Chapter 129

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Krishna, king Dhritarashtralost no time in addressing Vidura, who was conversant with all dictatesof virtue. And the king said, ‘Go, O child, unto Gandhari, possessed ofgreat wisdom and foresight and bring her hither. With her I will solicitthis wicked-hearted (son of mine). If she can pacify this wicked wretch,of evil heart, we may yet be able to act according to the words of ourfriend Krishna. It may be that speaking words in recommendation of peace,she may yet succeed in pointing out the right path to this fool,afflicted by avarice and having wicked allies, If she can dispel thisgreat and dreadful calamity (about to be) occasioned by Duryodhana, itwill then conduce to the attainment and preservation of happiness andpeace for ever and ever.’ Hearing these words of the king, Vidura, atDhritarashtra’s command, brought (thither) Gandhari, possessed of greatforesight. And Dhritarashtra then addressed Gandhari and said, ‘Behold, OGandhari, this thy son of wicked soul, transgressing all my commands, isabout to sacrifice both sovereignty and life in consequence of his lustfor sovereignty. Of wicked soul and little understanding, he hath, likeone of uncultivated mind, left the court, with his sinful counsellors,disregarding his superiors and setting at naught the words of hiswell-wishers.’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of her husband, that princess ofgreat fame, Gandhari, desirous of what was highly beneficial, said thesewords, ‘Bring hither, without loss of time, that kingdom-coveting, sickson of mine. He that is of uncultivated heart and sacrificeth both virtueand profit, doth not deserve to govern a kingdom. For all that, however,Duryodhana, who is destitute of humility hath, by every means, obtained akingdom. Indeed, O Dhritarashtra, thou so fond of thy son, art very muchto be blamed for this, for knowing well his sinfulness, thou followestyet his counsel. That son of thine, completely possessed by lust andwrath is now the slave of delusion, and is, therefore, incapable, O king,of being now forcibly turned back by thee. Thou art now reaping thefruit, O Dhritarashtra, of having made over the kingdom to an ignorantfool of wicked soul, possessed by avarice and having wicked counsellors.Why is the king indifferent (today) to that disunion, which is about totake place between persons related so closely? Indeed, beholding theedisunited with those that are thy own, thy enemies will laugh at thee.Who is there that would use force for getting over that calamity, O king,which can be overcome by conciliation and gift?’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Kshattri then, and at Dhritarashtra’s command,and of his mother’s also, once more caused vindictive Duryodhana to enterthe court. Expectant of his mother’s words, the prince re-entered thecourt, with eyes red as copper from wrath, and breathing heavily as asnake. And beholding her son, who was treading in a wrong path, enter thecourt, Gandhari rebuked him severely and said these words for bringingabout peace.’

“Gandhari said, ‘O Duryodhana, attend, O dear son, to these words of minethat are beneficial to thee as also to all thy followers,–words thatthou art competent to obey and that will conduce to thy happiness. ODuryodhana, obey thou the words of thy well-wishers, those words, viz.,which that best of the Bharatas–thy father–and Bhishma, and Drona, andKripa, and Kshattri, have spoken. If thou makest peace, thou wouldst bythat render homage to Bhishma, to thy father, to me, and to all thywell-wishers with Drona at their head. O thou of great wisdom, nobody, Obest of the Bharatas, succeedeth by his own desire alone in acquiring andkeeping or enjoying a kingdom. One that hath not his senses undercontrol, cannot enjoy sovereignty for any length of time. He that hathhis soul under control and is endued with great intelligence, can rule akingdom. Lust and wrath wean away a man from his possessions andenjoyments. Conquering these foes first, a king bringeth the earth underhis subjection. Sovereignty over men is a great thing. Those that are ofwicked souls may easily desire to win a kingdom, but they are notcompetent to retain a kingdom (when won). He that desireth to obtainextensive empire must bind his senses to both profit and virtue, for ifthe senses are restrained, intelligence increaseth, like fire thatincreaseth when fed with fuel. If not controlled, these can even slaytheir possessor, like unbroken and furious horses, capable of killing anunskilful driver. One that seeketh to conquer his counsellors withoutconquering his own self, and to conquer foes without conquering hiscounsellors, is soon vanquished himself and is ruined. He who conquerethhis own self first, taking it for a foe, will not seek in vain to conquerhis counsellors and enemies afterwards. Prosperity worshippeth greatlythat person who hath conquered his senses and his counsellors, whoinflicteth punishments on transgressors, who acteth after deliberation,and who is possessed of wisdom. Lust and wrath that dwell in the body aredeprived of their strength by wisdom, like a couple of fishes ensnared ina net with close holes. Those two in consequence of which the gods shutthe gates of heaven against one, who freed from worldly propensities isdesirous of going thither, are excited by lust and wrath. That king whoknoweth well how to conquer lust and wrath and avarice and boastfulnessand pride, can own the sovereignty of the whole earth. That king who isdesirous of gaining wealth and virtue and vanquishing his enemies, shouldalways be engaged in controlling his passions. Influenced by lust, orfrom wrath, he that behaveth deceitfully towards his own kinsmen orothers, can never win many allies. Uniting thyself with those chastisersof foes–the heroic sons of Pandu–who are all endued with great wisdom,thou canst, O son, enjoy the earth in happiness. What Bhishma, the son ofSantanu, and that mighty car-warrior, Drona, have told thee is, O son,quite true,–Krishna and Dhananjaya are invincible. Seek thou, therefore,the protection of this mighty-armed one, this one that is not worried byexertion, for if Kesava becometh gracious, both sides will be happy. Thatmin, who is not obedient to the wishes of wise and learned friends,always seeking his prosperity, only gladdeneth his enemies. O son, thereis no good in battle, no virtue, no profit. How can it bring happinessthen? Even victory is not always certain. Do not set thy heart,therefore, on battle. O thou of great wisdom, Bhishma and thy father andVahlika (formerly) gave unto the Pandavas their share (of the kingdom)from fear. O chastiser of foes, never think of disunion with them. Thoubeholdest today the fruit of that (peaceful) cession in the fact of thysovereignty over the whole earth, with all its thorns removed by thoseheroes. Give, O chastiser of foes, unto the son of Pandu what is theirdue. If thou wishest to enjoy, with the counsellors even half (theempire), let their share then be given unto them. Half the earth issufficient to yield the means of support unto thee and thy counsellors.By acting according to the words of thy well-wishers, thou wilt, OBharata, win great fame. A quarrel with the sons of Pandu who are allendued with prosperity, who have their souls under complete control, whoare possessed of great intelligence and have conquered their passions,will only divest thee of thy great prosperity. Dispelling the wrath ofall thy well-wishers, rule thou thy kingdom as becometh thee, giving, Obull of Bharata’s race, unto the sons of Pandu the share that belongethto them. O son, persecution of the sons of Pandu for full thirteen yearshath been enough. Augmented by lust and wrath, quench (that fire) now, Othou of great wisdom. Thou that covetest the wealth of the Pandavas arenot a match for them, nor this Suta’s son, who is exceedingly wrathful,nor this thy brother Dussasana. Indeed, when Bhishma and Drona and Kripaand Karna and Bhimasena and Dhananjaya and Dhrishtadyumna will beenraged, the population of the earth will be exterminated. Under theinfluence of wrath, do not, O son, exterminate the Kurus. Let not thewide earth be destroyed for thy sake. Of little understanding as thouart, thou thinkest that Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa, all others willfight (for thee) with all their might. That will never happen, for asregards these, that are endued with self-knowledge, their affectiontowards the Pandavas and yourselves is equal. If for the sake of thesustenance they have obtained from the king (Dhritarashtra), they consentto yield up their very lives, they will not yet be able to cast angryglances upon king Yudhishthira. It is never seen in this world that menacquire wealth by avarice. Give up thy avarice then, O son, and desist, Obull of Bharat’s race.'”