Dhritarashtra Consults Vidura on the Kingdom's Fate

After the Pandavas left for the forest, King Dhritarashtra sat alone with his thoughts. His wisdom was in his eyes — he could see nothing — but he could feel the kingdom shifting beneath him. The citizens had watched what happened in the sabha: the gambling, the humiliation of Draupadi, the exile. They did not approve. Dhritarashtra knew this. He summoned Vidura. Vidura came. He was the king's half-brother, born of a servant woman, but his intelligence was like that of the pure Bhargava — the sage who knew all the subtleties of dharma. The Kouravas themselves called him impartial. Dhritarashtra spoke first: "Your intelligence is like that of the pure Bhargava. You know all the subtleties of supreme dharma. The Kouravas applaud you as one who is impartial. Tell me what is right for me and for them. Now that all this has happened, what should be done? How can the citizens be made to show us respect? They may destroy us from our roots. But I don't want their destruction either." Vidura did not hesitate. "Dharma has three roots," he said. "The roots of a kingdom are also vested in dharma. Sustain dharma to the best of your powers. Protect your sons and the sons of Pandu. What happened in the sabha destroyed dharma. Led by Soubala — Shakuni — those evil-hearted ones challenged Kunti's son to a gamble with dice, and your son vanquished one who is devoted to the truth. In this, you were misguided." Then he offered a way out. "I see a means of saving yourself, whereby your son can be cleansed of sin and be established in this world as a righteous one. Let Pandu's sons regain everything that you took in excess of what is yours. The supreme dharma of a king is to be content with what he has and not covet that of others. This is your foremost task — to gratify them and censure Shakuni. Otherwise, no one may remain from your sons." He reminded Dhritarashtra of what he had said long ago, when Duryodhana was first born: "I asked you to abandon your son. But you did not perform that task." Now he offered two paths. Either let Duryodhana rule in friendship with the Pandavas — or subdue him and instate Yudhishthira as king. "Let Ajatashatru, who is devoid of passion, rule the earth in accordance with dharma. Then all the lords of the earth will immediately offer us homage, like vaishyas." He finished: "Let Duryodhana, Shakuni and the son of a suta — Karna — happily wait upon the sons of Pandu. Let Duhshasana seek Bhimasena's pardon and that of Drupada's daughter, in the middle of the sabha. After pacifying Yudhishthira, offer him homage and instate him in the kingdom. Asked by you, what else can I say? If you act according to what I have said, you will have performed the right task."