SECTION 144
(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 Subala, 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; when the sovereignty shall have been vested in me, then, may
Kunti with her children come back from that place.'
"Dhritarashtra replied, 'This, O Duryodhana, is the very
thought existing in my mind. But 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 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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