
Arjuna said: -
1. By Yudhisthira has been uttered all that ought to be spoken, O Janardana; but hearing your words, O chastiser of foes, it seems to me
2. That you do not consider peace to be easily obtainable in this instance, O Lord, owing either to avarice on the part of Dhritarashtra, or to the weakness of ourselves.
3. You consider, too, that human strength (alone) is without avail, and that human desires are fruitless save when attended with action.
4. These words spoken by you may or may not be true; but there is nothing which ought to be regarded as incapable of attainment.
5. You consider peace to be improbable owing to our weakness; but they are doing deeds, which do not seem to bear fruits.
6. Done in a proper way, however, our object may be successful, O lord; Therefore, O Krishna, act in such a way that there may be peace with the enemy.
7. You are the best well-wisher of ourselves -of both the Kurus and the Pandavas; as the hero Prajapati was of the Suras and the Asuras.
8. Do, Therefore, that which is conducive to the interests of both the Kurus and the Pandavas. I think that the accomplishment of what is for our good is not difficult for you; and this is a work which is the proper thing for you to do, O Janardana.
9. You will accomplish this, as soon as you go there, O Janardana; and, O hero, if any other treatment of that evil-souled one is derived by you; it will be as you wish -whether it is to be peace with them or not -or whatever is desired by you.
10. O Krishna, whatever you desire after mature deliberation will be accepted by us with due respect. Is not death proper for that evil-minded one, as well as for his friends and sons?
11. By whom was seen the beauty of prosperity established on the son of Dharma; and who on seeing that had no righteous means, (of winning the kingdom) O slayer of Madhu.
12. They robbed us (of our kingdom) by the cruel and sinful means of a deceitful game at dice. Where is the wielder of the bow, who though born in a Kshatriya family.
13. When challenged (for battle) turns back even when death stares on him? Seeing ourselves defeated by deceit and while wandering in the woods,
14. Did I think that Suyodhana ought to be slain by me when I came out of the forest, O you of the Vrishni race; but what you desire to do on behalf of your friends is not strange, O Krishna,
15. Though how that is capable of accomplishment by mildness or by other means (I do not see).
16. If you consider their immediate destruction better, do that instantly for there is nothing to be considered about in this matter.
17. You know, how by that evil-minded one Draupadi was troubled and annoyed in the midst of the Council and that act of his was borne with difficulty.
18. That he should treat the Pandavas justly, O Madhava, does not seem possible to me. Good counsel to him will give the same result as seed thrown on barren lands.
19. Therefore, what you consider proper and beneficial for Kurus -What ought to be done next by us -do immediately.
Thus ends the seventy-eighth chapter, the speech of Arjuna, in the Bhagavat-Yana of the Udyoga Parva.