“Sahadeva said, ’What hath been said by the king is, indeed, eternal virtue, but thou, O chastiser of foes, shouldst act, in such a way that war may certainly happen.  Even if the Kauravas express their desire for peace with the Pandavas, still, O thou of Dasarha’s race, provoke thou a war with them.  Having seen, O Krishna, the princess of Panchala brought in that plight into the midst of the assembly, how can my wrath be appeased without the slaughter of Suyodhana.  If, O Krishna, Bhima and Arjuna and king Yudhishthira the just are disposed to be virtuous, abandoning virtue I desire an encounter with Duryodhana in battle.’

“Satyaki said, ’The high-souled Sahadeva, O thou of mighty arms, hath spoken the truth.  The rage I feel towards Duryodhana can be appeased only by his death.  Dost thou not remember the rage thou too hadst felt upon beholding in the woods the distressed Pandavas clad in rags and deer-skins?  Therefore, O foremost of men, all the warriors assembled here unanimously subscribe to what the heroic son of Madri, fierce in battle, hath said!’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’At these words of the high-souled Yuyudhana, a leonine roar was set up by all the warriors assembled there.  And all the heroes, highly applauding those words of Satyaki, praised him, saying, ‘Excellent!  Excellent!’ And anxious to fight, they all began to express their joy.’”

SECTION LXXXII

“Vaisampayana said, ’Hearing the peaceful words of the king that were fraught with both virtue and profit, king Drupada’s daughter Krishna, of long black tresses, afflicted with great grief, applauding Sahadeva and that mighty car-warrior Satyaki, addressed Madhava seated by his side.  And beholding Bhimasena declare for peace, that intelligent lady, overwhelmed with woe and with eyes bathed in tears, said, ’O slayer of Madhu, it is known to thee, O thou of mighty arms, by what deceitful means, O righteous one, the son of Dhritarashtra with his counsellors robbed the Pandavas, O Janardana. of their happiness.  Thou knowest also, O thou of Dasarha’s race, what message was privately delivered to Sanjaya by the king.  Thou hast also heard all that was said unto Sanjaya.  O thou of great effulgence, these words were even these, ’Let only five villages be granted to us, viz., Avishthala, and Vrikasthala, and Makandi, and Varanavata, and for the fifth, any other,—­O thou of mighty arms, O Kesava, even this was the message that was to have been delivered to Duryodhana and his counsellors.  But, O Krishna, O thou of Dasarha’s race, hearing those words of Yudhishthira, endued with modesty and anxious for peace, Suyodhana hath not acted according to them.  If, O Krishna, Suyodhana desireth to make peace without surrendering the kingdom, there is no necessity of going thither for making such a peace.  The Pandavas with the Srinjayas, O thou of mighty arms, are quite able to withstand the fierce Dhritarashtra host inflamed