Bhagavad-Yana Parva — Speech of Vidura

Vaishampayana said Treating with contempt those words spoken by his mother which were pregnant with good sense, the one, of unsubdued soul, again went to his own place fired with wrath.

Then having issued out of the assemblyhall did that son of Kuru consult with the son of Subala, king Shakuni experienced in the game of dice.

Such was the resolution of four, namely Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni, the son of Subala and Dushasana.

"Janardana, who does everything speedily, wants to capture us first in consultation with Dhritarashtra and the royal son of Shantanu.

But we shall capture that best among men, Hrishikesha, by force like Indra seizing the son of Virochana (Vali).

Hearing that the scion of the Vrishni race has been captured, the sons of Pandu will lose heart and will became deprived of their energy like serpents whose fangs have been broken.

This one of long arms is the refuge and protection of all; and this best among the Satvatas, this giver of boons being captured,

All the son of Pandu, along with the Somakas will be deprived of their energy; therefore now and here should we capture this Keshava of quick action,

In the face of the ravings of Dhritarashtra, and then fight the enemies>” This wicked intention of those wicked-souled wretches,

The wise Satyaki, who could understand the sings, quickly came to Know of; and in consequence of that knowledge he came out with the son of Hridika (Kritavarman).

And he said to Kritavarman "Quickly prepare the army for action and with the division there of ready for action and clad in amours, wait at the gate of the council chamber.

In the meantime, I shall communicate all this to Krishna who performs action without exertion. Then that hero, having entered the council like a lion entering the caverns of a mountain,

Communicated that intention (of those Kurus) to the great should Keshava and then to Dhritarashtra and then to Vidura also.

They heard this proposal of theirs with laughter and ridicule for this (proposed) deed was against virtue, worldly benefit and desire as also against the principles of an honest man.

(Satyaki continued). “In this instance the fools seek to do an act which is by no means capable of being performed; these fools of wicked souls are united to gather to pick a quarrel.

Being overpowered by desire and wrath and being subjected to the influence of anger and avarice, these men, of mean heart, seek to slay the one with lotus eyes,

As children and idiots attempt to seize blazing fire by means of their cloths.” Hearing those words of Satyaki Vidura, endued with great foresight,

Said to Dhritarashtra of long arms in that assembly of the Kurus "O king, the time of all of your sons is come, O chastiser of foes.

They are prepared to do an act which is incapable of being done and which, if done would be discreditable; having overpowered and vanquished this one with lotus eyes,

They desire to capture along with the younger brother of Vasava-this best among men, who is incapable of being vanquished, and in fact hard to stand against.

Having stood against they will cease to exist as worms in contact with fire. This Janardana, desiring the good of all when lighting, never

And rendered angry, will send them to the abode of Yama like a lion routing a heard of elephants; but this mighty blamable act of wickedness will never be perpetrated.

Achyuta, the best among men swerves from the Path of rectitude." Vidura having said this, Keshava said these words,

Looking on Dhritarashtra and in the hearing of his well-wishers "O king, if being angry they can by their might capture me,

Let them do it, for I know, O ruler of the earth, the might of these and I can venture to cure all of them of their anger.

But I shall never do an act which is blamable and wicked; these sons of yours will lose their own wealth by coveting the wealth of the Pandavas.

Since they desire to act so wickedly Yudhishthira has all the greater chances of success; for I can at this very moment, capture these and those that follow them,

0 king, and make ever to the son of Pritha which will not be a hard thing to do; but I am not inched to do such a blamable deed, o Bharata.

What this Duryodhana, O king, wishes to do in your presence, in consequence of wrath and sinful heart, O great king, let him do.

I too allow all your sons, O ruler of men." Hearing this Dhritarashtra said to Vidura “Bring that wicked Suyodhana covetous of the kingdom soon,

Along with his friends, with his ministers, with his brothers and with his followers. I shall see again if can get him along the right path."

Then did Kshattri again cause Duryodhana to enter the council chamber, unwilling as he was along with his brothers, and surrounded by the kings.

Then did the Dhritarashtra to Duryodhana and Karna and Dushasana and the kings who surrounded them.

"O you of inhuman, of exceeding sinfulness, having for your supporters only men of small deeds, united with wicked men, you want to perpetrate a wicked deed.

This intended act of yours is incapable of being performed, tending to infamy and disapproved by the honest in fact this is a thing which a fool and the cause of infamy to the race like you would attempt.

This one with lotus eyes, who can not be vanquished, in fact who is hard to stand save against, you want to capture, being united with your wicked supporters.

Him who cannot be forcibly seized even by the gods under the leadership of Vasava, you want to capture to like a child desiring to grasp the moon.

You do not know that Keshava is incapable of being fought with in battle by the gods, the human beings, the Gandharvas, the Asuras and the Nagas.

Keshava is hard to capture by force even as air is incapable of being captured by living beings, as moon is incapable of being grasped by living beings and as the earth held on the head."

This being said Dhritarashtra the Kshatta Vidura too said, with his eyes on the wrathful son of Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana.

Vidura said “O Duryodhana, listen now to these words of mine At the gates of Saubha did the chief of monkeys, Dvivida by name, covered Keshava with a heavy down pour of stones.

Being desirous of capturing Madhava by force, he made every effort to do it to capture him by force.

Naraka, along with all the Danavas, could not capture Shouri who had gone to Pragjyotisha and you want to capture him by force.

Slaying in battle Naraka who had lived for many thousands of years he brought away his thousand daughters and married them with the usual rites.

In the city if Nirmochana sixty thousand great Asuras could not capture him with their nooses and you want to capture him by force.

When he was but a child, Putana and Shakuni were slain by him and the Govardhana mountain was held up by him for the protection of the cows, O best among the Bharatas.

Arishta and Dhenuka as also Chanura of Great; strength and Ashvaraja were slain by him.

Jarasandha, and Vakra and Shishupala of great heroism and Vana were slain by him in battle as also several other kings.

The Varuna too was defeated as also fire of immeasurable energy and even the lord of Sachi himself was overpowered when robbing the Parijat flower.

White lying asleep on the all spreading ocean by were Madhu and Kaitabha slain and in another birth was Hayagriva slain.

He is the doer of everything but himself is not created and he is the cause of all power. This Shouri can perform without any effort whatever he wishes

You do not know and fully understand this Achyuta, this Govinda of Fierce prowess; he is endued with unblamable energy like an angry serpent.

In your a tempt to vanquish Krishna of long arms and of unwearied actions you will with your ministers be reduced to the condition of worms perishing by meeting with fire. A...nrn