Karna Parva — The speech of Sanjaya

Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, when the most exalted of my heroes were slain, I do not see the survival of the rest of warriors on my side that had escaped the destruction.

Having heard that those two mighty bowmen, the foremost of the Kurus, the heroic Bhishma and Drona, were slain for my sake, what necessity can I have for my life?

Also I cannot bear the fall of the son of Radha, who adorned the field of battle (by his presence) and whose strength of arms was equal to the power of ten thousand elephants.

After the most heroic warriors on my side were slain in-battle, O Suta, the best of speakers, do you relate to me which of my army are still alive unhurt.

The names of those, who are slain today, had been described by you. But my opinion is that those who are still alive are now perhaps dead.

Sanjaya said O monarch, the hero-to whom were given the four kinds of brilliant and mighty weapons of innumerable shapes, as well as various other celestial weapons by Drona the best of the regenerate persons.

That great car-warrior, the high-souled son of Drona's-who is most expert in military performances, light-handed, having steng weapons and the strongest fist among the boxers and capable of shooting surely from a distance, is still staying in the field most desirous of fighting for your sake.

That mighty car-warrior Kritavarman, that son of Hridika, the dweller of the country of Anarta, the most exalted of the Satvatas, that chief of the Bhojas himself is still staying in the field of battle, desirous of fighting for your sake, as he is well acquainted with the use of weapons.

Having forsaken the sons of his own sister, the Pandavas, with the desire of making good his words, that son of Artayana, who never trembles in battle, who is the head of all the warriors and the first of those on your side, who is possessed of immense activity and who has promised before Ajatasatru that he would destroy the energy of the son of Suta in battle, who is Shakra's peer in prowess, that hero Shalya is still staying in the field desirous of fighting for your sake.

Attended by an excellent force consisting of the Ajaneyas, the Saindhavas, the Highlanders, the dwellers of the river-basins, the Kambojas, the Vanayus and the Balhikas, the king of the Gandharas, is still staying in the field desirous of fighting for your sake.

O monarch, Gautama, the son of Sharadvata, of great strength and variously skilled in the use of innumerable weapons, is staying in the field desirous of fighting, upholding an extraordinary bow capable of bearing a pretty great strain.

Riding in the front part of his car, yoked to beautiful horses and furnished with standards, the son of the king of Kekayas, that mighty bowman, that foremost of men, is standing on the field with the desire of fighting for your sake.

O lord of men, riding on a car resembling the Sun or the fire in splendour, similarly your son, Purumitra, that best hero amongst the Kurus, is careering on the field, even as the Sun, shining brightly wanders on the cloudless firmament.

Riding on a car adorned with gold, Duryodhana of mighty prowess, in the midst of a force consisting on the elephants, is staying on the field with all his heroic soldiers, ready for battling.

Putting on an armour decked in gold, that foremost of persons, possessing the splendour of a lotus, shone in the midst of kings, like the fire sending out little smoke, or like the Sun rising after he has emerged from the clouds.

Similarly, your sons, Sushena furnished with the sword and shield and the war-like Satyasena are still waiting on the field of battle with joy and desirous of battling for your sake.

The modest princes of the Bharata race, namely Chitrayudha, Shrutavarman, Jaya, Shala, Satyavrata and Dusshala, who are all endued with mighty strength, are still staying in the field with the desire of battling.

The lord of the Kitavyas, that prince, that smiter of foes, who considers himself most heroic and who is careering in the field accompanied by both infantry and cavalry, as well as by the elephant force and cars, is still in the field with the desire of fighting for your sake.

Those foremost of persons, those mighty smiters of enemies, considering themselves highly proud, the heroic Shrutayus, Shrutayudha, Chitrangada and Chitravarman, all of whom are of sure aim, are similarly staying in the field with the desire of battling.

Satyasandha, the lofty-minded son of Karna, is still on the field, desirous of battling. So also, O lord of men, two other sons of Karna, who are acquainted with the use of excellent weapons and are light-handed, are both staying on the field with the desire of battling for your sake, being accompanied by a large army incapable of being vanquished by a force of little prowess.

O monarch, being surrounded by these and several other chiefs, who are all best of warriors and are endued with immeasurable prowess, the Kuru king is staying in the field, in the midst of an elephant force, with the object of winning victory; even as Indra (stands in the midst of the celestials).

Dhritarashtra said All have been related to me in detail viz. who having escaped from the enemies are alive. From this I clearly understand which side will win the victory; this may really be arrived at from facts.

Vaishampayana said While Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, was thus addressing and also having heard that the most exalted of the heroic warriors on his side were slain and only a small portion of the whole army was alive, he was plunged deep in sorrow and his heart, too, was greatly agitated by grief.

Dnritarashtra said Thereafter, he (the king) became almost senseless and addressed (after having recovered his senses a little) Sanjaya, saying.-'Do you stop for a moment.' O son, having heard of this exceedingly evil intelligence, my mind becomes becomes greatly perplexed. My mind (brain) as well as the different limbs are growing paralyzed, which I am not able to uphold.

Having uttered these words, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, that lord of down (upon the ground).