यानसन्धि पर्व — धृतराष्ट्रका वचन

Dhritarashtra said As the sons of Pandu are all powerful and desirous of victory, so are their followers who are self-sacrificing and have set their mind on victory.

You have related to me about those mighty foes of mine-of the kings of the Panchalas, Kaikeyas, Matsyas, Magadhas.

Even that mighty one who by his mere wish could bring under control these worlds with Indra, that creator of the world, Krishna, has set his mind on the victory of the Pandavas.

Satyaki very quickly obtained all knowledge (of the use of arms) from Arjuna and the son of Shini will stand on the field of battle and shoot arrows as (men) sow the seeds.

Dhrishtadyumna, the king of Panchalas, of cruel deeds and a mighty car-warrior and well acquainted with the use of superior weapons, too, will fight with my army.

From the wrath of Yudhishthira and from the prowess of Arjuna and from the twins and also from Bhimasena, do I derive great fear, O dear.

On a superhuman net (of arrows) being spread over my army, they will not be able to get out of it; therefore do I weep, O Sanjaya.

Beautiful, independent, endued with prosperity and with the force of Brahma, intelligent, of great wisdom and of virtuous soul, is that son of Pandu (Yudhishthira).

With friends and counselors and surrounded by men prepared for battle and also by brothers, fathers-in-law who are all excellent heroes and eminent car-warriors, the son of Pandu, that tiger among men, is also graced with patience, secrecy, humanity, benevolence, modesty, truth and prowess, versed in the knowledge of holy books, having self-control, attending to the old, is that one who has subdued his senses and is possessed of every virtue and he is like a blazing fire.

What fool, about to die and who has lost his consciousness is there who will fall into the inextinguishable fire of the Pandavas ablaze like a moth.

That king resembling a fire of high and long flames has been treated deceitfully by me and he will, in battle, put an end to the existence of all my sons of weak intellect.

I consider that it is best not to fight with them; you, Kurus, follow that (my opinion). If you wage war, destruction will surely overtake the race which will be extinct.

This appears to me very clear and by acting in accordance with it my mind will obtain peace. If you consider that peace with them is desirable, then we shall try for peace.

Yudhishthira will never adopt an attitude of indifference towards ourselves, when distressed; he blames me by ascribing unrighteousness, thinking me to be the cause (of the war).