seen that they that have their hearts under control,
choose virtue; they that are neither good nor bad
but occupy a middle station, choose profit, which is
always the subject of dispute; while they that are
fools choose the gratification of desire. The
fool that from temptation giveth up virtue and pursueth
profit and desire by unrighteous means, is soon destroyed
by his senses. He that speaketh profit and desire,
should yet practise virtue at the outset, for neither
profit nor desire is (really) dissociated from virtue.
O king, it hath been said that virtue alone is the
cause of the three, for he that seeketh the three,
may, by the aid of virtue alone, grow like fire when
brought into contact with a heap of dry grass.
O bull of Bharata’s race, thou seeketh, O sire,
by unrighteous means this extensive empire, flourishing
with prosperity and well-known to all the monarchs
of the earth. O king, he that behaveth falsely
towards those that live and conduct themselves righteously,
certainly cutteth down his own self, like a forest
with an axe. One must not seek to confound his
understanding whose overthrow one doth not like, for,
if one’s understanding is confounded, one can
never devote his attention to what is beneficial.
One that hath his soul under control never, O Bharata,
disregardeth anybody in the three worlds,—no,
not even the commonest creature, far less those bulls
among men, the sons of Pandu. He that surrendereth
himself to the influence of anger loseth his sense
of right and wrong. Rank growth must always be
cut off. Behold, O Bharata, this is the proof.
At present, O sire, union with the sons of Pandu is
better for thee than thy union with the wicked.
If thou makest peace with them, thou mayst obtain
the fruition of all thy wishes. O best of kings,
while enjoying the kingdom that has been founded by
the Pandavas, thou seekest protection from others,
disregarding the Pandavas themselves. Reposing
the cares of thy state on Dussasana, Durvisaha, Karna,
and Suvala’s son, thou desirest the continuance
of thy prosperity, O Bharata. These, however,
are far inferior to the Pandavas in knowledge, in virtue,
in capacity for acquiring wealth, and in prowess.
Indeed, O Bharata, (let alone the four I have mentioned)
all these kings together, with thee at their head,
are incapable of even looking at the face of Bhima,
when angry, on the field of battle. O sire, this
force consisting of all the kings of the earth is,
indeed, at thy elbow. There are also Bhishma,
and Drona, and this Karna, and Kripa, and Bhurisrava,
and Somadatta, and Aswatthaman, and Jayadratha.
All these together are incapable of fighting against
Dhananjaya. Indeed, Arjuna is incapable of being
vanquished in battle even by all the gods, Asuras,
men, and Gandharvas. Do not set thy heart for
battle. Seest thou the man in any of the royal
races of the earth, who having encountered Arjuna
in battle can return home safe and sound? O bull
of Bharata’s race, what advantage is there in