Aditi.'

"Then, O king, there arose in the city of Hastinapura a clamour, and
sounds of _Oh!_ and _Alas!_ and, O lord of men, some of the kings
praised him (Karna), while others censured him, while others, again,
remained silent. Having thus, O foremost of monarchs, in a short time
conquered this earth furnished with mountains and forests and skies, and
with oceans, and fields, and filled with high and low tracts, and
cities, and replete also with islands, O lord of earth, and brought the
monarchs under subjection,--and having gained imperishable wealth, the
Suta's son appeared before the king. Then, O represser of foes, entering
into the interior of the palace that hero saw Dhritarashtra with
Gandhari, O tiger among men, that one conversant with morality took hold
of his feet even like a son. And Dhritarashtra embraced him
affectionately, and then dismissed him. Ever since that time, O monarch,
O Bharata, king Duryodhana and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, thought that
Pritha's sons had already been defeated in battle by Karna."

SECTION CCLIII

Vaisampayana continued, "O king, O lord of men, that slayer of hostile
heroes, the Suta's son, said these words to Duryodhana, 'O Kaurava
Duryodhana, do thou lay unto thy heart the words that I shall tell thee;
and, O represser of foes, after having heard my words, it behoveth thee
to act accordingly every way. Now, O best of monarchs, O hero, hath the
earth been rid of foes. Do thou rule her even like the mighty-minded
Sakra himself, having his foes destroyed.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Having been thus addressed by Karna, the king
again spake unto him, saying, 'O bull among men, nothing whatever is
unattainable to him who hath thee for refuge, and to whom thou art
attached and on whose welfare thou art entirely intent. Now, I have a
purpose, which do thou truly listen to. Having beheld that foremost of
sacrifices, the mighty _Rajasuya_, performed by the Pandavas, a desire
hath sprung up in me (to celebrate the same). Do thou, O Suta's son,
fulfil this desire of mine.' Thus addressed, Karna spake thus unto the
king, 'Now that all the rulers of the earth have been brought under thy
subjection, do thou summon the principal Brahmanas, and, O best of
Kurus, duly procure the articles required for the sacrifice. And, O
represser of foes, let Ritwijas as prescribed, and versed in the Vedas,
celebrate thy rites according to the ordinance, O king. And, O bull of
the Bharata race, le