The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 144

Section CXLIV. ( *Jatu-griha Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana continued, "King Dhrita-rashtra whose kowledge was his only eye, hearing these words of his son and recollecting everything that Kanika had said unto him, became afflicted with sorrow. And his mind also thereupon began to waver. Then Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni the son of Suvala and Dush-shasana the fourth held a consultation together. Then prince Duryodhana said unto Dhrita-rashtra, 'Send, O father, by some clever contrivance, the Pandavas to the town of Varnavata! We shall then have no fear of them!' Dhrita-rashtra, hearing these words uttered by his son, reflected for a moment and then replied unto Duryodhana, saying, 'Pandu, ever devoted to virtue, always behaved dutifully towards all his relatives but particularly towards myself. He cared very little for the enjoyments of the world, but devotedly gave everything unto me, even the kingdom. His son is as much devoted to virtue as he, and is possessed of every accomplishment. Of world-wide fame, he is again the favorite of the people. Possessed of allies, how can we by force exile him from his ancestral kingdom? The counsellors and soldiers (of the state) and their sons and grandsons have all been cherished and maintained by Pandu. Thus benefited of old by Pandu, shall not, O child, the citizens slay us with all our friends and relatives now on account of Yudhish-thira?' "Duryodhaaa replied, 'What thou sayest, father, is perfectly true. But in view of the evil that is looming in the future as regards thyself, if we conciliate the people with wealth and honors, they would assuredly side with us for these proofs of our power. The treasury and the ministers of state, O king, are at this moment under our control. Therefore, it behoveth thee now to banish, by some gentle means, the Pandavas to the town of Varanavata. And, O king, when the sovereignty shall have been vested in me, then, O Bharata, may Kunti with her children come back from that place.' "Dhrita-rashtra replied, 'This, O Duryodhana, is the very thought existing in my mind. But from its sinfulness I have never given expression to it. Neither Bhisma, nor Drona, nor Khatta, nor Gautama (Kripa), will ever sanction the exile of the Pandavas. In their eyes, O dear son, amongst the Kurus both ourselves and the Pandavas are equal. Those wise and virtuous persons will make no difference between us. If, therefore, we behave so towards the Pandavas, shall we not, O son, deserve death at the hands of the Kurus, of these illustrious personages, and of the whole world?' "Duryodhana answered, 'Bhisma hath no excess of affection for either side and will, therefore, be neutral (in case of a dispute). The son of Drona (Aswathama) is on my side. There is no doubt that where the son is, there the father will also be. Then Kripa the son of Saradwan must be on the side on which Drona and Aswathama are. He will never abandon Drona and his sister's son (Aswathama). Khatta (Vidura) is dependent on us for his means of life though he is covertly with the foe. But siding the Pandavas, alone he can do us no injury. Therefore, exile thou the Pandavas to Varanavata without any fear. And take such steps that they may go thither this very day. By this act, O father, extinguish thou the grief that consumeth me like a blazing fire, that robbeth me of sleep, and that hath pierced my heart even like a terrible dart!'" Thus ends the hundred and forty-fourth Section in the Jatu-griha of the Adi Parva.