The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
Vaisampayana continued,--"With hair dishevelled and half her attire
loosened, all the while dragged by Dussasana, the modest Krishna
consumed with anger, faintly said--'In this assembly are persons
conversant with all the branches of learning devoted to the performance
of sacrifices and other rites, and all equal unto Indra, persons some
of whom are really my superiors and others who deserve to be respected
as such. I can not stay before them in this state. O wretch! O thou of
cruel deeds, drag me not so. Uncover me not so. The princes (my lords)
will not pardon thee, even if thou hast the gods themselves with Indra
as thy allies. The illustrious son of Dharma is now bound by the
obligations of morality. Morality, however, is subtle. Those only that
are possessed of great clearness of vision can ascertain it. In speech
even I am unwilling to admit an atom of fault in my lord forgetting his
virtues. Thou draggest me who am in my season before these Kuru heroes.
This is truly an unworthy act. But no one here rebuketh thee.
Assuredly, all these are of the same mind with thee. O fie! Truly hath
the virtue of the Bharata gone! Truly also hath the usage of those
acquainted with the Kshatriya practice disappeared! Else these Kurus in
this assembly would never have looked silently on this act that
transgresseth the limits of their practices. Oh! both Drona and Bhishma
have lost their energy, and so also hath the high-souled Kshatta, and
so also this king. Else, why do these foremost of the Kuru elders look
silently on this great crime?'"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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