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अनुद्यूतपर्वन् (anudyUtaparvan)

 
Mahabharata
English
Anudyūtaparvan. § 302: When the Pāṇḍavas had left Hāstinapura with all their wealth and jewels, Duḥśāsana complained of it to Duryodhana, who, with Karṇa and Śakuni, quoting the words of Bṛhaspati when counselling Indra about politics, and declaring that the Pāṇḍavas would certainly revenge themselves, prevailed upon Dhṛtarāshṭra to invite them a second time to a match of gambling between Yudhishṭhira and Śakuni, on the condition that the defeated party should repair to the woods for twelve years, dressed in deer-skins, and spend the thirteenth year in some inhabited country unrecognized, and if recognized, be exiled for another twelve years. If the Pāṇḍavas should succeed in observing this vow for thirteen years, the Dhārtarāshṭras would in the meantime have made alliances and have assembled an invincible army, so that they could defeat them if they reappeared. Droṇa, Somadatta, Bāhlīka, Gautama, Vidura, Aśvatthāman, Vaiśyāputra (i.e. Yuyutsu), Bhūriśravas, Bhīshma, and Vikarṇa dissuaded in vain (II, 74).--§ 303: Gāndhārī reminded Dhṛtarāshṭra of the counsel Vidura had given, when Duryodhana was born, to kill him, and recommended him to do it now, and not to let the gambling match take place, saying that it would cause the destruction of the whole race of the Kurus. But Dhṛtarāshṭra could not act contrary to the will of his sons (II, 75).--§ 304: The royal messengers overtook Yudhishṭhira when he had already gone a long way. Yudhishṭhira having said, “Although a golden animal was an impossibility, Rāma suffered himself to be tempted by a golden deer, ” they returned. The gambling began on the above-mentioned conditions (cf. III, 1362 ff., where the conditions are stated somewhat differently), and Yudhishṭhira lost (II, 76). The Pāṇḍavas, casting off their royal robes, attired themselves in deer-skins. Duḥśāsana exulted, and exhorted Kṛshṇā to abandon the fallen Pāṇḍavas and choose a husband among the Kurus. As Bhīma rebuked him and threatened to slay him with his followers, Duḥśāsana, dancing around, said, “O cow! O cow!” Bhīshma again swore to drink his blood and to kill all the Dhārtarāshṭras. As the Pāṇḍavas were going away, Duryodhana mimicked the tread of Bhīma, who then said: “I will slay Duryodhana with my mace, and place my foot on his head. Dhanañjaya will slay Karṇa, and Sahadeva will slay Śakuni, and I will drink the blood of Duḥśāsana.” Arjuna and Sahadeva approved of it. Nakula, “the handsomest of men, ” vowed to kill all the Dhārtarāshṭras that had insulted Draupadī (II, 77).--§ 305: Yudhishṭhira bids farewell to Bhīshma, Somadatta, Bāhlīka, Droṇa, Kṛpa, Aśvatthāman, Vidura, Dhṛtarāshṭra, the Dhārtarāshṭras Yuyutsu, Sañjaya, etc. Vidura kept Pṛthā in his abode, and consoled Yudhishṭhira: “Formerly thou wast instructed on the Himavat by Meru-Sāvarṇi, in Vāraṇāvata by Dvaipāyana, on Bhṛgutuṅga by Rāma, on the Dṛshadvatī by Śambhu, near Añjana by the great ṛshi Asita, by Bhṛgu on the banks of Kalmāshī
Nārada always beholds thee, and this Dhaumya is thy purohita, --resolve to win victory like Indra, to control thy wrath like Yama, to give in charity like Kuvera, to control all passions like Varuṇa.” So Yudhishṭhira went away, bowing to Bhīshma and Droṇa, (II, 78). When Kṛshṇā took leave of Kuntī, Kuntī broke out in complaints, and especially recommended her ever to keep her eye on Sahadeva. When Kuntī beheld her sons clad in deer-skins, surrounded by rejoicing foes, she embraced them and broke out in complaints, asking why Kṛshṇa, who dwells in Dvārakā, and is without beginning and without end, does not deliver them from such woe. “O Sahadeva! cease to go! thou art my dearest child, O son of Mādrī!” The Pāṇḍavas, having consoled her, set out for the woods, and Vidura led her to his house. The ladies of Dhṛtarāshṭra's house wept, blaming the Kauravas
and Dhṛtarāshṭra, anxious, sent for Vidura (II, 79).--§ 306: Questioned by Dhṛtarāshṭra, Vidura described the attitude of the Pāṇḍavas, etc., when going away (). The citizens cried out in grief, blaming the Kurus. Flashings of lightning and other terrible omens appeared. Nārada appeared, surrounded by great ṛshis, and foreboded that on the fourteenth year thence the Kauravas would all be destroyed by Bhīma and Arjuna. Then he disappeared through the skies. Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Śakuni offered the kingdom to Droṇa, who said that the Pāṇḍavas were incapable of being slain
that they would practise the brahmacarya for twelve years, and then return in anger
that he (Droṇa) would protect the Dhārtarāshṭras, who had sought his protection, to the best of his ability
but that he would himself be slain by Dhṛshṭadyumna, whom Drupada had obtained (together with Kṛshṇā) from the fire by the ascetic power of Yāja and Upayāja
“it is widely known in the world that Dhṛshṭadyumna will slay Droṇa.” Dhṛtarāshṭra sent Vidura to bring the Pāṇḍavas back, or, if they did not come back, to send them off with respect, with their weapons, cars, and infantry, etc. (II, 80).--§ 307: Sañjaya spoke to Dhṛtarāshṭra about the perversity of his policy. Dhṛtarāshṭra related that when Kṛshṇā was dragged into the court the grief was so great that the enraged brahmans did not that evening perform their agnihotra
he also related the omens which had appeared on the occasion, etc. (II, 81).