वैशम्पायन उवाच वनं प्रविष्टष्वथ पाण्डवेषु प्रज्ञाचक्षुस्तप्यमानोऽम्बिकेयः। धर्मात्मानं विदुरमगाधबुद्धिं सुखासीनो वाक्यमुवाच राजा॥
Vaishampayana said: After the departure of the Pandavas to the forest, the son of Ambika (Dhritarashtra) whose knowledge was his eye, became exceedingly sorrowful. The King, seated at his case, thus spoke to the virtuous minded and highly intelligent Vidura.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच प्रज्ञा च ते भार्गवस्येव शुद्धा धर्म च त्वं परमं वेत्थ सूक्ष्मम्। समश्च त्वं सम्मतः कौरवाणां पथ्यं चैषां मम चैव ब्रवीहि॥
Dhritarashtra said: Your intelligence is as great as that of Bhargava (Shukra), you know all the subtleties of holy Dharma. You look on all the Kurus with and equal eye. Tell me what is good for me and for them (the Kurus).
एवंगते विदुर यदद्य कार्य पौराश्च मे कथमस्मान् भजेरन्। स्तत्त्वं ब्रूयाः साधु कार्याणि वेत्सि॥
O Vidura, things having taken this course, what should be done by us? I low can we secure the adoration of the citizens? How can we avoid the danger of total annihilation? Tell us what we should do); for you are conversant with all excellent expedients.
विदुर उवाच त्रिवर्गोऽयंधर्ममूलो नरेन्द्र राज्यं चेदंधर्ममूलं वदन्ति। धर्मे राजन् वर्तमानः स्वशक्त्या पुत्रान सर्वान् पाहि पाण्डोः सुतांश्च॥
Vidura said: O king, Trivarga (Dharma, Artha and Kama) has its foundation on virtue and the sages says that a kingdom also stands on virtue as its basis. O king, therefore cherish with virtue and to your best power on your own sons and those of Pandu.
स वैधर्मो विप्रलब्धः सभायां पापात्मभिः सौबलेयप्रधानैः। आहूय कुन्तीसुतमक्षवत्यां पराजैषीत् सत्यसंधं सुतस्ते॥
Virtue was destroyed by the wicked souls (the Kuru princes) with Subala's son (Shakuni) at their head when your sons invited the virtuous Yudhishthira to play and defeated him at dice.
छेषस्याहं परिपश्याम्युपायम्। मुक्तो लोके प्रतितिष्ठेत साधु॥
I see this expiation of this dead of utter iniquity. O chief of the Kurus, your son (Duryodhana) may win by it a praise among good men.
तद् वै सर्वं पाण्डुपुत्रा लभन्तां यत् तद् राजन्नभिसृष्टं त्वयाऽऽसीत्। एषधर्मः परमो यत् स्वकेन राजा तुष्येन्न परस्वेषु गृध्येत्॥
Let the Pandavas have what is to may given to them by you. The king's morality is that a king should remain content with his own and never covet the possessions of others.
यशो न नश्येज्ज्ञातिभेदश्च न स्याद् धर्मो न स्यानैव चैवं कृते त्वाम्। एतत् कार्यं तव सर्वप्रधान तेषां तुष्टिः शकुनेश्चावमानः॥
Your good name would not thus suffer; family dissension's would not thus ensue; you will have then no unrighteous act. This is your first duty, (namely) to grace the Pandavas and to disgrace Shakuni.
देतद् राजंस्त्वरमाणः कुरुष्व। तथैतदेवं न करोषि राजन् ध्रुवं कुरूणां भविता विनाशः॥
O king, if you wish to restore to you sons the good fortune they have lost this speedily act as I say, O king, if you do not act thus, the Kurus will be soon destroyed.
न हि क्रुद्धो भीमसेनोऽर्जुनो वा शेषं कुर्याच्छात्रवाणामनीके। येषां योद्धा सव्यसाची कृतास्त्रो धनुर्येषां गाण्डिवं लोकसारम्॥ येषां भीमो बाहुशाली च योद्धा तेषां लोके किं नु न प्राप्यमस्ति। उक्तं पूर्वं जातमात्रे सुते ते मया यत् ते हितमासीत् तदानीम्॥
For neither Bhimasena nor Arjuna, if angry, will leave any of the enemies unslain. What is there in the world which is unattainable to those who have amongst their warriors Savyasachi Arjuna well-skilled in war, who possesses the Gandiva, the most powerful of all weapons in the world and who have the mighty Bhimasena warrior.
पुत्रं त्यजेममहितं कुलस्य हितं परं न च तत् त्वं चकर्थ। मेवं कर्ता परितप्तासि पश्चात्॥
I told you formerly as soon as the son was born, “Abandon this inauspicious child of yours. The good of your race is in it (abandoning).” But you did not accept my advice, if you did as I advised to do, you would not have repented.
यद्येतदेवमनुमन्ता सुतस्ते सम्प्रीयमाणः पाण्डवैरेकराज्यम्। न चेन्निगृहणीष्व सुतं सुखाय॥
If your son consent to reign just and in peace with the sons of Pandu, you will thus pass your days in happiness and you will not have to repent.
दुर्योधनं त्वहितं वै निगृह्य पाण्डोः पुत्रं कुरुष्वाधिपत्ये। अजातशत्रुर्हि विमुक्तरागो धर्मेणेमां पृथिवीं शास्तु राजन्॥ दुःशासनो
Putting aside Duryodhana invite the son of Pandu (Yudhishthira) in the sovereignty. Let Ajatashatru (Yudhishthira) who is free from passion, rule the earth virtuously.
ततो राजन् पार्थिवाः सर्व एव वैश्या इवास्मानुपतिष्ठन्तु सद्यः। दुर्योधनः शकुनिः सूतपुत्रः प्रीत्या राजन् पाण्डुपुत्रान् भजन्तु॥
O king, all the monarchs of the world then like Vaisyas will pay homage to us. O king, let Duryodhana, Shakuni and Suta's son (Karna) gladly wait upon the sons of Pandu.
याचतु भीमसेनं सभामध्ये दुपदस्यात्मजां च। युधिष्ठिरं त्वं परिसान्त्वयस्व राज्ये चैनं स्थापयस्वाभिपूज्य॥
Let Dushasana ask pardon of Bhimasena and of the daughter of Draupada (Draupadi) in open court. After pacifying Yudhishthira, place him on the throne with all respects.
मेतत् कृत्वा कृतकृत्योऽसि राजन्॥
O king, asked by you, who else can I advise? If you do this, you will do what is proper.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच मिह प्रोक्तं पाण्डवान् प्राप्य मां च। मेतत् सर्वं मम नावैति चेतः॥
Dhritarashtra said: O Vidura, the worlds you have spoken in this assembly with reference to the Pandavas and myself are for their and not my good. My mind does not approve this.
इदं त्विदानी गत एव निश्चितं तेषामर्थे पाण्डवानां यदास्थ! तेनाद्य मन्ये नासि हितो ममेति कथं हि पुत्रं पाण्डवार्थे त्यजेयम्॥
How have you settled all this in your mind. When you have spoken all this on behalf of the Pandavas. I perceive you are not at all friendly to me. How can I leave my son for the sake of sons of Pandu?
असंशयं तेऽपि ममैव पुत्रा दुर्योधनस्तु मम देहात् प्रसूतः। स्वं वै देहं परहेतोस्त्यजोत को नु ब्रूयात् समतामन्ववेक्ष्य॥
There is no doubt they (the Pandavas) too are my sons, but Duryodhana has spring from my (own) body. Speaking partially how will you advise me to replace my own body for the sake of others?
स मां जिह्यं विदुर सर्वं ब्रवीषि मानं च तेऽहमधिकंधारयामि। यथेच्छकं गच्छ वा तिष्ठ वा त्वं सुसान्त्व्यमानाप्यसती स्त्री जहाति॥
Vidura, though I hold you in great esteem, (yet I must say) all that you have said is crooked. Stay (here) or go (away) as you please. However an unchaste wife is assured, she forsakes her husband.
वैशम्पायन उवाच दन्तर्वेश्म सहसोत्थाय राजन्। नेदमस्तीत्यथ विदुरो भाषमाणः सम्प्राद्रवद् यत्र पार्था बभूवुः॥
Vaishampayana said : O king, having said this, Dhritarashtra suddenly rose and went into the inner apartments. Saying "this race is doomed", Vidura (also) went away where the sons of Fandu were.