THE FIRST HONOUR

He is not even of royal blood. Is this the placeand the occasion to show your vulgar partiality for Krishna, the son of Devaki? Is this worthy of the children of Pandu?

O sons of Pandu, you are raw, untaught youths, altogether ignorant of the way to conduct a royal assembly. This dotard Bhishma guided you foolishly and thus made fools of you. Krishna-why, Krishna is no ruler at all!

O Yudhishthira, why did you dare to do this wretch first honour in this illustrious assemblage of kings? He has not even the merit of age-and if you admire grey hair, is not his father alive?

You could not have honoured him as your preceptor surely, for your preceptor is Drona who is here in this assembly. Is it as an expert in performing sacrifices that you have honoured him?

It cannot be,for Vyasa, the great master, is present. It would have been better even if you bad paid the first honour to Bhishma, for dotard as be are he has still the merit of being the oldest man of your house.

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