sidhellman/clean_data.txt · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 0 182
"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed, O thou of Kuru's race, by the old king, the citizens and the inhabitants of the provinces
stood sometime like men deprived of consciousness. King Dhritarashtra, finding them silent, with their throats choked by grief,
once more addressed them, saying, 'Ye best of men, old as I am, sonless, and indulging, through cheerlessness of heart, in
diverse lamentations along with this my wedded wife, I have obtained the permission, in the matter of my retirement into the
forest, of my sire, the Island-born Krishna himself, as also of king Yudhishthira, who is conversant with every duty, ye
righteous denizens of this kingdom. Ye sinless ones, I, with Gandhari, repeatedly solicit you with bent heads. It behoves you all
to grant us permission.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these pitiable words of the Kuru king, O monarch, the assembled denizens of Kurujangala
all began to weep. Covering their faces with their hands and upper garments, all those men burning with grief, wept for a while
as fathers and mothers would weep (at the prospect of a dear son about to leave them for ever). Bearing in their hearts, from
which every other thought had been dispelled, the sorrow born of Dhritarashtra's desire to leave the world, they looked like
men deprived of all consciousness. Checking that agitation of heart due to the announcement of Dhritarashtra's desire of going
to the forest, they gradually were able to address one another, expressing their wishes. Settling their words in brief, O king,
they charged a certain Brahmana with the task of replying unto the old monarch. That learned Brahmana, of good behaviour,
chosen by unanimous consent, conversant with all topics, master of all the Richs, and named Samba, endeavoured to speak.
Taking the permission of the whole assembly and with its full approbation, that learned Brahmana of great intelligence,
conscious of his own abilities, said these words unto the king,--'O monarch, the answer of this assembly has been committed to
my care. I shall voice it, O hero. Do thou receive it, O king. What thou gayest, O king of kings, is all true, O puissant one.
There is nothing in it that is even slightly untrue. Thou art our well-wisher, as, indeed, we are thine. Verily, in this race of
kings, there never wag a king who coming to rule his subjects became unpopular with them. Ye have ruled us like fathers or
brothers. King Duryodhana never did us any wrong. Do that, O king, which that righteous-souled ascetic, the son of Satyavati,
has said. He is, verily, our foremost of instructors. Left by thee, O monarch, we shall have to pass our days in grief and sorrow,
filled with remembrance of thy hundreds of virtues. We were well protected and ruled by king Duryodhana even as we had
been ruled by king Santanu, or by Chitrangada, or by thy father, O monarch, who was protected by the prowess of Bhishma, or
by Pandu, that ruler of Earth, who was overlooked by thee in all his acts. Thy son, O monarch, never did us the slightest wrong.
We lived, relying on that king as trustfully as on our own father. It is known to thee how we lived (under that ruler). After the
same manner, we have enjoyed great happiness, O monarch, for thousands of years, under the rule of Kunti's son of great
intelligence and wisdom[27]. This righteous-souled king who performs sacrifices with gifts in profusion, follows the conduct
of the royal sages of old, belonging to thy race, of meritorious deeds, having Kuru and Samvara and others and Bharata of great
intelligence among them. There is nothing, O monarch, that is even slightly censurable in the matter of this Yudhishthira's rule.
Protected and ruled by thee, we have all lived in great happiness. The slightest demerit is incapable of being alleged against
thee and thy son. Regarding what thou hast said about Duryodhana in the matter of this carnage of kinsmen, I beg thee, O
delighter of the Kurus (to listen to me).'

"The Brahmana continued, 'The destruction that has overtaken the Kurus was not brought about by Duryodhana. It was not
brought about by thee. Nor was it brought about by Karna and Suvala's son. We know that it was brought about by destiny, and
that it was incapable of being counteracted. Verily, destiny is not capable of being resisted by human exertion. Eight and ten
Akshauhinis of troops, O monarch, were brought together. In eight and ten days that host was destroyed by the foremost of
Kuru warriors, viz., Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and others, and the high-souled Karna, and the heroic Yuyudhana, and
Dhrishtadyumna, and by the four sons of Pandu, that is, Bhima and Arjuna and twins. This (tremendous) carnage, O king,
could not happen without the influence of destiny. Without doubt, by Kshatriyas in particular, should foes be slain and death
encountered in battle. By those foremost of men, endued with science and might of arms, the Earth has been exterminated with
her steeds and cars and elephants. Thy son was not the cause of that carnage of high-souled kings. Thou wert not the cause, nor
thy servants, nor Karna, nor Suvala's son. The destruction of those foremost ones of Kuru's race and of kings by thousands,
know, was brought about by destiny. Who can say anything else in this? Thou art regarded as the Guru and the master of the
whole world. We, therefore, in thy presence, absolve thy righteous-souled son. Let that king, with all his associates, obtain the
regions reserved for heroes. Permitted by foremost of Brahmanas, let him sport blissfully in heaven. Thou also shalt attain to
great merit, and unswerving steadiness in virtue. O thou of excellent vows, follow thou fully the duties indicated in the Vedas.
It is not necessary for either thee or ourselves to look after the Pandavas. They are capable of ruling the very Heavens, what
need then be said of the Earth? O thou of great intelligence, in prosperity as in adversity, the subjects of this kingdom, O
foremost one of Kuru's race, will be obedient to the Pandavas who have conduct for their ornament. The son of Pandu makes
those valuable gifts which are always to be made to foremost of regenerate persons in sacrifices and in obsequial rites, after the
manner of all the great kings of antiquity. The high-minded son of Kunti is mild, and self-restrained, and is always disposed to
spend as if he were a second Vaisravana. He has great ministers that attend on him. He is compassionate to even his foes.
Indeed, that foremost one of Bharata's race is of pure conduct. Endued with great intelligence, he is perfectly straight-forward
in his dealings and rules and protects us like a father protecting his children. From association with him who is the son of
Dharma, O royal sage, Bhima and Arjuna and others will never do us the least wrong. They are mild, O thou of Kuru's race,
unto them that are mild, and fierce like snakes of virulent poison unto them that are fierce. Possessed of great energy, those
high-souled ones are always devoted to the good of the people. Neither Kunti, nor thy (daughter-in-law) Panchali, nor Ulupi,
nor the princess of the Sattwata race, will do the least wrong to these people.[28] The affection which thou hast shown towards
us and which in Yudhishthira is seen to exist in a still larger measure is incapable of being forgotten by the people of the city
and the provinces. Those mighty car-warriors, viz., the son of Kunti, themselves devoted to the duties of the righteousness, will
protect and cherish the people even if these happen to be unrighteous. Do thou, therefore, O king, dispelling all anxiety of heart
on account of Yudhishthira, set thyself to the accomplishment of all meritorious acts, O foremost of men.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words, fraught with righteousness and merit, of that Brahmana and approving of
them, every person in that assembly said, 'Excellent, Excellent' and accepted them as his own. Dhritarashtra also, repeatedly
applauding those words, slowly dismissed that assembly of his subjects. Thus honoured by them and looked upon with
auspicious glances, the old king, O chief of Bharata's race, joined his hands and honoured them all in return. He then entered
his own mansion with Gandhari. Listen now to what he did after that night had passed away."'

SECTION XI

"Vaisampayana said, 'After that night had passed away, Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, despatched Vidura to Yudhishthira's
mansion. Endued with great energy and the foremost of all persons possessed of intelligence, Vidura, having arrived at
Yudhishthira's mansion, addressed that foremost of men, that king of unfading glory, in these words, 'King Dhritarashtra has
undergone the preliminary rites for accomplishing his purpose of retiring into the woods. He will set out for the woods, O king,
on the coming day of full moon of the month of Kartika. He now solicits from thee, O foremost one of Kuru's race, some
wealth. He wishes to perform the Sraddha of the high-souled son of Ganga, as also of Drona and Somadatta and Valhika of
great intelligence, and of all his sons as also of all well-wishers of his that have been slain, and, if thou permittest it, of that
wicked-souled wight, viz., the ruler of the Sindhus.'[29] Hearing these words of Vidura, both Yudhishthira, and Pandit's son
Arjuna of curly hair, became very glad and applauded them highly. Bhima, however, of great energy and unappeasable wrath,
did not accept those words of Vidura in good spirits, recollecting the acts of Duryodhana. The diadem-decked Phalguna,
understanding the thoughts of Bhimasena, slightly bending his face downwards, addressed that foremost of men in these words,
'O Bhima, our royal father who is advancing in years, has resolved to retire into the woods. He wishes to make gifts for
advancing the happiness of his slain kinsmen and well-wishers now in the other world. O thou of Kuru's race, he wishes to give
away wealth that belongs to thee by conquest. Indeed, O mighty-armed one, it is for Bhishma and others that the old king is
desirous of making those gifts. It behoves thee to grant thy permission. By good luck it is, O thou of mighty arms that
Dhritarashtra today begs wealth of us, he who was formerly begged by us. Behold the reverse brought about by Time. That
king who was before the lord and protector of the whole Earth, now desires to go into the woods, his kinsmen and associates all
slain by foes. O chief of men, let not thy views deviate from granting the permission asked for. O mighty-armed one, refusal,
besides bringing infamy, will be productive d demerit. Do thou learn your duty in this matter from the king, thy eldest brother,
who is lord of all. It becometh thee to give instead of refusing, O chief of Bharata's race. Vibhatsu who was saying so wag
applauded by king Yudhishthira the just. Yielding to wrath, Bhimasena said these words, 'O Phalguna, it is we that shall make
gifts in the matter of Bhishma's obsequies, as also of king Somadatta and of Bhurisravas, of the royal sage Valhika, and of the
high-souled Drona, and of all others. Our mother Kunti shall make such obsequial offerings for Karna. O foremost of men, let
not Dhritarashtra perform those Sraddhas. Even this is what I think. Let not our foes be gladdened. Let Duryodhana and others
sink from a miserable to a more miserable position. Alas, it was those wretches of their race that caused the whole Earth to be
exterminated. How hast thou been able to forget that anxiety of twelve long years, and our residence in deep incognito that was

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed, O thou of Kuru's race, by the old king, the citizens and the inhabitants of the provinces

stood sometime like men deprived of consciousness. King Dhritarashtra, finding them silent, with their throats choked by grief,

once more addressed them, saying, 'Ye best of men, old as I am, sonless, and indulging, through cheerlessness of heart, in

diverse lamentations along with this my wedded wife, I have obtained the permission, in the matter of my retirement into the

forest, of my sire, the Island-born Krishna himself, as also of king Yudhishthira, who is conversant with every duty, ye

righteous denizens of this kingdom. Ye sinless ones, I, with Gandhari, repeatedly solicit you with bent heads. It behoves you all

to grant us permission.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these pitiable words of the Kuru king, O monarch, the assembled denizens of Kurujangala

all began to weep. Covering their faces with their hands and upper garments, all those men burning with grief, wept for a while

as fathers and mothers would weep (at the prospect of a dear son about to leave them for ever). Bearing in their hearts, from

which every other thought had been dispelled, the sorrow born of Dhritarashtra's desire to leave the world, they looked like

men deprived of all consciousness. Checking that agitation of heart due to the announcement of Dhritarashtra's desire of going

to the forest, they gradually were able to address one another, expressing their wishes. Settling their words in brief, O king,

they charged a certain Brahmana with the task of replying unto the old monarch. That learned Brahmana, of good behaviour,

chosen by unanimous consent, conversant with all topics, master of all the Richs, and named Samba, endeavoured to speak.

Taking the permission of the whole assembly and with its full approbation, that learned Brahmana of great intelligence,

conscious of his own abilities, said these words unto the king,--'O monarch, the answer of this assembly has been committed to

my care. I shall voice it, O hero. Do thou receive it, O king. What thou gayest, O king of kings, is all true, O puissant one.

There is nothing in it that is even slightly untrue. Thou art our well-wisher, as, indeed, we are thine. Verily, in this race of

kings, there never wag a king who coming to rule his subjects became unpopular with them. Ye have ruled us like fathers or

brothers. King Duryodhana never did us any wrong. Do that, O king, which that righteous-souled ascetic, the son of Satyavati,

has said. He is, verily, our foremost of instructors. Left by thee, O monarch, we shall have to pass our days in grief and sorrow,

filled with remembrance of thy hundreds of virtues. We were well protected and ruled by king Duryodhana even as we had

been ruled by king Santanu, or by Chitrangada, or by thy father, O monarch, who was protected by the prowess of Bhishma, or

by Pandu, that ruler of Earth, who was overlooked by thee in all his acts. Thy son, O monarch, never did us the slightest wrong.

We lived, relying on that king as trustfully as on our own father. It is known to thee how we lived (under that ruler). After the

same manner, we have enjoyed great happiness, O monarch, for thousands of years, under the rule of Kunti's son of great

intelligence and wisdom[27]. This righteous-souled king who performs sacrifices with gifts in profusion, follows the conduct

of the royal sages of old, belonging to thy race, of meritorious deeds, having Kuru and Samvara and others and Bharata of great

intelligence among them. There is nothing, O monarch, that is even slightly censurable in the matter of this Yudhishthira's rule.

Protected and ruled by thee, we have all lived in great happiness. The slightest demerit is incapable of being alleged against

thee and thy son. Regarding what thou hast said about Duryodhana in the matter of this carnage of kinsmen, I beg thee, O

delighter of the Kurus (to listen to me).'

"The Brahmana continued, 'The destruction that has overtaken the Kurus was not brought about by Duryodhana. It was not

brought about by thee. Nor was it brought about by Karna and Suvala's son. We know that it was brought about by destiny, and

that it was incapable of being counteracted. Verily, destiny is not capable of being resisted by human exertion. Eight and ten

Akshauhinis of troops, O monarch, were brought together. In eight and ten days that host was destroyed by the foremost of

Kuru warriors, viz., Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and others, and the high-souled Karna, and the heroic Yuyudhana, and

Dhrishtadyumna, and by the four sons of Pandu, that is, Bhima and Arjuna and twins. This (tremendous) carnage, O king,

could not happen without the influence of destiny. Without doubt, by Kshatriyas in particular, should foes be slain and death

encountered in battle. By those foremost of men, endued with science and might of arms, the Earth has been exterminated with

her steeds and cars and elephants. Thy son was not the cause of that carnage of high-souled kings. Thou wert not the cause, nor

thy servants, nor Karna, nor Suvala's son. The destruction of those foremost ones of Kuru's race and of kings by thousands,

know, was brought about by destiny. Who can say anything else in this? Thou art regarded as the Guru and the master of the

whole world. We, therefore, in thy presence, absolve thy righteous-souled son. Let that king, with all his associates, obtain the

regions reserved for heroes. Permitted by foremost of Brahmanas, let him sport blissfully in heaven. Thou also shalt attain to

great merit, and unswerving steadiness in virtue. O thou of excellent vows, follow thou fully the duties indicated in the Vedas.

It is not necessary for either thee or ourselves to look after the Pandavas. They are capable of ruling the very Heavens, what

need then be said of the Earth? O thou of great intelligence, in prosperity as in adversity, the subjects of this kingdom, O

foremost one of Kuru's race, will be obedient to the Pandavas who have conduct for their ornament. The son of Pandu makes

those valuable gifts which are always to be made to foremost of regenerate persons in sacrifices and in obsequial rites, after the

manner of all the great kings of antiquity. The high-minded son of Kunti is mild, and self-restrained, and is always disposed to

spend as if he were a second Vaisravana. He has great ministers that attend on him. He is compassionate to even his foes.

Indeed, that foremost one of Bharata's race is of pure conduct. Endued with great intelligence, he is perfectly straight-forward

in his dealings and rules and protects us like a father protecting his children. From association with him who is the son of

Dharma, O royal sage, Bhima and Arjuna and others will never do us the least wrong. They are mild, O thou of Kuru's race,

unto them that are mild, and fierce like snakes of virulent poison unto them that are fierce. Possessed of great energy, those

high-souled ones are always devoted to the good of the people. Neither Kunti, nor thy (daughter-in-law) Panchali, nor Ulupi,

nor the princess of the Sattwata race, will do the least wrong to these people.[28] The affection which thou hast shown towards

us and which in Yudhishthira is seen to exist in a still larger measure is incapable of being forgotten by the people of the city

and the provinces. Those mighty car-warriors, viz., the son of Kunti, themselves devoted to the duties of the righteousness, will

protect and cherish the people even if these happen to be unrighteous. Do thou, therefore, O king, dispelling all anxiety of heart

on account of Yudhishthira, set thyself to the accomplishment of all meritorious acts, O foremost of men.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words, fraught with righteousness and merit, of that Brahmana and approving of

them, every person in that assembly said, 'Excellent, Excellent' and accepted them as his own. Dhritarashtra also, repeatedly

applauding those words, slowly dismissed that assembly of his subjects. Thus honoured by them and looked upon with

auspicious glances, the old king, O chief of Bharata's race, joined his hands and honoured them all in return. He then entered

his own mansion with Gandhari. Listen now to what he did after that night had passed away."'

SECTION XI

"Vaisampayana said, 'After that night had passed away, Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, despatched Vidura to Yudhishthira's

mansion. Endued with great energy and the foremost of all persons possessed of intelligence, Vidura, having arrived at

Yudhishthira's mansion, addressed that foremost of men, that king of unfading glory, in these words, 'King Dhritarashtra has

undergone the preliminary rites for accomplishing his purpose of retiring into the woods. He will set out for the woods, O king,

on the coming day of full moon of the month of Kartika. He now solicits from thee, O foremost one of Kuru's race, some

wealth. He wishes to perform the Sraddha of the high-souled son of Ganga, as also of Drona and Somadatta and Valhika of

great intelligence, and of all his sons as also of all well-wishers of his that have been slain, and, if thou permittest it, of that

wicked-souled wight, viz., the ruler of the Sindhus.'[29] Hearing these words of Vidura, both Yudhishthira, and Pandit's son

Arjuna of curly hair, became very glad and applauded them highly. Bhima, however, of great energy and unappeasable wrath,

did not accept those words of Vidura in good spirits, recollecting the acts of Duryodhana. The diadem-decked Phalguna,

understanding the thoughts of Bhimasena, slightly bending his face downwards, addressed that foremost of men in these words,

'O Bhima, our royal father who is advancing in years, has resolved to retire into the woods. He wishes to make gifts for

advancing the happiness of his slain kinsmen and well-wishers now in the other world. O thou of Kuru's race, he wishes to give

away wealth that belongs to thee by conquest. Indeed, O mighty-armed one, it is for Bhishma and others that the old king is

desirous of making those gifts. It behoves thee to grant thy permission. By good luck it is, O thou of mighty arms that

Dhritarashtra today begs wealth of us, he who was formerly begged by us. Behold the reverse brought about by Time. That

king who was before the lord and protector of the whole Earth, now desires to go into the woods, his kinsmen and associates all

slain by foes. O chief of men, let not thy views deviate from granting the permission asked for. O mighty-armed one, refusal,

besides bringing infamy, will be productive d demerit. Do thou learn your duty in this matter from the king, thy eldest brother,

who is lord of all. It becometh thee to give instead of refusing, O chief of Bharata's race. Vibhatsu who was saying so wag

applauded by king Yudhishthira the just. Yielding to wrath, Bhimasena said these words, 'O Phalguna, it is we that shall make

gifts in the matter of Bhishma's obsequies, as also of king Somadatta and of Bhurisravas, of the royal sage Valhika, and of the

high-souled Drona, and of all others. Our mother Kunti shall make such obsequial offerings for Karna. O foremost of men, let

not Dhritarashtra perform those Sraddhas. Even this is what I think. Let not our foes be gladdened. Let Duryodhana and others

sink from a miserable to a more miserable position. Alas, it was those wretches of their race that caused the whole Earth to be

exterminated. How hast thou been able to forget that anxiety of twelve long years, and our residence in deep incognito that was