our
troops. Like myself (who am doubtful of the completion of period of
exile) Duryodhana also had said so before. Bearing it in mind, it
behoveth the son of Ganga to say what is true.'"

SECTION LII

"Bhishma said, 'The wheel of time revolves with its divisions, viz.,
with _Kalas_ and _Kasthas_ and _Muhurtas_ and days and fortnights and
months and constellations and planets and seasons and years. In
consequence of their fractional excesses and the deviations of also of
the heavenly bodies, there is an increase of two months in every five
years. It seems to me that calculating this wise, there would be an
excess of five months and twelve nights in thirteen years. Everything,
therefore, that the sons of Pandu had promised, hath been exactly
fulfilled by them. Knowing this to be certain, Vibhatsu hath made his
appearance. All of them are high-souled and fully conversant with the
meanings of the scriptures. How would they deviate from virtue that have
Yudhishthira for their guide? The sons of Kunti do not yield to
temptation. They have achieved a difficult feat. If they had coveted the
possession of their kingdom by unfair means, then those descendants of
the Kuru race would have sought to display their prowess at the time of
the match at dice. Bound in bonds of virtue, they did not deviate from
the duties of the Kshatriya order. He that will regard them to have
behaved falsely will surely meet with defeat. The sons of Pritha would
prefer death to falsehood. When the time, however, comes, those bulls
among men--the Pandavas--endued with energy like that of Sakra, would
not give up what is theirs even if it is defended by the wielder himself
of the thunderbolt. We shall have to oppose in battle the foremost of
all wielders of weapons. Therefore, let such advantageous arrangements
as have the sanction of the good and the honest be now made without loss
of time so that our possessions may not be appropriated by the foe. O
king of kings, O Kaurava, I have never seen a battle in which one of the
parties could say,--_we are sure to win_. When a battle occurs, there
must be victory or defeat, prosperity or adversity. Without doubt, a
party to a battle must have either of the two. Therefore, O king of
kings, whether a battle be now proper or not consistent with virtue or
not, make thy arrangements soon, for Dhananjaya is at hand.'

"Duryodhana said, 'I will not, O grandsire, give back the Pandavas their
kingdom. Let every pr