Mahabharata

by Anonymous

Indra then mounted his celestial elephant, Airavata, and rushed down upon Arjuna and Krishna, shouting, "These two are killed." He raised his personal weapon known as the Vajra and urged on his elephant. Seeing Indra advance the other principal gods followed him. Yamaraja took up his death-dealing club, Kuvera his mace and Varuna his noose. The commander of the celestial army, Skanda, raised his Shakti weapon, and Surya came with his brilliant dart. The other gods charged behind Indra with their own weapons raised. The Vishvadevas, Sadhyas, Rudras, Vasus and Marutas all advanced in a body toward Arjuna and Krishna, who stood fearlessly below.

"Scriptural knowledge is successful when it results in humility and good conduct, wealth is successful when it is both enjoyed and given away in charity, and marriage is successful when the wife is enjoyed and bears offspring." Concluding his instructions, the rishi said, "Be sure, great king, that you are always free of the five evils which assail men: excessive sleep, fear, anger, weakness of mind and procrastination."

heard about the Pandavas' incomparable assembly hall. He also heard that Subhadra's first son had been born, named Abhimanyu.

lion captures a flock of sheep.

The fight went on for twenty-eight days.

"O gentle lady, I will surely repay this gift of your sari." Draupadi looked down modestly and thanked Krishna, who wrapped his finger with the strip of silk. He then stood up and left the room.

Pffft

"Fate is surely all-powerful, O King, but we nevertheless receive the results of our own acts. We have free will. The supreme power simply reciprocates with our desires. It is the consequences of our acts that are inevitable, not the acts themselves.

"Your words do not find favor with me, Duryodhana, but do what you will. You will surely repent your rashness later, for deeds fraught with impiety never bring prosperity. I shall ask Vidura to invite the Pandavas."

who are all skilled in the sixty-four arts of service,

"If the gambling continues there will be war wherein the Kauravas and all their allies will be destroyed. You will be the cause of this war, O King, because you alone have the power to stop your son. Still you remain silent. Plainly you are enjoying your son's success. A man who follows another's heart even against his own better judgment sinks into affliction, like a man going to sea in a boat guided by a child.

There are plenty of sinful men in this world who will speak agreeable words, but one who speaks what is disagreeable but beneficial is rare. Such a man is a king's true friend who, without considering what is agreeable or not, speaks and acts only according to virtue."

"Here is the youthful and fair-complexioned Nakula, adorned with gold and jewels and shining like a celestial. This mighty-armed prince shall be my next stake."

"This handsome prince Sahadeva administers justice exactly like Yamaraja and has acquired a reputation for learning in this world. Although he does not deserve to be staked, still I shall play with such a dear object as my stake."

"He who takes us like a boat to the other shore of battle, who is ever victorious over foes and who is the greatest hero in this world––with that prince as my stake do I now play."

"Although he does not deserve to be staked, I now play with this prince, who is our leader, who fights like the thunder-wielder Indra. This illustrious hero with the lion-like neck, arched eyebrows and expansive eyes, who cannot tolerate an insult, whose prowess is unmatched in this world, and who grinds all foes––he is now staked. Roll the dice."

shall now stake she who is neither short nor tall, neither lean nor corpulent, who has bluish-black curly hair and whose eyes resemble the leaves of an autumn lotus. That princess whose fragrance is like a lily and who is as beautiful as the goddess Lakshmi, who possesses every accomplishment, who is the last to take rest and the first to rise due to caring for us all, and who is such that anyone would desire her––she shall be my final stake."

Only low-class men utter painful words that offend others.

Considering all this, I say that Draupadi has not been won."

From where he sat in Dwaraka, Krishna heard Draupadi's piteous cries. Those around him were surprised to see him jump up from his seat and run swiftly out of his palace. He immediately expanded himself by his inconceivable power and went at once to Hastinapura. By his mystic potency he entered the assembly hall. Without being seen by anyone he provided Draupadi with an unlimited supply of cloth to cover her. Dushashana pulled and pulled at her sari, and as he did so the princess spun around––but he could not disrobe her. There seemed to be no end to her sari. The astonished prince pulled with even more strength, but Draupadi remained covered. Soon a large heap of cloth lay piled on the floor.

"Kings of the world," he thundered, "listen to my words! I shall now make a vow unlike any that has been made before. Nor shall such a vow be made in future. If I do not forcefully tear open the breast of this sinful wretch on the battlefield and drink his blood, then may I not obtain the path of my ancestors."

If but once commanded by Yudhisthira I would, by means of my slaps alone, kill Dhritarastra's sinful sons as a lion kills a flock of small animals."

I cannot become angry at the words of the suta's son since we are now slaves.

"O best of the Bharata race, if you desire to do me good then free Yudhisthira from slavery. He is the father of my son, Prativindya. Let not people speak of that boy, born and raised as a royal prince, as if he were the son of a slave."

"Go in peace, Ajatasatru.

Bhima was whirling his massive mace, Arjuna was repeatedly twanging the Gandiva, Nakula and Sahadeva were waving their great swords, and Yudhisthira held aloft his spear. It was clear that they were ready to fight.

A living creature made of gold had never before been seen, yet Rama allowed himself to be fooled by a golden deer.

The incomparably handsome Nakula covered himself with ashes thinking, ‘I should not steal the hearts of women as I walk exposed along the public highway.'"

Just at that moment the great rishi Narada suddenly appeared, surrounded by other powerful sages. He stood before Dhritarastra and said gravely, "On the fourteenth year from now, for Duryodhana's fault, Bhima and Arjuna will destroy the Kauravas."

"A thousand causes of grief and fear overwhelm the ignorant day by day, but they never overwhelm the learned.

The highest happiness comes from contentment, while the struggle for wealth, fame, followers and the association of loved ones is the cause of bondage and ultimately pain.

He roared fearfully like a discordant trumpet.

Krishna said, "I cannot tolerate this injustice. The earth shall drink the blood of Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni and that fourth one, Dushashana.

As she recalled the dice game Draupadi became angry. "Why, Krishna, did my five powerful husbands sit silently while I was humiliated by wicked men of no importance? Fie upon Bhima's arms and Arjuna's celebrated Gandiva, for they could not protect a woman in distress, not even their own wife. Fie upon Bhishma and Dhritarastra! Although I am their daughter-in-law they were prepared to see me a slave."

The heavens may fall and the Himalayas move, the earth may be rent and the ocean dry up, but know for certain, O Draupadi, that my words will never prove false."

Dear sister, with Rama and Krishna's assistance even Indra cannot conquer us. What then can be said of Dhritarastra's sons?"

"That is why, Yudhisthira, I was unable to come to Hastinapura. The dice match took place just after I had slain Shalva and was engaged in restoring Dwaraka back to its former condition. If I had come, Duryodhana would not now be alive and the gambling match would never have taken place. What can I do now? It is difficult to stem the tide when the dam is broken."

They reminded him of Rama and Lakshman, who had been exiled to the forest hundreds of thousands of years previously. The sage had also visited them.

If virtue conferred victory and success on a man, then how could Yudhisthira have undergone such a calamity?

"Despite all this, still your intelligence was perverted by destiny

And if He is not to blame, then it means that the controlling principle is who has the most power. If actions are not bound with God-given consequences, then I lament for those who are not powerful."

although your speech is sweet and well articulated, it is atheistic.

Pfffft

"Do not doubt virtue because you do not see its results, Panchali. Without doubt the fruits will manifest in time, as will the fruits of sin. The fruits of true virtue are eternal and indestructible, leading one to the highest regions of happiness. Therefore do not speak ill of God. Try to understand the Supreme Being and his desires. O Draupadi, always bow to him. This will be for your own good."

Krishna does not approve, nor does Arjuna, the twins or myself. O King, has your despair led you to lose your manliness on the plea of virtue? Only cowards cherish despair, being unable to win back what they have lost."

descendent of Bharata, I cannot reproach you for giving me pain with your arrow-like words. It is true that due to my folly I have brought this calamity upon us. I knew I could not defeat Shakuni at dice, yet I allowed myself to be drawn into the game.

I do not censure you for what you have said, but I do consider what has happened to us to be preordained."

It is only weakness that forces you to adhere to your pledge, dear brother. No one is praising you for your kindly disposition toward our enemies."

like an ignorant man who has memorized the Vedas without knowing their meaning.

In the heavens the celestial rishis grew anxious. They approached Shiva and said, “Arjuna has become greatly effulgent due to his austerities on the breast of the Himālayas. The earth is becoming heated by his asceticism and is sending forth smoke. O chief of the gods, you should stop him before he upsets the universal order by the power of his penance.”

Arjuna retreated to a distance and quickly fashioned an image of Shiva from the earth. He worshipped it with flowers and as he did so, he saw flowers falling onto the hunter’s head. Now he had no doubt. This was the deity he was seeking.