Section XII

"Sanjaya said,

'Yes, as I saw everything with my own eyes, I will describe to you how Drona fell down, slain by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas.

Having obtained the command of the troops, that mighty car-warrior, viz., Bharadvaja’s son, said these words unto your son in the midst of all the troops,

'Inasmuch as, O king, you have honoured me with the command of the troops immediately after that bull among the Kauravas, viz., the son of the Ocean-going (Ganga), take you, O Bharata, the adequate fruit of that act of thine. What business of thine shall I now achieve? Ask you the boon that you desirest.'

Then king Duryodhana having consulted with Karna and Duhsasana and others, said unto the preceptor, that invincible warrior and foremost of all victors, these words,

'If you wouldst give me a boon, then, seizing that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Yudhishthira, alive, bring him unto me here.'

Then that preceptor of the Kurus, hearing those words of your son, returned him the following answer, gladdening all the troops therewith, Praised be Kunti’s son (Yudhishthira) whose seizing only you desirest. O you that art difficult of being vanquished, you askest not any other boon (one for example) for his slaughter. For what reason, O tiger among men, dost you not desire his death? You are, without doubt, O Duryodhana, not ignorant of policy. Why, therefore, dost you not allude to Yudhisthira’s death? It is a matter of great wonder that king Yudhisthira, the just, has no enemy desirous of his death.

Inasmuch as you wishest him to be alive, you (either) seeks to preserve your race from extinction, or, O chief of the Bharatas, you, having vanquished the Pandavas in battle, art desirous of establishing brotherly relation (with them) by giving them their kingdom. Auspicious was the birth of that intelligent prince. Truly is he called Ajatasatru (the foeless one), for even you bearest affection for him.' Thus addressed by Drona, O Bharata, the feeling that is ever present in your son’s breast suddenly made itself known. Not even persons like Vrihaspati can conceal the expressions of their countenance.

For this, your son, O king, filled with joy, said these words,

'By the slaughter of Kunti’s son in battle, O preceptor, victory cannot be mine. If Yudhishthira were slain, Partha then, without doubt, would slay all of us. All of them, again, cannot be slain by the very gods. He amongst them that will, in that case, survive, will exterminate us. Yudhishthira, however, is truthful in his promises. If brought hither (alive), vanquished once more at dice, the Pandavas will once more go to the woods, for they are all obedient to Yudhishthira. It is evident that such a victory will be an enduring one. It is for this that I do not, by any means, desire the slaughter of king Yudhishthira the just.'

Ascertaining this crooked purpose of Duryodhana, Drona who was conversant with the truths of the science of profit and gifted with great intelligence, reflected a little and gave him the boon circumscribing it in the following way.'

"Drona said,

'If the heroic Arjuna do not protect Yudhishthira in battle, you mayst think the eldest Pandava as already brought under your control. As regards Partha, the very gods and the Asuras together headed by Indra, cannot advance against him in battle. It is for this that I dare not do what you askest me to do. Without doubt, Arjuna is disciple, and I was his first preceptor in arms. He is, however, young, endued with great good fortune, and excessively intent (on the achievement of his purposes). He has obtained, again, many weapons from Indra and Rudra. He has besides been provoked by you. I dare not, therefore, do what you askest me. Let Arjuna be removed, by whatsoever means that can be done, from the battle.

Upon Partha being withdrawn, you mayst regard king Yudhishthira as already vanquished. Upon his seizure is victory and not upon his slaughter, O bull among men! Even by stratagem, can his seizure be accomplished. Seizing that king devoted to truth and righteousness, I will, without doubt, O monarch, bring him to your control this very day, if he stays before me in battle even for a moment, of course, if Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, that tiger among men, be withdrawn from the field. In Phalguni’s presence, however, O king, Yudhishthira is incapable of being taken in battle even by the gods and the Asuras headed by Indra.'

"Sanjaya continued,

'After Drona had promised the king’s seizure even under these limitations, your foolish sons regarded Yudhishthira as already taken. Your son (Duryodhana) knew Drona’s partiality for the Pandavas. In order to make Drona stick to his promise, therefore, he divulged those counsels. Then, O chastiser of foes, the fact of Drona’s having promised to seize the (eldest) Pandava was proclaimed by Duryodhana unto all his troops.'"