thou, O son, and so
also Vidura of profound wisdom! It is out of affection that I tell you
all this! O Bharata, thou art possessed of a hundred and one sons, but
Pandu hath only five. And they are in a bad plight and passing _their_
days in sorrow. _How may they save their lives, how may they thrive_
such thoughts regarding the distressed sons of Pritha continually
agitate my soul! O king of the earth, if thou desirest all the Kauravas
to live, let thy son Duryodhana make peace with the Pandavas!'"

SECTION X

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O Muni of profound wisdom, it is even as thou
sayest! I know it well as do all these kings! Indeed, what thou
considerest to be beneficial for the Kurus was pointed out to me, O
Muni, by Vidura and Bhishma and Drona. And, if I deserve thy favour, and
if thou hast kindness for the Kurus, do thou exhort my wicked son
Duryodhana!'

"Vyasa said, 'O king, after having seen the Pandava brothers, here
cometh the holy Rishi Maitreya, with the desire of seeing us. That
mighty Rishi, O king, will admonish thy son for the welfare of this
race. And, O Kauravya, what he adviseth must be followed undoubtingly,
for if what he recommendeth is not done, the sage will curse thy son in
anger.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, Vyasa departed, and Maitreya made
his appearance. And the king with his son respectfully received that
way-worn chief of Munis, with offerings of the Arghya and other rites.
And king Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, in words of respect thus
addressed the sage, 'O holy one, hath journey from the _Kuru-jangala_
been a pleasant one? Are those heroes, the five Pandavas living happily?
Do those bulls of the Kuru race intend to stay out their time? Will the
brotherly affection of the Kauravas ever be impaired?'

"Maitreya said, 'Setting out on a pilgrimage to the different shrines, I
arrived at _Kuru-jangala_, and there I unexpectedly saw Yudhishthira the
just in the woods of Kamyaka. And, O exalted one, many Munis had come
there to behold the high-souled Yudhishthira, dwelling in an ascetic
asylum, clad in deer-skin and wearing matted locks. It was there, O king
of kings, that I heard of the grave error committed by thy sons and the
calamity and terrible danger arisen from dice that had overtaken them.
Therefore, it is that I have come to thee, for the good of the Kauravas,
since, O exalted one, my affection is great for thee and I am delighted
with thee! O king, it is not fit t