The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 6.41.65

6.41.65

kṛpa uvāca |
yadi māṃ nābhigacchethā yuddhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ |
śapeyaṃ tvāṃ mahārāja parābhāvāya sarvaśaḥ || 65 ||

"Kripa said, 'If having resolved on fight, thou hadst not come to me (thus), I would have cursed thee, O king, for thy complete overthrow. A man is the slave of wealth, but wealth is no one's slave. This is very true, O king, and bound I have been with wealth by the Kauravas. I must, O king, fight for their sake. This is my opinion. I therefore, speak like a eunuch in asking thee,--Battle excepted, what dost thou desire?'