Dhritarashtra Rejects Vidura's Counsel
Dhritarashtra tells Vidura that his mind does not approve of any of it — that Vidura speaks for the Pandavas' welfare, not his. He cannot abandon his own son, born from his own body. He dismisses Vidura with a cruel comparison: "However much she is pacified, an unchaste wife always leaves."
Dhritarashtra listened to everything Vidura said. Then he answered.
"These are the words you spoke in the sabha, for the sake of the Pandavas and for me. But this is for their welfare and not for mine. My mind does not approve of any of this. How have you arrived at this conclusion, if not for the welfare of the Pandavas? I now think that you don't have my welfare in mind."
He spoke of his son. "How can I abandon my son for the sake of the Pandavas? There is no doubt that they are my sons too — but Duryodhana has been born from my own body. Speaking for the welfare of others and appearing as one impartial, how can you ask me to abandon my own body?"
Then he delivered the final blow. "Though I hold you in great respect, everything that your tongue has uttered is wrong. Stay or go, as you please. However much she is pacified, an unchaste wife always leaves."
The comparison was deliberate and cutting. Vidura was his brother, his counselor, the man who had just given him the only path to save the kingdom. Dhritarashtra compared him to a faithless woman who would leave no matter how kindly she was treated.
Dhritarashtra arose suddenly and went to his inner quarters.
Vidura stood alone in the empty hall. He declared: this is not the way it should be. And he left — not to his own chambers, not to wait for the king to reconsider, but to where the Pandavas were in the forest. He had given his counsel. It had been rejected. There was nothing left for him in Hastinapura. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 302