Chapter 70
“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection, O perpetuator of Kuru’s race, isrecited by the righteous the narrative of the great calamity thatovertook king Nriga in consequence of his spoliation of what had belongedto a Brahmans.
“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection, O perpetuator of Kuru’s race, isrecited by the righteous the narrative of the great calamity thatovertook king Nriga in consequence of his spoliation of what had belongedto a Brahmans.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Seeding his uncle thus addressed in harsh and insultingwords by the Suta’s son, Aswatthaman, uplifting his scimitar, furiouslyrushed towards the latter. Filled with fury, Drona’s son rushed towardsKarna, in the very sight of the Kuru king, like a lion at an infuriatedelephant.
“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.’
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, thus addressed bySaunaka, approached his priest and in the midst of his brothers said,’The Brahmanas versed in the Vedas are following me who am departing forthe forest.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Then commenced the battle between the Kurus and theSrinjayas, O monarch, that was as fierce and awful as the battle betweenthe gods and the Asuras.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Creatures are seen to be afflicted by diverse meansand almost continually. Tell me, O grandsire, in what way can oneovercome all those difficulties.’
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Do thou, O foremost one of Kuru’s race, discourseunto me once again of the excellent ordinance regarding gifts, withespecial reference, O thou of great wisdom, to the gift of earth.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Thus addressed by Duryodhana, Drona’s son, that warriordifficult of defeat in battle, set his heart upon destroying the foe,like Indra bent upon destroying the Daityas.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Next morning, under a cloudless sky, all the kings,urged by Dhritarashtra’s son, Duryodhana,–set out against the Pandavas.
Om! After having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted malebeing, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya be uttered.