vanquished hostile hosts, men of true heroism speak not a word of their
prowess. Fire burneth mutely and mutely doth the sun shine. Mutely also
doth the Earth bear creatures, both mobile and immobile. The
Self-existent hath sanctioned such offices for the four orders that
having recourse to them each may acquire wealth without being
censurable. A Brahmana, having studied the _Vedas_, should perform
sacrifices himself, and officiate at the sacrifices of others. And a
Kshatriya, depending upon the bow, should perform sacrifices himself but
should never officiate at the sacrifices of others. And a Vaisya, having
earned wealth, should cause the rites enjoined in the _Vedas_ to be
performed for himself. A Sudra should always wait upon and serve the
other three orders. As regards those that live by practising the
profession of flowers and vendors of meat, they may earn wealth by
expedients fraught with deceit and fraud. Always acting according to the
dictates of the scriptures, the exalted sons of Pandu acquired the
sovereignty of the whole earth, and they always act respectfully towards
their superiors, even if the latter prove hostile to them. What
Kshatriya is there that expressed delight at having obtained a kingdom
by means of dice, like this wicked and shameless son of Dhritarashtra?
Having acquired wealth in this way by deceit and fraud like a vendor of
meat, who that is wise boast of it? In what single combat didst thou
vanquish Dhananjaya, or Nakula, or Sahadeva, although thou hast robbed
them of their wealth? In what battle didst thou defeat Yudhishthira, or
Bhima that foremost of strong men? In what battle was Indraprastha
conquered by thee? What thou hast done, however, O thou of wicked deeds,
is to drag that princess to court while she was ill and had but one
raiment on? Thou hast cut the mighty root, delicate as the sandal, of
the Pandava tree. Actuated by desire of wealth, when thou madest the
Pandavas act as slaves, rememberest thou what Vidura said! We see that
men and others, even insects and ants, show forgiveness according to
their power of endurance. The son of Pandu, however, is incapable of
forgiving the sufferings of Draupadi. Surely, Dhananjaya cometh here for
the destruction of the sons of Dhritarashtra. It is true, affecting
great wisdom, thou art for making speeches but will not Vibhatsu, that
slayer of foes, exterminate us all! If it be gods, or _Gandharvas_ or
_Asuras_, or _Rakshasas_, will Dhanan