kings, from delusion, have with their counsellors followed Duryodhana.’  Hearing these words of Bhishma, the lotus-eyed hero of Dasarha’s race, possessed of great powers, addressing all those (that were still there) headed by Bhishma and Drona, said, ’Even this is great transgression, of which all the elders of the Kuru race are becoming guilty, for they do not forcibly seize and bind this wicked king in the enjoyment of sovereignty.  Ye chastiser of foes, I think the time hath come for doing this.  If this is done, it may still be productive of good.  Listen to me, ye sinless ones.  The words I will speak will soon lead to beneficial results, if, indeed, ye Bharatas, ye accept what I say in consequence of its recommending itself to you.  The wicked son, of ill-regulated soul, of the old Bhoja king, having usurped his father’s sovereignty during the latter’s life-time, subjected himself to death.  Indeed, Kansa, the son of Ugrasena, abandoned by his relatives, was slain by me in a great encounter, from desire of benefiting my kinsmen.  Ourselves with our kinsmen then, having paid due honours to Ugrasena, the son of Ahuka, installed that extender of Bhoja’s kingdom on the throne.  And all the Yadavas and Andhakas and the Vrishnis, abandoning a single person, viz., Kansa for the sake of their whole race, have prospered and obtained happiness.  O king, when the gods and Asuras were arrayed for battle and weapons were upraised for striking, the lord of all creatures, Parameshthin said thus (something which applies to the case at hand).  Indeed, O Bharata, when the population of the worlds was divided into two parties and was about to be slaughtered, the divine and holy Cause of the universe, viz., the Creator, said, ’The Asuras and the Daityas with the Danavas will be vanquished, and the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras and other dwellers of heaven will be victorious.  Indeed, the gods, and Asuras, and human beings, and Gandharvas, and Snakes, and Rakshasas, will in rage slaughter one another in this battle.’  Thinking so, the Lord of all creatures, Parameshthin, commanded Dharma, saying, ‘Binding fast, the Daityas and the Danavas, make them over to Varuna.’  Thus addressed, Dharma, at the command of Parameshthin, binding the Daityas and the Danavas, made them over to Varuna.  And Varuna, the Lord of the waters, having bound those Danavas, with Dharma’s noose, as also with his own, keepeth them within the depths of the ocean, always guarding them carefully.  Binding in the same way Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, and Dussasana, make them over to the Pandavas.  For the sake of a family, an individual may be sacrificed.  For a village, a family may be sacrificed.  For the sake of a province, a village may be sacrificed.  And lastly, for the sake of one’s self, the whole earth may be sacrificed.  O monarch, binding Duryodhana fast, make peace with the Pandavas.  O bull among Kshatriyas, let not the whole Kshatriya race be slaughtered on thy account.’”