The words of Dhristadyumna

Sanjaya said Hearing the words of Arjuna O mighty monarch, the mighty car-warriors of the Pandava host spoke neither agreeable or disagreeable words in reply to Dhananjaya.

But the mighty Bhimasena filled with wrath, spoke, O foremost of the Bharatas, these words for reproaching Kunti's son Arjuna.

'You are preaching the rules of morality, like a Muni living in the woods or like a Brahmana of austere observances who has cutoff all connections with this world.

Saving others from injuries, defending himself against wounds and injuries and showing forgiveness to women and the pious, a Kshatriya soon obtains the (rule of the) earth, as also religious merit, fame and prosperity.

Yourself endowed with all the desirable qualifications of a Kshatriya, O perpetuator of your race, it looks odd that you should speak like one ignorant of the duties of your order.

O son of Kunti, your prowess resembles that of Shakra the lord of Sachi. You never pass beyond the limits of morality even as the ocean never transgresses its banks.

What person is there, who will not applaud you, you who, having forgotten the animosity fanned and kept alive for the last thirteen years, are solicitous for observing the precepts of morality?

Surely it is fortunate, O sire, that your heart today bends towards virtue. It is also fortune that your understanding today inclines towards showing compassion, you of undeteriorating fame.

Although you are so cager to observe the dictates of righteousness, yet your kingdom was snatched away from you most unrighteously. Your wife Draupadi having been dragged into the open court, was insulted by your foe.

We were exiled, with barks of trees or skins of animals for our cloth and cover. Through undeserving of such a wretched plight, yet we were compelled to wear out thirteen long years in that condition.

You, O sinless one, have overlooked all these crying causes that call for revenge. Devoted as you are to perform the duties of Kshatriyas, you have quietly tolerated all these.

Keeping alive the memory of all these wrongs inflicted on us, we have come here today with you, to avenge them. (But as you are so righteous) I myself will slay all these mean fellows who snatched away our kingdonm.

You had said before "Addressing ourselves in battle. we shall exert to the utmost of our abilities." But now you are reproaching us.

You are now seeking virtue. So you have falsified the words you had said before. Afflicted as we are with fear, you take this opportunity for cutting us to the quick with your harsh words.

Like one applying salt on the sores of wounded men, Ogrinder of your foes. Afflicted with your dagger-like words, my heart is on the point of bursting open.

Pious as you are, you do not know the nature of impiety, for you do not offer us applause though we are worthy of it.

When Vasudeva himself is here, praise you the son of Drona, who, ODhananjaya, is not a match for even a sixteenth part of yourself?

Disclosing your own weakness, it is strange that you fell no shame! I can rend this earth open in rage and split the very mountains.

Whirling that heavy and terrible mace of fierce aspect decked with garlands of gold. Like a violent tempest, I can break down trees resembling huge mountains.

I can with my arrows rout and crush the assembled host of the celestials led by Indra himself, O Partha, assisted though they be by the Rakshasas, thc Asuras, Snakes and human bcings.

Knowing, O foremost of men, me your brother, to be such, you should not, O you of infinite prowess, entertain any fear from the son of Drona.

Cr, O Vibhatsu, stay here with all these foremost of men and behold me, alone and armed with the mace, conquer him in fierce battle.

Like the Daitya king Hiranyakasipu addressing the roaring and enraged Hari, the son of the king of the Panchalas addressed

Dhristadyumna said O Vibhatsu, the intelligent sages of yore have prescribed these-viz., conducting sacrifices on behalf of others, teaching, charity, celebration of sacrifices and acceptance of gifts to be the duties of the Brahmanas.

The sixth duty is study. To which of these six was that Drona who has been slain by me devoted? Wherefore then do you reproach me, O son of Pritha?

Transgressing the duties of his own order and observing those of the Kshatriyas that perpetrator of wicked deeds used to slaughter us with his celestials weapons.

Professing himself to be Brahmana, he used to injure us deceitfully; he has now been slain by deceitful means; O son of Pritha, what is there wrong in this?

Upon the punishment of Drona, (which he richly deserved), if his son, out of anger, utier such loud roars, what do I lose by them?

There is nothing wonderful in the fact that Drona's son leading the Kauravas in battle, will cause their destruction, being himself unable to protect them.

Now you have turned a virtuous person and are accusing me with the slaughter of any preceptor. bu do you now know that it was for those that I was born as son of Panchaia kig en sprung out of fire.

How, O Dhananjaya, can you designate him a Brahmana or a Kshatriya, who when engaged in fight used to look upon fair and unfair acts with an equal eye?

He, who furious in rage, used to slay with his Brahma weapons even those who are unacquainted with the use of weapons, O foremost of men, why should he not be slain by us by every means in our power?

One fallen off from the duties of his order, has been said, by the righteousness, to be equal to poison. Knowing this, you who are conversant with the precepts of morality, why do you blame me, O Arjuna.

That ruthless warrior, being assailed by me, has been overthrown and slain by me. O Vibhatsu, why do you not then congratulate myself on whom actually no blame hangs?

) Partha, I have lopped off Drona's dreadful head, resembling the All-destroying Fire or the burning Sun or the most virulent poison. Why do you not then applaud an act that is worthy of applause?

He who used 10 slay my kinsmen exclusively in baitle and of no one else, lopping off his head, have I not been freed from a terrible fever (of revenge) that used to burn me without remission.

This fact that I have not thrown his head, like that of Jayadratha, into the omissions of the Nisadhas, is corroding he core of my heart.

It has been heard, O Arjuna, that, without slaying one's enemies one incurs sin. The duty of a Kshatriya is to stay or to be slain.

O son of Pandu, Drona was my enemy; and therefore it is righteous that I have slain him; and thus you have slain your father's friend, king Bhagadatta.

When you slew your aged grandsire, you thought it your duty to do so. But when I have slain my wicked foe, why should it not be regarded as my duty?

It behoves you not to speak to me in this way-ine who can raise my hand against you in consequence of the relationship I bear to you and who am therefore like prostrate elephant with ladder against its body, for helping puny creatures to get on its back.

I forgive your abusive language, O Arjuna, for the sake of Draupadi and her sons and not for any other cause.

It is well-known that the hostility I bore to the preceptor was bequeathed to me by my sire. Every one in the words knows it but you sons of Pandu feign to be ignorant of it.

The eldest son of Pandu is not a liar nor am I a sinful wretch, 0 Arjuna. The wicked Drona used to injure his pupils. He has been slain by me. Now fight and victory will be yours. The eldest son of Pandu is not a liar nor am I a sinful wretch, 0 Arjuna. The wicked Drona used to injure his pupils. He has been slain by me. Now fight and victory will be yours.