“Dhritarashtra said, It is even so as thou always teachest me.  O amiable one, my heart also inclineth that very way of which thou tellest me.  Although, however, I incline in my mind towards the Pandavas even as thou teachest me to do, yet as soon as I come in contact with Duryodhana it turneth off in a different way.  No creature is able to avert fate.  Indeed, Destiny, I think, is certain to take its course; individual exertion is futile.’”

SECTION XLI

(Sanat-sujata Parva)

“Dhritarashtra said, ’If there is anything still left unsaid by thee, O Vidura, say it then, as I am ready to listen to thee.  The discourse is, indeed, charming.’

“Vidura. said, ’O Dhritarashtra, O thou of the Bharata race, that ancient and immortal Rishi Sanat-sujata who, leading a life perpetual celibacy, hath said that there is no Death,—­that foremost of all intelligent persons,—­will expound to thee all the doubts, in thy mind, both expressed and unexpressed.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ’Dost thou not know what that immortal Rishi will say unto me?  O Vidura, do thou say it, if indeed, thou hast that degree of wisdom.’

“Vidura said, ’I am born in the Sudra order and, therefore, do not venture to say more than what I have already said.  The understanding, however, of that Rishi leading a life of celibacy, is regarded by me to be infinite.  He that is a Brahmana by birth, by discoursing on even the profoundest mysteries, never incureth the censure of the gods.  It is for this alone that I do not discourse to thee, upon the subject.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ’Tell me, O Vidura, how with this body of mine I can meet with that ancient and immortal one?’

“Vaisampayana said, ’Then Vidura began to think of that Rishi of rigid vows.  And knowing that he was thought of, the Rishi, O Bharata, showed himself there.  Vidura then received him with the rites prescribed by ordinance.  And when, having rested a while, the Rishi was seated at his ease, Vidura addressed him, saying, ’O illustrious one, there is a doubt in Dhritarashtra’s mind which is incapable of being explained away by me.  It behoveth thee, therefore, to expound it, so that listening to thy discourse, this chief of men may tide over all this sorrows, and to that gain and loss, what is agreeable and what disagreeable, decrepitude and death, fright and jealously, hunger and thirst, pride and prosperity, dislike, sleep, lust and wrath, and decrease and increase may all be borne by him!’”

SECTION XLII

“Vaisampayana said, ’Then the illustrious and wise king Dhritarashtra, having applauded the words spoken by Vidura, questioned Sanat-sujata in secret, desirous of obtaining the highest of all knowledge.  And the king questioned the Rishi saying, ’O Sanat-sujata, I hear that thou art of the opinion that there is no Death.  Again it is said that the gods and the Asuras, practise ascetic austerities in order to avoid death.  Of these two opinions, then, which is true?’