Chapter 91

“Vaisampayana said, ‘With Pritha’s leave and having walked round her, thechastiser of foes, Govinda, also called Sauri, went to Duryodhana’spalace that was furnished with great wealth, adorned with beautifulseats, and was like unto the abode of Purandara himself. Unobstructed bythe orderlies-in-waiting, that hero of great fame crossed three spaciousyards in succession and then entered that mansion looking like a mass ofclouds, high as the summit of a hill, and blazing forth in splendour. Andhe there beheld Dhritarashtra’s son of mighty arms seated on his thronein the midst of a thousand kings and surrounded by all the Kurus. And healso beheld there Dussasana and Karna and Sakuni, the son of Suvala,seated on their respective seats by the side of Duryodhana. And on thatscion of Dasarha’s race entering the court, Dhritarashtra’s son of greatfame rose up from his seat with his counsellors for honouring the slayerof Madhu. And Kesava then greeted Dhritarashtra’s sons and all hiscounsellors as also all the kings that were present there, according totheir respective ages. And Achyuta of Vrishni’s race then took his seaton a beautiful seat made of gold and overlaid with carpet embroideredwith gold. And the Kuru king then offered unto Janardana a cow, and honeyand curds and water, and placed at his service palaces and mansions andthe whole kingdom. And then the Kauravas, with all the kings therepresent, worshipped Govinda on his seat and resembling the sun himself insplendour. The worship being over, king Duryodhana invited him ofVrishni’s race–that foremost of victors–to eat at his house, Kesava,however did not accept the invitation. The Kuru king Duryodhana seated inthe midst of the Kurus, in a gentle voice but with deception lurkingbehind his words, eyeing Karna, and addressing Kesava, then said, ‘Why, OJanardana, dost thou not accept the diverse kinds of viands and drinks,robes and beds that have all been prepared and kept ready for thee? Thouhast granted aid to both sides; thou art engaged in the good of bothparties. Thou art again the foremost of Dhritarashtra’s relations andmuch loved by him. Thou, O Govinda, also knowest fully, and all things indetails, both religion and profit. I, therefore, desire to hear, O bearerof the discus and the mace, what the true reason is of this thy refusal.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The high-souled Govinda, of eyes like lotusleaves, then raising his mighty (right) arm, and in a voice deep as thatof the clouds, replied unto the king in excellent words fraught withreasons,–words that were clear, distinct, correctly pronounced, andwithout a single letter dropped, saying, ‘Envoys, O king, eat and acceptworship only after the success of their missions. Therefore, O Bharata,after my mission becomes successful, thou mayest entertain me and myattendants.’ Thus answered, Dhritarashtra’s son again said untoJanardana, It behoveth thee not, O Kesava, to behave towards us in thisway, Whether thou becomest successful, or unsuccessful, we areendeavouring to please thee, O slayer of Madhu, because of thyrelationship with us. It seems, however, that all our efforts. O thou ofDasarha’s race, are fruitless. Nor do we see the reason, O slayer ofMadhu, in consequence of which, O foremost of men, thou acceptest not theworship offered by us from love and friendship. With thee, O Govinda, wehave no hostility, no war. Therefore, on reflection, it will seem to theethat words such as these scarcely become thee.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by the king, Janardana ofDasarha’s race, casting his eyes on Dhritarashtra’s son and ah hiscounsellors, replied, saying, ‘Not from desire, nor from wrath, nor frommalice, nor for gain, nor for the sake of argument, nor from temptation,would I abandon virtue. One taketh another’s food when one is indistress. At present, however, O king, thou hast not inspired love in meby any act of thine, nor have I myself been plunged into distress.Without any reason, O king, thou hatest, from the moment of their birth,thy dear and gentle brothers,–the Pandavas–endued with every virtue.This unreasonable hatred of thine for the sons of Pritha ill becomeththee. The sons of Pandu are all devoted to virtue. Who, indeed, can dothem the least injury? He that hateth them, hateth me; he that loveththem, loveth me. Know that the virtuous Pandavas and my own self have buta common soul. He, who, following the impulses of lust and wrath, andfrom darkness of soul, hateth and seeketh to injure one that is possessedof every good quality, is regarded as the vilest of men. That wrathfulwretch of every good quality, is regarded as the vilest of men. Thatwrathful wretch of uncontrolled soul, who, from ignorance and avaricehateth his kinsmen endued with every auspicious quality, can never enjoyhis prosperity long. He, on the other hand, who, by good offices, winnethover persons endued with good qualities, even if he beareth aversion ofthem within his heart, enjoyeth prosperity and fame for ever and ever.Defiled by wickedness, all this food, therefore, deserveth not to beeaten by me. The food supplied by Vidura alone, should, I think, be eatenby me.’

‘Having said this unto Duryodhana who was ever incapable of bearinganything against his own wishes, Kesava of mighty arms then came out ofthat blazing palace of Dhritarashtra’s son. And the high-souled Vasudevaof mighty arms, coming out of that mansion, directed his steps towardsthe abode of the illustrious Vidura. And while that mighty-armed onestaying within Vidura’s abode, thither came unto him Drona, and Kripa,and Bhishma, and Vahlika, and many of the Kauravas. And the Kauravas thatcame there addressed Madhava, the heroic slayer of Madhu, saying, ‘O thouof Vrishni’s race, we place at thy disposal our houses with all thewealth within them.’

‘The slayer of Madhu, of mighty energy, answered them saying, ‘Ye may goaway. I am much honoured by these your offers.’ And after all the Kurushad gone away, Vidura, with great care entertained that unvanquished heroof Dasarha’s race with every object of desire. And Kunti then placedbefore the illustrious Kesava clean and savoury food in abundance.Therewith the slayer of Madhu first gratified the Brahmanas. Indeed, fromthat food he first gave a portion, along with much wealth, unto a numberof Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas, and then with his attendants,like Vasava in the midst of the Marutas, he dined on what remained of theclean and savoury food supplied by Vidura.'”