“Yudhishthira said, ’I ask thee, O foremost of regenerate ones, listen to what I have to say.  How shall we in battle vanquish thee that art invincible?’

“Drona said, ’As long as I will fight, so long victory can never be thine. (Therefore) O king, seek with thy brothers, for my speedy slaughter.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’Alas, for this, O thou of mighty arms, tell (us) the means of thy death.  O preceptor, prostrating myself I ask thee this. (My) salutations to thee.”

“Drona said, ’The foe, O sire, I see not who may slay me while standing in battle I am engaged in fight, with wrath excited, and scattering (my) arrowy showers continually.  Except when addrest for death O king, having abandoned my arms and withdrawn (in Yoga meditation) from surrounding sights, none will be able to slay me.  This that I tell thee is true.  I also tell thee truly that I will cast off my arms in battle, having heard something very disagreeable from some one of credible speech.—­’”

Sanjaya continued, “Hearing these words, O king, of the wise son of Bharadwaja, and honouring the preceptor, (Yudhishthira then) proceeded towards the son of Saradwat.  And saluting Kripa and walking round him, O king, Yudhishthira, accomplished in speech, said these words unto that warrior of great valour.

“Yudhishthira said, ’Obtaining thy permission, O preceptor, I will fight without incurring sin, and permitted by thee, O sinless one, I will vanquish all (my) foes.”

“Kripa said, ’If having resolved on fight, thou hadst not come to me (thus), I would have cursed thee, O king, for thy complete overthrow.  A man is the slave of wealth, but wealth is no one’s slave.  This is very true, O king, and bound I have been with wealth by the Kauravas.  I must, O king, fight for their sake.  This is my opinion.  I therefore, speak like a eunuch in asking thee,—­Battle excepted, what dost thou desire?’

“Yudhishthira said, ’Alas, I ask thee, therefore., O preceptor, listen to my words.—­Saying this, the king, greatly agitated and deprived of his sense, stood silent.”

Sanjaya continued.—­“Understanding, however, what he intended to say, Gautama (Kripa) replied to him, saying,—­I am incapable of being slain, O king.  Fight, and obtain victory.  I am gratified with thy coming.  Rising every day [from bed] I will pray for thy victory, O monarch.  I say this to thee truly.—­Hearing, O king, these words of Gautama, and paying him due honours, the king proceeded thither where the ruler of the Madra was.  Saluting Salya and walking round him the king said unto that invincible warrior those words that were for his own benefit.

’Yudhishthira said,—­’Obtaining thy permission, O invincible one, I will fight without incurring sin, and permitted by thee, O king, I will vanquish (my) valourous foes.’[314]—­