Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/407

Rh fore, ye sons of Pandu, ye have been censured by me 1 The Yakshas. Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Pisachas, Uragas and Danavas, are possessed of wisdom and intelligence, and acquainted with the history of the Kuru race, O hero, I, too, have heard from Narada and other celestial Rishis about the good deeds of your wise ancestors ! I myself, too, while roaming over the whole Earth bounded by her belt of seas, have witnessed the prowess of thy great race! O Arjuna, I have personal knowledge of thy preceptor, the illustrious son of Bharadwaja, celebrated throughout the three worlds for his knowledge of the Vedas and the science of arms. O tiger in Kuru's race, O son of Pritha, I also know Dharma, Vayu, Sakra, the twin Aswins, and Pandu.--these six perpetuators of Kuru race,-these excellent celestials and human progenitors of you all! I also know that you five brothers are learned and high-souled, that ye are foremost of all wielders of weapons, that ye are brave and virtuous and observant of vows. Knowing that your understanding and hearts are excellent and your behaviour faultless, I have yet censured you ! For, O thou of Kuru's race, it behoveth no man endued with might of arms to bear with patience any ill usage in the sight of his wife ! Especially as, O son of Kunti, our might increasech during the hours of darkness, accompanied by my wife I was filled with wrath I O best of vow-observing men, I have, however, been vanquished by thee in battle. Listen to me as I tell thee the reasons that have led to my discomfiture! The Brahmacharyya is a very superior mode of life, and as thou art in that mode now, it is for this, O Partha, that I have been defeated by thee in battle! O chastiser of foes, if any married Kshatriya fight with us at night, he can never escape with life But, O Partha, a married Kshatriya, who is sanctified with Brahma, and who hath assigned the cares of his State to a priest, might vanquish all wanders is the night. O child of Tapati, men should therefore, ever employ learned priests possessing self-command for the acquisition of every good luck they desire. That Brahmana is worthy of being the king's priest who is learned in the Vedas and the six branches thereof, who is pure and truthful, who is of virtuous soul and possessed of selfcommand. The monarch becometh ever victorious and finally earneth heaven who hath for his priests a Brahmana conversant with the rules of morality, who is a master of words, and who is pure and of good behaviour. The king should always select an accomplished priest in order to acquire what he hath not and protect what he hath. He who desireth his own prosperity should ever be guided by his priest, for he may then obtain even the whole Earth surrounded by her belt of seas. O son of Tapati, a king, who is without a Brahmana, can never acquire any land by his bravery of glory of birth alone! Know, therefore, O

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