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98.YUDHISHTHIRA COMFORTED
This instruction
of Bhishmacharya to king Yudhishthira is
the famous Santiparva of the
Mahabharata. After the discourse was
over, Bhishma's soul passed out. The king
went to the Ganga and offered libations,
in accordance with ancient custom, for the
peace of the departed soul.
After the ceremony was over,
Yudhishthira went up the bank. There, as
he stood for a while, all the tragic events
came back to his mind, and overcome by
intense grief, he fell senseless on the
ground, like an elephant struck down by
the hunter.
Bhima went up to his big brother and
caressed him tenderly and spoke to him
soothing words. Dhritarashtra also came
up and said to Yudhishthira:
"You should not grieve like this. Arise
and, assisted by your brothers and friends,
reign over the kingdom that awaits your
rule. Your duty now is to do what
appertains to the office of king. Leave
grief to Gandhari and me. You achieved
victory in battle in accordance with the
dharma of warriors. The duties
appertaining to that victory await your
attention now. Fool that I was, I did not
pay heed to the words of Vidura and
committed a great error. I listened to the
ignorant words of Duryodhana and
deceived myself. Like gold seen in a
dream the glory has vanished. My
hundred sons have disappeared into the
world of nowhere. But I have you as my
son now. Do not grieve."
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