Chapter 240

Vaisampayana said, “After that great warrior Karna had been routed by theGandharvas, the whole of the Kuru army, O monarch, fled from the field inthe very sight of Dhritarashtra’s son. And beholding all his troopsflying from the field of battle with their back to the foe, kingDuryodhana refused to fly. Seeing the mighty host of the Gandharvasrushing towards him, that represser of foes poured down upon them a thickshower of arrows. The Gandharvas, however, without regarding that arrowyshower, and desirous also of slaying him, surrounded that car of his. Andby means of their arrows, they cut off into fragments the yoke, theshaft, the fenders, the flagstaff, the three-fold bamboo poles, and theprincipal turret of his car. And they also slew his charioteer andhorses, hacking them to pieces. And when Duryodhana, deprived of his car,fell on the ground, the strong-armed Chitrasena rushed towards him andseized him in such a way that it seemed his life itself was taken. Andafter the Kuru king had been seized, the Gandharvas, surroundingDussasana, who was seated on his car, also took him prisoner. And someGandharvas seized Vivinsati and Chitrasena, and some Vinda and Anuvinda,while others seized all the ladies of royal household. And the warriorsof Duryodhana, who were routed by the Gandharvas, joining those who hadfled first, approached the Pandavas (who were living in the vicinity).And after Duryodhana had been made captive, the vehicles, the shops, thepavilions, the carriages, and the draught animals, all were made over tothe Pandavas for protection. And those soldiers said, ‘The mighty-armedson of Dhritarashtra, possessed of great strength and handsome mien, isbeing taken away captive by the Gandharvas! Ye sons of Pritha, followthem! Dussasana, Durvishasa, Durmukha, and Durjaya, are all being ledaway as captives in chains by the Gandharvas, as also all the ladies ofthe royal household!’

“Crying thus, the followers of Duryodhana, afflicted with grief andmelancholy, approached Yudhishthira, desirous of effecting the release ofthe king. Bhima then answered those old attendants of Duryodhana, who,afflicted with grief and melancholy, were thus soliciting (the aid ofYudhishthira), saying, ‘What we should have done with great efforts,arraying ourselves in line of battle, supported by horses and elephantshath, indeed, been done by the Gandharvas! They that come hither forother purposes, have been overtaken by consequences they had notforeseen! Indeed, this is the result of the evil counsels of a king whois fond of deceitful play! It hath been heard by us that the foe of aperson who is powerless, is overthrown by others. The Gandharvas have, inan extraordinary way illustrated before our eyes the truth of thissaying! It seems that there is still fortunately some person in the worldwho is desirous of doing us good who hath, indeed, taken upon his ownshoulders our pleasant load, although we are sitting idly! The wretch hadcome hither to cast his eyes on us,–himself in prosperity whileourselves are sunk in adversity and emaciated by ascetic austerities andare exposed to wind, cold and heat. They that imitate the behaviour ofthat sinful and wretched Kaurava, are now beholding his disgrace! He thathad instructed Duryodhana to do this, had certainly acted sinfully. Thatthe sons of Kunti are not wicked and sinful, I tell it before you all!”

“And while Bhima, the son of Kunti, was speaking thus in a voice ofsarcasm, king Yudhishthira told him, ‘This is not time for cruel words!'”