Mahabharata 05 (eng)..

UDYOGA PARAVA
SECTION XXVII
count of his fondness for his son, he would not pay heed to Vidura, who, out of all the Kurus, is the
wisest and best of all his well-wishers, possessing vast learning, clever in speech, and righteous in
act. King Dhritarashtra is desirous of satisfying his son, who, while himself seeking honours from
others, is envious and wrathful, who transgresses the rules for the acquisition of virtue and wealth,
whose tongue is foul, who always follows the dictates of his wrath, whose soul is absorbed in sensual
pleasures, and who, full of unfriendly feelings to many, obeys no law, and whose life is evil,
heart implacable, and understanding vicious. For such a son as this, king Dhritarashtra knowingly
abandoned virtue and pleasure. Even then, O Sanjaya, when I was engaged in that game of dice I
thought that the destruction of the Kurus was at hand, for when speaking those wise and excellent
words Vidura obtained no praise from Dhritarashtra. Then, O charioteer, did trouble overtake the
Kurus when they disregarded the words of Vidura. So long as they had placed themselves under the
lead of his wisdom, their kingdom was in a flourishing state. Hear from me, O charioteer, who are
the counsellors now of the covetous Duryodhana. They are Dussasana, and Sakuni the son of Suvala,
and Karna the Suta's son! O son of Gavalgana, look at this folly of his! So I do not see, though
I think about it, how there can be prosperity for the Kurus and the Srinjayas when Dhritarashtra hath
taken the throne from others, and the far seeing Vidura hath been banished elsewhere. Dhritarashtra
with his sons is now looking for an extensive and undisputed sovereignty over the whole world.
Absolute peace is, therefore, unattainable. He regardeth what he hath already got to be his own.
When Arjuna taketh up his weapon in fight, Karna believeth him capable of being withstood. Formerly
there took place many great battles. Why could not Karna then be of any avail to them. It is
known to Karna and Drona and the grandsire Bhishma, as also to many other Kurus, that there is no
wielder of the bow, comparable to Arjuna. It is known to all the assembled rulers of the earth, how
the sovereignty was obtained by Duryodhana although that repressor of foes, Arjuna, was alive.
Pertinanciously doth Dhritarashtra's son believe that it is possible to rob the sons of Pandu of what
is their own, although he knoweth having himself gone to the place of fight, how Arjuna comforted
himself when he had nothing but a bow four cubits long for his weapon of battle. Dhritarashtra's
sons are alive simply because they have not as yet heard that twang of the stretch Gandiva. Duryodhana
believeth his object already gained, as long as he beholdeth not the wrathful Bhima. O sire,
even Indra would forbear to rob us of our sovereignty as long as Bhima and Arjuna and the heroic
Nakula and the patient Sahadeva are alive! O charioteer, the old king with his son still entertains the
notion that his sons will not be perished, O Sanjaya, on the field of battle, consumed by the fiery
wrath of Pandu's sons. Thou knowest, O Sanjaya, what misery we have suffered! For my respect to
thee, I would forgive them all. Thou knowest what transpired between ourselves and those sons of
Kuru. Thou knowest how we comforted ourselves towards Dhritarashtra's son. Let the same state of
things still continue, I shall seek peace, as thou counsellest me to do. Let me have Indraprastha for
my kingdom, Let this be given to me by Duryodhana, the chief of Bharata's race.'"
SECTION XXVII
Sanjaya said, 'O Pandava, the world hath heard thy conduct being righteous. I see it also to be so, O
son of Pritha. Life is transient, that may end in great infamy; considering this, thou shouldst not perish.
O Ajatasatru, if without war, the Kurus will not yield thy share, I think, it is far better for thee to
live upon alms in the kingdom of the Andhakas and the Vrishnis than obtain sovereignty by war.
Since this mortal existence is for only a short period, and greatly liable to blame, subject to constant
suffering, and unstable, and since it is never comparable to a good name, therefore, O Pandava,
never perpetrate a sin. It is the desires, O ruler of men, which adhere to mortal men and are an obstruction
to a virtuous life. Therefore, a wise man should beforehand kill them all and thereby gain a
stainless fame in the world, O son of Pritha. The thirst after wealth is but like fetter in this world;
the virtue of those that seek it is sure to suffer. He is wise who seeketh virtue alone; desires being
increased, a man must suffer in his temporal concerns, O sire. Placing virtue before all other concerns
of life, a man shineth like the sun when its splendour is great. A man devoid of virtue, and of
vicious soul, is overtaken by ruin, although he may obtain the whole of this earth. Thou hast studied
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