Sauptika Parva — The lamentations of Yudhishthira. Nakula his driver Bhima sets out in pursuit of Ashvatthaman. Krishna requests Yudhishthira to make arrangements of Bhima's safety as…

Vaishampayana said “After the termination of the night, the driver of Dhrishtadyumna's car communicated to king Yudhishthira the great slaughter that had been caused during the hour of sleep.

The Driver said The sons of Draupadi, O king, have been killed, with all the children of Drupada himself, while they were carelessly and trustfully asleep in their own camp.

During the night, O king, your camp has been exterminated by the cruel Kritavarman, and Kripa the son of Gotama, and the sinful Ashvatthaman.

Killing thousands of men and elephants and horses with lances and darts and battle-axes, those men have rotted out your army.

While your army was being killed like a forest hewn down with axes, a loud cry of lamentation was heard rising from your camp.

I am the sole survivor, O king, of that vast host. I have escaped with difficulty from Kritavarman at a time when he was careless.

Hearing this evil news, Kunti's son Yudhishthira, however endued with fortitude, dropped down on the Earth, stricken with grief at the loss of his sons.

Going forward, Satyaki clasped the king. Bhimasena and Arjuna and the two sons of Madri also stretched out their arıms.

Having regained his senses, the son of Kunti bewailed in grief. Alas, having defeated the enemy, we have ourselves been defeated in the end.

The course of evens cannot even be ascertained even by persons possessing spiritual insight. The enemies who were defeated have become victorious. Ourselves, again, while victorious are defeated.

Having killed brothers and friends, fathers, sons, well-wishers, kinsmen, counsellors, and having defeated them all, we ourselves are defeated at last.

Misery appears like prosperity, and prosperity looks like misery. This our victory is twined into defeat. Our victory therefore, had terminated in defeat.

Having gained the victory, I am obliged to grieve as an afflicted wretch. How, can I consider it as a victory? In sooth, I have been doubly defeated by the enemy.

They for whose sake we gained the sinful victory by killing our kinsmen and friends, after acquired victory, have been defeated by vanquished foes that were hecdful.

Alas, through carelessness have they been killed who had escaped from even Karna, that warrior who had barbed arrows and Nalikas for his teeth, the sword for his tongue, the bow for his mouth, and the twang of the bow, and the sound of palms for his roars-that angry Karna who never took to heels from battle, and : who was foremost of men.

Alas, those princes who succeeded in crossing, by boats made by their own excellent weapons, the great Drona-ocean having cars for its deep lakes, arrows for its waves, the ornaments of warriors for its gems, car-horses for its animals, darts and swords for its fishes, elephants for its alligators, bows for its whirlpools, powerful weapons for its foam, and the sign of battle for its moonrise causing it to swell with energy, and the twang of the bow and the sound of palms for its roar,-alas, even those princes have been killed from carelessness.

There is, in this world, no greater cause of death, for men, than carelessness. Prosperity leaves off a careless men from every side, and every king of misery befalls him.

The tall standard with beautiful top that stood on his car was the wreath of smoke that certainly indicated the Bhishma-fire. Arrows formed its flames, and anger was the wind that fanned it. The twang of his terrible bow and the sound of his palms formed the roar of that fire. Armour and various kinds of weapons were the homa libations that were poured into it. The huge hostile army was the heap of dry grass that was consumed by that fire. Alas, even they who had borne that fierce fire whose terrible power was represented by the mighty weapons in Bhishma's hands, have at last fallen through carelessness.

A careless person gain knowledge, asceticism, prosperity, or fame. See, Indra has acquired great felicity after killing all his enemies carefully.

See, the few survivors among our enemies have, through our carelessness, killed so many can never sons and grandsons of kings each of whom resembled Indra himself. Alas, they have died like merchants with rich good, dying through carelessness in a shallow river after having crossed the great deep.

They whose bodies and now lying on the naked ground, killed by those vindictive wretches, have, forsooth, gone to heaven. I lament for the princess Krishna. Alas, she will be drowned to-day in a sea of sorrow.

Hearing of the destruction of her brothers and sons and her revered father, the king of the Panchalas, forsooth, she will drop down senseless on the Earth. She will not rise again with her body emaciated by grief.

Unable to bear such affliction, and ever worthy of happiness, alas, what will be her condition. Painted greatly by the destruction of her sons and brothers, she will be like one scorched by fire.

Bewailing thus with sorrow, that king of Kuru's race, then addressed Nakula, saying,-'Go and bring the helpless princess Draupadi here with all her maternal relations.'

Following the mandate of the king who was righteous like Yama himself, Nakula speedily proceeded on his car to the palace of Draupadi where that princess lived with all the wives of the Panchala king.

Having sent the son of Madri, Yudhishthira, moved by grief, proceeded, with tearful eyes and accompanied by his friends to the field on which his sons had fought and which was filled with various kinds of creatures.

Having entered that cursed field, containing many dreadful sights, the king saw his sons, well-wishers, and friends, all lying on the ground, bathed in blood, their bodies wounded, and heads severed from their trunks.

Seeing them in that condition, Yudhishthira, that best of pious men, become deeply afflicted. That Kuru chief then began to weep aloud and dropped down on the Earth, senseless along with all his followers."