Dhritarashtra said: -
1. The son of Pandu, from his youths has the prowess of a Kshatriya and leads the life of a Brahmachari. Those fools desire to fight with him, though I am lamenting.
2. O Duryodhana, O yon best among the race of Bharata, turn your mind away from fight; war is not desirable under all conditions, O you subduer of enemies
3. One half of the earth is sufficient for the livelihood of yourself and your ministers. Give back to the sons of Pandu their dues. O you subduer of enemies.
4. All the Kurus think this to be in accordance with virtue that you should conclude peace with the high souled sons of Pandu.
5. Think well, O son, of the elements of your own army; it has been collected for your own death; you do not accept this out of folly.
6. I do not wish war; nor is Valhika desirous of it; nor is Bhishma; nor is Drona, nor is Ashwathama nor is Sanjaya.
7. Nor Somadatta, nor Shala nor Kripa, desire war; nor does Satyabrata, nor Purumitra, nor Jaya, nor Bhurisrabas.
8. Those on whom depend the Kurus, when troubled by the enemy not rejoice at the prospect of war; O dear may you accept that.
9. You do not act in this way of your own will; but Karna leads you to it and Dushasana and the wicked souled Shakuni and the son of Suvala (lead you).
Duryodhana Said: -
10. I do not depend on Drona or Ashwathama or Sanjaya, or Bhishma, or Kamboja, or Kripa, or Valhika.
11. Or Satyabrata, or Purumitra, or on Bhurisrabas, nor do I challenge them to fight, depending on others.
12. O Sire, I and Karna will perform the sacrifice of war after preparing ourselves making Yudhisthira the beast for sacrifice.
13. In the ceremony my car will be the substitute for the platform; my scimitar, the ladle; my mace, the large ladle; and my coat of mail, the witnesses; my horses will answer the purpose of the four priests; my hafts will stand for the Kusha grass; and my fame, for the clarified butter.
14. Having performed, O King, this sacrifice in the field of battle, in honour of the God of death by ourselves, and having won a victory and slain our enemies we shall come back surrounded by a halo of glory.
15. Myself, O Sire, Karna and my brother Dushasana, -these three of us will kill the sons of Pandu in battle.
16. Either I shall rule this earth, having in the sons of Pandu; or the sons of Pandu will enjoy sovereignty over this earth after having slain me.
17. I can sacrifice my life, my kingdom, my wealth, my everything, O king; but I cannot live in peace with the sons of Pandu, O you of unfading renown.
18. That extent of land which is pierced by the extremity of a sharp needle, O venerable Sire, I shall not surrender to the sons of Pandu.
Dhritarashtra said: -
19. I grieve for you all, O rulers, who are following that fool to the abode of the king of death; but Duryodhana is cast off by me for ever.
20. Like tigers in a herd of deer these foremost of strikers - those Pandavas assembled together will kill the principal warriors in battle.
21. The army of the Bharatas appears to me as already fallen down like a woman troubled and afflicted, and struck by one, of the long arms.
22. Increasing in strength, what was already full, vis., Yudhisthira’s army the son of Shini will stand on the field shooting arrows as one sows the seeds.
23. In front of the fighting soldiers Bhimasena will stand and all will be shatered behind him as behind a strong wall, fearlessly.
24. When you will see your elephants, big as mountains, felled down by Bhima with their tusks broken, and with blood flowing resembling a broken pot (with water flowing).
25. Beholding them in the field of battle like mountains seperated and struck with fear by coming in contact with Bhima, then will you remember my words.
26. Beholding your army composed of hariots, horses and elephants burnt up as it were by Bhimasena like the path followed by a fire, will you remember my words.
27. A heavy calamity will you meet, if you do not conclude peace with the Pandavas. Killed by Bhimasena with his mace, will you ever remain in peace.
28. When you will see the army of the Kurus, felled down by Bhima like a large forest torn off, then will you remember my words.
Vaishampayana said: -
29. Having said this to all those rulers of the earth, the king, O great king, addressing Sanjaya asked him.
Thus ends the fifty-eighth chapter, the speech of Dhritarashtra, in the Yanasandhi of the Udyoga Parva.