"Aswatthaman said, 'The kine, O Karna, have not yet been won, nor have
they yet crossed the boundary (of their owner's dominions), nor have
they yet reached Hastinapura. Why dost thou, therefore, boast of
thyself? Having won numerous battles, and acquired enormous wealth, and
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 Dhananjaya the son of Kunti, desist to
fight from panic? Inflamed with wrath upon whomsoever he will fall, even
him he will overthrow like a tree under the weight of Garuda! Superior
to thee in prowess, in bowmanship equal unto the lord himself of the
celestials, and in battle equal unto Vasudeva himself, who is there that
would not praise Partha? Counteracting celestial weapons with celestial,
and human weapons with human, what man is a match for Arjuna? Those
acquainted with the scriptures declare that a disciple is no way
inferior to a son, and it is for this that the son of Pandu is a
favourite of Drona. Employ thou the means now which thou hadst adopted
in the match at dice,--the same means, viz., by which thou hadst
subjugated Indraprastha, and the same means by which thou hadst dragged
Krishna to the assembly! This thy wise uncle, fully conversant with the
duties of the _Kshatriya_ order--this deceitful gambler Sakuni, the
prince of Gandhara, let _him_ fight now! The _Gandiva_, however, doth
not cast dice such as the _Krita_ or the _Dwapara_, but it shooteth upon
foes blazing and keen-edged shafts by myriads. The fierce arrows shot
from the _Gandiva_, endued with great energy and furnished with
vulturine wings, car, pierce even mountains. The destroyer of all, named
Yama, and Vayu, and the horse-faced Agni, leave some remnant behind, but
Dhananjaya inflamed with wrath never doth so. As thou hadst, aided by
thy uncle, played at dice in the assembly so do fight in this battle
protected by Suvala's son. Let the preceptor, if he chooses fight; I
shall not, however, fight with Dhananjaya. We are to fight with the king
of the Matsyas, if indeed, he cometh in the track of the kine.'"