Maha-Bharata Epic of the Bharatas

Posted by admin_akashic on Oct 20th, 2022 in Civilization

Tempt not wrath and fiery vengeance on thy old heroic race,
Tread not in the path of darkness, seek the path of light and grace,

Listen to thy king and father, he hath Kuru’s empire graced,
Listen to thy queen and mother, she hath nursed thee on her breast!”

VII. Drona’s Speech

Out spake Drona priest and warrior, and his words were few and high,
Clouded was Duryodhan’s forehead, wrathful was Duryodhan’s eye:

“Thou hast heard the holy counsel which the righteous Krishna said,
Ancient Bhishma’s voice of warning thou hast in thy bosom weighed,

Peerless in their godlike wisdom are these chiefs in peace or strife,
Truest friends to thee, Duryodhan, pure and sinless in their life!

Take their counsel, and thy kinsmen fasten in the bonds of peace,
May the empire of the Kurus and their warlike fame increase,

List unto thy old preceptor! Faithless is thy fitful star,
And they feed thy passions falsely, those who urge, and counsel war!

[293] Crownéd kings and arméd nations will contest for thee in vain,
Vainly brothers, sons, and kinsmen will for thee their life-blood drain,

For the victor’s crown and glory never, never can be thine,
Krishna conquers, and brave Arjun! mark these deathless words of mine!

I have trained the youthful Arjun, seen him bend the warlike bow,
Marked him charge the hostile forces, marked him smite the scattered foe,

Fiery son of Jamadagni owned no greater loftier might,
Breathes on earth no mortal warrior conquers Arjun in the fight!

Krishna too, in war resistless, comes from Dwarka’s distant shore,
And the bright-gods quake before him whom the fair Devaki bore,

These are foes thou may’st not conquer, take an ancient warrior’s word,
Act thou as thy heart decideth, thou art Kuru’s king and lord!”

VIII. Vidura’s Speech

Then in gentler voice Vidura sought his pensive mind to tell,
From his lips serene and softly words of woe and anguish fell:

“Not for thee I grieve, Duryodhan, slain by vengeance fierce and keen,
For thy father weeps my bosom and the aged Kuru queen!

Sons and grandsons, friends and kinsmen slaughtered in this fatal war,
Homeless, cheerless, on this wide earth they shall wander long and far,

Friendless, kinless, on this wide earth whither shall they turn and fly,
Like some birds bereft of plumage, they shall pine awhile and die,

Of their race the sad survivors they shall wander o’er the earth,
Curse the fatal day, Duryodhan, saw thy sad and woeful birth!”

IX. Dhrita-rashtra’s Speech

Tear-drops filled his sightless eyeballs, anguish shook his aged frame,
As the monarch soothed Duryodhan by each fond endearing name:

“Listen, dearest son, Duryodhan, shun this dark and fatal strife,
Cast not grief and death’s black shadow on thy parents closing life!

Krishna’s heart is pure and spotless, true and wise the words he said,
We may win a world-wide empire with the noble Krishna’s aid,

Seek the friendship of Yudhishthir loved of righteous gods above,
And unite the scattered Kurus by the lasting tie of love!

Now at full is tide of fortune, never may it come again,
Strive and win, or ever after all repentance may be vain,

Peace is righteous Krishna’s counsel and he comes to offer peace,
Take the offered boon, Duryodhan! Let all strife and hatred cease!”

X. Duryodhan’s Speech

Silent sat the proud Duryodhan wrathful in the council hall,
Spake to mighty-arméd Krishna and to Kuru warriors all:

“Ill becomes thee, Dwarka’s chieftain, in the paths of sin to move,
Bear for me a secret hatred, for the Pandavs secret love,

INDEX