Chapter 83

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘After Abhimanyu’s slaughter when the next day came,what did the Pandavas, afflicted with grief and sorrow do? Who amongst mywarriors fought with them? Knowing, as they did, the achievements ofSavyasachin, O tell me, how the Kauravas, could, having perpetrated sucha wrong, remain fearlessly. How could they in battle venture even to gazeat that tiger among men (viz., Arjuna), as he advanced like theall-destroying Death himself in fury, burning with grief on account ofthe slaughter of his son? Beholding that warrior having the prince ofapes on his banner, that hero grieved on account of his son’s deathshaking his gigantic bow in battle, what did my warrior do? What, OSanjaya, hath befallen unto Duryodhana? A great sorrow hath overtaken ustoday. I do not any longer hear the sounds of joy. Those charming sounds,highly agreeable to the ear, that were formerly heard in the abode of theSindhu king, alas those sounds are no longer heard today. Alas, in thecamp of my sons, the sounds of countless bards and panegyrists singingtheir praises, and of dances are no longer heard. Formerly, such soundsused to strike my ears incessantly. Alas, as they are plunged into griefI do not any longer hear those sounds uttered (in their camp). Formerly,O Sanjaya, while sitting in the abode of Somadatta who was devoted totruth, I used to hear such delightful sounds. Alas, how destitute of(religious) merit I am, for I observe the abode of my sons today to beechoing with sounds of grief and lamentations and destitute of everynoise betokening life and energy. In the houses of Vivinsati, Durmukha,Chitrasena, Vikarna, and other sons of mine, I do not hear the sounds Iused to hear formerly. That great bowman, viz., the son of Drona, who wasthe refuge of my sons, upon him Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, anda large number of disciples used to wait, who took pleasure day and nightin controversial disputations, in talk, in conversation, in the stirringmusic of diverse instruments, and in various kinds of delightful songs,who was worshipped by many persons among the Kurus, the Pandavas, and theSatwatas, alas, O Suta, in the abode of that son of Drona no sound can beheard as formerly. Singers and dancers used, in a large number, to waitclosely upon that mighty bowman, viz., the son of Drona. Alas, theirsounds can no longer be heard in his abode. That loud noise which rose inthe camp of Vinda and Anuvinda every evening, alas, that noise is nolonger heard there. Not in the camp of the Kaikeyas can that loud soundof song and slapping of palms be heard today which their soldiers,engaged in dance and revelry, used to make. Those priests competent inthe performance of sacrifices who used to wait upon Somadatta’s son, thatrefuge of scriptural rites, alas, their sounds can no longer be heard.The twang of the bowstring, the sounds of Vedic recitation, the whiz oflances and swords, and rattle of car-wheels, used incessantly to be heardin the abode of Drona. Alas, those sounds can no longer be heard there.That swell of songs of diverse realms, that loud noise of musicalinstruments, which used to arise there, alas, those can no longer beheard today. When Janardana of unfading glory came from Upaplavya,desirous of peace, from compassion for every creature, I then, O Suta,said unto the wicked Duryodhana: Obtaining Vasudeva as the means, makepeace with the Pandavas, O son! I think the time has come (for makingpeace). Do not, O Duryodhana, transgress my command. If thou settestVasudeva aside, who now begs thee for peace and addresses thee for mygood, victory thou wilt never have in battle. Duryodhana, however, didset aside him of Dasarha’s race, that bull among all bowmen, who thenspoke what was for Duryodhana’s good. By this, he embraced what wascalamitous to himself. Seized by Death himself, that wicked-souled son ofmine, rejecting my counsels, adopted those of Duhsasana and Karna. Imyself did not approve of the game of dice. Vidura did not approve of it.The ruler of the Sindhus did not, nor Bhishma; nor Salya; norBhurisravas; nor Purumitra; nor Jaya; nor Aswatthaman; nor Kripa; norDrona, O Sanjaya! If my son had conducted himself according to thecounsels of these persons, he would then, with his kinsmen and friendshave lived for ever in happiness and peace. Of sweet and delightfulspeech ever saying what is agreeable amid their kinsmen, high-born, lovedby all, and possessed of wisdom, the sons of Pandu are sure to obtainhappiness. The man who casteth his eye on righteousness, always andeverywhere obtaineth happiness. Such a man after death, winneth benefitand grace. Possessed of sufficient might, the Pandavas deserve to enjoyhalf the earth. The earth girt by the seas is as much their ancestralpossession (as of the Kurus). Possessed of sovereignty, the Pandavas willnever deviate from the track of righteousness. O child, I have kinsmen towhose voice the Pandavas will ever listen, such, for instance, as Salya,Somadatta, the high-souled Bhishma, Drona, Vikarna, Valhika, Kripa, andothers among the Bharatas that are illustrious and reverend in years. Ifthey speak unto them on thy behalf the Pandavas will certainly actaccording to those beneficial recommendations. Or, who amongst these,thinkest thou, belongs to their party that will speak to them otherwise?Krishna will never abandon the path of righteousness. The Pandavas areall obedient to him. Words of righteousness spoken by myself also, thoseheroes will never disobey, for the Pandavas are all of righteous soul.’Piteously lamenting, O Suta, I spoke these and many such words unto myson. Foolish as he is, he listened not to me! I think all this to be themischievous influence of Time! There where Vrikodara and Arjuna are, andthe Vrishni hero, Satyaki, and Uttamaujas of the Panchalas, and theinvincible Yudhamanyu, and the irrepressible Dhrishtadyumna, and theunvanquished Sikhandin, the Asmakas, the Kekayas, and Kshatradharman of’the Somakas, the ruler of the Chedis, and Chekitana, and Vibhu, the sonof the ruler of the Kasi, the sons of Draupadi, and Virata and the mightycar-warrior Drupada, and those tigers among men viz., the twins (Nakulaand Sahadeva), and the stayer of Madhu to offer counsel, who is there inthis world that would fight these, expecting to live? Who else, again, isthere, save Duryodhana, and Karna, and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, andDuhsasana as their fourth, for I do not see the fifth that would ventureto resist my foes while the latter display their celestial weapons? Theywho have Vishnu himself on their car, clad in mail and reins in hand,they who have Arjuna for their warrior, they can never have defeat! Dothnot Duryodhana now recollect those lamentations of mine? The tiger amongmen, Bhishma, thou hast said, has been slain. I think, beholding thefruits of the words uttered by the far-seeing Vidura, my sons are nowindulging in lamentations! I think, beholding his army overwhelmed bySini’s grandson and Arjuna, beholding the terraces of his cars empty, mysons are indulging in lamentations. As a swelling conflagration urged bythe winds consumes a heap of dry grass at the close of winter, even sowill Dhananjaya consume my troops. O Sanjaya, thou art accomplished innarration. Tell me everything that transpired after the doing of thatgreat wrong to Partha in the evening. When Abhimanyu was slain, whatbecame the state of your minds? Having, O son, greatly offended thewielder of Gandiva, my warriors are incapable of bearing in battle hisachievements. What measures were resolved upon by Duryodhana and what byKarna? What also did Duhsasana and Suvala’s son do? O Sanjaya, O son,that which has in battle befallen all my children assembled together, iscertainly due to the evil acts of the wicked Duryodhana, who followeth inthe path of avarice, who is of wicked understanding, whose judgment isperverted by wrath, who coveteth sovereignty, who is foolish, and who isdeprived of reason by anger. Tell me, O Sanjaya, what measures were thenadopted by Duryodhana? Were they ill-judged or well-judged?'”