Ghosha means cowherd. Ghoshayatra Parva is the story of the Kauravas going to the stock show near Lake Dvaitavana.
The ‘As It Rhymes’ chapters in Ghosha parva are available in this link.
As It Rhymes
1.
Vaishampayana said,
‘Janamejaya, then all three, Duryodhana, Karna and Shakuni went to please King Dhritarashtra, Chief Bharata.
They emoted pleasantly and joked pleasantry.
‘How’s the queen?’ - genuine health of inquiry.
‘And how’s the house of queens?’, they tease.
2.
Samanga, a super strong cowherd, was spoon fed a pretext text addressed to impress Dhritarashtra.
Duryodhana branding the herd would be a rite of passage befit a king’s vassalage.
3.
Radheya Karna spoke next. Then Shakuni.
Both agreed branding cattle was very manly.
4.
Shakuni’s trick was battery by flattery.
‘This is the foundation of the herd.
The cowherds intend to brand the bulls.
Your son will lead the cowherds to work.’
5.
Karna’s treat was shameless deceit.
‘We intend to hunt game, not poke nor shame.
The Pandavas have already been beat.’
6.
Dhritarashtra said,
‘Hunting game shines, my friend.
Tending cattle is good morals.
Truth is the herdsmen run me in circles.
7.
I heard those tigers of men live near there.
Tell me you don’t plan to enter the Pandavas lair?
8.
They lost all clout due to a hobby.
They live in torment in a forest nearby.
Their blazing energy burns at Radheya’s wealthy body.
9.
Dharmaraja is for peace, but Bhimasena be más o menos a mass of menace.
Yajnaseni is inspired brilliance.
10.
Draupadi’s fighting spirit and wrath were qualified.
Now disciplined by penance she is more qualified.
11.
I think a fight would be spurious.
That transcendent woman may spurn the Pandavas to come at you brandishing weapons furious.
12.
You may outnumber them, but those great warriors will burn your men like dry grass in fire.
The Pandavas have no wealth to be won.
Messing with the Pandavas is all risk no reward.
The Pandavas’ race has been run.
The Pandavas retired the sword.
13.
I heard Arjuna returned from a mountain pilgrimage with Indra’s divine weapons.
Arjuna dwells now with his arsenal in the great forest holding ill intentions.
14.
In fighting, Prithi Bibhatsu was born without peer on earth.
When Arjuna resumes weapon duty, the skies rain fury.
15.
If you endeavor to go there carrying chests of fine clothes to create misery and sow dissent - I can’t stop you.
16-17.
But you must think it through.
What if your soldiers make a stupid move and give fighting offense to Yudhishthira?
You may accrue a taint on your head.
Let another go in your stead.
Give the Pandavas a wide berth.’
18.
Shakuni said,
‘The Pandavas are bound by knowledge to Dharma.
We trust the Pandavas will abide by their pledge to weather monsoons in mountain air. O’ Bharata!
19.
The Pandavas serve Dharmaraja.
Yudhishthira will do nothing to us.
So Kaunteya can do nothing to us.
20.
We only want to hunt game; we have no desire to put the Pandavas to shame.
21.
Only one that does not know the value of life would kick a hornet’s nest.
We will not go near the Pandavas rest.’
22.
Vaishampayana said,
‘After Shakuni’s undressing Dhritarashtra gave Duryodhana a half-hearted blessing go ahead.
23.
Gandhari gave her blessing following the King.
Inspired by grievous desire Karna went with Duryodhana to parade.
24.
With Duhshasana and Saubala’s son Shakuni in the lead.
There followed a hollering brigade of brothers and women of palace pleasure in calamitous procession.
25.
The impromptu festivity ambled to the forest.
Duryodhana gifted generously from a treasury chest.
26.
Sixteen war chariots stocked to the gills with war implement.
A flock of peacocks to kill serpent.
A herd of stallions right for riding.
All one hundred of Duryodhana’s brothers joined the bogus hunting expedition celebratory drum beat procession.
27.
Hundreds upon hundreds gave praise and mantras.
28.
Then a roar of thunder that could give a heart attack erupted from the sky.
Rain poured and an angry wind kicked dust in the Vaishya Samanga’s eye.
29.
Cattle cried. The soaked crowd scattered.
King Duryodhana and the vehicles departed.
(for Lake Dvaitavana)
Notes
[1] ibid.
Duryodhana is Dhritarashtra's son.
[3] Radheya is another name for Karna. Karna was adopted by Radha, wife to Shalya's charioteer. The story of Karna’s birth is told in Sambhava parva.
[8] The ‘hobby’ Dhritarashtra refers to is gambling with dice. Yudhishthira gambled and lost everything in dice.
The story of dice is told in dyuta.
[9] Dharmaraja is an epithet for Yudhishthira. Dharmaraja means Dharma King. Yudhishthira's father is said to be Dharma.
Yajnaseni is Draupadi.
[14] Prithi is Kunti, Arjuna's mother. Bibhatsu is Arjuna.
[19] Kaunteya means offspring of Kunti. The Pandavas Yudhishthira, Bhima and Arjuna are Kaunteya.