Section CI

"Dhritarashtra said,

'After the ruler of the Sindhus had been slain in battle by Savyasacin and after the fall of Bhurisravas, what became the state of your mind? After Drona also had been thus addressed by Duryodhana in the midst of the Kurus, what did the preceptor say unto him then? Tell me all this, O Sanjaya!'

"Sanjaya said,

'Loud wails arose among your coops, O Bharata, after the slaughter of Bhurisravas and the ruler of the Sindhus. All of them disregarded the counsels of your son, those counsels in consequence of which leaders of men, by hundreds, were slain, As regards Drona, hearing those words of your son, he became filled with grief. Reflecting for a short while, O monarch, he said these words in great affliction.

"Drona said,

'O Duryodhana, why dost you pierce me thus with wordy shafts? I told you before that Arjuna is incapable of defeat in battle. Protected by the diadem-decked Arjuna, Sikhandin slew Bhishma. By that feat, O you of Kuru’s race, the prowess of Arjuna in battle has been well-tested.

Beholding Bhisma who was incapable of being defeated by the gods and the Danavas, actually slain in battle, even then I knew that this Bharata host is doomed. Upon the fall of him whom of all persons in the three worlds, we had regarded to be the very foremost of heroes, who else is there upon whom we are to rely? Those dice, O sire, with which Sakuni formerly played in the Kuru assembly, were not dice but keen arrows capable of slaying foes. Even those arrows, O sire, sped by Jaya, are now slaying us. Though Vidura characterised them to be such, you didst not yet understand them to be so. Those words, again, that the wise and high-souled Vidura, with tears in his eyes had then said unto you, those auspicious words recommending peace, you didst not then hear. That calamity which foretold has now come. That frightful carnage, O Duryodhana, has now come as the result of that disobedience by you of Vidura’s words.

That man of foolish understanding who, disregarding the salutary words of trusted friends, follows his own opinion, soon falls into a pitiable plight. O son of Gandhari, this great evil, viz., that dragging in our very sight to the Kuru assembly of Krishna who never deserved such treatment, who has been born in a noble race, and who practises every virtue. Know that all this is but little, for in the next world dire consequences yet will be thine. Vanquishing the Pandavas at dice by deceit, you had sent them, into the woods, attired in deer-skins. What other Brahmana, except myself, in this world, would seek to injure those princes that are ever engaged in the practice of virtue and that are to me even as my own sons" With the approval of Dhritarashtra, in the midst of the Kuru assembly, you had, with Sakuni as your help-mate, provoked the ire of the Pandavas. United with Duhsasana, Karna then fanned that wrath. Disregarding the words of Vidura, you have repeatedly fanned it thyself.

With resolute care, all of you had surrounded Arjuna, resolved to stand by the ruler of the Sindhus. Why then have all of you been vanquished and why also has Jayadratha been slain? Why, when you are alive, and Karna, and Kripa, and Salya, and Asvatthaman, O Kauravya, has the ruler of the Sindhus been slain? For rescuing the ruler of the Sindhus, the kings (on your side) had put forth all their fierce energy. Why, then, has Jayadratha been slain in their midst? Relying upon me, king Jayadratha had expected his rescue from the hands of Arjuna. He, however, obtained not the rescue he had expected. I do not also see my safety for my own self. Until I succeed in slaying the Pancalas with Sikhandin, I feel like one sinking in the Dhristadyumna-mire. Having failed, O Bharata, in rescuing the ruler of the Sindhus, why dost you pierce me thus with your wordy shafts, seeing that I too am burning with grief? You seest not any longer on the field the gold standards of Bhishma of sure aim, that warrior who was never tired in battle.

How, then, canst you hope for success? When the ruler of the Sindhus and Bhurisravas also have been slain in the very midst of so many mighty car-warriors, what do you think, will the end be? Kripa, difficult of being vanquished, is still alive, O king! That he has not followed in the track of Jayadratha, I applaud him highly for this! When I saw Bhishma himself, that achiever of the most difficult feats (in battle), that warrior who was incapable of being slain in battle by the gods with Vasava at their head, slain in your sight, O Kaurava, as also of your younger brother Duhsasana, I thought then, O king, that the Earth has abandoned you. Yonder the troops of the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, united together, are now rushing against me. For achieving your good in battle, O son of Dhritarashtra, I will not without slaying all the Pancalas, put off my armour. O king, go and tell my son Asvatthaman who is present in battle that even at the risk of his life he should not let the Somakas alone.^[1]

You should also tell him,

'Observe all the instructions you have received from your father. Be firm in acts of humility, in self-restraint, in truth and righteousness. Observant of religion, profit, and pleasure, without neglecting religion and profit, you should always accomplish those acts in which religion predominates. The Brahmanas should always be gratified with presents. All of them deserve your worship. You should never do anything that is injurious to them. They are like flames of fire. As regards myself, I will penetrate the hostile host, O slayer of foes, for doing great battle, pierced as I am by you with your wordy shafts. If you canst, O Duryodhana, go and protect those troops. Both the Kurus and the Srinjayas have been angry. They will fight even during the night.'

Having said these words, Drona proceeded against the Pandavas and set himself to over-ride the energy of the Kshatriyas like the sun overshadowing the light of the stars.'"

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

i.e., 'he should, by very means in his power, avenge himself on the Somakas, those enemies of mine.'