(Dyuta Parva)
Vaisampayana said,--"when that foremost of sacrifices, the Rajasuya so
difficult of accomplishment, was completed, Vyasa surrounded by his
disciples presented himself before Yudhishthira. And Yudhishthira, upon
beholding him quickly rose from his seat, surrounded by his brothers,
and worshipped the Rishi who was his grand-father, with water to wash
his feet and the offer of a seat. The illustrious one having taken his
seat on a costly carpet inlaid with gold, addressed king Yudhishthira
the just and said.--'Take thy seat'. And after the king had taken his
seat surrounded by his brothers, the illustrious Vyasa, truthful in
speech said,--'O son of Kunti, thou growest from good fortune. Thou
hast obtained imperial sway so difficult of acquisition. And O
perpetuator of the Kuru race, all the Kauravas have prospered in
consequence of thee. O Emperor, I have been duly worshipped. I desire
now to go with thy leave!' King Yudhishthira the just, thus addressed
by the Rishi of dark hue, saluted (him) his grandfather and touching
his feet said,--'O chief of men, a doubt difficult of being dispelled,
hath risen within me. O bull among regenerate ones, save thee there is
none to remove it. The illustrious Rishi Narada said that (as a
consequence of the Rajasuya sacrifice) three kinds of portents, viz.,
celestial, atmospherical and terrestrial ones happen. O grandsire, have
those portents been ended by the fall of the king of the Chedis?'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing these words of the king, the exalted
son of Parasara, the island-born Vyasa of dark hue, spoke these
words,--'For thirteen years, O king, those portents will bear mighty
consequences ending in destruction, O king of kings, of all the
Kshatriyas. In course of time, O bull of the Bharata race, making thee
the sole cause, the assembled Kshatriyas of the world will be
destroyed, O Bharata, for the sins of Duryodhana and through the might
of Bhima and Arjuna. In thy dream, O king of kings thou wilt behold
towards the end of this might the blue throated Bhava, the slayer of
Tripura, ever absorbed in meditation, having the bull for his mark,
drinking off the human skull, and fierce and terrible, that lord of all
creatures, that god of gods, the husband of Uma, otherwise called Hara
and Sarva, and Vrisha, armed with the trident and the bow called
Pinaka, and attired in tiger skin. And thou wilt behold Siva, tall and
white as the Kailasa cliff and seated on his bull, gazing unceasingly
towards the direction (south) presided over by the king of the Pitris.
Even this will be the dream thou wilt dream today, O king of kings. Do
not grieve for dreaming such a dream. None can rise superior to the
influence of Time. Blest be thou! I will now proceed towards the
Kailasa mountain. Rule thou the earth with vigilance and steadiness,
patiently bearing every privation!'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Having said this, the illustrious and
island-born Vyasa of dark hue, accompanied by his disciples ever
following the dictates of the Vedas, proceeded towards Kailasa. And
after the grand-father had thus gone away, the king afflicted with
anxiety and grief, began to think continuously upon what the Rishi hath
said. And he said to himself, 'Indeed what the Rishi hath said must
come to pass. We will succeed in warding off the fates by exertion
alone?' Then Yudhishthira endued with great energy addressing all his
brothers, said, 'Ye tigers among men, ye have heard what the
island-born Rishi hath told me. Having heard the words of the Rishi, I
have arrived at this firm resolution viz., that I should die, as I am
ordained to be the cause of the destruction of all Kshatriyas. Ye my
dear ones, if Time hath intended so what need is there for me to live?'
Hearing these words of the king, Arjuna replied, 'O king, yield not
thyself to this terrible depression that is destructive of reason.
Mustering fortitude, O great king, do what would be beneficial.'
Yudhishthira then, firm in truth, thinking all the while of
Dwaipayana's words answered his brothers thus,--'Blest be ye. Listen to
my vow from this day. For thirteen years, what ever purpose have I to
live for, I shall not speak a hard word to my brothers or to any of the
kings of the earth. Living under the command of my relatives, I shall
practise virtue, exemplifying my vow. If I live in this way, making no
distinction between my own children and others, there will be no
disagreement (between me and others). It is disagreement that is the
cause of war in the world. Keeping war at a distance, and ever doing
what is agreeable to others, evil reputation will not be mine in the
world, ye bulls among men.' Hearing these words of their eldest
brother, the Pandavas, always engaged in doing what was agreeable to
him, approved of them. And Yudhishthira the just, having pledged so,
along with his brothers in the midst of that assembly, gratified his
priests as also the gods with due ceremonies. And, O bull of the
Bharata race, after all the monarchs had gone away, Yudhishthira along
with his brothers, having performed the usual auspicious rites,
accompanied by his ministers entered his own palace. And, O ruler of
men, king Duryodhana and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, continued to dwell
in that delightful assembly house."