ANUDYUTA PARVA: Chapter 75

Words of Gandhari

वैशम्पायन उवाच अथाब्रवीन्महाराज धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्। पुत्रहार्दाद् धर्मयुक्ता गान्धारी शोककर्षिता॥
Vaishampayana said O great king, it was then the virtuous Gandhari, afflicted with grief on account of her sons, addressed king Dhritarashtra and said.

जाते दुर्योधने क्षत्ता महामतरभाषत। नीयतां परलोकाय साध्वयं कुलपांसनः॥
Gandhari said When Duryodhana was born, the highsouled Khattwa (Vidura) said, “It is better to send this disgrace of the race (Duryodhana) to the other world".

व्यनदज्जातमात्रो हि गोमायुरिव भारत। अन्तो नूनं कुलस्यास्य कुरवस्तन्निबोधत॥
For he (Duryodhana) cried repeatedly and dissonantly like a jackal when he was born. It is certain he will prove the destruction of our race. Take this (the words of Vidura) to heart.

मा निमज्जीः स्वदोषेण महाप्सु त्वं ह भारत। मा बालानामशिष्टानामभिमंस्था मतिं प्रभो॥
O descendant of Bharata, do not sink for your own fault in the ocean of calamity. O lord, do not approve the counsel of these wickedminded ones who are but boys.

मा कुलस्य क्षये घोरे कारणं त्वं भविष्यसि। बद्धं सेतुं को नु भिन्द्याद् धमेच्छान्तं च पावकम्॥
Do not be the cause of the fearful destruction of this race. Who is there that will break an embankment which has been completed or re-kindle a conflagration which has been extinguished?

शमे स्थितान् को नु पार्थान् कोपयेद् भरतर्षभ। स्मरन्तं त्वामाजमीढ स्मारयिष्याम्यहं पुनः॥
O best of the Bharata race, who is there that will provoke the peaceful sons of Pritha (Kunti)? O descendant of Ajamida, you remember everything, but I shall still call your attention to this.

शास्त्रं न शास्ति दुर्बुद्धिं श्रेयसे चेतराय च। न वै वृद्धो बालमतिर्भवेद् ग़जन् कथंचन॥
The Shastras can never control the wickedminded men, either in good or in evil acts. A man of boyish intelligence can never act as an old man.

त्वन्नेत्राः सन्तु ते पुत्रा मा त्वां दीर्णाः प्रहासिषुः। तस्मादयं मद्वचनात् त्यज्यतां कुलपांसनः॥
Let your sons follow you as their leader. Let them not for ever be separated from you (by death). Therefore, abandon at my word this disgrace of our race.

तथा ते न कृतं राजन् पुत्रस्नेहान्नराधिप। तस्य प्राप्तं फलं विद्धि कुलान्तकरणाय यत्॥
O king, O ruler of men, you could not do it before from the affection you bear for your son. Know that the time has come for the destruction of our race through him.

शमेन धर्मेण नयेन युक्ता या ते बुद्धिः सास्तु ते मा प्रमादीः। {दुप्रौढा गच्छति पुत्रपौत्रान्॥
Let your mind, guided by counsels of peace, virtue and true policy, be what it naturally is. Do not err. The prosperity which is acquired by the aid of wicked acts is soon destroyed, while that which is won by honest means takes root and descends from generation to generation.

अथाब्रवीन्महाराजो गान्धारी धर्मदर्शिनीम्। अन्तः कामं कुलस्यास्तु न शक्नोमि निवारितुम्॥
Vaishampayana said Having been thus addressed by Gandhari who pointed out to him the path of virtue, the king replied to her saying, “If the destruction of our race has came, let it take place without any hindrance. I cannot prevent it.

यथेच्छन्ति तथैवास्तु प्रत्यागच्छन्तु पाण्डवाः। पुन तं च कुर्वन्तु मामकाः पाण्डवैः सह॥
Let it be what they desire. Let the Pandavas return. Let my sons again gamble with the sons of Pandu".