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- .',.. ~ . • I " .' ." . • ' . the heaP. of a. man,. bilt 9Y' d~stroying his jln:lgment, that the blind king would die brdken;hearted if he maRes ',hiTh ab't rri1dlY<:ito'.:lliis' own ruin. Your sons did not return. , have grossly' ibslllte.d .Paitcl;ali"and put themselves The soft-hearted , who was dharma incar­ on the path, oI' gestiuction." , , ,., ' nate, was greatly moved and returned to Hastina­ , , " " .. ", ,'. -, pura. , Dhritarashtra. said: "I did not follow the wise Dhritarashtra embraced Vidura and the differ­ \ path of dharma and. statesmanship but suffered my­ ence between them was washed away in tears of self. to be misled. by' my foolish son and, as you say, mutual affection. we are· fast, hastening towards the abyss." ,One day, the sage Maitreya came to the court . Vidllra iIsed to advise Dhritarashtra earnestly, of Dhritarashtra and was welcomed with great He would often tell him: "Your son has committed respect. a great wrong, Dharmaputra' has been cheated. Dhritarashtra craved his blessing and asked Was it not' your duty' to tum your children to the him: "Revered sir, you have certainly met my path of virtue and pull them away from vice? You beloved children, the , in Kurujangala. should order even now that the Pandavas get back Are they well? Will mutual affection abide in our the kingdom granted to them by you. Recall family without any diminution?" · Yudhishthira from the forest and make peace with Maitreya said: "I accidentally met Ylldhish­ him. You should' even restrain by thira in the Kamyaka forest. The sages of the place I force if he will not listen to reason." had come to see him. I learnt of the events that i At first Dhritarashtra would listen in sad silence took place in Hastinapura, and I marvelled that such when Vidura spoke thus, for he knew Vi dura to be things should have been permitted while Bhishma a . wiser man than, himself who wished him well, but and yourself were alive." I gradually his patience wore thin with repeated Later,. Maitreya saw Duryodhana who was also homilies. in the court and advised him, for his own good, not . Ol)e day, Dhritarashtra could stand it no longer. to injure but to make peace with the Pandavas who "0 Vidura," he ,burst out, "you are always speaking were not only mighty themselves 'but related to for the Pandavas and against my sons. You do not and Drupada. , seek our good., Duryodhana was born of my loins. The obstinate and foolish Duryodhana merely How call' I give him up? What is the use of advising laughed, slapping his thighs in derision and, tearing ,slich an unnatural course? I have lost my faith in the ground with his feet and without deigning an YOll and db not'need you any more. You are free answer, turned away. ' to go'to the Pandavas if you like." Then, turning Maitreya grew angry arid looking at Duryodhana his back on Vidm:a, he retired to the inner apart- . ' said: "Are you so arrogant and do you slap your ments. thighs in derision of one who wishes you well? Your , Vidura sorrowfully felt that destruction of the ,thighs will be broken by Bhima's mace and you will Kuru, race' was certain and, taking Dhritarashtra at die on the battlefield," ,At this Dhritarashtra jumped his word, drove'in a chariot with fleet horses to the up, fell at the feet of the sage and begged for- forest where the Pandavas lived. gIVeness.• . . . . , . Dhrihtrashtra was filled with anxious remorse. Maitreya said: "My curse will not work if your ·, i He. reflected within himself: "What have I done? son makes peace with the Pandavas. Otherwise it •, I .have only' strengthened the Pandavas still further will have effect," and strode indignantly out of the assembly. ' , ' , by driving the wise Vidura into their arms," Pon­ ,I dering th~ls, .he ~ent for Sanjaya and asked him to The is an ancient story but human , nature remains the same. Even at the present day, ,I bear a repentant message. to Vidura imploring him , anger and hatred amict and threaten with ruin poor I to for-give, the,. thoughtless words of an, unhappy • father 'and to return. , human beings without regard to age or sex or condi­ I tion. If we read this chapter and ponder on it "Sarijaya'hurried to the hermit,age where the when we are inclined to be angry, it may make us I Pandavas were stayipg and found them clad in deer­ wise and save us from foolishness and crime. , skin,and surrounded by sages. He also saw Vidura there and conveyed ,Dhritarashtra's message adding (To be continued) \ . . " ,

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