Sri Aurobindo

The Harmony of Virtue

Early Cultural Writings — 1890-1910

Valmiki and Vyasa

Udyogaparva¹

Let the reciter bow down to Naraian, likewise to Nara the Highest Male, also to our Lady the Muse (Goddess Saraswati), and thereafter² utter the word of Hail!

Vaishampayan continueth

But the hero Kurus and who clove to them thereafter having performed joyously the marriage of Abhimanyu rested that night and then at dawn went glad to the Assembly-hall of Virata.

Now wealthy was that hall of the lord of Matsya with mosaic of gems excellent and perfect jewels, with seats set out, garlanded, perfumed; thither went those great among the kings of men.

Then took their seats in front the two high kings, Drupada and Virata, old they and honoured of earth's lords, and Rama and Janardan with their father.

Now by the Panchala king was the hero Shini with the son of Rohinie³ but very near likewise to the Matsya king Janardan and Yudhishthira⁴;

And all the sons of Drupada, Bhima⁵, Arjuna⁶ and the sons of Madravatie and Pradyumna⁷ and Samba, heroes in the strife, and Abhimanyu with the children of Virata;

And all those heroes equal to their fathers in heroism and beauty and strength sat down, the princely boys, sons of Draupadie, on noble seats curious with gold.

Thus as those great warriors sat with shining ornaments and shining robes, rich shone that senate of kings like wide heaven with its stainless stars.

*

“To all of you it is known how Yudhishthira⁸ here was conquered by Saubala in the hall of the dicing; by fraud was he conquered and his kingdom torn from him and contract made of exile in the forest; and though infallible in the mellay, though able by force impetuous to conquer the whole earth, yet the sons of Pandu stood by their honour religiously; harsh and austere their vow but for the six years and the seven they kept it, noblest of men, the sons of Pandu; and this the thirteenth year and most difficult they have passed before all your eyes unrecognised; in exile they passed it, the mighty-minded ones, suffering many and intolerable hardships, in the service of strangers, in menial employments cherishing their desire of the kingdom that belongeth to their lineage. Since this is so, do ye think out somewhat that shall be for the good both of the King, the son of Righteousness and of Duryodhana⁹, just and glorious and worthy of the great¹⁰ Kurus; for Yudhishthira¹¹ the just would not desire even the kingship of the gods unjustly, yet would he cling to the lordship of some small village which he might hold with expediency and justice¹². For it is known to you kings that how¹³ by dishonest proceeding his father's kingdom was torn from him by the sons of Dhritarashtra and himself cast into great and unbearable danger; for not in battle did they conquer him by their own prowess, these sons of Dhritarashtra; even so the king with his friends desired¹⁴ the welfare of his wrongers. But what the sons of Pandu with their own hands amassed by conquest crushing the lords of earth, that these mighty ones demand, even Kunti’s¹⁵ sons and Madravatie's. But even when they were children, they were sought by various means to be slain of their banded foemen, savage and unrighteous, for greed of their kingdom, yea all this is known to you utterly. Considering therefore their growing greed and the righteousness of Yudhishthira¹⁶, considering also their close kinship, form you a judgment each man to himself and together. And since these have always clung to truth and loyally observed the contract, if they know they¹⁷ are wronged, they may well slay all the sons of Dhritarashtra. And hearing of any wrong done by these in this business their friends would gather round, the Pandavas, yea and repel war with war and slay them. If natheless ye deem these too weak in numbers for victory, yet would they all band together and with their friends at last to strive¹⁸ to destroy them. Moreover none knoweth the mind of Duryodhana¹⁹ rightly, what he meaneth to do, and what can you decide that shall be the best to set about when you know not the mind of your foeman? Therefore let one go hence, some virtuous, pure-minded and careful man such as shall be an able envoy for their appeasement and the gift of half the kingdom to Yudhishthira²⁰. This hearing, the just, expedient, sweet and impartial speech of Janardan, the elder brother of him took up the word, O prince, honouring the younger's speech even greatly.”

(Incomplete)

Later edition of this work: The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo.- Set in 37 volumes.- Volume 5.- Translations.- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 1999.- 628 p.

¹ Translation of Adhyaya 1.1-7, 10-26.

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² 1999 ed.: Muse, thereafter

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³ 1999 ed.: Rohinnie

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⁴ 1999 ed.: Yudhisthere

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⁵ 1999 ed.: Bheme

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⁶ 1999 ed.: Urjouna

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⁷ 1999 ed.: Prodyumna

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⁸ 1999 ed.: Yudhisthere

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⁹ 1999 ed.: Duryodhan

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¹⁰ 1999 ed.: of great

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¹¹ 1999 ed.: Yudhisthere

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¹² 1999 ed.: and with justice

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¹³ 1999 ed.: kings how

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¹⁴ 1999 ed.: desires

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¹⁵ 1999 ed.: Kuntie’s

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¹⁶ 1999 ed.: Yudhisthere

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¹⁷ 1999 ed.: if now they

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¹⁸ 1999 ed.: last strive

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¹⁹ 1999 ed.: Duryodhan

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²⁰ 1999 ed.: Yudhisthere

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