Ghatotkacha-Vadha Parva — The words of Vyasa

Dhritarashtra said O sire, this act of Karna, Duryodhana, Sakuni the son of Subala and especially of yourself, has been very much against the dictates of policy.

Indeed when you knew that Sakti was capable of slaying only one person and that it was incapable of being borne and repulsed even by the gods with Vasava at their head.

Why then, O Sanjaya, was it not hurled by Karna at the son of Devaki or at Phalguna while he was engaged with these in battle before.

Sanjaya said Every day returning from the field of battle, O ruler of men, we used to hold consultation in the night and speak unto Karna, O foremost of the Kurus, in the following manner. O Karna, tomorrow this Sakti should be hurled at either Karna or Arjuna."

When however, the day dawned, 0 monarch, as fate would have it, Karna as well as all the other warriors forget all about that resolution.

Indeed it is destiny that is supreme to all other forces, inasmuch as Karna did not slay cither Partha or Krishna with the dart that he had in his grasp.

Indeed because his intelligence had been confounded by destiny itself that he did not, stupefied by the illusion of the Gods, hur) that death dealing lart given him by Vasava, though he held in his hand, at Krishna the son of Devaki it at Parthas of prowess equal to that of Indra, for their destruction.

Dhritarashtra said You are destroyed by Destiny, by your own understanding and by Kesava. The fatal dart of Vasava is lost having brought about the slaughter of Ghatotkacha who was insignificant as a straw.

as Karna and my sons as all the other kings, through his greatly impolitic act, have already gone to the abode of wealth.

Describe to me how the battle raged between the Kurus and the Pandavas after the fall of Hidimva's son.

How did the Panchalas and the Srinjayas, arranged in order and well-skilled in smiting, fight, having rushed upon Drona in battle.

How indeed did Pandus and Srinjayas resist the striking Drona when he proceeding against them, penetrated into their host inflamed with wrath at the slaughter of Bhurisravas and Jayadratha, regardless of his very life and resembling a yawning tiger on the destroyer himself with mouth agape.

What also did they do in battle, O sire, viz., Drona's son and Karna and Kripa and others headed by Duryodhana that protected the preceptor.

Describe to me, O Sanjaya, how my combatants in that battle covered with their arrows Dhananjaya and Vrikodara who were desirous of slaying the son of Bharadvaja.

How indeed did those, worked up with anger at the death of the ruler of the Sindhus and those at the death of Ghatotkacha, each side unable to brook their loss, fight during that night.

Sanjaya said Upon the destruction, that night, O monarch of the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha by Karna, all your soldiers filled with delight uttered loud shouts.

In that dark hour of night they furiously assailed the Pandava troop and began to slaughter them. Seeing all this king Yudhishthira became highly depressed.

O chastiser of foes, the mighty armed son of Pandu then addressed Bhima and thus spoke: "O you of might arms, check the (rushing) host of Dhritarashtra's son.

Owing to the slaughter of Hidimva's son a great stupefaction is overwhelming me." Having commanded Bhima thus he sat down on the terrace of his car.

With fearful countenance and repeated sighs the monarch became highly depressed on seeing Karna's prowess.

Seeing him so afflicted, Krishna said these words, “O son of Kunti. let not such gricf overtake you. This depression is not worthy of yourself, O chief of the Bharatas, as it is of an ordinary person; arise O monarch and fight and bear this heavy burden of grief.

If you are overtaken by depression victory becomes uncertain." Hearing these words of Krishna the very virtuous king Yudhishthira.

Wiping his eyes with his hands replied unto Krishna saying-O) you of mighty arms, the excellent path of duty is not unknown to you.

The dreadful consequences of Brahmanicide are his that forgets the services he gets at the hands of others. While we were living in the woods the illustrious son of Hidimba.

Although then a small boy only, did us many good turns, O Jannarddana. Being informed that Pandu's son Arjuna had gone to acquire weapons.

O Krishna, this fierce bowman went to see me in the Kamyaka forest. he there lived with us until Dhananjaya came back.

On the occasion of our journey to the Ghandhamadana, we crossed all difficulties with his help. He then carried the fatigued daughter of the Panchalas on his own back.

O master, the feats he had achieved in battle, fully prove that he was learned in all

modes of warfare. That illustrious warrior did accomplish many difficult tasks for my sake only.

O Janardana, the affection that I naturally bear for Sahadeva, even double that affection did I bear to that foremost of the Rakshasas Ghatotkacha.

That mighty armed one was devoted to me; I love him and he also loved me dearly. For all these reasons, descendant of the Vrishni race, I am depressed being afflicted with grief caused by his slaughter.

Behold, O scion of the Vrishni race, my troops routed by the Kouravas! Behold the two mighty car-warriors, Drona and Karna fight, yonder, to the best of their abilities.

Lo! at this dead hour of night, the Pandava army is being crushed like a forest of reeds by two infuriate elephants in rut.

Oscion of Madhu's race, the Kouravas are striving hard (for victory) setting at naught the might of Bhima's arm and the vast mastery of weapons of Arjuna.

Yonder joyfully roars Drona and Karna and king Suyodhana himself having slain the Rakshasa in battle.

How is it, O Janardana, that Hidimva's son met with death in his encounter with Suta's son, although you and ourselves are still alive?

Putting ourselves to shame and under the very eyes of Savyasachin, O Krishna, Karna has slain the puissant son of Bhimasena.

O Krishna, when Abhimanyu was slain by the sinful Dhartarashtras the mighty carwarrior Savyasachin was not at hand.

We also were held in check by the highsouled ruler of the Sindhus ; in the perpetration of that deed, Drona and Drona's son became instrumental.

Karna was informed of the means of Abhimanyu's death by the preceptor himself. While Abhimanyu was fighting with his sword, it was Drona who cut-off that sword in twain.

Like one heartless, Kritavarman slew the four steeds and the two drivers of Abhimanyu when the latter was involved in a great predicament.

Then other bowmen slaughtered and felled the son of Subhadra. For trifling offense only, O Krishna, the ruler of the Sindhus was slain by the wielder of the Gandiva bow. O foremost of Yadus, this act did not afforded me much delight. If at all it is just for the Pandavas to slaughter their foes.

Then, I think, Drona and Karna should have been slain ere now. O foremost of men, they are the cause of all our miseries.

Getting these two for his supporter in battle, Suyodhana has become confident of his success. Indeed it was Drona or the son of Suta, with his followers who deserved to be slain.

The mighty armed Dhananjaya slew the king of the Sindhus, who indeed, was the remote cause of the slaughter of Abhimanyu. It is surely my imperative duty to crush the son of Suta.

Therefore, O hero, I will fight for compassing the death of Suta's son. The mighty-armed Bhima has already engaged himself with the division of Drona."

Having thus spoken, king Yudhishthira quickly advanced against Karna stretching his mighty bow and blowing his dreadful conch.

Then with one thousand cars, three hundred elephants, five thousand horses and the Panchalas and the Pravadrakas.

Sikhandin quickly followed the king from behind. Then the drums were beat and conchs blown by the.

Panchalas and Pandavas who proceeding in Yudhishthira's van. Thereupon were the mighty armed Vasudeva addressing Dhananjaya said

Lo! under the influence of anger does king Yudhishthira advance to battle, impelled by a desire for slaughtering Suta's son. It is not proper that you should thoroughly rely on him in this encounter.

Having thus spoken, Hrishikesha urged the steeds to the best of their speed and he then followed behind the king, who had already advanced a long way.

At that moment, behoiding the very virtuous king Yudhishthira proceed with impetuosity for bringing about the slaughter of Suta's son, Vyasa approached him and said these words to him who was then burning with the fire of grief and whose reason was clouded by it.

Vyasa said. Indeed, O king, it fortunate that Phalguna still lives, although he had several times encountered Karna in battle. It was for compassing the slaughter to Savyasachin, that Karna preserved his Sakti.

O foremost of the Bharatas, it is indeed fortunate that till now Jishnu never engaged in any duel with Karna. In that case, each of them, challenging the other, would have discharged their celestial weapons on all sides.

Then the weapons of Suta's son would have been destroyed by those of Arjuna. Then sorely distressed the former surely would have discharged the Sakti given him by Vasava at the latter, O Yudhishthira.

In that case, O foremost of the Bharata, a dreadful catastrophe would have overtaken you. O bestower of honor, it is indeed fortunate that the Rakshasas has been slain (with that Sakti) in battle.

Death himself has slain the Rakshasa and the fatal Sakti of Vasava was only the instrument. O sire, it is for your good that he has been slain in battle.

Do not give way to wrath, ( foremost of the Bharatas and set not your heart on sorrow. O Yudhishthira, this is the finale of all animate beings in this world.

United with your brother and the other high souled rulers of earth do you, O descendant of the Bharatas, give battle to the Kouravas.

On the fifty day, the carth will fall under your sway. O foremost of men, meditate on virtue.

With a delightful heart do you ever practise harmlessness, ascetic austerities, charity, forbearance and truth, O son of Pandu. Victory cver follows in the wake of righteousness." Having thus spoken to Pandu's son, Vyasa disappcared then and there, forbearance and truth, O son of Pandu. Victory cver follows in the wake of righteousness." Having thus spoken to Pandu's son, Vyasa disappcared then and there,