Vidula said: -
1. If under these circumstances you desire to abandon manliness, you will soon be following the path followed by the mean and the low.
2. That Kshatriya who being desirous of life, does not exercise his energy and power to the best of his ability, is said to be like a thief.
3. Like medicine to one at the point of death these words which are conducive to your interest and are otherwise well suited, do not act in your mind.
4. The men, under the king of the Sindhus, are not contented and those fools are, owing to their own weakness, waiting for some calamity to their master, on which they will affect their deliverance.
5. Having collected their forces one by one, his enemies will join you at seeing your prowess.
6. Having united yourself with them wander about in the caverns and fastness of the mountains and in proper time he will meet with calamities for he is neither without old age nor is immortal.
7. By name you are Sanjaya but I do not see jaya (victory) in you; follow the meaning of your name and do not make it false.
8. A very wise man, possessing great foresight, said to you while you were a child: “After meeting with great difficulties, he will again meet with prosperity.”
9. Remembering these words I expect your victory, Therefore, do I speak this to you, my dear son, and am telling you this again and again.
10. He, in the success of whose object others become interested, is sure to have his object crowned with success if he follows it according to the ordinary rules of prudence.
11. “Whether there be increase or decrease I will fight,” O Sanjaya, engage in fight with this thought and do not turn back.
12. There is no condition more frightful than this, said Shamvara, namely that in which the food for today and that for the morrow are not seen.
13. He said that this was a greater trouble than the death of one’s husband sons; what is called poverty is another form of death.
14. I am born in a great family and have come from a lake to a lake; I am the mistress over many persons, endued with all blessings and very much esteemed by my husband.
15. My group of friends saw me in days of old amongst friends, with a cheerful hearty decked with costly garlands and ornaments, with my body well washed, and attired in good clothes.
16. When you will see myself and your wife very weak (owing to the want of nourishment) then of what use will life be to you, O Sanjaya?
17. Seeing our servants who used to attend on us doing menial offices, our preceptors, and our priests go away leaving us, what is the good of life to you?
18. If I do not now see you following such duties as you observed in days gone by which were laudable and conducive to your renown what peace of mind can I get?
19. If I have to say. “No” to a Brahmana (asking for a favour) it will rend my heart. Neither myself nor my husband ever said “No” to a Brahmana.
20. We are the proper refuge of others but never depended on others ourselves. Such being the case, if I now have to live as a dependant on another, I shall sacrifice my life.
21. Be the means of our crossing that which cannot be crossed and be our boat where there is no boat. Make room for us where there is at present no room and revive us that are dead.
22. All your enemies are capable of being opposed by you; if not, it is not proper that you should live on. You are now following a course of life which is fit only for eunuchs.
23. Cast off this wicked and despicable life which you are leading with a troubled soul and depressed heart. By slaying only one enemy does a hero gain renown.
24. Indra became the great Indra only by slaying Vritra and obtained the lordship over the gods and the celestial cup for drinking wine and became the lord of the worlds.
25. Making his name heard in the battle, and summoning the enemies clad in coats of mail to fight, killing the foremost of the hostile army or illustrious men.
26. When a hero obtains great renown in fair fight then do his enemies feel pain and bow down to him.
27. Men, who are cowards being beside themselves, contribute by giving their own wealth to the fulfilment of every desire of the hero experienced in battle and who does not fight for selfish consideration.
28. Even when the kingdom is in a terrible danger or the life even doubtful, the good men do not desist without making an end of his enemy who is within his grasp.
29. A kingdom is like the gate of heaven or like nectar itself and thinking that the heaven is shut against you and that you can get into it through one door, fall like a fire-brand among the enemies.
30. Defeat your enemies in battle; O king, and follow the duties of your own order, and do not in this way, look dejected, O you enhancer of the fears of your enemies.
31. Let me not in sorrow see you surrounded by our party grieving and the enemies rejoicing.
32. Rejoice in the company of the daughters of heroes and make yourself amiable by the possessions of wealth as in days gone by and do not let yourself be under the rule of the daughters of the Saindhavas.
33. A young man, endued with beauty, with learning and possessing powerful friends, should do only what is conducive to renown and heard and talked about in the world.
34. If in the matter of hearing burdens, he acts like a vicious bull, I think this to be death itself. If I see you hereafter speaking well of the enemy.
35. Or wandering about behind him, what peace can my heart have. No one born in this race goes behind another for support.
36. O my dear son, it is not proper that you should live on being the subject of another. I know what the eternal essence of the heart of a Kshatriya is.
37. As described by our forefathers and by men before them, as also by men after them and after them again; it is highly praise worthy since it has been ordained by the lord of creatures himself.
38. The Kshatriya, who is born in this world knowing the duties of a Kshatriya, does not bow down to any one from fear or from consideration of his livelihood.
39. He should stand erect and never bend down for energy is manliness. One may break down at his knots (weak points) but he should not bend down.
40. That great-minded man, the Kshatriya should move about like an infuriated elephant and he should ever bow down to Brahmanas for virtue, O Sanjaya.
41 Ruling over all the other orders and slaying all evil doers he should live throughout his life, whether he be with support or without it.
Thus ends the one hundred and thirty-fourth chapter, in the Bhagavat-yana of the Udyoga Parva.
The son said: -
1. Your heart is made of steel shaped into that form, O my mother, who have no pity or compassion in you, who are wrathful and who are of the wisdom of a soldier.
2. Fie on the custom of the Kshatriyas since you, being my own mother, urge me to go to battle as if I were a stranger and you the mother of another.
3. Such cruel words are spoken by you to your only son; if you cease to see me of what good is even the entire earth to you?
4» What is the use of ornaments? What of enjoyments and what even of life especially when you are deprived of the company of myself, your dear son.
The mother said: -
5. All the doings, of those who are wise are for the attainment of either virtue or worldly profit or both; and with my eye to these two alone have I thus urged you O Sanjaya.
6. This is the time now for showing your prowess; and this suitable time having now arrived, if you do not resort to the proper action.
7. You will be showing a degree of compassion inconsistent with your birth; and if I do not speak out of affection. O Sanjaya, to you who are already contaminated by infamy.
8. Then that affection would be called an ass’ for her young one; it would besides be false and unreasonable, abandon the path trodden by the ignorant and held in contempt by the good.
9. Great is the ignorance in this world in which all living creatures have taken refuge; if your habits of life be praiseworthy, then will you win my esteem by that means.
10. Namely, if you are endued with the accomplishments of virtue and seek worldly profit, certainly not by any other means - but by following the path trodden by the gods and men and by the honest.
11. He who is pleased with such a son or a grandson not endued with humility, not given to exerting for himself, rebellious and bad -hearted;
12. And he who is pleased with a son who does not do what ought to be done and does only such acts as are unrighteous, has the object of his begetting children rendered unsuccessful.
13. The wretch does not attain to happiness in this world nor in the other, O Sanjaya; a Kshatriya has been created for fighting in this world and for gaining victories.
14. Whether he is victorious or is slain he attains to the world of Indra. And that happiness does not exist in heaven or in the sacred region of Indra.
15. Namely the happiness to which a Kshatriya attains by bringing his friends under his influence (according to some read- ings it would be by subjugating his enemies). A spirited man, who has been defeated many times, should live on with the hope of vanquishing his enemy and consumed by wrath.
16. He should either abandon self or vanquish his enemy; how can there be peace in any other way save this.
17. In this world a wise man regards little as undesirable; the man to whom little is sufficient soon becomes weary of that little (and wishes for more).
18. A man does not attain to happiness who has not got what he desires; and in fact he certainly feels his want as does the Ganga on losing herself in the ocean.
The son said: -
19. You should not speak in this strain, O mother, especially to your son; exercise your compassion only in this case like a silent and dumb woman.
The mother said: -
20. It is indeed, a matter of great pleasure to me that you understand what I say. You urge me in my duty and Therefore, should I urge you all the more in yours.
21. When you have slain all the Saindhavas and are thus victorious and beyond all your troubles, I shall honour you.
The son said: -
22. Having no wealth, having no friends, how can I gain success and victory. Knowing these circumstances, I have thus dealt harshly with myself.
23. I am without exertion in recovering the kingdom as a sinful man makes no attempt to get into heaven. Such being the case, do you see any way to my fighting with the enemy.
24. Speak to me who are asking you in detail of that, O you of ripe and practical wisdom - I shall perform in a suitable manner all that you command me.
The mother said: -
25. O son, your mind should not be insulted by anticipations of failure. Objects unattained at first are gained subsequently and other objects attained at first are lost afterwards.
26. An object should not be pursued in wrath or with folly; my dear son, there is always uncertainty in the results of all actions. To those who know that the result is uncertain objects are sometimes successful and sometimes not.
27. To those who do not make any attempt success does not come in the absence of exertion; there is only result of actions.
28. To those who make attempts there are two results, namely success or failure. He, to whom is known from the very first the uncertainty of the result of all actions.
29. Fails to obtain success and prosperity; O you who have been born of the soul of a ruler of men, in every act should one engage himself with energy and wakefulness.
30. Resolving within himself - This must be - and ever without any depression of heart. One who placing auspicious signs before him and in company with the Brahmanas and the gods (engages in action).
31. To that wise king does prosperity soon come, my dear son. The Goddess of prosperity and grace comes to him like the sun coming to the east.
32. I see, you have shown yourself fit to appreciate many examples, expedients and words given vent to excite your energy- now show your manliness.
33. It is proper that you should attain to your desired object which is indeed, desired by every man. Those who entertain angry feelings against your enemy, those who covet his prosperity, those Who have been weakened by him or have been eclipsed by him or insulted by him.
34. Those who look on him with contempt and all others against him, do you bring together, and with their help will you be able to break the thick ranks of your enemy.
35. Like a tempest of great force scattering the clouds. Make payments to them (your allies) before such payments are due, use your energy, and speak to them mildly.
36. Then will they do what is desirable to you and will surely stand before you (to take on themselves the charge of the battle).
37. As soon as the enemy knows that you have grown careless of life, he will begin to fear you as a snake entering his house.
38. Knowing him to be powerful if one (his enemy) does not subjugate him, he should at least conciliate him by friendliness and the like.
39. Attaining to prosperity by these friendly means, there occurs an increase in wealth. Friends seek the refuge of the wealthy and worship him.
40. And again friends abandon him who is deprived of his wealth and they even view with suspicion and contempt such a man.
41. He, who making an ally of his enemy, lives confidingly, cannot be possibly expected to regain his kingdom.
Thus ends the one hundred and thirty-fifth chapter, in the Bhagavat-yana of the Udyoga Parva.