was exceedingly touched. Hearing also the derisive speeches of busybodies who said,-[Fie upon the indigent Drona, who strives not to earn wealth! Whose son drinking water mixed with powdered rice mis. taketh it for milk and danceth with joy, saying, I have taken milk. I have taken milk !]-I was quite beside myself. Reproaching myself much, I at last resolved that even if I should have to live cast off and censured by Brahmanas, I would not yet, from desire of wealth, be anybody's servant, which is ever hateful. Thus resolved. O Bhishma, I went for former friendship, unto the king of the Somakas, taking with me my dear child and wife. Hearing that he had been installed in the sovereignty of the Somakas), I regarded myself as blest beyond compare. Joyfully I went unto that dear friend of mine seated on throne, remembering my former friendship with him and also his own words to me. And. O illustrious one, approaching Drupada, I said, -- "O tiger among men, know me for thy friend !-Saying this, I approached him confidently as a friend should. But Drupada, laughing in derision cast me off as if I were a vulgar fellow Addressing me he said. --Thy intelligence scarcely seemeth to be of a high order, in as much as approaching me suddenly, thou sayest thou art my friend! Time that impaireth everything, impaireth friendship also. My former friendship with thee was for a particular purpose. One of impure birth can never be a friend of one who is of pure birth. One who is not a car-warrior can never be a friend of one who is such. Friendship can only subsist between persons that are of equal rank, but not between those that are unequally situated. Friendship never subsisteth for ever in my heart. Time impaireth friendships, as also anger destroyeth them. Do thou not stick, therefore, to-that worn-off friendship between us. Think not of it any longer. The friendship I had with thee, O best of Brahmanas, was for a special purpose. There cannot be friendship between a poor man and a rich man, between an unlettered hind and a man of letters, between a coward and a hero. Why dost thou, therefore, desire, the revival of our former friendship? O thou of simple understanding, great kings can never have friend. ship with such indigent and luckless wights as thou? One who is not a king can never have a king for his friend. I do not remember ever having promised thee my kingdom. But, O Brahmana. I can now give thee food and shelter for one night - Thus addressed by him, I left his presence quickly with my wife, vowing to do that which I will certainly do soon enough. Thus insulted by Drupada. O Bhishma. I have been filled with wrath, I have come to the Kurus, desirous of obtaining intelligent and docile pupils. I come to Hastinapura to gratify thy wishes. O, tell me what I am to do.'"
