Disagreement between Dhritarashtra and Vidura
After the Pandavas had gone to the forest, Dhritarashtra became exceedingly sorrowful. Seated at his ease, the king addressed these words to the virtuous Vidura of profound intelligence:
“Your understanding is as clear as that of Bhargava. You know also all the subtleties or morality, and you look on all the Kauravas with an equal eye. Tell me what is proper for me and them. Things having thus taken their course, what should we do now? How may I secure the goodwill of the citizens so that they may not destroy us to the roots? Tell us all, since you are conversant with every excellent expedient.”
Vidura said:
“The three-fold purposes, O king! have their foundations in virtue, and the sages say that a kingdom also stands on virtue as its basis. Therefore, according to the best of your power, cherish virtuously your own sons and those of Pandu. That virtue had been beguiled by wicked souls with Shakuni at their head, when your sons invited the righteous Yudhishthira and defeated him in the match at dice. Of this deed of utter iniquity, I behold this expiation whereby, your son, freed from sin, may win back his position among good men. Let the sons of Pandu, obtain that which was given unto them by you. For, the highest morality is that a king should remain content with his own, and never covet another's possessions. Your good name then would not suffer nor would family dissensions ensue, nor unrighteousness be yours. This then is your prime duty now, to gratify the Pandavas and disgrace Shakuni. If you wish to restore to your sons the good fortune they have lost, then, you should speedily adopt this line of conduct. If you do not act so, the Kurus will surely meet with destruction, for neither Bhimasena nor Arjuna, if angry, will leave any of their foes unslain. What is there in the world which is unattainable to those who have among their warriors Arjuna skilled in arms; those who have the Gandiva, the most powerful of all weapons in the world, for their bow; and those who have amongst them the mighty Bhima also as a warrior? Formerly, as soon as your son was born, I told you, “Forsake this inauspicious child of yours. Herein lies the good of your race”. But you did not then act accordingly. If you do as I have counselled, you shall not have to repent afterwards. If your son agrees to reign in peace jointly with the sons of Pandu, passing your days in joy you shall not have to repent. Should it be otherwise, abandon you your child for your own happiness. Putting Duryodhana aside, install the Yudhishthira in the sovereignty, and let him, free from passion, rule the earth virtuously. All the kings of the earth, then will, without delay, pay homage unto us. Let Duryodhana, Shakuni and Karna wait upon the Pandavas. Let Duhshasana, in open court, ask forgiveness of Bhimasena and of Draupadi. Pacify Yudhishthira by placing him on the throne with every mark of respect. Asked by you, what else can I counsel you to do? By doing this, you would do what was proper.”
Dhritarashtra said:
“O Vidura! Even then you have spoken these words in this assembly, with reference to the Pandavas and myself. These are for their good but not for ours. My mind does not approve them. How have you settled all this in your mind? When you have spoken all this on behalf of the Pandavas, I perceive that you are not friendly to me. How can I abandon my son for the sake of the sons of Pandu? Doubtless they are my sons, but Duryodhana is sprung from my body. Who then, speaking with impartiality, will ever counsel me to renounce my own body for the sake of others? All that you say is crooked, although I hold you in high esteem. Stay or go as you like. However much may she be humoured, an unchaste wife will forsake her husband.”
Saying this, Dhritarashtra rose suddenly and went into the inner apartments. Vidura, saying “This race is doomed”, went away to where the sons of Pritha were.
Vidura joins the Pandavas
Desirous of living in the forest, the Pandavas, with their followers, setting out from the banks of the Ganges went to the field of Kurukshetra. Performing their ablutions in the Sarasvati, the Drishadvati and the Yamuna, they went from one forest to another, travelling in an westernly direction. At length they saw before them the woods, Kamyaka, the favourite haunt of Munis, situated by a level and wild plain on the banks of the Sarasvati. In those woods, abounding in birds and deer, those heroes began to dwell, entertained and comforted by the Munis. Vidura, always longing to see the Pandavas, went in a single car to the Kamyaka woods abounding in every good thing. Arriving at Kamyaka on a car drawn by swift steeds, he saw Yudhishthira, sitting with Draupadi at a retired spot, surrounded by his brothers and the Brahmanas. Seeing Vidura approach from a distance with swift steps, the virtuous king addressed his brother Bhimasena, saying:
“With what message does Vidura come to us? Does he come here, despatched by Shakuni, to invite us again to a game of dice? Does the little-minded Shakuni intend to win again our weapons at dice?”
The Pandavas then rose up and welcomed Vidura. Received by them, Vidura sat in their midst and made the usual enquiries. After Vidura had rested awhile, the Pandavas asked him the reason of his coming. Vidura began to relate unto them in detail everything connected with the bearing of Dhritarashtra. Vidura said:
“O Ajatasatru! Dhritarashtra called me, his dependant, before him and honouring me duly said: “Things have fared thus. Now, tell me what is good for the Pandavas as well as for me.” I pointed out what was beneficial to both the Kauravas and Dhritarashtra. But what I said was not relished by him, nor could I hit upon any other course. What I advised was highly beneficial, but he heeded me not. As medicine recommends itself not to one that is ill, so my words failed to please the king. As all unchaste wile in the family of a man of pure descent cannot be brought back to the path of virtue, so I failed to bring Dhritarashtra back. Indeed, as a young damsel does not like a husband of three score, so did Dhritarashtra not like my words. Surely, destruction will overtake the Kuru race, surely Dhritarashtra will never acquire good fortune. For, as water dropped on a lotus-leaf does not remain there, my counsels will fail to produce any effect to Dhritarashtra. The incensed Dhritarashtra told me: “go you there where you like. Never more shall I seek your aid in ruling the earth or my capital.” Forsaken by king Dhritarashtra, I come to you for tendering good counsel. What I had said in the open court, I will now repeat unto you. Listen, and bear my words in mind, that wise man bearing all the gross wrong heaped upon him by his enemies, will patiently bid his time, and multiplies his resources, even as men by degrees turn a small fire into a large one, rules alone this entire earth. He that enjoys his substance with his supporters finds in them sharers of his adversity, this is the best means of securing supporter, and it is said that he that has supporters, wins the sovereignty of the world! O Pandava! Divided your prosperity with your supporters, behave truthfully towards them, and converse with them agreeably! Share also your food with them! Never boast yourself in their presence! This behaviour increases the prosperity of kings!”
Yudhishthira said:
“Having recourse to such high intelligence, undisturbed by passion, I will do as you counsell! Whatever else you may counsel in respect of time and place, I will carefully follow entirely.”
Dhritarashtra calls back Vidura
Vidura had gone to the abode of the Pandavas, Dhritarashtra repented of his action. Thinking of the great intelligence of Vidura in matters connected with both war and peace, and also of the aggrandisement of the Pandavas in the future, Dhritarashtra, pained at the recollection of Vidura, having approached the door of the assembly hall fell down senseless in the presence of the monarchs. Regaining consciousness, the king rose from the ground and thus addressed Sanjaya standing by:
“My brother and friend is like the god of justice himself! Recollecting him today, my heart burns in grief! Go! Bring my brother unto me without delay!”
Saying this, the monarch wept bitterly. Burning in repentance, and overwhelmed with sorrow at the recollection of Vidura, the king, from brotherly affection, again addressed Sanjaya saying:
“O Sanjaya! Go and ascertain whether my brother, expelled by my wretched self through anger, lives still! That wise brother of mine of immeasurable intelligence has never been guilty of even the slightest transgression, but, on the other hand, he it is who has come by grievous wrong at my hands! Seek him and bring him here; else, O Sanjaya! I will lay down my life!”
Hearing these words of the king, Sanjaya expressed his approbation, and saying “So be it,” went in the direction of the Kamyaka woods. Arriving without loss of time at the forest where the sons of Pandu dwelt, he beheld Yudhishthira clad in deer-skin, seated with Vidura, in the midst of Brahmanas by thousands and guarded by his brothers, like Purandara in the midst of the celestials! Approaching Yudhishthira, Sanjaya worshipped him duly and was received with due respect by Bhima and Arjuna and the twins. Yudhishthira made the usual enquiries about his welfare and when he had been seated at his ease, he disclosed the reason of his visit, in these words:
“King Dhritarashtra has, O Vidura! remembered you! Returning unto him without loss of time, revive the king! With the permission of these Kuru princes, it beholds you, at the command of that lion among kings, to return unto him!”
Thus addressed by Sanjaya, the intelligent Vidura, ever attached to his relatives, with the permission of Yudhishthira returned to Hastinapura. After he had approached the king, Dhritarashtra addressed him, saying:
“From my good luck alone, O Vidura! you have come here remembering me! In your absence I was beholding myself, sleepless through the day and the night, as one that has been lost on earth!”
The king then took Vidura on his lap and smelt his head, and said:
“Forgive me, the words in which you were addressed by me!”
Vidura said:
“O king! I have forgiven you. You are my superior, worthy of the highest reverence! Here I am, having come back, eagerly wishing to behold you! All virtuous men are partial towards those that are distressed! This is scarcely the result of deliberation! Your sons are as dear to me as the sons of Pandu, but as the latter are now in distress, my heart yearns after them!”
Addressing each other thus in apologetic speeches, the two illustrious brothers, Vidura and Dhritarashtra, felt themselves greatly happy!
