kings). O mighty monarch, it behoveth thee to
keep in view the duties of the Kshatriya. O great
king, it is not the duty of a Khsatriya to live in
the woods. The wise are of the opinion that to
rule is the foremost duty of a Kshatriya. O king,
thou art conversant with Kshatriya morality.
Do not, therefore, deviate from the path of duty.
Turning away from the woods, let us, summoning Partha
and Janardana, slay, O king, the sons of Dhritarashtra,
even before the twelve years are complete. O
illustrious monarch O king of kings, even if these
Dhartarashtras be surrounded by soldiers in array
of battle, I shall send them to the other world by
dint of might alone. I shall slay all the sons
of Dhritarashtra along with the Sauvalas, indeed,
Duryodhana, Karna, and any one else that will fight
with me. And after I shall have slain all our
foes, thou mayst come back unto the woods. By
acting thus, O king, no fault will be thine.
(Or if any sin be thine), O represser of foes, O mighty
monarch, washing it off, O sire, by various sacrifices,
we may ascend to a superior heaven. Such a consummation
may come to pass, if our king proveth not unwise or
procrastinating. Thou art, however, virtuous.
Verily the deceitful should be destroyed by deceit.
To slay the deceitful by deceit, is not regarded as
sinful. O Bharata, it is, also said by those versed
in morality that one day and night is, O great prince,
equal unto a full year. The Veda text also, exalted
one, is often heard, signifying that a year is equivalent
to a day when passed in the observance of certain
difficult vows. O thou of unfading glory, if the
Vedas are an authority with thee, regard thou the
period of a day and something more as the equivalent
of thirteen years. O represser of foes, this is
the time to slay Duryodhana with his adherents.
Else, O king, he will beforehand bring the whole earth
obedient to his will. O foremost of monarchs,
all this is the result of thy addiction to gambling.
We are on the verge of destruction already, in consequence
of thy promise of living one year undiscovered.
I do not find the country where, if we live, the wicked-minded
Suyodhana may not be able to trace us by his spies.
And finding us out, that wretch will again deceitfully
send us into such exile in the woods. Or if that
sinful one beholdeth us emerge, after the expiry of
the pledged period of non-discovery, he will again
invite thee, O great king, to dice, and the play will
once more begin. Summoned once more, thou wilt
again efface thyself at dice. Thou art not skilled
at dice, and when summoned at play, thou wilt be deprived
of thy senses. Therefore, O mighty monarch thou
wilt have to lead a life in the woods again.
If, O mighty king, it behoveth thee not to make us
wretched for life, observe thou fully the ordinance
of the Vedas, (which inculcateth that) verily the
deceitful ought to be slain by deceit. If I but
have thy command I would go (to Hastinapura) and,
even as fire falling upon a heap of grass consumeth
it, would slay Duryodhana, putting forth my utmost
might. It behoveth thee, therefore, to grant me
the permission.’”