Chapter 64

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Kicked at the head, his thighs broken, prostratedon the ground, exceedingly proud, what, O Sanjaya, did my son then say?King Duryodhana was exceedingly wrathful and his hostility to the sons ofPandu was deep-rooted. When therefore this great calamity overtook him,what did he next say on the field?’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Listen to me, O monarch, as I describe to thee whathappened. Listen, O king, to what Duryodhana said when overtaken bycalamity. With his thighs broken, the king, O monarch, covered with dust,gathered his flowing locks, casting his eyes on all sides. Having withdifficulty gathered his locks, he began to sigh like a snake. Filled withrage and with tears flowing fast from his eyes, he looked at me. Hestruck his arms against the Earth for a while like an infuriatedelephant. Shaking his loose locks, and gnashing his teeth, he began tocensure the eldest son of Pandu. Breathing heavily, he then addressed me,saying, “Alas, I who had Santanu’s son Bhishma for my protector, andKarna, that foremost of all wielders of weapons and Gotama’s son,Shakuni, and Drona, that first of all wielders of arms, and Ashvatthama,and the heroic Shalya, and Kritavarma, alas, even I have come to thisplight! It seems that Time is irresistible! I was the lord of elevenChamus of troops and yet I have come to this plight! O mighty-armed one,no one can rise superior to Time! Those of my side that have escaped withlife from this battle should be informed, how I have been struck down byBhimasena in contravention of the rules of fair fight! Many have been thevery unfair and sinful acts that have been perpetrated towardsBhurishrava, and Bhishma, and Drona of great prosperity! This is anothervery infamous act that the cruel Pandavas have perpetrated, for which, Iam certain, they will incur the condemnation of all righteous men! Whatpleasure can a righteously disposed person enjoy at having gained avictory by unfair acts? What wise man, again, is there that would accordhis approbation to a person contravening the rules of fairness? Whatlearned man is there that would rejoice after having won victory byunrighteousness as that sinful wretch, Vrikodara the son of Pandu,rejoices? What can be more amazing than this, that Bhimasena in wrathshould with his foot touch the head of one like me while lying with mythighs broken? Is that person, O Sanjaya, worthy of honour who behaveththus towards a man possessed of glory endued with prosperity, living inthe midst of friends? My parents are not ignorant of the duties ofbattle. Instructed by me, O Sanjaya, tell them that are afflicted withgrief these words: I have performed sacrifices, supported a large numberof servants properly, governed the whole earth with her seas! I stayed onthe heads of my living foes! I gave wealth to my kinsmen to the extent ofmy abilities, and I did what was agreeable to friends. I withstood all myfoes. Who is there that is more fortunate than myself? I have madeprogresses through hostile kingdoms and commanded kings as slaves. I haveacted handsomely towards all I loved and liked. Who is there morefortunate than myself? I honoured all my kinsmen and attended to thewelfare of all my dependants. I have attended to the three ends of humanexistence, Religion, Profit, and Pleasure! Who is there more fortunatethan myself? I laid my commands on great kings, and honour, unattainableby others, was mine, I always made my journeys on the very best ofsteeds. Who is there more fortunate than myself? I studied the Vedas andmade gifts according to the ordinance. My life has passed in happiness.By observance of the duties of my own order, I have earned many regionsof blessedness hereafter. Who is there more fortunate than myself? Bygood luck, I have not been vanquished in battle and subjected to thenecessity of serving my foes as masters. By good luck, O lord, it is onlyafter my death that my swelling prosperity abandons me for waiting uponanother! That which is desired by good Kshatriyas observant of the dutiesof their order, that death, is obtained by me! Who is there so fortunateas myself? By good luck, I did not suffer myself to be turned away fromthe path of hostility and to be vanquished like an ordinary person! Bygood luck, I have not been vanquished after I had done some base act!Like the slaughter of a person that is asleep or that is heedless, likethe slaughter of one by the administration of poison, my slaughter hathtaken place, for I have been slain as unrighteously, in contravention ofthe rules of fair fight! The highly blessed Ashvatthama, and Kritavarmaof the Satwata race, and Saradwat’s son Kripa, should be told these wordsof mine, ‘You should never repose any confidence upon the Pandavas, thoseviolators of rules, who have perpetrated many unrighteous acts!’ Afterthis, thy royal son of true prowess addressed our message-bearers inthese words, “I have, in battle, been slain by Bhimasena mostunrighteously! I am now like a moneyless wayfarer and shall follow in thewake of Drona who has already gone to heaven, of Karna and Shalya, ofVrishasena of great energy, of Shakuni the son of Subala, of Jalasandhaof great valour, of king Bhagadatta, of Somadatta’s son, that mightybowman, of Jayadratha, the king of the Sindhus, of all my brothers headedby Duhshasana and equal unto myself, of Duhshasana’s son of greatprowess, and of Lakshmana, my son, and thousands of others that foughtfor me. Alas how shall my sister, stricken with woe, live sorrowfully,after hearing of the slaughter of her brothers and her husband! Alas,what shall be the plight of the old king, my sire, with Gandhari, and hisdaughters-in-law and grand-daughters-in-law! Without doubt, the beautifuland large-eyed mother of Lakshmana, made sonless and husbandless, willsoon meet with her death! If Charvaka, the mendicant devotee who is amaster of speech, learns everything, that blessed man will certainlyavenge himself of my death! By dying upon the sacred field ofSamantapanchaka, celebrated over the three worlds, I shall certainlyobtain many eternal regions!” Then, O sire, thousands of men, with eyesfull of tears, fled away in all directions, having heard theselamentations of the king. The whole Earth, with her forests and seas,with all her mobile and immobile creatures, began to tremble violently,and produce a loud noise. All the points of the compass became murky. Themessengers, repairing to Drona’s son, represented to him all that hadhappened regarding the conduct of the mace-encounter and the fall of theking. Having represented everything unto Drona’s son, O Bharata, all ofthem remained in a thoughtful mood for a long while and then went away,grief-stricken, to the place they came from.'”