Chapter 197

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words (of the leaders of the Kuruarmy), Kunti’s son Yudhishthira, summoning all his brothers, said untothem these words in private.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘The spies I had placed in the army ofDhritarashtra’s son, brought me this news in the morning. Duryodhana.asked Ganga’s son of great vows, saying, ‘O lord, in what time cant thouannihilate the troops of Pandu’s sons?’ Indeed, the wicked Duryodhana wasanswered by him in these words, viz.,–In a month! Drona also declaredthat he could do the same feat in about the same time. Gautama (Kripa)indicated twice that period, as hath been heard by us. Drona’s sonacquainted with weapons of high efficacy declared the period (in hiscase) to be ten nights. Karna also, acquainted with weapons of highefficacy, asked in the midst of the Kurus, declared that the couldcomplete the slaughter in five days. Therefore, I also, O Arjuna, amdesirous of hearing thy words, ‘In what time canst thou, O Falguni,exterminate the foe?’ Thus addressed by the king, Dhananjaya of curlyhair, casting a look upon Vasudeva, said these words, ‘All these (Bhishmaand others) are high-souled (warriors), accomplished in arms andacquainted with all modes of warfare. Without doubt, O king, they canexterminate (our forces) even thus! Let thy heart’s anguish, however, bedispelled. I tell thee truly that with Vasudeva as my ally, I can, on asingle car, exterminate the three worlds with even the immortals, indeed,all mobile creatures that were, are, will be, in the twinkling of theeye. This is what I think. That terrible and mighty weapon which the Lordof all creatures (Mahadeva) gave me on the occasion of my hand-to-handencounter with him (in the guise of) a hunter, still existeth with me.Indeed, O tiger among men, that weapon which the Lord of all creaturesuseth at the end of Yuga for destroying created things, existeth with me.Ganga’s son knoweth not that weapon; nor Drona nor Gautama (Kripa); norDrona’s son, O king! How, therefore, can the Suta’s son know it. It isnot, however, proper to slay ordinary men in battle by means of celestialweapons. We shall (on the other band) vanquish our foes in a fair fight.Then, these tigers among men, O king, are thy allies! All of them arewell-versed in celestial weapons, and all of them are eager for battle.All of them after their initiation in the Vedas, have undergone the finalbath in sacrifices. All of them are unvanquished. They are competent, Oson of Pandu, to slay in battle the army of even the celestials. Thouhast for thy allies Sikhandin, and Yuyudhana and Dhristadyumna ofPrishata’s race; and Bhimasena, and these twins, and Yudhamanyu, andUttamaujas, and Virata and Drupada who are equal in battle unto Bhishmaand Drona; and the mighty-armed Sankha, and Hidimva’s son of great might;and this latter’s son Anjanparvan endued with great strength and prowess;and Sini’s descendant of mighty arms and well-versed in battle, and themighty Abhimanyu and the five sons of Draupadi! Thou art thyself, again,competent to exterminate the three worlds! O thou that art endued witheffulgence equal unto that of Sakra himself, I know it, O Kaurava, for itis manifest, that that man upon whom thou mayest cast thy eyes in angeris sure to be annihilated!'”