Chapter 88
“Duryodhana said, ‘All that Vidura hath said about Krishna, hath indeed,been truly said; for Janardana is greatly devoted to the Pandavas and cannever be separated from them. All the diverse kinds of wealth, O foremostof kings, that are proposed to be bestowed upon Janardana ought never tobe bestowed upon him. Kesava is, of course, not unworthy of our worship,but both time and place are against it, for he (Krishna), O king, onreceiving our worship, will very likely think that we are worshipping himout of fear. This is my certain conviction, O king, that an intelligentKshatriya must not do that which may bring disgrace upon him. It iswell-known to me that the large-eyed Krishna deserveth the mostreverential worship of the three worlds. It is quite out of place,therefore, O illustrious king, to give him anything now, for war havingbeen decided upon, it should never be put off by hospitality.’
“Vaisampayana. continued, ‘Hearing these words of his, the Grandsire ofthe Kurus spoke these words unto the royal son of Vichitravirya,’Worshipped or not worshipped, Janardana never becometh angry. None,however, can treat him with disrespect, for Kesava is not contemptible.Whatever, O mighty one, he purposeth to do is incapable of beingfrustrated by anybody by every means in his power. Do without hesitationwhat Krishna of mighty arms sayeth and bring about peace with thePandavas through Vasudeva as the means. Truly Janardana, possessed ofvirtuous soul, will say what is consistent with religion and profit. Itbehoveth thee, therefore, with all thy friends, to tell him what only isagreeable to him.’
“Duryodhana said, ‘O Grandsire, I can, by no means, live by sharing thisswelling prosperity of mine with the Pandavas. Listen, this, indeed, is agreat resolution which I have formed. I will imprison Janardana who isthe refuge of the Pandavas. He will come here tomorrow morning; and whenhe is confined, the Vrishnis and the Pandavas, aye, the whole earth, willsubmit to me. What may be the means for accomplishing it, so thatJanardana may not guess our purpose, and so that no danger also mayovertake us, it behoveth thee to say.’
“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these fearful words of his son aboutimprisoning Krishna, Dhritarashtra, with all his counsellors, was verymuch pained and became deeply afflicted. King Dhritarashtra then spokethose words unto Duryodhana, ‘O ruler of men, never say this again, thisis not immemorial custom. Hrishikesa cometh here as an ambassador. He is,besides, related to and is dear to us. He hath done us no wrong; how thendoth he deserves imprisonment?’
“Bhishma said, ‘This wicked son of thine, O Dhritarashtra, hath his hourcome. He chooseth evil, not good, though entreated by his well-‘ wishers.Thou also followest in the wake of this wicked wretch of sinfulsurroundings, who treadeth a thorny path setting at naught the words ofhis well-wisher. This exceedingly wicked son of thine with all hiscounsellors coming in contact with Krishna of unstained acts, will bedestroyed in a moment. I dare not listen to the words of this sinful andwicked wretch that hath abandoned all virtue.’
‘Having said this, that aged chief of the Bharata race, Bhishma ofunbaffled prowess, inflamed with rage rose and left that place.'”
