Chapter 17
Vaishampayana said, “After all the troops had been slain during the hourof sleep by those three car-warriors, king Yudhishthira in great griefsaid these words unto him of Dasharha’s race:
Vaishampayana said, “After all the troops had been slain during the hourof sleep by those three car-warriors, king Yudhishthira in great griefsaid these words unto him of Dasharha’s race:
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing, O bull of Bharata’s race, these words ofKesava, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, then said unto vindictiveDuryodhana, Krishna hath spoken to thee, desirous of bringing about peacebetween kinsmen.
“Sanjaya said, ‘I will tell thee all, for everything hath been witnessedby me with my own eyes. Listen calmly. Great is thy fault.
“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Hearing everything, Damayanti became oppressed withgrief, and suspecting the person to be Nala, said unto Kesini, ‘O Kesini,go thou again, and examine Vahuka, and staying in silence at his sidemark thou his conduct.
“Narada continued, ‘Then the celestial Rishis, the Siddhas, and thehigh-souled Rishis possessing the attributes of tranquillity andself-restraint, beholding that act of universal slaughter, were afflictedwith great grief.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, thou art possessed of great wisdom.Indeed, thou art fully conversant with every branch of learning.
Vaishampayana said, “Understanding that that weapon was thrown (into thewombs of the Pandava women) by Drona’s son of sinful deeds, Hrishikesha,with a cheerful heart, said these words unto him:
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Dhritarashtra, both Bhishmaand Drona who sympathised with the old king, again addressed disobedient
“Sanjaya said, ‘After that fight had passed away, Drona, that foremost ofall wielders of weapons, began to array all his divisions for battle.Diverse sounds were heard, O monarch of angry heroes shouting in wrathand desirous of slaying one another.
“Damayanti said, ‘O Kesini, go thou and learn who that charioteer is thatsitteth by the car, unsightly and possessed of short arms.