hand, and adopting a soothing tone, addressed thy son, saying, “Be gratified, O Duryodhana!  Make peace with the Pandavas.  There is no need for quarrel.  Fie on war!  The preceptor, conversant with the mightiest of weapons and like unto Brahma itself, hath been slain.  Other bulls among men, headed by Bhishma, have also been slain.  As regards myself, I am unslayable, as also my maternal uncle.  Rule the kingdom for ever, (sharing it) with the sons of Pandu.  Dissuaded by me, Dhananjaya will abstain.  Janardana also doth not desire hostilities.  Yudhishthira is always engaged in the good of all creatures.  Vrikodara is obedient to him.  So also are the twins.  Peace being made between thee and the Parthas, all creatures will be benefited, through, as it would seem, thy desire.  Let the kings that are still alive go back to their homes.  Let the troops abstain from hostilities.  If thou dost not listen to my words, O king, struck by foes in battle, thou wilt have to burn with grief.  Thou hast beheld, as well as the universe, what has been achieved by the single-handed Arjuna decked with diadem and garlands.  The slayer of Vala himself could not achieve its like, nor the Destroyer, nor Prachetas, nor the illustrious king of the Yakshas.  Dhananjaya, as regards his merits, is even much greater than that.  He will never transgress whatever I say unto him.  He will always follow thee.  Be thou gratified, O king, for the benefit of the universe.  Thou always honourest me greatly.  I, too, bear a great friendship for thee.  It is for this that I say so unto thee.  I shall dissuade Karna also, provided thou art inclined to peace.  Discerning persons say that there are four kinds of friends, viz., those that are naturally so, those that are made so by conciliation, those that become so through wealth, and lastly those brought under subjection by the exercise of power.  All these elements are owned by thee with regard to the sons of Pandu.  The Pandavas, O hero, are naturally thy friends.  Obtain them again as friends for certain by conciliation.  If upon thyself being gratified, they agree to become friends, do thou, O king of kings, act in that way.”  These beneficial words having been said unto him by his friends, Duryodhana reflected for some time.  Drawing deep breaths, he then, with a cheerless heart, said, “It is as thou, O friend, hast said.  Listen, however, to the words that I would say unto thee.  The wicked-hearted Vrikodara, having slain Duhshasana like a tiger, spoke words that still dwell in my heart.  Thou also heardest the same.  How then can there be peace?  Arjuna again will not be able to bear Karna in battle, like a tempest whose force is weakened when encountering the mighty mountains of Meru.  Nor will the sons of Pritha have the least confidence in me, thinking of the many acts of forceful hostility (done by me towards them).  Nor, O preceptor’s son of unfading glory, doth it behove thee to say unto Karna now ’Abstain from battle!’ Phalguna is exceedingly tired today.  Karna will soon slay him”.  Having with humility said these words repeatedly unto the preceptor’s son, thy son commanded his own troops, saying, “Armed with arrows, rush against and slay these foes.  Why stand ye inactive?"’”