You may perform the sacrifices of the Rājasūya and the Aśvamedha, but do not even approach an act that is itself sin! If, O sons of Pṛthā, after all this time you now give rein to hatred and commit a sinful deed, then in vain, for the sake of virtue, have you spent years in the forest amid such suffering! In vain did you go into exile, parting with your whole army; for at that time this army was wholly under your control. And these men who now support you were ever obedient to you — this Kṛṣṇa, and Sātyaki, and Virāṭa of the golden chariot, lord of the Matsya land, with his son at the head of his hard-striking warriors. All the kings formerly conquered by you would at once have rallied to your cause. With mighty resources, feared by all, possessed of an army and accompanied by Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, you could have slain your chief enemy on the field of battle. You could then have humbled Duryodhana's pride. O Pāṇḍava, why did you let your enemies grow so powerful?