tra became king of
the Kurus, and brought up the five sons of Pandu along with his
hundred sons.

Yudhishthir, the eldest son of Pandu, was a man of truth and piety;
Bhima, the second, was a stalwart fighter; and Arjun, the third son,
distinguished himself above all the other princes in arms. The two
youngest brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva, were twins. Duryodhan was
the eldest son of Dhrita-rashtra and was jealous of his cousins, the
sons of Pandu. A tournament was held, and in the course of the day
a warrior named Karna, of unknown origin, appeared on the scene and
proved himself a worthy rival of Arjun. The rivalry between Arjun
and Karna is the leading thought of the Epic, as the rivalry between
Achilles and Hector is the leading thought of the Iliad.

It is only necessary to add that the sons of Pandu as well as Karna,
were, like the heroes of Homer, god-born chiefs. Some god inspired
the birth of each. Yudhishthir was the son of Dharma or Virtue, Bhima
of Vayu or Wind, Arjun of Indra or Rain-god, the twin youngest were
the sons of the Aswin twins, and Karna was the son of Surya the Sun,
but was believed by himself and by all others to be the son of a
simple chariot-driver.

The portion translated in this Book forms Sections cxxxiv. to
cxxxvii. of Book i. of the original Epic in Sanscrit (Calcutta
edition of 1834).

I

The Gathering

Wrathful sons of Dhrita-rashtra, born of Kuru's royal race!
Righteous sons of noble Pandu, god-born men of godlike grace!

Skill in arms attained these princes from a Brahman warrior bold,
Drona, priest and proud preceptor, peerless chief of days of old!

Out spake Drona to the monarch in Hastina's royal hall,
Spake to Bhishma and to Kripa, spake to lords and courtiers all:

"Mark the gallant princes, monarch, trained in arms and warlike art,
Let them prove their skill and valour, rein the steed and throw the dart."

Answered then the ancient monarch, joyful was his royal heart,
"Best of Brahmans and of warriors, nobly hast thou done thy part!

Name the place and fix the moment, hold a royal tournament,
Publish wide the laws of combat, publish far thy king's consent.

Sightless roll these orbs of vision, dark to me is noonday light,
Happier men will mark the tourney and the peerless princes' fight.

Let the good and wise Vidura serve thy mandate and behest,
Let a father's pride and gladness fill this old and cheerless breast."

Then the good and wise Vidura unto his dut