in their subtle form upholding all mobile and immobile things.  Without the certain sacrifice of thy life thou art unable to vanquish Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, who is the foremost of all virtuous persons in this world.  Alas, like a tree defying the mighty tempest, thou chafest at Bhimasena who hath not his peer (among men) in might and who is equal unto Yama himself in battle.  What man of sense would encounter in battle the wielder of Gandiva, who is the foremost of all wielders of weapons, as the Meru among mountains?  What man is there whom Dhrishtadyumna, the prince of Panchala, cannot overthrow, shooting his arrows among the foes, like the chief of the celestials hurling his thunderbolt?  That honoured warrior among the Andhakas and the Vrishnis, the irresistible Satyaki, ever engaged in the good of the Pandavas, will also slaughter thy host.  What man of sense, again, would encounter the lotus-eyed Krishna, who, as regards the measure of his energy and power, surpasseth the three worlds?  As regards