Yanasandhi Parva — The speech of Sanjaya

Sanjaya said It is, O great king, as you say, O Bharata. The destruction of the Kshatriya by war with the Gandiva bow seems apparent.

I do not know how it is that you, who are ever wise and know about the attributes of Savyasachin, allow yourself to be controlled by your sons.

This is not the time, O great king, (to give way to grief); for you have repeatedly wronged them. By you in the beginning were the Parthas cxiled, O bull among the race of Bharata.

A father is the best friend and he should guide well those who are his own selves. Their welfare should be sought after carefully; but he who overlooks this duty, cannot be called a superior.

Hearing of the defeat (at the game), like a boy you laughed out, O great king, saying-"this is gained, this is won”.

Formerly you neglected the Parthas, who were being addressed in hashed words thinking that the kingdom had been acquired (by your sons). You did not then foresee this fall.

The country of the Kurus, with Jangala, O great king, is your ancestral kingdom; but you have possessed yourself the entire kingdom subjugated by the heroes.

The kingdom acquired by their arms and prowess was made over to you by the Parthas and you think, "it has been acquired by me," O best of kings.

Your sons, O best of kings, overpowered by the king of the Gandharvas and thus sinking as it were in a scoreless open, were brought back by Partha.

Like a boy, too, did you repeatedly laugh at the defeat (of the Pandavas) at dice and also when they were wandering about being exiled.

At the shower, by Arjuna, of a great many sharp edged arrows, even the oceans dry up, not to speak of those things, that owe their origin to flesh.

Among the shooters of arrows, the son of Falguna is the chief, among the bows the Gandiva is the best; Keshava is the chief of all creatures, and the Sudarshana among weapons.

Of all things having banners the one shining with the banner and having the device of an ape (is the foremost). The car, having all these and having many white horses in battle.

Will overthrow us, O king, like the uplifted wheel of death. To-day, the entire earth is his, O king, O bull of the race of Bharata.

He who has the two warriors, Bhima and Arjuna, on his side, O best of kings is the king seeing your army nearly killed by Bhima.

The Kauravas, headed by Duryodhana, will be destroyed, struck by the terror of Bhima and Arjuna; and victory will not be gained, O Lord,

By your son, O great king or by the kings who are his followers. The king of the Matsyas does not pay you homage now; nor does the Panchala with the Kaikeyas; nor do the Shalvas and the Shurasenas. All disregard you. All of them have gone over to the side of Partha, well knowing the heroism of that wise one.

Out of regard for him, they are ever against your sons. He who troubles the sons of Pandu endued with virtue and undeserving of injury by unworthy actions and he who despises them even now, that evil-minded man, along with his followers, should be checked by all means.

It is not proper, O great king, that you should grieve for your sons. At the time of the game at dice, all this was predicted by me, as also by the wise Vidura.

All these lamentations of yours for the sons of Pandu, O Bharata, as if you had no hand in the matter, are all useless, O chief among kings.