03.240
The Dānavas said.
O Suyodhana, O king among kings, champion of the Bharata race, you are always surrounded by heroes as well as great-souled men. (03-240-1)
Why have you committed this rash act of fasting unto death? For truly, one who gives up his life descends to a lower state and receives blame and infamy. (03-240-2)
Indeed, people as wise as you do not become attached to actions that are opposed to the goal, filled with many dangers, and destructive at the root. (03-240-3)
O king, restrain this mind, which destroys righteousness, wealth, and happiness, destroys fame, splendor, and courage, and increases the joy of your enemies. (03-240-4)
O king, O lord, listen to the truth, the divinity of the self, and the creation of the body; thereafter, acquire steadfastness. (03-240-5)
Long ago, through our austerities, we obtained you from the gods and from the great lord Maheśvara; your previous entire body was fashioned from masses of vajra. (03-240-6)
O sinless one, impenetrable by missiles and weapons, your lower body has also been made by the goddess of flowers, taking the charming form of a woman. (03-240-7)
Thus, united with the Lord, your body, O best of kings, is made divine by the goddess, O tiger among kings. You indeed are not human. (03-240-8)
The warrior-nobles of great strength, led by Bhagadatta and skilled in divine weapons, these heroes will destroy your enemies. (03-240-9)
Therefore, let there be no more despondency for you; you need not fear. Indeed, for helping you, your heroic Danavas have arisen on earth. (03-240-10)
Bhiṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa and others, and other warriors, will join battle. Influenced by them, abandoning compassion, they will fight against your enemies. (03-240-11)
He (regards) not his sons or brothers, nor fathers or relatives; not even his disciples or kinsmen, nor children or elders. (03-240-12)
O best of the Kurus, in battle, those about to fight will meet their end; being devoid of affection and possessed by demons, when their inner selves are overpowered. (03-240-13)
Having abandoned affection for their kinsmen from afar, delighted, the valiant men, their minds rendered impure, will attack—deluded by lack of understanding, and by fate as determined by destiny. (3-240-14)
While conversing with each other, none will escape alive from me. By the use of all sorts of weapons and missiles, as they take their stand in valor, boasting, O chief of Kurus, they will bring about the destruction of people. (03-240-15)
They too, empowered and great-souled, will oppose the Pāṇḍavas; and the mighty ones favored by destiny will bring about the destruction of these. (03-240-16)
O king, companies of Daityas and Rākṣasas that have also arisen among kṣatriya lineages will fight in battle, attacking with your enemies, using maces, clubs, swords, and various other weapons. (03-240-17)
And, O hero, that inward fear of yours arising from Arjuna—there too, we have indeed devised a means for Arjuna's destruction. (03-240-18)
The soul of the slain Naraka, having entered Karṇa's body and recalling that enmity, O hero, will fight against Keśava and Arjuna. (03-240-19)
He, your valiant hero, will conquer Pārtha in battle. Karṇa, the best among warriors, and the great chariot fighter, will overcome all enemies. (03-240-20)
Having understood this scheme, Indra, for the sake of Arjuna’s protection, will indeed take away the ear-rings and armor from Karṇa. (03-240-21)
Therefore, also by us here, hundreds of thousands of Daityas and Rākṣasas have been appointed — those known as the 'Saṃśaptaka' warriors. They are famous; they will kill Arjuna, the hero. Do not grieve. (03-240-22)
O king, the earth free of rivals is to be ruled and not abandoned by you. Do not make us despair—such conduct does not befit you. If you are lost, our cause would also be weakened, O Kaurava. (03-240-23)
Go, O hero. Let your mind not be otherwise in any way. You are always our refuge, as well as that of the gods, O Pāṇḍava. (03-240-24)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having spoken thus, the Daityas, eminent among the Dānavas, embraced that royal elephant-like one, consoled him—unassailable as he was—like a son. (03-240-25)
After making his mind firm and having said his dear things, and having given permission, saying "let him go," O Bhārata, (it was also said) "may you attain victory". (03-240-26)
She, the magical being, having been released by them, brought the strong-armed one again to the very place where he had earlier sat in fasting. (03-240-27)
After placing that hero down and duly honoring him, the kṛtyā, having received permission from the king, disappeared right there. (03-240-28)
Then, when the night had passed, King Duryodhana at that time thought all this to have been as if a dream, O Bhārata. "I shall conquer the Pāṇḍavas in battle"—this thought arose in him. (03-240-29)
Suyodhana considered Karna and the Saṃśaptakas, who were the foe-slayers of Pārtha (Arjuna), as being capable and ready for the act of slaying. (03-240-30)
Thus, O bull among the Bhāratas, firm hope arose in Dhritarashtra's evil-minded son regarding the defeat of the Pāṇḍavas. (03-240-31)
Karṇa also, possessed in mind and with the spirit of Naraka, then formed a cruel resolve to slay Arjuna. (03-240-32)
Those oath-bound warriors, those heroes whose minds were possessed by demons, dominated by passion and darkness, were intent on killing Phalguna. (03-240-33)
Bhiṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa and the rest, whose hearts were seized by a demonic influence, were not so affectionate towards the sons of Pāṇḍu, O king. And King Suyodhana did not disclose this matter to anyone. (03-240-34)
At the end of night, Karṇa, the son of Vikartana, addressed Duryodhana, speaking meaningful words to the king with folded hands, as if smiling. (03-240-35)
The dead does not conquer enemies; it is the living who sees good things. For the dead, from where are good things, O son of Kuru, from where is victory? Today is not the time for despair, fear, or death. (03-240-36)
Having embraced him with his two arms, the mighty-armed (one) said to him: "Arise, O king! Why are you lying down, for what reason do you grieve, O destroyer of foes? Having conquered enemies with valor, how can you now wish to die?" (03-240-37)
Now, perhaps fear has arisen in you upon seeing Arjuna's valor. Truly I promise you, I shall slay Arjuna in battle. (03-240-38)
When the thirteenth year has passed, I will truly take up weapons and bring the Pāṇḍavas under your control, O lord of men. (03-240-39)
Thus, having been addressed by Karṇa and by the words of the Daityas, Suyodhana stood up after showing obeisance to the others. Having heard those words of the Daityas, he determined in his heart with a firm resolve. (03-240-40)
Then the tiger among men arranged the army, which was full of chariots, elephants, horses, and dense with foot-soldiers. (03-240-41)
O king, that great army, resembling the flow of the Ganga, set out adorned with white umbrellas, banners, and exceedingly white yak-tail fans. (03-240-42)
Crowded with chariots, elephants, and foot-soldiers, it appeared exceedingly dense, like the sky in autumn when the thick clouds have departed and it becomes clear. (03-240-43)
But while being praised by the foremost brahmins with victorious blessings, like an overlord, the son of Dhritarashtra, lord of the people, accepted garlands of joined hands. (03-240-44)
Suyodhana, shining with supreme splendor, went at the head along with Karna, O king, as well as Saubala and the godlike one. (03-240-45)
Duhshasana and his other brothers, all of them; as well as Bhurishravas, Somadatta, the great king, and Bahlik. (03-240-46)
The chief Kurus followed the lion among kings as he departed, traveling by chariots of various kinds, by horses, and by excellent elephants. In a short time, O king, they entered their own city. (03-240-47)
