Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/370

356 absence of others of the same species, becometh sacred and is worshipped and venerated by all. They again that have many relatives who, however, are all heroic and virtuous, live happily in the world without sorrow of any kind. Themselves powerful and growing in prosperity and always gladdening their friends and relatives, they live, depending on each other, like tall trees growing in the same forest. We, however, have been forced in exile by the wicked Dhritarashtra and his sons having escaped with difficulty, from sheer good fortune, a fiery death. Having escaped from that fire, we are now resting in the shade of this tree! Having already suffered so much, where now are we to go? Ye sons of Dhritarashtra of little foresight, ye wicked fellows, enjoy your temporary success I The gods are certainly auspicious to you ! But ye wicked wretches, ye are alive yet, only because Yudhishthira doth not command me to take your lives! Else this very day, 6lled as I am with wrath, I would send thee, (O Duryyodhana), to the regions of Yama (Pluto) with thy children and friends and brothers, and Karna, and (Sakuni) the son of Suvala ! But what can I do, for, ye sinful wretches. the virtuous king Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, is not yet angry with you !

"Having said this, Bhima of mighty arms, fired with wrath, began to squeeze his palms, sighing deeply in affliction, Excited again with wrath like an extinguished fire blazing up all on a sudden, Vrikodara once more beheld his brothers sleeping on the ground like ordinary persons sleeping in trustfulness. And Bbima said unto himself-'I think there is some town not far off from this forest. These all are asleep, so I will sit awake. And this will slake their thirst after they rise refreshed from sleep! Saying this, Bhima sat there awake, keeping, watch over his sleeping mother and brothers."

Thus ends the hundred and fifty-third section in the Jatugriba Parva of the Adi Parva.