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सैन्योद्योगपर्वन् (sainyodyogaparvan)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Sainyodyogaparvan(ºva)]
(“the section relating to the preparations before warfare, ” the 57th of the minor parvans of Mhbhr.). § 554: After the nuptials of Abhimanyu the Kurus, etc. () next morning assembled in the presence chamber of Virāṭa. Kṛshṇa spoke about the affairs of the Pāṇḍavas, and proposed to send an ambassador to Duryodhana, etc., in order to induce them to give half the kingdom to Yudhishṭhira (V,
1). Baladeva approved of it, and said that the ambassador ought to salute Bhīshma, etc. (), that Yudhishṭhira had been wrong in challenging Śakuni, and that Duryodhana only ought to be addressed in a conciliatory tone, that war might be avoided (V, 2). Sātyaki severely blamed Baladeva, and asserted that it was Yudhishṭhira who had been challenged in the game at dice, that he could not have declined according to the rules of the Kshatriya caste, and that Śakuni had won by a trick
the Kauravas had not obeyed Bhīshma and Droṇa
they ought to be besought by sharp arrows
they could not withstand Yuyudhāna, etc. () (V, 3). Drupada approved of what had been said by Baladeva, except that Duryodhana should not be addressed mildly, and they ought also to send messengers to Śalya, etc. () to collect an army
his own purohita ought to be sent to Dhṛtarāshṭra, Duryodhana, Bhīshma, and Droṇa (V, 4). Having approved of Drupada's words, Kṛshṇa set out for Dvārakā, and the Pāṇḍavas and the Dhārtarāshṭras began to make preparations for war, and collect troops
and Drupada despatched his purohita to the Kurus (V, 5). Drupada gave instructions to his purohita (cf. Pushya, § 554), who set out for Hāstinapura with a following of disciples (V, 6). After Kṛshṇa, etc. () had set out for Dvārakā, Arjuna and Duryodhana come thither, while Kṛshṇa was asleep
Duryodhana sat down at the head of the bed
after him Arjuna came and stood at the back of the bed. And when Kṛshṇa awoke, he first saw Arjuna. Arjuna chose for his partner Kṛshṇa himself, who was not to fight
Duryodhana selected for himself Kṛshṇa's ten crores of Nārāyaṇa cowherds. Balarāma said he would fight neither for Kuntī's sons nor for Duryodhana. Kṛtavarman gave an akshauhiṇī to Duryodhana. Kṛshṇa promised to become Arjuna's charioteer
Arjuna came back to Yudhishṭhira with Kṛshṇa and the flower of the Daśārha race (V, 7).--§ 555: Śalya with his sons and troops (description) was advancing in order to join the Pāṇḍavas
but Duryodhana caused fine palaces of entertainment to be constructed at different spots for his reception
Śalya first thought this had been arranged by Yudhishṭhira, until Duryodhana came forward and showed himself
then he promised Duryodhana to become the leader of his army. Śalya, however, first proceeded to the Pāṇḍavas at Upaplavya, and told them about the matter. He promised Yudhishṭhira that when he became Karṇa's charioteer he would act so that Karṇa might be dispirited
and in order to comfort Yudhishṭhira he reminded him that Śakra (Indra) had to endure, together with his wife, very great misery (V, 8). At the request of Yudhishṭhira, Śalya related the ancient story (itihāsaṃ purātanaṃ) of the great misery endured by Indra and his queen (v. Indravijaya) (V, 9--17). So Yudhishṭhira should also regain his kingdom. This story of the victory of Indra, equal to the Veda, should be listened to by a king desirous of victory
he who reads it with a heart full of religious faith is purified from his sins, etc. Śalya repeated his promise to damp the spirits of Karṇa, and went with his army to Duryodhana (V, 18). Yuyudhāna, etc. () came to Yudhishṭhira with troops (description). For the Pāṇḍavas there were thus assembled seven akshauhiṇīs of troops from various directions. In the same way king Bhagadatta (with an akshauhiṇī crowded with Cīnas and Kirātas), etc. () came to the Dhārtarāshṭras. And thus Duryodhana had a force which numbered eleven akshauhiṇīs, so that there was no room for them in the city of Hāstinapura
but the Pañcanada, the whole Kurujāṅgala, etc. (), full of ābundant corn and wealth, was entirely overspread with the army of the Kauravas. And this army was beheld by the purohita who had been sent by the Pāñcāla king to the Kurus (V, 19).