Chapter 49

“Sanjaya said, ‘After the slaughter of that hero, that leader ofcar-divisions, viz., the son of Subhadra, the Pandava warriors, leavingtheir cars and putting off their armour, and throwing aside their Lows,sat, surrounding king Yudhishthira. And they were brooding over thatgrief of theirs, their hearts fixed upon the (deceased) Abhimanyu.Indeed, upon the fall of that heroic nephew of his, viz., the mightycar-warrior Abhimanyu, king Yudhishthira, overwhelmed with grief,indulged in (these) lamentations: ‘Alas, Abhimanyu, from desire ofachieving my good, pierced the array formed by Drona and teeming with hissoldiers. Encountering him in battle, mighty bowmen endued with greatcourage, accomplished in weapons and incapable of being easily defeatedin battle, were routed and forced to retreat. Encountering our implacablefoe Duhsasana in battle, he with his arrows, caused that warrior to flyaway from the field, deprived of his senses. Alas, the heroic son ofArjuna, having crossed the vast sea of Drona’s army, was ultimatelyobliged to become a guest of Yama’s abode, upon encountering the son ofDuhsasana. When Abhimanyu is slain, how shall I cast my eyes on Arjunaand also the blessed Subhadra deprived of her favourite son? Whatsenseless, disjointed, and improper words shall we have to say today untoHrishikesa and Dhananjaya! Desirous of achieving what is good, andexpectant of victory, it is I who have done this great evil unto Subhadraand Kesava and Arjuna. He that is covetous never beholdth his faults.Covetousness spring from folly. Collectors of honey see not the fall thatis before them; I am even like them. He who was only a child, he whoshould have been provided with (good) food, with vehicles, with beds,with ornaments, alas, even he was placed by us in the van of battle. Howcould good come to a child of tender years, unskilled in battle, in sucha situation of great danger. Like a horse on proud mettle, he sacrificedhimself instead of refusing to do the bidding of his master. Alas, wealso shall today lay ourselves down on the bare earth, blasted by theglances of grief, cast by Arjuna filled with wrath. Dhananjaya liberal,intelligent, modest, forgiving, handsome, mighty, possessed ofwell-developed and beautiful limbs, respectful to superiors, heroic,beloved, and devoted to truth; of glorious achievements’ the very godsapplaud his feats. That valiant hero slew the Nivatakavachas and theKalakeyas, those enemies of Indra having their abode in Hiranyapura. Inthe twinkling of an eye he slew the Paulomas with all their followers.Endued with great might, he granteth quarter to implacable enemies askingfor quarter! Alas, we could not protect today the son of even such aperson from danger. A great fear hath overtaken the Dhartarashtras enduedthough they might be with great strength![81] Enraged at the slaughter ofhis son, Partha will exterminate the Kauravas. It is evident also thatthe mean-minded Duryodhana having mean counsellors, that destroyer of hisown race and partisans, beholding this extermination of the Kaurava army,will give up his life in grief. Beholding this son of Indra’s son, ofunrivalled energy and prowess, on the field of battle, neither victory,nor sovereignty, nor immortality, nor abode with the very celestials,causeth me the least delight!'”