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 friendship with such
indigent and luckless wight 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.
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