“Vaishampaayana said, ‘After Drona had stopped, Vidura spoke, saying, ‘O
monarch (Dhritarashtra), your
friends without doubt, are saying to you what is for your good. But as you are
unwilling to listen to what they say, their words scarcely find a place in your
ears. What that foremost one of Kuru’s race, viz., Bhishma, the son of Shantanu,
has said, is excellent and is for your good. But you do not listen to it. The Guru
Drona also has said much that is for your good which however Karna, the son of
Radha, does not regard to be such. O king (Dhritarashtra), but thinking hard I do not find any one
who is better a friend to you than either of these two lions among men (viz.,
Bhishma and Drona), or any one who
excels either of them in wisdom. These two, old in years, in wisdom, and in
learning, always regard you, O king (Dhritarashtra), and Pandavas with equal eyes. Without doubt, O king of Bharata’s
race, they are both, in Dharma and truthfulness, not inferior to (Sri) Rama, the son of Dasharatha, and Gayaa.
Never before did they give you any evil advice. You also, O monarch (Dhritarashtra), have never done them any injury. Why
should, therefore, these tigers among men (Bhishma and Drona), who are ever truthful, give you wicked
advice, especially when you have never injured them?
“O king (Dhritarashtra),
filled with wisdom these foremost of men, will never give you advice that are
crooked. O descendant of Kuru’s race, this is my firm conviction that these
two, familiar with all rules of Dharma, will never, tempted by wealth, utter
anything betraying a spirit of bias. What they have said, O Bharata (Dhritarashtra), I regard highly beneficial to you.
Without doubt, O monarch (Dhritarashtra), the Pandavas are your sons as much as Duryodhana and others are.
Those ministers, therefore, that give you any advice filled with evil to the
Pandavas, do not really look to your interests. If there is any partiality in your
heart, O king (Dhritarashtra), for your
own children, they who by their advice seek to bring it out, certainly do you
no good. Therefore, O king, these illustrious persons (Bhishma and Drona) filled with great splendour, have not I think,
said anything that leads to evil. You, however, do not understand it. What
these bulls among men have said regarding the invincibility of the Pandavas is
perfectly true. Do not think otherwise of it, O tiger among men. Blessed be you!
“Can the handsome Dhananjaya (Arjuna), the Pandava, using the right and the left hand with equal activity,
be vanquished in battle even by Maghavat (Lord Indra) Himself? Can the great Bhimasena of strong arms possessing the might
of ten thousand elephants, be vanquished in battle by the immortals (Amara
in Sanskrit)(i.e. Devas) themselves? Who
also that desires to live can overcome in battle the twins (Nakula and
Sahadeva) like to the sons of Yama
himself, and well-skilled in fight? How too can the eldest one of the Pandavas (Yudhishthira) in whom patience, mercy, forgiveness,
truth, and prowess always live together, be vanquished? They who have Rama (Balarama) as their ally, and Janaardana (Sri Krishna) as their advisor, and Satyaki as their supporter,
have already defeated everybody in war. They who have Drupada for their
father-in-law, and Drupada’s sons -- the heroic brothers, viz., Dhristadyumna
and others of Prishata’s race for their brothers-in-law, are certainly
invincible. Remembering this, O monarch (Dhritarashtra), and knowing that their claim to the kingdom is even prior to yours,
behave as per Dharma towards them. The stain of assasination is on you, O
monarch, in consequence of that act of Purochana. Wash yourself of it now, by a
kindly behaviour towards the Pandavas. O monarch (Dhritarashtra), this kindly behaviour of yours towards
the Pandavas will be an act of great benefit to us, protecting the lives of us
all that belong to Kuru’s race, and leading to the growth of the whole
Kshatriya varna!
“We had formerly warred with king Drupada; if we can now secure him as
an ally, it will strengthen our party. O king (Dhritarashtra), the Daashaarhaa tribe are numerous and
strong. Know where (Sri) Krishna is, all of them must be, and where
(Sri) Krishna is, there victory also
must be! O king (Dhritarashtra), who, unless cursed by the Devas, would
seek, to effect that by means of war which can be effected by peace making?
Hearing that the sons of Pritha (sons of Kunti) are alive, the citizens and other subjects of the kingdom have become
exceedingly glad and eager for seeing them. O monarch (Dhritarashtra), act in a way that is agreeable to them.
Duryodhana, Karna and Shakuni, the son of Subala, are sinful, foolish and
young; listen not to them. Possessed of every Dharma, I long ago told you O
monarch that, you are for Duryodhana’s fault, the subjects of this kingdom
would be destroyed.’”
No comments:
Post a Comment