Dronabhisheka Parva — The grief of Dhritarashtra

What was Drona doing when the Pandavas and the Srinjayas slew him in battle,-he who was so skillful in the use of weapons amongst all wielders of arms?

Did his chariot give way? Did his bow snap in two in the act of smiting? Did Drona go mad and for the reason met with his death?

O son, how was it that the son of Prishata, the prince of the Panchalas, slew that invincible hero, who scattered thick shower of arrows decked with golden wings, who was : (wonderfully) light-handed; that foremost of the regenerate who proficient in everything, thoroughly familiar with all modes of warfare and capable of shooting his shafts to was over a long distance; who was self-controlled, skilful in the use of weapons and blessed with the possession of celestial weapons, that mighty warrior who performed many dreadful feats and who was ever heedful in fight?

Since that heroic Drona was slain by Parshata of illustrious soul, it is evident, I think, that Destiny is more powerful than exertion.

In that mighty warrior, the knowledge of all the four kinds of wcapons was present. Do you say to me that Drona, that preceptor of all wielders of arrows and weapons is slain?

Hearing the death that hero of golden car covered with tiger-skins, whose effulgence was like that of gold, I cannot today discard my grief.

Surely, O Sanjaya, no man ever dies through sorrow caused by another's calamity; since, I, unfortunate as I am, am still alive having heard of Drona's death.

I do consider Destiny to be, by far, the superior; and exertion is of no avail. Surely my heart is so hard as if it were made of adamant.

Since it does not break into hundred pieces, although I have heard of the slaughter of Drona. How could he had bean struck by death, on whom the Brahmanas and the princes danced attendance being desirous of receiving lessons in the Vedas and in divination and in the use of bows. I cannot even conceive the fall of Drona which is like the drying up of the ocean, the removal of the Meru mountain and the dropping of the lustrous orb from the heavens. He was the repressor of the wicked and the protector of the pious.

That afflicter of enemies, who has sacrificed his life for the pitiable Duryodhana, on whose prowess rested the hope of victory of my wicked sons, who was equal to Brihaspati and Ushanas in intelligence, how could he have been slain? His stout chestnut-coloured steed, decked with golden trappings.

Fleet as the wind, yoked to his car, beyond the reach of all weapons in battle, endued with great strength, emitting neights (in joy), welltrained, of the Sindhu breed, excellently dragging the chariot.

Of great sturdiness, were exhausted in the very midst of the fight? Unmoved in battle by the sight of the elephants as those huge monsters roared out with the sound of conchs and kettledrums.

By the twangs of bow-strings and showers of arrows and other weapons, foretelling victory over enemies (by their appearance), of inexhaustible breath and indefatigable.

mere Those fleet horses harnessed to the car of the son of Bharadvaja, were they overpowered? Even such steeds were yoked by that foremost of human heroes to his golden car.

Why could he not cross the ocean of the Pandava army, mounted on his own best of cars effulgent like gold?

What feats did that son of Bharadvaja achieve in battle, who made all the heroes, cry and on whose knowledge of weapons all the bowmen in the world depend?

What feats did Drona perform in battle, Drona who was endued with great strength and was ever devoted to truth? What car-warriors felled in battle Drona of fierce deeds, that foremost of bowmen, that foremost commanders who was like Shakra himself in heaven? Did the Pandavas fly on all directions sceing him of the golden car?

Him endued with great might who invoked in that batile many celestial weapons? Did the very virtuous king Yudhishthira, with his younger brothers and is army having the prince of the Panchalas for its reins, encompass Drona on all sides? Surely Partha checked the career of other car-warriors with his straight going arrows.

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Then, of course, the son of Prishata, that perpetrator of evil deeds, assaulted Drona. Indeed I do not see any one capable of bringing about the death of Drona.

Save the fierce warrior Dhrishtadyumna supported by Arjuna himself. I think that when these heroes namely the Kekayas, the Chedis, the Karushas, the Matsyas and the other rulers of earth, encompassing the preceptor hemmed him in on all sides, like ants pressing upon a serpent and that when he was occupied in the achievement of some difficult feat, then the vilest among the Panchalas must have slain him. He who, having studied the four Vedas along with their auxiliaries and the Histories constituting the fifth Veda.

Became the refuge of the Brahmanas as the ocean is that of the rivers, that afflicter of eneinies who led the life both of a Brahmana and a Kshatriya, how could that Brahinana, venerable in years meet his death through weapons. Intolerant in spirit, he was ever humiliated and had to undergo troubles for my sake.

Through the son of Kunti he reaped the fruits of his own actions however undeserving he might have been of them. How could that one, on whose feats of valour depends the world of bowmen, who was cver devoted to truth and of pious deeds, who was foremost like the Shakra in heaven, who was endued with great vigours and strength, how could that one be slain by persons hankering after prosperity?

How could that one of great lightness of hand, endued with might, a firm wielder of bow and the grinder of his foes, how could that one he slain by the sons of Pritha like a timi slain by the smaller fishes?

He, meeting whom no person desirous of victory, ever returned with life, he whom when alive the following two sound never left, namely.

The sound of the recital of Vedic verses, by those desirous of acquiring Vedic knowledge and the twang of the bowstrings, caused by those wishing to acquire skill in bowmanship; he who was never depressed, who was the foremost among men and was ever attended with prosperity and was invincible.

He who was equal to the elephant and the lion in prowess, even he has been slain! I cannot even tolerate the thought of Drona's death. How, O Sanjaya, the son of Prishata, slew in battle that most invincible hero whose might was never checked and whose fame was never soiled even before the very eyes of the foremost of men? Who were those persons who fought in Drona's front and protected him from near?

Who were they who brought up his rear and obtained that end which is so difficult to being attained? Who were they that covered the right। and the left wings of that high-souled one?

Who went before him when that hero fought in the battle? Who were they that courted death stood face to face to them regardless of their body?

Who were those heroes that attained the highest state of existence, in the battle with Drona? Did those vile Kshatriyas entrusted with the protection of Drona, out of apprehension, abandon him in (the thick of) the fight? Was he slain by the foe while there helpless? Out of fear Drona would never turn his back on the field of battle, though the danger might be very great. How could he have been slain by the enemy? O Sanjaya, although in a very critical situation, an illustrious person should do this, namely, display his prowess to the best of his might; all this was in Drona. O son, my mind is loosing consciousness; refrain for a while from this discourse. O Sanjaya, regaining my consciousness, I shall again question you.