Chapter 125

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing, O bull of Bharata’s race, these words ofKesava, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, then said unto vindictiveDuryodhana, Krishna hath spoken to thee, desirous of bringing about peacebetween kinsmen. O sire, follow those counsels, and do not yield to theinfluence of wrath. If thou dost not act, O sire, according to the wordsof the high-souled Kesava, neither prosperity, nor happiness nor what isfor thy good, wilt thou ever have. The mighty-armed Kesava, O sire, hathsaid unto thee what is consistent with virtue and profit. Accept thouthat object, and do not, O king, exterminate the population of the earth.This resplendent prosperity of the Bharatas amongst all the kings of theearth, thou wilt, during the very life of Dhritarashtra, destroy throughthy wickedness, and thou wilt also, through this arrogant disposition ofthine, deprive thyself with all thy counsellors, sons, brothers, andkinsmen, of life, if, O thou foremost of Bharata’s race, thoutransgressest the words of Kesava, thy father, and of wise Vidura,–wordsthat are consistent with truth and fraught with benefit to thyself. Benot the exterminator of thy race, be not a wicked man, let not thy heartbe sinful, do not tread the path of unrighteousness. Do not sink thyfather and mother into an ocean of grief.’ After Bhishma had concluded,Drona also said these words unto Duryodhana, who, filled with wrath, wasthen breathing heavily, ‘O sire, the words that Kesava hath spoken untothee are fraught with virtue and profit, Santanu’s son Bhishma also hathsaid the same. Accept those words, O monarch. Both of them are wise,endued with great intelligence, with souls under control, desirous ofdoing what is for thy good, and possessed of great learning. They havesaid what is beneficial. Accept their words, O king, O thou possessed ofgreat wisdom, act according to what both Krishna and Bhishma have said. Ochastiser of foes, do not, from delusion of understanding, disregardMadhava. They that are always encouraging thee, are unable to give theevictory. During the time of battle they will throw the burthen ofhostility on other’s necks. Do not slaughter the Earth’s population. Donot slay thy sons and brothers. Know that host is invincible in the midstof which are Vasudeva and Arjuna. If, O Bharata, thou dost not accept thetruthful words of thy friends, Krishna and Bhishma, then, O sire, thouwilt surely have to repent. Arjuna is even greater than what Jamadagni’sson hath described him to be. As regards Krishna, the son of Devaki, heis incapable of being resisted by even the gods. O bull of Bharata’srace, what use is there in telling thee what is really conducive to thyhappiness and good? Everything hath now been said unto thee. Do what thouwishest. I do not wish to say anything more unto thee, O foremost ofBharata’s race.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After Drona had ceased, Vidura also, otherwisecalled Kshattri, casting his eyes on Duryodhana, said unto thatvindictive son of Dhritarashtra, ‘O Duryodhana, O bull of Bharata’s race,I do not grieve for thee. I grieve, however, for this old couple, viz.,Gandhari and thy father. Having thee, of wicked soul for their protector(of whom they will shortly be deprived), they will have to wander withanybody to look after them, and deprived also of friends and counsellors,like a pair of birds shorn of their wings. Having begotten such a wickedson who is the exterminator of his race, alas, these two will have towander over the earth in sorrow, subsisting on alms.’ After this, kingDhritarashtra, addressing Duryodhana, seated in the midst of his brothersand surrounded by all the kings, said, ‘Listen, O Duryodhana, to what thehigh-souled Sauri hath said. Accept those words which are eternal, highlybeneficial and conducive to what is for thy highest good. With the aid ofthis Krishna of faultless deeds, we amongst all the kings, are sure tohave all our cherished objects. Firmly united by Kesava, be reconciled, Osire, with Yudhishthira. Seek thou this great good of the Bharatas likeunto an august ceremony of propitiation. Through Vasudeva’s agency, bindthyself closely with the Pandavas. I think, the time for that is come. Donot let the opportunity pass away. If, however, thou disregardest Kesava,who from a desire of achieving what is for good, is soliciting thee tomake peace, then victory will never be thine.'”