Section LXXII

"Yudhishthira said,—

'O king, you are our master. Command us as to what we shall do. O Bharata, we desire to remain always in obedience to you.

"Dhritarashtra replied.—

'O Ajatasatru, blest be you. Go you in peace and safety. Commanded by me, go, rule your own kingdom with your wealth. And, O child, take to heart this command of an old man, this wholesome advice that I give, and which is even a nutritive regimen.

O Yudhishthira, O child, you knowest the subtle path of morality. Possessed of great wisdom, you are also humble, and you waitest also upon the old. Where there is intelligence, there is forbearance. Therefore, O Bharata, follow you counsels of peace. The axe falls upon wood, not upon stone. (You are open to advice, not Duryodhana).

They are the best of men that remember not the acts of hostility of their foes; that behold only the merits, not the faults, of their enemies; and that never enter into hostilities themselves.

They that are good remember only the good deeds of their foes and not the hostile acts their foes might have done unto them. The good, besides, do good unto others without expectation of any good, in return.

O Yudhishthira, it is only the worst of men that utter harsh words in quarrelling; while they that are indifferent reply to such when spoken by others. But they that are good and wise never think of or recapitulate such harsh words, little caring whether these may or may not have been uttered by their foes.

They that are good, having regard to the state of their own feelings, can understand the feelings of others, and therefore remember only the good deeds and not the acts of hostility of their foes. You have acted even as good men of prepossessing countenance do, who transgress not the limits of virtue, wealth, pleasure and salvation.

O child, remember not the harsh words of Duryodhana. Look at your mother Gandhari and myself also, if you desirest to remember only what is good.

O Bharata, look at me, who am your father unto you and am old and blind, and still alive. It was for seeing our friends and examining also the strength and weakness of my children, that I had, from motives of policy, suffered this match at dice to proceed.

O king those amongst the Kurus that have you for their ruler, and the intelligent Vidura conversant with every branch of learning for their counsellor, have, indeed, nothing to grieve for. In you is virtue, in Arjuna is patience, in Bhimasena is prowess, and the twins, those foremost of men, is pure reverence for superiors.

Blest be you, O Ajatasatru. Return to Khandavaprastha, and let there be brotherly love between you and your cousins. Let your heart also be ever fixed on virtue.'"

Vaisampayana continued,—"That foremost of the Bharatas—king Yudhishthira the just—then, thus addressed by his uncle, having gone through every ceremony of politeness, set out with his brothers for Khandavaprastha. And accompanied by Draupadi and ascending their cars which were all of the hue of the clouds, with cheerful hearts they all set out for that best of cities called Indraprastha."