“Vidura said, ’O Bharata, by speaking words out of season even Vrihaspati himself incurreth reproach and the charge of ignorance, one becometh agreeable by gift, another by sweet words, a third by the force of incantation and drugs.  He, however, that is naturally agreeable, always remaineth so.  He that is hated by another is never regarded by that other as honest or intelligent or wise.  One attributeth everything good to him one loveth; and everything evil to him one hateth.  O king, as soon as Duryodhana was born I told thee,—­thou shouldst abandon this one son, for by abandoning him thou wouldst secure the prosperity of thy hundred sons,—­and by keeping him, destruction would overtake thy hundred sons, that gain should never be regarded highly which leadeth to loss.  On the other hand, that loss even should be regarded highly which would bring on gain.  That is no loss, O king, which bringeth on gain.  That, however, should be reckoned as loss which is certain to bring about greater losses still.  Some become eminent in consequence of good qualities; others become so in consequence of wealth.  Avoid them, O Dhritarashtra, that are eminent in wealth but destitute of good qualities!’

“Dhritarashtra said, ’All that you sayest is approved by the wise and is for my future good.  I dare not, however, abandon my son.  It is well-known that where there is righteousness there is victory.’

“Vidura said, ’He that is graced with every virtue and is endued with humility, is never indifferent to even the minutest sufferings of living creatures.  They, however, that are ever employed in speaking ill of others, always strive with activity quarrelling with one another and in all matters, calculated to give pain to others.  There is sin in accepting gifts from, and danger in making gifts to them, whose very sight is inauspicious and whose companionship is fraught with danger.  They that are quarrelsome, covetous, shameless, deceitful, are known unrighteous, and their companionship should always be avoided.  One should also avoid those men that are endued with similar faults of a grave nature, When the occasion that caused the friendship is over the friendship of those that are low, the beneficial result of that connection, and the happiness also derivable from it, all come to an end.  They then strive to speak ill of their (late) friend and endeavour to inflict loss on him, and if the loss they sustain be even very small, for all that they, from want of self-control, fail to enjoy peace.  He that is learned, examining everything carefully and reflecting well, should, from a distance, avoid the friendship of vile and wicked-minded persons such as these.  He that helpeth his poor and wretched and helpless relatives, obtain children and animals and enjoyeth prosperity that knoweth no end.  They that desire their own benefit should always succour their relatives.  By every means, therefore, O king, do thou seek the growth of thy race.