“Drona said, ’Appeased I have already been at the words first spoken by Bhishma, the son of Santanu.  Let such arrangements be made that Partha may not be able to approach Duryodhana in battle.  And let such arrangements be made that king Duryodhana may not be captured by the foe, in consequence either of his rashness or want of judgment.  Arjuna hath not, to be sure, revealed himself before the expiry of the term of exile.  Nor will he pardon this act (of ours) today, having only recovered the kine.  Let such arrangements, therefore, be made that he may not succeed in attacking Dhritarashtra’s son and defeating our troops.  Like myself (who am doubtful of the completion of period of exile) Duryodhana also had said so before.  Bearing it in mind, it behoveth the son of Ganga to say what is true.’”

SECTION LII

“Bhishma said, ’The wheel of time revolves with its divisions, viz., with Kalas and Kasthas and Muhurtas and days and fortnights and months and constellations and planets and seasons and years.  In consequence of their fractional excesses and the deviations of also of the heavenly bodies, there is an increase of two months in every five years.  It seems to me that calculating this wise, there would be an excess of five months and twelve nights in thirteen years.  Everything, therefore, that the sons of Pandu had promised, hath been exactly fulfilled by them.  Knowing this to be certain, Vibhatsu hath made his appearance.  All of them are high-souled and fully conversant with the meanings of the scriptures.  How would they deviate from virtue that have Yudhishthira for their guide?  The sons of Kunti do not yield to temptation.  They have achieved a difficult feat.  If they had coveted the possession of their kingdom by unfair means, then those descendants of the Kuru race would have sought to display their prowess at the time of the match at dice.  Bound in bonds of virtue, they did not deviate from the duties of the Kshatriya order.  He that will regard them to have behaved falsely will surely meet with defeat.  The sons of Pritha would prefer death to falsehood.  When the time, however, comes, those bulls among men—­the Pandavas—­endued with energy like that of Sakra, would not give up what is theirs even if it is defended by the wielder himself of the thunderbolt.  We shall have to oppose in battle the foremost of all wielders of weapons.  Therefore, let such advantageous arrangements as have the sanction of the good and the honest be now made without loss of time so that our possessions may not be appropriated by the foe.  O king of kings, O Kaurava, I have never seen a battle in which one of the parties could say,—­we are sure to win.  When a battle occurs, there must be victory or defeat, prosperity or adversity.  Without doubt, a party to a battle must have either of the two.  Therefore, O king of kings, whether a battle be now proper or not consistent with virtue or not, make thy arrangements soon, for Dhananjaya is at hand.’