warriors have united with Duryodhana and are filled
with delight at the prospect of fighting the Pandavas.
O hero of Dasarha’s race, it doth not commend
itself to me that thou shouldst enter into their midst.
How, O grinder of foes, wilt thou repair into the midst
of those numerous enemies of thine, of wicked souls,
and seated together? O thou of mighty arms, thou
art, indeed, incapable of being vanquished by the
very gods, and I know, O slayer of foes, thy manliness
and intelligence. O Madhava, the love I bear
to thee is equal to that I bear to the sons of Pandu.
I say, therefore, these words to thee from my affection,
regard, and friendship for thee. What need is
there in expressing to thee the delight that has been
mine at sight of thy persons, for, thou, O thou of
eyes like lotus, art the inner Soul of all embodied
creatures.’”
“The holy one said, ’That, indeed, which
should be said by a person of great wisdom: that,
indeed, which should be said by one possessed of great
foresight; that indeed, which should be said by one
like thee to a friend like me; that indeed, which
is deserving of thee, being consistent with virtue
and profit, and truth; that, O Vidura, hath been said
by thee, father and mother-like, unto me. That
which thou hast told me is certainly true, worthy
of approbation and consistent with reason. Listen,
however, with attention, O Vidura, to the reason of
my coming. Well knowing the wickedness of Dhritarashtra’s
son and the hostility of the Kshatriyas that have
sided with him. I have still, O Vidura, come to
the Kurus. Great will be the merit earned by
him who will liberate from the meshes of death the
whole earth, with her elephants, cars and steeds,
overwhelmed with a dreadful calamity. If a man
striving to the best of his abilities to perform a
virtuous act meets with failure, I have not the least
doubt that the merit of that act becomes his, notwithstanding
such failure. This also is known to those that
are conversant with religion and scripture, that if
a person having intended mentally to commit a sinful
act does not actually commit it, the demerit of that
act can never be his. I will sincerely endeavour,
O Vidura, to bring about peace between the Kurus and
the Srinjayas who are about to be slaughtered in battle.
That terrible calamity (which hangs over them all)
hath its origin in the conduct of the Kurus, for it
is directly due to the action of Duryodhana and Karna,
the other Kshatriyas only following the lead of these
two. The learned regard him to be a wretch who
doth not by his solicitation seek to save a friend
who is about to sink in calamity. Striving to
the best of his might, even to the extent of seizing
him by the hair, one should seek to dissuade a friend
from an improper act. In that case, he that acteth
so, instead of incurring blame, reapeth praise.
It behoveth Dhritarashtra’s son, therefore, O
Vidura, with his counsellors, to accept my good and
Print
Word
PDF
