10.003
Sanjaya said:
Upon hearing the auspicious and righteous words of Kṛpa, Aśvatthāmā, the great king, was overwhelmed with sorrow and grief.
Burning with grief like a blazing fire, he hardened his mind and then addressed both of them.
In every person, intelligence manifests uniquely and excellently. Everyone is satisfied individually by their own wisdom.
Everyone believes themselves to be the most intelligent. The self is highly esteemed by all, and everyone praises their own self.
Indeed, people tend to establish their own intelligence in praise, criticize others' intelligence, and repeatedly praise their own.
Due to the connection of external causes, those whose minds are balanced in union find satisfaction with each other and hold each other in high regard repeatedly.
The intelligence of a person changes according to time and circumstances, leading to mutual destruction.
Because of the inconceivability of human minds, especially when they experience mental disturbance, various kinds of intelligence arise.
O Lord, just as a skilled doctor prepares medicine according to the rule to alleviate a disease, having understood it, so do you act here.
Thus, humans engage in intelligence for the purpose of union, and with their own wisdom, they criticize it.
In youth, a mortal is deluded by another's intellect; in middle age, by another; and in old age, he desires another's mind.
O King, whether a man encounters a terrible calamity or achieves great prosperity, he again acts with a perverted intellect.
In one person alone, that intelligence arises at that time, but due to its impermanent nature, it does not please him.
After determining wisely, she engages in the opinion she sees as good; she is the one who makes efforts on his behalf.
Every man, indeed, determined that this is good, Bhoja, begins to act with pleasure in matters such as death and other actions.
All men, indeed, act in various ways after understanding strategy and their own wisdom, knowing that it is beneficial.
Today, I will express to you both the thought that has arisen in me, born out of distress, which will destroy my grief.
The lord of creatures, after creating the beings and assigning duties to them, placed each one with specific qualities in each class.
In a Brahmin, there should be unperturbed self-control; in a Kshatriya, supreme valor; skill in a Vaishya and a Shudra; and favorability towards all castes.
An undisciplined Brahmin is considered unworthy, a Kshatriya without vigor is deemed inferior, an inept Vaishya is criticized, and a Shudra is seen as hostile.
I was born into a highly revered Brahmin family, but due to misfortune, I am now engaged in the duties of a Kshatriya.
Having understood the duty of a warrior, if I were to take up the path of a Brahmin, even if I were to perform a great deed, it would not be considered good or approved by me.
After wielding the divine bow and weapons in battle and witnessing my father's death, what can I possibly say in the assembly?
Today, I, having fulfilled my duty as a warrior as per my desire, shall follow the path of my father, the illustrious king.
Today, the Panchalas, confident after conquering Kashi, will rest, relieved from their armor and harness, and filled with joy. We are deemed defeated by them and are exhausted from the effort.
"Tonight, while they are asleep in their own places within the camp, I will undertake the difficult task of attacking the camp."
I will leap over them and destroy the ghost-like unconscious beings in the camp, attacking them like Indra did with the demons.
Today, I will advance like a blazing fire and destroy all of them together, led by Dhṛṣṭadyumna. By slaying the Pāñcālas, I will surely find peace, O noble one.
"Today, I will move among the Panchalas in battle, destroying them like the angry Rudra himself, the wielder of Pinaka, among the beasts."
Today, in my anger, I will annihilate all the Panchalas and then crush the sons of Pandu in battle.
Today, I will fulfill my duty to my father by defeating all the Panchalas, making the earth full of their bodies, and thus be free from any obligation to him.
Today, I will lead the Panchalas on the difficult path, even of Duryodhana, Karna, Bhishma, and Saindhava.
Tonight, I will forcibly destroy the head of Dhrishtadyumna, the king of Panchala, as one would slaughter an animal.
"Today, at night, I will annihilate the sleeping sons of the Pāñcālas and Pāṇḍavas with a sharp sword in battle, O Gautama."
"Today, after defeating the Pāñcāla army in the night raid, I will be content and feel accomplished, O wise one."
