09.002
Pancharatra and Core: Lamenting the past events, Dhritarashtra again asks Sanjaya to narrate the battle events, after dispatching the women to the inner quarters.
Vaishampayana spoke.
Then, among the women who were released, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, lamented deeply, as the great king was overwhelmed by sorrow.
Sighing as if with smoke, shaking his hands repeatedly, and contemplating, the great king then spoke.
"Alas, what great sorrow it is that I hear from you, O charioteer, that the Pandavas remain safe and unchanged in battle."
Indeed, my heart must be made of diamond essence, very strong, as it does not shatter into a thousand pieces upon hearing of my sons being killed.
Sanjaya, reflecting on their words and child's play, today my mind is greatly tormented upon hearing of the death of my sons.
If due to blindness, I cannot see their form, the love created by affection for my sons is always held in them.
I have moved beyond childhood and youth, and upon hearing about those who have reached middle age, I felt pleased, O sinless one.
Hearing today of their slaughter, stripped of wealth and vigor, he finds no peace anywhere, overwhelmed by his sons and others.
"Come, come, my son, O king, for now my lord is deprived by you, O mighty-armed one. Which path shall I take now?"
O great king, having become the refuge of your relatives and friends, and leaving behind the blind, the old, and me, O hero, where indeed are you going?
She embodies compassion and affection, and is respected by you, O king. How could he, who was undefeated in battles, be slain by the sons of Pritha?
"How, dear, after having enjoyed the company of assembled kings, do you now lie slain on the ground like an ordinary bad king?"
Who will call me 'Father, father' when I wake up in the morning? Who will repeatedly call me 'Great king' and 'Lord of the people'? (This reflects a sense of longing or loss.)
Embracing me by the neck with affection and tearful eyes, he said, "O descendant of Kuru, please instruct me and speak those good words."
"Indeed, dear son, I have heard your words. My domain is greater than that of Arjuna."
Bhagadatta, Kṛpa, Śalya, Avanti, and Jayadratha, along with Bhūriśravāḥ, Somadatta, the king, and Bāhlika, were present.
Ashwatthama, Bhoja, Magadha, and the greatly powerful Brihadbala, along with the king of Kashi, Shakuni, and the son of Subala, were present.
Sudakshina, along with many thousands of foreigners, Scythians, and Greeks, as well as Kamboja, the lord of Trigarta, were present.
Bhishma, the grandfather, along with Bharadwaja, Gautama, Shrutayu, Acyutayu, and Shatayu, all powerful warriors, were present.
Jalasandha, Ṛṣyaśṛṅgī, the demon Alāyudha, Alambusa, the mighty-armed, and Subāhu, the great chariot-warrior, were present.
These and many other kings, O best of kings, have all prepared to sacrifice their lives in battle for my sake, O lord.
In the midst of the battle, surrounded by my brothers, I stand ready to fight the sons of Pritha and the Panchalas with all my might.
The Chedis, the tiger among kings, the sons of Draupadi, Satyaki, Kuntibhoja, and the demon Ghatotkacha were all present in the battle, O tiger among kings.
O great king, even a single one among these warriors is capable of holding back the enraged sons of Pandu in battle. What then can be said of the heroes united, who bear enmity with the Pandavas?
Then, O king, all these followers of the Pandava will either fight with you or kill them in battle.
Karna, with my support, will single-handedly defeat the Pandavas. After that, the kings and heroes will be under my command.
Vasudeva, the mighty leader of them, is not ready, O king, he said these words to me.
O charioteer, I have often heard him speak in my presence, and I can logically see that the Pandavas have been killed in battle.
In the midst of them, where my sons are being killed while struggling in battle, what else can be expected as destined?
Bhishma, the glorious lord of the world, was slain there, having approached Shikhandin like a lion approaches a jackal.
Drona, the Brahmin and master of all weapons and missiles, was slain by the Pandavas in battle; what else could be attributed to fate?
Bhūriśravā was slain where Somadatta and Bahlika fought in battle. O great king, what else can be attributed to destiny?
Sudakshina, Jalasandha, the Kaurava, Shrutayu, and Acyutayu were all killed there; what else can be attributed to fate?
Brihadbala was slain where the powerful kings of Magadha and Avanti fell, along with the ruler of Trigarta and many Samsaptakas. What else can be attributed to destiny?
Alambusa, the demon Alayudha, and Arshyashringa have been killed, O king. What else can be attributed to fate?
In the place where the followers of Narayana were slain, the cowherds, proud in battle, and numerous foreigners, what else could be attributed to destiny?
In the place where Shakuni, the son of Subala, and the mighty son of Ketu were killed, what else can be attributed to fate?
Kings, princes, and heroes with iron-clad arms were slain there; what else can be attributed to destiny?
O Sanjaya, the warriors who had returned from various countries were all slain in battle. What else could be expected by fate?
My sons and grandsons, who were mighty, have been killed. Friends and brothers as well. What else can be attributed to fate?
A man who is destined is certainly born, and a man who is fortunate attains auspiciousness.
I am left without my fortunes and sons here, Sanjaya. How will I survive today, being old and under the control of my enemies?
I believe there is nothing more important here than dwelling in the forest, O lord. Therefore, I shall go to the forest alone, as my kin are destroyed.
O Sañjaya, for me, there is no better option than going to the forest, given my current state of having lost my strength and freedom.
Duryodhana has been killed where Śalya was also slain in battle. Duḥśāsana was mutilated, and Vikarṇa, known for his might, was also defeated.
How can I possibly hear the mighty sound of Bhimasena, who single-handedly killed my hundred sons in battle?
Repeatedly speaking of his and by the killing of Duryodhana, I am afflicted with sorrow and grief and will not hear harsh words.
Thus, the king, stricken with grief over the loss of his relatives, repeatedly fainted, overwhelmed by the sorrow brought by his sons and others.
Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, lamented for a long time. He sighed deeply and warmly, contemplating his defeat.
The king, deeply afflicted by great sorrow, once again questioned the charioteer Gāvalgaṇi with precision, O best of the Bharatas.
Upon hearing of the fall of Bhishma and Drona, and the death of Karna, my sons, who were the generals and leaders, were left wondering what actions to take next.
Whoever my people appoint as the leader in battle, the Pandavas quickly kill him.
In the forefront of the battle, Bhishma was killed by Arjuna, the crowned one, as you all witnessed. Similarly, Drona was also killed, as everyone witnessed.
Thus, the mighty Karṇa, son of a charioteer, was slain by Arjuna in the presence of all your kings.
Vidura, the great soul, had previously informed me that the people would perish because of Duryodhana's misdeeds.
Some do not see things properly, being fools, while others do. This is indeed the speech of my foolish self, as it happened.
The words spoken to me by the righteous and far-sighted Vidura have indeed come true, as he was truthful.
O Gāvalgaṇa, tell me again the consequences of the wrongs I committed in the past due to a mind afflicted by fate.
Who was leading the front ranks when Karna was killed? Who dared to face Arjuna and Vasudeva, the charioteer?
Who guarded the right wheel of the Madra king in battle, and the left of the warrior eager to fight, or who stood behind the hero?
Sanjaya, tell me how the mighty king of Madra, who was with you all, was killed in battle by the Pandavas, or is it my son?
Tell me everything as it truly happened, about the great destruction of the Bharatas, and how my son Duryodhana was killed in the battle.
The Panchalas, along with their followers, were all slain; Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi, and the five sons of Draupadi were killed.
The Pandavas, as they were released, so were both the Satvatas in battle. Kripa and Kritavarma, the son of Bharadvaja, were also involved.
I wish to hear everything about the nature and details of the battle that has occurred recently, as you are indeed knowledgeable, Sanjaya.
