for the sake of piety, without regarding anybody else. (As regards persons other than Brahmanas), one should, as long as one lives, act according to Matanga’s saying.  Even this is the duty of Kshatriyas; even this is ever my opinion.  That share in the kingdom which was formerly given them by my father shall never again, O Kesava, be obtainable by them as long as I live.  As long, O Janardana, as king Dhritarashtra liveth, both ourselves and they, sheathing our weapons, O Madhava, should live in dependence on him.  Given away formerly from ignorance or fear, when I was a child and dependent on others, the kingdom, O Janardana, incapable of being given away again, shall not, O delighter of Vrishni’s race, be obtainable by the Pandavas.  At present, O Kesava of mighty arms, as long as I live, even that much of our land which may be covered by the point of a sharp needle shall not, O Madhava, be given by us unto the Pandavas.’”

SECTION CXXVIII

“Vaisampayana said, ’Reflecting (for a moment), with eyes red in anger, he, of Dasarha’s race, addressing Duryodhana in that assembly of the Kurus, then said these words, ’Wishest thou for a bed of heroes?  Verily, thou shalt have it, with thy consellors.  Wait (for a short while), a great slaughter will ensue.  Thou thinkest, O thou of little understanding, that thou hast committed no offence against the Pandavas?  Let the (assembled) monarchs judge.  Grieved at the prosperity of the high-souled Pandavas, thou conspirest, O Bharata, with Suvala’s son about the gambling match.  O sire, how could those virtuous, honest, and superior kinsmen of thine (otherwise) engage in such a wicked act with the deceitful Sakuni?  O thou that art endued with great wisdom, gambling robs even the good of their understanding, and as regards the wicked, disunion and dire consequence spring from it.  It was thou who hadst devised with thy wicked counsellors, that terrible source of calamity in the form of the gambling match, without consulting with persons of righteous behaviour.  Who else is there, capable of insulting a brother’s wife in the way thou didst or of dragging her into the assembly and addressing her in language thou hadst used towards Draupadi?  Of noble parentage, and endued with excellent behaviour, and dearer to them than their very lives, the queen-consort of Pandu’s sons was treated even thus by thee.  All the Kauravas know what words were addressed in their assembly by Dussasana unto those chastisers of foes,—­the sons of Kunti,—­when they were about to set out for the woods.  Who is there capable of behaving so wretchedly towards his own honest kinsmen, that are ever engaged in the practice of virtue, that are untainted by avarice, and that are always correct in their behaviour?  Language such as becomes only those that are heartless and despicable, was frequently repeated by Karna and Dussasana and also by thee.  Thou hadst taken great pains to burn to death, at Varanavata, the sons of