Vidura Counsels Dhritarashtra to Make Peace with the Pandavas

Vidura spoke to his brother, the blind king Dhritarashtra. “O king! Your friends have spoken for your greatest welfare. But words do not remain with those who are unwilling to listen.” He named them: Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, supreme among the Kurus. Drona, the acharya (teacher). Both had advised for peace, for reconciliation with the Pandavas. And Dhritarashtra had not accepted it. Instead, the king listened to Karna, the son of Radha, who did not believe this was good for him. “After thinking,” Vidura said, “I do not find anyone who is a better friend to you than these two lions among men.” They were old in age, in wisdom, in their knowledge of the sacred texts. They regarded the sons of Pandu with equal eyes. In virtue and truthfulness, they were not inferior to Rama, the son of Dasharatha. They had never given bad advice. They would never give advice that was not for the king’s welfare, nor say that which was wicked. Vidura’s firm conviction was that these two, well-versed in dharma (righteousness), would not take either side for the sake of personal gain. “I consider this to bring the greatest welfare to you,” Vidura said. “There is no doubt that the Pandavas are your sons, as Duryodhana and the others are.” Therefore, any advisers who unwisely counseled against the Pandavas did not have the king’s true interests at heart. If Dhritarashtra had partiality in his heart, encouraging those inner feelings did him no good. Vidura did not think Bhishma and Drona had said anything that led to evil. The king was simply not inclined to listen. Then Vidura turned to the reality Dhritarashtra refused to see. What those two bulls among men had said about the Pandavas’ invincibility was quite true. “Can the handsome Pandava, Savyasachi Dhananjaya, ever be vanquished in battle by Maghavan (Indra) himself? Can the great Bhimasena, with strong arms and the strength of 10,000 elephants, ever be vanquished by the gods? Can anyone who wishes to live vanquish in battle the twins, well skilled in battle and like the sons of Yama himself? How can the eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira, in whom patience, compassion, mercy, truthfulness and valour are always present, ever be vanquished in war?” Their allies made them unstoppable. With Rama (Balarama) on their side, Janardana (Krishna) as their adviser, and Satyaki as their supporter, was there anyone they had not already vanquished? Drupada was their father-in-law. Drupada’s son, Parshata Dhrishtadyumna, and his other brave brothers were their brothers-in-law. “Knowing that they cannot be vanquished,” Vidura pressed, “and knowing that their claim to the kingdom is prior to yours, you must act towards them in accordance with dharma.” The king was already stained by great infamy on account of the act of Purochana — the architect of the lacquer house built to burn the Pandavas alive. He must cleanse himself by behaving kindly towards them now. An alliance with Drupada, against whom the Kurus had once waged war, would strengthen their side. The powerful and numerous Dasharhas, Krishna’s people, would be where Krishna was. And where Krishna was, victory would certainly be there. “Unless cursed by destiny,” Vidura asked, “who seeks to obtain through war that which can be obtained through conciliation?” The people had heard that Pritha’s (Kunti’s) sons were alive. The inhabitants of the city and the country were extremely happy and eager to see them. The king should do what was pleasing to them. Finally, Vidura named the source of the poison. “Duryodhana, Karna and Shakuni, the son of Subala, are evil, foolish and young. Do not listen to their words.” He reminded his brother of a prophecy he had delivered long ago: this kingdom and its subjects would be destroyed through Duryodhana’s fault.