“Salya said, ’If, having resolved on fight, thou hadst not come to me (thus), I would have, O king, cursed thee for thy overthrow in battle.  I am gratified (with thee) and honoured (by thee).  Let it be as thou wishest.  I grant thee permission, fight and obtain victory.  Speak, O hero, for what hast thou any need?  What shalt I give thee?  Under these circumstances, O king, battle excepted, what dost thou desire?  A man is the slave of wealth but wealth is no one’s slave.  This is true, O king.  Bound I have been with wealth by the Kauravas, O nephew, it is for this that I am speaking to thee like a eunuch,—­I will accomplish the desire thou mayst cherish.  Battle excepted, what dost thou wish.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’Think, O king, daily of what is for my great good.  Fight, according to thy pleasure, for the sake of the foe.  This is the boon that I solicit.’

“Salya said, ’Under these circumstances, say, O best of kings what aid shall I render thee?  I shall, of course, fight for the sake of (thy) enemy, for I have been made one of their party by the Kauravas with their wealth.[315]

“Yudhishthira said, ’Even that is my boon, O Salya, which was solicited by me during the preparations (for the fight).  The energy of the Suta’s son (Karna) should be weakened by thee in battle.’

“Salya said, ’This thy wish, O Yudhishthira, shall be accomplished, O son of Kunti.  Go, fight according to thy pleasure.  I shall look after thy victory.”

’Sanjaya continued, “Having obtained the permission of his maternal uncle, the ruler of the Madra, the son of Kunti, surrounded by his brothers, came out of that vast army.  Vasudeva then went to Radha’s son on the field of battle.  And the elder brother of Gada, for the sake of the Pandavas, then said to Karna,—­It hath been heard by me, O Karna, that from hatred of Bhishma thou wilt not fight.  Come to our side, O son of Radha, and (stay with us) as long as Bhishma is not slain.  After Bhishma is slain, O son of Radha, thou mayst then again engage in battle on Duryodhana’s side, if thou hast no preference for any of the parties.—­’

“Karna said, ’I will not do anything that is disagreeable to Dhritarashtra’s son, O Kesava.  Devoted to Duryodhana’s good, know that I have cast off my life (for him).—­Hearing these words (of Karna), Krishna ceased, O Bharata, and reunited himself with the sons of Pandu headed by Yudhishthira.  Then amid all the warriors the eldest son of Pandu, loudly exclaimed,—­He who will choose us, him we shall choose for our ally!—­Casting his eyes then upon them, Yuyutsu said these words, with a cheerful heart, unto Kunti’s son king Yudhishthira the Just,—­I will fight under thee in battle, for the sake of you all, with the sons of Dhritarashtra, if, O king, thou wilt accept me, sinless one.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’Come, come, all of us will fight with thy foolish brothers.  O Yuyutsu, both Vasudeva and we all say to thee—­I accept thee, O thou of mighty arms, fight for my cause.  On thee rests, it seems, the thread of Dhritarashtra’s line as also his funeral cake.  O prince, O thou of great splendour, accept us that accept thee.  The wrathful Duryodhana of wicked understanding will cease to live.’”