king, these illustrious persons endued with great splendour, have not, I think, said anything that leadeth to evil. Thou however dost not understand it. What these bulls among men have said regarding the invincibility of the Pandavas is perfectly true. Think not otherwise of it, o tiger among men. Blest be thou ! Can the handsome Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, using the right and the left hand with equal activity, be vanquished in battle even by Maghavat himself ? Can the great Bhimasena of strong arms possessing the might of ten thousand elephants, be vanquished in battle by the immortals themselves ? Who also that desireth to live can overcome in battle the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) like unto the sons of Yama himself, and well-skilled in fight? How too can the eldest one of the Pandavas in whom patience, mercy, forgiveness, truth, and prowess always live together, be vanquisbed? They who have Rama (Valadeva) as their ally, and Janardana (Krishna ) as their counsellor, and Satyaki as their partisan. whom have they not already defeated in war ? They who have Drupada for their father-in-law, and Drupada's sons the heroic brothers, viz., Dhristadyumna and others of Prisbata's race for their brothers-in-law, are certainly invincible. Remembering this, O monarch, and knowing that their claim to the kingdom is even prior to thine, behave virtuously towards them. The stain of calumny is on thee, O monarch, in consequence of that act of Purochana. Wash thyself of it now, by a kindly behaviour towards the Pandavas. This kindly behaviour of thine, O monarch, towards the Pandavas will be an act of great benefit to us, protecting the lives of us all that belong to Kuru's race, and leading to the growth of the whole Kshatriya order 1 We had formerly warred with king Drupada ; it we can now secure him as an ally, it will strengthen our party. The Dasarhas. O king, are num. erous and strong. Know where Krishna is, all of them must be, and where Krishna is, there victory also must be! O king, who, unless cursed by the gods, would seek to effect that by means of war which can be effected by conciliation ? Hearing that the sons of Pritha are alive. the citizens and other subjects of the realm have become exceedingly glad and eager for bebolding them. O monarch, act in a way that is agreeable to them. Duryyodhana and Karna and Sakuni the son of Suvala, are sinful, foolish and young, listen not to them ! Possessed of every virtue as thou art, I long ago told thee, O monarch, that for Dury yodhana's fault, the subjects of this kingdom would be exterminated !"
Thus ends the two hundred and seventh section in the Viduragamana Parva of the Adi Parva.
