Bhagavad-Yana Parva — The conversation between Krishna and Duryodhana

Vaishampayana said Bidding adieu to Pritha and also going round her, Govinda or Shauri, the chastiser of enemies, went the residence of Duryodhana.

Janardana entered the house which was furnished very sumptuously and was like the mansion of Purandara, furnished with diverse kinds of seats.

Traversing tree divisions of that mansion, without a word of challenge from the gatekeepers, that one of great fame, came to a palace, effulgent with marks of prosperity and i having the appearance of a mass of clouds, high as the peak of a mountain. There surrounded by a thousand Kuru kings.

The son of Dhritarashtra of long arms, he saw seated on a seat and he also saw, Dushasana, Karna, Shakuni and the son of Subala.

He saw them on a seat near Duryodhana. The scion of the Dasharha race, having appeared, the son of Dhritarashtra of great fame.

Rose up along with his advisers, honouring the slayer of Madhu; Keshava having saluted the son of Dhritarashtra along with his ministers; and having also saluted the kings that were there according to their ages, the scion of the Vrishni race ((Achyuta) seated himself on a seat which was there, made of gold and beautiful looking.

And ornamented with diverse gems and overlaid with a carpet. The Kuru king then presented a cow, honey, curds and water and placed at his disposal his palaces in the kingdom; and then to Govinda seated here like the radiant Sun.

All the people present including the Kuru kings, made worship. Then the king Duryodhana, that foremost of victors, the scion of Vrishni race.

Invited to dinner; but Keshava did not accept the invitation; then Duryodhana said to Krishna in that assembly of the Kurus.

In an humble voice but with evil intention concealed in his heart and looking at Karna. 'For what reason the eatables, drinks, garment and beds.

Which have been provided for you, do you not accept. O Janardana, devoted to the good of both parties in the impending struggle as you are, you ought to keep to both sides; O Madhava, you have besides, closer relationship with Dhritarashtra; you O Govinda, know what is righteous and what is conducive to worldly profit in the true sense and in all their bearings.

Vaishampayana said O wielder of the discus and the mace, I want to hear the reason of this action of yours). That Govinda of a great mind being then addressed, said in reply, speaking like the roaring of a cloud, at the proper time raising of a cloud, at the proper time raising his long arm. The one with eyes like the leaves of a lotus said to the king these excellent words giving the reasons-words that were not too low, distinct, correctly pronounced and without any confusion.

“Those messengers only, who have gained their objects take their food and accept worship; and you, O Bharata, after gratifying me in my wish, may entertain me along with my followers'.

The son of Dhritarashtra, being thus spoken to, said in reply to Janardana-'It is not befitting that your exalted self should behave in this unjust way.

Whether your objects are gratified or not gratified, we, O slayer of Madhu, were bent on entertaining you but could not. O you of the Dasharha race.

We do not however see any reason (for your action) in this matter, O slayer of Madhu, namely your non-acceptance of the entertainment's provided for you, O best among men.

We have no enmity with your exalted self, O Govinda, nor strife; therefore shall it seem to you, on mature thought that it is not proper for you to have spoken thus.'

Vaishampayana said Janardana thus spoken to, said by way of reply to the son of Dhritarashtra, after that scion of the Dasharha race had gazed on him along with his ministers, laughing as it were.

'I never abandon virtue from motives of desire or from wrath or from hate or from the object of gaining my objects or for the sake of argument or from covetousness.

One should eat (others') food when there is love (between them) or again it should be taken when one is in distress; O king, neither do you please me, nor am I in distress.

For no reason do you, Oking, bear malice, even since their birth, to the Pandavas who are your loving followers and brothers and in whom there are developed all the virtues.

This malice towards the sons of Pritha, for no reason, is not fitting. The sons of Pandu stand on virtue and who is there that can blame them and in what way?

He who bears them malice, bears me malice; he that follows them, follows me, know that I am merged in the Pandavas.

He who following the dictates of impulse or wrath, owing to a confusion of the intellects, wants to act against the interests of.

A deserving man and bears him malice, has been called the vilest of men, and he who desires to see a cousin endued with blessed virtue with eyes of lost of ignorance.

Is a slave to his soul and a slave to his wrath; prosperity does not remain with him for any length of time. On the other hand, he, who, by good services, wins over those who are endued with virtues and accomplishments, through they are not dear to his heart ever become renowned.

All these eatables, defiled by wickedness, cannot be taken by me-I am of opinion, that eatables provided to me by Kshatta alone, Vidura should be eaten by me.

The one of long arms, thus speaking to the wrathful Duryodhana, then came away from the white mansion of the son of Dhritarashtra.

And the large minded Vamadeva of long arms, coming out went to the residence of the great-souled Vidura.

There came to him the Kurus, Drona, Kripa, Bhishma, Bahlika while the house of Vidura.

Those Kurus said to the heroic Madhava, the slayer of Madhu, 'You scion of the Vrishni race, we place at your disposal our abodes ornamented with gems.'

The slayer of Madhu, of great energy said to those descendants of Kuru, 'All of you may go away; by these offers have you honoured me.'

The Kurus having departed, the Khattva Vidura paid due honours to the scion of the Dasharha race who had never met with a defeat and then made special endeavours to meet all his wishes.

Then the Kshatta collected large quantities of clean and delicious foods and drinks for the great-souled Keshava.

The slayer of Madhu having gratified the Brahmanas first, he gave first to Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas, some of that food with wealth.

There along with his followers, like Vasava in the midst of the Marutas, he took his clean and delicious eatables provided by Vidura. A