Vaishampayana said : Having heard the words of Karna, the king Duryodhana became greatly delighted. But soon again the became melancholy and he then thus spoke.

Duryodhana said : O Karna, what you tell me is always in my mind. But I shall not get permission to go where the Pandavas are.

King Dhritarashtra is always grieving for those heroes. The king considers them (now) more powerful (than before) by their asceticism.

O greatly effulgent one, if the king understands our motives, he will never grant us permission, for we can have no other business in Dvaitavana than to exterminate the Pandavas in their exile.

You know what Khatva (Vidura) said to me, to yourself and to the son of Subala (Shakuni) at the time of the play.

Reflecting on those words and also on (their) lamentations, I cannot make up my mind as to whether I should or should not go.

I shall certainly feel great delight if I see Bhima and Falguna (Arjuna) passing their days with Krishna (Draupadi) in great misery in the forest.

The joy that I may feel by obtaining the entire sovereignty over the earth is nothing in comparison to what I shall obtain on seeing the Pandavas clad in barks and skins.

O Karna, what joy could be greater than what I shall drive on seeing Draupadi, the daughter of Draupada, clad in rags in the forest?

If king Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), Bhima and the son of Pandu (Arjuna) see me graced with great prosperity, then only shall I attain to the great end of my life.

But I do not see the means through which I can go to that forest and by which I may get the permission of the king Dhritarashtra.

Therefore find out some skillful plan with the help of Subala's son (Shakuni) and Duhshasana, by which we may go to the forest (where the Pandavas) are.

I shall also today make up my mind whether I should go or not and then I shall see the king (my father) tomorrow.

When I shall remain seated (tomorrow) with that foremost of the Kurus, you will then with Subala's son propose the pretext you may have fixed upon.

Hearing then the words of Bhishma and of the king (my father) on the subject of this journey, I shall settle everything, beseeching (the permission of) our grand father (Bhishma).

Vaishampayana said: Having said “So be it.” They then all went away to their respective houses. As soon as the night passed, Karna came to the king.

Thereupon Karna thus smilingly spoke to Duryodhana, “O ruler of men, a plan has been fixed upon by me. Hear it.

O ruler, of men, our herds of cattle are now in Dvaitavana all waiting for you. There is no doubt we can go on the pretext of seeing our cattle.

O king, O ruler of earth, it is always proper to go and see the cattle; if you say this to your father, you will get his permission."

When they were thus talking about the cattle, the Gandhara king Shakuni thus smilingly spoke,

“O ruler of men, this plan which has no difficulty to be carried out was what I also saw for the purpose of going (to Dvaitavana). The king will certainly grant us permission or even he may send us there of his own accord. Our herds of cattle are now all waiting in the forest of Dvaitavana. We may certainly go there under the pretext of seeing our cattle."

They then all three laughed together and gave their hands to one another. Having arrived at this conclusion, they then went to see the chief of the Kurus (Dhritarashtra).