Section CXXXII

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then, O king, the mighty son of Bharadyaja presented himself before Drupada, and addressing that monarch, said,

'Know me for your friend.'

Thus addressed by his friend, the son of Bharadvaja, with a joyous heart, the lord of the Pancalas was ill-able to bear that speech. The king, intoxicated with the pride of wealth, contracted his brows in wrath, and with reddened eyes spake these words unto Drona,

'O Brahmana, your intelligence is scarcely of a high order, inasmuch as you sayest unto me, all on a sudden, that you are my friend!

O you of dull apprehension, great kings can never be friends with such luckless and indigent wights as you! It is true there had been friendship between you and me before, for we were then both equally circumstanced. But Time that impairs everything in its course, impairs friendship also. In this world, friendship never endures for ever in any heart. Time wears it off and anger destroyes it too.

Do not stick, therefore, to that worn-off friendship. Think not of it any longer.

The friendship I had with you, O first of Brahmanas, was for a particular purpose. Friendship can never subsist between a poor man and a rich man, between a man of letters and an unlettered mind, between a hero and a coward. Why dost you desire the continuance of our former friendship?

There may be friendship or hostility between persons equally situated as to wealth or might.

The indigent and the affluent can neither be friends nor quarrel with each other. One of impure birth can never be a friend to one of pure birth; one who is not a car-warrior can never be a friend to one who is so; and one who is not a king never have a king for his friend. Therefore, why dost you desire the continuance of our former friendship?'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by Drupada, the mighty son of Bharadvaja became filled with wrath, and reflecting for a moment, made up his mind as to his course of action. Seeing the insolence of the Pancala king, he wished to check it effectually. Hastily leaving the Pancala capital Drona bent his steps towards the capital of the Kurus, named after the elephant.'"