“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Vidura had said this, Kesava, that slayer ofhostile divisions, endued with great energy, addressed Dhritarashtra’sson, Duryodhana, and said, ‘From delusion, O Suyodhana, thou regardest meto be alone, and it is for this,
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Entering her abode and worshipping her feet, Kesavarepresented to her briefly all that had transpired in the assembly of theKurus.
“Kunti said, ‘In this connection, O chastiser of foes, is cited an oldstory of the conversation between Vidula and her son. It behoveth thee tosay unto Yudhishthira anything that can be gathered from this or anythingmore beneficial than that.
“Vidula said, ‘If, having fallen into such a plight, thou wishest to giveup manliness, thou shalt then have, in no time, to tread the path that istrod by those that are low and wretched.
“Kunti said, ‘Hearing these words of his mother the son said, O ruthlessand wrathful mother, O thou that thinkest highly of martial heroism, thyheart is surely made of steel beat into that shape.
“The mother said, ‘Into whatever calamity a king may fail, he should notstill betray it. Beholding the king afflicted with fright, the wholekingdom, the army, the counsellors, all yield to fear, and all thesubjects become disunited.
“Kunti said, ‘Say unto Arjuna, these words, when thou wert brought forthin the lying-in room and when I was sitting in the hermitage surroundedby ladies, a celestial and delightful voice was heard in the sky, saying,’O Kunti, this thy son will rival the deity of a thousand eyes.
“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?
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by them, Duryodhana, contracting thespace between his eye-brows, became cheerless, and with face bent downbegan to cast oblique glances. And he said not a word in reply.
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O Sanjaya, in the midst of all the princes and theservants, the slayer of Madhu took Karna upon his car and went out (ofour city).
