one out, the master Krishna-Dwaipayana of pure soul came upon them, and
commanded them to desist. And sending them away, the holy one,
worshipped by all the worlds, quickly appeared before the king whose
intelligence served the purposes of eye-sight, and who was then seated
(at his ease). And the holy one addressed the monarch thus."

SECTION VIII

"Vyasa said, 'O wise Dhritarashtra, hear what I say! I will tell thee
that which is for the great good of all the Kauravas! O thou of mighty
arms, it hath not pleased me that the Pandavas have gone to the forest
dishonestly defeated (at dice) by Duryodhana and others! O Bharata, on
the expiration of the thirteenth year, recollecting all their woes, they
may shower death-dealing weapons, even like virulent poison, upon the
Kauravas! Why doth thy sinful son of wicked heart, ever inflamed with
ire, seek to slay the sons of Pandu for the sake of their kingdom? Let
the fool be restrained; let thy son remain quiet! In attempting to slay
the Pandavas in exile, he will only lose his own life. Thou art as
honest as the wise Vidura, or Bhishma, or ourselves, or Kripa, or Drona.
O thou of great wisdom, dissension with one's own kin are forbidden,
sinful and reprehensible! Therefore, O king, it behoveth thee to desist
from such acts! And, O Bharata, Duryodhana looketh with such jealousy
towards the Pandavas that great harm would be the consequence, if thou
didst not interfere. Or let this wicked son of thine, O monarch, along
and unaccompanied, himself go to the forest and live with the sons of
Pandu. For then, if the Pandavas, from association, feel an attachment
for Duryodhana, then, O king of men, good fortune may be thine. (This,
however, may not be)! For it hath been heard that one's congenital
nature leaveth him not till death. But what do Bhishma and Drona and
Vidura think? What also dost thou think? That which is beneficial should
be done while there is time, else thy purposes will be unrealised.'"

SECTION IX

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O holy one, I did not like this business of
gambling, but, O Muni, I think, I was made to consent to it drawn by
fate! Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Vidura, nor Gandhari liked this
game at dice. No doubt, it was begot of folly. And, O thou who
delightest in the observance of vows, O illustrious one, knowing
everything yet influenced by paternal affection, I am unable to cast off
my senseless son, Duryodhana!'

"Vyasa said, 'O king, O son of