Section XXXI

"Yudhishthira said,

'O Sanjaya, the righteous and the unrighteous, the young and the old, the weak and the strong, are all under the control of the Creator, It is that Supreme Lord who imparts knowledge to the child and childishness to the learned, according to his own will. If Dhritarashtra ask you about our strength, tell him everything truly, having cheerfully consulted with everyone here and ascertained the truth. O son of Gavalgana, repairing unto the Kurus, you will salute the mighty Dhritarashtra, and touching his feet enquire after his welfare speaking in our name.

And when seated in the midst of the Kurus, tell him from us.—The sons of Pandu, O king, are living happily in consequence of your prowess. It was through your grace, O repressor of foes, that those children of tender years had obtained a kingdom. Having first bestowed a kingdom on them, you should not now be indifferent to them, for destruction then would overtake them! The whole of this kingdom, O Sanjaya, is not fit to be owned by one person.

Tell him again, from us.—O sire, we wish to live united. Do not suffer thyself to be vanquished by foes.—

You should again, O Sanjaya, bending your head, in my name salute the grandsire of the Bharatas, Bhishma, the son of Santanu.

Having saluted our grandsire, he should then be told.—By you, when Santanu’s race was about to be extinct, it was revived. Therefore, O sire, do that according to your own judgment by which your grandsons may all live in amity with one another.

You should then address Vidura also, that adviser of the Kurus, saying.—Counsels peace, O amiable one, from desire of doing good unto Yudhishthira.—

You should address the unforbearing prince Duryodhana also, when seated in the midst of the Kurus, beseeching him again and again, saying,—The insults you had offered to innocent and helpless Draupadi in the midst of the assembly, we will quietly bear, simply because we have no mind to see the Kurus slain. The other injuries also, both before and after that, the sons of Pandu are quietly bearing, although they are possessed of might to avenge them. All this, indeed, the Kauravas know. O amiable one, you had even exiled us dressed in deer-skins. We are bearing that also because we do not want to see the Kurus slain. Dussasana, in obedience to you, had dragged Krishna, disregarding Kunti.

That act also will be forgiven by us. But, O chastiser of foes, we must have our proper share of the kingdom. O bull among men, turn your coveting heart from what belongs to others. Peace then, O king, will be amongst our gladdened selves. We are desirous of peace; give us even a single province of the empire. Give us even Kusasthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Varanavata, and for the fifth any other that you likest. Even this will end the quarrel.

O Suyodhana, give unto your five brothers at least five villages,—O Sanjaya, O you of great wisdom, let there be peace between us and our cousins.

Tell him also,—Let brothers follow brothers, let sires unite with sons. Let the Pancalas mingle with the Kurus in merry laughter. That I may see the Kurus and the Pancalas whole and sound, is what I desire. O bull of the Bharata race, with, cheerful hearts let us make peace. O Sanjaya, I am equally capable of war and peace. I am prepared to acquire wealth as well as to earn virtue. I am fit enough for severity as for softness.'"