Dronabhisheka Parva — The questions of Dhritarashtra

Having saluted the Supreme Deity (Narayana) and the highest of all male beings Nara and also the Goddess of Learning (Sarasvati), let us cry "Success"!

Janamejaya said Hearing that his sire Devavrata of unequaled might, energy, sturdiness, prowess and vigour, had been slain by Sikhandin the son of Panchala. O Brahmanical sage, what did the very powerful monarch Dhritarashtra with eyes blinded with fast-falling tears, do?

His son, O worshipful one, desired to obtain monarchy after having defeated the mighty warriors, the sons of Pandu, through the assistance of Bhima, Drona and other such heroes.

O illustrious ascetic, tell me all that the foremost of the Kuru dynasty did, when that chief of all bowmen (Bhima) had been killed.

Vaishampayana said Having heard that his sire (Bhishma) had been slain in battle, that ruler of men, Dhritarashtra of the Kuru dynasty knew no rest of mind, being worn out with anxiety and Sorrow.

When that foremost of the Kurus had been thus brooding over his grief, there came again to him the pure-souled son of Gavalgani.

O great king, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, then thus questioned Sanjaya who had that night returned from the camp of the city named after the elephant.

Hearing of the death of Bhishma, he became exceedingly cheerless and longing for the victory of his sons, he broke out into lamentations like one sorely distressed.

Dhritarashtra said O son, having bewailed the high-souled Bhima of terrific might, what did the Kurus, goaded by Destiny, do?

When that unconquerable and high-souled hero was slain, what, for sooth, did the Kurus, deep down into the sea of sorrow, do?

Verily, O Sanjaya, the innumerable and excellent army of the high-souled sons of Pandu, can strike the worlds with keenest apprehension. In this terrific battle, was any great car-warrior in the troop of Duryodhana who was fearless?

Sanjaya said Therefore, O Sanjaya, recount to me what the kings did, when Devarata, the foremost of the Kurus, had been slain.

Hear, O monarch, with singleness of mind, the words, falling from my lips, regarding what your sons did when Devavrata had fallen.

0 monarch, when Bhishma of invincible prowess had been slain, your own warriors and also those of the Pandava host, began to think of the duties of the Kshatriya sect; and,

o lord of men, at the thought, they wondered and were delighted; and in obedience to their sectarian duties, they bowed down to the illustrious Bhishma. Then those foremost of men prepared for Bhishma of infinite energy a bed furnished with a pillow, made of close-knotted arrows.

Having arranged for Bhishma's safety and having greeted one another, and with the permission of the son of Ganga and having circumambulated him and looking at each other with eyes coppery with anger, those Kshatriyas, goaded by Destiny, again issued forth for fighting with one another.

Then to the voice of the trumpets and to the roar of the drums, the army of your sons and that of their adversaries, formed in battle-array.

When, O greatest of kings, the son of Janhavi (Bhishma) had fallen and when the greater part of the day had worn out, these foremost of the Bharata race, overpowered by the influence of their wrath, and having their reasons bewildered through fate and neglecting the salutary counsel of the illustrious son of Ganga, came out in haste grasping their weapons.

Owing to your own foolishness and that of your sons and owing to the death of the son of Shantanu, the descendants of the Kuru race together with all the (assembled) kings, appeared to be summoned by the God of death.

Like a herd of goats without a herdsman in wood infested with beasts of prey, they were exceedingly oppressed with fear, being deprived of Devavrata.

On the fall of that foremost of the Bharata race, the army of the Kurus resembled the heavenly dome stripped of the stars or the sky deprived of the atmosphere; or the earth with her crops blighted; or a discourse teeming with unrefined expressions; or the army of the Asuras when in the days of yore, Bali had been (thoroughly) humiliated.

Or a charming lady deprived of her lord; a stream the waters of which had been dried up; or a doe deprived of her mate, surrounded by wolves in the forest or the wide, extended, mountain-cave having its lion slain by the fabulous Sarabha. Or the slaughter of Janhavi's son, O foremost of the Bharata race, the army of the Bharatas.

Resembled a tiny bark thrown up and down on the bosom of the mighty main, driven by the gale rushing from all sides. It was then greatly harassed by the powerful Pandavas heroes of infallible aims.

Then that host, with its elephants, horses and car-warriors, was much distressed and exceedingly jeopardised and rendered helpless and terror-stricken.

Then, in that army, bereft of Devavrata, the kings and the (common) soldiers, individually struck with panic, seemed to be sinking into the nethermost regions.

Thereafter the Kauravas remembered Karna, who was equal to Devavrata himself and who was the foremost of all wielders of weapons and resplendent like a guest. Then like the heart of a distressed person looking for a friend, their hearts turned towards him (Karna); and, O Bharata, the kings then broke out into exclamations saying, "O Karna, O Karna."

That son of Radha, that benefactor of ours, that progeny of Suta, he that will sacrifice his life in battle, that one of illustrious renown with his followers and friends, has refrained from fighting these ten days; summon him without delay. That foremost of men, that hero of mighty arms, Karna, had been reckoned by Bhishma as only an Ardharatha, in the presence of all the Kshatriyas, during the tale of car-warriors of valour and prowess, in spite of his being equal to two Maharathas.

Indeed in that enumeration of Rathas and Atirathas, Karna was thus reckoned-Karna who is the foremost (of all fighters), who is held in high respect by the heroes and who would dare give battle even to Yama, Kubera, Varuna and Indra.

Out of wrath (excited by this classification of himself, he had thus addressed, O king, the son of Ganga-'O Kaurava, I will not fight so long as you live; if you shall slay in battle the Sons of Pandu, O you of Kuru'a race, I will retire into the woods with the permission of Duryodhana.

If, O Bhisma, on the contrary, you, being slain by the Pandavas, are transported to heaven, then will I, riding on a single car, slay those whom you consider to be the mightiest of all car-warriors.

Having thus spoken, the mighty-armed Karna of illustrious renown, refrained, with the perinission of your son, from taking part in the battle for these ten days.

0 Bharata, Bhishma of immeasurable prowess, displaying his might in battle, slew a large number of warriors of the Pandava host in that (sanguinary) engagement.

On the fall of that most powerful hero of linerring aim, your sons remembered Karna, like persons desirous of crossing the ocean) remembering a raft.

Your sons and the warriors of your party, together with the (assembled) monarchs then, began to bewail saying 'Karna' they also said 'It is time for you to come.'

Thus all the warriors endued with great prowess, bewailed on the dead body of Karna, the son of Suta and Radha.

As during emergencies the heart flies to a friend, so our hearts then flew to Karna of irrepressible manhood who had acquired his knowledge of weapons from the son of Jamadagni.

O monarch, he only was capable of saving us from the great dangers of battle, iike Govinda protecting the celestials from all calamities.

Vaishampayana said Thereupon breathing (heavily) out like a snake, Dhritarashtra spoke these words to Sanjaya who had been thus repeatedly extolling Karna.

Dhritarashtra said As your heart then were drawn to wards Karna, the son of Vikartana, you surely saw that son of Radha, that descendant of Suta, who was ever-ready to lay down his life for you.

Did that Karna, of infallible prowess in battle, disappoint Duryodhana and his brothers, who had been all exceedingly distressed, panicstruck and anxious for being extricated from their difficulties?

Was that foremost of bowmen in battle capable of filling up the void created by the fall of Bhishma, the shelter of the Kurus?

Supplying the gap, was Karna successful in striking terror into the hearts of the enemy? Therefore, it is said, O Sanjaya! he is the lion among the men.

Renouncing his breaths in battle field, for protecting the helpless, distressed and roaring our relatives, did he also succeed in fructifying the hopes of victory cherished by my sons? Supplying the gap, was Karna successful in striking terror into the hearts of the enemy? Therefore, it is said, O Sanjaya! he is the lion among the men.

Renouncing his breaths in battle field, for protecting the helpless, distressed and roaring our relatives, did he also succeed in fructifying the hopes of victory cherished by my sons?