सञ्जययान पर्व — पुरोहित का आगमन

Vaishampayana said The priest of Drupada, having arrived near the son of Kuru, was greeted by Dhritarashtra, Bhishma and Vidura.

Having asked him if everything were well with him and also made enquiries about his health in the midst of all the leaders of his army he said these words.

It is known to all, what the duty of a king is as it obtains since a long period back, but through known, yet shall I speak, as a preface to my speech proper.

It is known that Dhritarashtra and Pandu are the sons of one and their paternal kingdom must be shared by them equally-there is no doubt about it.

Those who are the sons of Dhritarashtra have obtained the position of their father why have not the sons of Pandu obtained the paternal kingdom?

It is known to you, how in former days, the sons of Pandu, did not obtain their ancestral wealth which was wrested from them by the son of Dhritarashtra.

They sought (to remove them) by several means, calculated even to bring their lives to an end, but they have not yet reached the termination's of their lives, so they were unable to send them to the palace of the king of Death (Yama).

Then again, the kingdom gained by the noble-minded ones through their own strength was taken away from them by a trick by the mean sons of Dhritarashtra united with the son of Subala.

Even this act, undesirable as it was, approved of by him and they lived for thirteen years in the great forest.

In the court too serious troubles were experienced by the heroes along with their wife and in the forest diverse troubles of great magnitude were met with by them.

And in the same way in the town of Virata, hard troubles were met with by the large minded ones as great pains are endured by wicked souls, when they transmigrate into other beings.

Forgetting all these troubles gone through by them in past times those foremost, among the race of Kuru, are desirous of peace with the son of Kuru.

Knowing their nature and the nature of Duryodhana, the well wishers (of the letter) should, properly speaking on this occasion, lead the son of Dhritarashtra (to an amicable settlement).

These heroes do not (want to) wage war with the son of Kuru. The sons of Pandu do not want (to get back) their own by ruining the world.

The reason, which the son of Dhritarashtra brings forward for war, cannot be regarded as a reason for they are the stronger.

Seven Akshauhinis have been collected for the son of Dharma (Yudhishthira), they all desirous of fighting with the sons of Kuru, are waiting for his permission.

There are others, best among men, who are, each of them equal to thousand Akshauhinis-for instance, the son of Satyaki, Bhimasena and the twin brothers of very great strength.

On one side are united those eleven (Akshauhinis) and on the other, Dhananjaya of great strength and of many forms.

An Kiritin suppress the entire army, so does Vasudeva of long arms and of great luster.

What man will fight against an army superior in number, the prowess of Kiritin and the wisdom of Krishna.

Therefore do you, as dictated by virtue and as agreed to in the stipulation, give back that which should be returned. Don't you let this opportunity.