Vyasa Advises Dhritarashtra to Make Peace with the Pandavas

Vyasa finished the story of Surabhi and the calf. Then he turned to Dhritarashtra and made the meaning plain. "O king! As Surabhi had said, all your sons may be equal to you. But among all your sons, your compassion should be greatest towards the one who is oppressed." He reminded Dhritarashtra of something the blind king had perhaps let himself forget. "O son! Just as Pandu was my son, you are also my son, and so is the immensely wise Vidura. It is out of affection towards you that I am telling you all this." Then he laid out the arithmetic of the situation. "O lord of the earth! You have one hundred and one sons to outlive you. But Pandu's are seen to be only five and they are in a bad state and extremely miserable. How will they manage to remain alive? How will they prosper? Such thoughts about the miserable sons of Pritha torment my mind." The conclusion was direct. "O lord of the earth! If you wish the Kouravas to live, let your son Duryodhana go to the Pandavas and make peace." Vyasa did not say: choose the Pandavas over your sons. He said: if you want your sons to live — all of them, the hundred and one and the five — then act now. Send Duryodhana. Make peace. The alternative was not stated, but it hung in the air between them.