Chapter 138

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing the words of Kunti, the mighty car-warriors,Bhishma and Drona, then spoke these words unto the disobedientDuryodhana, ‘Hast thou, O tiger among men, heard the fierce words ofgrave import, excellent and consistent with virtue, that Kunti had spokenin the presence of Krishna? Her sons will act according to them,especially as they are approved by Vasudeva. O Kaurava, they will notassuredly desist, without their share of the kingdom (being given tothem). Thou hast inflicted much pain on the sons of Pritha. And Draupadialso was afflicted by thee in the assembly. They were, however, boundthen by the bounds of truth and it was for this that, they tolerated thattreatment. Obtaining Arjuna now, who is skilled in every weapon, andBhima of firm resolution, and Gandiva and the couple of (inexhaustible)quivers, and that car (of Arjuna) and that banner (bearing the device ofthe ape), and Nakula and Sahadeva, both endued with great might andenergy, and Vasudeva also, as his allies, Yudhishthira will not forgive(thee). O mighty-armed one, thou hast witnessed with thy own eyes howintelligent Arjuna vanquished us all in battle before, in the city ofVirata. Indeed, after this, that Ape-bannered (warrior) consumed inbattle, taking up his fierce weapons, those Danavas of terrible deedscalled the Nivatakavachas. On the occasion also of the tale of cattle,when captured by the Gandharvas, this Karna and all these thy counsellorsand thyself accoutred in mail and on thy car, were all liberated from thegrasp of the Gandharvas by that Arjuna. That is a sufficient proof.Therefore, O foremost of the Bharatas, with all thy brothers make peacewith the sons of Pandu. Save this whole earth from the Destruction’sjaws. Yudhishthira is thy elder brother, virtuous in behaviour,affectionate towards thee, sweet-speeched and learned. Abandoning thysinful intentions, unite thyself with that tiger among men. If Pandu’sson beholdeth thee divested of thy bow, and without the wrinkles of rageon thy brow, and cheerful, even that would be for the good of our race.Approaching with all thy counsellors embrace him fraternally. O repressorof foes, salute the king respectfully as before. And let Yudhishthira,the son of Kunti, the elder brother of Bhima, hold from affection, thysaluting self with his arms. And let that foremost of smiters, Bhima,possessed of leonine shoulders and thighs round, and long, and mightyarms, embrace thee. And then let that son of Kunti, Dhananjaya, calledalso Partha, of eyes like lotus-petals, and curly hair and conch-likeneck salute thee respectfully. Then let those tigers among men, the twinAswins, unrivalled on earth for beauty, wait on thee with affection andreverence as on their preceptor. And let all the kings with him ofDasarha’s race at their head, shed tears of joy. Abandoning thy pride,unite thyself with thy brothers. Rule thou the whole earth, with thybrothers. Let all the kings joyfully return to their respective homes,having embraced one another. There is no need of battle, O king of kings.Listen to the dissuasions of thy friends. In the battle that will ensue agreat destruction of the Kshatriyas is certainly indicated. The stars areall hostile. The animals and birds have all assumed fearful aspects.Diverse portents, O hero, are visible, all indicating the slaughters ofthe Kshatriyas. All these portents, again, are particularly visible inour abodes. Blazing meteors are afflicting thy host. Our animals are allcheerless and seem, O king, to be crying. Vultures are wheeling aroundthy troops. Neither the city nor the palace looks as before. Jackals,setting forth ominous yells, are running about the four quarters whichare ablaze with conflagrations. Obey thou the counsels of thy father andmother as also of ourselves who are thy well-wishers. War and peace, Othou of mighty arms, are within thy control. If, O grinder of foes, thoudost not act according to the words of thy friends, thou shalt have torepent upon beholding thy army afflicted with the arrows of Partha.Hearing in battle the terrible yells uttered by the mighty Bhima and thetwang of Gandiva, thou wilt remember our these words. Indeed, if what wesay appears unacceptable to thee, then it will be as we say.'”