"Yudhishthira said,--'O king, thou art our master. Command us as to
what we shall do. O Bharata, we desire to remain always in obedience to
thee.'
"Dhritarashtra replied.--'O Ajatasatru, blest be thou. Go thou in peace
and safety. Commanded by me, go, rule thy own kingdom with thy wealth.
And, O child, take to heart this command of an old man, this wholesome
advice that I give, and which is even a nutritive regimen. O
Yudhishthira, O child, thou knowest the subtle path of morality.
Possessed of great wisdom, thou art also humble, and thou waitest also
upon the old. Where there is intelligence, there is forbearance.
Therefore, O Bharata, follow thou counsels of peace. The axe falleth
upon wood, not upon stone. (Thou art open to advice, not Duryodhana).
They are the best of men that remember not the acts of hostility of
their foes; that behold only the merits, not the faults, of their
enemies; and that never enter into hostilities themselves. They that
are good remember only the good deeds of their foes and not the hostile
acts their foes might have done unto them. The good, besides, do good
unto others without expectation of any good, in return. O Yudhishthira,
it is only the worst of men that utter harsh words in quarrelling;
while they that are indifferent reply to such when spoken by others.
But they that are good and wise never think of or recapitulate such
harsh words, little caring whether these may or may not have been
uttered by their foes. They that are good, having regard to the state
of their own feelings, can understand the feelings of others, and
therefore remember only the good deeds and not the acts of hostility of
their foes. Thou hast acted even as good men of prepossessing
countenance do, who transgress not the limits of virtue, wealth,
pleasure and salvation. O child, remember not the harsh words of
Duryodhana. Look at thy mother Gandhari and myself also, if thou
desirest to remember only what is good. O Bharata, look at me, who am
thy father unto you and am old and blind, and still alive. It was for
seeing our friends and examining also the strength and weakness of my
children, that I had, from motives of policy, suffered this match at
dice to proceed. O king those amongst the Kurus that have thee for
their ruler, and the intelligent Vidura conversant with every branch of
learning for their counsellor, have, indeed, nothing to grieve for. In
thee is virtue, in Arjuna is patience, in Bhimasena is prowess, and the
twins, those foremost of men, is pure reverence for superiors. Blest be
thou, O Ajatasatru. Return to Khandavaprastha, and let there be
brotherly love between thee and thy cousins. Let thy heart also be ever
fixed on virtue.'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"That foremost of the Bharatas--king
Yudhishthira the just--then, thus addressed by his uncle, having gone
through every ceremony of politeness, set out with his brothers for
Khandavaprastha. And accompanied by Draupadi and ascending their cars
which were all of the hue of the clouds, with cheerful hearts they all
set out for that best of cities called Indraprastha."