Vaishampayana said: -
1. Hearing the words of the son of Jamadogni the illustrious Rishi Kanva addressed these words to Duryodhana in the assembly of the Kurus.
Kanwa said: -
2. Brahma, the grand-father of this world, is eternal and undecaying; of the same nature are the two divine Rishis, Nara and Narayana.
3. Among all sons of Aditi, Vishnu alone is eternal, invincible, undecaying and the divine Lord existing for ever.
4. The others namely the moon, the sun, the earth, the water, the air, the fire, and also the sky, the planets and the stars have their end in a cause.
5. They at the final dissolution of the universe, will themselves cease to exist, leaving behind the three worlds and all will be created again and again.
6. Others there are that die in a short time, namely human beings, animals, birds, and creatures having their birth among other living beings.
7. The kings, enjoying great prosperity up to the end of their lives, are born anew to enjoy the effects of their good and bad deeds.
8. Therefore, it is proper for your exalted self to effect peace with Yudhisthira. Let the Pandavas and the Kurus rule the universe.
9. “I am strong” - It should not be thought thus, O Suyodhana, for some parties are seen who are stronger t1ian those regarded to be the strongest, O best among men.
10. Among the realty strong, physical strength does not count, O son of Kuru, and all the sons of Pandu, who are endued with the strength of the gods, are strong.
11. In this connection is cited the old story of Matali who was desirous of giving away his daughter in marriage and was searching for a bridegroom.
12. Such is the story: The king of the three worlds had a driver by the name of Matali. In his family there was born only one daughter who had a great reputation for beauty in this world.
13. She, having celestial beauty, was well known by the name of Gunakeshi and she greatly excelled all women in beauty, physical development and symmetry.
14. Matali, along with his wife knowing that the time for giving her away in marriage has arrived, became sorrowful, O king, thinking whet to do m the future.
Matali thought: -
15. Alas! the advent of daughters in the family of men who are of good traditions and known for their greatness and are famous and endued with humility, is attended with bad consequences.
16. The family of the mother, the family of the father, and the family to which she is given away in marriage - these three families among good people are affected by a daughter.
17. By my human eyes have I searched the two worlds - those of the celestial and human beings and there is no suitable husband for my daughter that pleases me.
Kanwa said: -
18. Among the gods, among those born in the Daitya race, among the Gandharvas and among human beings there was none who pleased him enough to be made the husband of his daughter. The same %vas the case with the numerous Rishis.
19. Having consulted with his wife, Sudharma, at night (one day), Matali made up his mmd to enter the world of the Nagas.
Matali said: -
20. Among gods and men I do not find a suitable husband for Gunakeshi in point of beauty. There must be someone so suitable among the Nagas.
21. Thus thinking he bade adieu to Sudharma; and, going round his superiors, and having smelt the head of his daughter entered the nether regions.
Thus ends the ninety-seventh chapter, the search of Matali in the Bhagavat-Yana of the Udyoga Parva.