Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/317

Rh one another with care l'Thus cautioned by the righteous Yudhisthira, they all, with Yudhisthira himself, became very vigilant from that day. And in order that negligence might occur on the part of the sons of Kunti, Vidura continually offered them sage advice.

"Sometimes after, Duryodhana again mixed in the food of Bhima a poison that was fresh, virulent, and very deadly. But Yuyutsu (Dhritarashtra's son by a Vaisya wife), moved by his friendship for the Pandavas, informed them of this, Vrikodara, however, swallowed it without any hesitation, and digested it completely. And though virulent the poison produced no effects on Bhina.

"When that terrible poison intended for the destruction of Bhima failed of effect, Duryodhana, Karna and Sakuni, without giving up their wicked design had recourse to numerous other contrivances for accomplishing the death of the Pandavas. And though every one of these contrivances was fully known to the Pandavas, yet in accordance with the advice of Vidura they suppressed their indignation.

"Meanwhile, the king (Dhritarashtra), beholding the Kuru princes passing their time in idleness and growing naughty, appointed Gautama as their preceptor and sent them unto him for instruction. Born among a clump of heath, Gautama was well-skilled in the Vedas and it was under him (also called Kripa) that the Kuru princes began to learn the use of arms."

Thus ends the hundred and twenty-ninth section in the Sambhava Parva of the Adi Parva.

Janamejaya said.--"O Brahmana, it behoveth thee to relate to me everything about the birth of Kripa ! How did he spring from clump of beath? Whence also did be obtain his weapons ?"

Vaisampayana said, "O king, the great sage Gautama had a son named Saradwat. This Saradwat was born with arrows (in hand). O oppressor of foes, the son of Gautama exhibited greac aptitude for the study of the science of weapons, but none for the other sciences. Saradwat acquired all his weapons by those austerities by which Brahmanas in student life acquire the knowledge of Vedas. Gautama (the son of Gotama) by his aptitude for the science of weapons and by his austerities made Indra himself greatly afraid of bim. Then, O thou of Kuru's race, the chief of the Gods summoned a celestial damsel