himself, and officiate at the sacrifices of others.
And a Kshatriya, depending upon the bow, should perform
sacrifices himself but should never officiate at the
sacrifices of others. And of Vaisya, having earned
wealth, should cause the rites enjoined in the Vedas
to be performed for himself. A Sudra should always
wait upon and serve the other three orders. As
regards those that live by practising the profession
of flowers and vendors of meat, they may earn wealth
by expedients fraught with deceit and fraud. Always
acting according to the dictates of the scriptures,
the exalted sons of Pandu acquired the sovereignty
of the whole earth, and they always act respectfully
towards their superiors, even if the latter prove hostile
to them. What Kshatriya is there that expressed
delight at having obtained a kingdom by means of dice,
like this wicked and shameless son of Dhritarashtra?
Having acquired wealth in this way by deceit and fraud
like a vendor of meat, who that is wise boast of it?
In what single combat didst thou vanquish Dhananjaya,
or Nakula, or Sahadeva, although thou hast robbed
them of their wealth? In what battle didst thou
defeat Yudhishthira, or Bhima that foremost of strong
men? In what battle was Indraprastha conquered
by thee? What thou hast done, however, O thou
of wicked deeds, is to drag that princess to court
while she was ill and had but one raiment on?
Thou hast cut the mighty root, delicate as the sandal,
of the Pandava tree. Actuated by desire of wealth,
when thou madest the Pandavas act as slaves, rememberest
thou what Vidura said! We see that men and others,
even insects and ants, show forgiveness according
to their power of endurance. The son of Pandu,
however, is incapable of forgiving the sufferings
of Draupadi. Surely, Dhananjaya cometh here for
the destruction of the sons of Dhritarashtra.
It is true, affecting great wisdom, thou art for making
speeches but will not Vibhatsu, that slayer of foes,
exterminate us all! If it be gods, or Gandharvas
or Asuras, or Rakshasas, will Dhananjaya the son of
Kunti, desist to fight from panic? Inflamed with
wrath upon whomsoever he will fall, even him he will
overthrow like a tree under the weight of Garuda!
Superior to thee in prowess, in bowmanship equal unto
the lord himself of the celestials, and in battle
equal unto Vasudeva himself, who is there that would
not praise Partha? Counteracting celestial weapons
with celestial, and human weapons with human, what
man is a match for Arjuna? Those acquainted with
the scriptures declare that a disciple is no way inferior
to a son, and it is for this that the son of Pandu
is a favourite of Drona. Employ thou the means
now which thou hadst adopted in the match at dice,—the
same means, viz., by which thou hadst subjugated
Indraprastha, and the same means by which thou hadst
dragged Krishna to the assembly! This thy wise
uncle, fully conversant with the duties of the Kshatriya
order—this deceitful gambler Sakuni, the