युधिष्ठिर का विलाप

Sanjaya said When that hero that leader of a car-division viz., Subhadra's son had been slain in battle, leaving their cars and doffing their coats of mail and throwing aside their bows, all the Pandavas sat surrounding king Yudhishthira. They were then brooding upon their grief with their hearts occupied with the thought of the deceased son of Subhadra.

Then upon the death of the brother's son, the heroic and mighty car-warrior Abhimanyu, king Yudhishthira began to lament totally unmanned by grief.

Desirous of doing an act agreeable to me, he (Abhimanyu) penetrated the array of Drona with the least difficulty, like a lion penetrating into the midst of a herd of kine.

Meeting with him in battle, fierce bowmen, endowed with heroism, accomplished in the use of weapons and incapable of being easily defeated in battle, were compelled to turn back.

Our implacable enemy Dushasana having encountered him in battle, was quickly compelled by his shafts to retreat, being nearly deprived of his senses.

Having crossed the ocean-like host of Drona's troops difficult of being defeated, that nephew of Krishna was despatched to Death's mansion, upon encountering the son of Dushasana.

Oh, now that Abhimanyu is slain, how shall I look upon Kunti's son Arjuna or upon the auspicious Subhadra bereft of her that dearloved son!

What meaningless, disjointed and incoherent words shall we have to say today to both Hrishikesha and Dhananjaya!

It is myself, desirous of my own good and intent on victory, that have done this injury to Subhadra, Arjuna and Keshava!

A covetous man never finds his own shortcomings; and it is from folly, that covetousness proceeds. Desirous of collecting the honey, I could not see that such a fall threatened me.

He who was a mere boy and who should have been indulged with good food, conveyance, beds and ornaments, alas, even such a boy was placed by us in the thick of battle!

Like a steed of spirited mettle that sacrifices itself rather than obey the reins, how could that boy of tender years, unskilled in the modes of warfare reap good in such a perilous situation?

Alas, after him, today we also shall lay ourselves down on the field of battle, being consumed by the glances of grief cast by Vibhatsu inflamed with rage.

Arjuna is free from covetousness, intelligent, bashful, forbearing, handsome, powerful, endowed with well-developed limbs, respectful to the elders, heroic, amiable and devoted to truth; the feats of that one of fierce deeds even the gods applaud; that one of puissant energy slew Nivatakavachas and also the Kalakeyas; by him were the opponents of the great Indra, the dwellers of the golden cities, viz., the Paulamas slain with their followers, within the twinkling of any eye; that lord gives assurance of safety to those who seek to be protected from their enemies. Alas, today, we have not been competent through fear, to save the son even of that one!

Surely a great fear has overtaken the mighty host of the son of Dhritarashtra. Filled with rage at the slaughter of his son the son of Pritha (Arjuna) without doubt extirpate the Kauravas.

It is also evident that the mean-minded Duryodhana, having mean counselors, that destroyer of his own partisans, seeing the destruction of the troops and overtaken by grief, shall give up his life.

Beholding this son of Indra's son endowed with unequalled energy and prowess fallen on the field of battle, neither victory, nor kingdom, nor immortality, nor equality of rank with the celestials, does afford me the least joy.