Yanasandhi Parva — The speech of Sanjaya

Dhritarashtra said How have you come to know, Madhava, the great lord of all the worlds; and how is it that I do not know him? Tell me that, O Sanjaya.

Sanjaya said Listen, O king; you have no knowledge and my knowledge has diminished (since my last birth). You being without knowiedge and steeped in ignorance, do not know Keshava.

By my knowledge, O dear, I do know the slayer of Madhu to be the combination of the there ( the cause, the subtie and the gross), that he is the creator of all, though himself created by none and that he is the God by Whom all creatures are created and to Whom they are all lost they are lost in the end.

Dhritarashtra said O son of Gavalgani, what is the extent of the belief you ever have in Janardana, by which you Janardana, who is the union of the three.

Sanjaya said I do not care much for illusion (worldly matters); nor do I practice useless things (religious ceremonies in form without faith in the Supreme Being). Good betide you! With the aid of faith derived from purity of mind, do I know Janardana from the holy books.

Dhritarashtra said O Duryodhana, have recourse to Hrishikesha or Janardana. Sanjaya, my dear, cver seeks our interests; do you therefore seek refuge under Keshava.

Duryodhana said If the son of Devaki, that divine Being, destroys the worlds the worlds, having recourse to the co-operation of Arjuna; even then shall I not seek refuge under Keshava.

Dhritarashtra said O Gandhari, this wicked-minded son of yours would precipitate himself in misery. This evil-souled one, of an envious disposition and vain, he would not listen to the advice of his elders.

Gandhari said O you desiring supremacy, O you of wicked soul, who do not listen to the advice of your elders and who do not pay regard to your father and myself, after losing your position during your life time.

And enhancing the Joy of wicked hearted person as also my grief, when you will be slain by Bhimasena, you will remember the words of your father.

Vyasa said You are, O king, dear to Krishna, O Dhritarashtra; listen to me; since Sanjaya has acted as your ambassador, he will do what is conducive to your interests.

This man knows the ancient and blessed Being Hrishikesha. Listening to him with earnestness, you free from even the greatest dangers.

O son of Vichitravirya, men are surrounded with joy and wrath and so they are entangled in several sorts of trap. Those, who are not satisfied with their own wealth and those fools who act by desire, again and again come under the influence of the god of death in consequence of their own acts like those of blind eyes (falling again and again into pits) when led by the blind.

That one is the only path by which the wise man goes (with a view to attain Brahma) and by aiming at that path a superior man overcomes death and attains the object of his ambition.

Dhritarashtra said Let me know, O Sanjaya, of that path, devoid of fears, going by which I shall obtain Hrishikesha and eternal salvation.

Sanjaya said A man who has not his soul under control cannot know Janardana, who has his soul under control. The performance of sacrifices and other ceremonies, without being accompanied by a control of the senses, is not the proper way to go by for a man.

The renunciation of the objects of our desire, due to an excitement of the senses, arises from true knowledge. True knowledge and benevolence have their origin in wisdom, there is no doubt about it.

Therefore, O king, employ yourself in the controlling of your senses with wakefulness; and let not your intellect take the wrong course and keep it aloof from everything save the true path.

The control of the senses is known by Brahmanas to be certainly the true wisdom; and true wisdom is the path along which an intelligent man goes.

Keshava is unattainable, o king, by men who have not controlled their senses. One who has his soul under control is pleased with true knowledge, gained by devotion and intimate knowledge of the holy books.