Yudhishthira the just, we suffered ourselves to be restrained by the compact that had been made.  By this means, O queen, thy son provoked deadly hostilities with us.  Great were our sufferings in the forest (whither we were driven by thy son).  Remembering all this, I acted in that way.  Having slain Duryodhana in battle, we have reached the end of our hostilities.  Yudhishthira has got back his kingdom, and we also have been freed from wrath.  Hearing these words of Bhima, Gandhari said, Since thou praisest my son thus (for his skill in battle), he did not deserve such a death.  He, however, did all that thou tellest me.  When Vrishasena, however, had deprived Nakula of his steeds, O Bharata, thou quaffedst in battle the blood from Duhshasanas body!  Such an act is cruel and is censured by the good.  It suits only a person that is most disrespectable.  It was a wicked act, O Vrikodara, that was then accomplished by thee!  It was undeserving of thee.  Bhima replied, saying, It is improper to quaff the blood of even a stranger, what then need be said about quaffing the blood of ones own self?  Ones brother, again, is like ones own self.  There is no difference between them.  The blood, however, (that I am regarded to have quaffed) did not, O mother, pass down my lips and teeth.  Karna knew this well.  My hands only were smeared with (Duhshasanas) blood.  Seeing Nakula deprived of his steeds by Vrishasena in battle, I caused the rejoicing (Kaurava) brothers to be filled with dread.  When after the match at dice the tresses of Draupadi were seized, I uttered certain words in rage.  Those words are still in my remembrance, I would, for all years to come, have been regarded to have swerved from the duties of a Kshatriya if I had left that vow unaccomplished.  It was for this, O queen, that I did that act.  It behoveth thee not, O Gandhari, to impute any fault to me.  Without having restrained thy sons in former days, doth it behove thee to impute any fault to our innocent selves?

“Gandhari said, Unvanquished by anyone, thou hast slain a hundred sons of this old man.  Oh, why didst thou not spare, O child, even one son of this old couple deprived of kingdom, one whose offences were lighter?  Why didst thou not leave even one crutch for this blind couple?  O child, although thou livest unharmed, having slain all my children, yet no grief would have been mine if thou hadst adopted the path of righteousness (in slaying them).”

Vaishampayana continued, “Having said these words, Gandhari, filled with wrath at the slaughter of all her sons and grandsons, enquired after Yudhishthira, saying, Where is the king?  After she had said these words king Yudhishthira, trembling and with joined hands, approached her and said these soft words unto her, Here is Yudhishthira, O goddess, that cruel slayer of thy sons!  I deserve thy curses, for I am the cause of this universal destruction.  Oh, curse me!  I have no longer any need for life, for kingdom, for wealth!  Having caused such friends