WELCOME TO IBRAHMANA RELIGION LIBRARY

  "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.  —Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  August 28th, 1963"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH   2021-01-16 16:19 ───

  "Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player  That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,  And then is heard no more. It is a tale  Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,  Signifying nothing."  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH   2021-01-16 16:19 ───

  "I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal. —Abraham Lincoln, in a speech at Chicago, Illinois  July 10th, 1858"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH   2021-01-16 16:19 ───

  "Abraham, I beg you put enmity aside long enough to read a few words of congratulations. It brings me joy to report that our enemy has begun its exodus—many back to Europe, others to South America and the Orient, where they are less likely to be hunted. They have looked to the future, Abraham—and they have seen that America is now, and shall forever be, a nation of living men. Like your namesake, you have been a “father to many” these four long years. And like your namesake, God has asked impossible sacrifices of you. Yet you have endured it all as brilliantly as any man could have hoped. You have blessed the futures of those who share this time on earth, and those who have yet to live. She would be proud.  Ever, —H"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:24 ───

  "From Florida to Virginny you can hear him revel,  for ol’ Johnny Reb’s made a deal with the devil.  Sent him up north, that snake-eyed liar,  to drag us boys off to the lake of fire."  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:25 ───

  "Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue… until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  —Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address  March 4th, 1865"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH   2021-01-16 16:25 ───

  The only peace in this life is the end of it… ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH   2021-01-16 16:26 ───

  "Abraham, In God’s name, cheerly on, courageous friends, to reap the harvest of perpetual peace, by this one bloody trial of sharp war. —H"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH   2021-01-16 16:26 ───

  "Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. —Abraham Lincoln, in a message to Congress  December 1st, 1862"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:17 ───

  "Abraham, It is a difficult thing to know the future. We see it reflected as in ripples of water—distorted and ever moving. There are moments, however, when the ripples subside and the reflection becomes clear. The Union saw one of those moments in your future that night in New York: you are destined to defeat Jefferson Davis, Abraham. You alone. Further, I do not believe that it is your destiny to die on this errand. I feel this with my whole self. I would not send you otherwise. It must be you, Abraham. I beg you reconsider. Ever, —H"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 18:46 ───

  "Henry, I am an old man with three sons and a wife who has wept over too many graves already. I will cause her no further grief by getting myself killed. Surely there are a hundred, or a thousand among your kind better suited to the task. Why must you prevail upon me when I am years removed from my best?  Send someone else. Yours, —Abraham  Henry’s reply came by express a mere four days after Abe sent his refusal off to New York."  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH

 " Abraham, I must ask one more errand of you. He is one of your kind—but is looked after by two of mine at all times. Take every caution. Abe nearly gasped when he saw the name below  Jefferson Davis."  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:27 ───

  "Abraham, Our friend S has been sent on an errand—one which we hope will shore up support for our cause in the coming months and years. We now ask that you turn your whole heart toward that greatest of political contests. —H"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:28 ───

  “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. —Abraham Lincoln, accepting the Republican  Party’s nomination for senator  June 16th, 1858"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:16 ───

 " We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us. —Abraham Lincoln, proclaiming a National Fast Day  March 30th, 1863"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:16 ───

  Those midnight stars are sadly dimmed, That late so brilliantly shone, And the crimson tinge from cheek and lip, With the heart’s warm life has flown— The angel of Death was hovering nigh, And the lovely boy was called to die. The silken waves of his glossy hair  Lie still over his marble brow, And the pallid lip and pearly cheek  The presence of Death avow. Pure little bud in kindness given, In mercy taken to bloom in heaven. Happier far is the angel child  With the harp and the crown of gold, Who warbles now at the Savior’s feet  The glories to us untold. Eddy, meet blossom of heavenly love, Dwells in the spirit-world above. Angel Boy—fare thee well, farewell  Sweet Eddy, We bid thee adieu! Affection’s wail cannot reach thee now  Deep though it be, and true. Bright is the home to him now given. Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 18:46 ───

"Those midnight stars are sadly dimmed, That late so brilliantly shone, And the crimson tinge from cheek and lip,  With the heart’s warm life has flown— The angel of Death was hovering nigh, And the lovely boy was called to die. The silken waves of his glossy hair  Lie still over his marble brow,  And the pallid lip and pearly cheek  The presence of Death avow. Pure little bud in kindness given, In mercy taken to bloom in heaven. Happier far is the angel child  With the harp and the crown of gold,  Who warbles now at the Savior’s feet  The glories to us untold.  Eddy, meet blossom of heavenly love,  Dwells in the spirit-world above. Angel Boy—fare thee well, farewell  Sweet Eddy, We bid thee adieu!  Affection’s wail cannot reach thee now  Deep though it be, and true. Bright is the home to him now given  Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:29 ───...

 " Those midnight stars are sadly dimmed, That late so brilliantly shone, And the crimson tinge from cheek and lip, With the heart’s warm life has flown— The angel of Death was hovering nigh, And the lovely boy was called to die. The silken waves of his glossy hair  Lie still over his marble brow, And the pallid lip and pearly cheek  The presence of Death avow. Pure little bud in kindness given, In mercy taken to bloom in heaven. Happier far is the angel child  With the harp and the crown of gold,  Who warbles now at the Savior’s feet  The glories to us untold. Eddy, meet blossom of heavenly love,  Dwells in the spirit-world above. Angel Boy—fare thee well, farewell  Sweet Eddy, We bid thee adieu! Affection’s wail cannot reach thee now  Deep though it be, and true. Bright is the home to him now given.  Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:16 ───

 " No more talk of men with fangs, Or lives that never cease. I only long for simple things, I only long for peace."  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:29 ───

 " The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject any thing, is not whether it have any evil in it; but whether it have more of evil, than of good. There are few things wholly evil, or wholly good. —Abraham Lincoln, in a speech in the House of Representatives  June 20th, 1848"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:15 ───

 " Dearest Abraham, Received your letter of 18th December. Please accept my heartiest congratulations on your engagement. Miss Todd seems to be possessed of many fine qualities, and judging by your lengthy description of each, you have clearly been possessed by them. However, I must caution you, Abraham, and I do so only after much deliberation—for I know that this letter will not come as welcome news. The woman to whom you are engaged is the daughter of a Mr. Robert Smith Todd, known to all of Lexington as a gentleman of means and might. But know the truth: that his power is built on treacherous ground. That he is more a friend to my kind than yours. That his allies are the very worst of us—the sort whose names I have sent you these many years. He has been their champion in the statehouse. Their private bank in matters of business. He has even profited from the sale of Negroes intended for that cruelest of fates. It is not my intention to discourage you from the match, for the da...

 " I have now come to the conclusion never again to think of marrying, and for this reason; I can never be satisfied with anyone who would be blockhead enough to have me. —Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to Mrs. Orville H. Browning  April 1st, 1838"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:14 ───

 " Yes! I’ve resolved the deed to do, And this the place to do it: This heart I’ll rush a dagger through  Though I in hell should rue it!  Sweet steel! Come forth from out your sheath,  And glistening, speak your powers;  Rip up the organs of my breath,  And draw my blood in showers!  I strike! It quivers in that heart  Which drives me to this end; I draw and kiss the bloody dart, My last—my only friend!"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:13 ───

 " My God, Armstrong what’s come over you?  Jack pulled the ax blade—crunch—from what had formerly been the vampire’s face. He looked up at Abe, out of breath. I pretended he was you. Abe held his tongue on the journey home."  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:32 ───

  I must endure.  I must be more than I am. I must not fail. I must not fail her. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH  GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:32 ───

  "I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming… I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost. —Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to Mrs. Lydia Bixby, mother of two sons killed in the Civil War  November 21st,1864"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:32  ───

  "The way for a young man to rise, is to improve himself every way he can, never suspecting that any body wishes to hinder him. —Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to William Herndon  July 10th, 1848 "  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:12 ───

  "The Autocrat of all the Russias will resign his crown, and proclaim his subjects free republicans sooner than will our American masters voluntarily give up their slaves. —Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to George Robertson  August 15th, 1855 "  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:33 ───

 "T he eternal struggle between these two principles—right and wrong—throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time; and will ever continue to struggle. —Abraham Lincoln, debating Stephen A. Douglas  October 15th, 1858"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:33 ───

 " When griping grief the heart doth wound,  And doleful dumps the mind oppress— Then music, with her silver sound,  With speedy help doth lend redress."  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 18:41 ───

  "Be present at our table, Lord  Be here and everywhere adored. Thy mercies bless and grant that we  May strengthened for thy  service be.  2021-01-16 16:10"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE  HUNTER  BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH ───

  "And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts. —Abraham Lincoln, in an address to Congress  July 4th, 1861"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:10 ───

 " In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and, to the young, it comes with bitterest agony, because it takes them unawares. —Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to Fanny McCullogh  December 23rd, 1862"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:35 ───

 " I cannot speak of the things I have seen, nor seek comfort for the pain I feel. If I did, this nation would descend into a deeper kind of madness, or think its president mad. The truth, I am afraid, must live as paper and ink. Hidden and forgotten until every man named here has passed to dust. —Abraham Lincoln, in a journal entry  December 3rd, 1863"  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH  2021-01-16 16:35 ───

  "The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?  —Edgar Allan Poe"  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY SETH GRAHAME-SMITH   2021-01-16 16:34 ───

"And O son of Pritha, the celestial Rishis also, all of pure souls, with sins completely washed off and resplendent as the fire, and possessed of energy, and without sorrow of any kind, and freed from the fever of anxiety, and all performers of the Soma sacrifice, also wait upon and worship Indra, And Parasara and Parvata and Savarni and Galava 5 and Sankha, and the Muni Gaursiras, and Durvasa, and Krodhana and Swena, and the Muni Dhirghatamas ; and Pavitrapani, Savarni, Yajnavalkya and Bhaluki ; and Udyalaka, Swetaketu, and Tandya, and also Bhandayani ; and Havishmat, and Garishta, and king Harischandra ; and Hridya, Udarshandilya, Parasarya, Krishivala ; Vataskandha, Visakha, Vidhatas, and Kala ; Karaladanta, Tastri, and Vishwakarman, and Tumuru; and other Rishis, some born of women and others living upon air, and others again living upon fire, these all worship Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, the lord of all the worlds. And Sahadeva, and Sunitha, and Valmiki of great asc...

"There sitteth in that assembly room, O son of Pritha, on an excellent seat, the Lord of celestials, with his wife Sachi endowed with beauty and affluence. Assuming a form incapable of description for its vagueness, with a crown on his head and bright bracelets on the upper arms, attired in robes of pure white and decked with floral wreaths of many hues, there he sitteth with beauty, fame, and glory by his side. And the illustrious deity of a hundred sacrifices is daily waited upon, O monarch, in that assembly, by the Marutas in a body, each leading the life of a householder in the bosom of his family. And the Siddhyas, celestial Rishis, the Sadhyas in all, the gods, and Marutas of brilliant complexion and adorned with golden garlands, all of them in celestial form and decked in ornaments, always wait upon and worship the illustrious chief of the immortals, that mighty represser of all foes." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARV...

The celestial assembly room of Sakra is full of lustre. He hath obtained it as the fruit of his own acts. Possessed of the splendour of the sun, it was built, O scion of the Kuru race, by Sakra himself. Capable of going everywhere at will, this celestial assembly house is full one hundred and fifty yojanas in length, and hundred yojanas in breadth, and five yojanas in height. Dispelling weakness of age, grief, fatigue, and fear, auspicious and bestowing good fortune, furnished with rooms and seats and adorned with celestial trees, it is delightful in the extreme. — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

 "Thus addressed by Narada, the highsouled king Yudhishthira the just, with his brothers and all those foremost of Brahmanas (seated around him), joined his hands (in entreaty). And the monarch then asked Narada, saying, 'Describe unto us all those assembly rooms. We desire to listen to thee. O Brahmana, what are the articles with which each of the Sabhas are made of? What is the area of each, and what is the length and breadth of each ? Who wait upon the Grandsire in that assembly room? And who also upon Vasava, the Lord of the celestials, and upon Yama, the son of Vivaswana ? Who wait upon Varuna and upon Kuvera in their respective assembly rooms, O Brahmana Riahi, tell us all about these. We all together desire to hear thee describe them. Indeed, our curiosity is great. 1 Thus addressed by the son of Pandu, Narada replied> saying, 'O monarch, hear ye all about those celestial assembly rooms one after another." Thus endeth the sixth section in the Lokapala Sabhak...

 "O child, O king I did neither see nor hear of ever beforef amongst men, any assembly room built of gems and precious stones like this of thine, O Bharata. I shall, however, describe unto thee the rooms of the king of the departed (Yama), of Varuna (Neptune) of great intelligence, of Indra, the King of Gods and also of him who hath his home in Kailasha (Kuvera). I shall also describe unto thee the celestial Sabha of Brahma that dispelleth every kind of uneasiness. All these assembly rooms exhibit in their structure both celestial and human designs and present every kind of form that exists in the universe. And they are ever worshipped by the gods and the Pitria, the Sadhyas,(under-deities called Gana), by ascetics offering sacrifices, with souls under complete command, by peaceful Munis engaged without inteimission in Vedic sacrifices with presents to Brahmanas. I shall describe all these to you if, O bull of the Bharata race, thou hast any inclinations to listen to me !"  —...

Vaisampayana continued, Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, possessed of great glory, having received with reverence the words of Narada and having also answered the Rishi thus, reflected for a moment. And perceiving a proper opportunity, the monarch, seated beside the Rishi, asked Narada sitting at his ease and capable of going into every world at will, in the presence of that assembly of kings, saying, 'Possessed of the speed of mind, thou wanderest over various and many worlds created in days of yore by Brahma, beholding everything. Tell me, I ask thee, if thou hast, O Brahmana, ever beheld before anywhere an assembly room like this of mine or superior to it ! words of Yudhishthira the just, Narada smilingly answered the son of Pandu in these sweet accents" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA  

"At the conclusion of Narada's words, king Yudhishthira the just worshipped him duly ; and commanded by him the monarch began to reply succinctly to the questions the Riahi had asked.Yudhishthira said 'O holy one, the truths of religion and morality thou hast indicated one after another, are just and proper. As regards myself, I duly observe those ordinances to the best of my power. Indeed, the acts that were properly performed by monarchs of yore are, without doubt, to be regarded as bearing proper fruit, and undertaken from solid reasons for the attainment of proper objects. O master, we desire to walk in the virtuous path of those rulers that had, besides, their souls under complete control" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"sleep, idleness, fear, anger, weakness of mind, and procrastination Vaisampayana continued, The illustrious bull among the Kurus, having heard these words of that best of Brahmanas, bowed down unto him and worshipped his feet. And gratified with everything he heard, the monarch said unto Narada of celestial form, I shall do all that thou hast directed, for my knowledge hath expanded under thy advice !' Having said this the king acted conformably to that advice, and gained in time the whole Earth bounded by her belt of seas. Narada again spoke, saying, "That king who is thus employed in the protection of four orders, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Sudras, passeth his days here happily and attaineth hereafter to the region of Sakra (heaven). Thus endeth the fifth section in the Lokapala Sabhakhyana Parva of the Sabha Parva." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"O bull of the Bharata race, are the aphorisms relating to the science of arms, as also those that relate to the practice of engines in warfare so useful to towns and fortified places, studied in thy court ? O sinless one, art thou acquainted with all mysterious incantations, and with the secrets of poisons destructive of all foes ? Protectest thou thy kingdom from the fear of fire, of snakes and other animals destructive of life, of disease, and Rakshasas ? As acquainted thou art with every duty, cherishest thou like a father, the blind, the dumb, the lame, the deformed, the friendless, and ascetics that have no homes. Hast thou banished these six evils, O monarch" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

 "The great ascetic Narada, having answered Yudhishthira thus, again asked that just ruler, "Do the officers of thy government, O king, that are paid from the taxes levied on the community, take only their just dues from the merchants that come to thy territories from distant lands impelled by the desire of gain? Are the merchants, O king, treated with consideration in thy capital and kingdom, capable of bringing their goods thither without being deceived by the false pretexts of (both the buyers and the officers of government) ? Listenest thou always, O monarch, to the words, fraught with instructions in religion and wealth, of old men acquainted with economic doctrines ? Are gifts of honey and clarified butter made to the Brahmanas intended for the increase of agricultural produce, of kine, of fruits and flowers, and for the sake of virtue ? Givest thou always, O king, regularly unto all the artisans and artists employed by thee the materials of their works and their wages ...

"By these, O king, even monarchs firmly seated on their thrones are ruined. Hath thy study of the Vedas, thy wealth and knowledge of the Sastras and marriage been fruitful ? Vaisampayana continued, "After the Rishi had finished, Yudhishthira asked, "How, O Rishi, do the Vedas, wealth, wife, and knowledge of the Sastras bear fruit ?" "The Rishi answered, "The Vedas are said to bear fruit when he that hath studied them performeth the Agnihotra and other sacrifices. Wealth is said to bear fruit when he that hath it enjoyeth it himself and giveth it away in charity. A wife is said to bear fruit when she is useful and when she beareth children. Knowledge of the Sastras is said to bear fruit when it resulteth in humility and good behaviour. Vaisampayana continued" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"O monarch, I hope, no well-behaved, pure-souled, and respected person is ever ruined and his life taken, on a false charge or theft, by thy ministers ignorant of Sastras and acting from greed ? And, O bull among men, I hope thy ministers never from covetousness set free a real thief, knowing him to be such and having apprehended him with the booty about him ? O Bharata, I hope, thy ministers are never won over by bribes, nor do they wrongly decide the disputes that arise between the rich and the poor. Dost thou keep thyself free from the fourteen vices of kings, viz., atheism, untruthfulness, anger, incautiousness, procrastination, non-visit to the wise, idleness, restlessness of mind, taking counsels with only one man, consultation with persons unacquainted with the science of profit, abandonment of a settled plan, divulgence of counsels, non-accomplishment of beneficial projects, and undertaking everything without reflection ?" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA...

 "Dost thou, with passions under complete control and with singleness of mind, strive to perform the sacrifices called Vajapeya and Pundarika with their full complement of rites? Bowest thou unto thy relatives and superiors, the aged, the gods, the ascetics, the Brahmanas, and the tall trees (banian) in villages, that are of so much benefit to people ? O sinless one, causest thou ever grief or anger in any one ? Do priests capable of granting thee auspicious fruits ever stand by thy side ? O sinless one, are thy inclinations and practices such as I have described them, and as always enhance the duration of life and spread one's renown and as always help the cause of religion, pleasure, and profit ? He who conducteth himself according to this way, never findeth his kingaom distressed or afflicted ; and that monarch, subjugating the whole earth, enjoyeth a high degree of felicity." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

 I hope that the physicians engaged in looking after thy health are all well conversant with the eight kinds of treatment and are all attached and devoted to thee- Happeneth it ever, O monarch, that from covetousness or folly or pride thoufailest to decide between the plaintiff and the defendant who have come to thee ? Deprivest thou, through covetousness or folly, of their pensions the proteges who have sought thy shelter from trustfulness or love ? Do the people that inhabit thy realm, bought by thy foes, ever seek to raise disputes with thee, uniting themselves with one another ? Are those amongst thy foes that are feeble always repressed by the help of troops that are strong, by the help of both counsels and troops ? Are all the principal chieftains (of thy empire) all devoted to thee ? Are they ready to lay down their lives for thy sake, commanded by thee ? Dost thou worship Brahmanas and wise men according to their merits in respect of various branches of learning ? I tell th...

 "O king, do the five brave and wise men, employed in the five offices of protecting the city, the citadel, the merchants, and the agriculturists, and punishing the criminals, always benefit thy kingdom by working in union with one another ? For the protection of thy city, have the villages been made like towns, and the hamlets and outskirts of villages like villages ? Are all these entirely under thy supervision and sway ? Are thieves and robbers that sack thy town pursued by thy police over the even and uneven parts of thy kingdom ? Consolest thou women and are they protected in thy realm ? I hope thou placest not any confidence in them, nor divulgest any secret before any of them ? O monarch, having heard of any danger and having reflected on it also, liest thou in the inner apartments enjoying every agreeable object ? Having slept during the second and the third divisions of the night, thinkest thou of religion and profit in the fourth division wakefully. O son of Pandu, risin...

 "Are large tanks and lakes constructed all over thy kingdom at proper distances, without agriculture being in thy realm entirely dependent on the showers of heaven ? Are the agriculturists in thy kingdom wanting in either seed or food ? Grantest thou with kindness loans (of seed-grains) unto the tillers, taking only a fourth in excess of every measure by the hundred ? O child, are the four professions of agriculture, trade, cattle-rearing, and lending at interest, carried on by honest men ? Upon these, O monarch, depends the happiness of thy people." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"I hope, O king, thy treasury, barns, stables, arsenals, and women's apartments, are all protected by servants devoted to thee and ever seeking thy welfare. 1 hope, O monarch, thou protectest first thyself from thy domestic and public servants, then from those servants of thy relatives and from one another. Do thy servants, O king, ever speak to thee in the forenoon regarding thy extravagant expenditure in respect of thy drinks, sports, and women ? Is thy expenditure always covered by a fourth, a third or a half of thy income ? Cherishest thou always, with food and wealth, relatives, superiors, merchants, the aged, and other proteges, and the distressed ? Do the accountants and clerks employed by thee in looking after thy income and expenditure, always appraise thee every day in the forenoon of thy income and expenditure ? Dismissest thou without fault servants accomplished in business and popular and devoted to thy welfare ? O Bharata, dost thou employ superior, indifferent, ...

"O monarch, goest thou out against thy enemies, having first strengthened thy own kingdom ? And having gone out against them, exertest thou to the utmost to obtain victory over them ? And having conquered them, seekest thou to protect them with care ? Are thy army consisting of four kinds of forces, viz., the regular troops, the allies, the mercenaries, and the irregulars, each furnished with the eight ingredients, viz., cars, elephants, horses, offices, infantry, camp followers, spies possessing a thorough knowledge of the country, and ensigns led out against thy enemies after having been well trained by superior officers ? O oppressor of all foes, great king, I hope thou slayest thy foes without regarding their seasons of reaping and of famine ? O king, I hope thy servants and agents in thy own kingdom and in the kingdoms of thy foes continue to look after their respective duties and to protect one another. O monarch, I hope trusted servants have been employed by thee to look af...

 Dost thou support, O bull in the Bharata race, the wives and children of men that have given their lives for thee and have been distressed on thy account ? Cherishest thou, O son of Pritha, with paternal affection the foe that hath been weakened, or him also that hath sought thy shelter, having been vanquished in battle ? O lord of Earth, art thou equal unto all men, and can every one approach thee without fear, as if thou wert their mother and father ? And O bull of the Bharata race, marchest thou, without loss of time, and reflecting well upon three kinds of forces, against thy foe when thou hearest that he is in distress ? O subjugator of all foes beginnest thou thy march when the time cometh, having taken into consideration all the omens you might see, the resolutions thou hast made, and that the ultimate victory depends upon the twelve mandates (such as reserves, ambuscades, &c, and payment of pay to the troops in advance) ? And, O persecutor of all foes, givest thou gems...

"Are thy forts always filled with treasure, food, weapons, water, engines and instruments, as also with engineers and bowmen ? Even a single minister that is intelligent, brave, with his passions under complete control, and possessed of wisdom and judgment, is capable of conferring the highest prosperity on a king or a king's son. I ask thee, therefore, whether there is even one such minister with thee ? Seekest thou to know everything about the eighteen Tirthas of the foe and fifteen of thy own by means of three and three spies all unacquainted with one another ? O slayer of all foes, watchest thou all thy enemies with care and attention, and unknown to them ? Is the priest thou honourest, possessed of humility! and purity of blood, and renown, and without jealousy and illiberally ? Hath any well-behaved, intelligent, and guileless Brahmana, well-up in the ordinance, been employed by thee in the performance of thy daily rites before the sacred fire, and doth he remind thee in...

 "O child, is thy kingdom protected by ministers learned in Sastras, keeping their counsels close ? Are thy foes unable to injure it ? Thou hast not become the slave of sleep ? Wakest thou at the proper time ? Conversant with pursuits yielding profit, thinkest thou, during the small hours of night, as to what thoushouldst do and what thou shouldst not do the next day ? Thou settlest nothing alone, nor takest counsels with many? The counsels thou hast resolved upon, do not become known all over thy kingdom ? Commencest thou soon to accomplish measures of great utility that are easy of accomplishment ? Such measures are never obstructed ? Keepest thou the agriculturists not out of thy sight ? They do not fear to approach thee ? Achievest thou thy measures through persons that are trusted incorruptible, and possessed of practical experience ? And, O brave king, I hope, people only know the measures already accomplished by thee and those that have been partially accomplished and are a...

Thy counsels, I hope, are never divulged by thy trusted spies in disguise, by thyself or by thy ministers ? Thou ascertainest, I hope, what thy friends, foes and strangers 'are about ? Makest thou peace and makest thou war at proper times? Observest thou neutrality towards strangers and persons that are neutral towards thee ? And, O hero, hast thou made persons like thyself, persons that are old, continent in behaviour, capable of understanding what should be done and what should not, pure as ragards birth and blood, and devoted to thee, thy ministers ? O Bharata, the victories o'f kings can be attributed to good counsels. — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

 Thy counsels, I hope, are never divulged by thy trusted spies in disguise, by thyself or by thy ministers ? Thou ascertainest, I hope, what thy friends, foes and strangers 'are about ? Makest thou peace and makest thou war at proper times? Observest thou neutrality towards strangers and persons that are neutral towards thee ? And, O hero, hast thou made persons like thyself, persons that are old, continent in behaviour, capable of understanding what should be done and what should not, pure as ragards birth and blood, and devoted to thee, thy ministers ? O Bharata, the victories o'f kings can be attributed to good counsels. O child, is thy kingdom protected by ministers learned in Sastras, keeping their counsels close ? Are thy foes unable to injure it ? Thou hast not become the slave of sleep ? Wakest thou at the proper time ? Conversant with pursuits yielding profit, thinkest thou, during the small hours of night, as to what thoushouldst do and what thou shouldst not do the n...

"Is the wealth thou art earning being spent on proper objects ? Doth thy mind take pleasure in virtue ? Art thou enjoying the pleasures of life ? Doth not thy mind sink under their weight ? O chief of men, continuest thou in the noble conduct consistent with religion and wealth practised by thy ancestors towards the three classes of subjects, (viz., good, indifferent, and bad) ? Never injurest thou religion for the sake of wealth, or both religion and wealth for the sake of pleasure that easily seduces ? O thou foremost of victorious men ever devoted to the good of all, conversant as thou artwith the timeliness of everything, followest thou religion, wealth, pleasure and salvation dividing thy time judiciously ? O sinless one, with the six attributes of kings (viz., cleverness of speech, readiness in providing means, intelligence in dealing with the foe, memory, and acquaintance with morals and politics), dost thou attend to the seven means (viz., sowing dissensions, chastisement,...

 "The Brahmana, on arriving there, paid homage unto Yudhishthira by uttering blessings on him and wishing him victory. Beholding the learned Rishi arrive, the eldest of the Pandavas, conversant with all rules of duty, quickly stood up with his younger brothers. Bending low with humility, the monarch cheerfully saluted the Rishi, and gave with due ceremonies a befitting seat unto him. The king also gave him kine and the usual offerings of the Arghya including honey and the other ingredients. Conversant with every duty the monarch also worshipped the Rishi with gems and jewels with a whole heart. Receiving that worship from Yudhishthira in proper form, the Rishi became gratified. Thus worshipped by the1 Pandavas and the great Rishis, Narada possessing a complete mastery over the Vedas, said unto Yudhishthira the following words bearing upon religion, wealth, pleasures and salvation." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"He was capable of answering successively Vrihaspati himself while arguing, with definite conclusions properly framed about religion, wealth, pleasure and salvation, of great soul and beholding this whole universe, above, below, and around, as if it were present before his eyes. He was master of both the Sankhya and Yoga systems of philosophy, ever desirous of humbling the celestials and Asuras by fomenting quarrels among them, conversant with the sciences of war and treaty, proficient in drawing conclusions by judging of things not within direct ken, as also in the six sciences of treaty, war, military campaigns, maintainence of posts against the enemy and stratagems by ambuscades and reserves. He was a thorough master of every branch of learning, fond of war and music, incapable of being repulsed by any science or any course of action, and possessed of these and numberless other accomplishments. The Rishi, having wandered over the different . worlds, came into that Sabha. And th...

 ''While the illustrious Pandavas were seated in that Sabha along with the principal Qandharvas, there came, O Bharata, unto that assembly the celestial Rishi Narada, conversant with the Vedas and Upanishadas, worshipped by the celestials acquainted with histories and Puranas, well-versed in all that occured in ancient kalpas (cyles), conversant with Nyaya (logic) and the truth of moral science, possessing a complete knowledge of the six Angas (viz., pronunciation, grammar, prosody, explanation of basic terms, description of religious rites, and astronomy). He was a perfect master in reconciling contradictory texts and differentiating in applying general principles to particular cases, as also in interpreting contraries by reference to differences in situation, eloquent, resolute, intelligent, possessed of powerful memory. He was acquainted with the science of morals and politics, learned, proficient in distinguishing inferior things from superior ones, skilled in drawing infer...

"And those princes also, endued with great strength, who dressing themselves in deer-skins learnt the science of weapons under Arjuna, waited upon Yudhishthira. And O king, the princes also of the Vrishni race, viz., Pradyumna (the son of Rukmini) and Samva, and Yuyudhana the son of Satyaki and Sudharman and Aniruddha and Saivya that foremost of men who had learnt the science of arms under Arjuna these and many other kings, O lord of the Earth, used to wait on Yudhishthira on that occasion. And that friend of Dhananjaya, Tirnvuru, and the Oandharva Chittasena with his ministers, and many other Oandharvas and Apsaras, well-skilled in vocal and instrumental music and in cadence and Kinnaras also well-versed in (musical) measures and motions singing celestial tunes in proper and charming voices, waited upon and gladdened the sons of Pandu and the Rishis who sat in that Sabha. And seated in that Sabha, those bull among men, of rigid vows and devoted to truth, all waited upon Yudhishth...

 Kakshasena, the lord of the Earth, Kshemaka the invincible ; Kamatha. the king of Kamvoja, and the mighty Kampana who alone made the Yavanas to ever tremble at his name just as the god that wieldeth the thunder-bolt maketh those Asuras, the Kalakeyas, tremble before him ; Jatasura, and the king of the Madrakas, Kunti, Pulinda the king of the Kiratas, and the kings of Anga and Vanga, and Pandrya, and the king of Udhara, and Andhaka ; Sumitra, and Saivya that slayer of foes; Sumanas, the king of the Kiratas, and Chanur the king of the Yavanas, Devarata, Bhoja, and the so called Bhimaratha, Srutayudha the king of Kalinga, Jayasena the king of Magadha ; and Sukarman, and Chekitana, and Puru that slayer of foes ] Ketumata, Vasudana, and Vaideha and Kritakshana ; Sudharman, Aniruddha, Srutayu endued with great strength ; the invincible Anuparaja, the handsome Karmajjt ; Sisupala with his son, the king of Karusha ; and the invincible youths of the Vrishni race, all equal in beauty unto t...

 "What an auspicious day is this !, became so loud that it seemed to reach heaven itself. And when the Kuru king entered the palatial sabha having also worshipped the gods with various kinds of music and numerous species of excellent and costly perfumes, the athletes and mimes and prize-fighters and bards and encomiasts began to gratify that illustrious son of Dharma by exhibiting their skill. And thus celebrating his entry into the palace, Yudhishthira with his brothers sported within that palace like Sakra himself in heaven." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

 "And the palace that Maya built consisted of columns of gold, and occupied, O monarch, an area of five thousand cubits. The palace, possessing an exceedingly beautiful form, like unto that of Agni or Suryya, or Soma, shone in great splendour, and by its brilliance seemed to darken even the bright rays of the sun. And with the effulgence it exhibited, which was a mixture of both celestial and terrestrial light, it looked as if it was on fire. Like unto a mass of new clouds conspicuous in the sky, the palace rose up coming into view of all. Indeed, the palace that the dexterous Maya built was so wide, delightful, and refreshing, and composed of such excellent materials, and furnished with such golden walls and archways, and adorned with so many varied pictures, and was withal so rich and well-built, that in beauty it far surpassed Sudharma of the Dasarha race, or the mansion of Brahma himself." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PAR...

  There the fierce Mahadeva, the eternal lord of every creature, has taken up his abode after having created all the worlds and there he dwelleth, worshipped with reverence by thousands of spirits. There Nara and Narayana, Brahma and Yama and Sthanu the fifth,  perform their sacrifices at the expiration of a thousand yugas. There, for the establishment of virtue and religion, Vasudeva, with pious devotion, performed his sacrifices extending for many, many long years. There were placed by Keshava thousands and tens of thousands of sacrificial stakes adorned with golden garlands and altars of great splendour. Going thither, O Bharata, Maya brought back the club and the conch-shell and the various crystalline articles that had belonged to king Vrishaparva. "  — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

 "The chief of the Yadu race then came out of the inner to the outer apartment, and issuing thence he made unto Brahmanas, deserving of worship, offerings of vessel-fulls of curd and fruits, and parched grain and caused them to pronounce benedictions upon him. And making unto them presents also of wealth, he went round them. Then ascending his excellent car of gold endued with great speed and adorned with banner bearing the figure of Tarkhya (Gadura) and furnished also with mace, discus, sword, his bow Sharnga and other weapons, and yoking thereunto his horses Saivya and Sugriva, he of eyes like lotuses set out at an excellent moment of a lunar day of auspicious stellar conjunction" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"The commencement of a journey, purified himself by a bath and adorned his person with ornaments. The bull of the Yadu race then worshipped the gods and Brahmanas with floral wreaths, mantras, bows of the head, and excellent perfumes. Having finished all these rites, that foremost of steady and virtuous persons then thought of setting out." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"1 hope, O saint ! that is all well with the religious devotees. And I hope that thou hast a plentiful store of fruits and roots and that thou takest delight in this hermitage. Verily I come here now to pay thee a visit. I hope the practice of austerities among the saints is on the increase. I hope that thy father's spirit hath not slackened and that he is well pleased with thee. " — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"Was of a spirited look and a golden complexion, and endued with eye large as lotuses ; and he was shining and graceful as a god. And rich was his beauty blazing like the Sun ; and he was exceedingly fair with eyes graceful and black. And his twisted hair was blue-black and neat and long and of a-fragrant scent and tied up with strings of gold. A beautiful ornament was shining on his neck which looked like lightning in the sky. And under the throat he had two balls of flesh without a single hair upon them and of an exceedingly beautiful form." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"And the saint who hath control over his soul, and who is desirous of obtaining the regions where go the righteous, ought to have nothing to do with them. And their acts are vile and their delight is in causing obstruction to those who practise penance ; (therefore) a pious man should never look at them. And, O son ! those were drinks unworthy to be drunk, being as they were spirituous liquors consumed by unrighteous men." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"They walk about in that wonderfully beautiful form. Their strength is unrivaled and their beauty great. And they always meditate obstruction to the practice of penances. And, O my boy, they assume lovely forms and try to allure by diverse means. And those fierce beings hurled the saints, the dwellers of the woods, from blessed regions (won by their pious deeds)." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA