08.004
Vaishampayana said:
Upon hearing this, King Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, spoke to Sanjaya, his charioteer, his mind overwhelmed with sorrow.
Hearing that Vaikartana has been killed by the ill-conceived plan of my dear, overwhelmed mind, grief pierces my heart deeply.
Having prepared their supreme weapons, those who wish to overcome the depths of sorrow in battle, who among the Kurus and Sṛñjayas are alive and who have perished?
Sanjaya said:
O king, the invincible and glorious son of Śāntanu was killed after he had slain a hundred million warriors of the Pāṇḍavas in ten days.
Then Droṇa, the great archer, after defeating the chariots of the Pāñcālas in battle, was slain by the invincible Rukmaratha.
After Bhishma and Drona, the great warriors, had killed many, Karna, the son of Vikartana, was slain after he had destroyed half of the army.
The mighty prince, known as the great king, after defeating hundreds of Anarta warriors, was ultimately slain in battle.
Then your son Vikarna, recalling his duty as a warrior, stood bravely with his weakened chariot and weapon, facing the enemies.
Remembering his vow, Bhimasena felled the many terrible forms and torments caused by Duryodhana.
Vinda and Anuvinda, the powerful princes of Avanti, after committing misdeeds, have reached the realm of Yama.
The chiefs of the Sindhu kingdom and ten other kingdoms are indeed under the control of the hero who abides by your rule.
O king, Jayadratha, the great hero, was slain by Arjuna after he had conquered eleven armies with his sharp arrows.
Thus, the mighty son of Duryodhana, who was arrogant in battle, was present in his father's scripture and was ultimately felled by the son of Subhadra.
Thus, the valiant Duhshasana, known for his strength and fierceness in battle, was overpowered and sent to the realm of Yama by the son of Draupadi.
The lord of the Kiratas, who dwell by the ocean shore, is a dear and respected friend of the righteous king of gods.
Bhagadatta, the king who was always devoted to his warrior duties, was defeated and sent to the abode of Yama by Arjuna.
Thus, O king, the greatly renowned Saumadatti, heir of the Kauravas, was slain by the hero Satyaki in battle.
Śrutāyu, who was also known as Āmbaṣṭha, was a fearless archer among the Kshatriyas. He was slain in battle by Savyasācin.
O great king, your son Duḥśāsana, who was always armed and arrogant in battle, has been slain by Bhīmasena.
In which, O king, the wonderful elephant army of many thousands was led by Sudakshina, who was killed in battle by Arjuna.
The lord of the Kosalas was sent to the abode of Yama by Saubhadra after bravely defeating many hundreds of enemies.
After numerous battles, the great warrior Bhimasena defeated your son Citrasena.
The heroic son of the king of Madra, who increased fear among enemies and was resplendent as a bearer of sword and shield, was slain by Abhimanyu.
Vṛṣasena, who was equal to Karna in battle and was watching him, was greatly powerful, swift with weapons, and determined.
Recalling the death of Abhimanyu and his own vow, Dhananjaya bravely sent him to the abode of Yama.
Śrutāyu, the king who was perpetually hostile to the Pāṇḍavas, was ultimately defeated and killed by Arjuna after declaring his enmity.
O lord, the valiant son of Shalya was slain by Sahadeva. Rukmaratha, O king, who was both a brother and a nephew, fell in battle.
The old king Bhagīratha, along with Bṛhatkṣatra and Kekaya, who were valiant and courageous, were slain despite being the most heroic.
O king, the son of Bhagadatta, who was wise and mighty, was struck down by Nakula in the battle, moving like a hawk.
Your grandfather and Bahlika, along with the Bahlika warriors, were sent to the abode of Yama by Bhimasena after a fierce battle.
Jayatsena and the mighty Jarasandha, the Magadha prince, were slain in battle by the great soul Saubhadra, O king.
O king, your sons Durmukha and Duḥsaha, who were great warriors and proud heroes, were slain by Bhīmasena with his mace.
Durmarshana, Durvishaha, and Durjaya, the great chariot-warrior, have accomplished a formidable task and have departed to the realm of Yama.
Your minister Vṛṣavarmā, a charioteer of great valor, was slain by Bhīmasena and sent to the abode of Yama after a fierce battle.
The mighty king, possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants, along with his followers, was slain by Arjuna, the son of Pandu.
O great king, the Vasatis and two thousand valiant Shurasena warriors were all slain in battle.
The fierce and intoxicated warriors, armored and attacking, including the Shibis with their grand chariots and accompanied by the Kalingas, were slain.
In Gokula, the ever-flourishing and highly skilled divisions in battle, numbering many thousands, including the Saṁśaptaka groups, all approached Arjuna and met their end at the abode of Yama.
O great king, your brothers-in-law, the kings Vṛṣakā and Acalā, who fought for you, were slain by Arjuna.
The fierce warrior and great archer, known by name and deeds, King Shalva, the great king, was defeated by Bhimasena.
O great king, possessing great strength, the mighty ones together in battle, the two heroes went for the sake of a friend to the abode of Yama.
In the same manner, O lord of men, the foremost among charioteers, Kṣemadhūrti, was slain by Bhīmasena's mace in the battle.
Thus, the mighty king and great archer Jalasandha, after causing a massive slaughter, was slain by Satyaki in the battle.
Alayudha, the demon king and charioteer of Kharabandhu, was defeated and sent to the realm of Yama by the brave Ghatotkacha.
The sons of Radha, the sons of charioteers, and their brothers, all great warriors, including the Kekayas, were slain by Arjuna.
The fierce warriors from the regions of Malava, Madra, and Dravida, along with the people of Yaudheya, Lalittha, Kṣudraka, and Uśīnara, are mentioned here.
O respectable one, the people of Māvellaka, Tuṇḍikera, and the descendants of Sāvitrīputra inhabit the eastern, northern, western, and southern regions.
The groups of foot soldiers were killed, along with tens of thousands of horses. The groups of chariots were also killed, and the excellent elephants were slain.
The heroes, adorned with banners, armor, and garments, armed and engaged by the great passage of time, are those who have been nurtured in the family.
O king, those warriors were slain in battle by Arjuna, who performs his deeds effortlessly. Others, equally strong, were also intent on mutual destruction.
These and many other kings along with their followers were slain by the thousands in battle, O king, as you inquire of me. Thus, this destruction occurred during the encounter between Karna and Arjuna.
Just as Vritra was defeated by Mahendra, Ravana by Rama, and Mura was slain by Krishna in battle, similarly, Kartavirya was killed by Rama and Bhargava.
The hero, known among his relatives, was intoxicated by the battle. He fought a great and terrible war in the battlefield, becoming famous across the three worlds.
Thus, O king, Karna, who was proud in battle and the best of the fighters, was killed in the duel by Arjuna along with his ministers and relatives.
O king, the hope of victory for the sons of Dhritarashtra and the face of enmity, which the Pandavas have crossed, was something you did not understand before.
O great king, your well-wishing relatives are informing you that this great disaster has befallen you.
O king, as a well-wisher, you have performed acts that seemed unfavorable to your sons who desired the kingdom, and now the result of those actions has come to them.
Dhritarashtra spoke:
My dear, my people have been reported killed in battle by the Pandavas. Tell me, Sanjaya, about those of the Pandavas who were killed by my people.
Sanjaya said:
The valiant sons of Kunti, known for their great courage and strength, along with their allies and ministers, were defeated in battle by Bhishma.
In the battle, he was equal to Arjuna in heroism and strength, but was ultimately killed by the truthful Satyajit and Drona.
In the battle, the aged kings Virata and Drupada, along with their sons, fought valiantly for their friends but were slain by Drona.
The young boy who was considered formidable in battle by Arjuna, invincible by Krishna, and yet was overcome by Balarama.
He, the expert in great battles, after causing a slaughter, was surrounded by great ministers with six excellent chariots. Unable to withstand, the fearsome Abhimanyu was felled.
Duhshasana, O great king, made the heroic Abhimanyu, who was situated in the duty of a warrior, chariotless and killed him in battle.
The mighty archer, though proud and skilled in warfare, was ultimately defeated and sent to the abode of Yama by Duḥśāsana.
Maniman and Dandadhara, two kings known for their arrogance in battle, fought valiantly for their friend but were ultimately slain by Drona.
Aṁśumān, the king Bhoja, although a great chariot-warrior with his army, was sent to the abode of Yama by Bhāradvāja after being conquered.
Citrayudha and Citrayodhi, after causing great destruction, were ultimately slain in battle by Karna, who approached them through an unusual route.
The son of Kekaya, equal to Bhima in battle and firm, was felled in war by his own brother Kekaya, who attacked him.
Janamejaya, a valiant descendant of Parvati and skilled mace-fighter, was struck down by your son, the formidable Durmukha, O great king.
The two warriors, shining like tigers among men and like planets, were simultaneously dispatched to heaven by Drona's arrows, O king.
The valiant kings, O lord of the people, fought back and after accomplishing the arduous task, they reached the abode of Yama.
Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Arjuna's uncle were defeated in battle and sent to the afterlife by Drona's arrows.
The Kashi king, overpowered and surrounded by many of his own people, was slain in battle by Vasudana's son.
Yudhāmanyu and Uttamaujā, both of immeasurable energy and valor, after slaying hundreds of heroes, were themselves slain by others in the battle.
Kshatradharma and Panchalya, along with Kshatravarma, were sent to the abode of Yama by the great archer Drona, O Maharishi.
O Bharata, in the battle, Kshatradeva, the son of Shikhandi and lord of warriors, was slain by your grandson Lakshmana, O king.
Sucitra and Citradharma, father and son, both great warriors, were slain by Drona in the battle as they moved with great valor.
Vardhakṣemi, O great king, after causing great slaughter in battle, was ultimately slain by Bahlika, the Kaurava.
Dhṛṣṭaketu, the great king of the Cedis and a foremost chariot-warrior, after accomplishing a challenging task, has departed to the realm of Yama.
Thus, O father, Satyadhriti, after performing great deeds in battle for the Pandavas, was heroically sent to the abode of Yama.
Suketu, the son of Śiśupāla, was killed by Droṇa in the battle after he had slain his enemies, O lord of the earth.
Thus, the hero Satyadhriti, Madirashva, the powerful Suryadatta, and the valiant were all slain by Drona's arrows.
The valiant leader, O great king, fought bravely and, having accomplished the difficult task, has departed to the abode of Yama.
In the same manner, the brave king of Magadha, known for defeating enemy warriors, was slain by Bhishma during the battle, O king, while he was fighting with great courage.
Vasudana, who was fiercely engaged in the battle, was ultimately sent to the realm of Yama by the valiant Bharadvaja.
These and many other great warriors of the Pandavas were valiantly killed by Drona, as you inquire of me.
Dhritarashtra said:
O best of speakers, in my army where heroes have been slain, tell me, O charioteer, who among them are still living and unharmed.
Today, among those who have been slain and whom you have praised, even those you think are unharmed are considered to have conquered heaven.
Sanjaya said:
O king, in which great weapons of various bright four kinds and divine nature are kept by Drona, the heroic best of Brahmins.
The great charioteer, skilled and quick-handed, with firm weapons and a strong grip, is the powerful and energetic son of Drona, ready and eager to fight for your cause.
Kritavarma, the son of Hridika and a resident of Anarta, is a great chariot-warrior and the best among the Satvatas. He, being a Bhoja himself, is well-versed in weaponry and is ready to fight for your cause.
Sharadvata, Gautama, and the mighty king, skilled in many varied weapons, stood ready to fight, holding a magnificent bow, capable of bearing great burdens.
The descendant of Ārtāyana, a formidable leader in battle, stood first among your ranks. Having abandoned his own brothers, the sons of Pandu, he was determined to fulfill his promise with great energy.
Shalya, invincible and equal in strength to Indra, stood ready to fight for your sake, having promised Ajatashatru to kill the brilliance of the charioteer's son in battle.
The king of Gandhara, along with his own army and allies from various regions including the descendants of Aja, Sindhu, the mountains, river-born tribes, Kamboja, Vanayu, and Bahlika, is ready and eager to fight for your cause.
Thus, your son, the hero of the Kurus, mounted his chariot, which was as radiant as the sun and fire, and stood there like the sun shining in the sky, O king.
Duryodhana, a man of great valor from the serpent race, stood in the midst of the battlefield, adorned with gold ornaments on his chariot, ready to fight alongside the heroes of his army.
In the midst of the assembly of kings, he stood out as a hero among men, his golden armor gleaming like a fire with little smoke, and his presence was as radiant as the sun breaking through the clouds.
Thus, Suṣena, the son of Stava, and the hero Satyasena, equipped with sword and shield, stood ready alongside Citrasena, eager to engage in battle with joyful hearts.
Hrīniṣedha, Bharata, and the princes, along with Citrayudha, Śrutakarma, Jaya, Śala, Satyavrata, and Duḥśala, were all assembled, strong and eager to fight.
The prince, lord of the Kaitavyas, known for his bravery, is a destroyer of enemies in every battle. He is equipped with a chariot and horses, travels in a city chariot, and is prepared to fight for your cause.
The hero Śrutāyu and Śrutāyudha, along with Citrāṅgada and Citravarmā, are the heroes. They are positioned in the army as the foremost among men, known for their striking ability, pride, and truthfulness.
Karna's son, Satyasena, a noble soul, stands ready in battle, eager to fight. Then, two other sons of Karna, worthy of honor, stand ready with light hands, O king. They possess great strength, impenetrable by those of little courage, and are prepared to fight for your cause.
The chief kings and warriors, possessing immeasurable power, were positioned among the serpent race, akin to Indra, the king of the Kurus, ready for victory.
Dhritarashtra spoke:
"I understand clearly from the understanding of the meaning that narrators who are living convey to others exactly as it is."
Vaishampayana said:
While speaking thus, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, heard that his army was mostly destroyed, with only a few remaining. Overwhelmed by grief, his senses were confounded.
Bewildered, he said, "Stay for a moment, Sanjaya. My mind is distressed, dear, having heard the very great unpleasant news." Then, lost in thought, he became the lord of the earth.
