Chapter 9
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O holy one, I did not like this business ofgambling, but, O Muni, I think, I was made to consent to it drawn byfate! Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Vidura, nor Gandhari liked thisgame at dice. No doubt, it was begot of folly. And, O thou who delightestin the observance of vows, O illustrious one, knowing everything yetinfluenced by paternal affection, I am unable to cast off my senselessson, Duryodhana!’
“Vyasa said, ‘O king, O son of Vichitravirya, what thou sayest is true!We know it well that a son is the best of all things and that there isnothing that is so good as a son. Instructed by the tears of Suravi,Indra came to know that the son surpasseth in worth other valuablepossessions. O monarch, I will, in this connection, relate to thee thatexcellent and best of stories, the conversation between Indra and Suravi.In days of yore, Suravi, the mother of cows was once weeping in thecelestial regions. O child, Indra took compassion upon her, and askedher, saying, ‘O auspicious one! why dost thou weep? Is everything wellwith the celestials? Hath any misfortune, ever so little, befallen theworld of men or serpents?’ Suravi replied, ‘No evil hath befallen theethat I perceive. But I am aggrieved on account of my son, and it istherefore, O Kausika, that I weep! See, O chief of the celestials, yondercruel husbandman is belabouring my weak son with the wooden stick, andoppressing him with the (weight of the) plough, in consequence of whichmy child agitated with agony is falling upon the ground and is at thepoint of death. At sight of this, O lord of the celestials, I am filledwith compassion, and my mind is agitated! The one that is the stronger ofthe pair is bearing his burthen of greater weight (with ease), but, OVasava, the other is lean, and weak and is a mass of veins and arteries!He beareth his burthen with difficulty! And it is for him that I grieve.See, O Vasava, sore inflicted with the whip, and harassed exceedingly, heis unable to bear his burthen. And it is for him that, moved by grief, Iweep in heaviness of heart and these tears of compassion trickle down myeyes!’
“Sakra said, ‘O fair one, when thousands of thy son are (daily)oppressed, why dost thou grieve for one under infliction?’ Suravireplied. ‘Although I have a thousand offspring, yet my affections flowequally towards all! But, O Sakra, I feel greater compassion for one thatis weak and innocent!’
“Vyasa continued, ‘Then Indra having heard these words of Suravi, wasmuch surprised, and O thou of the Kuru race, he became convinced that ason is dearer than one’s life! And the illustrious chastiser of Pakathereupon suddenly poured there a thick shower and caused obstruction tothe husbandman’s work. And as Suravi said, thy affections, O king,equally flow towards all thy sons. Let them be greater towards those thatare weak! And as my son Pandu is to me, so art thou, O son, and so alsoVidura of profound wisdom! It is out of affection that I tell you allthis! O Bharata, thou art possessed of a hundred and one sons, but Panduhath only five. And they are in a bad plight and passing their days insorrow. How may they save their lives, how may they thrive such thoughtsregarding the distressed sons of Pritha continually agitate my soul! Oking of the earth, if thou desirest all the Kauravas to live, let thy sonDuryodhana make peace with the Pandavas!'”
