Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/468

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454
MAHABHARATA

ancestral kingdom, we can never succeed in injuring them by any means in our power. It is impossible to create disunion amongst them. They can never be disunited why have all taken to a common wite. Nor can we succeed in estranging Krishna from the Pandavas by any spies of ours. She chose them as her lords when they were in adversity. Will she abandon them now that they are in prosperity? Besides women always like to have many husbands, Krishna hath obtained her wish. She can never be estranged from the Pandavas. The king of Panchala is honest and virtuous; he is not avaricious. Even if we offer him our whole kingdom he will not abandon the Pandavas. Drupada's son also possesseth every accomplishment, and is attached to the Pandavas. Therefore, I do not think that the Pandavas can now be injured of any subtle means in thy power. But, O bull amongst men, this is what is good and advisable for us now, viz., to attack and smite them till they are exterminated. Let this course recommend itself to thee! As long as our party is strong and that of the king of the Panchalas is weak, so long strike them without any scruple. O son of Gandhari, as long as their innumberable vehicles and, animals, friends, and friendly tribes are not musted together, continue, O king, to exhibit thy prowess ! As long as the king of the Panchalas together with his sons gifted with great prowess, settest not his heart upon fighting with us, so long, O king, exhibit thy prowess! And, O king, exert thy prowess before he of the Vrishni race viz.. (Krishna) cometh with the Yadava bost into the city of Drupada, carrying everything before him, to restore the Pandavas to their paternal kingdom, Wealth, every article of enjoyment, kingdom, there is nothing that Krishna may not sacrifice for the sake of the Pandavas I The illustrious Bharata had acquired the whole Earth by his prowess alone. Indra hath acquired sovereignty of the three worlds by prowess alone. O king, prowess is always applauded by the Kshatriyas. O bull amongst Kshatriyas, prowess is the cardinal virtue of the brave. Let us, therefore, O monarch, with our large army consisting of four kinds of forces, grind Drupada without loss of time, and bring bither the Pandavas ! Indeed, the Pandavas are incapable of being discomfited by any policy of conciliation, of gift, of wealth and bribery, or of disunion. Vanquish them, therefore, by thy prowess! And vanquishing them by thy prowess, rule thou this wide Earth! O monarch, I see not any other means by which we may accomplish our end I

Vaisampayana continued.--"Hearing these words of Radheya. Dhritarashtra, endued with great strength, applauded him highly. The monarch then addressed him and said, "Thou. O son of a Suta, art gifted with great wisdom and accomplished in arms. This speech