speeches, the two illustrious brothers, Vidura and Dhritarashtra, felt
themselves greatly happy!"


SECTION VII

Vaisampayana said, "Hearing that Vidura had returned, and that the king
had consoled him, the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra began to burn in
grief. His understanding clouded by ignorance, he summoned the son of
Suvala, and Karna and Dussasana, and addressed them saying, 'The learned
Vidura, the minister of the wise Dhritarashtra, hath returned! The
friend of the sons of Pandu, he is ever engaged in doing what is
beneficial to them. So long as this Vidura doth not succeed in inducing
the king to bring them back, do ye all think of what may benefit me! If
ever I behold the sons of Pritha return to the city, I shall again be
emaciated by renouncing food and drink, even though there be no obstacle
in my path! And I shall either take poison or hang myself, either enter
the pyre or kill myself with my own weapons. But I shall never be able
to behold the sons of Pandu in prosperity!'

"Sakuni said, 'O king, O lord of the earth, what folly hath taken
possession of thee! The Pandavas have gone to the forest, having given a
particular pledge, so that what thou apprehendest can never take place!
O bull of the Bharata race, the Pandavas ever abide by the truth. They
will never, therefore, accept the words of thy father! If however,
accepting the commands of the king, they come back to the capital,
violating their vow, even this would be our conduct, viz., assuming, an
aspect of neutrality, and in apparent obedience to the will of the
monarch, we will closely watch the Pandavas, keeping our counsels!'