The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa - Khamkoo

delay.‟ Sudyumna answered, „If the king be regarded as competent to wield the
rod of chastisement, he should be regarded, O bull among Brahmanas, as
equally competent to pardon. Purified in respect of thy act, O thou of high vows,
consider thyself as pardoned. Tell me now what other wishes thou hast. I shall
certainly accomplish those commands of thine!‟
“Vyasa continued, „Thus honoured by the high-souled king, the regenerate sage
Likhita, however, did not solicit him for any other favour. Then that ruler of the
earth caused the two hands of the high-souled Likhita to be cut off, whereupon
the latter, bearing the punishment, went away. Returning to his brother Sankha,
Likhita, in great affection, said, „It behoveth thee now to pardon this wretch that
hath been duly punished (for what he did).‟ Sankha said, I am not angry with
thee, nor hast thou injured me, O foremost of all persons conversant with duties.
Thy virtue, however, had suffered a shock. I have rescued thee from that plight.
Proceed without delay to the river Vahuda and gratify duly, with oblations of
water, the gods, Rishis and the Pitris, and never again set thy heart on sin.‟
Hearing these words of Sankha, Likhita performed his ablutions in the sacred
stream and set about for commencing the water-rite. Upon this, two hands,
resembling two lotuses, appeared at the extremities of his stumps. Filled with
wonder he came back to his brother and showed him the two hands. Sankha
said unto him, „All this has been accomplished by me through my penances. Do
not be surprised at it. Providence hath been the instrument here.‟ Likhita
answered, „O thou of great splendour, why didst thou not purify me at first, when,
O best of regenerate ones, such was the energy of thy penances?‟ Sankha, said,
„I should not have acted otherwise. I am not thy chastiser. The ruler (who has
punished thee) has been himself purified, as also thyself, along with the Pitris!‟
“Vyasa continued, „That king, O eldest son of Pandu, became eminent by this act
and obtained the highest success like the lord Daksha himself! Even this is the
duty of Kshatriyas, viz., the ruling of subjects. Any other, O monarch, would be
regarded as a wrong path for them. Do not give way to grief. O best of all
persons conversant with duty, listen to the beneficial words of this thy brother.
Wielding the rod of chastisement, O king, is the duty of kings and not the shaving
of the head.‟”
SECTION XXIV
Vaisampayana said, “Once more the great sage Krishna-Dwaipayana said these
words unto Ajatasatru, the son of Kunti: „Let these great car-warriors of abundant
energy of mind, O monarch, let these brothers of thine, O Yudhishthira, the chief
of the Bharatas, obtain those wishes of theirs that they cherished while dwelling
in the woods. Rule thou the earth, O son of Pritha, like (another) Yayati, the son
of Nahusha. Before now misery was yours while ye dwelt in the woods in the
observance of ascetic penances. That misery is ended, O tiger among men!
Enjoy happiness, therefore, for some time. Having O Bharata, earned and
enjoyed religious merit and wealth and pleasure for some time with thy brothers,
Mahabharta of Krishna Dwipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kesarimohan Ganguli
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