The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Adi Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Adi Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
"'When I heard that Yudhishthira had been followed into the wilderness by
Snatakas and noble-minded Brahmanas who live upon alms, then, O Sanjaya, I
had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, having, in combat,
pleased the god of gods, Tryambaka (the three-eyed) in the disguise of a
hunter, obtained the great weapon Pasupata, then O Sanjaya, I had no hope
of success. When I heard that the just and renowned Arjuna after having
been to the celestial regions, had there obtained celestial weapons from
Indra himself then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that
afterwards Arjuna had vanquished the Kalakeyas and the Paulomas proud with
the boon they had obtained and which had rendered them invulnerable even
to the celestials, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard
that Arjuna, the chastiser of enemies, having gone to the regions of Indra
for the destruction of the Asuras, had returned thence successful, then, O
Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Bhima and the other
sons of Pritha (Kunti) accompanied by Vaisravana had arrived at that
country which is inaccessible to man then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of
success. When I heard that my sons, guided by the counsels of Karna, while
on their journey of Ghoshayatra, had been taken prisoners by the
Gandharvas and were set free by Arjuna, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of
success. When I heard that Dharma (the god of justice) having come under
the form of a Yaksha had proposed certain questions to Yudhishthira then,
O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that my sons had failed
to discover the Pandavas under their disguise while residing with Draupadi
in the dominions of Virata, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success.
When I heard that the principal men of my side had all been vanquished by
the noble Arjuna with a single chariot while residing in the dominions of
Virata, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that
Vasudeva of the race of Madhu, who covered this whole earth by one foot,
was heartily interested in the welfare of the Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I
had no hope of success. When I heard that the king of Matsya, had offered
his virtuous daughter Uttara to Arjuna and that Arjuna had accepted her
for his son, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that
Yudhishthira, beaten at dice, deprived of wealth, exiled and separated
from his connections, had assembled yet an army of seven Akshauhinis, then,
O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard Narada, declare that
Krishna and Arjuna were Nara and Narayana and he (Narada) had seen them
together in the regions of Brahma, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of
success. When I heard that Krishna, anxious to bring about peace, for the
welfare of mankind had repaired to the Kurus, and went away without having
been able to effect his purpose, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success.
When I heard that Karna and Duryodhana resolved upon imprisoning Krishna
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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