212.1 Vidura departs after Dritharashtra spurns his advice
After the Pandavas had gone to the forest, Dhritarashtra became exceedingly sorrowful. Seated at his ease, the king addressed the virtuous Vidura saying "your understanding is as clear as that of Bhargava. you know also all the subtleties of morality, and you look on all the Kauravas with an equal eye. O Vidura tell me what is proper for me and them. Things having thus taken their course, what should we do now? How may I secure the goodwill of the citizens so that they may not destroy us to the roots? O, tell us all, since you are conversant with every excellent expedient."
Vidura said "The three-fold purposes,viz., profit, pleasure, and salvation, have their foundations in virtue, and the sages say that a kingdom also stands on virtue as its basis. Therefore, O monarch, according to the best of your power, cherish virtuously your own sons and those of Pandu. That virtue had been beguiled by wicked souls with Suvala's son at their head, when your sons invited the righteous Yudhishthira and defeated him in the match at dice. For this deed of utter iniquity I suggest this expiation whereby your son, freed from sin, may win back his position among good men. Let the sons of Pandu, obtain that which was given unto them by you. For, surely the highest morality is that a king should remain content with his own, and never covet another's possessions. Your good name then would not suffer nor would family dissensions ensue, nor unrighteousness be yours. This then is your prime duty now, to gratify the Pandavas and disgrace Sakuni. If you wish to restore to your sons the good fortune they have lost, then, O king, you speedily adopt this line of conduct. If you do not act so, the Kurus will surely meet with destruction, for neither Bhimasena nor Arjuna, if angry, will leave any of their foes unslain. What is there in the world which is unattainable to those warriors. Savyasachin, skilled in arms who has the Gandiva, the most powerful of all weapons in the world, for his bow; and who have amongst them the mighty Bhima also as a warrior. Formerly, as soon as your son was born, I told you to forsake this inauspicious child of yours. Herein lies the good of your race.But you did not then act accordingly. Now also, O king,I have pointed out to you the way of your welfare. If you do as I have counselled, you shall not have to repent afterwards. If your son consents to reign in peace jointly with the sons of Pandu, passing your days in joy you shalt not have to repent. Should it be otherwise, abandon your child for your own happiness. Putting Duryodhana aside,install the son of Pandu in the sovereignty, and let Ajatasatru, free from passion, rule the earth virtuously. All the kings of the earth, then, like Vaisyas, will, without delay, pay homage unto us. And, O king, let Duryodhana and Sakuni and Karna with alacrity wait upon the Pandavas. And let Dussasana, in open court, ask forgiveness of Bhimasena and of the daughter of Drupada also. And do pacify Yudhishthira by placing him on the throne with every mark of respect. Asked by you, what else can I counsel you to do? By doing this, O monarch, you would do what was proper."
Dhritarashtra said "O Vidura These words you have spoken in this assembly, with reference to the Pandavas and myself, are for their good but not for ours. My mind does not approve them. How have you settled all this in your mind now? When you have spoken all this on behalf of the Pandavas, I perceive that you are not friendly to me. How can I abandon my son for the sake of the sons of Pandu? Doubtless they are my sons, but Duryodhana is sprung from my body. Who then, speaking with impartiality, will ever counsel me to renounce my own body for the sake of others? All that you say is crooked, although I hold you in high esteem. Stay or go as you like. However much may she be humoured, an unchaste will forsake her husband." Saying this Dhritarashtra rose suddenly and went into the inner apartments. And Vidura, saying "This race is doomed",went away to where the sons of Pritha were
Desirous of living in the forest,the Pandavas, with their followers, setting out from the banks of the Ganges went to the field of Kurukshetra. And performing their ablutions in the Saraswati, the Drisadwati and the Yamuna, they went from one forest to another, travelling in an westernly direction. And at length they saw before them the woods, Kamyaka, the favourite haunt of Munis, situated by a level and wild plain on the banks of the Saraswati. In those woods,abounding in birds and deer, those heroes began to dwell, entertained and comforted by the Munis. And Vidura always longing to see the Pandavas, went in a single car to the Kamyaka woods. And arriving at Kamyaka on a car drawn by swift steeds, he saw Yudhishthira the just, sitting with Draupadi at a retired spot, surrounded by his brothers and the Brahmanas. Seeing Vidura approach from a distance with swift steps, the virtuous king addressed brother, Bhimasena, saying, 'With what message does Kshatta come to us? Does he come here, despatched by Sakuni, to invite us again to a game of dice? Does the little-minded Sakuni intend to win again our weapons at dice? O Bhimasena, challenged by any one addressing me, I am unable to stay. And if our possession of the Gandiva becomes doubtful, will not the acquisition of our kingdom also be so.'
The Pandavas then rose up and welcomed Vidura. Received by them, that descendant of the Ajamida line,Vidura, sat in their midst and made the usual enquiries. And after Vidura had rested awhile, the Pandavas asked him the reason of his coming. And Vidura began to relate unto them in detail everything connected with the bearing of Dhritarashtra saying "O Ajatasatru, Dhritarashtra called me, his dependant, before him and honouring me duly said, 'Things have fared thus. Now, do thou tell me what is good for the Pandavas as well as for me. I pointed out what was beneficial to both the Kauravas and Dhritarashtra. But what I said was not relished by him, nor could I hit upon any other course. What I advised was, O Pandavas, highly beneficial, but the son of Amvika heeded me not. Even as medicine does not recommend itself to one that is ill, so my words failed to please the king. And as all unchaste wile in the family of a man of pure descent cannot be brought back to the path of virtue, so I failed to bring Dhritarashtra back. Indeed, as a young damsel does not like a husband of three score, even so Dhritarashtra did not like my words. Surely, destruction will overtake the Kuru race, surely Dhritarashtra will never acquire good fortune. For, as water dropped on a lotus-leaf does not remain there, my counsels will fail to produce any effect to Dhritarashtra. The incensed Dhritarashtra told me "go wherever you like. Never more shall I seek your aid in ruling the earth or my capital.'
Forsaken by king Dhritarashtra, I come to you for tendering good counsel. What I had said in the open court, I will now repeat unto you. Listen, and bear my words in mind,--that wise man who bearing all the gross wrong heaped upon him by his enemies, patiently bides his time, and multiplies his resources even as men by degrees turn a small fire into a large one, rules alone this entire earth. He that in prosperity enjoys his substance with his adherents finds in them sharers of his adversity,--this is the best means of securing adherents, and it is said that he that has adherents, wins the sovereignty of the world! And, O Pandava, divided thy prosperity with thy adherents, behave truthfully towards them, and converse with them agreeably! Share also your food with them! And never boast yourself in their presence! This behaviour increases the prosperity of kings!' Yudhishthira said, "Having recourse to such high intelligence, undisturbed by passion, I will do as you counsel! And whatever else you may counsel in respect of time and place, I will carefully follow entirely."
Vidura said "The three-fold purposes,viz., profit, pleasure, and salvation, have their foundations in virtue, and the sages say that a kingdom also stands on virtue as its basis. Therefore, O monarch, according to the best of your power, cherish virtuously your own sons and those of Pandu. That virtue had been beguiled by wicked souls with Suvala's son at their head, when your sons invited the righteous Yudhishthira and defeated him in the match at dice. For this deed of utter iniquity I suggest this expiation whereby your son, freed from sin, may win back his position among good men. Let the sons of Pandu, obtain that which was given unto them by you. For, surely the highest morality is that a king should remain content with his own, and never covet another's possessions. Your good name then would not suffer nor would family dissensions ensue, nor unrighteousness be yours. This then is your prime duty now, to gratify the Pandavas and disgrace Sakuni. If you wish to restore to your sons the good fortune they have lost, then, O king, you speedily adopt this line of conduct. If you do not act so, the Kurus will surely meet with destruction, for neither Bhimasena nor Arjuna, if angry, will leave any of their foes unslain. What is there in the world which is unattainable to those warriors. Savyasachin, skilled in arms who has the Gandiva, the most powerful of all weapons in the world, for his bow; and who have amongst them the mighty Bhima also as a warrior. Formerly, as soon as your son was born, I told you to forsake this inauspicious child of yours. Herein lies the good of your race.But you did not then act accordingly. Now also, O king,I have pointed out to you the way of your welfare. If you do as I have counselled, you shall not have to repent afterwards. If your son consents to reign in peace jointly with the sons of Pandu, passing your days in joy you shalt not have to repent. Should it be otherwise, abandon your child for your own happiness. Putting Duryodhana aside,install the son of Pandu in the sovereignty, and let Ajatasatru, free from passion, rule the earth virtuously. All the kings of the earth, then, like Vaisyas, will, without delay, pay homage unto us. And, O king, let Duryodhana and Sakuni and Karna with alacrity wait upon the Pandavas. And let Dussasana, in open court, ask forgiveness of Bhimasena and of the daughter of Drupada also. And do pacify Yudhishthira by placing him on the throne with every mark of respect. Asked by you, what else can I counsel you to do? By doing this, O monarch, you would do what was proper."
Dhritarashtra said "O Vidura These words you have spoken in this assembly, with reference to the Pandavas and myself, are for their good but not for ours. My mind does not approve them. How have you settled all this in your mind now? When you have spoken all this on behalf of the Pandavas, I perceive that you are not friendly to me. How can I abandon my son for the sake of the sons of Pandu? Doubtless they are my sons, but Duryodhana is sprung from my body. Who then, speaking with impartiality, will ever counsel me to renounce my own body for the sake of others? All that you say is crooked, although I hold you in high esteem. Stay or go as you like. However much may she be humoured, an unchaste will forsake her husband." Saying this Dhritarashtra rose suddenly and went into the inner apartments. And Vidura, saying "This race is doomed",went away to where the sons of Pritha were
Desirous of living in the forest,the Pandavas, with their followers, setting out from the banks of the Ganges went to the field of Kurukshetra. And performing their ablutions in the Saraswati, the Drisadwati and the Yamuna, they went from one forest to another, travelling in an westernly direction. And at length they saw before them the woods, Kamyaka, the favourite haunt of Munis, situated by a level and wild plain on the banks of the Saraswati. In those woods,abounding in birds and deer, those heroes began to dwell, entertained and comforted by the Munis. And Vidura always longing to see the Pandavas, went in a single car to the Kamyaka woods. And arriving at Kamyaka on a car drawn by swift steeds, he saw Yudhishthira the just, sitting with Draupadi at a retired spot, surrounded by his brothers and the Brahmanas. Seeing Vidura approach from a distance with swift steps, the virtuous king addressed brother, Bhimasena, saying, 'With what message does Kshatta come to us? Does he come here, despatched by Sakuni, to invite us again to a game of dice? Does the little-minded Sakuni intend to win again our weapons at dice? O Bhimasena, challenged by any one addressing me, I am unable to stay. And if our possession of the Gandiva becomes doubtful, will not the acquisition of our kingdom also be so.'
The Pandavas then rose up and welcomed Vidura. Received by them, that descendant of the Ajamida line,Vidura, sat in their midst and made the usual enquiries. And after Vidura had rested awhile, the Pandavas asked him the reason of his coming. And Vidura began to relate unto them in detail everything connected with the bearing of Dhritarashtra saying "O Ajatasatru, Dhritarashtra called me, his dependant, before him and honouring me duly said, 'Things have fared thus. Now, do thou tell me what is good for the Pandavas as well as for me. I pointed out what was beneficial to both the Kauravas and Dhritarashtra. But what I said was not relished by him, nor could I hit upon any other course. What I advised was, O Pandavas, highly beneficial, but the son of Amvika heeded me not. Even as medicine does not recommend itself to one that is ill, so my words failed to please the king. And as all unchaste wile in the family of a man of pure descent cannot be brought back to the path of virtue, so I failed to bring Dhritarashtra back. Indeed, as a young damsel does not like a husband of three score, even so Dhritarashtra did not like my words. Surely, destruction will overtake the Kuru race, surely Dhritarashtra will never acquire good fortune. For, as water dropped on a lotus-leaf does not remain there, my counsels will fail to produce any effect to Dhritarashtra. The incensed Dhritarashtra told me "go wherever you like. Never more shall I seek your aid in ruling the earth or my capital.'
Forsaken by king Dhritarashtra, I come to you for tendering good counsel. What I had said in the open court, I will now repeat unto you. Listen, and bear my words in mind,--that wise man who bearing all the gross wrong heaped upon him by his enemies, patiently bides his time, and multiplies his resources even as men by degrees turn a small fire into a large one, rules alone this entire earth. He that in prosperity enjoys his substance with his adherents finds in them sharers of his adversity,--this is the best means of securing adherents, and it is said that he that has adherents, wins the sovereignty of the world! And, O Pandava, divided thy prosperity with thy adherents, behave truthfully towards them, and converse with them agreeably! Share also your food with them! And never boast yourself in their presence! This behaviour increases the prosperity of kings!' Yudhishthira said, "Having recourse to such high intelligence, undisturbed by passion, I will do as you counsel! And whatever else you may counsel in respect of time and place, I will carefully follow entirely."