Passage 5

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In plain words

Then Kṛṣṇa said: "Vidura! This is not something I do not know. For the good of the people and the welfare of the world, I have to do many kinds of work. No one can recognise My nature. All My thoughts are for the establishing of Dharma. Nothing at all must stand in the way of the sacred oneness of the Pāṇḍavas. To protect the unity of that family is My chief duty. If the very brotherhood among the Pāṇḍavas is shattered, the world can come to ruin. For the welfare of the world like this, I am ready to enter into any task at all," He said.

He ate the feast and entered the court. The moment He went there, Duryodhana and Duśśāsana showed Kṛṣṇa to a high seat. The moment Kṛṣṇa entered the court, the ṛṣis, kings and vassals in that court all rose and stood. With the help of Bhīṣma and Droṇācārya he brought Dhṛtarāṣṭra to Kṛṣṇa, had him take His hands and welcome Him, and asked Him to sit on the high seat. There Kṛṣṇa's words went on to show what is ideal for man. "King, only after the people are seated will I sit; before that I have no right to sit." All the people sat down. Then Kṛṣṇa stood and said, "First I must carry out the task for which I came as envoy."

He turned towards Dhṛtarāṣṭra: "King! By your command the Pāṇḍavas have spent twelve years in the forest and one year in hiding, and have come back. Keep today the word you gave that day," He said. Dhṛtarāṣṭra had promised that once they had completed this forest life and this life in hiding and come back, he would give them their kingdom. "So it is right and very much Dharma that you do as you said," He said. "Keep to your own Satya," He said. More than that: the Pāṇḍavas are supremely pure. They are Dharma in person. Even today they have no anger at all, and no hatred, towards the Kauravas. At the time I set out to come here, Dharmaja held both My hands and prayed. He told Me to ask you to forgive any wrongs he may have done, knowingly or unknowingly. He said, 'If you agree to my coming myself to ask forgiveness for my wrongs, I will go myself, take hold of his feet and ask his forgiveness.' So the Pāṇḍavas thrive by these many kinds of faith and by Dharma. It is not right to bear hatred towards Pāṇḍavas such as these. The moment he heard these words, Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks: "We are children of brothers. Kṛṣṇa! To You all are surely equal! This is one family, one kingdom; but to look at the Kauravas with one eye and at the Pāṇḍavas with another, is that just even for You?" he said. He laid out the truth that stood there, clearly and in full, and counselled Dhṛtarāṣṭra for his good. He spoke the truth well, hard as it was. "Dhṛtarāṣṭra, between the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas there can be no fellowship at all. There is no way to compare the one with the other. The Pāṇḍavas are Dharma embodied. Among them I am as dear as their very life.