of Duryodhana and Karna; then Krishna’s taking Karna in his chariot and his tendering to him of advice, and Karna’s rejection of the same from pride.  Then the return of Krishna, the chastiser of enemies from Hastinapura to Upaplavya, and his narration to the Pandavas of all that had happened.  It was then that those oppressors of foes, the Pandavas, having heard all and consulted properly with each other, made every preparation for war.  Then comes the march from Hastinapura, for battle, of foot-soldiers, horses, charioteers and elephants.  Then the tale of the troops by both parties.  Then the despatch by prince Duryodhana of Uluka as envoy to the Pandavas on the day previous to the battle.  Then the tale of charioteers of different classes.  Then the story of Amba.  These all have been described in the fifth Parva called Udyoga of the Bharata, abounding with incidents appertaining to war and peace.  O ye ascetics, the great Vyasa hath composed one hundred and eighty-six sections in this Parva.  The number of slokas also composed in this by the great Rishi is six thousand, six hundred and ninety-eight.

“Then is recited the Bhishma Parva replete with wonderful incidents.  In this hath been narrated by Sanjaya the formation of the region known as Jambu.  Here hath been described the great depression of Yudhishthira’s army, and also a fierce fight for ten successive days.  In this the high-souled Vasudeva by reasons based on the philosophy of final release drove away Arjuna’s compunction springing from the latter’s regard for his kindred (whom he was on the eve of slaying).  In this the magnanimous Krishna, attentive to the welfare of Yudhishthira, seeing the loss inflicted (on the Pandava army), descended swiftly from his chariot himself and ran, with dauntless breast, his driving whip in hand, to effect the death of Bhishma.  In this, Krishna also smote with piercing words Arjuna, the bearer of the Gandiva and the foremost in battle among all wielders of weapons.  In this, the foremost of bowmen, Arjuna, placing Shikandin before him and piercing Bhishma with his sharpest arrows felled him from his chariot.  In this, Bhishma lay stretched on his bed of arrows.  This extensive Parva is known as the sixth in the Bharata.  In this have been composed one hundred and seventeen sections.  The number of slokas is five thousand, eight hundred and eighty-four as told by Vyasa conversant with the Vedas.

“Then is recited the wonderful Parva called Drona full of incidents.  First comes the installation in the command of the army of the great instructor in arms, Drona:  then the vow made by that great master of weapons of seizing the wise Yudhishthira in battle to please Duryodhana; then the retreat of Arjuna from the field before the Sansaptakas, then the overthrow of Bhagadatta like to a second Indra in the field, with the elephant Supritika, by Arjuna; then the death of the hero Abhimanyu in his teens, alone and unsupported, at the hands of many Maharathas