Mahābhārata The History of the Great India

<< 90 Vidura Informs Dhrtarastra >>

Vidura, the uncle of the Kurus and Pandavas, was pleased and amazed upon hearing that Draupadi had chosen the Pandavas and that the sons of Dhrtarastra had returned embarrassed, their pride broken. He said to his eldest brother, Dhrtarastra, "By God's grace the Kuru dynasty is expanding."

Hearing the news from Vidura, Dhrtarastra, the son of Vicitravirya, was filled with joy and cried out, "Thank heaven! Thank heaven!" for the blind king, who was said to have an eye of wisdom, mistakenly assumed that young Draupadi had chosen his eldest son, Duryodhana. Dhrtarastra then ordered a wealth of ornaments to be given to Draupadi and sent word to his son Duryodhana, "Let my new daughter-in-law Draupadi be brought here at once!"

At this point, Vidura explained that Draupadi had actually chosen the Pandavas, and that those heroes had survived the fire and were healthy; moreover, now that Drupada had honored and welcomed the Pandavas into his family, they had acquired many powerful allies.

Dhrtarastra said, "As much as Pandu loved his sons, so do I love them and more. My pleasure has now increased, Vidura, and the Kurus have prospered more than I had imagined, for the heroic Pandavas are alive and healthy and have acquired important friends. Indeed, what king deprived of his opulence and seeking prosperity would not be eager to approach Drupada and his associates and secure their friendship?"

Vidura replied, "O king, may you always see things this way, for a hundred autumns."

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