कर्ण पर्व — जनमेजयका वचन

Having saluted the Supreme Deity (Narayana) and the highest of all the male beings (Nara) and also the Goddess of Learning (Sarasvati), let us cry success!

Vaishampayana said O king, after Drona had been killed, the monarchs headed by Duryodhana, with greatly anxious hearts, all went to the son of Drona.

Thereupon mourning for the death of Drona, they (the kings) being highly oppressed with grief and deprived of energy on account of their gloominess of mind sat around the son of Sharadvata.

Then having comforted him for a short while by citing reasons arrived at in the Shastras, the rulers of the earth departed to their respective abodes on the advent of the night.

O descendant of the Kuru race, the lords of the earth could not enjoy pleasure while resting in their own abodes; and they could not obtain sleep, thinking of that immense massacre.

Especially the son of Suta, king Suyodhana, Dushasana and Shakuni could not at all sleep.

And they passed together that night in the abode of Duryodhana, whilst they were seriously thinking of the grief's with which the lofty-minded Pandavas were afflicted.

Recollecting these, viz. that they (the Pandavas) were greatly oppressed during the game at dice and also that Krishna (Draupadi) was (forcibly) brought to the assembly (of kings), they greatly regretted, with hearts filled with anxiety.

Thus reflecting upon those miseries resulting from the gambling match, (which the Pandavas had become subject to), their night had passed away with great uneasiness, which (night), O king, seemed to be (so long as) a hundred years.

Thereupon at the break of day they, being obedient to the injunctions of ordinance, all performed the necessary ceremonies, prescribed by the established usage.

Having finished all the necessary ceremonies and consoled themselves, they, O Bharata, ordered for the array of soldiers and then started for battle.

After having made Karna their generalissimo with the due performance of the most auspicious rites (by tying a thread round his wrist) and having adored the foremost of the regenerate persons by offerings of vessels of curds, clarified butter and vessels, filled with corn and other auspicious articles, as well as by presents of gold-coins, kine and gems, valuable cloths and immense wealth and also having been praised by the charioteers and panegyrists, born in the country of Magadha, (the Magadha-panegyrists are the mixed tribes born of a Kshatriya mother and a Brahmana father), with hymns about victory.

O monarch, the Pandavas on the other hand, having similarly performed the morning ceremonies, came out of their tents; and O king, they were resolved upon the battle.

Thereupon the formidable battle began, which caused the hair of the body stand erect, between the Kurus and the Pandavas, each party being desirous of vanquishing the other.

O monarch, the most formidable battle, betwcen the troops of the Kurus and those of the Pandavas, lasted only for two days during the leadership of Karna.

Thereupon Vrisha (Karna), having brought about an immense slaughter of the opponents in battle, was himself slain by Falguna (Arjuna), whilst the sons of Dhartarashtra were observing it.

Thereafter Sanjaya departed towards the city of Hastinapur and told all to Dhritarashtra, that had taken place at Kurujangala.

Janamejaya said Having heard that both Bhishma and the car-warrior Drona of indomitable courage were slain (in the battle), the old king (Dhritarashtra) the son of Ambika, was highly oppressed with sorrow.

Having heard of the death of Karna the benefactor of Duryodhana, how could he, O best of the regenerate persons, hold his life, much aggrieved as he was?

How could that royal descendant of Kuru hold his life, after having heard of the fall of that hero, on whom he supposed the hope of his sons' victory to rest?

I suppose that men, falling in the most distressful circumstances, find greatest difficulty in yielding up their lives; for, the king, even after hearing of the death of Karna, could not (possibly) forsake his life.

As, O twice-born one, having heard of the fall of the old son of Shantanu, of Balhika, of Drona, of Somadatta, of Bhurisravas, as well as of other friends, of his sons and grandsons, the king did not give up his life; so, I suppose, that to yield up one's life is, O regenerate person, highly difficult.

Relate to me all these in their entirety, as they had really taken place. I am not (at all) satisfied with (simply) hearing the mighty achievements of my forefathers.