The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,393 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,393 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2.
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
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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.