acts have now come.  For the sake of thy own objects thou hadst, with great care, mustered together a large force.  That vast force, as also thyself, O bull of Bharata’s race, have fallen into great danger.  Preserve thy own self now, for self is the refuge of everything.  If the refuge is broken, O sire, everything inhering thereto is scattered on every side.  He that is being weakened should seek peace by conciliation.  He that is growing should make war.  This is the policy taught by Brihaspati.  We are now inferior to the sons of Pandu as regards the strength of our army.  Therefore, O lord, I think, peace with the Pandavas is for our good.  He that does not know what is for his good, or (knowing) disregards what is for his good, is soon divested of his kingdom and never obtains any good.  If, by bowing unto king Yudhishthira sovereignty may still remain to us, even that would be for our good, and not, O king, to sustain through folly defeat (at the hands of the Pandavas).  Yudhishthira is compassionate.  At the request of Vichitravirya’s son and of Govinda, he will allow you to continue as king.  Whatever Hrishikesa will say unto the victorious king Yudhishthira and Arjuna and Bhimasena, all of them will, without doubt, obey.  Krishna will not, I think, be able to transgress the words of Dhritarashtra of Kuru’s race, nor will the son of Pandu be able to transgress those of Krishna.  A cessation of hostilities with the sons of Pritha is what I consider to be for thy good.  I do not say this unto thee from any mean motives nor for protecting my life.  I say, O king, that which I regard to be beneficial.  Thou wilt recollect these words when thou wilt be on the point of death (if thou neglectest them now).”  Advanced in years, Kripa the son of Saradwat said these words weepingly.  Breathing long and hot breaths, he then gave way to sorrow and almost lost his senses.’”

5

“Sanjaya said, ’Thus addressed by the celebrated grandson of Gotama, the king (Duryodhana), breathing long and hot breaths, remained silent, O monarch.  Having reflected for a little while, the high-souled son of Dhritarashtra, that scorcher of foes, then said these words unto Saradwat’s son Kripa, “Whatever a friend should say, thou hast said unto me.  Thou hast also, whilst battling, done everything for me, without caring for thy very life.  The world has seen thee penetrate into the midst of the Pandava divisions and fight with the mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas endued with great energy.  That which should be said by a friend hast been said by thee.  Thy words, however, do not please me, like medicine that ill pleases the person that is on the point of death.  These beneficial and excellent words, fraught with reason, that thou, O mighty-armed one, hast said do not seem acceptable to me, O foremost of Brahmanas.  Deprived by us of his kingdom (on a former occasion), why will the son of Pandu repose his trust on us?  That mighty king was once defeated