SECTION XXXI
"Yudhishthira said, 'O Sanjaya, the righteous and the unrighteous, the
young and the old, the weak and the strong, are all under the control of
the Creator, It is that Supreme Lord who imparteth knowledge to the child
and childishness to the learned, according to his own will. If
Dhritarashtra ask you about our strength, tell him everything truly,
having cheerfully consulted with everyone here and ascertained the truth.
O son of Gavalgana, repairing unto the Kurus, you wilt salute the mighty
Dhritarashtra, and touching his feet enquire after his welfare speaking
in our name. And when seated in the midst of the Kurus, tell him from
us.--The sons of Pandu, O king, are living happily in consequence of thy
prowess. It was through your grace, O repressor of foes, that those
children of tender years had obtained a kingdom. Having first bestowed a
kingdom on them, you shouldst not now be indifferent to them, for
destruction then would overtake them! The whole of this kingdom, O
Sanjaya, is not fit to be owned by one person. Tell him again, from
us.--O sire, we wish to live united. Do not suffer thyself to be
vanquished by foes.--Thou shouldst again, O Sanjaya, bending your head, in
my name salute the grandsire of the Bharatas, Bhishma, the son of
Santanu. Having saluted our grandsire, he should then be told.--By thee,
when Santanu's race was about to be extinct, it was revived. Therefore, O
sire, do that according to your own judgment by which your grandsons may
all live in amity with one another. Thou shouldst then address Vidura
also, that adviser of the Kurus, saying.--Counseleth peace, O amiable
one, from desire of doing good unto Yudhishthira.--Thou shouldst address
the unforbearing prince Duryodhana also, when seated in the midst of the
Kurus, beseeching him again and again, saying,--The insults you hadst
offered to innocent and helpless Draupadi in the midst of the assembly,
we will quietly bear, simply because we have no mind to see the Kurus
slain. The other injuries also, both before and after that, the sons of
Pandu are quietly bearing, although they are possessed of might to avenge
them. All this, indeed, the Kauravas know. O amiable one, you had even
exiled us dressed in deer-skins. We are bearing that also because we do
not want to see the Kurus slain. Dussasana, in obedience to thee, had
dragged Krishna, disregarding Kunti. That act also will be forgiven by
us. But, O chastiser of foes, we must have our proper share of the
kingdom. O bull among men, turn your coveting heart from what belongeth to
others. Peace then, O king, will be amongst our gladdened selves. We are
desirous of peace; give us even a single province of the empire. Give us
even Kusasthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Varanavata, and for the fifth any
other that you likest. Even this will end the quarrel. O Suyodhana, give
unto your five brothers at least five villages,--O Sanjaya, O you of
great wisdom, let there be peace between us and our cousins. Tell him
also,--Let brothers follow brothers, let sires unite with sons. Let the
Panchalas mingle with the Kurus in merry laughter. That I may see the
Kurus and the Panchalas whole and sound, is what I desire. O bull of the
Bharata race, with, cheerful hearts let us make peace. O Sanjaya, I am
equally capable of war and peace. I am prepared to acquire wealth as well
as to earn virtue. I am fit enough for severity as for softness.'"
--------------------END OF PARVA 5 : UPA-PARVA 31 ---------------------
