riors, the Pandavas (if peace be made) will install thee as
the Yuvaraja, and thy father Dhritarashtra, that lord of men, as the
sovereign of this extensive empire. Do not, O sire, disregard the
prosperity that is awaiting thee and is sure to come. Giving to the sons
of Pritha half the kingdom, win thou great prosperity. Making peace with
the Pandavas and acting according to the counsels of thy friends, and
rejoicing with them, thou art sure to obtain what is for thy good for
ever and ever.'"

SECTION CXXV

Vaisampayana said, "Hearing, O bull of Bharata's race, these words of
Kesava, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, then said unto vindictive
Duryodhana, 'Krishna hath spoken to thee, desirous of bringing about peace
between kinsmen. O sire, follow those counsels, and do not yield to the
influence of wrath. If thou dost not act, O sire, according to the words
of the high-souled Kesava, neither prosperity, nor happiness nor what is
for thy good, wilt thou ever have. The mighty-armed Kesava, O sire, hath
said unto thee what is consistent with virtue and profit. Accept thou
that object, and do not, O king, exterminate the population of the earth.
This resplendent prosperity of the Bharatas amongst all the kings of the
earth, thou wilt, during the very life of Dhritarashtra, destroy through
thy wickedness, and thou wilt also, through this arrogant disposition of
thine, deprive thyself with all thy counsellors, sons, brothers, and
kinsmen, of life, if, O thou foremost of Bharata's race, thou
transgressest the words of Kesava, thy father, and of wise Vidura,--words
that are consistent with truth and fraught with benefit to thyself. Be
not the exterminator of thy race, be not a wicked man, let not thy heart
be sinful, do not tread the path of unrighteousness. Do not sink thy
father and mother into an ocean of grief.' After Bhishma had concluded,
Drona also said these words unto Duryodhana, who, filled with wrath, was
then breathing heavily, 'O sire, the words that Kesava hath spoken unto
thee are fraught with virtue and profit. Santanu's son Bhishma also hath
said the same. Accept those words, O monarch. Both of them are wise,
endued with great intelligence, with souls under control, desirous of
doing what is for thy good, and possessed of great learning. They have
said what is beneficial. Accept their words, O king, O thou possessed of
great wisdom, act according to what both Krishna and Bhishma have said. O
chastiser of foes,