never be able
to behold the sons of Pandu in prosperity!'

"Sakuni said, 'O king, O lord of the earth, what folly hath taken
possession of thee! The Pandavas have gone to the forest, having given a
particular pledge, so that what thou apprehendest can never take place!
O bull of the Bharata race, the Pandavas ever abide by the truth. They
will never, therefore, accept the words of thy father! If however,
accepting the commands of the king, they come back to the capital,
violating their vow, even this would be our conduct, viz., assuming, an
aspect of neutrality, and in apparent obedience to the will of the
monarch, we will closely watch the Pandavas, keeping our counsels!'

"Dussasana said, 'O uncle of great intelligence, it is even as thou
sayest! The words of wisdom thou utterest always recommend themselves to
me!' Karna said, 'O Duryodhana, all of us seek to accomplish thy will
and, O king, I see that unanimity at present prevaileth among us! The
sons of Pandu, with passions under complete control, will never return
without passing away the promised period. If, however, they do return
from failing sense, do thou defeat them again at dice.'"

Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana with
cheerless heart, averted his face from his counsellors. Marking all
this, Karna expanding his beautiful eyes, and vehemently gesticulating
in anger, haughtily addressed Duryodhana and Dussasana and Suvala's son
saying, 'Ye princes, know ye my opinion! We are all servants of the king
(Duryodhana) waiting upon him with joined palms! We should, therefore,
do what is agreeable to him! But we are not always able to seek his
welfare with promptness and activity (owing to our dependence on
Dhritarashtra)! But let us now, encased in mail and armed with our
weapons, mount our cars and go in a body to slay the Pandavas now living
in the forest! After the Pandavas have been quieted and after they have
gone on the unknown journey, both ourselves and the sons of
Dhritarashtra will find peace! As long as they are in distress, as long
as they are in sorrow, as long as they are destitute of help, so long
are we a match for them! This is my mind!'

"Hearing those words of the charioteer's son, they repeatedly applauded
him, and at last exclaimed, 'Very well!' And saying this each of them
mounted his car, and sanguine of success, they rushed in a body to slay
the sons of Pandu. And knowing by his spiritual vision that they had
g