Chapter 148

“Vasudeva said, ‘After Bhishma had said these words, Drona, alwayscompetent to speak, then addressed Duryodhana in the midst of the(assembled) monarchs and said these words that are beneficial to thee.And he said, ‘O sire, as Pratipa’s son, Santanu, was devoted to thewelfare of his race, and as Devavrata, otherwise called Bhishma wasdevoted to the welfare of his race, so was the royal Pandu, that king ofthe Kurus, who was firmly devoted to truth, who had his passions undercontrol, who was virtuous, of excellent vows, and attentive to allduties. (Though king by right) that perpetuator of Kuru’s race yet madeover the sovereignty to his elder brother, Dhritarashtra, endued withgreat wisdom, and to his younger brother Kshattri (Vidura). And placingthis Dhritarashtra of unfading glory on the throne, that royal son ofKuru’s race went to the woods with his two wives. And that tiger amongmen, Vidura, with great humility, placing himself in subjection toDhritarashtra, began to wait on him like a slave, fanning him with thebranch of a tender palm. And all the subjects then, O sire, duly tenderedtheir submission to king Dhritarashtra just as they had done to kingPandu himself. And having made over the kingdom to Dhritarashtra andVidura, that conqueror of hostile cities, Pandu, wandered over the wholeearth. Always devoted to truth, Vidura then took charge of the finances,gifts, superintendence of the servants (of the state), and the feeding ofall, while that conqueror of hostile cities, Bhishma, of mighty energy,supervised the making of war and peace and the necessity of making orwithholding gifts to kings. When king Dhritarashtra of great strength wason the throne, the high-souled Vidura was near him. Born inDhritarashtra’s race how dost thou venture to bring about a disunion inthe family? Uniting with thy brothers (the Pandavas) enjoy all objects ofenjoyment. O king, I do not say this to you from cowardice, nor for thesake of wealth. I am enjoying the wealth that Bhishma gave me, and notthou, O best of kings. I do not desire, O king, to have from thee mymeans of sustenance. Where Bhishma is, there Drona must be. Do whatBhishma hath told thee. O grinder of foes, give unto the sons of Panduhalf the kingdom. O sire, I acted as their preceptor as much as thine.Indeed, even as Aswatthaman is to me, so is Arjuna of white steeds. Whatuse is there of much declamation? Victory is there where righteousnessis.’

“Vasudeva continued, ‘After Drona, of immeasurable energy, had said this,the virtuous Vidura then, O king, who is devoted to truth, said thesewords, turning towards his uncle (Bhishma) and looking at his face. AndVidura said, ‘O Devavrata, attend to the words I speak. This race ofKuru, when it became extinct, was revived by thee. It is for this thatthou art indifferent to my lamentations now. In this our race, its stainis this Duryodhana, whose inclinations are followed by thee, although heis enslaved by avarice, and is wicked and ungrateful and deprived of hissenses by lust. The Kurus will certainly bear consequence of the acts ofthat Duryodhana who transgresseth the command of his father, observant ofvirtue and profit. O great king, act thou so that the Kurus may notperish. Like a painter producing a picture, it was thou, O king, whohadst caused me and Dhritarashtra to spring into life. The Creator,having created creatures, destroys them again. Do not act like him.Seeing before thy very eyes this extinction of thy race, be notindifferent to it. If, however, thy understanding is gone in consequenceof the universal slaughter that is at hand, go then to the woods, takingme and Dhritarashtra with thee. Otherwise, binding this very day wickedDuryodhana that hath deceit for his wisdom, rule this kingdom with thesons of Pandu guarding it around. Relent, O tiger among kings. A greatslaughter of the Pandavas, the Kurus, and of other kings of immeasurableenergy is before us.’

‘Having said this, Vidura ceased, his heart overflowing with sorrow. Andreflecting on the matter, he began to draw repeated sighs. Then thedaughter of king Suvala, alarmed at the prospect of the destruction of awhole race, said, from wrath, these words fraught with virtue and profit,to cruel Duryodhana of wicked heart, in the presence of the assembledmonarchs, ‘Let all the kings present in this royal assembly and let theregenerate Rishis that form the other members of this conclave, listen(to me) as I proclaim the guilt of thy sinful self backed by all thycounsellors. The kingdom of the Kurus is enjoyable in due order ofsuccession. Even this hath always been the custom of our race. Of sinfulsoul and exceedingly wicked in acts, thou seekest the destruction of theKuru kingdom by thy unrighteousness. Wise Dhritarashtra is in possessionof the kingdom, having Vidura of great foresight under him (as hisadviser). Passing over these two, why, O Duryodhana, dost thou, fromdelusion, covet the sovereignty now? Even the high-souled king andKshattri, when Bhishma is alive, should both be subordinate to him.Indeed, this foremost of men, this offspring of Ganga, the high-souledBhishma, in consequence of his righteousness, doth not desire thesovereignty. It is for this reason that this invincible kingdom becamePandu’s. His sons, therefore, are masters today and no other. Theextensive kingdom, then by paternal right, belongeth to the Pandavas, andtheir sons and grandsons in due order. Observing the customs of our raceand the rule with respect to our kingdom, we all fully accomplish thatwhich this high-souled and wise chief of the Kurus, Devavrata, firmlyadhering to truth, sayeth, ‘Let this king (Dhritarashtra) and Viduraalso, at the command of Bhishma of great vows, proclaim the same thing.Even that is an act that should be done by those that are well-wishers(of this race). Keeping virtue in front, let Yudhishthira, the son ofDharma, guided by king Dhritarashtra and urged by Santanu’s son, rule formany long years this kingdom of the Kurus lawfully obtainable by him.'”