Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/397

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ADI PARVA
383

as his pupils for instruction, along with various kinds of wealth. Then Drona, desirous of humiliating king Drupada called together his disciples and addressed them, Ye sinless one's it behoveth you, after you have been accomplished in arms, to give me as preceptorial fee something that I cherish in my heart !--Then Arjuna and others said unto their preceptor,--So be it. After a time when the Pandavas became skilled in arms and sure aims, demanding of them his fee, he again told them these words-Drupada, the son of Prishata is the king of Chhatravati. Take away from him his kingdom, and give it unto me! Then the Pandavas, defeating Drupada in battle and and taking him prisoner along with his ministers, offered him unto Drona, who beholding the vanquished monarch, said, - king. I again solicit thy friendship! and because none who is not a king deserveth to be the friend of a king, there, O Yajna. sena, I am resolved to divide thy kingdom amongst ourselves. While thou art the king of the country to the south of Bhagirathi (Ganges), I will rule the country to the north

"The Brahmana continued.-'The king of the Panchalas, thus address. ed by the wise son of Bharadwaja, told that best of Brahmanas and foremost of all persons conversant with weapons, these words. - highsouled son of Bharadwaja, blest be thou, let it be so ! let there be eternal friendship between us as thou desirest !-Thus addressing each other and establishing a permanent bond between themselves, Drona and the king of Panchala, both of them chastisers of foes, went away to the places they come from. But the thought of that humiliation did not leave the king's mind for a single inoment. Sad at heart the king began to waste

away.'"

Thus ends the hundred and sixty-eighth section in the Chaitra-ratha Parva of the Adi Parva.

SECTION CLXIX

(Chaitra-ratha Parva continued)

"The Brahmana continued, 'King Drupada (after this), distressed at heart, wandered among many asylums of Brahmanas in search of superior Brahmanas well-skilled in sacrificial rites. Overwhelmed with grief and eagerly yearning for children, the king always said, -- "Oh, I bave no offspring sur passing all in accomplishments! And the monarch, from great despondency, always said, -Ob fe on those children that I