THE MAHABGATA

Om! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara the foremost of male beings, and the goddess

Saraswati also, must the word Jaya be uttered.

"Janamejaya said, 'O thou foremost of regenerate ones, deceitfully defeated at dice by the sons of

Dhritarashtra and their counsellors, incensed by those wicked ones that thus brought about a fierce

animosity, and addressed in language that was so cruel, what did the Kuru princes, my ancestors--the

sons of Pritha--(then) do? How also did the sons of Pritha, equal unto Sakra in prowess, deprived of

affluence and suddenly over whelmed with misery, pass their days in the forest? Who followed the steps

of those princes plunged in excess of affliction? And how did those high souled ones bear themselves

and derive their sustenance, and where did they put up? And, O illustrious ascetic and foremost of

Brahmanas, how did those twelve years (of exile) of those warriors who were slayers of foes, pass away

in the forest? And undeserving of pain, how did that princess, the best of her sex, devoted to her

husbands, eminently virtuous, and always speaking the truth, endure that painful exile in the forest? O

thou of ascetic wealth tell me all this in detail, for, O Brahmana, I desire to hear thee narrate the history

of those heroes possessed of abundant prowess and lustre. Truly my curiosity is great.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus defeated at dice and incensed by the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra and their

counsellors, the sons of Pritha set out from Hastinapura. And issuing through Vardhamana gate of the

city, the Pandavas bearing their weapons and accompanied by Draupadi set out in a northernly direction.

Indrasena and others, with servants numbering altogether fourteen, with their wives, followed them on

swift cars. And the citizens learning of their departure became overwhelmed with sorrow, and began to

censure Bhishma and Vidura and Drona and Gautama. And having met together they thus addressed one

another fearlessly.

'Alas, our families, we ourselves, and our homes are all gone, when the wicked Duryodhana, backed by

the son of Suvala, by Karna and Dussasana, aspireth to this kingdom. And, Oh, our families, our

(ancestral) usages, our virtue and prosperity, are all doomed where this sinful wretch supported by

wretches as sinful aspireth to the kingdom! And, Oh, how

 

can happiness be there where these are not! Duryodhana beareth malice towards all superiors, hath taken

 

leave of good conduct, and quarreleth with those that are near to him in blood. Covetous and vain and

mean, he is cruel by nature. The whole earth is doomed when Duryodhana becometh its ruler. Thither,

therefore, let us proceed whither the merciful and high-minded sons of Pandu with passions under

control and victorious over foes, and possessed of modesty and renown, and devoted to pious practices,

repair!'

"Vaisampayana said, 'And saying this, the citizens went after the Pandavas, and having met them, they

all, with joined hands, thus addressed the sons of Kunti and Madri.

'Blest be ye! Where will ye go, leaving us in grief? We will follow you whithersoever ye will go! Surely

have we been distressed upon learning that ye have been deceitfully vanquished by relentless enemies! It

behoveth you not to forsake us that are your loving subjects and devoted friends always seeking your

welfare and employed in doing what is agreeable to you! We desire not to be overwhelmed in certain

destruction living in the dominions of the Kuru king. Ye bulls among men, listen as we indicate the

merits and demerits springing respectively from association with what is good and bad! As cloth, water,

the ground, and sesame seeds are perfumed by association with flowers, even so are qualities ever the

product of association. Verily association with fools produceth an illusion that entangleth the mind, as

daily communion with the good and the wise leadeth to the practice of virtue. Therefore, they that desire

emancipation should associate with those that are wise and old and honest and pure in conduct and

possessed of ascetic merit. They should be waited upon whose triple possessions, viz., knowledge (of the

Vedas), origin and acts, are all pure, and association with them is even superior to (the study of the)

scriptures. Devoid of the religious acts as we are, we shall yet reap religious merit by association with

the righteous, as we should come by sin by waiting upon the sinful. The very sight and touch of the

dishonest, and converse and association with them; cause diminution of virtue, and men (that are

doomed to these), never attain purity of mind. Association with the base impaireth the understanding, as,

indeed, with the indifferent maketh it indifferent, while communion with the good ever exalteth it. All