Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/467

Vidura, conversant with all the dictates of mortality, desirous of awakening the eldest of the Pandavas (to a sense of his dangers) addressed him in these words. The learned Vidura, conversant with the jargon (of the Mlechchas), addressed the learned Yudhish-thira also conversant with the jargon (of the Mlechchas) in words of the Mlechcha tongue so as to be unintelligible to all except Yudhish-thira. And he said, 'He that knoweth the schemes his foes contrive in accordance with the dictates of political science, should, knowing them, act in such a way as to keep himself off from all danger. He that knoweth that there are sharp weapons capable of cutting the body though not made of steel, and understandeth also the means of warding them off, can never be injured by his foes. He liveth who protecteth himself by the knowledge that neither the consumer of straw and wood nor the drier of the dew burneth the inmates of a hole in the deep woods. The blind see no way nor have any knowledge of direction. They who have no patience never acquire prosperity. Remembering this, keep thyself alert. The person who accepteth an inflammable abode assigned to him by his foes can escape from fire by making his abode like unto that of a jackal (having many outlets). By wandering a man can acquire the knowledge of ways, and by the stars he can ascertain the directions, and he who keepeth his five (senses) under control can never be oppressed by his enemies.'

"Thus addressed, Pandu's son Yudhish-thira the just replied unto Vidura the foremost of all learned men, saying, 'I have understood thee.' Then Vidura, having instructed the Pandavas and followed them (thus far), walked around them and bidding them farewell returned to his own abode. And when the citizens and Bhisma and Vidura had all ceased following, Kunti approached Yudhish-thira and said, 'The words that Khatta said unto thee in the midst of many people, so indistinctly as if he said not anything, and thy reply also to him in similar words and voice, we have not understood. If it is not improper for us to know them I should then like to hear everything that passed between him and thee!'

"Yudhish-thira replied, 'The virtuous Vidura said unto