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“These are not our words, O King. We have not said anything of the kind. All prosperity to you.”

I shall not allow you to pass. Turn back now. Do not meet with destruction.”

Follow his advice and do not be vindictive. O King, do not destroy the Kuru’s prosperity. Do not cause the death of all these kṣatriyas. Do not destroy your brothers. Do not destroy yourself. Do not drown your parents in a sea of grief.

“Those men who will not worship Kṛṣṇa should be considered dead even though breathing. They should not even be gazed upon.”

“If Bṛhannala is his charioteer, you need not fear. The Kurus will not be able to defeat him. Indeed, even the celestial hosts would not be able to overpower him with Bṛhannala on his chariot.”

“O son of Indra, we of the heavenly realms are not fettered by human morality. You need not see me as a superior. Do not reject me, for that is not the practice of virtuous men.”

Bhīma did not care for the warning. He had little regard for Rākṣasas and was certainly not going to be told what to do by them. see the illustrious Kuvera here, and even if I did, I would not pray for these flowers. It is not the duty of kṣatriyas to beg. Kuvera did not make it, nor did he create the lotuses. Why then should I ask his permission?”

“The path of sacrifice will not save me from the hell which now awaits me. As it is not possible to filter muddy water through mud or purify a wine-stained pot with wine, it is not possible to counteract the killing of men by sacrificing animals.”

“Fish do not close their eyes when sleeping. Eggs do not move after birth.

“Fortunate is that eldest son of Kuntī that you desire his capture and not his death. Surely it is wonderful that not even you can feel malice toward him. Why, O monarch, do you not wish to kill him? Would not his death end this conflict and bring you victory?

Karṇa tried to appease the Brahmin, but he would not relent. “My words will not prove false,” he replied. Finally Karṇa went away, hanging his head in sorrow.

The Yakṣa continued, “What does not close its eyes when sleeping? What does not move after birth?

Śiva replied, “You need not feel anxiety on account of Phālgunī. He does not wish to attain heaven or prosperity. I know his purpose and will satisfy him today.”

Yudhiṣṭhira sighed again, but did not speak. Bhīma was overcome by passion, he thought, and not thinking carefully. Could he not understand that their suffering had been somehow ordained by the Supreme Lord? They could not please the Lord by abandoning religion, and to please God was always everyone’s prime

Duryodhana’s words held a note of sarcasm that was not lost on Yudhiṣṭhira. Becoming impatient, Yudhiṣṭhira replied, “Do not rave so, O Duryodhana. I feel no pity for you. I will not accept this earth as a gift, for that is not my duty as a kṣatriya.

“O preceptor, why have you not fulfilled your vow? You did not capture Yudhiṣṭhira, and Arjuna ranges unchecked across the field.

Weeping does not drive away grief. Summon your patience. Do not grieve and thus give more joy to your enemies.”

“Neither can those who are wicked-minded, who have not performed sacrifice, who have not abstained from liquor and meat, who have not bathed in holy rivers nor given charity to Brahmins ever reach this abode

“Do not fear, My friend. All the kings on earth together could not capture Me.

Why had the people not cheered his own sons in this way? Was not Duryodhana Arjuna’s equal?