Page:The Mahabharata (Kishori Mohan Gangopadhyay, First Edition) Volume 17.djvu/18

6 Nakula has fallen down. Know this, O Vrikodara! That, O hero, which has been ordained for a person, must have to be endured by him.' Beholding Nakula and the others fall down, Pāndu's son Arjuna of white steeds, that slayer of hostile heroes, fell down in great grief of heart. When that foremost of men, who was endued with the energy of Cakra, had fallen down, indeed, when that invincible hero was on the point of death, Bhima said unto the king,'I do not recollect any untruth uttered by this high-souled one. Indeed, not even in jest did he say anything false. What then is that for whose evil consequence this one has fallen down on the Earth?'

"Yudhishthira said,'Arjuna had said that he would consume all our foes in a single day. Proud of his heroism, he did not, however, accomplish what he had said. Hence has he fallen down. This Phālguna disregarded all wielders of bows. One desirous of prosperity should never indulge such sentiments.

Vaiçampāyana continue,"Having said so, the king proceeded on. Then Bhima fell down. Having fallen down, Bhima addressed king Yudhishthira the just, saying,O king, behold! I who am thy darling have fallen down! For what reason have I dropped down? Tell me if thou knowest it!'

"Yudhishthira said,'Thou wert a great eater, and thou didst use to boast of thy strength. Thou never didst attend, O Pārtha, to the wants of others while eating. It is for that, O Bhima, that thou hast fallen down!' Having said these words, the might-armed Yudhishthira proceeded on, without looking back. He had only one companion, viz., the dog of which I have repeatedly spoken to thee, that followed him now."

Vaiçampāyana said,"Then Cakra, causing the firmament and the Earth to be filled by a loud sound, came to the son of Prithā on a car and asked him to ascend it. Beholding his