Vyasa’s advice to Dhritarashtra while Duryodhana plans to eliminate the Pandavas
Hearing that Vidura had returned, and that the king had consoled him, the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra began to burn in grief. With his understanding clouded by ignorance, he summoned Shakuni, Karna and Duhshasana, and addressed them saying:
“The learned Vidura, the minister of the wise Dhritarashtra, has returned! Being a friend of the sons of Pandu, he is always engaged in doing what is beneficial to them. So long as this Vidura does not succeed in inducing the king to bring them back, you all think of what may benefit me! If ever I behold the Pandavas return to the city, I shall again be emaciated by renouncing food and drink, even though there may be no obstacle in my path! I shall either take poison or hang myself, either enter the pyre or kill myself with my own weapons. But I shall never be able to behold the sons of Pandu in prosperity!”
Shakuni said:
“O king! What folly has taken possession of you! The Pandavas have gone to the forest, having given a particular pledge, so that what you apprehend can never take place! The Pandavas ever abide by the truth. They will never, therefore, accept the words of your father! If however, accepting the commands of the king, they come back to the capital, violating their vow, an aspect of neutrality would be our conduct, and in apparent obedience to the will of the monarch, we will closely watch the Pandavas, keeping our counsels!”
Duhshasana said:
“O uncle of great intelligence! It is even as you say! Your words of wisdom always recommend themselves to me!”
Karna said:
“O Duryodhana! All of us seek to accomplish your will and, I see that unanimity at present prevails among us! The Pandavas, with passions under complete control, will never return without passing away the promised period. If, however, they do return from failing sense, you defeat them again at dice.”
Thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana with cheerless heart, averted his face from his counsellors. Marking all this, Karna expanding his beautiful eyes, and vehemently gesticulating in anger, haughtily addressed Duryodhana, Duhshasana and Shakuni saying:
“You princes, know my opinion! We are all servants of the king Duryodhana waiting upon him with joined palms! We should, therefore, do what is agreeable to him! But we are not always able to seek his welfare with promptness and activity! But let us now, encased in mail and armed with our weapons, mount our cars and go in a group to slay the Pandavas now living in the forest! After the Pandavas have been quieted and after they have gone on the unknown journey, both ourselves and the sons of Dhritarashtra will find peace! As long as they are in distress, as long as they are in sorrow, as long as they are destitute of help, so long are we a match for them! This is my mind!”
Hearing those words of the charioteer's son, they repeatedly applauded him, and at last exclaimed, “Very well!” Saying this each of them mounted his car, and sanguine of success, they rushed in a group to slay the sons of Pandu.
Knowing by his spiritual vision that they had gone out, Krishna-Dwaipayana of pure soul came upon them, and commanded them to desist. Sending them away, the holy one, worshipped by all the worlds, quickly appeared before the king Dhritarashtra, and addressed the monarch thus:
“O wise Dhritarashtra! Hear what I say! What I tell you is for the great good of all the Kauravas! It has not pleased me that the Pandavas have gone to the forest dishonestly defeated by Duryodhana and others! On the expiration of the thirteenth year, recollecting all their woes, they may shower death-dealing weapons, even like virulent poison, upon the Kauravas! Why does your sinful son of wicked heart, ever inflamed with ire, seek to slay the sons of Pandu for the sake of their kingdom? Let the fool be restrained; let your son remain quiet! In attempting to slay the Pandavas in exile, he will only lose his own life. You are as honest as the wise Vidura, or Bhishma, or ourselves, or Kripa, or Drona. Dissension with one's own kin are forbidden, sinful and reprehensible! Therefore, it beholds you to desist from such acts! Duryodhana looks with such jealousy towards the Pandavas that great harm would be the consequence, if you did not interfere. Or let this wicked son of yours, alone and unaccompanied, go to the forest and live with the sons of Pandu. For then, if the Pandavas, from association, feel an attachment for Duryodhana, then, good fortune may be yours. For it has been heard that one's congenital nature leaves him not till death. But what do Bhishma, Drona and Vidura think? What also do you think? That which is beneficial should be done while there is time, else your purposes will be unrealised.”
Dhritarashtra said:
“O holy one! I did not like this business of gambling, but, I think, I was made to consent to it drawn by fate! Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Vidura, nor Gandhari liked this game at dice. No doubt, it was begot of folly. Knowing everything yet influenced by paternal affection, I am unable to cast off my senseless son, Duryodhana!”
Vyasa said:
“O king! what you say is true! We know it well that a son is the best of all things and that there is nothing that is so good as a son. Instructed by the tears of Surabhi, Indra came to know that the son surpasses in worth other valuable possessions. I will, in this connection, relate to you that excellent and best of stories, the conversation between Indra and Surabhi.
In days of yore, Surabhi, the mother of cows, was once weeping in the celestial regions. Indra took compassion upon her, and asked her, saying:
“O auspicious one! Why do you weep? Is everything well with the celestials? Has any misfortune, ever so little, befallen the world of men or serpents?”
Surabi replied:
“No evil has befallen you that I perceive. But I am aggrieved on account of my son, and it is therefore, that I weep! See, O chief of the celestials! yonder cruel farmer is belabouring my weak son with the wooden stick, and oppressing him with the plough, in consequence of which my child agitated with agony is falling upon the ground and is at the point of death. At the sight of this, I am filled with compassion, and my mind is agitated! The one who is the stronger of the pair is bearing his burden of greater weight, but, the other is lean, weak and is a mass of veins and arteries! He bears his burden with difficulty! It is for him that I grieve. See, sore inflicted with the whip, and harassed exceedingly, he is unable to bear his burden. It is for him that, moved by grief, I weep in heaviness of heart and these tears of compassion trickle down my eyes!”
Sakra said:
“O fair one! When thousands of your sons are oppressed, why do you grieve for one under infliction?”
Surabhi replied:
“Although I have a thousands of offsprings, and my affections flow equally towards all! But, O Shakra! I feel greater compassion for one that is weak and innocent!”
Then Indra having heard these words of Surabhi, was much surprised, and he became convinced that a son is dearer than one's life! Thereupon, Indra suddenly poured there a thick shower and caused obstruction to the farmer's work. As Surabhi said, your affections equally flow towards all your sons. Let there be greater affection towards those that are weak! As my son Pandu is to me, so are you, and so also Vidura of profound wisdom! It is out of affection that I tell you all this! You are possessed of a hundred and one sons, but Pandu has only five. They are in a bad plight and passing their days in sorrow. How they may save their lives, how they may thrive – these thoughts regarding the distressed sons of Pandu continually agitate my soul! If you desire all the Kauravas to live, let your son Duryodhana make peace with the Pandavas!”
Dhritarashtra said:
“O Muni of profound wisdom! It is even as you say! I know it well as do all these kings! Indeed, what you consider to be beneficial for the Kurus was pointed out to me, by Vidura, Bhishma and Drona. If I deserve your favour, and if you have kindness for the Kurus, you exhort my wicked son Duryodhana!”
Vyasa said:
“O king! After having seen the Pandava brothers, here comes the holy Rishi Maitreya, with the desire of seeing us. That mighty Rishi will admonish your son for the welfare of this race. What he advises must be followed undoubtedly, for if what he recommends is not done, the sage will curse your son in anger.”
Saying this, Vyasa departed.
