DHRITARASHTRA ADVISES DURYODHANA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 53 - DHRITARASHTRA ADVISES DURYODHANA

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘You are my eldest son and also born of my eldest wife. Therefore, O son (Duryodhana), be not jealous of the Paandavaas. He that is jealous is always unhappy and suffers the pain of death. O bull of the Bharata race (Duryodhana), Yudhishthira does not know deception, possesses wealth equal to yours, has your friends for his, and is not jealous of you. Why should you, therefore, be jealous of him? O king (Duryodhana), in respect of friends and allies you are equal to Yudhishthira. Why should you, therefore, desire, from foolishness, the property of your brother (Yudhishthira)? Be not so. Stop being jealous. Do not grieve. O bull of the Bharata race (Duryodhana), it you desire the dignity attaching to the performance of a yagna, let the Ritwijas arrange for you the great yagna called the Saptatantu. The kings of the earth will then, cheerfully and with great respect, bring for you also much wealth and gems and ornaments. O child (Duryodhana), desiring other’s possessions is exceedingly mean. He, on the other hand, enjoys happiness, who is content with his own being engaged in the practices of his own Dharma. Never striving to obtain the wealth of others, persevering in one’s own affairs, and protecting what has been earned – these are the indications of true greatness. He that is unmoved in calamity, skilled in his own business, ever exerting vigilant and humble, always sees prosperity. The Paandavaas are as your arms. Do not cut off those arms of yours. Do not plunge into internal dissensions for the sake of that wealth of your brothers. O king (Duryodhana), do not be jealous of the Paandavaas. Your wealth is equal to that of your brothers in his entirety. There is great sin in quarrelling with friends. They that are your Pitaamahas are theirs also. Give away in charity on occasions of yagnas, satisfy every dear object of your desire, sport in the company of women freely, and you enjoy peace.’”