Chapter 67

“Vaisampayana said, ‘When Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, showedlittle regard for the words spoken by Sanjaya, and when the rest remainedsilent, the assembled kings rose up and retired. And after all the kingsof the earth had retired, king Dhritarashtra, who always followed thecounsels of his son from affection, wishing success to the assembledkings, began to enquire in secret of Sanjaya about the resolve of his ownparty, and of the Pandavas who were hostile to him. And Dhritarashtrasaid, ‘Tell me truly, O son of Gavalgana, in what consists the strengthand weakness of our own host, Minutely acquainted as thou art with theaffairs of the Pandavas, tell me in what lies their superiority and inwhat, their inferiority. Thou are fully conversant with the strength ofboth parties, Thou knowest all things, and art well-versed in all mattersof virtue and profit. Asked by me, O Sanjaya, say which of the parties,when engaged in battle, will perish?’

“Sanjaya said, ‘I will not say anything to thee in secret, O king, forthen thou mayst entertain ill-feelings towards me. Bring thou hither, OAjamida, thy father Vyasa of high vows and thy queen Gandhari. Conversantwith morality, of keen perception, and capable of arriving at the truth,they will remove any ill-feelings thou mayst cherish against me. In theirpresence, O king, I will tell thee everything about the intensions ofKesava and Partha.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed, Dhritarashtra caused bothGandhari and Vyasa to be brought there. And introduced by Vidura theyentered the court without delay. And understanding the intentions of bothSanjaya and his son, Krishna-Dwaipayana endued with great wisdom said,’Say, O Sanjaya, unto the enquiring Dhritarashtra everything that hedesireth to know. Tell him truly all that thou knowest about Vasudeva andArjuna.'”