The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
wrath, and Vrikodara and Arjuna and the twins (do the same), who, in
that hour of confusion, will prove your refuge? O great king, thou art
thyself a mine of wealth. Thou canst earn (by other means) as much
wealth as thou seekest to earn by gambling. What dost thou gain by
winning from the Pandavas their vast wealth? Win the Pandavas
themselves, who will be to thee more than all the wealth they have. We
all know the skill of Suvala in play. This hill-king knoweth many
nefarious methods in gambling. Let Sakuni return whence he came. War
not, O Bharata, with the sons of Pandu!'
SECTION LXIII
"Duryodhana said,--'O Kshatta, thou art always boasting of the fame of
our enemies, deprecating the sons of Dhritarashtra. We know, O Vidura,
of whom thou art really fond. Thou always disregardest us as children.
That man standeth contest, who wisheth for success unto those that are
near to him and defeat unto those that are not his favourites. His
praise and blame are applied accordingly. Thy tongue and mind betray
thy heart. But the hostility thou showeth in speech is even greater
than what is in thy heart. Thou hast been cherished by us like a
serpent on our lap. Like a cat thou wishest evil unto him that
cherisheth thee. The wise have said that there is no sin graver than
that of injuring one's master. How is it, O Kshatta, that thou dost not
fear this sin? Having vanquished our enemies we have obtained great
advantages. Use not harsh words in respect of us. Thou art always
willing to make peace with the foes. And it is for this reason that
thou hatest us always. A man becometh a foe by speaking words that are
unpardonable. Then again in praising the enemy, the secrets of one's
own party should not be divulged. (Thou however, transgressest this
rule). Therefore, O thou parasite, why dost thou obstruct us so? Thou
sayest whatever thou wishest. Insult us not. We know thy mind. Go and
learn sitting at the feet of the old. Keen up the reputation that thou
hast won. Meddle not with the affairs of other men. Do not imagine that
thou art our chief. Tell us not harsh words always, O Vidura. We do not
ask thee what is for our good. Cease, irritate not those that have
already borne too much at thy hands. There is only one Controller, no
second. He controlleth even the child that is in the mother's womb. I
am controlled by Him. Like water that always floweth in a downward
course, I am acting precisely in the way in which He is directing me.
He that breaketh his head against a stone-wall, and he that feedeth a
serpent, are guided in those acts of theirs by their own intellect.
(Therefore, in this matter I am guided by my own intelligence). He
becometh a foe who seeketh to control others by force. When advice,
however, is offered in a friendly spirit, the learned bear with it. He
again that hath set fire to such a highly inflammable object as
camphor, beholdeth not its ashes, if he runneth immediately to
extinguish it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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