“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Thus addressed by Duryodhana, Karna said, ‘It
does not seem to me, O Duryodhana, that your reasoning is well-founded. O preserver
of the Kuru race (Duryodhana), no
method will succeed against the Pandavas. O brave prince, you have before, by
various subtle (Sookshma in Sanskrit)
means, tried to carry out your wishes. But you have ever failed to slay your
enemies. They were then living near you, O king! They were then inexperienced
and of tender years, but you could not injure them then. They are now living at
a distance, grown up, full-fledged. O you of firm resolution, the sons of
Kunti, cannot now be injured by any subtle schemes of yours. This is my
opinion.
“As they are aided by the very Fates, and as they are desirous of
regaining their ancestral kingdom, we can never succeed in injuring them by any
means in our power. It is impossible to create disunion among them. They can
never be disunited who have all taken to a common wife. Nor can we succeed in alienating
Krishna (Draupadi) from the Pandavas
by any spies of ours. She chose them as her lords when they were in misfortune.
Will she abandon them now that they are in prosperity? Besides women always
like to have many husbands, Krishna (Draupadi) has obtained her wish. She can never be alienated from the Pandavas.
The king of Paanchaala (Drupada) is
honest and Dharmic; he is not greedy. Even if we offer him our whole kingdom he
will not abandon the Pandavas. Drupada’s son also possesses every
accomplishment, and is attached to the Pandavas. Therefore, I do not think that
the Pandavas can now be injured by any subtle means in your power.
“But, O bull among men, this is what is good and advisable for us now,
viz., to attack and strike them till they are destroyed. Let this course
recommend itself to you. As long as our party is strong and that of the king of
the Paanchaalas is weak, so long strike them without any hestitation. O son of
Gaandhari (Duryodhana), O king, as
long as their innumerable vehicles and animals, friends, and friendly tribes
are not assembled together, continue to exhibit your prowess (Bala in
Sanskrit). O king (Duryodhana), as long as the king of the Paanchaalas
together with his sons gifted with great prowess, does not set his heart upon
fighting with us, so long exhibit your prowess. O king (Duryodhana), exert your prowess before he of the
Vrishni race (Sri Krishna) comes
with the Yadava army into the city of Drupada, carrying everything before him,
to restore the Pandavas to their paternal kingdom. Wealth, every article of
enjoyment, kingdom, there is nothing that (Sri) Krishna may not sacrifice for the sake of the Pandavas. The illustrious
Bharata had acquired the whole earth by his prowess alone. (Lord) Indra has acquired sovereignty of the
three worlds by prowess alone. O king (Duryodhana), prowess is always applauded by the
Kshatriyas. O bull among Kshatriyas, prowess is
the fundamental Dharma of the brave. Let us, therefore, O monarch
(Duryodhana), with our large army consisting of four kinds of forces (Elephants,
Chariots, Cavalry and Infantry), grind
Drupada without loss of time, and bring here the Pandavas. Indeed, the Pandavas are incapable of being discomfited by any policy of peacemaking,
of gift, of wealth and bribery, or of disunion. Vanquish them,
therefore, by your prowess. Vanquishing them by thy prowess, you rule this wide
earth. O monarch, I see not any other means by which we may accomplish our
end.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Radheya (Karna), (King) Dhritarashtra, filled with great strength, applauded him highly. The
monarch (Dhritarashtra) then
addressed him and said, ‘O son of a Suta (Karna), you are gifted with great wisdom and accomplished in weaponry. This speech,
therefore, favouring the exhibition of prowess suits thee well. But let
Bhishma, Drona, and Vidura, and you two, take counsel together and adopt that
proposal which may lead to our benefit.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Then king Dhritarashtra called to him, all
those celebrated ministers and took counsel with them.’”
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