Jayadratha-Vadha Parva — The repentance of Dhritarastra

Dhritarashtra said When the day after the one in which Abhimanyu had been slain, came, what did the Pandavas, afflicted with grief and sorrow, do? What warriors of my host fought with them?

Aware, as they were, of the feats achieved by Savyasachin (Arjuna), tell me, how could the Kauravas and and my warriors, having perpetrated that sinful act. (Abhimanyu's slaughter) remain undaunted?

How could they in battle dare look at that foremost of men as he proceeded like the alldestroying Death, burning with fury and distressed with the grief occasioned by the slaughter of his son.

What did my warriors do, beholding that warriors having the king of the monkeys for the emblem on his standard, that hero afflicted with the grief caused by the death of his son and shaking his huge bow in battle?

What, O Sanjaya, has befallen, unto Duryodhana in this day's battle? A great grief stares us in the face. I do not hear any longer, sounds of joy (from my camp).

Those inind-captivating sounds, highly pleasing to the sense of hearing that were before heard from the pavilion of the Sindhu king, those sounds are no longer perceived today.

In the encampment of my sons, the sounds of numerous minstrels and panegyrists singing eulogies and of dancers, are no longer heard.

formerly all these sounds used to strike my ears incessantly. Alas, merged as they are in grief, do not any longer here those sounds from their pavilions

Formerly, O Sanjaya, while sitting in the camp of the truth-loving Somadatta, I used to hear all those charming sounds.

How poor in religious merit I am today, inasmuch as I perceive the pavilion of my sons today to be resounding with sounds of sorrow and lamentations and to be destitute of all sounds of life and energy.

I do not now hear those sounds I used to hear formerly in the camps of Vivinshati, Durmukha, Chitrasena, Vikarna and other sons of mine.

That fierce bowman namely the son of Drona, who is the protector of my sons, upon whom Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishya and a large number of pupils used to wait.

Who delighted in disputations and conversation and in the stirring music of various instruments and in diverse kinds of songs.

Who was worshipped by many persons among the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Satvatas-you son of Suta, even in the carp of that son of Drona no sound could be heard as before.

Numerous songsters and dancers used to dance attendance upon that mighty bowman viz., the son of Drona! Now their sounds could no longer be heard in their camp.

The loud sound that used to be sent up from the pavilion of Vinda and Anuvinda every evening, alas, that sound could no longer be heard there. In the camp of the Kekayas also.

Could no longer be heard the sound that used to be made by the songs and slappings of palms of soldiers engaged in dance and merrymaking.

Those Yajaka Brahmanas accomplished in conducting Saptatantu sacrifices, who used to wait upon the son of Somadatta versed in the Vedas, the sound made by those Brahmanas could no longer be heard.

The twang of bows, the sound of Vedic recitations, the whistle of shafts, the whiz of swords and the rattle of cars, these sounds were the be heard incessantly in the pavilion of Drona. But I do not hear them now.

The melody of songs that used to be sang in the various parts of the field and that used to be mingled with the sound of musical instruments, alas, that sound could not be heard this day.

When Janardana of unfading glory out of the compassion he cherished for every creature, came here with a desire for concluding peace.

Then, O Suta, I said unto the wicked Duryodhana-"With the son of Vasudeva as the mediator, O son, do you conclude peace with the Pandavas.

Me seems the time for concluding peace has arrived. O Duryodhana, do not violate my command. If you now disregard the son of Vasudeva who now entreats you for peace.

And advises you for your welfare, victory will never fall in your lot in battle." Duryodhana however neglected him of the Dasharha race, that foremost of all bowmen.

Who then addressed him for his welfare and thus he brought danger on his own head. Then that son of mine, whose intellect was perverted and who was being drawn into the jaws of death, accepted the counsel of Dushasana and Karna and rejected that which I offered him.

I was not in favour of the game at dice, nor was Vidura so. Neither also did the ruler of the Sindhus approve of the game at dice, nor did Bhishma approve of it.

O Sanjaya, so also, Shalya Bhurishravas, Purumitra. Jaya, Ashvatthaman, Kripa and Drona, none of these approved of that game.

If my unfortunate son had conducted himself according to the counsel of these persons. He with his friends and relatives would then have passed his days in peace and happiness.

Of sweet and charming speech, always speaking what is agreeable to their relatives. Of noble extraction, esteemed by all, gifted with knowledge, the sons of Pandu are sure to reap happiness.

The man who depends of righteousness, is sure to reap happiness always and everywhere. After death, he obtains bliss and grace (of god).

Relying on their own prowess for the achievement of their purposes, the Pandavas deserve to enjoy one half of the Earth itself. The sea-girt earth is as much an inheritance to them as it is to the Kurus.

Obtaining sovereignty they will ever remain in the path of virtue. I have kinsmen, O son, to whose words the Pandavas will ever pay attention.

O sire, As for instance, Shalya, Somadatta, the high-souled Bhishma, Drona, Vikarna, Balhika, Kripa and numerous other high-souled and venerable in years) members of the Bharata dynasty. If these persons speak for you, the Pandavas will act up to their beneficial words. Who among these do you think would speak otherwise?

Krishna will never abandon righteousness; the Pandavas are ever submissive to him.

Those heroes will not also disregard the righteous words that I shall speak to them for the Pandavas are all of righteous soul.

Thus plaintively lamenting, I said these and many other words to my son, O Suta. But that fool did not listen to me, Me seems all this is owing to the evil influence of time.

There where remain Vrikodara and Arjuna and the Vrishni hero Satyaki and Uttamaujas of thie Panchala race and the indomitable Yudhamanyu and the invincible Dhristadyumna and the ever-victorious Sikhandin and the Ashmakas, Kekayas and Kshatradharinan of the Somaka clan, the ruler of the Chedis and Chekitana and Abhibhu the son of the Kasi king, the sons of Draupadi and Virata and the mighty car-warrior Drupada and those foremost of men the twins Nakula and Sahadeva and the slayer of Madhu as the counsellor. What man in this world desirous of living would venture to fight with these?

Who else again will face my enemies when they will display their celestial weapons. Save and except Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni the son of Subala and Dushasana as their fourth; I do not indeed see a fifth man.

They who have Vishvaksena (Vishnu), clad in armour and reins in hand, on their chariot, they who have Arjuna for their warrior, they can never suffer defeat.

Does Duryodhana now remember all those lamentations of mine? You say that Bhishma and Drona, those two foremost of men, have been killed.

I think my foolish sons are now overwhelmed with grief, seeing now the words of the far-sighted Vidura to be true and fruitful. I think my foolish sons are now indulging in lamentations seeing the army sorely distressed by Arjuna and the grand son of Sini.

And seeing also the terraces of their cars empty. Surely Dhananjaya is consuming my stoops like fire assisted by the wind, burning down a heap of straw dried by the heat of the sun that rises at the expiration of the winter season. O Sanjaya, expert as you are in storytelling, relate to me everything that happened.

After that wrong had been inflicted on Arjuna in the evening. What was the state of your mind, O son, when Abhimanyu was slain?

Surely the feats of valour of the wielder of the Gandiva bow. My warriors were unable to bear, guilty, as they were, of injuring Arjuna (by slaying his son).

What measures Duryodhana or Karna direct to be adopted? What also Dushasana or the son of Subala thought fit to do, when they were involved in this predicament.

O sire, everything that befell my assembled sons was, O Sanjaya, certainly owing to the misdeeds of my wicked son Duryodhana, who follows in the path of covetousness, whose understanding has been perverted by wrath, whose soul is vitiated, who longs to have sovereignty who is stupid and whose reason is clouded by anger. O Sanjaya, tell me whether the measure adopted by him was agreeable to policy or against it?