03.236
Janamejaya said;
Of the wicked one who, having first been conquered and bound by his enemies and by the great-souled Pāṇḍavas, and then released after the battle, became arrogant. (03-236-1)
He, being ever boastful, arrogant, and proud, always, and through his manliness and generosity, used to despise the Pāṇḍavas. (03-236-2)
Entry into Hastinapura, belonging to sinful Duryodhana who is always arrogant, appears difficult to me. (03-236-3)
Vaiśampāyana, relate in detail the entrance of him who was indeed filled with shame and whose mind was agitated by grief. (03-236-4)
Vaiśampāyana said.
But Suyodhana, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, sent by Dharmarāja, approached with his face lowered in shame, deeply distressed and dejected. (03-236-5)
The king, accompanied by his fourfold army, returned to his own city, his mind overwhelmed by grief, reflecting on his defeat. (03-236-6)
Having unyoked the vehicles on the road in a place with good grass and water, and after settling as desired in a pleasant, auspicious spot of land, he had the elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry positioned in their proper places. (03-236-7)
Then Karṇa approached king Duryodhana—who was seated on a couch glowing like fire, overshadowed like the moon by Rāhu at the end of the night—and spoke these words to him. (03-236-8)
It is by fortune that you are alive, O Gandhari; by fortune we have met again; by fortune, you have indeed conquered the Gandharvas who can assume any form. (3-236-9)
By good fortune, O son of the Kuru lineage, I see all your brothers—great warriors, eager for victory, freed from battle, having defeated their enemies. (03-236-10)
But I, attacked by all the Gandharvas while you watched, was not able to stop my own army, which was being routed. (03-236-11)
O Bhārata, I consider it most wonderful that, although your limbs are wounded by arrows and you are much afflicted and have greatly withdrawn, you are here. (03-236-12)
I perceive unharmed and uninjured chariots and vehicles being constantly released; therefore, this battle is beyond human (powers). (03-236-13)
O Bhārata, no man in this world could be found as the doer of what you, O great king, together with your brothers, have done in the battle. (03-236-14)
Thus, when addressed by Karṇa, King Duryodhana then, his head bowed and voice choked with tears, spoke, O king. (03-236-15)
