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ADI PARVA
487

splendour. And after they were seated in that court which was like unto a conclave of the celestials themselves, the chief officer of the court, assisted by those that stood at his back, spoke of the conduct of Jishnu. The proud Vrishni heroes, of eyes red with wine, as soon as they heard of it, rose up from their seats, unable to brook what Arjuna had done. Some amongst them said, -'Yoke our cars; and some. - *Bring our weapons, and some said.--'Bring our costly bows and strong coats of mail : and some loudly called upon their charioteers to harness their cars, and some, from impatience, themselves yoked their horses decked with gold unto their cars. And while their cars and armours and standards were being brought, loud became the uproar of those heroes. Then Valadeva, white and tall as the peak of Kailasa, decked with garlands of wild flowers and attired in blue robes, and proud and intoxicated with drink, said these words:

'Ye senseless men, what are ye doing, when Janardana sitteth silent? Without knowing what is in his mind, vainly do we roar in wrath 1 Let the high-souled Krishna give out what he proposeth. Accomplish promptly what he desireth to do! Then all of them, bearing those words of Halayudha that deserved to be accepted, exclaimed, 'Excellent ! Excellent!' They then all became silent. Silence baving been restored by the words of the intelligent Valadeva, they took their seats once more in that assembly. Then Rama, that oppressor of foes, spoke unto Vasudeva, saying.'Why, O Janardana, sittest thou, gazing silently? O Achyuta, it was for thy sake that the son of Pritha had been welcomed and honoured by us! It seemeth, however, that vile wretch deserved not our homage 1 What man is there born of a respectable family that would break the plate after having dined from it! Even if one desireth to contact such an alliance, yet remembering all the services he hath received, who is there, desirous of happiness, that acts so rashly? That Pandava disregarding us and thee too, hath to-day outraged Subhadra, desiring (to compass) his own death! He hath placed his foot on the crown of my head. How shall I, O Govinda, tamely bear it? Shall I not resent it, even like a snake that is trodden upon ? Alone shall I to-day make the Earth destitute of Kauravas 1 Never shall I put up with this transgression by Arjuna.' Then all the Bhojas, Vrishnis, and Andhakas, present there, approved of everything that Valadeva had said, deeply roaring like unto a kettle-drum or the clouds."

Thus ends the two hundred and twenety-second section in the Subhadra-harana Parva of the Adi Parva,