Mahabharata (English)

by Kisari Mohan Ganguli | 2,566,952 words | ISBN-10: 8121505933

The English translation of the Mahabharata is a large text describing ancient India. It is authored by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and contains the records of ancient humans. Also, it documents the fate of the Kauravas and the Pandavas family. Another part of the large contents, deal with many philosophical dialogues such as the goals of life. Book...

Section LXXI

"Karna said,—

'We have never heard of such an act (as this one of Draupadi), performed by any of the women noted in this world for their beauty. When the sons of both Pandu and Dhritarashtra were excited with wrath, this Draupadi became unto the sons of Pandu as their salvation. Indeed the princess of Pancala, becoming as a boat unto the sons of Pandu who were sinking in a boatless ocean of distress, has brought them in safety to the shore.'"

Vaisampayana continued,—"Hearing these words of Karna in the midst of the Kurus,—viz., that the sons of Pandu were saved by their wife,—the angry Bhimasena in great affliction said (unto Arjuna),—

'O Dhananjaya, it has been said by Devala three lights reside in every person, viz., offspring, acts and learning, for from these three has sprung creation. When life becomes extinct and the body becomes impure and is cast off by relatives, these three become of service to every person. But the light that is in us has been dimmed by this act of insult to our wife.

How, O Arjuna, can a son born from this insulted wife of ours prove serviceable to us?

"Arjuna replied,—

’superior persons, O Bharata, never prate about the harsh words that may or may not be uttered by inferior men. Persons that have earned respect for themselves, even if they are able to retaliate, remember not the acts of hostility done by their enemies, but, on the other hand, treasure up only their good deeds.'

'Bhima said,—

’shall I, O king, slay, without loss of time all these foes assembled together, even here, or shall I destroy them, O Bharata, by the roots, outside this palace? Or, what need is there of words or of command? I shall slay all these even now, and rule you the whole earth, O king, without a rival.

And saying this, Bhima with his younger brothers, like a lion in the midst of a herd of inferior animals, repeatedly cast his angry glances around. But Arjuna, however, of white deeds, with appealing looks began to pacify his elder brother. And the mighty-armed hero endued with great prowess began to burn with the fire of his wrath.

And, O king, this fire began to issue out of Vrikodara’s ears and other senses with smoke and sparks and flames. And his face became terrible to behold in consequence of his furrowed brows like those of Yama himself at the time of the universal destruction.

Then Yudhishthira forbade the mighty hero, embracing him with his arms and telling him

'Be not so. Stay in silence and peace.'

And having pacified the mighty-armed one with eyes red in wrath, the king approached his uncle Dhritarashtra, with hands joined in entreaty."

Conclusion:

This concludes Section LXXI of Book 2 (Sabha Parva) of the Mahabharata, of which an English translation is presented on this page. This book is famous as one of the Itihasa, similair in content to the eighteen Puranas. Book 2 is one of the eighteen books comprising roughly 100,000 Sanskrit metrical verses.

FAQ (frequently asked questions):

Which keywords occur in Section LXXI of Book 2 of the Mahabharata?

The most relevant definitions are: Arjuna, Pandu, Karna, Draupadi, Dhritarashtra, Bharata; since these occur the most in Book 2, Section LXXI. There are a total of 16 unique keywords found in this section mentioned 27 times.

What is the name of the Parva containing Section LXXI of Book 2?

Section LXXI is part of the Sisupala-badha Parva which itself is a sub-section of Book 2 (Sabha Parva). The Sisupala-badha Parva contains a total of 42 sections while Book 2 contains a total of 7 such Parvas.

Can I buy a print edition of Section LXXI as contained in Book 2?

Yes! The print edition of the Mahabharata contains the English translation of Section LXXI of Book 2 and can be bought on the main page. The author is Kisari Mohan Ganguli and the latest edition (including Section LXXI) is from 2012.

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