SECTION CXLIV
(Jatugriha Parva Continued)
"Vaisampayana continued, "King
Dhritarashtra whose knowledge only was his eyes, on hearing these words of his
son and recollecting everything that Kanika had, said unto him, became
afflicted with sorrow, and his mind also thereupon began to waver. Then
Duryodhana and Karna, and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, and Duhsasana as their fourth,
held a consultation together. Prince Duryodhana said unto Dhritarashtra, 'Send,
O father, by some clever contrivance, the Pandavas to the town of Varanavata.
We shall then have no fear of them.' Dhritarashtra, on hearing these words
uttered by his son, reflected for a moment and replied unto Duryodhana, saying,
'Pandu, ever devoted to virtue, always behaved dutifully towards all his
relatives but particularly towards me. He cared very little for the enjoyments
of the world, but devotedly gave everything unto me, even the kingdom. His son
is as much devoted to virtue as he, and is possessed of every accomplishment.
Of world-wide fame, he is again the favourite of the people. He is possessed of
allies; how can we by force exile him from his ancestral kingdom? The
counsellors and soldiers (of the state) and their sons and grandsons have all
been cherished and maintained by Pandu. Thus benefited of old by Pandu, shall
not, O child, the citizens slay us with all our friends and relatives now on
account of Yudhishthira?"
"Duryodhana replied, 'What thou sayest, O
father, is perfectly true. But in view of the evil that is looming on the
future as regards thyself, if we conciliate the people with wealth and honours,
they would assuredly side with us for these proofs of our power. The treasury
and the ministers of state, O king, are at this moment under our control.
Therefore, it behoveth thee now to banish, by some gentle means, the Pandavas
to the town of Varanavata; O king, when the sovereignty shall have been vested
in me, then, O Bharata, may Kunti with her children come back from that place.'
"Dhritarashtra replied, 'This, O Duryodhana,
is the very thought existing in my mind. But from its sinfulness I have never
given expression to it. Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Kshattri, nor Gautama
(Kripa) will ever sanction the exile of the Pandavas. In their eyes, O dear
son, amongst the Kurus ourselves and the Pandavas are equal. Those wise and
virtuous persons will make no difference between us. If therefore, we behave so
towards the Pandavas, shall we not, O son, deserve death at the hands of the
Kurus, of these illustrious personages, and of the whole world?'
"Duryodhana answered, 'Bhishma hath no
excess of affection for either side, and will, therefore, be neutral (in case
of dispute). The son of Drona (Aswatthaman) is on my side. There is no doubt
that where the son is, there the father will be. Kripa, the son of Saradwat,
must be on the side on which Drona and Aswatthaman are. He will never abandon
Drona and his sister's son (Aswatthaman). Kshattri (Vidura) is dependent on us
for his means of life, though he is secretly with the foe. It he sides the
Pandavas, he alone can do us no injury, Therefore, exile thou the Pandavas to
Varanavata without any fear. And take such steps that they may go thither this
very day. By this act, O father, extinguish the grief that consumeth me like a
blazing fire, that robbeth me of sleep, and that pierces my heart even like a
terrible dart.'"
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