कर्ण-वध के पश्चात् दुर्योधन का शोक; सञ्जय धृतराष्ट्र को युद्ध का वर्णन सुनाते हैं; धृतराष्ट्र मूर्च्छित हो जाते हैं

Having saluted the Narayana and Nara the foremost of male beings, as also the goddess of learning Sarasvati let us cry success.

Janamejaya said On Karna being thus killed by Savyasachin what did the sinall remnant of the Kurt army do?

Seeing the (Pandava) army elated with energy how did the king Suyodhana act towards them befitting the occasion?

Describe it, О foremost of the twice-born. I wish to hear it. I am never satiated with hearing of the great feats of my forefathers.

Vaishampayana said After the destruction of Karna, O king, Dhritarashtra's son Suyodhana was immersed in a sea of grief and beheld despair on all sides.

Exclaiming repeatedly "Oh Karna ! Oh Karna! he with difficulty reached his camp with the remaining kings on his side.

Although consoled by those chiefs with cogent arguments sanctioned by scriptures he could not enjoy peace of mind thinking of the death of the charioteer's son.

Considering Destiny and Luck as allpowerful and determined upon fighting the king issued out again for battle.

Having appointed duly Shalya as the coihmander-in-chief, that foremost of kings, O king, went out for battle with the remaining chiefs.

Thereupon, O foremost of Bharatas a terrible encounter took place between Kurus and Pandavas like that between the celestials and Asuras.

Then, O king, having made a great onslaught in battle, Shalya, having lost a large number of his of his force, killed by Yudhishthira at mid-day.

Thereupon having his allies slain king Duryodhana fled from the battlefield and was entered into a dreadful lake in fear of his enemies.

Then on that afternoon causing the lake to be encircled by mighty warriors Bhimasena invited him for battle and killed him.

After his destruction in that great battle three car warriors who were still alive, worked up with great anger, killed the Panchalas in night.

Having left the camb next morning Sanjaya went to the Kuru capital depressed and laden with grief.

Having entered the city and raising up his arms in sorrows and trembling the charioteer entered the Palace of the king.

Overwhelmed with grief, O foremost of men, he cried aloud, saying "Alas! O king, ruin has overtaken us all by the death of the great king.

Alas! Time is powerful! Difficult are his ways, since all our men powerful like Indra, have been killed by the Pandavas.

Beholding Sanjaya return in that painful state all the people anxiously lamented.

Hearing of Duryodhana's death the entire city, O foremost of men, including even children bewailed from all sides.

Pressed down with sorrow and be wildered men and women were seen running about like mad people.

Entering the Royal Palace Sanjaya saw that great and highly wise king.

Beholding the innocent king, the illustrious scion of the Bharata race seated encircled by his daughters-in-law, Gandhari, Vidura and other well-wishing relatives and friends and engaged in thinking of the same subject Sanjaya, with an aggrieved heart and suppressed accents said: " I am Sanjaya,.O great king. I bow to you, O foremost of the Bharatas.

The Madra-king Shalya has been killed as also Subala's son Shakuni and Uluka, the heroic son of Shakuni. The Samsaptakas, the Kambojas, the Shakas, the Mlechchhas, the mountaineers and the Yavanas have all been killed.

The Easterners, the Southerners, the Northerners and the Westerners, O king, have all been killed.

All the kings and princes have been killed. The king Duryodhana too has been killed by Pandu's son (Bhima) as he had promised.

With the thighs broken he is lying prostrate on earth bathed in blood. Dhristadyumna and the invincible Shikhandi have also been slain.

Uttamouja, Yudhamanyu, Prabhadrakas and those foremost of men the Panchalas and Chedis have all been killed.

Your sons as also the five sons of Draupadi have been killed. The valiant and powerful son of Karna, Vrishasena, has also been killed.

All the men collected have been destroyed as also the elephants. All the car-warriors and horses have been slain in battle.

Very few are serving on your side, O king. On account of the conflict between the Kurus and Pandavas the Earth contains only women now. Amongst the Pandavas seven are alive! and amongst your people only three.

They are the five Pandava brothers and Vasudeva and Satyaki and Kripa and Kritavarman and Drona's son, that foremost of victorious heroes.

These three car-warriors, are all that survive, O best of kings, of all the Akshauhinis collected on your side, O ruler of men!

These are only living O monarch, the rest have died. Making Duryodhana and his hostility towards the Pandavas the cause, the whole world, it seems has been destroyed, O foremost of Bharata's race, by Time!"

Vaishampayana sajd Hearing these cruel words, Dhritarashtra, that ruler of men, fell down, senses, O monarch, on the Earth.

As soon as the king fell down, the illustrious Vidura also, O king, afflicted with sorrow for the king's distress, fell down on Earth.

Gandhari also, O best of kings and all the Kuru ladies, suddenly fell down on the ground, hearing those cruel words.

All those royal persons remained lying on the ground, deprived of their consciousness and crying in delirium, like figures painted on a large piece of canvas.

Then king Dhritarashtra, that lord of Earth, afflicted with the misery of the death of his sons, slowly and with difficulty regained his life-breaths.

Having recovered his consciousness, the king, with trembling limbs and aggrieved heart, looked of all sides and said these words to Kshatta Vidura:-"O learned Kshatta, O you of great wisdom, O foremost of Bharata's race, you are now my refuge! I am lordless and all my sons are dead"-Having said so, he once more dropped down unconscious. Beholding him fallen, all his relatives, that were present there, sprinkled cold water over him and fanned him. Comforted after a long while, that king stricken with sorrow on account of the death of his sons, remained silent, sighing heavily, like a snake put into a pot.

Sanjaya also wept aloud, beholding the king so aggrieved. All the ladies too with famous Gandhari, did the same.

After a long while, O best of men, Dhritarashtra, having repeatedly swooned, said to Vidura. "Let all the ladies retire, even the illustrious Gandhari and all these friends! My mind is greatly unsettled!"-Thus addressed, Vidura, repeatedly trembling, slowly sent away the ladies, O foremost of Bharata's race.

All those ladies retired, O) chief of the Bharatas, as also all those friends, sceing the king deeply afflicted. Then Sanjaya cheerlessly looked at the king, O scorcher of foes, who, having recovered his senses, was weeping in great misery.