The tree that standeth single in a village with its leaves and
fruits, from absence of other of the same species, becometh sacred and is
worshipped and venerated by all. They again that have many relatives who,
however, are all heroic and virtuous, live happily in the world without
sorrow of any kind. Themselves powerful and growing in prosperity and
always gladdening their friends and relatives, they live, depending on
each other, like tall trees growing in the same forest. We, however, have
been forced in exile by the wicked Dhritarashtra and his sons having
escaped with difficulty, from sheer good fortune, a fiery death. Having
escaped from that fire, we are now resting in the shade of this tree.
Having already suffered so much, where now are we to go? Ye sons of
Dhritarashtra of little foresight, ye wicked fellows, enjoy your temporary
success. The gods are certainly auspicious to you. But ye wicked wretches,
ye are alive yet, only because Yudhishthira doth not command me to take
your lives. Else this very day, filled with wrath, I would send thee, (O
Duryodhana), to the of Yama (Pluto) with thy children and friends and
brothers, and Karna, and (Sakuni) the son of Suvala! But what can I do,
for, ye sinful wretches, the virtuous king Yudhishthira, the eldest of the
Pandavas, is not yet angry with you?'
"Having said this, Bhima of mighty arms, fired with wrath, began to
squeeze his palms, sighing deeply in affliction. Excited again with wrath
like an extinguished fire blazing up all on a sudden, Vrikodara once more
beheld his brothers sleeping on the ground like ordinary persons sleeping
in trustfulness.
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