whose inclinations are followed by thee, although he is enslaved by avarice, and is wicked and ungrateful and deprived of his senses by lust.  The Kurus will certainly bear consequence of the acts of that Duryodhana who transgresseth the command of his father, observant of virtue and profit.  O great king, act thou so that the Kurus may not perish.  Like a painter producing a picture, it was thou, O king, who hadst caused me and Dhritarashtra to spring into life.  The Creator, having created creatures, destroys them again.  Do not act like him.  Seeing before thy very eyes this extinction of thy race, be not indifferent to it.  If, however, thy understanding is gone in consequence of the universal slaughter that is at hand, go then to the woods, taking me and Dhritarashtra with thee.  Otherwise, binding this very day wicked Duryodhana that hath deceit for his wisdom, rule this kingdom with the sons of Pandu guarding it around.  Relent, O tiger among kings.  A great slaughter of the Pandavas, the Kurus, and of other kings of immeasurable energy is before us.’

’Having said this, Vidura ceased, his heart overflowing with sorrow.  And reflecting on the matter, he began to draw repeated sighs.  Then the daughter of king Suvala, alarmed at the prospect of the destruction of a whole race, said, from wrath, these words fraught with virtue and profit, to cruel Duryodhana of wicked heart, in the presence of the assembled monarchs, ’Let all the kings present in this royal assembly and let the regenerate Rishis that form the other members of this conclave, listen (to me) as I proclaim the guilt of thy sinful self backed by all thy counsellors.  The kingdom of the Kurus is enjoyable in due order of succession.  Even this hath always been the custom of our race.  Of sinful soul and exceedingly wicked in acts, thou seekest the destruction of the Kuru kingdom by thy unrighteousness.  Wise Dhritarashtra is in possession of the kingdom, having Vidura of great foresight under him (as his adviser).  Passing over these two, why, O Duryodhana, dost thou, from delusion, covet the sovereignty now?  Even the high-souled king and Kshattri, when Bhishma is alive, should both be subordinate to him.  Indeed, this foremost of men, this offspring of Ganga, the high-souled Bhishma, in consequence of his righteousness, doth not desire the sovereignty.  It is for this reason that this invincible kingdom became Pandu’s.  His sons, therefore, are masters today and no other.  The extensive kingdom, then by paternal right, belongeth to the Pandavas, and their sons and grandsons in due order.  Observing the customs of our race and the rule with respect to our kingdom, we all fully accomplish that which this high-souled and wise chief of the Kurus, Devavrata, firmly adhering to truth, sayeth, ’Let this king (Dhritarashtra) and Vidura also, at the command of Bhishma of great vows, proclaim the same thing.  Even that is an act that should be done by those that are well-wishers (of this race).  Keeping virtue in front, let Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, guided by king Dhritarashtra and urged by Santanu’s son, rule for many long years this kingdom of the Kurus lawfully obtainable by him.’”