The reply of Drona

Dhritarashtra said What, O Sanjaya, was the state of your mind when the king of Sindhu was slain in battle by Savyasachi and Bhurisrava (by Satyaki)?

Relate to me, O Sanjaya, what Drona did say after he had been thus addressed by Duryodhana in the midst of the Kurus.

Sanjaya said Seeing the king of Sindhu and Bhurisrava slain, there arose a great tumult among your troops, O Bharata.

All of them censured the policy of your son, in virtue of which hundreds of foremost of men were destroyed.

Drona too, hearing those words of your son, became sad at heart. Then, O king of kings, reflecting a moment he said very sorrowfully (these words).

Drona said O Duryodhana, why are you piercing me with words (keen) as darts? I have told you (repeatedly) that Savyasachi is uncognizable in battle.

We have got (sufficient) proofs of what Arjuna is, when protected by Kiriti, Sikhandi slew Bhisma in battle, O Kaurava.

Seeing that Bhishma, who could not be defeated by the celestials and the Danavas in battle, was slain (by Sikhandi), I understood that the Bharata army was doomed.

That person, whom we looked upon as the foremost of all the heroes in the three worlds, being slain, who else there that can inspire us with confidence?

The dice with which Shakuni played in the assembly-hall of the Kurus, O affecnate one, are not (real) dice but their arrows destructive of foes, has ever been able to achieve.

Those arrows, O child, now discharged by aya are destroying us; you did not then understand when Vidura told you what those (dice) were.

You did not then pay heed to those auspicious words, which the magnanimous wise Vidura with tearful eyes said for your good.

In consequence of your disregard for those words, O Duryodhana, this dire, terrible and impending disaster has overtaken you.

That stupid person, who disregarding the wholesome advice of his trusted friends, follows his own inclinations, is very soon reduced to a pitiable plight.

(You) had dragged Krishna to the assembly hall in our very presence who was unworthy of such treatment, was born of a noble line and was devoted to every act of righteousness.

O son of Gandhari, this (calamity which you are now in) is the bitter fruit of that sinful act on your part. This (punishment) is but insignificant for in the world to come you will be visited with direr calamities.

(This disaster is also the outcome of) your deceit by means of which you defeated the Pandavas at the game of dice and exiled them to the forest clad in deer-skin.

Is there, in the world, any other Brahmana besides myself that would injure the (Pandavas) who devoted to righteousness and are (as dear) to me as my (own) sons.

The wrath that you excited in the Pandavas with the assent of Dhritarashtra and associated with Shakuni in the midst of the Kurus,

are ever Has been fostered by Dushasana together with Karna and had been repeatedly fanned by you who never paid regard to the words of Khattva.

How was it that you, who stood by the ruler by the Sindhu and tried your utmost to withstand Arjuna, were all defeated and why was he (Jayadratha) slain in your midst?

How is it, O Kaurava prince, that when you, Karna, Kripa, Shalya and Ashvatthama are (all) alive, the king of Sindhu has been slain?

How was it that the king of Sindhu was slain in their midst, since for the purpose of rescuing him all the kings fought with fiery energy.

That lord of the earth looked especially to yourself and me for his rescue from Arjuna, O Duryodhana.

But he failed to have that rescue from (the clutches of) Arjuna. I too do not find any hope for my own life.

I see that I am (fast) sinking into the mire of Dhristadyumna's (cunning) until I can slay the Panchalas together with Sikhandi.

Since I myself am tormented with grief, wherefore are you piercing me with words (poignant) as an arrow, you who failed to rescue the king of Sindhu, O Bharata.

How can you hope for success, since you do not longer seen the golden standard of Bhishma endued with untiring energy and (ever) firm in truth.

Since the ruler of Sindhu and Bhurisrava have been slain from the very midst of the mighty-car-warriors, you can (very well) anticipate what the result will be.

O lord of the earth, if, without following the path of the king of Sindhu, the irresistible Kripa be still alive, I praise him highly (for his escape with life).

When, O Kaurava king, I behold that Bhishma, capable of achieving the most difficult exploits and unslayable even by the celestials together with Vasava in battle, was slain in your very sight and in that of your younger brother Dusasana, I thought, O king, that the earth no longer belonged to you.

Behold! O king, O Bharata, the troops of the Pandavas and those of the Srinjayas are jointly advancing against me.

I will not lay down my armour without destroying all the Panchalas; (and), O son of Dhritarashtra, I will perform which acts in battle as will benefit you.

O king! Go and convey my direction for Ashvatthama that he should battle taking all care of his life and not let go living Somakas at all possible efforts viz. he has to kill them all definitely.

(Tell him also). "Observe the instruction that your father has given you. Be firm in charity, self-restraint, truth and straight forwardness.

Be diligent in (the exercise) religion, profit and pleasure without despising religion and profit and always perform those acts in which the exercise of religion is mostly required.

You should always propitiate the Brahmanas with presents and worship. Never do anything that will offend them; for, they are flames of fire.

O destroyer of foes, afflicted as I am with your words darts I will now penetrate through the enemy's line in order to engage in a furious encounter (for your sake).

As for your, O Duryodhana, if you are capable, go and protect your army, for both the Kurus and the Srinjayas, that are furious (with rage) will fight even during the night.

Having said thus, Drona, like the sun drawing out the energy of the stars, advanced against the Pandavas and the Srinjayas in order to destroy the energy of the Kshatriyas.