Bhagavad-Yana Parva — Speech of Krishna

Vasudeva said Bhishma having spoken thus, Drona, who was competent to speak, spoke these words to Duryodhane in the midst of those rulers of men. May it be well with you.

As Shantanu, the son of Pratipa, ever acted with the interests of his race at heart and as Bhishma, who had taken a divine vow, ever acted with the interests of his race at heart,

So did that ruler of men Pandu, attached to truth, who had his senses under control-that virtuous-souled king of the Kurus who ever made and observed good vows and was interested in everything good.

To his elder brother the wise Dhritarashtra, that perpetuator of the Kuru race gave the kingdom as also to his younger brother Vidura.

Then having established him (Dhritarashtra) who never strayed away from the right path on the throne, that ruler of men (Pandu) son of the Kuru race went to woods with his two wives.

Vidura then taking up an humble position in the kingdom humbly served the king like a slave fanning him with the branch of a young tree, O best among men.

Then did all the subjects, my dear son, duly acknowledge the sovereignty of their king in a suitable manner as they had done that of Pandu, the ruler of men.

Having made over the kingdom to Dhritarashtra and Vidura Pandu, that conqueror of the cities of his enemies, wandered over the earth.

The one, ever devoted to truth namely Vidura, took charge of treasury, gifts and presents and the supervision over the subordinates and the feeding of all.

Bhishma, of great energy, that conqueror of the cities of his enemies, looked over the making of war and peace with kings and of giving or withholding presents to them.

That ruler of men, Dhritarashtra of great strength, while on the throne, was ever followed by the great souled Vidura.

How do you, born in his family, dare bringing about a dissension between the united with your brothers, enjoy objects of enjoyment, O lord of men.

I do not say all this from weakness or cowardice or for the attainment of any particular selfish object of mine. I desire to earn my living from Bhishma and not from what you can give me, O best among kings.

I do not desire, O lord of men, to earn the means of living from you. Do that which Bhishma told you to do and Drona is ever on the side to which Bhishma inclines.

Give to the sons of Pandu half of the kingdom, O grinder of your enemies; the office of a preceptor has been filled by me equally for both yourself and them, my dear son,

What Ashvathama is to me, so is he with white horses (Arjuna); what is the necessity of talking much; where there is virtue there is victory.

Vasudeva said Words like these having been spoken by Drona of immeasurable energy, Vidura, ever devoted to truth, then said these words turning towards his father's uncle and looking at him.

Vidura said O you of divine vows, listen to these words spoken by me; this race of Kurus made extinct by you, had again been saved from extermination.

on Therefore do you not treat slightingly the words spoken by me who am lamenting. Who is this one named Duryodhana in this race but a stain,

Whose inclination overpowered by avarice you follow? He leads a dishonest life, is ungrateful and deprived of his senses by avarice.

He does not obey the commands of his father who follows the path of virtue and worldly benefit. Duryodhana will bring on the destruction of the Kurus by his acts.

Do that, O great king, which will not bring their extermination. Myself and Dhritarashtra, you before, O lord of the earth,

Brought into being as a painter does a picture. Do not act like the lord of creatures, who having created living beings again destroys them.

Do not look with indifference on this impending massacre of your race; ruin being now near at hand, your intellect is lost to you.

Go to the woods in company with myself and Dhritarashtra, or binding down the very wretched intentioned son of Dhritarashtra, whose wisdom is lost,

Rule over this kingdom now, protected and supported by the sons of Pandu. O best among kings, rest satisfied that a great massacre is near at hand,

Of the sons of Panda, the Kurus, and of kings of immeasurable energy.” Saying this Vidura stopped with his heart sad. And thinking of the situation he began to sign again and again.

Then did the daughter of king Subala, afraid of the extinction of her race, said out of anger these words which were virtuous and conducive to the benefit of her inhuman and wicked-souled son Duryodhana in the midst of these kings.

"Let these rulers of the earth, who have entered this royal council as also these regenerate Rishis and all others in this council, hear what I am going to say about the sin committed by yourself. O wretch and your ministers and followers.

The kingdom is obtainable by us in a certain fixed order; this has been the custom with our race, but you, O you of sinful intellect and of very inhuman deeds, desire unjustly to ruin the kingdom of the Kurus.

The wise Dhritarashtra is now established on the throne and under him as a subordinate is Vidura of great foresight; superseding these two how can you, O Duryodhana, desire the kingdom out of folly?

The king himself and Vidura of great soul, are so long as Bhishma is alive, but his subordinates; in fact owing to his being conversant with virtue, the one born of the river (Ganga), that foremost of kings does not desire the kingship.

This kingdom, incapable of being subjugated, belongs to Pandu and now his sons are lords over it and none else. This entire kingdom, coming from their father, goes to the sons of Pandu, and to their sons of grandsons.

What, that foremost among the Kurus, that great-souled one of divine vows, ever attached to truth, endued with intelligence, says, should is its entirely, be done by us, for the sake of our kingdom, and the duties of our order.

Let this ruler of men as also Vidura by the command of the one of great vows speak the same thing; that is an act that should be done by our well wishers who should place virtue above all consideration.

Let the son of Dharma Yudhishthira rule over the kingdom of the Kurus, obtained justly, led by Dhritarashtra and placing the son of Shantanu at the helm of affairs."