Karna Parva — The parley between Sanjaya and Dhritarashtra

Vaishampayana said O great king, when Karna was slain, the son of Gavalgana, greatly mortified in heart, repaired that very night to the city of Nagpur, in the back of horses resembling the wind in swiftness.

He then arrived at the city of Hastinapur; and with a greatly anxious heart, repaired to the house of Dhritarashtra which had now been vacated by all its friends.

He then beholding the king deprived of energy in consequence of his gloominess of mind, folded his hands; and indeed, worshipped the monarch's feet by bowing down his head.

Having worshipped the ruler of the earth, Dhritarashtra, according to the just rites and having uttered-Alas! and woe!-he then

O ruler of earth, I am Sanjaya! Are you not at ease? After having obtained distress by your own faults, are you not now deprived of all your senses?

The good advises, uttered (given) by Vidura, Drona, son of Ganga and Keshava, were not received by you. Do you not feel pain to remember them now?

Also do you not feel pain to remember the rejection of the good advises given to you by Rama, Narada, Kanva and others in the assembly (of kings)?

Remembering that your friends, Bhishma, Drona and others, who were ever occupied in contributing to your welfare, were slain by the enemies in battle, do you not feel pain?

Sighing heavy and hot, the king, oppressed with grief, addressed in these words the son of Suta, who with folded hands, was telling him the above.

Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, owing to the deaths of that heroic wielder of celestial weapons, the son of Ganga and the mighty bowman, Drona, my heart greatly aches.

That the mighty hero, who was the incarnation of the (eighth) Vasu, killed every day ten thousand car-warriors protected by armour.

He (that mighty hero) was killed in the battle by the son of Yajnasena (namely) Shikhandin, who who was protected by the Pandavas. At this (occurrence) my heart greatly aches.

The son of Bhrigu gave to that lofty-minded one (that hero, Bhishma) the knowledge of the best weapons. To him also, during the childhood, the science of the bow was taught by Rama himself.

Through whose (Drona's) kindness, the sons of Kunti-the royal sons-the mighty carwarriors-as well as several other rulers of earth, attained the abilities of a Maharathi (one simultaneously fighting with ten thousand

Hearing of that mighty bowman, Drona, who true his aim, slain by Dhrishtadyumna in battle, my heart greatly aches.

Those two had not a peer in this world in ihe wielding of the four-fold weapons. Hearing that both Drona and Bhishma were slain in the battle, my mind is greatly pained. was to

In the three worlds there is no person, who is equal to him in the use of weapons. Hearing the death of this hero, Drona, what did my followers do?

The army of the Samsaptakas was sent away to the region of Yama by Dhananjaya, the lofty-minded son of Pandu, through the exertion of his terrible prowess.

(After the above occurrence and also) after, the Narayana weapon of the most intelligent son of Drona had been destroyed, as also after the divisions of my army had fled away (from the battle-field), what did the troops of my side do?

I think that, on the death of Drona, my troops, plunged deep into the ocean of grief, ran away (from the field of battle), even as the slip-wrecked mariners float on the ocean.

O Sanjaya, when my troops had run away (from the battle field), what had become the colour of the faces of Duryodhana, Karna, Kritavarman the ruler of the Bhojas, Shalya the king of the Madras, Ashvatthaman the son of Drona and Kripacharya, as well as of the remaining sons of mine and several other monarchs.

O son of Gavalgana, relate to me all those in detail that had actually happened in battle as to the prowess shown by Pandavas as well as by the troops of my own side.

Sanjaya said O Lord of kings, you should not be pained to hear of what had taken place in respect to the Kauravas through your misconduct. For, the learned sage never feels any anguish at what is brought about by Fate.

What is not likely to happen to man (being subject to Fate) may happen to him; or what is likely to take place may, again, happen to a person. Hence at the acquisition or nonacquisition of the purposes the learned sage should not at all grieve.

Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, no great anguish does find place in me. For, I think that all this is (the unavoidable consequence of) superior destiny. So, do you describe according as you desire.