The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 206

Section CCVI. ( *Viduragamana Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana said, "After Bishma had concluded, Drona spake, saying, 'O king Dhrita-rashtra, it hath been heard by us that friends summoned for consultation should always speak what is right, true, and conducive to fame. And, O father, I am of the same mind in this matter with the illustrious Bhisma! Let a share of the kingdom be given unto the Pandavas. This is eternal virtue. Send, O Bharata, unto Drupada without loss of time some messenger of agreeable speech, carrying with him a large treasure for the Pandavas. And let the man go unto Drupada carrying costly presents for both the bride-grooms and the bride, and let him speak unto that monarchy of thy increase of power and dignity arising from this new alliance with him. And, O monarch, let the man also say that both thyself and Duryodhana have become exceedingly glad in consequence of what hath happened. Let him say this repeatedly unto Drupada and Dhrista-dyumna. And let him speak also about the alliance as having been exceedingly proper, and agreeable unto thee, and thyself being worthy of it. And let the man repeatedly propitiate the sons of Kunti and those of Madri (in proper words). And at thy command, O king, let plenty of ornaments of pure gold be given unto Draupadi. And let, O thou bull of the Bharata race, proper presents be given unto all the sons of Drupada. Let the messenger then propose the return of the Pandavas to Hāstinapore. And after the heroes have been permitted (by Drupada) to come hither, let Dush-shasana and Vikarna go out with a handsome train to receive them. And when they have arrived at Hāstinapore, let those foremost of men be received with affection by thee. And let them then be installed on their paternal throne, agreeably to the wishes of the people of the realm. This, O monarch of the Bharata race, is what I regard should be thy behaviour towards the Pandavas who are to thee even as thy own sons!'" Vaisampayana continued, "After Drona had ceased, Karna spoke again, saying, 'Both Bhisma and Drona have been pampered with wealth that is thine and favors conferred by thee! They are also regarded by thee as ever thy trusted friends. What can, therefore, be more amusing than that they both should give thee advice that is not for thy good? How can the wise approve that advice which is pronounced as good by a person speaking with wicked intent but taking care to conceal the wickedness of his heart? Indeed, during a season of distress, friends can neither benefit nor injure. Every one's happiness or the reverse dependeth on destiny. He that is wise and he that is a fool, he that is young in years and he that is old, he that has allies and he that is without allies, all become, it is seen everywhere, happy or unhappy at times. I hath been heard by us that there was of old a king of name Ambu-vicha. Having his capital at Raja-griha he was the king of all the Magadha chiefs. He never attended to his affairs. All his exertion consisted in inhaling and exhaling the air. All his affairs were in the hands of his minister. And his minister, of name Mahakarni, became the supreme authority in the state. And regarding himself allpowerful, he began to disregard the king. And the wretch himself appropriated everything belonging unto the king,—his queens and treasures and sovereignty. But the possession of all these, instead of satisfying his avarice, only served to inflame it the more. Having appropriated everything belonging unto the king, he even covered the throne. But it hath been heard by us that with his best endeavours he succeeded not in acquiring the kingdom of the monarch his master even though the latter was inattentive to all business and content with only inhaling and exhaling the air. What else can be said than that, O king, that monarch's sovereignty was dependent on destiny? If, therefore, O king, this kingdom be established in thee by destiny, it will certainly continue in thee, even if the whole world were to become thy foe. If, however, destiny hath ordained otherwise, howsoever mayest thou strive, it will not last in thee! O learned one, remembering all this, judge thou of the honesty or otherwise of thy advisers! And ascertain thou also who amongst them are wicked and who have spoken wisely and well.'" Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Karna, Drona replied, 'Wicked as thou art, it is evident thou sayest so in consequence of the wickedness of thy intents. It is for injuring the Pandavas that thou findest fault with us. But know, O Karna, that what I have said is for the good of all and the prosperity of the Kuru race. If thou regardest all this as productive of evil, declare thyself what is for our good. If the good advice I have given be not followed, I think the Kurus will be exterminated in no time.'" Thus ends the two hundred and sixth Section in the Vidurāgamana of the Adi Parva.