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सञ्जययानपर्वन् (saJjayayAnaparvan)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Sañjayayānaparvan(ºva)]
(“the section relating to the mission of Sañjaya, ” the 58th of the minor parvans of Mhbhr.
cf. Sañjayayāna). § 556: Drupada's purohita was honoured by Dhṛtarāshṭra, Bhīshma, and Vidura. He mentioned the eternal duties of kings
the Pāṇḍavas had not obtained their share of the paternal wealth
the murderous contrivances of the Dhārtarāshṭras
the deceitful game
the indignities in the council-hall
the exile for thirteen years
the Pāṇḍavas desired nothing but a peaceful settlement
the Pāṇḍavas were more powerful
men like Sātyaki, Bhīmasena, and the twins were equal in might to 1, 000 akshauhiṇīs
Arjuna and Kṛshṇa nobody could fight (V, 20). Bhīshma approved of his speech
but Karṇa wrathfully interrupted him. Dhṛtarāshṭra pacified Bhīshma, rebuked Karṇa, sent Drupada's purohita back to the Pāṇḍavas, and summoned Sañjaya to the council-hall (V, 21). Dhṛtarāshṭra gave instructions to Sañjaya, praising the Pāṇḍavas () and Kṛshṇa and some of their adherents (), mentioning the killing of Śiśupāla (b), blaming Duryodhana, and Karṇa, and ordered him to go to Upaplavya to salute them and the five sons of Draupadī, and tell them that Dhṛtarāshṭra was desirous of peace with the Pāṇḍavas (V, 22). Sañjaya came to Upaplavya and saluted Yudhishṭhira and enquired about Bhīmasena, etc. (). Yudhishṭhira inquired about Dhṛtarāshṭra, etc. (), and mentioned the prowess of Arjuna (c), Sahadeva (d), Nakula (e), and the Ghoshayātrā (V, 23). Sañjaya delivered his message and answered Yudhishṭhira's questions (V, 24). In the presence of the Pāṇḍavas, etc. (), Sañjaya greeted Yudhishṭhira, etc. (), and recommended peace, “for what, in sooth, is life after having killed all your kinsfolk?”
he mentioned Kṛshṇa, etc. () on the side of the Pāṇḍavas, and Droṇa, etc. (), on the side of the Kauravas (V, 25). Yudhishṭhira said that peace was preferable to war, but complained that Duryodhana had disregarded the words of Vidura, and Dhṛtarāshṭra had been desirous solely of satisfying his sons
that Duryodhana's counsellors were now Duḥśāsana, Śakuni, and Karṇa. He compared Arjuna, Bhīma, Nakula, and Sahadeva with Karṇa and Duryodhana. He claimed Indraprastha for his kingdom (V, 26). Sañjaya declared that if, without war, the Kurus would not yield his share to Yudhishṭhira, then it would be far better for him to live upon alms in the kingdom of the Andhakas and the Vṛshṇis than to obtain sovereignty by war (V, 27). Yudhishṭhira said that virtue and vice, which are both eternal and absolute, exchange their aspects during seasons of distress
he would not seek even what belongs to Prajāpati, or heaven, or Brahmaloka (Prājāpatyaṃ tridivaṃ Brahmalokaṃ) by unrighteous means
but he would be guided by Kṛshṇa, as did Sātyaki, etc. ()
Kṛshṇa was the great judge of the propriety or otherwise of all acts (V, 28). Kṛshṇa said he wished prosperity for both the Pāṇḍavas and Dhṛtarāshṭra
therefore he desired peace
but when Dhṛtarāshṭra and his sons were so covetous, war was inevitable
“some say that work should be shunned and that salvation is attainable by knowledge
but the brahmans know this, that though one may have a knowledge of eatable things, yet the hunger will not be appeased unless one actually eats
such branches of knowledge as are of use in doing works bear fruit, but not the other ones. In the other world it is by virtue of work that the gods, etc. () flourish. Yudhishṭhira is constantly engaged in the study of the Veda
he is bent on the horse-sacrifice and the rājasūya
he rides horses and elephants, etc.
if the Pāṇḍavas could see a course of action not involving the slaughter of the sons of Kuru, they would adopt it. But we must take into consideration the division into four castes and the respective duties allotted to each (specification). War and weapons were invented by Indra for putting the Dasyus to death.” Kṛshṇa alluded to the game and the role of Śakuni there, to the indignities undergone by Kṛshṇā from Duḥśāsana and Karṇa, while the Kurus with Bhīshma at their head did not interfere, and only Vidura took her part
and that Duḥśāsana had called the Pāṇḍaras eunuchs at their departure. He would go in person to the Kurus. He compared the evil passions of Duryodhana, etc. (), with the righteousness of Yudhishṭhira, etc. (). “King Dhṛtarāshṭra with his sons constitute a forest, while the Pāṇḍavas are its tigers
do not cut down the forest with its tigers, and let not the tigers be driven away from the forest
the tiger out of the wood is easily slain
the wood also that is without a tiger is easily cut down.” Similarly the Dhārtarāshṭras are as creepers, the Pāṇḍavas are Śāla- trees, and the creepers cannot dispense with a large tree round which it can twine (V, 29). Sañjaya then bade farewell to Yudhishṭhira, etc. (). Yudhishṭhira spoke approvingly of Sañjaya's agreeable speech and excellent conduct as an ambassador, and compared him to Vidura, and declared him to be as dear to them as Dhanañjaya (i.e. Arjuna). He recommended the brahmans to him, and told him to salute Droṇa, etc. (), and the aged, middle-aged, and young ladies, “the daughters of our house, ” and the maidservants and manservants, and the many humpbacked and lame ones among them, and those that were defective in limb, or imbecile, and the dwarfs to whom Dhṛtarāshṭra gave food and raiment from motives of humanity, the blind, the aged, the many that had the use only of their hands, being destitute of legs, the masterless and weak, those that vainly strived to earn a living, the ignorant, in fact, all those that were in pitiable circumstances, all the ambassadors arrived from all sides, etc. He concluded with this message to Duryodhana: “give me back my own Indraprastha (Śakrapurīṃ), or fight with me” (V, 30). Yudhishṭhira said that the Creator (Dhātṛ) gives and takes according to his will. He told Sañjaya especially to salute Dhṛtarāshṭra, Bhīshma, and Vidura, and recommend the Pāṇḍavas to them, that they might counsel peace
and to say to Duryodhana that the Pāṇḍavas were willing to forgive his insults to Draupadī (Kṛshṇā) and Duḥśāsana's dragging her, disregarding Kuntī
but they must have their proper share of the kingdom
“give us even a single province of the empire
give us even Kuśasthala (B. Aviº), Vṛkasthala, Mākandī, Vāraṇāvata, and in the fifth place any other village that thou likest
even this will end the quarrel.” He said that to see the Kurus and the Pāñśālas live happily united was what he desired (V, 31). Having returned to Hāstinapura, Sañjaya addressed Dhṛtarāshṭra at night
he praised Yudhishṭhira, “who shines in his natural perfection, leaving his load of sins to be borne by thee, ” while Dhṛtarāshṭra's acts were contrary to both religion and profit. In delivering the message from Yudhishṭhira he did not mention the alternative of giving them the five villages. He alluded to Arjuna's ascending to the very heavens and being honoured there. King Bali, not finding a primary cause (pāraṃ), regarded time (kālaḥ) to be the cause of everything. “To-morrow morning the Kurus, assembled together in the council-hall, will hear the words of Ajātaśatru (i.e. Yudhishṭhira)” (V, 32).