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
"Bhima said,--'Shall I, O king, slay, without loss of time all these
foes assembled together, even here, or shall I destroy them, O Bharata,
by the roots, outside this palace? Or, what need is there of words or
of command? I shall slay all these even now, and rule thou the whole
earth, O king, without a rival.' And saying this, Bhima with his
younger brothers, like a lion in the midst of a herd of inferior
animals, repeatedly cast his angry glances around. But Arjuna, however,
of white deeds, with appealing looks began to pacify his elder brother.
And the mighty-armed hero endued with great prowess began to burn with
the fire of his wrath. And, O king, this fire began to issue out of
Vrikodara's ears and other senses with smoke and sparks and flames. And
his face became terrible to behold in consequence of his furrowed brows
like those of Yama himself at the time of the universal destruction.
Then Yudhishthira forbade the mighty hero, embracing him with his arms
and telling him 'Be not so. Stay in silence and peace.' And having
pacified the mighty-armed one with eyes red in wrath, the king
approached his uncle Dhritarashtra, with hands joined in entreaty.
SECTION LXXII
"Yudhishthira said,--'O king, thou art our master. Command us as to
what we shall do. O Bharata, we desire to remain always in obedience to
thee.'
"Dhritarashtra replied.--'O Ajatasatru, blest be thou. Go thou in peace
and safety. Commanded by me, go, rule thy own kingdom with thy wealth.
And, O child, take to heart this command of an old man, this wholesome
advice that I give, and which is even a nutritive regimen. O
Yudhishthira, O child, thou knowest the subtle path of morality.
Possessed of great wisdom, thou art also humble, and thou waitest also
upon the old. Where there is intelligence, there is forbearance.
Therefore, O Bharata, follow thou counsels of peace. The axe falleth
upon wood, not upon stone. (Thou art open to advice, not Duryodhana).
They are the best of men that remember not the acts of hostility of
their foes; that behold only the merits, not the faults, of their
enemies; and that never enter into hostilities themselves. They that
are good remember only the good deeds of their foes and not the hostile
acts their foes might have done unto them. The good, besides, do good
unto others without expectation of any good, in return. O Yudhishthira,
it is only the worst of men that utter harsh words in quarrelling;
while they that are indifferent reply to such when spoken by others.
But they that are good and wise never think of or recapitulate such
harsh words, little caring whether these may or may not have been
uttered by their foes. They that are good, having regard to the state
of their own feelings, can understand the feelings of others, and
therefore remember only the good deeds and not the acts of hostility of
their foes. Thou hast acted even as good men of prepossessing
countenance do, who transgress not the limits of virtue, wealth,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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