Chapter 4

Vaishampayana said, “Hearing this intelligence, O monarch, Dhritarashtrathe son of Ambika, feeling the acme of grief, regarded Suyodhana to bealready dead. Exceedingly agitated, the king fell down on the Earth likean elephant deprived of its senses. When that foremost of the monarchs,greatly agitated, fell down on the Earth, loud wails were uttered, O bestof the Bharatas, by the ladies (of the royal household). That noise wasso loud that it seemed to fill the entire Earth. Immersed in a deep oceanof woe, the Bharata ladies, with hearts exceedingly agitated and scorchedby grief, wept aloud. Approaching the king, Gandhari, O bull of Bharata’srace, and the other ladies of the household, all fell down on the earth,deprived of their senses. Then Sanjaya, O king, began to comfort thoseladies stricken with grief, bathed in tears, and reft of consciousness.Comforted (by Sanjaya), those ladies began to tremble repeatedly like aplantain grove shaken by the wind. Vidura also, sprinkling thatdescendant of Kuru with water, began to comfort the puissant monarch whohad knowledge only for his eye. Slowly restored to consciousness, andunderstanding that the ladies of the household were there, the king, Omonarch, remained perfectly silent for some time like one reft of reason.Having reflected then for some time, and repeatedly drawn long breaths,the king censured his own sons and applauded the Pandavas. Censuring alsohis own intelligence and that of Shakuni the son of Subala, the king,having reflected for a long time, began to tremble repeatedly.Controlling his mind once more, the king, with sufficient fortitude,questioned his charioteer Sanjaya the son of Gavalgana.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘I have heard, O Sanjaya, all that thou hast said.Hath my son Duryodhana, O Suta, who is ever desirous of victory, alreadygone to Yama’s abode, despairing of success? Tell me truly, O Sanjaya,all this even if thou wilt have to repeat it!'”

Vaishampayana continued, “Thus addressed by the king, O Janamejaya, theSuta said unto him, ‘The mighty car-warrior Vaikartana, O monarch, hathbeen slain with his sons and brothers, and other Suta warriors, all ofwhom were mighty bowmen ready to lay down their lives in battle!Duhshasana also hath been slain by the renowned son of Pandu. Indeed, hisblood also hath been, from wrath, drunk by Bhimasena in battle!'”