प्रतिज्ञा पर्व — कृष्ण का परामर्श

Sanjaya said After the son of Pritha (Arjuna) had promised to slay the ruler of the Sindhus, the mighty-armed son of Vasudeva addressed him sayingभ्रातॄणां मतमज्ञाय त्वया वाचा प्रतिश्रुतम्।

“Only with the consent of your brothers (and without taking my advice), you have promised to slay the Sindhus king, saying-'I will slay Jayadratha tomorrow. This has been an act of rashness.

Without taking my advice previously, you have drawn down a heavy burden on your shoulders. Alas! how now shall we escape from being the butt of redicule of all men.

I had deputed spies in the encampment of the sons of Dhristarastra. Those spies, returning soon furnished with this information.

'O Lord, when you had vowed the slaughter of the king of the Sindhus, they (the Kauravas) heard the war-cries mingled with din of musical instruments that then arose from our camp.

Terrified at that up-roar, the sons of Dhritarashtra together with all their relatives me and kinsmen, thought-these shouts are not without due causes' and they then waited (for what would ensue next).

Then, O mighty-armed one, a great confused noise was created by the Kauravas and their elephants, steeds, infantry and the rattle of their car-wheels.

'Having been appraised of the slaughter of Abhimanyu, Dhananjaya sorely distressed will surely, in wrath, come out in the night desirous of battle.' Thinking even in the above manner, they stood prepared for battle.

Thus when those vow-observing heroes were preparing for the battle, O you of eyes like lotus petals, they heard of the true vow you had taken for the slaughter of the Sindhu king.

Thereat the counsellors of Suyodhana all became depressed at heart and they then resembled weak animals struck with panic. Then king Jayadratha,

The ruler of the Sindhus and the Sauviras, sorely afflicted with grief and melancholy, rose up and with his ministers retired to his tent.

Then in that time suitable for consultations, he consulted with them about the best remedial measure (against Arjuna's vow). And then repairing to the assembly of kings he said these words to Suyodhana.

"He is the slayer of my son, thinking thus, tomorrow will Dhananjaya assault me. In the very midst of his troops, he has vowed to slay me.

Neither the Gods, nor the Gandharvas, nor the Asuras, nor the reptiles nor the Rakshasas would venture to baffle that Vow of Savyasachin (Arjuna).

Do you all therefore protect me in battle. Let not Dhananjaya, placing his feet on your heads, succeeded in hitting his target. Let suitable arrangements be made.

On the other hand, O delighter of the Kurus, if you do not undertake to protect me in battle, permit me, O king, to go back to my home.”

Thus spoken to, Suyodhana hang down his head and became depressed at heart. And ascertaining Jayadratha to be greatly terrified, he began to meditate (silently).

Then the ruler of the Shindhus seeing Duryodhana sorely afflicted, softly spoke these words, intended to conduce to his own welfare and good.

"I do not find any bowman among you who is equal to Arjuna in prowess and who is capable of baffling the weapons of Arjuna in battle, with those of his own.

What person would dare stand before Arjuna who is supported by the son of Vasudeva and who wields the Gandiva bow? Even Indra of hundred sacrifices will not venture to do so!

It is said that the son of Pritha (Arjuna), on foot, fought with Almighty Mahesvara himself in days gone by, on the Himavat mountains.

Being commissioned by the lord of the celestials, he slew on a single chariot thousands of Danavas inhabiting the golden city.

That son of Kunti is now united with the intelligent son of Vasudeva. And I think that he is now competent to destroy the triune, world, with even the immortals therein!

So, may it please you, I desire to have either your permission to go home or to be protected by the high-souled Drona and his son, both endued with heroism."

O Arjuna, thus addressed the king himself entreated the preceptor to undertake to protect Jayadratha. All remedial measures have been adopted; and chariots and steeds have been duly arranged.

Karna, Bhurisravas, the son of Drona, the invincible Vrishasena, Kripa and the ruler of the Madras these six warriors will station themselves in the van of their array.

Drona has formed an array, half of which figures a car and half a lotus; inside that array there has been formed a minor array of the shape of an wedge, Jayadratha will stand in the middle of the lotus-like array and by the side of the other array.

There will the invincible king of the Sindhus stand, being protected by those heroes. In handling the bow and other weapons, in prowess, in might and in their high extraction.

These six warriors, O Partha, are surely exceedingly difficult of being borne down, Without first vanquishing these six carwarriors, you cannot hope to reach Jayadratha.

Think of the respective prowess of these six warriors. O foremost of men, when united together, they cannot be easily defeated.

Let us once again hold consultation with those versed in the use of weapons and with our own ministers and friends, to settle the course of action that should be adopted for our ! well-being and for the fruition of our aims.