Chapter 27

“Vaisampayana said, “Endued with mighty energy and possessed of greatdiscernment, Drona then said, ‘Persons like the sons of Pandu neverperish nor undergo discomfiture. Brave and skilled in every science,intelligent and with senses under control, virtuous and grateful andobedient to the virtuous Yudhishthira, ever following in the wake oftheir eldest brother who is conversant with the conclusions of policy andvirtue and profit, who is attached to them as a father, and who strictlyadhereth to virtue and is firm in truth,–persons like them that are thusdevoted to their illustrious and royal brother, who gifted with greatintelligence, never injureth any body and who in his turn himself obeyethhis younger brothers, never perish in this way. Why, then, should not(Yudhishthira) the son of Pritha possessing a knowledge of policy, beable to restore the prosperity of his brothers who are so obedient anddevoted and high-souled? It is for this that they are carefully waitingfor the arrival of their opportunity. Men such as these never perish.This is what I see by my intellect. Do, therefore, quickly and withoutloss of time, what should now be done, after proper reflection. And letalso the abode which the sons of Pandu with souls under control asregards every purpose of life, are to occupy, be now settled. Heroic andsinless and possessed of ascetic merit, the Pandavas are difficult to bediscovered (within the period of non-discovery). Intelligent andpossessed of every virtue, devoted to truth and versed in the principlesof policy, endued with purity and holiness, and the embodiment ofimmeasurable energy, the son of Pritha is capable of consuming (his foes)by a glance alone of his eyes. Knowing all this, do what is proper. Letus, therefore, once more search after them, sending Brahmanas andCharanas, ascetics crowned with success, and others of this kind who mayhave a knowledge of those heroes!'”