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23.THE INVITATION
Thus said the old king who, though overfond of his son, did not
occasionally hesitate to say what he felt to
be just.
Duryodhana did not at all like the advice
of his father, and his reply was not very
respectful.
He replied: "The man without common
sense, but immersed in learning, is like a
wooden ladle immersed in savoury food
which it neither tastes nor benefits from.
You have much learning of statecraft but
have no state wisdom at all, as your
advice to me clearly shows. The way of
the world is one thing and the
administration of a state is quite another.
Thus has Brihaspati said: 'Forbearance
and contentment, though the duties of
ordinary men, are not virtues in kings.'
The kshatriya's duty is a constant seeking
of victory."
Duryodhana spoke thus quoting maxims
of politics and citing examples and
making the worse appear the better
reason.
Then Sakuni intervened and set forth in
detail his infallible plan of inviting
Yudhishthira to play the game of dice,
defeating him utterly and divesting him of
his all without recourse to arms.
The wicked Sakuni wound up with
saying: "It is enough if you merely send
for the son of Kunti to play the game of
dice. Leave the rest to me."
Duryodhana added: "Sakuni will win for
me the riches of the Pandavas without a
fight, if you would only agree to invite
Yudhishthira."
Dhritarashtra said: "Your suggestion does
not seem proper. Let us ask Vidura about
it. He will advise us rightly."
But Duryodhana would not hear of
consulting Vidura.
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