Chapter 130

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Disregarding these words of grave import, spoken byhis mother, Duryodhana went away, in anger, from that place to thepresence of wicked persons. And wending away from the court, the Kuruprince began to consult with Suvala’s royal son, Sakuni, most clever indice. And this was the resolution which Duryodhana and Karna and Suvala’sson Sakuni, with Dussasana as their fourth, arrived at, ‘This Janardana,quick in action, seeketh, with the king Dhritarashtra and Santanu’s son,to seize us first. We, however, shall forcibly seize this tiger amongmen, Hrishikesa, first, like Indra forcibly seizing Virochana’s son(Vali). Hearing that this one of Vrishni’s race hath been seized, thePandavas will lose their heart and become incapable of exertion, likesnakes whose fangs have been broken. This mighty-armed one is, indeed,the refuge and protection of them all. If this grantor of wishes, thisbull of all the Satwatas, be confined, the Pandavas with the Somakas willbecome depressed and incapable of any exertion. Therefore, disregardingDhritarashtra’s cries, we will seize even here this Kesava, who is quickin action, and then fight with the foe.’ After those sinful men of wickedsouls had come to this sinful resolution, highly intelligent Satyaki,capable of reading the heart by signs, soon came to know of it. Andbecause of that knowledge, he soon issued out of the court, accompaniedby Hridika’s son (Kritavarman). And Satyaki addressed Kritavarman,saying, ‘Array the troops soon. And accoutred in mail and with thy troopsarrayed for battle, wait thou at the entrance of the court, till Irepresent this matter unto Krishna, unwearied by exertion.’ Saying this,that hero re-entered the court, like a lion entering a mountain-cave. Andhe (first) informed the high-souled Kesava and then Dhritarashtra, andthen Vidura of that conspiracy. And having informed them of thatresolution, he laughingly said, ‘These wicked men intended to commit anact here, that is disapproved by the good from consideration of virtue,profit, and desire. They will, however, never be able to actually achieveit. These fools of sinful souls assembled together, these wretchesoverwhelmed by lust, anger and yielding themselves up to wrath andcovetousness, are about to perpetrate a highly unbecoming deed. Thosewretches of little understanding and desirous of seizing the lotus-eyed,are like idiots and children desiring to seize a blazing fire by means oftheir garments.’ Hearing these words of Satyaki, Vidura, endued withgreat foresight, said these words unto the mighty-armed Dhritarashtra inthe midst of the Kurus, ‘O king, O chastiser of foes, the hour of all thysons is come, for they are endeavouring to perpetrate a highly infamousact, however incapable they may be of actually accomplishing it. Alas,united together they desire to vanquish this younger brother of Vasava,and seize this lotus-eyed one. Indeed, encountering this tiger among men,this invincible and irresistible one, they will all perish like insectsin a blazing fire. If Janardana wisheth, he can send all of them, even ifthey fight in a body, unto the abode of Yama, like an enraged liondispatching a herd of elephants. He will, however, never do any suchsinful and censurable act. This best of persons, of unfading glory, willnever deviate from virtue.’ After Vidura had said these words, Kesava,casting his eyes on Dhritarashtra, said in the midst of thosewell-meaning persons, who listen to others’ words, ‘O king, if these(men) desire to chastise me by using violence, permit them to chastiseme. O monarch, as regards my chastising them, for I dare chastise all ofthem together that are so excited with rage, I will not, however,perpetrate any sinful and censurable act. Coveting the possessions of thePandavas, thy sons will lose their own. If they desire to perpetrate sucha deed, Yudhishthira’s object will then be (easily) accomplished, for,this very day, O Bharata, seizing these with all that follow them, I canmake them over to the sons of Pritha. What is there that is difficult ofattainment by me? I will not, however, O Bharata, commit in thy presence,O great monarch, any such censurable deed, that can proceed only fromwrath and a sinful understanding. Let it be, O king, as this Duryodhanadesireth. I give permission, O monarch, to all thy sons to do it.’

“Hearing these words (of Kesava), Dhritarashtra addressed Vidura saying,’Quickly bring hither sinful Duryodhana, who is so covetous ofsovereignty, with his friends, counsellors, brothers, and followers. Ishall see if indeed, making one more effort I can bring him to the rightpath.

‘Thus addressed by Dhritarashtra, Kshattri once more caused unwillingDuryodhana to enter the court with his brothers, and surrounded by thekings (that followed him). King Dhritarashtra then addressed Duryodhana,surrounded by Karna and Dussasana and all those kings, saying, ‘O wretchof accumulated sins, having for thy allies men of despicable acts,infamous is the deed that thou, uniting with sinful friends, seekest todo. Of little understanding, thou, infamy of thy race, one like theealone can seek to do an act so infamous and disapproved by the good,however impossible it may be of being actually achieved. Uniting withsinful allies, wishest thou to chastise this invincible and irresistibleone of eyes like lotus-leaves? Like a child wishing to have the moon,seekest thou, O fool, to do what cannot be done by the very gods, headedby Vasava with all their strength? Knowest thou not, that Kesava isincapable of being withstood in battle by gods and men and Gandharvas andAsuras and Uragas? Like the wind which none can seize of being seizedwith his hands, like the moon which no hand can reach, like the Earthwhich none can support on his head, Kesava is incapable by force.’

“After Dhritarashtra had said these words, Vidura (casting) his eyes onDuryodhana, addressed that vindictive son of Dhritarashtra, saying, ‘ODuryodhana, listen now to these words of mine. At the gates of Saubha,that foremost of monkeys, known by the name of Dwivida, covered Kesavawith a mighty shower of stones. Desirous of seizing Madhava by puttingforth all his prowess and exertion, he did not yet succeed in seizinghim. Seekest thou to apprehend that Kesava by force? When Sauri went toPragjyotisha, Naraka with all the Danavas succeeded not in seizing himthere. Seekest thou to seize him by force? Slaying that Naraka in battle,he brought away (from his city) a thousand damsels and married them all,according to the ordinance. In the city of Nirmochana, six thousandmighty Asuras failed to seize him with their nooses. Seekest thou toseize that Kesava by force? While only a child, he slew Putana and twoAsuras assuming the shape of birds, and O bull of Bharata’s race, he heldup the mountains of Govardhana (on his little finger) for protecting thekine (from a continuous rain). He hath also slain Aristha, and Dhenukaand Chanura of great strength, and Aswaraja, and Kansa, the doer of evil.He hath slain Jarasandha, and Vakra, and Sisupala of mighty energy, andVana in battle, and numerous other kings also have been slain by him. Ofimmeasurable might, he vanquished king Varuna and also Pavaka (Agni), andon the occasion of bringing (down from the celestial regions) the(heavenly flower called) Parijata, he defeated the lord of Sachi himself.While floating on the vast deep, he slew Madhu and Kaitabha, and inanother birth he slew Hayagriva (Horse-necked). He is the maker ofeverything but is himself made by none. He is the Cause of all power.Whatever Sauri wisheth, he accomplisheth without any effort. Knowest thounot sinless Govinda, of terrible prowess and incapable of deterioration?This one, resembling an angry snake of virulent poison, is thenever-ending source of energy. In seeking to use violence towardsKrishna, endued with mighty arms and unwearied by exertion, thou wilt,with all thy followers, perish like an insect failing into fire.'”