Bhagavad-Yana Parva — Speech of Duryodhana

Vaishampayana said Duryodhana, hearing in the assembly of the Kurus those words which he little liked, said in reply to Vasudeva of long arms and of great renown.

"It is proper, that you should speak to me in this way after due consideration; but you speak, finding fault with me especially.

Why do you, O slayer of Madhu, speak in terms of praise of the sons of Pritha and why are you ever finding fault with me without due consideration of the strength and weakness of our cause?

You and Kshattri and the king, and the preceptor and the grandfather all find fault with me and not with any other king of the earth.

But in this matter I do not find any unworthy conduct of myself but still all of you including the king hate me.

I have not committed the slightest fault, O chastiser of foes, nor do I see any after a most minute and searching examination, OKeshava.

O slayer of Madhu, the Pandavas were defeated at a game of dice in which they engaged of their own will and their kingdom was won by Shakuni; what fault is there on my part in this matter?

Indeed, 0 slayer of Madhu, I ordered at the time for the return of the wealth which the Pandavas had lost in that case.

It is not our fault that defeated at another game of dice-those invincible sons of Pritha-those foremost among victors were thus exiled into the forest.

By the imputation of what fault do they regard ourselves as their enemies-O Krishna? The Pandavas are weak and incapable but they yet cheering treat us as their enemies.

What has been done by us to them and for what injury again do those sons of Pandu united with this Srinjayas, try to slay the sons of Dhritarashtra?

We will not, fearing harsh deeds or words, bow down out of fear even to the performer of a hundred sacrifices (Indra).

I do not see any body, O Krishna, following the duties of a Kshatriya who would i aspire to defeat us in battle, O chastiser of foes.

Bhishma, Kripa and Drona, along with Karna, O slayer of Madhu, are incapable of being vanquished even by the gods, how can they be so by the sons of Pandu?

If following the duties laid down by my religion, O Madhava, I fall down dead in the field killed by arms in the proper time, it will lead me to heaven.

The principal duty of ours, Kshatriyas, O Janardana, is that we should lie down on a bed of arrows in the battle field.

If we lie down like heroes in the battle without bowing before the enemies, then it is no matter for regret, O Madhava.

Who is there, who born in a noble family and abiding by the rules of the Kshatriya class, seeing that his life is in danger would bow before any body?

Keeping one's self erect now should not bow down, for energy or exertion itself is manliness; he may even break at his weak points but on no account should he bow before any body.

This saying of Matanga is followed by those that desire their own good; men ſike me bow only to Brahmanas for the sake of virtue.

Without paying regard to any body else, throughout his life he should act thus, this is the duty of the Kshatriyas in my opinion and such has ever been my conduct.

The share of the kingdom that was given them in early days will not be regained by them during my life time, O Keshava.

O Janardana, so long as the position of a king is held by Dhritarashtra we shall live as his dependents with swords laid aside, O Madhava; this kingdom which ought not to have been given away was given away when I depended on others.

Out of ignorance or fear when I was a child, O Janardana; it is not now to be regained by the sons of Pandu, o delighted of the Vrishinis.

So long as this is held by myself of long arms, O Keshava, I shall not leave aside which is pierced by the point of a sharp needle.