Bhagavad-Yana Parva — Speech of Bhima

Bhima said In such a way that there may be peace among the Kurus, O slayer of Madhu, should you speak. Do not frighten them with the prospect of war.

Resentful wrathful, not accepting what is for his good and of a vain disposition, Duryodhana should not be spoken to in harsh terms. He should be treated with courtesy.

He is by nature of a wicked disposition and has a heart equal to that of the robbers; he is vain with the sense of possession of prosperity and an enemy of the Pandavas.

He is without foresight and cruel; and he has the habit of finding fault with others; and he is of crooked prowess, of malice which lasts for a long time and does not permit himself to be led by others, of a wicked soul and fond of deceit.

Even if he dies he would not tender his submission, nor give up or alter his own opinions. Peace with such an one, O Krishna, I consider to be difficult of effecting.

He does not listen to even the words of his well-wishers, destitute of virtue, fond of falsehood and always goes against the advice and intentions of his well-wishers.

Depending on his own natural wickedness and subject to the impulse of wrath, he as if by nature, acts sinfully like a serpent hid among the grass.

The extent and numbers of the army of Duryodhana are all known to you, as also the nature of his conduct; and his habits of life and the measure of his strength and prowess.

In days of old the Kurus along with their sons were cheerful at heart and so were we, rejoicing with our kinsmen like the younger brothers of Indra himself.

Owing to the spite of Duryodhana, the Bharatas, O slayer of Madhu, will be burnt up like the forest by fire at the close of winter.

These eighteen kings are well known, O destroyer of Madhu, who annihilated their cousins, friends all well-wishers.

As when Dharma reached the end of his time, Kali was born resplendent with energy in the prosperous race of Asuras; so were born Mudavarta among Haihayas, Janamejaya among the Nipas, Bahula among the Talajanghas and the proud Vasu among the Krimis and Ajabindu among the Suviras, Rushardhika among the Surashtras, Arkaja among the Balih, Dhautamulaka among the Chinas, Hayagriva among the Videhas, Varayu among the Mahonjasas, Bahu among the Sundaravansas, Pururava among the Diptakshas, Sahaja among the Chedis and Matsyas, Vrishadhvaja among the Praviras, Dharana among the Chandravatsas, Vigahanu among the Mukutas and Shama among the Nandivegas. These wicked beings in each family were born, O Krishna, at the end of each Yuga for the destruction of their own family.

So has this Duryodhana been born at the end of this Yuga in our family-that of the Kurus-that wicked individual, the vilest and most despicable of his race, for the extinction of his race.

There should he be spoken slowly and mildly in words conducive to our interests and to virtue and worldly good and going fully into the subject, so as to attract his heart towards us and not in harsh words, O you of terrific strength.

We would rather, O Krishna, follow the lead of Duryodhana and be under his control; but let not the Bharatas be destroyed.

O Son of Vasudeva, act in such a way that we may live as strangers to the Kurus; but let not the sin of annihilating men touch the Kurus.

Our grandfather and those courtiers, who are aged, O Krishna, should be spoken to. Let there be brotherly feeling among the brothers and peace to the son of Dhritarashtra.

I say this; and the king approves of this. Arjuna is never for war; there is great kindness in Arjuna.