DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0341
26o INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
prisoners. In this manner was the proud Duryodhana
humbled by those against whom he had cherished enmity.
Yudhishthira gave a feast to the Kauravas, and he
called Duryodhana his " brother", whereat Duryodhana
made pretence to be well pleased, although his heart was
stung with deep mortification.
After this the sullen and angry Duryodhana resolved
to end his life. His friends remonstrated with him, but
he said: "I have naught to live for now, nor do I desire
friendship, or wealth, or power, or enjoyment. Do not
delay my purpose, but leave me each one, for I will eat
no more food, and I will wait here until I die. Return
therefore, unto Hastinapur and reverence and obey those
who are greater than me."
Then Duryodhana made a mat of grass, and, having
purified himself with water, sat down to wait for the end,
clad in rags and absorbed in silent meditation.
But the Daityas and Danavas1 desired not that their
favourite rajah should thus end his life lest their power
should be weakened, and they sent to the forest a strange
goddess, who carried him away in the night. Then the
demons, before whom Duryodhana- was brought, pro-
mised to aid him in the coming struggle against the
Pandavas, and he was comforted thereat, and abandoned
his vow to die in solitude. So he returned speedily unto
Hastinapur and resumed his high position there.
Soon afterwards, when the princes and the elders sat
in council with the maharajah, wise old Bhishma praised
the Pandava princes for their valour and generosity, and
advised Duryodhana to offer them his friendship, so that
the kinsmen might ever afterwards live together in peace.
Duryodhana made no answer, and, smiling bitterly, rose
up and walked out of the council chamber. Bhishma
1 Demons and giants.
prisoners. In this manner was the proud Duryodhana
humbled by those against whom he had cherished enmity.
Yudhishthira gave a feast to the Kauravas, and he
called Duryodhana his " brother", whereat Duryodhana
made pretence to be well pleased, although his heart was
stung with deep mortification.
After this the sullen and angry Duryodhana resolved
to end his life. His friends remonstrated with him, but
he said: "I have naught to live for now, nor do I desire
friendship, or wealth, or power, or enjoyment. Do not
delay my purpose, but leave me each one, for I will eat
no more food, and I will wait here until I die. Return
therefore, unto Hastinapur and reverence and obey those
who are greater than me."
Then Duryodhana made a mat of grass, and, having
purified himself with water, sat down to wait for the end,
clad in rags and absorbed in silent meditation.
But the Daityas and Danavas1 desired not that their
favourite rajah should thus end his life lest their power
should be weakened, and they sent to the forest a strange
goddess, who carried him away in the night. Then the
demons, before whom Duryodhana- was brought, pro-
mised to aid him in the coming struggle against the
Pandavas, and he was comforted thereat, and abandoned
his vow to die in solitude. So he returned speedily unto
Hastinapur and resumed his high position there.
Soon afterwards, when the princes and the elders sat
in council with the maharajah, wise old Bhishma praised
the Pandava princes for their valour and generosity, and
advised Duryodhana to offer them his friendship, so that
the kinsmen might ever afterwards live together in peace.
Duryodhana made no answer, and, smiling bitterly, rose
up and walked out of the council chamber. Bhishma
1 Demons and giants.