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55. NOT A NEEDLE-POINT OF TERRITOR
AFTER he had despatched Sanjaya to the
Pandavas, Dhritarashtra, filled with
anxiety, could not get a wink of sleep that
night. He sent for Vidura and spent the
whole night talking to him.
"To give the Pandavas their share of the
kingdom is the safest plan," said Vidura.
"Only this can bring good to both sides.
Treat the Pandavas and your own sons
with equal affection. In this case, the right
course is also the wise one."
Vidura counselled Dhritarashtra in this
manner at great length.
The next morning Sanjaya returned to
Hastinapura. And gave a full account of
what had taken place in Yudhishthira's
court.
"Chiefly, Duryodhana should know what
Arjuna said: 'Krishna and I are going to
destroy Duryodhana and his followers,
root and branch. Make no mistake about
it. The Gandiva bow is impatient for war.
My bowstring is throbbing even without
my stretching it and from my quiver,
arrows keep peeping out impatiently,
demanding when? When? Sanjaya, evil
stars make the foolish Duryodhana seek
war with Krishna and myself. Not even
Indra and the gods can defeat us.' Thus
spoke Dhananjaya," said Sanjaya.
Bhishma counselled Dhritarashtra against
opposing the combined might of Arjuna
and Krishna. "Karna, who boasts
repeatedly that he will slay the Pandavas",
said Bhishma, "is not equal to a sixteenth
part of the Pandavas. Your sons are
heading for destruction, listening to his
words. When Arjuna beat back your son's
attack on Virata's capital and humbled his
pride, what was Karna able to do? When
the Gandharvas took your son prisoner,
where did the invincible Karna bide
himself? Was it not Arjuna who drove
back the Gandharvas?" Thus did Bhisma
taunt Karna and warn the Kauravas.
"What grandfather Bhisma says is the
only proper thing to do," said
Dhritarashtra. "All wise men say, and I
know, that it is best to seek peace. But
what can I do? These fools would go their
own way, however loudly I protest."
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