Yanasandhi Parva — Speech of Krishna

The blessed God said The words of Sanjaya have been listened to by me as also your words. I know all their intentions and also those of yours.

Your intentions are established on virtue; while their purposes are based on malice. What is gained by not having recourse to war, is much in your estimate.

A life-long practice of Brahmacharya vow is not the proper course of life for a Kshatriya, O lord of the universe. All the householders have said that a Kshatriya should not gain his livelihood by begging.

Victory or death has been originally fixed by the Father of the universe. The proper course of life for a Kshatriya is this (war) and it is not proper to show a humiliating spirit in this course. son

Earning one's livelihood is not possible by a policy based on a humiliating spirit, O Yudhishthira; show your strength, O you with long arms and conquer your enemies, O you chastiser of your enemies.

The exceedingly avaricious of Dhritarashtra, has, O chastiser of your enemies, lived for too long a time united with other, enjoying their affection and their friendship and supported by them.

The peace of the Kurus with you is therefore not expedient or desirable (they think), O lord of the universe. They think themselves strong having on their side Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and others.

So long as you treat these, O king, with kindness, they will deprive you of your kingdom, O you chastiser of your foes.

Not out of kindness, nor out of cowardice and not even from a desire to gain virtue or profit will the son of Dhritarashtra do as you wish, O you chastiser of your foes.

This is an example of the feeling they bear you, O son of Pandu. They are not even sorry for making you wear the Kaupinas (a strip of cloth-a sign of a mendicant and undergoing all these hardships.

When before the very eyes of the grandfather (Bhishma), Drona, the wise Vidura and the Brahmanas, holy men and the entire city and before all the chiefs among the Kurus, he, O king, by means of deceit, defeated you at a game of dice, you who are attached to the habit of making gifts, who are of virtuous habits and life of austere vows, he was not ashamed of his cruel act.

With one who is of such habits of life, do not, O king, contract a friendship; they are fit to be killed by any man; then why not by you, OBharata.

With improper speeches against you did they boast rejoicingly with their brothers, at yourself and your younger.

He said-Now have the sons of Pandu nothing to call their own in this world. Their very names and the name of their family even no longer exist.

As great time rolls on, they will meet with defeat. Your subjects no longer yours will now adhere to me.

By the vicious and exceedingly wickedsouled Dushasana, while the game of dice was yet going on, was the lady Draupadi like one having none to protect her.

Dragged by the hair weeping in the assembly of kings in the council; and in the very presence of Bhishma and Drona they called her cow again and again.

All your brothers of terrible strength dissuaded by you and tied by the trap of virtue did absolutely nothing at this.

He pronounced these cruel words and others and he expressed plea are among his cousins at your being exiled into the forest.

Those who were assembled there, seeing you without any fault at the time sat in the council weeping with choked voices.

Those kings along with the Brahmanas did not praise him for this; and all the courtiers there spoke ill of Duryodhana,

Blame to one born in a high family is death itself, O you chastiser of your foes. Worthless life with blame attached is death many times over, Oking.

Since that time is he dead, when he was without shame, though blamed by all the kings on earth, O great king.

He whose character is of this description can be killed with very little effort like a tree with all its roots cut asunder and standing only on its principal root.

Like a serpent is that dishonourable and wicked-souled wretch fit to he slain by everyone. Kill him therefore, O you slayer of your foes; and do not hesitate, Oking.

It is proper by all means and my wish, too, that you should pay proper respects to him who is like a father to you, as also to Bhishma.

I, too, going there, shall remove the doubts of all men, who are of one opinion and now of another regarding Duryodhana, O king.

In the midst of the kings shall I describe all your good qualities among men, as also defects.

Hearing me, speak beneficial words conducive to both virtue and worldly good. All the rulers of the earth, the lords of the different provinces,

Will know you to be virtuous shouted and truthful of speech and will know how avariciously inclined he is.

I shell speak of his defects before both people of towns and villages, before both old and young and before all the members of the four orders assembled there.

You will not be called sinful there; for you ask peace and the rulers of the earth will blame the Kurus and Dhritarashtra.

When he is forsaken by men, what shall there be left to be done and Duryodhana is killed; do whatever remains to be accomplished.

Going to all the Kurus, I shall seek to effect peace without any sacrifice of your interests; and shall observe their intentions.

Having observed and made out the intentions of the sons of Kuru and their preparations for war I shall come back to make victory yours, O Bharata.

I anticipate war with the enemy by all mcans. It seems to me that all the signs indicate the same.

The birds and beasts are making loud sounds; and the best of elephants and horses assume terrible appearances at the approach of night. Fire too assumes many terrific looking colours.

If the cause of waste among men and the world generally were not near at hand, these omens indicating evils would never have been here. Keeping ready for use their arms, machines, helmets, cars, elephants and horses, let all your soldiers be prepared for battle; and let them be careful about their horses, elephants and chariots. O chief of men, collect together all that ought to be kept ready for the battle.

Duryodhana, O lord of men, will not be able to return you any portion of your prosperous territories which were yours in days of old and which he stole from you at a game of dice.