Yanasandhi Parva — The repentance of Dhritarashtra

Dhritarashtra said All these who have been enumerated by you are of great energy and courage; but Bhima alone is equal to all of them combined.

From Bhimasena wrathful I have very great fear like that of a large deer from an enraged tiger.

I am awake during entire nights breathing large and hot sighs, being afraid of Vrikodara, O dear, as any other animal fears a lion.

In this entire army do I not see one who can withstand in battle this one of long arms and having strength like that of Shakra.

That son of Kunti and Pandu when wrathful is an implacable enemy; and he smiles not even in jest and is mad with rage, looks at things askance and is of loud voice,

Possessed of great force and of great energy, possessed of long arms and of great strength will put an end to the existence of any wicked sons in battle.

Vrikodara, that bull in the race of Kuru, wielding the mace slay them struck by a heavy calamity in battle like the god of death with his staff in his hand.

That terrible steel mace with eight sides and ornamented with gold I now see in my mind like the staff of Brahma uplifted.

As a fully grown up lion roams among a hear of deer, so Bhima roam among my army.

Towards all my sons he alone (of all his brothers) showed his cruel strength. A voracious eater and endued with great strength, even in his childhood was he inimical (to my sons).

My heart quakes that Duryodhana and other sons of mine even when fighting with him in their childhood were smashed as by elephants.

O pressed by his strength my sons have ever been; and that Bhima of terrible prowess is the cause of this rupture.

Devouring my army composed of men, elephants and horses, do I see Bhima in the front senseless with wrath,

In arms equal of Drona and Arjuna and in speed having the force of wind, in wrath equal to Maheshvara himself, who will kill Bhima in battle.

O Sanjaya, that hero, the wrathful Bhimasena; tell me that; it is a great gain I consider, that by that slayer of enemies.

My sons were not all killed by that one of independent mind by whom Yakshas of terrible strength and the Rakshasas were killed in days of old.

How can a man withstand the force of him in battle. He was not under my control even in his childhood, O Sanjaya.

How can that son of Pandu do so now having been wronged by my wicked sons. Cruel and wrathful, he could not bend even when broken. Looking at things ask once, with his eyebrows contracted how can Vrikodara be peaceful.

A hero of exceedingly white complexion and tall like the palm tree, Bhimasena measures a Prasesha (the span of a thumb) more than Arjuna.

Surpassing in speed the horses, in strength the elephants, the second son of Pandu who is of great strength has sweet eyes.

The Pandava in form and power just as I heard from the lips of Vyasa in days gone by.

Easily by means of his mace, the chariots, the elephants, men and horses he will kill in battle, that terrible being when wrathful, that man of cruel purposes.

That wrathful Bhima, who is ever furiousthat chief among the smiters has by acting against my wishes, O dear, before been insulted by me.

That mace which has no curves, which is made of steel, which is of bulk, of beautiful sides, adorned with gold, which is capable of killing a hundred and when flung producing a terrible sound-how will my sons bears?

That inaccessible ocean, which has no shore, which is unfathomable and which has currents in the shape of Bhima, those wicked ones are desirous of crossing over.

Those children thinking themselves to be wise do not listen to my words, even if I cry out. Seeing the honey (formerly collected on mountain tops) they do not care for the heavy fall.

Those who encounter in battle that death in human shape have their dooms settled by the father of the universe, like those of large deer encountering lions,

How shall my sons bear, Odear, the mace when flung at them the mace which is four cubits long, having six sides of illimitable powers of destruction and terrible to touch.

Whirling the mace and piercing the heads of elephants, licking the corners of his lips and giving out (terrific) breaths every moment, making terrific noises in return of those of falling elephants and rushing with loud roars against elephants coming against him, having penetrated into the place where the chariots stand, when he kills the heroes after taking aim against them, will one of my soldiers escape from him who is blazing like fire?

Grinding the four elements of my army and cutting his passage out through it, as if dancing with the mace in his hand, he will show (to people) the scene which takes place at the end of a Yuga (universal destruction).

Like an elephant mad with rage, breaking trees with flowers, Vrikodara will crush the army of my sons of battle.

Rendering the chariots devoid of men, drivers, horse and banners and giving trouble to the warriors fighting from cars and elephants, the tiger among men, like the force of the currents of the Ganga uprooting various sorts of trees, will vanquish in battle the army of my sons, O Sanjaya.

My with their servants and subordinate chiefs, O Sanjaya, troubled with the fear of Bhimasena will certainly fly in different directions.

(That Bhimasena) by whom, aided by the son of Vasudeva, the king Jarasandha of great prowess was killed after his inner apartments being entered in the days of old.

The goddess Earth was brought under control by the wise Jarasandha and that mighty Lord of Magadha, who subjugated her and oppressed her people.

That the Kurus through the prowess of Bhima and the Andhakas and the Vrishnis and sons through their diplomacy, were not brought under subjection by them, which was only due to the gods.

The son of Pandu, the heroic of long arms, having approached him without any arms, killed him. What can be more (wonderful) than this?

Like venomous snake having accumulated its poison for a long time, he (Bhima) will fling his strength on my sons in the field of battle, O Sanjaya.

Like that chief among the gods, great Indra with his thunderbolt (killing) the Danavas, Bhimasena with mace in his hand will kill my a sons.

I see (in my mind) Vrikodara having eyes of the colour of copper, incapable of being opposed or prevented and having fearful force of strength falling on (my sons).

Who can stay in front of that man fighting with his two arms without mace or bow and without being on his car.

Bhishma, this regenerate Drona, Kripa and also the son of Shardavata-all these know as much as I do the prowess of that wise one.

Conversant with the habits of life of the virtuous and desirous of death in battle, those bulls among men in our party will stand in front of the army.

Destiny is always powerful specially in a man through I see them (the Pandavas) victorious, yet I do not dissuade my sons.

They (the warriors of our party), desirous of going along the eternal, noble and heavenly path, will part with their lives in fierce battle thus keeping your earthly fame unsullied.

As these are, O dear, to my sons, so are they to the Pandavas (in ties of blood and affection). They (the Pandavas) are grandsons of Bhishma and disciples of Drona and Kripa.

The protection that we have afforded to the three-aged ones, the little we have given them and the little good we have done to them, they will compensate us for that in return owing to their noble nature.

That death of a Kshatriya is said to be a peaceful and commendable one, which is met with in battle when one takes up arms desirous of observing Kshatriya practices.

I grieve however for all those who will fight with the son of Pandu; the calamity prophesied by Vidura is now come.

I consider, O Sanjaya, that knowledge cannot destroy woe; in fact, it is excessive distress that kills knowledge.

Even the Rishis who are emancipated and who merely look on this crowd of men become happy at prosperity and aggrieved at adversity.

Why then should I not be affected by grief. When I ain attached to my sons, my kingdom, my wife, my grandsons, my friends and a thousand other objects.

I have grave doubts that I shall have any prosperity in the future; thinking thus I see (in my mind) the destruction of the Kurus.

The great calamity of the Kurus beginning with the game at dice now stands out in bold relief; this wicked act has been done by that fool desiring for prosperity out of avarice.

I consider this to be the work of Eternal Time. I am not able to fly from it like the iron ring attached to the wheel.

What shall I do? how shall I do it and where shall I go, O Sanjaya? These foolish Kurus will be destroyed being subject to the effects of time.

I shall be helpless, O dear, on my hundred sons being killed and shall hear the loud lamentation of women. How shall death touch me?

As in the hot season a fire ignited and urged by wind burns up dry grass, so will the son of Pandu, having mace in hand along with Arjuna, be the slayer of my party.